2007 Fj (2 Viewers)

[okie]

when toyota first came out with the land cruiser it was a high end fwd. As they got older , peopel started to wheel them hardcore.Hopefully later on they will offer a MINI version with a removable top or something - ( maybe a highbrid?) Not like I like hibrids or anything. Anyway I think it will kick ass!

 

[woody]

got two in the mail today.....very nicely done brochure


IMO, they hit the mark right on, mixing the old Cruiser and minitrucks with modern requirements.

I'm looking forward to my first test drive, and hope to talk my way into a "day ride"....hehehe

 

[Brentbba]

We do get into a hair splitting thing here, but a Cruiser is based on a Cruiser frame and a Cruiser as a total package has a certain engineering ethic to its design that includes overbuilding and doing just about everything possible to ensure reliability, durability, and longevity. Over time they have evolved but share a lot of mechanical features, of which the FJ Cruiser shares few. Real Cruisers are also built at the Araco assembly plant, although we have evidence that 100 series Cruisers are no longer built there.

The FJ Cruiser is a marketing exercise more than anything else. It is a Tacoma mechanically, at least as it has been presented by Toyota to date. Nothing wrong with Taco's - best mid sized pickup in the world besides the Land Cruiser pickups that are available only in non-USA markets. But a Tacoma is not a Land Cruiser - it's not meant to be one, which is fine, it is what it is. Toyota took the Tacoma chassis and built onto it this goofy body that borrows some of its look from older Cruisers.

If it was a Land Cruiser then Toyota would call it that.

You sound like my nephew when I bought the first of the water cooled Carerra's...'that's not a real Porsche Uncle Brent'. Hmm, me thinks Dr. Ferdinand Porsche would disagree.

Does the UZJ100 resemble the FZJ80 or FJ80? Does the 80 series resemble the 60 series? Does the 60 series resemble the 40 series?

In some respects yes, in others no. Same basic logic can apply to the FJ Cruiser. Yota is putting it as part of the 'cruiser family'. Marketing...maybe. 100% resemblence, no. It's there retro movement. Does the now defunct retro Ford Tbird resemble the original (outside of the round window). Not really.

Purists in any form or faction won't accept deviations. Not necessarily a bad thing or a good one and I'm not slamming you for your opinion (much anyway ).

If they had a soft top, I'd look at it. If timing on it's release were better, I'd look at it for my son. Yota makes darn reliable vehicles. Son will probably end up with a Taco.

 

[yooper]

Purists in any form or faction won't accept deviations. Not necessarily a bad thing or a good one and I'm not slamming you for your opinion (much anyway ).

Yeah, that's what purist means!

Nothing wrong with the FJC, other than it's fugly and has a huge blind spot. I might even buy one and love it, but I'd never call it a Land Cruiser.

It's all good.

I got my SOR/SEMA package today. The picture in there is the concept vehicle. The CD is pretty cool but it's all the same stuff from the heritage web site. I did register for the contest.

Sure is a lot of hype for a concept vehicle - makes me think the production version is going to have to be awfully close.

The details in the package said full time 4WD, CDL switch and optional rear locker, so that's good. Sounds like the only engine option is the Tacoma V6, but you can get the 5 speed auto or the 6 speed stick. So mechanically it should be pretty nice.

I'm really looking forward to seeing it in person some day, and in different colors besides that gay blue. A good color could make all the difference.

It might be my next daily driver, who knows. I doubt it, though. Right now I'm leaning toward a diesel Tundra extra cab, whenever that happens.

 

[Trollhole]

IN my opinion the true Landcruiser died with the introduction of the 60 and the 55. So maybe they should have called the 55-100 a cruiser instead of a land cruiser. I think.. Notice I said think, since I have never driven nor seen a fjc in person, the fj cruiser will be a really cool vehicle. It's good to see toyota at least making some sort of move back to it's roots. Purist. I consider a purist to be someone who likes all land cruisers big and small, faults and no faults. Not someone who says they don't like it and Toyota screwed it up. At least it will be something that most of us who like to wheel can afford.

 

[CruisinTiger]

I think this FJ is a Landcruiser. Ok so it doesn't have a solid front, and a few other items we would like to see. Well here is my point. This is the first year it is coming out....look at our 40's mine is a 68 with 3 spd on the column and drums all the way around with vaccum shift f engine and when you get up to a 1980 or so they are 4 spd, front disk(Ibelieve), manual shift 4wd, 2f engine and a lot better items than my 68. So if toyota is gonna build this year after year they aren't gonna blow there load on the first one to come out. I mean it's like anything, it's all in how you drive it. So it'll come out stock but I am sure there are already companies out there comin up with lift kits and bigger and better things than the original stock. And in the coming years they will come out with other options on this FJ. Who knows maybe some designer from yota is reading these threads and saying..hmmm..maybe we should have a solid front axle option...Who knows, but it sounds like some of you are counting the chickens before they hatch. And it'll be a few years before they have all hatched. Man it's a Yota and it's a Landcruiser.....Love em all!!!

 

[Cruiserhead05]

I'm with tiger on this....lets see what its like in 2,3,4 years and then say what you want. Look at almost all the cruiser models. the first few years were weak and then they built upon. Most logical people on ih8mud would agree the best built, most capable, well rounded cruiser ever build is the 80. Its got the best of both worlds....look at its first two years of production(not to offend an fj80 owners). It was an underpowered, unlocked dog of a vehicle. Within two years it was more comfortable, had a better tranny, dual lockers, and a more powerful engine.

 

[Wayneraintree]

IN my opinion the true Landcruiser died with the introduction of the 60 and the 55. So maybe they should have called the 55-100 a cruiser instead of a land cruiser.

is that because they are a wagon? what of the 45LV's/28's.. those not land cruisers either? not being a asshat, just curious if your definition of a land cruiser = a 40 (25) because that would be quite narrow and I respectfully disagree.....

but I do agree that Toyota is well aware of the fact that when they based the FJC on a taco, it is not a "land cruiser".. hence the ad slogan "soul of a legend" versus "next iteration of a legend".

Heck, they even subdivided the Prado in name cause it's not a Land Cruiser, it is a Land Cruiser "Prado"-

purist or not, the FJC seems like it will go where an old cruiser will go (relatively), has Toyota reliability, and none of the bolts will be rusty so I'm in for one

 

[Landpimp]

I cant use the excuse that the FJ is not made by Araco...........because niether is the 2005 Land Cruiser 100 series.......looked at one this last weekend, new on the lot.......it did not have the Araco sticker on the PS door and according to Toyota they are shifting the builds to another plant.....so I guess this is true

But ya know.....I am liking the FJ more.........prolly get one for Connie

 

[Ocelot]

I'm with tiger on this....lets see what its like in 2,3,4 years and then say what you want. Look at almost all the cruiser models. the first few years were weak and then they built upon. Most logical people on ih8mud would agree the best built, most capable, well rounded cruiser ever build is the 80. Its got the best of both worlds....look at its first two years of production(not to offend an fj80 owners). It was an underpowered, unlocked dog of a vehicle. Within two years it was more comfortable, had a better tranny, dual lockers, and a more powerful engine.

One could look at the 3rd generation 4Runner however. Started with a rear locker and 5-Speed manual transmission, and then in 2000 they took away the manual transmission and the rear locker. Then to add insult to injury they added TRAC

Since this vehicle is more a 4-Runner/Taco than a Land Cruiser I would look at the 4-Runners history.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Ocelot,

You do raise a good point. I'm just gonna hope they keep the rear locker, and 6 speed. i think those are the coolest parts about it. Personally its growing on me, even in the bright blue which i dont care for. I'm not a fan of the IFS or the fact that araco doesnt build it but its still not bad.

 

[Ocelot]

Yeah. I think it'll be a decent vehicle myself. I'm in the "cool-vehicle-but-not-a-cruiser" camp. Basically a Tacoma with a body kit.

 

[Trollhole]

Well I'm looking at it from the removable top issue. And I'm sure a lot of people with disagree with that. Jeep is a good example of doing it right. The had the cj-5s , 7s and wranglers,a wagoneer, cherokee, and grand cherokee. I'm thinking toyota should have come up with a new name for the 55s and up. It's more of a wagon. Now I'm not saying the name they gave the new cruiser makes anymore sense but to say a 100 carries on the TLC tradition with IFs is a little far fetched. I think Toyota deviated from it's true course after the 40 series. I mean they look nothing alike. At least you can say a 60 and a 100 look somewhat alike. And as far as a 55 well they are in a class by themselves.

Well this is all confusing but I have one question. If they did come out with another updated cruiser like the 25 or 40 series Would you expect them to call it a FJ46?

 

[Pskhaat]

let's see 70 series followed 40 series.

How about something like FZJ110.

Was there ever a 110 series?

 

[Wayneraintree]

And as far as a 55 well they are in a class by themselves.]

I have to agree with you 100% there

[Well this is all confusing but I have one question. If they did come out with another updated cruiser like the 25 or 40 series Would you expect them to call it a FJ46?

I would say they should name a truely "new FJ-40" an "FJ 40 TOO"! marketing savvy and it's catchy!

I am pretty sure they have already produced 42's and 46's.... just not for the states....

 

[FJBen]

Crap I'm away for a day and now my 55 isn't a "TRUE" land cruiser...

I see zero logic in your argument...but whatever...lol, so a four door Ford F-250 shouldn't be a true Ford F-250 cause it now has four doors and should be called the Ford ExtraRoomy?

 

[Wayneraintree]

Ben, ya killin me!

and land rover has the 110 so that would not work...

I think the latest alpha-numeric sequence is UZJ105.... so I'm sticking with FJ fortytoo...

 

[Gumby]

UZJ105 is taken. If it were to get LC status in other parts of the world, then it might be a 6VZ-110 or 120.

I'm fine with it not being called a Land Cruiser. It has nothing to do with the body style. The majority of the LC models were wagons. They have all evolved away from the 40 series.

The land Cruiser is a high end luxury wagon. Americans are easily confused and will be unable to deal with 2 vehicles with the same name on opposite ends of the spectrum. The FJ Cruiser is a 4Runner that evolved toward the off road utility direction, rather than the bloated near luxo 05 Runner. I like it and I'm OK with it not being a Land Cruiser.

 

[Landpimp]

120 is a Prado or GX470

UZJ105 is taken. If it were to get LC status in other parts of the world, then it might be a 6VZ-110 or 120.

I'm fine with it not being called a Land Cruiser. It has nothing to do with the body style. The majority of the LC models were wagons. They have all evolved away from the 40 series.

The land Cruiser is a high end luxury wagon. Americans are easily confused and will be unable to deal with 2 vehicles with the same name on opposite ends of the spectrum. The FJ Cruiser is a 4Runner that evolved toward the off road utility direction, rather than the bloated near luxo 05 Runner. I like it and I'm OK with it not being a Land Cruiser.

 

[Gumby]

Damn. 6FZ-130 then.

Actually, I don't know what they are calling the 4.0L version of the 3.4L 5FZ-FE, or even if it is based on the 5FZ. So I just made up 6FZ based on past trends.