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343 Posts
It began 8 years ago for me.
For a typical car nut living in Denver, March or April brings the new car show each year to town. Having gone to these every year prior I was anxious to see what was new in the 2003 show. Across a crowded showroom floor I spotted a Voodoo Blue eyed beauty that stopped my heart. Winches in the front and back bumper, no way! Full suspension seating, awesome. A portable GPS that you can remove from the dash, that’s crazy. Lights in the outside mirrors, get out of here! I walked away from the show making a Field of Dreams declaration…..If they built this, I will buy.
Almost two long years of nothingness. The buzz around the 2003 show praised the concept vehicle but the word started to die out and fade. Rumors would circulate in AutoWeek and Car and Driver but nothing substantial, just teasing. Needing a new vehicle after my truck was stolen I purchased a Nissan Titan (what a mistake that was, but that’s another story). I believe sometime in the Fall of 2004 Toyota announced that they were going to build the FJ Cruiser. The Titan’s days were numbered.
I remember rearranging my schedule so that I could watch the live streaming event from Chicago of Toyota showing the new FJ Cruiser in February 2005 (Anyone else………..a show of hands?). We had to wait another year before dreams were realized but speculation flew and questions were raised on this very forum. Can you sleep in it? Will it be hard to drive with the large blind spots? Will the rear windows roll down?
In February 2006 sightings were posted. Vehicles seen at ports. Orders being placed, excitement growing. Word in Denver was sent out (again on this forum) in early March that a truckload was delivered to the Toyota regional office in the Tech Center. I drove down there one early snowy Sunday morning to press my nose against the glass and take pictures. The Black Cherry looked great but I was happy with my Voodoo Blue choice.
Well my dream became true on March 30, 2006. Not the first one in Denver but close to the top. I remember my first week driving it around the looks of praise but also many looks of “How Ugly”. The naysayers did not sway my love affair I had entered with my new vehicle and I‘ve never looked back. 97,000 miles later with my original windshield still in place I still love my vehicle.
When did you fall in love?
For a typical car nut living in Denver, March or April brings the new car show each year to town. Having gone to these every year prior I was anxious to see what was new in the 2003 show. Across a crowded showroom floor I spotted a Voodoo Blue eyed beauty that stopped my heart. Winches in the front and back bumper, no way! Full suspension seating, awesome. A portable GPS that you can remove from the dash, that’s crazy. Lights in the outside mirrors, get out of here! I walked away from the show making a Field of Dreams declaration…..If they built this, I will buy.
Almost two long years of nothingness. The buzz around the 2003 show praised the concept vehicle but the word started to die out and fade. Rumors would circulate in AutoWeek and Car and Driver but nothing substantial, just teasing. Needing a new vehicle after my truck was stolen I purchased a Nissan Titan (what a mistake that was, but that’s another story). I believe sometime in the Fall of 2004 Toyota announced that they were going to build the FJ Cruiser. The Titan’s days were numbered.
I remember rearranging my schedule so that I could watch the live streaming event from Chicago of Toyota showing the new FJ Cruiser in February 2005 (Anyone else………..a show of hands?). We had to wait another year before dreams were realized but speculation flew and questions were raised on this very forum. Can you sleep in it? Will it be hard to drive with the large blind spots? Will the rear windows roll down?
In February 2006 sightings were posted. Vehicles seen at ports. Orders being placed, excitement growing. Word in Denver was sent out (again on this forum) in early March that a truckload was delivered to the Toyota regional office in the Tech Center. I drove down there one early snowy Sunday morning to press my nose against the glass and take pictures. The Black Cherry looked great but I was happy with my Voodoo Blue choice.
Well my dream became true on March 30, 2006. Not the first one in Denver but close to the top. I remember my first week driving it around the looks of praise but also many looks of “How Ugly”. The naysayers did not sway my love affair I had entered with my new vehicle and I‘ve never looked back. 97,000 miles later with my original windshield still in place I still love my vehicle.
When did you fall in love?