Facebook Marketplace Hunting In Thailand - 3 Rugged Toyotas That Can Tackle Thailand’s Crazy Storm

The storm season is showing no signs of abating, and with flood levels at knee-length in some districts just a stone’s throw away from home, we are curious what rides there are on offer in Facebook Marketplace that can tackle these harsh conditions.

Yes we are still big fans of low-slung manual coupes and direct steering short wheelbase hot hatches, but we can address these desires in the summer. So what do we have here that makes light work of Bangkok’s fancy flash floods? We’ve narrowed the shortlist down to 3 4x4s from Toyota…

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser

It’s hilarious to think that Toyota, a brand often accused of taking the safe route, made such a quirky-looking vehicle. And this is precisely why we love it. Some call it the JDM Hummer, but we think this is way cooler than we give it credit for. It steals its platform from the muscular Land Cruiser Prado, and it is powered by a single engine option - 4.0-litre V6. While the exterior might polarise opinions, its all-functional cabin almost makes you feel like you can give it a good hose-down after a muddy day at work. This example in black might not turn as many heads, but it doesn't even matter when all we’ll care about is having absolute fun off the beaten path, on surfaces only a handful can thrive.

2003 Toyota Hilux Sport Cruiser

Nothing beats a 4x4 on all-terrain rubbers to pull us out of sticky situations. But when the vehicle is raised and powered by a familiar 3.0-litre Toyota turbo diesel, it almost seems like it can survive seven days worth of El Ninos. The owner of this example claims to have full service records - essential when it looks like Transformer had a hand in the design. In all seriousness, this looks more than ready to challenge nature, with a snorkel, lift kit, a distance measuring aka “who do I trample on next” pole, and brand new side steps that doubles as gym equipment.

2006 Toyota Fortuner

We’ve always dreamt of one car that can do everything. And when we live in Bangkok, we definitely need it to survive floods. Which is why the Toyota Fortuner must be on the list primarily due to its family-friendly positioning. This 230,000km mileage unit might look like any other regular Fortuner, but it has all the right mods to outlast a mad monsoon. Subtle sprinkles of 20-inch all-terrains and a Safari-style snorkel to tough OEM bits like a diff lock-equipped 4x4 drivetrain and torque-rich 3.0-litre turbo diesel makes it a force to be reckoned with. Drenched in black (and privacy tints for rear passengers), this should bring us to campsites fuss free, forever.