80 or new fj cruiser

[hurricanes99]

I have previously owned a 96' w/lockers and have been kicking myself every since I sold it (couple of years ago). At the time I wanted a sports car, but now I am looking to get another 80 or the new fj cruiser.

I have found a 97' 40th with around 73K miles ($16,900 asking price), but no lockers. I don't do a ton of wheeling, but I would prefer lockers. The biggest drawback to the 97 is its located about 350 miles away from home. I test drove the new fj and like it alot, but I hate to pay $30K for a car. I can afford it, but I just can't stand the thought of paying that much...

Should I hold out and find a 95-97/locked closer to home?

Any thoughts?

 

[wfd175]

Is this a baited question for the 80's forum?

I test drove a FJ when they first came out. I personally didn't feel it. I really didn't enjoy the access to the rear seat in particular.

I thought I may wait for a 4 door, removable hard top FJ if they ever decide to make one.

 

[e9999]

if you like lockers get lockers or you'll "kick yourself" again...

 

[DTAYLOR]

I have previously owned a 96' w/lockers and have been kicking myself every since I sold it (couple of years ago). At the time I wanted a sports car, but now I am looking to get another 80 or the new fj cruiser.

I have found a 97' 40th with around 73K miles ($16,900 asking price), but no lockers. I don't do a ton of wheeling, but I would prefer lockers. The biggest drawback to the 97 is its located about 350 miles away from home. I test drove the new fj and like it alot, but I hate to pay $30K for a car. I can afford it, but I just can't stand the thought of paying that much...

Should I hold out and find a 95-97/locked closer to home?

Any thoughts?

Caines,

Simple, get an 80. I like the look of the FJ, a lot. My testdrive was about like yours, left a little too much to be desired to shell out 30k.

There are not going to be many 97 80s around with that low a mileage, and you can always put lockers on it. Is it a dealer? Individual? Why so high? I would make a run at getting the price down, to say 12k, max.

I just missed on a 96 Lx with 165k on the clock. Clean, unlocked, for 10k. I wanted to get them to 8k, but some idiot came along and gave them 12k, while I was negotiating.

Get an 80, they are a better rig, and going away. THe FJ will surely come down, and we'll al end up with one sooner or later. I plan on having all of these (40, 60, 80, 100, FJ) eventually.

 

[Bikeman]

Get the '97. It has low miles. Add ARB lockers. I liked the ARB locker in the back of my Xterra. Then for ~$20K (or less depending how low you can get the seller), you have much more of a vehicle than the FJ Cruiser. Kids in the back seat is all it will hold, person-wise.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

I was in the same situation as you are. I almost bought an FJ, but when it came down to it 30k invested in a bone stock ride was too much. I would end up dumping at least another 3k in mods, so I bought an unlocked 93 FZJ-80 for $8,500 w/out lockers and 102k on the clock. Now I have room to mod it and without payments.

TK

 

[DTAYLOR]

I was in the same situation as you are. I almost bought an FJ, but when it came down to it 30k invested in a bone stock ride was too much. I would end up dumping at least another 3k in mods, so I bought an unlocked 93 FZJ-80 for $8,500 w/out lockers and 102k on the clock. Now I have room to mod it and without payments.

TK

good decision

 

[Buckums]

you should be able to get the price down some on the 97, but i doubt if you'll get it to $12k. there is a big difference in 165K on the clock and 73K. I personally would pay in the $13.5 K -$14.5 K range in a heartbeat.

i thought about an fj as well, but when it came down to it:
1) i could do just about all the mods i wanted to do to my 80 and still be setting in it for $10-$12 thousand less than the cost of a stock Fj.
2) the 80 has much more usable interior space than the fj - try sleeping in a fj.
3) 97 fzj80 - the last year mr. T imported a solid axle with dual lockers into the us. - they don't make 'em like that anymore.
4) i just flat out love the way 80s look, drive and perform off road. oh yeah - all the while setting in plush leather that is more comfortable than anything in my house.

 

[okefenokeefzj80]

I test drove the fj cruiser as well before I bought my 80, and purchasing the 80 was, in hindsight, one of the best decisions I have made.

sj

 

[Bluetribal]

I myself passed on the FJ and Xterra. I didn't want to lease a truck I wanted to push to the limits.
Don't kick yourself again for missing out on an 80.

 

[DTAYLOR]

you should be able to get the price down some on the 97, but i doubt if you'll get it to $12k. .

Hmm,

I bought mine from a dealer who was motivated, just took it in on trade from the original owner.

Asking price was 23.5, I bought it for 15.5 (in 2000).

Maybe the market was different then.

 

[Buckums]

you got a great deal.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

is this a poll?

1 vote for the 80

 

[hurricanes99]

The cruiser is at a dealership and based on the first conversation the dealer told me he didn't think it had the lockers, but it turns out that it does! He also told me that one of his salesmen had taken an deposit on it last night and he just found out. Said the other person who was interested was from the same state (NC) and would be picking it up tomorrow. That sucks!! The same thing happened to me about 2 or 3 months ago. I guess there is a chance the deal could fall through.

 

[robmir]

If I a were a richman !!!!!!

I would get a FJ for those light off-road drives and a 80 full modified for those extreme and long trips.

Well, my cruiser has only 20 K on it since I bought it brand new in 1993 and 95 % of it were off-road. Because it was a demo for my 4 wheeler accesory store it had a lot of electrical and mechanical mods.

It replaced a 1985 FJ-62 with about 25 K which replaced a 1974 FJ-40 with 100 K.

This was the first FJ-40 V-8 chevy 350 powered in my country, with 4 wheel disc brakes, Gleason traction diff front and rear (what today became Torsen) , Warn 8274 , etc and all mod and installation was done by myself on my backyard. On it I did the most extreme trips you could imagine.

So I guess time pass, you get married, kids arrive and what started as a deep passion end as a once in a while side dish.






Just a tough

 

[e9999]

maybe there is a reason that a low mileage locked 80 may go fast...?

 

[Grench]

I had this same question only turned around for the wife's ride. She had a '92 FJ80 battlewagon at the time. Dents, dings, etc... I sold it to another person on ih8mud after I found a suitable replacement.

We test drove everything, including the FJ Cruiser. I let her decide. She told me to find her another 80 in nicer shape.

FJ Cruiser cons:
Low headroom feel due to low windshield. We're tall and we were always 'crunching down'.
Poor visibility. Those A pillars and C pillars feel like buildings to look around.
Poor ride. The FZJ80 rides smoother.
Retro clash cockpit. Wrong personality.
No 3rd row.
Limited storage space.

 

[sportbiker929]

I got a 94 unlocked except for CDL for 5.8K and it needed about $500 in TLC to be right, then I added tires, lift, ARB.......

I love my 80. The 80 is way cooled than a FJ in my opinion. plus it seats 8.

 

[2trakn]

No comparisson 80 all the way

Apples and Oranges.... The FJ is a kids toy. The FZJ80 is a a grown ups toy.

I test drove the H3, the H2, the new Jeep Rubicon, the FJ Cruiser and if I had to buy any of the above, it would have been the new Jeep Rubicon...why, it reminded me the most of my 80, solid front axle, factory lockers, great vissability, same "truck" feel in the ride. My 10 year old 80 is still way more vehicle than even the new Jeep Rubicon.

I was left very glad that I own a 40th Ann. but felt dissapointed that I would never be able to go out and purchase a brand new vehicle built like mine again. I feel like finding a low mileage stock 80 like the one you mentioned and buying it and then putting it into long term storage for the day when my current rig gives up the ghost.

You see 30 year old 40's in great shape gettng $20K. Just think what our 80's will be worth after the car manufacturers can't build anything fun anymore.

Go get an 80 but save one for me!

 

[pulse98]

Stock Dimensional Spec Comparison

Spec: FJC/FZJ80

Ramp Travel Index: 515/593
Wheelbase: 105.9/112.2
Overall Height: 72.0/73.6
Overall Width: 74.6/76.0
Overall Length: 183.9/189.8
Ground Clearance: 9.6/10.8
Turning circle: 41.8/40.4
Front Track: 63.2/62.8
Rear Track: 63.6/63.0

GVWR: 5570/6457
Curb Weight: 4295/4741

Front Head Room: 41.3/40.3
Rear Head Room: 40.3/39.7
Front Shoulder Room: 58.4/58.7
Rear Shoulder Room: 53.9/58.7
Front Leg Room: 41.9/42.2
Rear Leg Room:31.3/33.6