What do you mean by that? I don't know much about the new forerunners and I'm also deliberating between the FJC and a forerunner. Do they share a frame, or just suspension and running gear (other than the v8).
We have a 1 year old daughter and another probalby isn't more than a few years off. We have LX450 for packing everyone in for long trips, but for weekend trips and mild offroading (have abuilt XJ for real offroading) I'ld like somthing w/ better mileage than the LX450 and it doesn't need to be as big, though a 4runner might just replace it all together.
I was in a similar situation (got a 9 month old, maybe another child in a few years), labrador retriever, lots of photo gear, etc. Until the baby came along, we got along in our 86 4runner. My choices were a new V8 4runner or used LC 100. We ended getting a '03 LX470..prices were the same as the same year Landcruiser but with fewer miles and certified warranty, so it was a no-brainer. Also, the LX/LC have rear A/C...kind of crucial here in southern AZ. If I didn't have my '01 honda prelude SH w/ 31K mi (not worth trading it in or selling it, as it was one of the last honda's made in Japan of 100% Japanese parts and is fast, but gets 29mpg), I'd be tempted to get a FJ Cruiser 6spd manual. It would probably be fine for driving around town, even w/ the child seat, but too small for a road trip. So far, we've gone on two, week-long 1600+mile road trips w/ the dog (in a 36" crate in the back), jogger stroller (need to take off the two side wheels to get it to fit w/ the crate), dog's stuff, baby's stuff (a lot of stuff), a backpack of photogear, and large duffle for mine and my wife's stuff, even the LX is pretty full, and that's with the 3rd row seats removed, of course! We get 19+mpg, whether driving ~70-72mph on the interstates or across the Rockies. We also really like the split clamshell type tailgate/hatch...the tailgate is a perfect diaper changing table when on the road, plus the glass is UV absorbing (go don't even get this on the Lexus RX..gotta pay $55K+ for that), so it's not nearly as hot when the baby is getting changed, and it provides cover if it's drizzling.
On the LX, we can lower the hydraulic suspension 2" for easier loading/unloading, plus you get an instant 2" lift offroad with the push of a button, or 3" if in 4wd low. It's also self leveling, so if you put something really heavy in there (like tile), the rear won't sag, headlights won't point towards the sky like all the 4runners in the past did.
Check out
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/ for info on the 4th gen 4runner. I follwed this site for months and especially paid attention to the problems/warranty section. There seem to be certain problems w/ the 4runners, namely moonroof noises, driver's seat movement, smelly exhaust, clunk in the driveshaft (solved by greasing it every now and then) and some cases of vibration in the steering for the V8 at certain speeds. The GX had a similar vibration problem and the reputed fix was to install some isolators. There is still no fix for the 4runner through '05, I don't think (I haven't followed the site closely in the past few months). Some say it's the Dunlop tires, some say not. The landcruiser 100/lx470 don't have this vibration problem. Anyways, these complaints (granted, there are hundreds of thousands of 4runners on the road) plus the durable build quality of the landcruiser/LX470 were enough to steer me away from the V8 4runner. Also, I think the 4runner lacks headroom (I'm 6'1") since one can now only buy it w/ a moonroof in where I live. So far, we are more than happy w/ our LX and think we made the right decision over buying the 4runner. Also, we added an ARB sahara bar and Kaymar rear bar for added protection. You can now get an ARB for the 4runner (wasn't available at the time we had to buy, and that was a factor, as our current 4runner if fully armored, great for driving in traffic), but there is no rear bar to my knowledge; you'd have to get one custom made.
BTW, the '06 4runner (and all LX470's) have projector headlamps...easier to do an HID conversion. Like I said, around town or on day trips, the FJC is probably fine. But in reality, the 4runner is probably more practical for stuff like buying building materials/lumber, carting the kids around, etc.
