Not until I actually see /drive one first.
FJ Poll
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I have two car titles, 2004 Tahoe, adn a 1987 FJ60.....the moral to the story is I wouldn't assume any new car paymnets.
Needs a removable top and fold down windshield, and a solid front axle. Then maybe Toyota might have had something. The only thing I see in common here with the original FJ40 et al is the grille. And the visibility to the rear looks like it sucks. It doesn't even have the visibility of early FJ40's with the small side windows. It's like a bunch of committees were given little pieces of the vehicle to design. And the body simply looks too fragile to be out in the rough.
Frankly, I can't figure what was wrong with the 70 series body. Put it on a simple solid axle, leaf spriing chassis with a state of the art engine and transmission, and an updated 70 body. A short wheelbase with a removable top and fold down windshield, and a long wheelbase with a fixed top. There's your FJ40 and FJ55 replacement right there. Put in an overdrive transmission and a low range in the transfer of 3:1 instead of 2:1.
I have a 71 FJ40, and the wife has a 2004 RAV4. I can't see the new FJ replacing either of them. What can the new FJ do better than either of these can in their respective niches? (The RAV4 being an urban AWD.)
Frankly, I can't figure what was wrong with the 70 series body. Put it on a simple solid axle, leaf spriing chassis with a state of the art engine and transmission, and an updated 70 body. A short wheelbase with a removable top and fold down windshield, and a long wheelbase with a fixed top. There's your FJ40 and FJ55 replacement right there. Put in an overdrive transmission and a low range in the transfer of 3:1 instead of 2:1.
I have a 71 FJ40, and the wife has a 2004 RAV4. I can't see the new FJ replacing either of them. What can the new FJ do better than either of these can in their respective niches? (The RAV4 being an urban AWD.)
Not unless price is reasonable, and some good colors come out!
I don't understand the idea of not buying a first-model-year vehicle. What duds did Toyota make that make everyone here so leary about buying the first year of a vehicle?
The '95 Taco (I think that was the first year it was officially called the Tacoma)..a great truck, the '96 4runner (first year with the 3.4L V6) a very solid vehicle...the '04 4-Runner, totally new, again a great vehicle...the '91 80-series, no major problems, solid, etc...the fairly major change to the 80-series in '93...certainly nothing wrong with those...the '98 100-series...yeah what a total POS those turned out to be..
I don't plan on buying one right off but it has nothing to do with thinking the first model year won't be good, or there are some problems Toyota hasn't addressed...I'm sure there will be a TRD version, and lots of aftermarket support, etc...I can't recall a vehicle that Toyota released that was really a piece of junk...
The '95 Taco (I think that was the first year it was officially called the Tacoma)..a great truck, the '96 4runner (first year with the 3.4L V6) a very solid vehicle...the '04 4-Runner, totally new, again a great vehicle...the '91 80-series, no major problems, solid, etc...the fairly major change to the 80-series in '93...certainly nothing wrong with those...the '98 100-series...yeah what a total POS those turned out to be..
I don't plan on buying one right off but it has nothing to do with thinking the first model year won't be good, or there are some problems Toyota hasn't addressed...I'm sure there will be a TRD version, and lots of aftermarket support, etc...I can't recall a vehicle that Toyota released that was really a piece of junk...
Well, having worked for the dealer during that time, toyota had issues with tacoma windsheilds cracking due to cab flex. The 2wd tacoma had issues with the front suspension brackets cracking and or detatching from the frame.We saw many of these and the feild reps from toyota were very involved. Toyota had issues with evap canister designs in cruisers and camry's for a while when they were first into'd. The rav4 had bad shims in the transfer cases that would cause trans/transfer case failure. Its not fair to say toyota has never had first run issues with new or redesigned models. All manufacturers do. I have a first year peterbilt 335 and a slew of issues peterbilt has never had before so it happens across the board.
I personally wouldnt buy this junker. I was at the autoshow at the javits back in 93 and spoke with a man from toyota's design team and he mentioned they were working on a retrocruiser back then. The early design had solid axles all the way around and a modern but- true-to-fj40 body design. So to wait all this time and see this come out, I am very disappointed. Hell they were even displaying that silver beast with the newer engine/trans to push the idea! Toyota is heading down that path with the rest of the follow-the-mold process in my opinion. It might wheel ok, but I would rather buy a stout, metal, land crusher, not this plastic wonder. Just my worthless $.02
I personally wouldnt buy this junker. I was at the autoshow at the javits back in 93 and spoke with a man from toyota's design team and he mentioned they were working on a retrocruiser back then. The early design had solid axles all the way around and a modern but- true-to-fj40 body design. So to wait all this time and see this come out, I am very disappointed. Hell they were even displaying that silver beast with the newer engine/trans to push the idea! Toyota is heading down that path with the rest of the follow-the-mold process in my opinion. It might wheel ok, but I would rather buy a stout, metal, land crusher, not this plastic wonder. Just my worthless $.02
mabrodis said:I don't understand the idea of not buying a first-model-year vehicle. What duds did Toyota make that make everyone here so leary about buying the first year of a vehicle?
The '95 Taco (I think that was the first year it was officially called the Tacoma)..a great truck, the '96 4runner (first year with the 3.4L V6) a very solid vehicle...the '04 4-Runner, totally new, again a great vehicle...the '91 80-series, no major problems, solid, etc...the fairly major change to the 80-series in '93...certainly nothing wrong with those...the '98 100-series...yeah what a total POS those turned out to be..
I don't plan on buying one right off but it has nothing to do with thinking the first model year won't be good, or there are some problems Toyota hasn't addressed...I'm sure there will be a TRD version, and lots of aftermarket support, etc...I can't recall a vehicle that Toyota released that was really a piece of junk...
Good point, Mark.
I like it. I may buy one later this year; buying or not buying will depend on the economy, income (being self employed has it's drawbacks) and how it drives.
I showed the better-half the website last night and she even likes it. It'll be a little smaller than what I really need - maybe. Can't wait to see one in person.
The only thing I don't like about it is the way they have the auto/manual tranny setup with the full-time 4x4. Personally, I like to have a manual that's doesn't have the full-time four wheel drive. I live in Texas, and in the last 6 months or more we've seen one freeze/snow and no other rain since.
The only other drawback I can see is the fact that when buying one new, it will have nice shiney paint. Any of the wheeling I get to do involves a lot of Mesquite trees, and though I don't mind trail pinstripes on my 60s oxodized paint, with something brand new, well...at least with the FJ, I'd get to drive it somewhere further away (and make it without burning a ton of oil and probably having to stop and make a major repair) from the mesquites.
Personally, I don't want an 80. Too much leather, too much "soccer mom" for me. I don't want another used Land Cruiser. Too many are abused through lack of maintenance. My 60, though it runs pretty well, has too many problems to make it reliable. I don't want a luxo-barge either. I like my 60 because of it's bare-bones, no hastle simplicity. I like the FJ for the same reason. Love that it doesn't come with carpet, or leather seats, or one of those dull, useless aluminium roof racks. I like that the spare tire comes mounted to the back door. I like the roof rack it'll come with (even though some of the functionality of it is limited because of the rounded rear corners of it). I prefer an inline 6 to a v6, but if it can share a motor with the 4Runner, which will help keep the price in the mid-20s, so what?
Then again, I need a vehcile for limited off roading, don't really need to do a whole lot of hauling or towing, and don't need it for plowing. Plus, I think firetruck41, yooper, gumby and I are the only ones who seem to like the way it looks - not that that's a benefit or anything, but it's a funny sidenote. Heck, I even like most of the colors - I can't decide between the black-cherry, the black or the blue. Guess I'll just have to wait and see them.
I will probably have to special order mine, when I do buy. I won't pay $30k for one that's loaded up. I want the locker, I want a roof rack, maybe the sliders, and I want cruise control - that's about it. I may opt for that upgrade package, though I don't really need or want the a-trac (or whatever it's called) - I have a feeling that most of them are going to show up over-loaded, and I don't want to pay $250 for floor mats.
and that's my essay on why I like the FJ cruiser, and why I might buy one.
i saw this THING at the car show last night, i really wanted to like this truck, and god knows i tryed to love it but it isnt going to happen for a while maybe it will grow on me, but i dont think it will, it is even more ugly in person, this truck doesnt need a land cruiser grill it needs a scion grill the poeple who buy this truck will not be the bad ass mountain men they will be the pansys who want AWD not 4x4, one of my best freinds is gay, and he even says this truck is too gay for him to like(hes on this board). it looks like a lifted element. i stared at it till i was about to cry then i went and atcually looked at the new h3, i hate, hate, hate chevy but i bet that h3 would run circles around the "fj"
i am very sorry for venting but i had to vent somewhere, last night destroyed some of my hopes for toyota, they definatly need to fire the A-holes on the "fj" designing team. i hope/think that maybe a top less version will look better. really i think the worst part about it IS the top(back blind spot thing is way ugly) i do like the size of it(smaller) and i do like the 4-runner frame, i dont mind ifs, solid axle swaping is not a problem. but i will not buy one until the toples version comes out then we will see
they told me it will be coming out in march? is this right? that seems early i thought it was 2007?
i am very sorry for venting but i had to vent somewhere, last night destroyed some of my hopes for toyota, they definatly need to fire the A-holes on the "fj" designing team. i hope/think that maybe a top less version will look better. really i think the worst part about it IS the top(back blind spot thing is way ugly) i do like the size of it(smaller) and i do like the 4-runner frame, i dont mind ifs, solid axle swaping is not a problem. but i will not buy one until the toples version comes out then we will see
they told me it will be coming out in march? is this right? that seems early i thought it was 2007?
Rust, Price.
Will most likely not buy because:
1. Interior is ugly and cheap. I couldn't believe how crappy it was seeing it at the LA auto show. The plastic sides of the cargo area were already scratched to hell and peeling on the "show car".
2. Visibility is atrocious. Onroad driving could be dangerous and oofroad obstacles very hard to see in front of that hood.
3. Lack of a flat folding rear seat. I want the option for my wife and I to sleep in our vehicle if the weather gets too bad. It's saved us before. I would have preferred to lose an inch or two in cargo height to have the cargo area level with the seats when they are down.
It just has too many flaws for me to consider it over the Xterra.
1. Interior is ugly and cheap. I couldn't believe how crappy it was seeing it at the LA auto show. The plastic sides of the cargo area were already scratched to hell and peeling on the "show car".
2. Visibility is atrocious. Onroad driving could be dangerous and oofroad obstacles very hard to see in front of that hood.
3. Lack of a flat folding rear seat. I want the option for my wife and I to sleep in our vehicle if the weather gets too bad. It's saved us before. I would have preferred to lose an inch or two in cargo height to have the cargo area level with the seats when they are down.
It just has too many flaws for me to consider it over the Xterra.
Bacis said:
When you take something like that to a show - any new product, for that matter - it's usually a "mock-up" of the real deal. I wouldn't judge final build quality on something like that. What you saw at the show probably cost a couple of hundred thousand dollars to build, too…
I really think we are going to be pleasantly surprised with this LC. The only thing that bothers me is the rear door.
I didn't like the 80 either; but it grew on me and I now love the darn thing. For my own personal reasons, this LC will fit what I've been looking for in an all round 4x4.
The things that no one knows about yet are the strengths of the front differential and the Torsen diff. It definitely is not an FJ40, but equally is not an FJ80. Road tests have shown that it will handle almost any situation that u can throw at it; and still be a great daily road critter.
Time will tell
...
I didn't like the 80 either; but it grew on me and I now love the darn thing. For my own personal reasons, this LC will fit what I've been looking for in an all round 4x4.
The things that no one knows about yet are the strengths of the front differential and the Torsen diff. It definitely is not an FJ40, but equally is not an FJ80. Road tests have shown that it will handle almost any situation that u can throw at it; and still be a great daily road critter.
Time will tell
...
Bacis said:
I'm guessing you've never owned an Xterra?
-B-
Beowulf said:
Touche. However, I was referring to design flaws. I think the Xterra is very well laid out. That is what irritates me the most, I'd much rather own a Toyota than a Nissan. I suppose initial issues with the design would end up being better than inevitable issues with the engineering. I'll keep my eye on potential issues with the new Xterra, but I haven't seen too much other than rattles and some premature rusting.
Bacis said:
My wife bought a 2001 Xterra and we had no problems with it but she NEVER keeps a vehicle much past the warranty so it was traded in '04 for a new car. I liked it OK but it was cheaply made and she got the top of the line SE model with the V6 engine. The seats were really cheesy. It never went off-road but performed well on-road in snow and ice.
We were lucky because there were some bad V6 engines in the early Xterras. As I recall, they were wearing prematurely and using copious amounts of oil and some were having bearing failures.
In summary, it was a decent vehicle but certainly not up to Toyota quality. (FYI, it's built in the US if that's important to you.)
-B-
FJ809496TLC
80 series addict
- Thread starter
- #39
Pretty much evenly divided. FJ Cruiser is in town from Jan 28 till Feb 5. It cost $10 bucks now to get in.
haha,
can you imagine rolling into a dealer in your mint FJ40, asking for a streight trade for the FJ Cruiser ?
I might try it just for grins....
can you imagine rolling into a dealer in your mint FJ40, asking for a streight trade for the FJ Cruiser ?
I might try it just for grins....
Gumby said:
