Hello fellow Arizonian! We moved up near Prescott about 14 months ago and with like a million off-road trails in my backyard, I too pined for a VX. Got mine 2 months ago w/64k miles. I felt like you did for a while (afraid it would leave me stranded somewhere), but I've read & read AND READ some more on this forum & done everything they suggested, & feel way more confident! But, like you, I'm used to Toyota/Honda reliability so the VX was worrisome. Now the addiction has firmly taken hold and it's great! The 4Runner & FJ Cruiser sit in garage a lot more these days! Even my hubby is really starting to like it ;oop;

On my 1st off-road adventure, I got Arizona pinstriped really bad. I whined about it on the forum and gasmask and a few others slapped me out of it! A VX is to be enjoyed!

Maybe we'll meet one day if you're passing by again. Another VX'er named Moonbuggyman lives in Prescott with an '01 S/C Proton. I chased him down on 69 about a month ago to meet him. We plan on going off-road some time.....with FJ following us in case one of us craps out...:-)

On a side note, I had appendicitis last weekend and had emergency surgery.....had to let the VX sit for a week ....learned that VX OEM shocks & appendectomy & living on a rutted dirt road DO NOT mix...but I hit it today and I handled it OK! Yehaw! I'm back ya'll! ~Sue