Hi Guys. wow it took me a while to register.

Long story short, I am a new Montero owner in Phoenix, AZ. Cannot believe I found this site with such an active Montero base locally in Phoenix/AZ. I LOVE this ride.

I have a 1991 stock Montero with dual bounces. It came from a single owner and has been in a garage its entire life... I also have a 2nd vehicle, an AWD Astro which I am trying to get rid of. Once I get rid of that I am looking for a 2nd montero.

I am a 2 vehicle guy... I usually designate 1 as a towny and the 2nd as an expedition vehicle... What would you do with this PERFECT montero and what would you get as a 2nd vehicle? I am looking at the Gen II.5's for the expedition vehicle and keeping this mostly stock (31's when tires are due) as my towny ride I can valet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Once again, My name is Matt. Nice to meet you!

I'd suggest your 2nd vehicle be either a fuel sipper or a pickup (or a fuel sippin' pickup like a Ranger/Taco or whatever..) - what sense does it make to bear the burden of two machines that share near 1:1 parity of utility?

Also welcome to stuff!

Welcome! One of the interesting things about these trucks is the "gotta have more than one" mentality...
The 2 tone is kinda rare, any chance it has the leather interior? It certainly looks well kept. How many miles has she traveled?
Your picture looks like the truck is parked in front of my old house in central Phoenix!
With 31, or 32 inch tires, you can still off road, and keep it for your in town ride. I'm with WW, get a Starquest for vehicle #2! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I was thinking a 2nd because they feel so well built. I can see a little more push in the engine coming in handy if I were to put a rack on top etc etc.

I also have dogs... so I designate a vehicle to "dog mobile" status to try to keep dog hair out of at least 1 vehicle... White sheddy dog = lovable nightmare.

whatever the 4x rig is, it is also the dog mobile <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

and it has 242k on the ODE. It is literally PERFECT all working. The seats are not leather but they are in perfect condition... I almost don't even want to drive it... just park it in a museum.

AND YES! It is parked in central PHX right behind LUX.

Welcome! I'm a 3 vehicle guy plus one for the missus. Right now i've got a Gen 2.5 Montero, Gen 1 SWB diesel Montero, Gen 5 Hilux, WW has some valid points about having two vehicles with the same purpose. I can agree to a point but if one is modified differently than the other i think it makes sense if you enjoy driving the particular vehicle (one stock for driving and one modified for wheeling).

The problem i ran into is that with having 3 4x4's is that i managed to make only 1 drivable at one point. My Gen 1 was mildly built for offroad but i kept stockish sized A/T tires on it and used it for my DD, while it got good milage around town (24-25MPG) It was another 4x4 at my house. So it obviously had to have all of our favorite parts installed on it; big axles, Locker/LSD, crawler gears, suspension seats, rock sliders and even though i only wheeled it a few times we managed to break some parts on it (off road accident - not really wheeling related).

Anyway this made me realize i only need two 4x4's (one for long wheeling/camping trips and one for rock crawling) my 3rd vehicle is going to be 2WD. I sold the Gen 1 and i'm replacing it with a 1978 Lancer, It'll be my first car so if i don't like it i'll move on to a 2WD Mighty Max or Starwagon for more of a truck feel and usefulness.

I also forgot to mention... I drive/ride an enduro motorcycle around town to keep the miles off my vehicles for most short little stints around town. Keep maintenance/gas down. I love it.

I have to say, out of the 16 vehicles I have owned so far, this montero is one of the most comfortable rides yet... it is even trumping the Audi Allroad. Maybe it is the bouncy seat, I have no idea. It is smooth though. I have only taken in out on 2 trips so far, Prescott and workman falls. It seems pretty solid.

AstroVan replaced my westfalia and it is FAIL. The interior is garbage. I took it to Fossil Creek and the washboard nearly rattled the interior to pieces... and that is after I've replaced the entire suspension/shocks, added AT's and gave it a 2" lift... POS.

To your first question, I'd keep it simple. Maintenance, 31s, a locker, one of them fancy Engels/ARB refrigerators. Then just enjoy it.

As for your second question...



25 years to the month/year, it's legal. I hope to have mine by Xmas.

Welcome to the club. Hope to see you around. (And, if you don't live in NW El Paso like the rest of these guys, we just might.)

I would probably sell my house for a Delica...

I know of one that might be coming up for sale soon... i think it's an '88, 4x4 Diesel and already titled/legal