Do you like it? (You knew this was coming!)
- Thread starter mabrodis
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Mace said:
Does not what I said. I would say my 80's are luxo utilitarian, I'm talking more in the 40/70 utilitarian range to compare to the new FJC.
Pitbull said:
Not true. Most people in this forum are live axle obsessed, I think the FJC in stock form with 33" tires, rear locker would wheel anywhere, just look at the GX470.
Terrax said:
Apparrently, successful sales figures and marketing changes performed by GM, Ford, Dodge, Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan, and others has all failed during the past 15+ years....
Trucks have the greatest profit margin....auto manufacturers "sissy-ize" them to attract buyers desiring the rugged look of the truck with the ride and handling characteristics of a car....they would much prefer a soccer-mom in a fullsize quad-cab over any station wagon since their profit per vehicle is higher.
Read recently that one of the US big 3 (GM, IIRC) has quietly knocked $3500 off their truck division in 2005 alone...
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
woody said:
Woodys correct. It all started in the 70's. My dad used to be Mr. International. Now there was an over built work truck. But the fact that you could wash the interior with a garden hose didnt appeal to people as Phord and Chebby started making luxo trucks. At least there were that compared to International.
I prefer my truck to be a truck. Sure IFS can still wheel, but Ill never own one.
TB
HZJ60 Guy said:
Well stated. Those Internationals were built like tanks. My father-in-law has a new F250 crew cab with the 4x4 package. I like the Powerstroke, but the rest of the truck is disposable compared to the Land Cruiser. You would think that they'd at least box the frame and reinforce the body panels. Nope. Look under the hood. Lots of plastic. Not impressed. Sure, that's what the market wants, but I'll stick with the 70 series LC, a early 70's Power Wagon, or something else with some steel in it.
So how many Toyota SUVs does this make, not counting the "brand engineered" Lexi: 10? The latest (Feb 29) AutoWeek prices it in the "mid-$20,000" range, which is less than I have in my '84 FJ60. But with a 4Runner chassis & 4,000#, it oughta climb.
Short front overhang = great approach angle; dumb c-pillar = big blind spots; 6-speed, but no mention of a high/low transfer case (maybe you guys know) = sometimes offroader?
Toyota no longer offers a manual transmission in the 4Runner, & you can't get one in any of the V8 rigs. Maybe they are listening to enthusiasts at last.
I know I'll look at them when they come out. I like the Tundras except the transmission. The 4Runner & it's bigger SUV brothers are to fancy to take off road. The new FJ might just be the ticket.
Short front overhang = great approach angle; dumb c-pillar = big blind spots; 6-speed, but no mention of a high/low transfer case (maybe you guys know) = sometimes offroader?
Toyota no longer offers a manual transmission in the 4Runner, & you can't get one in any of the V8 rigs. Maybe they are listening to enthusiasts at last.
I know I'll look at them when they come out. I like the Tundras except the transmission. The 4Runner & it's bigger SUV brothers are to fancy to take off road. The new FJ might just be the ticket.
Wrong!
I would NEVER wrap a sweater of any kind around my neck, shoulders or waist. But I do know how to sail, do you??? (duh, where's da motor on dis ting?), check out a winery now and then and have a wicked tennis serve. Oh yeah, I'm a Navy SEAL wannabe too - and work at it...nuff said.
mabrodis said:Actually that's a cashmere sweater, and it's for walking from the tennis courts to the wine tasting event.
I would NEVER wrap a sweater of any kind around my neck, shoulders or waist. But I do know how to sail, do you??? (duh, where's da motor on dis ting?), check out a winery now and then and have a wicked tennis serve. Oh yeah, I'm a Navy SEAL wannabe too - and work at it...nuff said.
Wannabe!BOUNDER said:Oh yeah, I'm a Navy SEAL wannabe too - and work at it...nuff said.
<<<<<<<< Real!
Gave Toyo Corporate my 2 cents, as follows:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello,
I currently own a 96 T100, 02 Sequoia, and a 95 Land Cruiser. You might say I am a big fan; however, the new FJ Cruiser is anything but endearing to me.
It is said this was designed by a 21 year old? It shows. While the front grille harkens back to the FJ 40, this is where the resemblance stops. And the overall result is a watered down embarrassment to the build, masculinity, and durability of the Land Cruiser.
This effort should have been spearheaded by a Land Cruiser fanatic, not a 21 year old whom has not the background, nor love of this historical automobile. It is a denuded hybrid to bridge a mall cruiser with a dedicated off-road vehicle - an attempt to be all things to all people - with the resultant outcome of something bland, confused, and a duplication of vehicles in the Toyota stable. Why would a prospective buyer want this when other, better choices are available: 4Runner or the Land Cruiser?
As you can read, I am very disappointed and have zero interest in this vehicle for all reasons: looks, power train, and off road capability. If I were the Toyota CEO for the day, this vehicle would have been in close design to the LC 78 offered to Australians. Another example is Chrysler’s concept vehicle, the Gladiator. It would have a solid front axle, V8, and diesel options.
Toyota should have been bold, not meek. What a shame, really, and sales, I beleive, will bear this out.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello,
I currently own a 96 T100, 02 Sequoia, and a 95 Land Cruiser. You might say I am a big fan; however, the new FJ Cruiser is anything but endearing to me.
It is said this was designed by a 21 year old? It shows. While the front grille harkens back to the FJ 40, this is where the resemblance stops. And the overall result is a watered down embarrassment to the build, masculinity, and durability of the Land Cruiser.
This effort should have been spearheaded by a Land Cruiser fanatic, not a 21 year old whom has not the background, nor love of this historical automobile. It is a denuded hybrid to bridge a mall cruiser with a dedicated off-road vehicle - an attempt to be all things to all people - with the resultant outcome of something bland, confused, and a duplication of vehicles in the Toyota stable. Why would a prospective buyer want this when other, better choices are available: 4Runner or the Land Cruiser?
As you can read, I am very disappointed and have zero interest in this vehicle for all reasons: looks, power train, and off road capability. If I were the Toyota CEO for the day, this vehicle would have been in close design to the LC 78 offered to Australians. Another example is Chrysler’s concept vehicle, the Gladiator. It would have a solid front axle, V8, and diesel options.
Toyota should have been bold, not meek. What a shame, really, and sales, I beleive, will bear this out.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I do not know if I like it or not. I might get one just to replace my daily driver. I like Toyota products... but I do not know if at this time the FJ Cruiser will do what we would like it to do. It is all in the hands of the aftermarket business.
Maybe a few of the most enterprising folks from this list could get together and develop aftermarket items for this vehicle. Then it will be the vehicle we want it to be, but Toyota is not building for us.
Maybe a few of the most enterprising folks from this list could get together and develop aftermarket items for this vehicle. Then it will be the vehicle we want it to be, but Toyota is not building for us.
- Thread starter
- #53
Wow, so far there are over 250 votes in this poll and the results are a bit different than I expected.
There are ~120 people who either think the vehicle is lame or out-right blows, versus about ~132 who think the vehicle is either cool or damn cool. Almost 50/50, I actually did not expect so many people to be so against the FJ Cruiser...I wonder how many people would be so against it if it was called just a FJC, with the 'C' implying Cruiser but not actually marketed that way...
There are ~120 people who either think the vehicle is lame or out-right blows, versus about ~132 who think the vehicle is either cool or damn cool. Almost 50/50, I actually did not expect so many people to be so against the FJ Cruiser...I wonder how many people would be so against it if it was called just a FJC, with the 'C' implying Cruiser but not actually marketed that way...
landcruiserrich
Bench Wheeler
The bottom line is NOBODY makes a 4x4 anymore for the North American market that can compete with the land cruiser as we know it, at least not without serious modification. Why is anybody surprised that the FJ Cruiser is not like the original? Most people who buy new 4x4s never even see gravel roads let alone full on 4 wheel drive trails.
The 4x4 has become a yuppie status symbol. Even the beloved Land Cruiser has evolved from a utilitarian off road vehicle to the flagship of luxury suvs. Why do these ******* yuppies care how good a vehicle performs off road? That's how the land cruiser got it's name, that's what made the first Hummer popular and the Land Rover as well, and that's what is used to sell suvs; the image of a rugged, go-anywhere 4 wheel drive which in reality would last about five minutes trying to keep up with a real Land Cruiser on a moderate trail. I have nothing against the luxury Land Cruiser and if I had the money, I'd buy one. I'm just mad at all the auto manufacturers making 4 wheel drives with more emphasis on comfort and styling than capability.... and that certainly includes the FJ Cruiser, which in my opinion looks like the gay love child of an H2 and a Lada.
The 4x4 has become a yuppie status symbol. Even the beloved Land Cruiser has evolved from a utilitarian off road vehicle to the flagship of luxury suvs. Why do these ******* yuppies care how good a vehicle performs off road? That's how the land cruiser got it's name, that's what made the first Hummer popular and the Land Rover as well, and that's what is used to sell suvs; the image of a rugged, go-anywhere 4 wheel drive which in reality would last about five minutes trying to keep up with a real Land Cruiser on a moderate trail. I have nothing against the luxury Land Cruiser and if I had the money, I'd buy one. I'm just mad at all the auto manufacturers making 4 wheel drives with more emphasis on comfort and styling than capability.... and that certainly includes the FJ Cruiser, which in my opinion looks like the gay love child of an H2 and a Lada.
FineWynsFJ40
Too much to do...
The styling I don't care for other than the bezel. However, it will be a 6 speed manual with a transfercase, and I believe rear lockers. This is good, because nobody these days makes a decent manual 4x4 vehicle. 80 and 100 series: auto. All other brands, auto. Only Suzuki makes a nice manual 4x4, but I wouldn't get caught dead driving one. Just wait a few years and they'll turn into something nice, or else it will flop.
Intelligent Choices & Freedom to Choose Lacking
We don't need the FJ, what we need is the existing products like the Prado with the option of the diesel engines offered elsewhere in the world. We need the Land Cruiser with the high mileage diesel. Instead we get slammed with gussied up, over-optioned, overpriced, over-stuffed expensive NON-CHOICES. You can't get the very basic, off-roader's from Toyota because they make so much money selling "optioned to the max" mall runners. I bought one of the first 1990 4 Runner ultra basics (cloth seats, simple AM\FM radio, no cassette, although I had powewr windows)and thus was an owner of a 4 door SUV before "the craze" hit. The answer is the off-roaders are out there, we just can't get them in the USA like they can in Australia, etc. No freedom of choice for North Americans, just mall cruisers to cruise the asphalt with, and horrible fuel mileage. I'm buying a Mercedes turbo-diesel next and dumping my LS430, because the Mercedes gets 27 city, 37 highway, and 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. VW offers high mileage diesels too. The Japanese are asleep at the proverbial wheel. Thank goodness for competition!
Where's our choice? No choice because they make so much money selling mall-runners. Take that to the bank, off-roaders are aspired to for advertising, but the reality is that's all it is, image, no substance. Keep your FJ40's running, you aren't getting real choices in the future. All flash, no smash.
I rented a 4-banger Prado in Costa Rica over Christmas. Hey, cloth seats and superb fuel mileage. I passed everything on the constant Costa Rican pot holes! How come we can't get Toyota quality in a basic vehicle. Money. All we can get here is the fuel guzzling V8 Lexus Luxo-Max GX470 with every creature comfort known to man. The Japanese understand the American market and that's why Toyota is crushing American car manufacturers. They understand the look-good-like-you-are-a-outdoorsman-even-if-you-aren't mentality. Don't look to see any change. California doesn't allow diesels, so Big Brother California Government Environmental Know Better than the Market Bureaucrats have made your non-fuel efficient choices for you. No diesel's allowed in a total of five states now. The Europeans are much more sensible on high mileage alternative diesel engines than we are.
I'm a Toyota quality loyalist, 78 Celica, LS400, LS430, 4Runner, but real choices just aren't going to be there for us as far as I see. Look at the FJ, no diesel option for the USA. It will be a gas guzzling V6, and count on it loaded to the max with luxury high profit options. It will be made for San Jose, not Alaska.
TAKE THAT TO THE BANK
We don't need the FJ, what we need is the existing products like the Prado with the option of the diesel engines offered elsewhere in the world. We need the Land Cruiser with the high mileage diesel. Instead we get slammed with gussied up, over-optioned, overpriced, over-stuffed expensive NON-CHOICES. You can't get the very basic, off-roader's from Toyota because they make so much money selling "optioned to the max" mall runners. I bought one of the first 1990 4 Runner ultra basics (cloth seats, simple AM\FM radio, no cassette, although I had powewr windows)and thus was an owner of a 4 door SUV before "the craze" hit. The answer is the off-roaders are out there, we just can't get them in the USA like they can in Australia, etc. No freedom of choice for North Americans, just mall cruisers to cruise the asphalt with, and horrible fuel mileage. I'm buying a Mercedes turbo-diesel next and dumping my LS430, because the Mercedes gets 27 city, 37 highway, and 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. VW offers high mileage diesels too. The Japanese are asleep at the proverbial wheel. Thank goodness for competition!
Where's our choice? No choice because they make so much money selling mall-runners. Take that to the bank, off-roaders are aspired to for advertising, but the reality is that's all it is, image, no substance. Keep your FJ40's running, you aren't getting real choices in the future. All flash, no smash.
I rented a 4-banger Prado in Costa Rica over Christmas. Hey, cloth seats and superb fuel mileage. I passed everything on the constant Costa Rican pot holes! How come we can't get Toyota quality in a basic vehicle. Money. All we can get here is the fuel guzzling V8 Lexus Luxo-Max GX470 with every creature comfort known to man. The Japanese understand the American market and that's why Toyota is crushing American car manufacturers. They understand the look-good-like-you-are-a-outdoorsman-even-if-you-aren't mentality. Don't look to see any change. California doesn't allow diesels, so Big Brother California Government Environmental Know Better than the Market Bureaucrats have made your non-fuel efficient choices for you. No diesel's allowed in a total of five states now. The Europeans are much more sensible on high mileage alternative diesel engines than we are.
I'm a Toyota quality loyalist, 78 Celica, LS400, LS430, 4Runner, but real choices just aren't going to be there for us as far as I see. Look at the FJ, no diesel option for the USA. It will be a gas guzzling V6, and count on it loaded to the max with luxury high profit options. It will be made for San Jose, not Alaska.
TAKE THAT TO THE BANK
Last edited:
Gasser,
The Prado isn't a basic, offroad suv either. It's a very expensive suv, optioned very well. People in europe pay a great deal of $$ for them. You can buy a brand new 80 in Venezuela too, but it's a totally different market. You're right, this is America. Love it or hate it.
I too wish we had a diesel option (tho if, as you say, it's made illegal by the GOV. you can hardly blame Toyota for not offering it)
It looks like Toyota is going the hybrid route, which I'm equally curious about. One thing a hybrid has is 100% torque instantly, which sounds great for an offroader. I still think a Toyota diesel is in the works tho..
I will disagree with you on your assesment of the quality and capability of Toyota's suv's. If they really wanted to sell mall-runners, they would only offer unibody suvs. You can research the GX, 4Runner and what little info there is on the FJC. They are, imo, solid Toyota truck thru and thru.
I dont know of one suv Toyota has offered as a stripped down offroader in the class of the FJC for a long time. The 80, 100 came out as the "full-meal deal" the cream of the crop. 4Runners have been the premium in their class since the 2nd gen... you have to go back several decades for something as "bare bones" as the FJC.
If you compare what the FJC offers, it's a great deal for the offroader. 6spd manual, rr diff lock, 245 hp, 282ft lbs, fully boxed steel frame, 8"/13" travel suspension, 32 at's, under $27K... what other Toyota suv came like that?
The GS400H (hybrid) gets great mpg's, is as fast as the V8 GS and pulls just as hard. That might be a good trade for your LS.
The Prado isn't a basic, offroad suv either. It's a very expensive suv, optioned very well. People in europe pay a great deal of $$ for them. You can buy a brand new 80 in Venezuela too, but it's a totally different market. You're right, this is America. Love it or hate it.
I too wish we had a diesel option (tho if, as you say, it's made illegal by the GOV. you can hardly blame Toyota for not offering it)
It looks like Toyota is going the hybrid route, which I'm equally curious about. One thing a hybrid has is 100% torque instantly, which sounds great for an offroader. I still think a Toyota diesel is in the works tho..
I will disagree with you on your assesment of the quality and capability of Toyota's suv's. If they really wanted to sell mall-runners, they would only offer unibody suvs. You can research the GX, 4Runner and what little info there is on the FJC. They are, imo, solid Toyota truck thru and thru.
I dont know of one suv Toyota has offered as a stripped down offroader in the class of the FJC for a long time. The 80, 100 came out as the "full-meal deal" the cream of the crop. 4Runners have been the premium in their class since the 2nd gen... you have to go back several decades for something as "bare bones" as the FJC.
If you compare what the FJC offers, it's a great deal for the offroader. 6spd manual, rr diff lock, 245 hp, 282ft lbs, fully boxed steel frame, 8"/13" travel suspension, 32 at's, under $27K... what other Toyota suv came like that?
The GS400H (hybrid) gets great mpg's, is as fast as the V8 GS and pulls just as hard. That might be a good trade for your LS.
I'm excited about it. I would not drive one myself, but I will buy one for my wife. I'm also talking everyone I can into buying one. In the hopes that if Toyota sells enough of them that there will be
1) An after market. All kinds of improvements need to be made.
2) Maybe, just maybe, Toyota might think there's a market for a vehicle that can compete with Jeep's Wrangler.
I also play the lottery!
Meanwhile I'll be happy with driving the FJ40.
1) An after market. All kinds of improvements need to be made.
2) Maybe, just maybe, Toyota might think there's a market for a vehicle that can compete with Jeep's Wrangler.
I also play the lottery!
Meanwhile I'll be happy with driving the FJ40.
They'll sell the bejesus out of em...don't blame Toyota for designing/building what the johndoe pubic wants to buy! Just as long as they continue building off-road capable models like they have up to now. I am grateful when they introduced the very popular Sequoia they have continued to build the 100...could be worse...just look to General Misery, Forb and DB if you wanna get real depressed!
