Motor Trend 4/06: Snowdogs - H3 vs. Liberty vs. Xterra vs. FJ Cruiser - Page 3

Regulator · 02-28-2006, 11:45 PM

I really don't think they can compare a FJ or an H3 to a Jeep and an Xterra. **** may as well compare a Grand Vitara while we're at it.

Percy · 03-01-2006, 01:05 AM

You know - I was thinking the same thing standing outside a dealership yesterday. They had a line of suv's going on. Xterra, exlporer, element, XB, Vitara/grand vitara, an old 4runner, a sport trac, and some others. I was thinking, yeah - and all of those are supposed to target the same market, right?

If I want an exlporer for the creature comfort and size, I must also like the _______. I swear, this is where text book learning and college educations fail people. We should start a new school called the College of Common Sense.

I think that's why Toyota didn't attempt to mis-market the FJ. I think they realize that this segment of buyers is going to find your machine - if it's going to be made. We will find it with or without bs advertising gimmics. Just like the CrossLander. We will hunt it down and decide whether or not it's for us and we will happily place deposits while we wait. Just give us a real rig and don't "gussy it up...".

Bring on the FJ's already - the tribe is restless and GOD DO WE NEED NEW TOPICS!

Regulator · 03-01-2006, 01:24 AM

To be honest, I actually checked out the Suzuki at one point, hoping it was more the size of a 4-runner or Pathfinder. I think they did a great job style wise as far as the mini-utes(rav 4, tuscon, sorento, cr-v, equinox) I think its the nicest looking one. As for offroading ability I doubt it will even live up to the old Suzuki Sidekicks. I kinda miss the mitsubishi montero sports, they were rugged for their time.

Tone · 03-01-2006, 01:25 AM

How about Dodge's knockoff of the Montero in the late 80's. I bet that thing was b|tchin. Lol.

Roosterdo · 03-01-2006, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Regulator previously said:

To be honest, I actually checked out the Suzuki at one point, hoping it was more the size of a 4-runner or Pathfinder. I think they did a great job style wise as far as the mini-utes(rav 4, tuscon, sorento, cr-v, equinox) I think its the nicest looking one. As for offroading ability I doubt it will even live up to the old Suzuki Sidekicks. I kinda miss the mitsubishi montero sports, they were rugged for their time.

\\

I kind of of miss the old montero 2 door

Topless4runner · 03-01-2006, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Tone previously said:

How about Dodge's knockoff of the Montero in the late 80's. I bet that thing was b|tchin. Lol.

Rockin' the Raider. they brought back the name for the new mitsu. truck. rebadged dakota, basically.

FJeep · 03-01-2006, 05:13 AM

It's nice to have Motor Trend confirm what already seemed to be the prevailing sentiments about the FJ vs. H3 vs. Xterra (liberty does not really even warrant a comparison).

Can someone explain RTI to me though? Seems to be basically just a hill climb rating.

Topless4runner · 03-01-2006, 05:26 AM

it means Ramp Travel Index. its a tool used to measure the available suspension travel on a vehilce. what you do is drive strait with the ramp in front of one of your tires. drive up the ramp until one of the other wheels starts coming off the ground (other than the one on the ramp). the further it goes up, the better the score. im not certain exactly how the numerical score is calculated, but it varies depending on the angle of the ramp.

this number has usefulness for off-road vehicles because it is a fairly straight forward way to determine what size of obstacles the vehicle can drive over without becoming unstable.

wakesurfboy · 03-01-2006, 06:42 AM

C& is a Pavement princess magazine.

FJeep · 03-01-2006, 07:40 AM

Thanks topless4runner. I've seen the RTI testing done on Spike before, forgot that's what it was called.