Baja Bliss
Pros:
Handles like a sports car. Useful like no other vehicle. attention grabber. Fun!
Cons:
Could do better on mileage. Noise from mirrors, sunroof, and front cross bar.
The Bottom Line:
Buy it if you are outdoorsy. Don't if you need a vehicle to prove your manliness. Useful but not macho.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Hello again reviewers,
My little Baja is about to hit 30k on the odometer and it only seems like I was test driving it yesterday. They grow up so fast. Yes, I'm going on like it was my child. But this is the first vehicle I have actually really liked since my '95 MR2. I would like to address some of the concerns, questions, critiques, and comments I have heard over the last two years of driving my Baja around Austin and the rest of Texas.
First of all, this is not a Brat. Brat= 2 doors. Baja= 4 doors. The rear seats of a Brat faced backward, not so in the Baja. The Brat actually had a bigger bed than the Baja, but the Baja has a pass through from the bed to the rear seat.
Next, it isn't (despite the State of Texas opinion) a truck. It will not haul what a truck hauls, it won't tow what a truck tows. But it will run circles around any truck I've driven and do so with wonderful manners. I have to laugh at the sky high 4x4s. Who really needs such a vehicle on paved roads?
This little gem is one of those rare vehicles designed to do many things rather well if none of them spectacularly.
I ride both road and mountain bikes. Having transported my cycles in everything from my MR2 through Supras, 4runners, vans, etc., I find the Baja to be the absolute dream come true for my needs in cycling. The bed has a notch for a 2x4 to which fork mounts can be attached. No reaching high overhead to place the bikes in the back. No complete take apart to get it all in the car.
My gear rides in the back on the way to the park and is then locked inside while I am on the trail.
Kayaking is also on my list of activities. The low height of the roof rack makes loading the boat a breeze. Try getting one on top of a 4runner after a long paddle and you will appreciate the Baja more than before.
Mine is a commuter vehicle. I drive about 35 miles to work three days a week. I find it comfortable and reasonable on gas. The all time all wheel drive doesn't help the mileage and it would be nice to be able to disengage it. The seats are nice and comfy and unlike others, I find the power to be very appropriate for the kind of vehicle it is. For comparison, I had an NSX 04 for a three day weekend with no restrictions. After the weekend, I was actually glad to get back in my car.
I have recommended this car to many people. I will continue to do so. I think in time we will see it recognized for the incredible little machine it is.
One last thing, I have hauled, a full sized washer and dryer at the same time, a 42 inch tv, without concern because of how smooth the ride is, firewood, plants, and groceries galore. A friend and I are working out the logistics on an 04 GSXR 750. Don't ask.
