Do you like it? (You knew this was coming!)

Do you like the new FJ Cruiser?

  • It blows, Toyota screwed, I'd never buy one!

    Votes: 46 10.5%

  • Kinda lame, it might grow on me, but now, eh...

    Votes: 141 32.2%

  • It's cool, odd, but cool Toyota did a descent job.

    Votes: 139 31.7%

  • It's really cool, I will seriously look at buying one!

    Votes: 112 25.6%
  • Total voters
    438

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Can't wait to see one. Buddy of mine with Toyota is heading to SoCal soon for a new products testing forum out in the desert. They take all the newest 4x4's and run them around for fun. It'll be interesting to see if they'll have an FJ there. I've asked him to take some pics if they do....
 
I think the one cool thing about it is that Toyota is attempting to make the inside of the truck water proof. From talking with a friend of mine who is a designer with Toyota they are having problems doing this, but are still trying.
I guess it would make it easier to have the inside washable if one plans on taking it out trail riding.
 
Total newb, and I'm sure I'll get reamed, but whatever.

So I've been on the outside looking in for a while now. I grew up in an orange FJ55 that my parents had. A fact that still causes me to wake screaming in a cold sweat: we cammo'd the thing with spray paint and then gave it to a Boy Scout camp. We then got a brown FJ62 which went the way of the dinosaur a few years later.

When the FJ Cruiser came out I was disappointed, mainly because it looks too much like a hummer, and there was no SFA option. Looking at it more and more, I've decided is isn't all that bad, and I'm holding out hope that the final product looks even more reasonable, with some of the more rediculous design-school s***e scaled back. As far as off-roading capability goes, I think it will be a reasonable performer, especially with after market additions. The stock 40 was very capable off road, but to really make it a crusher takes some after market loving too.

I'd prefer to have a 55 that runs well with a modern diesel engine, modern brakes and a rust free body. But that ain't happening until I have 50 grand in play money, and *that* isn't happening for a long time.

So, yeah it is kinda candy-ass, and I'm sure some cheerleaders will buy it, but its the best option for those of us who want a capable, reasonably priced vehicle that doesn't suck entirely.

1RxGj

_wince_ Be gentle.

Cheers,
prat
 
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I don’t know if I like it or not, but style is definitely not the issue for me. As long as it has a decent ground clearance and allows you to fit big tires any style will do for me.

My BIG concern is with the IFS. IFS’ steering components and CV axels don’t come close to solid axles’ endurance and things get worse when you add a susp. lift.

Wheel travel is not that big of an issue also if it comes with LSDs, lockers and other types of traction control, ‘couse if you have a wheel in the air, it won’t spin and eat up your torque. But, again, all these traction aids add more stress to the axle and steering components, making the IFS even more vulnerable. I would like to know what members with IFS’ toyotas have to say about it.

Something I would like to know about this FJ cruiser is its crawl ratio. That’s something I really miss from my FJ70. You could take it to the red line on low first gear and go so slow that in the time it took you to shift to second gear, the thing would completely stop.

And something I would like to see on it is an optional diesel power plant.
 
Hmmmm. I think I like it. If the interior is toned down a bit in the production model it would be better. Actually, I do like it. I'm definitely going to buy one 28 years from now.
 
j7addict said:
My BIG concern is with the IFS. IFS’ steering components and CV axels don’t come close to solid axles’ endurance and things get worse when you add a susp. lift.
Click to expand...
Where are you getting info that the IFS's steering parts, CV joints and such won't last as long as solid axle ones? My buddy has a '96 4Runner, just went over 170K miles, stock CV joints, stock balljoints, all stock steering parts, drives great still, surprisingly good actually. This vehicle is not lifted, and I would not say those parts are as strong as a solid-axle counterpart, but as far as endurance, I'd say they'll last just as long.

There are reasons to not like IFS stuff, but premature wearing out usually isn't one of them.
 
mabrodis said:
Where are you getting info that the IFS's steering parts, CV joints and such won't last as long as solid axle ones? My buddy has a '96 4Runner, just went over 170K miles, stock CV joints, stock balljoints, all stock steering parts, drives great still, surprisingly good actually. This vehicle is not lifted, and I would not say those parts are as strong as a solid-axle counterpart, but as far as endurance, I'd say they'll last just as long.

There are reasons to not like IFS stuff, but premature wearing out usually isn't one of them.
Click to expand...


Well, maybe endurance was not the right word...

What I meant was CVs, TREs, etc., breaking on the trails.
 
praetorian said:
Total newb, and I'm sure I'll get reamed, but whatever.

So I've been on the outside looking in for a while now. I grew up in an orange FJ55 that my parents had. A fact that still causes me to wake screaming in a cold sweat: we cammo'd the thing with spray paint and then gave it to a Boy Scout camp. We then got a brown FJ62 which went the way of the dinosaur a few years later.

When the FJ Cruiser came out I was disappointed, mainly because it looks too much like a hummer, and there was no SFA option. Looking at it more and more, I've decided is isn't all that bad, and I'm holding out hope that the final product looks even more reasonable, with some of the more rediculous design-school s***e scaled back. As far as off-roading capability goes, I think it will be a reasonable performer, especially with after market additions. The stock 40 was very capable off road, but to really make it a crusher takes some after market loving too.

I'd prefer to have a 55 that runs well with a modern diesel engine, modern brakes and a rust free body. But that ain't happening until I have 50 grand in play money, and *that* isn't happening for a long time.

So, yeah it is kinda candy-ass, and I'm sure some cheerleaders will buy it, but its the best option for those of us who want a capable, reasonably priced vehicle that doesn't suck entirely.

_wince_ Be gentle.

Cheers,
prat
Click to expand...

I'm another noob interested in the FJ. And like you said, it's the best option for those of us who want a reasonably priced vehicle.
 
Hi,

I've been lurking around this site for a while.

I've never owned a Land Cruiser. I've owned a 1989 Toyota Extended Cab SR5 4 x 4 pickup with the 6 cyl. and a 5 speed for a long time. I also own a 2004 Nissan Xterra 4 x 4 XE with a 5 speed for a little over a year. I have loved my Toyota Truck for a long time but there was nothing Toyota offered in 2004 that fit my needs like the X. I have a sled team and wanted something in the $24,000 price range that could take a bit of a beating. And I did not want a new Tacoma.

So -- in my opinion -- I think the FJ Cruiser is a good move by Toyota. I don't know if I would have bought it had it been around but it would have either been that or the X.
 
I love it more and more when people trash it because of their own quirky reasons.. I love the fact that i don't see soccer moms in it, and i love the fact that almost all my friends dont get it until I do something cool. And nothing would make me happier than not seeing these everywhere.
 
BC_FJC said:
It puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel:D
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23
X 6.02 x 10


I really like it.:D Still have the '40, but for a DD.......I like it.:beer:

EDIT: I can't seem to get Avogadro's number to appear right...............but you know what I mean.


Ed
 
Have owned my FJ for nearly a year & still think it is a great truck. Have taken it on long trips to Yellowstone, Glacier, Mt. Hood, and local trips in Texas. Gets alot more attention than driving my Z06 but not the gas mileage. The FJ isn't for everyone - another attractive attribute of owning one! ;)
 
warpedone said:
My FJ is strange...

Some days I think it looks cool, other days I think it is an ugly mo-fo.
It is a damn nice vehicle though.
Click to expand...


i feel that mine looks best with a fresh coat of mud. i definitly get a lot of stares and thumbs up here on the Jersey shore where most ppl lack the balls to offroad * anything *
 
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