2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser First Drive Oklahoma

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Introduction

Toyota FJ Cruiser - 2007 First Drive: It will be a good yarn one day, and with time and countless telling, the legend will grow. Kids will hear about it, grandkids and their friends, about how so-and-so fooled the focus groups and talked Toyota management into building the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. If you listen, you can actually hear the story now: how management bought into the fact that it was just a modified 4Runner with a new design and a less expensive interior, and how focus groups thought it would be a cute SUV, a trendy piece of work that would appeal to the more garish among us. They didn't hear the part about how the FJ Cruiser rides like an actual truck-based SUV, of all things, about how it jars a bit, jostles a bit, is a bit too loud and, well, generally acts like that uncle at your sister's wedding.

Go, go, GO!
It's refreshing when an automaker doesn't put leather inside a cab because a truck isn't supposed to have leather. It's refreshing when an automaker keeps it real, builds a truck to do truck things, and doesn't try to attract people who just will never, ever, get the bright blue paint and the white roof. The FJ Cruiser is the coolest, most unapologetic vehicle ever built by Toyota, a bold SUV not for everyone - but it could be, given its off-road prowess, capable engine, interesting interior and exciting design. About that design: that's another thing that's refreshing - when an automaker keeps to the original concept of a car and creates a really cool vehicle. Not so refreshing is a back seat built for no one - unless your name is Grocery Bag or Brief Case. There's a good amount of legroom, true, but the setup makes you feel as though you're sitting in a dark hole. Also a bit stale are the suicide doors that are a bad old idea on a new vehicle.

Ultimately, to those who either don't get the FJ Cruiser - or will never take it off-road - we kindly request that you purchase a RAV4, with the new V6. A nice vehicle, a safe, unassuming SUV, the RAV4 is something your mother-in-law will approve of, the kind of car she may even smile over. Pull up in an FJ Cruiser, however, and the first thing out of the old hag's mouth will be something about growing up or having an affair.

So what. Growing up is overrated anyway.

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Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.