Products I wholeheartedly endorse

[monster]

you guys obviously haven't mastered the art of stealing everyone else's pens....

[SteveDallas]

Well, everybody else is doing pens, so I thought I'd post my Waterman. There's just something about the head computer geek taking out a fountain pen to sketch an explanation of email routing that appeals to my old school-ish-ness.

I would also recommend the Nikon D50 digital SLR or its successor models.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by case

Gamblin oil paints. They are like painting with warm whipped butter.

Body paints, case?

[lumberjim]

rocky road lift kits

looks cool and rides better. now she just needs firmer struts up front.

[DucksNuts]

My pen of choice

[lookout123]

FJ Cruiser. Never before have I had a vehicle that I could not make one single complaint about.

[Cloud]

Consumer Reports says poor visibility, lots of road noise, and poor handling, I thiink.

But it looks cool!

[lookout123]

They must be comparing it to some street bound luxury vehicle. It has a couple of blind spots if you don't use your mirrors, but no real issue there. The road noise is pretty good, unless you are comparing it highly insulated luxury vehicle. Poor handling? Don't know what the heck that is about, it is one of the most responsive vehicles I've ever driven. Mind you, not a BMW 7 series, but it isn't supposed to be. A monster off road, and a dream on road.

[aimeecc]

My husband bought the FJ Cruiser in August. Great reviews. We both hate it now.

Our chief complaint is that in order for a passenger in the back seat to get out, the person in the front seat has to unbuckle and open their door. The handle for the rear doors is akward no matter if you are outside opening it or trying to open it from the inside.

This is truly important to us, since we put our son in the back seat, and I sit with him. I'm essentially trapped. Heaven forbid we ever get in an accident and my husband is knocked unconscious. I'd manage to get us out... but it wouldn't be easy or quick.

We can't even pull up to a gas station and have me run inside to get something without it being a production.

I can only blame ourselves - we had been car shopping for months, doing thorough research, then the FJ Cruiser came out, and my husband went car shopping without me. It was almost an impulse buy. I was at home, reading reviews for him, which were all good. Had I been there, we would have noticed these things. But his car had gone through a series of breakdowns and he had reached the point of "I need to trade it in now before something else goes wrong."

I usually love Toyotas. I've owned the Camry (loved it), Highlander (loved it) and now the Sienna (love it). I just wish the Sienna (or any decent van) got better gas mileage. I would trade size for gas mileage. I want a van (and not a smaller sedan or hatchback that would get better gas mileage) because of the sliding doors. It really is difficult to get the car seat in and out of a sedan.

[lookout123]

eh, see the addage YMMV is always in effect. I've had mine since June '07. I put both my boys in the back of the FJ and the suicide doors don't bother me. I've never had any issue with the door handle at all. When I drop lil lookout at school i pull up, undo my seat belt and open the door. He is out and his door is closed just as fast in this as we can do in our full size truck. I rarely have adults sit in the back, never if the front seat is open.

Depending on what package you got you should be able to unload your FJ for a relatively small loss because they are still in short supply.

[aimeecc]

I'm sure if I rode in it more often than once a month it I would get used to it and have an easier time. We've thought about trading it in, but are worried about loss of value. I'll have to check out the package we got and see what its worth.

[lookout123]

yeah, it sounds like with your concerns it might not be the right vehicle for you.

I've logged >32,000 miles on mine since I got it. Mostly in town at 60-80 mph. Plenty of trips up north and west. It has been buried up to the hubs in mud and plowed through water up to the frame. It has carried dirty dogs, filthy kids, muddy soccer gear, and immaculately dressed businessmen. It looks equally at home in the desert covered in grime and at a five star hotel with a beautiful woman being helped out. Sadly for the guy in my office building, it still turns more heads than his Ferrari.

It's perfect for me.

[aimeecc]

I read a review when my husband was looking at it... I can't remember the exact words, but I think it was "ruggedly sexy". lol

I think my hubby has other complaints about it as well, I just don't remmeber off the top of my head what they are. He had a Ford Explorer he was very happy with, but it was over 100k miles and starting the break a lot.

The primary reason for the SUV is to pull the boat. No driving in mud (yet).

[TheMercenary]

This is mine and I love it. 7000 miles since Nov. It has been a big adjustment from 10 years of the F-150 but I must say it is so much better made.

[TheMercenary]

The other product I can recommend for insomnia is Kava Kava pills. I sleep well and have vivid dreams when I use it, usually about 2 times a month after a series of nights of insomnia. If you can find it get some. The stuff I have is powered pill form.