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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Nevermind
The attempt to turn this political killed it ---
But I did get some good ideas to think about. Thanks.
[Edited on 6-30-2012 by DianaT]
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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In 2003, I bought my '03 1/2 Wrangler Rubicon - it has a 4.0l engine, 5 speed transmission, Air Conditioning, Hard Top, everything to make for a
comfortable trip to Baja and back (to Southern CA).
With the Rubicon, I had done preventive maintenance, and the only problems I have had was related to;
The Water Pump gasket - failed near Puertecitos - but, 'Stop-Leak' kept my cooling system intact for the entire trip, including a 13 hr. day on the
'Mission Impossible' Trail - the Mrs. sat inside of the Jeep while it was 94 deg. F. on the trail.
The stock track bar (& bushings) - at 100,000 miles this caused poor handling. Handling has been restored.
Fuel sending unit - at 100,000 miles this caused an EVAP leak and a 'Check Engine' light to illuminate. Otherwise, the Jeep drove like it normally
does.
Rear Shock Bar Pin Mount (passenger side) - Replaced with JKS Bar Pin Eliminators - the hollow tube that locates the shock absorber can bend and
break. I bought a solid steel unit that is now unbreakable.
After 9 years, I can honestly say that if there was a trip to Baja this weekend, my Jeep would be ready to go (with me).
I bought my Jeep specifically for traveling the backcountry in Baja and I have been very satisfied with my purchase.
San Felipe
Progreso (Mexicali along Hwy 3) - Huitzi's Rubicon was modified with a roof rack because he is married with two young children. His setup worked
PERFECTLY on the Pole Line Road - a 4WD route that SPELLED DOOM for an FJ Cruiser recently on Baja Nomad.
The Unlimited Wrangler (LJ) is a longer version of the Wrangler and only was produced from 2005 to 2006. It is more spacious and look where this LJ
could go!
This late 90s Toyota Land Cruiser suffered from too much plastic skirting around it, making the driver leery of traveling along the Baja Pole Line
Road. If you are going to bang up your vehicle in Baja, at least you shouldn't worry about it's aestetics like with your new Subaru.
High Clearance (near Cañon del Diablo)
Vulnerable Plastic Low Clearance products (thanks to plastic running boards, plastic air dams, plastic mud flaps, low-hanging trailer receiver hitch,
etc)
Stock Rubicon Wranglers at Cohabuzo Junction
[Edited on 6-28-2012 by Ken Cooke]
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
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I have had an early 90's Ford F-150 for many years in Baja and it has broken down an average number of times I guess you could say. But the parts to
fix it were always readily available even in the smallest auto parts stores. So I was always up and running very quickly. A good friend of mine has
had a mid 90's Land Cruiser over that same time period and his vehicle never seemed to break down. The thing is amazing and once got stuck in the sand
and the sea water made it up to the drivers seat before we could rescue it. It still ran. But...and this is a big but, when he did have break downs,
even very minor ones, it was very difficult to get parts and he often had to wait weeks to get something imported. He once searched over 20 junkyards
in La Paz for a starter solenoid and only came across 1 landcruiser.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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DianaT
Hola, I would suggest you write down on paper what you need first and then the next day ck said list again and update it...after a day or two you
might have a answer that will fit your needs in a car/truck.. and myself have been all over baja with just 2 wheel drive and have not needed 4+4
yet..hell I have been to alaska to panama without a 4+4 that said yes once in a very rare time I wished what I was driving was 4+4 but not enough for
to go along with extra complcations and less gas milage of a 4+4 and front wheel drive also itself is rather good in off road conditions..In my
mind,it's more the driver than the car/truck...... and I am glad that ken loves his sweet jeep, but they are not a road cruiser and for the hwy a
longer wheelbase is a sweeter ride..just my 1.5 centovo's...but if ken wants to sell me his rubicon CHEAP I take it in a second and leave at the house
in bcs for beating the east cape up...K & T 
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20375
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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suggest you look at a number of SUVs that are less expensive than Land Cruiser and better-mannered than jeep on highways.
look at 4runner, either 2WD or 4WD. very comfy hwy cruisers, pretty capable on rough roads.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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No matter what your considering buying put it up on a rack and check the underside for damage from off roading. Have the front end and suspension
inspected by a pro.
When I did auto electrical I remember the magazine Consumer Reports issued reports about vehicle problems and what they listed for whatever kind of
vehicle was so close to what I found in real life, it was spooky. i came to respect Consumer Reports for their vehicle breakdown issues over that.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Toyota 4runner, Mitsubishi Montero, Isuzu Trooper... all good SUVs and quality built, imo. Subarus are amazing, I owned three (back when they were
4WD, not AWD) 1977 to 1990's.
If the cost of Mexican insurance on your Subaru is the reason for another car, I am trying to figure out how buying a 4WD is cheaper than ~$100 a year
more for insurance? Maybe shop around... My new 4WD 4 door Tacoma ($32K new) was less than $300 a year to insure for Mexico (full coverage, legal aid,
etc.)
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Last year we sold our Tundra---it was time and we bought a new Subaru Outback that we really love. It is an amazing vehicle that just crawls through
soft sand, even on steep hills, and never even thinks about spinning a wheel. It is great on dirt roads, even with washboard. But it is new so the
Mexican Insurance is expensive and we don't like to see it all scratched up yet.
Thus --- our question and looking for some ideas and thoughts. We want a vehicle that we use strictly for going to Baja.
We are thinking about a used Jeep Wrangler --- looking for opinions as reliability is our first priority.
Also thinking about late 90s Toyota Land Cruiser or older
[Edited on 6-28-2012 by DianaT] |
I had a 1998 Subaru Legacy G.T. that cut it's teeth in Baja. what other car will take you anywhere you want to go and still give you 30+ mpg on the
road. If I was looking for a second car I would consider a older legacy station wagon ther are cheaper and more reliable than a Wrangler.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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cars/trucks
montereo/troopers cant hold a candle to a toyota !!!! as somebody that has worked on all three...the TOY'S win's hand's down..also for yor info..when
I drove down to panama and back from texas (agh) I would find/see groups of toyota's from the states in group's heading south to be sold in centrail
america...why ?....they run and run !!!
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weebray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 7-19-2010
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: lleno
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The "J" in Jeep stands for JUNK. Audi is how you spell chit in German.
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
montereo/troopers cant hold a candle to a toyota !!!! as somebody that has worked on all three...the TOY'S win's hand's down..also for yor info..when
I drove down to panama and back from texas (agh) I would find/see groups of toyota's from the states in group's heading south to be sold in centrail
america...why ?....they run and run !!! |
Yeah you are right , Toyota's are kind of like a Harley If you break down you can find a part to fix it on the side of the road before you get to
the next town.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Thanks for the suggestions so far. Ken, thanks for the details about repairs.
We are just beginning the process of looking at what we want to do, and appreciate ALL the input.
CAPTKW Toyota in Central America? Yes, they are everywhere including our old 1984 4x4 Pickup that was stolen down there. It is probably still
running!
JP, as we are very impressed with our new Subaru, we have considered becoming a two Subaru family. :-) The AWD is so much better than we expected.
A few days ago we crawled up a steep, soft, sandy road. We went very slowly because of the very deep holes caused by people spinning their wheels.
The Subaru never hesitated!
DK -- our insurance through Bajabound is almost twice what you are paying --- we do have very complete coverage??? But insurance is not our only
consideration. It is also because we plan on keeping this car for a very long time and we put over 1200 miles on it with every trip to Baja, and
other considerations.
Thanks for all the ideas and hope to see more.
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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Once we were snooping around south of San Felipe ,as we went by this house a guy came running from this house hollering and waving his arms. I
stopped and as he approached the car he said dont go that way I spend half my time pulling people out down there then as he looked the car over he
said chitttt go ahead those dammmmm things will go anywhere.
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2406
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Last year we sold our Tundra---it was time and we bought a new Subaru Outback that we really love. It is an amazing vehicle that just crawls through
soft sand, even on steep hills, and never even thinks about spinning a wheel. It is great on dirt roads, even with washboard. But it is new so the
Mexican Insurance is expensive and we don't like to see it all scratched up yet.
Thus --- our question and looking for some ideas and thoughts. We want a vehicle that we use strictly for going to Baja.
We are thinking about a used Jeep Wrangler --- looking for opinions as reliability is our first priority.
Also thinking about late 90s Toyota Land Cruiser or older
are looking for a Auto or manuel trans
what other options are you looking for
I can keep my eye out for some thing
[Edited on 6-28-2012 by DianaT] |
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Steer AWAY from the Mitsubishi Monteros. They have statistically been one of the worst Japanese SUVs. Mitsubishi, as a whole, fairs poorly. This is
based on Consumer's Report; by far the most thorough and unbiased research on the reliability of used cars.
I cant stress how important looking at the CR Buyer's guide is. They tend to only go back seven years BUT you can often find older copies that cover
earlier years in public libraries.
A used 4Runner from the late 90s or early 2000s, with 4x4, would be a great choice.
Wranglers get mediocre MPG. 15-17 at best, with the 6 cylinder. Not that reliable, either, statistically. I own one and I love the ride on dirt. But
you cant argue with the facts.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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semi-new Subaru with reliability issues
| Quote: | Originally posted by J.P.
If I was looking for a second car I would consider a older legacy station wagon ther are cheaper and more reliable than a Wrangler.
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Rubicon saves the day
Assessing the problem on the older legacy station wagon
Helping the older legacy station wagon up the grade that the sputtering vehicle could not negotiate under its own power.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Mileage numbers or part sourcing for Japanese vehicle
| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Wranglers get mediocre MPG. 15-17 at best, with the 6 cylinder. Not that reliable, either, statistically. I own one and I love the ride on dirt. But
you cant argue with the facts. |
MPG in Baja is better when using non-Ethanol PEMEX gasoline and when driving at or below 55 m.p.g. due to aerodynamic characteristics of the
Wrangler.
17 m.p.g. for a mix of off-road (non 4WD) and hwy driving was achieved in my 4.0l Rubicon with 4" suspension lift and 33" flotation tires.
The XJ Cherokee gets much better mileage due to its more aerodynamic shape and lighter weight.
I do agree that the 4 Runner is inexpensive and gets very good gas mileage. But, in the event of a breakdown, how difficult would part sourcing be?
Mileage numbers or part sourcing would then become the concern, IMO.
This is fact, not opinion - just watch Baja Expedition 2006 part one to see how bad the 4 Runner driver has it while waiting for parts at Rancho Meling. He would have been off of the
Observatory Road had that same low-speed roll happened in a Jeep Wrangler.
[Edited on 6-28-2012 by Ken Cooke]
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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Be Real that Subaru wasnt designed to pull that load on flat ground and you are comparing a 14 year old 2,500dlr car to a new 40,000 dlr Beast.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by J.P.
Be Real that Subaru wasnt designed to pull that load on flat ground and you are comparing a 14 year old 2,500dlr car to a new 40,000 dlr Beast.
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My Rubicon pulled out a 7' Cypress tree last week in less than 3 minutes. It is true that the 4.0l Jeep engine has true stump-pulling power that the
older Legacy wagon doesn't have. But, if I was in Baja - Hands down, I would choose my Rubicon over the more civilized 2WD Honda Pilot I drive most
of the time.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Strength in numbers
Another point - let's say you broke down and needed local assistance. What 4WD club member running his own Taller would be in better
shape to help you out?
Chances are, he would be a member of a Jeep club than a Toyota club. Just check out the Baja4x4.org Forum Index for Jeep vs. Toyota activity
Have you heard of JEEPSPEED??? There's no Toyota (or Japanese vehicle, for that matter) on that page. 
Chances are, your well-qualified Baja Mechanic is also driving a rig that looks like one below   
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