The Cruiser was finally delivered yesterday. I would not normally recommend buying a vehicle that you've never driven or heard running, but in Japan that is an exception. I love the culture of respect and honor in this country. The dealer went above and beyond to ensure that I would be absolutely satisfied with my purchase. They would not risk dishonoring their business by selling a lemon.
Initial impressions of the truck are:
-1HZ: it's a brute. Lots of torque, feels unstoppable, not nearly as gutless as I thought it would be accelerating. Definitely not fast, but feels like it's ready for serious work.
-1st gear... forget it. Not worth the time/energy for 2 seconds of acceleration. Only for use on a slope.
-Suspension seats: where have you been all my life?!?
-Suspension: Conestoga wagon... ok, maybe not quite that archaic.
-Brakes: four wheel disks, but you'd better be planning ahead.
-Construction: Brick $#!@house... metal dash. Enough said.
-A/C: Why has no other vehicle that I know of received aim-able foot vents? Point it toward the seat of your pants, and enjoy the best cooling experience in automotive history (aside from maybe air conditioned seats.)
-Visibility: Like a fire tower. Nearly no blind spots of any kind, although all the mirrors could benefit from being a bit larger.
Overall: I feel like this was the truck I was always meant to drive. IMO people that have fallen in love with comfort and speed would be wise to skip it. My Tacoma is a "truck" by North American definition, but in comparison is like a sports car. This Cruiser takes me back in time and reminds me of my uncle's old farm truck, and that puts a simile on my face. For me the pros out weigh the cons. FYI, my wife similes like I do when she looks at it.