Iman74 said:
Okay, I'll try reposting your same set of posts below:
Well let's begin with my automobile history, which as you read will make it clear why I am now a proud 4 Runner owner.
About 14 years ago when I was 16 and got my license, my parents gave me a 84 Buick Regal. As far as body, heating, and such it was great, but when it came to the engine it was horrible. If I did not get a head start I would not make it up a hill, I had the engine changed, and before and after the change of the engine it was in the mechanic's shop every single week.
Finally my parents let me spend my hard earned money ($3000) and buy my dream car: Camaro. After buying that I can say the only benefit of that car was it got some girls attention, and I got to learn how to drive stick. But with that aside I do not know what is worse: the 84 Buick or the 84 Camaro.
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So after owning the Camaro for a couple of years an opportunity I was waiting for finally arrived. My best friend's father finally was selling his 84 Blazer (it's not like I was looking for an 84 car, just worked out that way). I have had my eye on this ever since I knew my buddy Dave: before I even had a license. So since his father liked me and new I wanted that car, he gave me an opportunity to find a way to get it. So I did the only thing I could think of, I went to mom. Well after giving my mom my well planned speach about 4 wheel drive and reliability she loaned me the money.
So I spent my mom's hard earned money and bought myself my very first 4 wheel drive vehicle that needed the carburator to be rebuilt. So all in all through the years it needed it's repairs. One that sticks out the most is when my gas tank was leaking because a hole was rusted through.
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But it did what I expected: I got through the snow when my father couldn't, I had my share of fun, and the girls loved the extra room
But after dating my wife (girlfriend at the time) she gave me the confidence and the plan on what I could afford for a new vehicle. Once I new that I had a car stuck in my mind and no one could talk me out of: 98 or 99 Jeep Wrangler.
Now all things consider that vehicle was fun: you can go over speed bumps at full speed and not feel them, take on a dirt trail like you put on all after market offroading kits, etc. But with the fun came a problem. This problem which I took to Jeep 4x's still was not fixed, and to add the lack of room, plastic windows, being cold till I had it warm, I hated it. Granted it was fun, but it sucked more.
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So even though I had Hella foglights, speaker kits, and running boards installed I turned it in after owning it for a year or less for a Honda CR-V.
That CR-V people, while yes it's small, not that fast (4 cylinder), and not really a off roading vehicle, I have nothing bad to say about that car. If you do not have that much money, but want a car that is affordable, can handle snow and any other bad weather, get the Honda CR-V.
So you ask, why did I get rid of it: well like I said it does not scream truck. So after owning a Jeep Wrangler and a Blazer I needed more of a truck like vehicle. So after two years with the CR-V and 57k miles I turned it in for a 2000 Honda Passport that I bought in 2001.
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Now people, this truck is not bad, but the one I bought I say is a lemon. This truck had a leak, the stearing wheel shaked, and then had this re-occurring problem that Honda could not figure out. After driving it for a period of time it would stall when I reached a complete stop: and starting it was almost impossible.
So after going to Honda so many times, having my wife come and give them Hell I finally threw in the towel and pleaded with my wife for a new car. She agreed under one condition, that she is there and if the deal is not right we walk.
So here I am with the new car bug, and I am researching: mostly Toyota's. Why? Well my mother and my sister both owned Toyota's and you know how many bad things they had to say about it? ZERO! With my car history that says a lot for I can only say that about the Honda CR-V.
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Also, one of the guys mentioned to me that the 2003 Toyota 4 Runner got rated as the best SUV for the year. So what I did was make a list of what I had to have, what I wanted but was not necessary, and what I did not want if at all possible. Then I took the 4 Runner descriptions for Limited, Sport, and SR5 and did a comparison. The one that hit my list right on the dot was the Sport.
So after a wonderful test drive, watching my wife in action doing deals with the salesman, I left that night with my baby: 2003 Toyota Sport Edition 4 Runner.
Three months later my other baby is born
BTW, I enjoyed your story (the one I though peter was referring to was actually the one posted by the guy who started that thread). I agree the CR-V is great little vehicle. The Passport (aka Pisspoor) is really an Isuzu don't forget, although I think Honda should still take full responsibility for it since they allowed their badge to be slapped on it. For a good laugh, see the comparo on Edmunds from a couple of years ago where they compare midsize SUVs, that's where I got the name "Pisspoor" 
