Recent content by Captain Spalding

What is the purpose or advantage of this so-called verification, may I ask?

Removing which plastics? It’s all a matter of degree. If it’s just mud flaps that’s no problem. Taking a hair dryer to the fender liner? That’s more of an issue, but not much more. Removing or cutting the fender liner? The fender liner has a purpose, which won’t be fulfilled if it’s cut up or...

2022 4Runner 1973 Volkswagen Thing

Articulation isn’t such an issue if there’s ABS traction control (or lockers). The question that first occurred to me is whether those 35’s rub and if so how much remedial cutting is required.

The term “dirt road” is rather broad especially in the southwest. If you’re talking about a maintained fire road then any tires will do. On dirt roads or trails that are more challenging you might want to consider tires and wheels. Possibly you could use the same 18” wheels that come on the...

If I were Lexus/Toyota and the NHTSA baulked at a big touchscreen and a lack of tactile buttons on the center stack, my defense would be that the tactile buttons had been moved from the center stack to the steering wheel where they can be accessed without taking one’s hands from the wheel. I’d...

This is the crux of the matter for me. Having to take my eyes off the road to find a formless button on a glass screen is a step down from my 4Runner, which is gloriously adorned with sensibly placed buttons and knobs which provide positive feedback without having to look at them.

It will be interesting to see the 550 vs. Defender videos when they drop.

Interesting choice. The RAV4 isn’t in the same class as the other vehicles you mentioned. If it were me, I would have sacrificed the hybrid feature before the off-road capability, and then revisited the situation in a couple of years. Congrats on your RAV4. Everyone I know who has one loves it.

That’s possibly good news for me. My current vehicle is a ‘22 4Runner. Prior to that I owned a ‘97 Defender 90. The Defenders of that era were known for reliability issues. My observation is that the old D-90 was well designed but indifferently built, and that while unreliable when new, after a...

4Runner. Maybe.

These are the first photos I’ve seen that include the headliner. A black headliner. I’m very sad that there isn’t a light interior option for the GX. I don’t like the claustrophobic feeling that an all black interior gives.