Coming early 2011: a Toyota nobody actually needs

Wallowing in American mud and soon to wallow in ours, the Toyota 4WD that many may want, but nobody actually needs.

Toyota's holding a long-lead press launch for the FJ Cruiser in Australia in a few weeks and, no, 4wdNewz isn't on the guest list. But the event's timing got me thinking that this tough and capable lifestyle vehicle that has been a success in the US might be here before Christmas. Sadly not. The way I see it, after talking to New Zealand's top selling brand's HQ in Palmerston North, is that they could have had it ready to be under the Christmas tree but chose not to. The holiday season is an appalling time to launch a new vehicle because the marketplace has its collective mind on other things.

So expect it here in the "first quarter", expect it in one specification level only and expect it not to be cheap. I asked whether it'd be in the "$70,000s", thinking that was fairly generous. Meaningful pause on the phone: "Well, maybe not that low." Volume has something to do with pricing and the FJ isn't likely to sell in Toyota's usual mega-numbers. Unlike any other 4WD in the company's range, it's a vehicle that nobody needs – but which reasonable numbers will certainly want.

Update: Toyota execs said at the Highlander launch Oct 4 that the FJ Cruiser will probably be here in February or March, with  a significantly revised Hilux in the "second half".

The all-knowing Wikipedia has the goods on the FJ Cruiser here.

My mechanic's going to have to work faster

"Hey Sarge. I've got a bolt left over."

Okay, this is a Jeep thing, but owners of other makes will miss something if they don't watch this YouTube gem showing keen army guys dismantling and rebuilding a Jeep in four minutes. You'll note that they cheated a bit by doing some advance preparation, but it's still a great watch. The guys are soldiers from a base near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Two sets of tyres? Makes my back ache just thinking about it

"Hang on, I'll just change the tyres."

Wasting time in a tyre shop today, I overheard a conversation between the salesman and a customer who wanted a set of mud tyres and rims for when he went off-roading. I'd be the last person to sink a possible sale, but I felt like dropping my brochure and screaming, "no, don't … whatever else you do, don't buy a second set of tyres!" While it seems like a really good idea, there are three things wrong, and I  speak with knowledge and authority, having been down this very track.

• The first is that you will always have the wrong set of tyres on the vehicle. If you reckon the track will be a quagmire, it will in fact be surprisingly dry and perfectly suitable for the all-terrains. If you head off on the all-terrains because it's a beautiful sunny day, there will be a massive downpour just before reaching the track and you'll be sliding all over the place. There is no meteorological or climatic reason for this, it is entirely due to the act of changing your five tyres.

• The second reason not to do it is the physical effort involved. It might be okay for your Jimny running 26s on alloys, but have you lifted a 35 on a steel or even alloy rim, then tried to place it on the little studs? Five Times? Weightlifters and well toned athletes may have less of a problem, but after lifting the fifth and final wheel onto the spare carrier, I'm buggered – and you might be, too. Remember, as you take an inventory of your aches and grazed knuckles, you'll probably want/need to replace them with the street rubber once home. Or give up and just leave them on. You also have to find somewhere to store the second set. Until that time arrives, you'll not believe how much space they take up.

• The third thing wrong is the cost although, if you have heaps of money, ignore this objection. The guy in the tyre shop was going to be up for more than $3500 for steel rims and a set of decent mudders. I think this might have dampened his enthusiasm; you could tell by the body language as he left.

No, no, no, don't buy extra rims and tyres unless you're planning to do winch challenges or something. Just buy the road-friendliest set of mud tyres you can find, and leave it at that. About 13 years ago, I gave up on multiple sets and formed a long and happy relationship with the BFG Mud Terrain, which was good off-road and better than it had any right to be on the road. They also seemed almost impossible to wear out. There are other good mud tyres that ride, handle and stop well on the road; don't think I'm trying to steer you to a BFG outlet. I'm happy with my asymmetric Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs and other road friendly mud tyres I've watched over the years and know something about include offerings from Cooper, Kumho and, more recently, Mickey Thompson.

'Just gone up north for a few days'

Auckland's Noel Hahn in action on the dunes at an earlier Northland Kauri Coast Safari. No, it's not snowing, that's glorious white sand. The event's on again this year and it's a long one, from 15 to 21 January. Run in association with the Kauri Coast 4WD Club, it starts at Dargaville and travels through some pretty decent beach and forest country. Local schools are used for overnight camping and provide a meal each night. The trip is family oriented and while there have usually been plenty of driving challenges, it's not truck-breaking stuff. Contact Chris or Leanne Kemp at 0-9-434 6005, Serena Carran 0-9-439 0064, write to PO Box 18 Dargaville, or email the Kauri Coast club at kauricoast4wdclub@yahoo.co.nz.