Let me start by saying I've been waiting for this thing since conception, even before that.
To start with, it does look cool, especially when I returned to the lot and watched me park it viewing that process in the dealership's window's reflection.
I don't know why but I always watch big windows when I drive by in my Cruiser. Anyway.
It's not a LandCruiser, that being said, I've owned a couple 4x4 Toyota trucks in the past and they've never let me down. Which the FJ is on the new 4Runner/Tacoma platform as we already know.
Visibilty does suck, without a doubt. You only have mirrors for changing lanes, but I rarely turn my head anyway. I always install the 3" round mirrors to see what's beside me so I can look ahead and beside in traffic when changing lanes.
The rear seats do not fold down flat, at all. Flatter than the H3's, but they're still raised at like a 20 degree angle inbetween and above the rear cargo floor when down, plus the bottoms of the seats just fold up behind the front seats like they to sorta do in my 80. Leg room in the back is for small children only. I'm 6'3" so I always slide the driver's seat all of the way back. Access is OK if you slide the seat forward, but the rear suicide doors alone with the fron seats all of the way back does not provide enough room to get in the back alone, unlesss you're 3 feet tall and slim.
The windshield is far in front, I could barely reach the rear view mirror. It's kind of bizzar.
From driving it the dash and hood feel beefy with a chopped low visibility top and chopped side mirrors. There's no seeing planes flying overhead while driving through the windshield.
The sliders are good to go, very impressive for OEM.
I would get the OEM or aftermarket skid plate below the transfer. The exhaust runs behind the crossmember and would get smushed instantly, or at least bent crawling over pointy objects in the middle of the FJ.
Acceleration is typical for 239 horsepower. Not bad, not fast. But it accelerates.
The lowest gearing available is 3:90 in the diffs with the 6 speed and it sounds like the manual is AWD. Opposite of the norm, Auto's usually have AWD and lower gears, not the FJ.
The mirors do obstruct view somewhat, but work for changing lanes, I would put the stick ons for that specificaly though.
I had to duck getting in, typical for 6'3".
Ground clearance is typical, nothing extraordinary. Everything looked pretty tight down below and crammed in. The rear axle has coils of course and small control arms.
I doubt a 35" spare will fit on the rear door, the 265 took up all available space. Probably need an adapter to get more meat for your spare or a better rear bumper.
The bumpers equaled plastic. ARB would be a good idea to match the sliders as usual. The roof rack looks beefy, but the cross members are not stout enough to stand on, go figure.
I did not test the 4WD, I assume it feels the same as the Tacoma/4Runner, I've driven enough of those to have an idea.
I was entertained by a "pink" neck attached to the fan clutch. Unusual for me.
The engine is covered with Toyota's huge plastic cover, so not much to see there without removing it. The oil filter is on the right side facing the FJ, in the front of the engine, poiting down with a spill cup slash overflow hose to drain oil during removal down below on the radiator hose. But it's easily accessable.
The FJ is pretty low stock. I would be pretty tight on a creeper below it.
I still want one, it's not exactly what I was hoping for, but it's cool and should be reliable as usual.
All Sales are pre order in Raleigh, it takes 90-120 days for them to arrive, nothing sitting on the lot except for the demo/auto. they can be ordered to preferance though. The aluminum TRD wheels were like $1,500+, kind pricey for that upgrade but looked good.
Sales price for this one was like $30,400 something with the rack, wheels, drop hitch, floor mats etc...
To start with, it does look cool, especially when I returned to the lot and watched me park it viewing that process in the dealership's window's reflection.
I don't know why but I always watch big windows when I drive by in my Cruiser. Anyway.
It's not a LandCruiser, that being said, I've owned a couple 4x4 Toyota trucks in the past and they've never let me down. Which the FJ is on the new 4Runner/Tacoma platform as we already know.
Visibilty does suck, without a doubt. You only have mirrors for changing lanes, but I rarely turn my head anyway. I always install the 3" round mirrors to see what's beside me so I can look ahead and beside in traffic when changing lanes.
The rear seats do not fold down flat, at all. Flatter than the H3's, but they're still raised at like a 20 degree angle inbetween and above the rear cargo floor when down, plus the bottoms of the seats just fold up behind the front seats like they to sorta do in my 80. Leg room in the back is for small children only. I'm 6'3" so I always slide the driver's seat all of the way back. Access is OK if you slide the seat forward, but the rear suicide doors alone with the fron seats all of the way back does not provide enough room to get in the back alone, unlesss you're 3 feet tall and slim.
The windshield is far in front, I could barely reach the rear view mirror. It's kind of bizzar.
From driving it the dash and hood feel beefy with a chopped low visibility top and chopped side mirrors. There's no seeing planes flying overhead while driving through the windshield.
The sliders are good to go, very impressive for OEM.
I would get the OEM or aftermarket skid plate below the transfer. The exhaust runs behind the crossmember and would get smushed instantly, or at least bent crawling over pointy objects in the middle of the FJ.
Acceleration is typical for 239 horsepower. Not bad, not fast. But it accelerates.
The lowest gearing available is 3:90 in the diffs with the 6 speed and it sounds like the manual is AWD. Opposite of the norm, Auto's usually have AWD and lower gears, not the FJ.
The mirors do obstruct view somewhat, but work for changing lanes, I would put the stick ons for that specificaly though.
I had to duck getting in, typical for 6'3".
Ground clearance is typical, nothing extraordinary. Everything looked pretty tight down below and crammed in. The rear axle has coils of course and small control arms.
I doubt a 35" spare will fit on the rear door, the 265 took up all available space. Probably need an adapter to get more meat for your spare or a better rear bumper.
The bumpers equaled plastic. ARB would be a good idea to match the sliders as usual. The roof rack looks beefy, but the cross members are not stout enough to stand on, go figure.
I did not test the 4WD, I assume it feels the same as the Tacoma/4Runner, I've driven enough of those to have an idea.
I was entertained by a "pink" neck attached to the fan clutch. Unusual for me.
The engine is covered with Toyota's huge plastic cover, so not much to see there without removing it. The oil filter is on the right side facing the FJ, in the front of the engine, poiting down with a spill cup slash overflow hose to drain oil during removal down below on the radiator hose. But it's easily accessable.
The FJ is pretty low stock. I would be pretty tight on a creeper below it.
I still want one, it's not exactly what I was hoping for, but it's cool and should be reliable as usual.
All Sales are pre order in Raleigh, it takes 90-120 days for them to arrive, nothing sitting on the lot except for the demo/auto. they can be ordered to preferance though. The aluminum TRD wheels were like $1,500+, kind pricey for that upgrade but looked good.
Sales price for this one was like $30,400 something with the rack, wheels, drop hitch, floor mats etc...
[/hijack]
