Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
Member Is Offline
Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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?What should I buy?
I'm in need of a vehicle that will handle the rigors of the coastal road between San Jose Del Cabo and La Ribera. A wash board ready "commuter"
vehicle if you will. Something reliable with decent suspension that won't rattle me to death. I'd prefer to keep it under a $5,000 investment.
My question to the off road motorheads is this: What type of vehicle do you suggest? Baja bug? Jeep? Other? Am I even in the ball park for something
good with 5k?
I'd be eager to hear any thoughts, opinions, anecdotes from the experts.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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I am a little confused as to what you really need...and not an off road expert. No regular "car/truck vehicle will run dirt roads without
rattling...low tires help, because they act as soft springs...if your commute is short...a quads (Polaris for sure) offers wash board free rides. Now
let the real experts stand up....
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Get a SUBARU... Because Baja Bugs and Jeeps (CJs or Wranglers) will not be comfortable, just fun. After Toyota, I had the most luck with Subaru for
being inexpensive to own and bullet proof in Baja...
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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My son has a 2005 Saburu Baja (same frame as an Outback) which he takes everywhere off road, and it rides like a dream------he has just over 100K on
it with NO PROBLEMS at all, other than flat tires.
He just went to trade it in on a new "Baja" but they don't make them anymore. So he spend the money for a complete serviceing, and is on his way to
rack up another 100K, he hopes.
barry
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
My son has a 2005 Saburu Baja (same frame as an Outback) which he takes everywhere off road, and it rides like a dream------he has just over 100K on
it with NO PROBLEMS at all, other than flat tires.
He just went to trade it in on a new "Baja" but they don't make them anymore. So he spend the money for a complete serviceing, and is on his way to
rack up another 100K, he hopes.
barry |
WHAT!!! NO MORE BAJA!!? 
Basically a four door Outback wagon, but behind the back seat doors it is an open pickup/ El Camino like bed... A four door version of the older
Subaru BRAT.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here's what I found about the Subaru Baja: Despite a novel concept with no direct class competition, Baja drew few sales, a big disappointment for
Subaru. Sales remained meager despite the addition of a Turbo model for 2004. Evidently, buyers either didn't know what to make of Baja or didn't much
care for it-which means used examples will be few and far between.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Yep----you sure don't see many of them anywhere. My son absolutely and completely LOVES his. Me??? I would buy a Forrester-----higher off the
ground, and more versatile, and my "stuff" won't get all dusty.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Maybe an old one would be worth rebuilding...maybe softer shocks and springs...are they 4X? You could gut one so soft springs and maybe heavy duty
quad tires at 6-7 PSI...
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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For $5,000, why not an OJ Bronco. 
Lots of them around, parts are cheap and lots of parts in Baja.
Decent ride off road.
Ken
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18388
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cardon Man
I'm in need of a vehicle that will handle the rigors of the coastal road between San Jose Del Cabo and La Ribera. A wash board ready "commuter"
vehicle if you will. Something reliable with decent suspension that won't rattle me to death. I'd prefer to keep it under a $5,000 investment.
My question to the off road motorheads is this: What type of vehicle do you suggest? Baja bug? Jeep? Other? Am I even in the ball park for something
good with 5k?
I'd be eager to hear any thoughts, opinions, anecdotes from the experts. |
Every vehicle suspension will rattle your teeth on washboards. I think heavier vehicles rattle worse than lighter vehicles (because of their
relatively stiffer suspensions) -- my most comfortable washbaord rides have been in econo-box rental cars (small car suspensions seem to handle high
frequency/low magnitide deflections best).
If you want an econo solution, then get a passenger car. You don't need high clearance or 4WD for washboards, so why pay premium for it? For an
econo beater car for basic transportation, try a bug, civic, corrola, etc.
But you are looking for justification to buy a manly man car with oversize tires, correct? Think of some other reason besides washboards
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
Member Is Offline
Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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great advice
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Every vehicle suspension will rattle your teeth on washboards. I think heavier vehicles rattle worse than lighter vehicles (because of their
relatively stiffer suspensions) -- my most comfortable washbaord rides have been in econo-box rental cars (small car suspensions seem to handle high
frequency/low magnitide deflections best).
If you want an econo solution, then get a passenger car. You don't need high clearance or 4WD for washboards, so why pay premium for it? For an
econo beater car for basic transportation, try a bug, civic, corrola, etc.
But you are looking for justification to buy a manly man car with oversize tires, correct? Think of some other reason besides washboards
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Thanks all for the opinions! 666...I'd love to buy another "manly, over size tires rig" but I'm not sure I need one at present. I have a trusty old 85
Toyota pick up that has served me very well with years of Baja use. 3" suspension lift with BFG mud terrains. She's a runner for sure with 250K on it.
The Toyota is going stong but we need another vehicle for general running around. I'd prefer to keep those miles off of the old toyota too.
I've checked out a couple of Baja bugs. But I've either found some real beaters with a questionable future....or, really nice ones that are very cool
but spendy. Not sure if I need 6k worth of Baja Bug? But I damn sure don't want one that ends up broke down in 6 months either.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Suzuki Samauri or a Geo Metro.....inexpensive, good runner, can customize with shocks and tires, won't cost you a bundle, can tow behind the Toyota.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Maybe a rail?
Do you need to be enclosed? If not, maybe you could have great fun with a soft-tired rail. Will handle all terrain at higher speeds than normal
'commuters.'
Just watch out for buzzards sitting on road kills!!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
Member Is Offline
Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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Yo Pompano. You're lucky that buzzard didn't take your head off! A rail would be cool. But I was thinking enclosed would be a good way to avoid
eating dust and gravel. Bajaguys Geo suggestion got my interest. I even own one! But it's back in the states. I found one guy one line that had rigged
a Geo for off road. Unique to say the least.
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