Hey Fairmont - Wirt County WV here...you sound like an old hand at all this, Mountaineer. Thanks for opening the thread.
I just bought my very first FJ today; Army Green, Convenience Pkg., Upgrade Pkg., running boards, roof rack, the incredible JBL system, power everything....the list seems infinite...wow.
I kept noticing the FJ sitting in the lot at my local dealer, and finally let curiosity drive me. I took it for a spin just yesterday. I wasn't impressed, I was enthralled. Not being a gear-head by anyone's definition (I'm a woodworker, typically the 2 are odd bedfellows), I just blurted out to the salesman, "I love driving this, and I'm going to own it!" in mid-test drive.
Via Google, I found this forum last night after I got home, and went cruising through y'alls comments. Though I didn't need much persuading, it was the "Problems with FJ Cruiser" thread (or similarly named), where one of you wrote you were disgusted with the size of the volume knob on the radio, and were going to trade it in, that tipped me the last centimeter. I couldn't stop laughing, and now...well.....
It's in the garage right now, and I keep going back to the door and staring out at it. It's the most awesome vehicle I've ever driven in my life, and I've gotta lotta miles on me.
I actually traded in two vehicles to get this baby. I've never been in anything like it. It's unbelievable. I'm all outta cool superlatives. It's just.....WOW.
One thing I noticed on the ride home was the way it handled in high winds. It's boxy for sure. Not as bad as a pickup with an empty bed, but it moved me a bit. I have a lot to learn about how it handles, so feel free to help me graduate from FJ Learner's Permit to "He Lives In that Thing".
I could go on and on, but you've all heard it before. So, hey all. Thanks for this forum. I'm sure I'll be here a lot.