By God, I think I’m on to something this time!
The tentative long-game is to acquire one of the following (subject to my stupid whims at any time):
- 2001-2004 Tundra SR5 4x4 Extended Cab V8
- 4th-gen 4Runner V8
- Series 100 Land Cruiser w/ VVTi
Yeah, wow, shocked to see Toyotas on that list.
However, all of them push — or far exceed — a 5-digit budget. If I wanted to buy something like these in 2019, I would have to sell the Sportcross, which is really not a road I want to go down. I feel like it’s something I would regret doing. It’s a great car that I enjoy driving. And it took F O R E V E R to find. I also don’t want to get caught with my pants down DDing a gigantic V8-something that gets 14 miles per gallon. Who knows, I could have some kind of crazy career change where I’m commuting to Seattle or some nightmare. I want one of the above as recreational/utilitarian/hauler/camping/pull-a-trailer vehicle, not as a primary vehicle.
In addition: the longbed is aging rapidly, but it’s not dead just yet. I’m not sure I can bear to part with it especially while it’s still in one piece. I love that thing.
So even though I can’t really find a budget for my newest plan, I’m sure I can figure something out by summer: that new plan being to find a serviceable 3rd -gen 4Runner.
I’d have to really jump on a good deal, but I should be able to find a good-not-great one for hopefully 5-6k. Even if it had a billion miles, as long as the belt was done recently I’m not concerned. Plus, I could probably sell it for about what I bought it. Seems to be a low-risk maneuver that would get me through the next year or more for my camping and winter needs (if you can call what we get here “winter”). I’d also have to squeeze out at least another grand for title, tax, licensing, plus insurance over the span of my ownership. I think I can do it. Maybe. Or not.
So there you go: boring man makes boring plan.