My '03 Gal Grey LTD 4WD V8 in Germany

[Capitan]

Ciao,
My wife, child and I took a trip from Aviano, Italy up to Ramstein, Germany in July this year putting about 1,000 miles on our 03 4Runner. It was a good test of how well she (the 4Runner) would do on a long trip as far as comfort goes. It was also our first trip with our 7 month old so that was added fun.
All in all, Bruno (the truck) did well. The gas mileage was around 20 mpg on the Autostrada (in IT) and on the Autobahn (in GE). You could imagine all the looks we got from the BMW and Mercedes drivers passing us. They don't sell the new 4Runner in Germany or Italy so it was a strange sight to see for them. I had a new Porsche owner follow me several miles just to ask where I got my 4Runner because he wanted one...too funny.

We'll probably take a trip up to Austria in December so I'll take some winter pics then and show you.
Ciao for now,
Jon

 

[Capitan]

Here's another one from the road:

 

[juandixon]

great post!!! if possible please post a pic of your car with its european license plates!!!

 

[jharris2]

And out of curiosity, where did you buy it?

 

[Capitan]

Thanks, I'm glad you like the pics. I'll take some pics of the truck this week after I get it washed. It rained for 3 straight days this past week.

jharris2 asked where I purchased my fine machine: I bought it at the Auto Exchange here in Aviano, Italy. They sell American-spec Toyotas, VWs and Audi's to US military members at a fairly decent price. Our Euro-spec '91 Volvo 960 wasn't cutting the mustard with the need for increased space due to the child and we're die-hard Toyota freaks so my wife decided she liked the 4Runner. The rest is history. We bought it in April 03. It was "born" in Dec 02.

juandixon - I can accomodate your request now that all military members here can get European looking license plates for free instead of having to use the AFI (American Forces Italy) plates. It's another perk to help make our cars a little less conspicuous due to all the Al Qaeda cells in the area. It works on some cars more than others as you can imagine.
Take care,
Jon

 

[Guest]

Jon,
You can't post pics and not show the 4Runner! lol

Look forward to the pics of the truck and those are beautiful landscapes anyway. Great story about the Porsche driver!

 

[Thai]

Damn, you guys are too artistic with your camera! Beautiful background.

I need to take a vacation over there....

 

[mtnrunner]

Thai,

You don't need to go across the pond to see sights like what Capitan posted, you're only a few hundreds miles from Colorado! And CO offers more state/national parks, diverse weather and altitude, skiing, rock climbing, mountain climbing, mountain biking, Kayaking, rafting, hiking per square foot then any other place in the world. Hell, we got 54 fourteeners! And, unlike Europe, it's not backwards, over crowded, over priced and over polluted, (sorry el capitan)

Of course we have a saying here written in all the bathroom stalls:

"Here I sit with my cheaks a flexin
Just gave birth to another Texan!"

So maybe hide your Texas plates...

 

[mtnrunner]

BTW:

 

[mtnrunner]

and...

 

[mtnrunner]

finally: where my 4runner takes me:

 

[Thai]

Of course we have a saying here written in all the bathroom stalls:

"Here I sit with my cheaks a flexin
Just gave birth to another Texan!"

So maybe hide your Texas plates...

Damn, that blindsided me! I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

 

[Capitan]

Mtnrunner,
There's no place I'd rather be than in the States but Uncle Sam has me elsewhere for the time being. Thanks for the pics, they look beautiful...except for that weird looking guy about to fall down the side of the cliff. ;-P

I'll have to drive down to Pisa and take a pic with Bruno next to the tower.

Or maybe I'll drive to Rome and offer the Pope a ride... maybe he'll dub my 4Runner the next Popemobile!

I know, highly unlikely. I will do my best to get some action shots in this 4-day weekend.
Ciao,
Jon

 

[mtnrunner]

Well stated Capitan, if and when you return to the homeland you gonna have your 4runner shipped or just inflate the hell out of the tires and do the Jesus drive across the pond?

Say hi to the Pope for me but don't let him take the wheel, he's not the sportsman he used to be!

 

[jharris2]

Where are the 4Runners in the pics???

 

[Capitan]

I plan on shipping my nice vehicle back to the States when we return in early '05. The shipping is free of charge thanks to Uncle Sam.

It rained all day today so we didn't get and play in the mountains. If the weather clears up in the next day or two, I'll get some pics with my 4Runner in them.
Ciao,
Jon