Episode 106 – 5th Gen 4Runner Mods and SCC 2025 with Jacob
Episode 106
Welcome to the automotive podcast that is talking 5th gen mods and SCC 2025
On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…
- A Chinese Range Rover Knock-off… Knocks On “Heaven’s Gate”
- AI Wrote our intros
- The USA makes a better robot than Russia… so, we have that going for us.
All of that and more on this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches.
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On this show we will spend a bunch of time talking to Jacob and learning about his 2024 5th Gen 4Runner build along with the annual Southern Cruiser Crawl trip he and Eric took this past October.
NEWS:
Chinese Car Attempts To Drive
Up ‘Heaven’s Gate,’ Crashes Through Guardrail
Source: Newsweek
Chinese Range Rover’ SUV Dragon Challenge Failed – Chery Icar 03 (Chery Fulwin X3L )
A Chinese automaker has issued an apology after a publicity stunt staged on China’s Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park went badly wrong.
Chery Automobile, one of the largest automakers in the Far East, was filming a video for its new Fengyun X3L SUV on November 12 when disaster struck.
The plan was for the company’s new SUV to be filmed ascending Tianmen Mountain’s famous 999 steps up to the natural arch known as Heaven’s Gate, located in Zhangjiajie, Central China’s Hunan Province.
Known to many as the “Stairway to Heaven,” in 2018 the steps had served as the setting for a similar stunt staged by fellow car manufacturer Range Rover to promote its Range Rover Sport range.
Whereas the Range Rover Sport successfully surmounted the steps, thought to be just 30 centimeters [12 inches] wide and on a gradient in excess of 60 degrees, the Fengyun X3L struggled with the ascent, ultimately losing momentum and rolling back down the hill.
A video, posted to X by @CollinRugg, captures what happened next, with a yellow version of Chery Automobile’s new SUV shown crashing into a protective guardrail, causing damage to the iconic tourist spot and shocking bystanders in the process.
National:
New Fear Unlocked: Windshield Washer Fluid & Legionella Bacteria
Windshield washer fluid may contain bacteria that cause the deadly form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease, according to researchers who say the study is the first to detect high levels of Legionella in automobiles or aerosolized by washer fluid spray.
Legionella bacteria, which are naturally occurring and typically found in water, are transmitted to people through mist or vapor from water containing the bacteria. For example, air conditioners and hot tubs can be sources of infection. The bacteria do not spread from person to person.
Most people exposed to Legionella bacteria don’t become ill, but some develop Legionnaires’ disease. The bacteria can also cause a milder illness similar to the flu.
Researchers found Legionella bacteria in the windshield washer fluid of 75% of school buses they tested in one central Arizona school district. The investigators also discovered that Legionella bacteria can grow in windshield washer fluid and maintain stable populations in the fluid for up to 14 months.
“Washer fluid spray can release potentially dangerous numbers of these bacteria into the air. These results suggest that automobiles may serve as a source of transmission for Legionella infections,” study author Otto Schwake, a doctoral student at Arizona State University, said in a society news release.
Moment of Musk:
Are we past the 3rd rail phase with this guy?
Elon Musk says Tesla’s Optimus will have superhuman surgical skills
During a talk with Ron Baron, founder of asset management firm Baron Capital, Elon Musk said Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, will one day perform surgeries with better precision than a human.
“Imagine a world where everyone has access to the best surgeons, literally everyone,” Musk said.
“Optimus will have the level of precision that is frankly superhuman and will be able to do medical procedures, very sophisticated medical procedures, any medical procedure, perhaps things that really humans can’t even do because they’re too difficult, and that will be available to anyone.”
Musk stated that people often talk about eliminating poverty and providing great medical care but never actually have a solution.
“Money doesn’t solve it, because there are only so many, there’s a very limited number of great doctors and surgeons. They don’t grow on trees. But now they will get built in factories,” Musk said.
Currently, there is no medical version of Optimus, and the robot is still in the early stages of development.
THE LARGER TREND
Musk stated during Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings call that he foresees the robot being “the biggest product of all time” and eventually making enormous strides in healthcare.
“It won’t even seem like a robot. It will seem like a person in a robot suit. It will seem so real that you’ll need to poke it, I think, to believe that it is actually a robot,” Musk said.
Meanwhile in Russia…
Russia ‘Human’ Robot Falls on Stage During Debut
updated
Nov 14, 2025 at 05:04 AM EST
Novosiltsev Artur/Moskva Agency
By Jesus Mesa
Politics Reporter
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
Russia’s first humanoid robot with artificial intelligence fell on stage during its official debut at a technology event in Moscow on November 10, prompting staff to cover the machine from public view while attempting to fix the malfunction.
The robot, named AIdol, was introduced by developers as an advanced example of anthropomorphic robotics built largely from domestic components. As the robot was being led on stage by two staff members to the soundtrack from the film Rocky, it lost balance and fell, leaving several pieces behind on the stage.
Video footage of the incident, shared by independent Russian outlets, shows staff rushing to hide the robot behind a screen as it was being dragged off the
Cars of the Weak
Eric: 
This interior is insane… And I have to ask… Whats the point?
The “W” platform (is that right?) that spawned a series of 80’s and 90’s benzes that looked like stacking dolls still does not look very collectable to me. Am I alone on this?
Daryl: 1991 Mercedes 300e Sedan
https://www.facebook.com/share/1FotHtJ56i/
1991 Mercedes 300e runs and drives nice ,recent front springs ,the rods ,bilstiens front shocks. 139k automatic, IL title. Includes an extra set of Blizzak snow tires and winter wheels.
Jacob:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bd3vobekM/
Hi, here I got is a 1985 Toyota 4runner best year for the first gen 4runner has the 22re with solid front axles. It has 46k original miles lowest mileage one I seen so far it’s in really great shape everything works how it should! If interested inbox me please don’t waste my time if you don’t have the money or want to lowball me don’t bother inboxing me or you will get blocked thanks for looking. Trades are welcome but have to be the same value or cash on top!
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