From FJC to 80?

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raYGunn

raYGunn

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 25, 2009
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10
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187
Location
Irvine
This is a cross post kinda from the 80 tech forum, you guys are local and I know a few of you from other forums or IRL.

I'm thinking about selling my FJ Cruiser and moving to an 80. My little girls have a hard time in the back seat of the FJC and it kills any chance at fun.

Anyone else made the switch? If I do it I imagine I will be spending way more time on this forum (I might anyway :p).

Thanks for your input!
 
Bluetribal said:
Take the girls Cruiser shopping and see if they like it. If they do then you don't need us to tell you what to do. :p
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The problem is they are kids. Kids like new things, that's why, when we test drove the FJC they couldn't shut up about it. After I bought it and we took the first multi-hour trip they lost their enthusiasm. :frown:

I've had the FJC for over a year and when it's just me I have a blast, but I want to get my kids going on some trips and nobody is happy about the idea with the current set up.
 
Yeah, never really liked the suicide doors or rear seating for kids on the FCJ's either.

Been great having the extra room compared to my '87 runner for the kids. After the 2nd one we needed more room on trips.

Look for the nicest '97 with factory lockers you can afford. Safer with the airbags I guess, but my kids like sitting up front & the huge moon roof in the ’94.

Some kids travel better, have days, keeping them busy with something is key for me: somebody sitting in the back with them, DVD's, games, books, etc.
 
mkfour said:
By fun, do you mean a little afternoon delight with the misses?

Why not pick up an 80 as a second rig.
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Nah, we're married so it's all G rated since the kids. :censor:

I would get a second but we have no space and the FJC is already my fun car, my DD is smaller and more for the road. :grinpimp:

g8mfzj80 said:
Yeah, never really liked the suicide doors or rear seating for kids on the FCJ's either.

Been great having the extra room compared to my '87 runner for the kids. After the 2nd one we needed more room on trips.

Look for the nicest '97 with factory lockers you can afford. Safer with the airbags I guess, but my kids like sitting up front & the huge moon roof on our ’94.

Some kids like traveling more than others, keeping the busy with something is key for me: DVD's, games, books, etc.
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If I can sell the FJC for anything decent I can buy and fix up a nice 80 I think. What year did the airbags start? I read the FAQ's but I don't recall that one. I know lockers is 93+ and I have a vague idea about a few other things.

Thanks for all the input too guys, it's weird but I also think part of switching is learning a whole 'nother group of people outside my FJC and Ham (OAUSA.net) associations, even though there is some regional cross chat/intermingling. :cheers:
 
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Airbags started with the '95 model year.

Are the girs old enough to articulate just exactly what they don't like about the FJC? Certainly they get their own doors with an 80 and the window to roll down too. I don't know if those suicide door windows roll down or not.

More storage room in an 80. If you camp a lot an would ever consider a trailer, you may want to look at a 100. While my 80 has been the little engine that could towing, the extra power in a 100 would have been nicer. 100's started with the '98 model year.

My gut says unless YOU or the :princess: are unhappy with the FJC, I'd stick it out with the FJC.
 
Given what youv'e described, I'd look at the 100 series. Since you have young kids, I think airbags and ABS should be a given. I know 96 and 97 offer both, not sure about 95, for the 80, but 100s will be safer, larger interior space, more comfortable etc. IMO, the value of the 80 is for the front locker and the straight 6 engine for international travel. Some of the earlier 100s offer a rear e-locker which will get you out of most scenarios.
 
The suicide window of the FJC does not roll down and is very small. Looking out the rear side window of an FJC is a lot like looking out the porthole of a ship. You miss out on a lot visually when driving on long trips. I put in rear DVD players for the kids but I understand where Jesse is coming from. My son is now 6'3" and barely fits back there any longer. On long trips we make regular stops to stretch and they seem to do fine but the 80 has a ton more leg room and it's night and day visually for rear passengers.

The FJC does have a lot of power and can easily cruise at 80-90 mph fully loaded. Unless Jesse gets a supercharger and doesn't mind getting 10 mpg when loaded for trips he may feel the power lacking.

I like Marcus' suggestion about the 100 but I'm lacking knowledge in regards to the power plant
 
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gon2srf said:
The FJC has a lot of power and can easily cruise at 80-90 mph fully loaded. I'm not sure an 80 is the answer unless Jesse gets a supercharger and doesn't mind getting 10 mpg when loaded for trips.
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Hmm, yea. Scott knows how I drive... when the kids aren't in the car. :D

If I'm looking at a 95+ then a supercharger is apparently available and so are aux fuel tanks and gas cans on the back. The fuel consumption is only partially up to my foot and will be high regardless.

I do like to wheel my FJC in the rocks around SoCal, if I can get an 80 to do more I will do it.

I want to learn more and do more of my own work too, eventually I will have a 40 project (someday) and I need to :censor: up a few times and learn before I get there.
 
gon2srf said:
The suicide window of the FJC does not roll down and is very small. Looking out the rear side window of an FJC is a lot like looking out the porthole of a ship. You miss out on a lot visually when driving on long trips.
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If you are short too, like my 5 year old, you can't see anything except the seat in front of you.
 
Jesse-

I know you have other storage and fit concerns but may I suggest you try finding an FJC with a sunroof installed and see about sitting in it. I sat in one at the dealer and it really alleviated the claustrophobic feeling you get in the rear of the FJC. I too would love to have an 80 but...
 
An 80 is going to be way heavier duty than an FJ Cruiser, so you are looking at night and day platforms. That heavy duty comes at a price-it's heavy, it uses lots of gasoline, it isn't as nimble.

The things you will like, are the great visibility, great capability (especially with factory lockers), and the fact that even close to stock it will go anywhere. You'll also like that lifting the 80 is cheap relative to any IFS truck, and there is very good aftermarket support for the truck. If you are deeply rooted in Land Cruiser lore, you will also like the fact that is a modern truck with the attributes that made Land Cruiser famous in the first place. It has some other very cool things in the build that you have to work on these things a lot to appreciate, but having a SFA and FF rears are two of the highlights. It's field servicable for the most part, not something you can say about the FJC or the 100 series.

The things you won't like, are that the newest one is 12 years old, they use a lot of fuel, both on and off road, and it's very large, especiallly when lifted. I wouldn't cruise mine much over 75 mph (although it will easily go that fast).

If you are choosing between the FJC and the 80 as a "play" car and offroader the 80 will give you more capabilities. If it mostly has to do daily driver duties, I would think that in general, a newer, smaller, and more nimble vehicle would be better.
 
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I've been in an FJC with the sun roof and it was nice but I don't think it would work.

This won't be my daily driver at all, the FJC isn't either, it will be for trial runs around SoCal and eventually I want to branch out into longer expedition trips with it.
 
Cruiserdrew said:
An 80 is going to be way heavier duty than an FJ Cruiser, so you are looking at night and day platforms. That heavy duty comes at a price-it's heavy, it uses lots of gasoline, it isn't as nimble.

The things you will like, are the great visibility, great capability (especially with factory lockers), and the fact that even close to stock it will go anywhere. You'll also like that lifting the 80 is cheap relative to any IFS truck, and there is very good aftermarket support for the truck. If you are deeply rooted in Land Cruiser lore, you will also like the fact that is a modern truck with the attributes that made Land Cruiser famous in the first place. It has some other very cool things in the build that you have to work on these things a lot to appreciate, but having a SFA and FF rears are two of the highlights. It's field servicable for the most part, not something you can say about the FJC or the 100 series.

The things you won't like, are that the newest one is 12 years old, they use a lot of fuel, both on and off road, and it's very large, especiallly when lifted. Ies wouldn't cruise mine much over 75 mph (although it will easily go that fast).

If you are choosing between the FJC and the 80 as a "play" car and offroader the 80 will give you more capabilities. If it mostly has to do daily driver duties, I would think that in general, a newer, smaller, and more nimble vehicle would be better.
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I just imagined my self on the used car lot and you totally sold me! Great info and write up. :)

I do have to reply to your comment of field service-ability? I have replaced CV boots, tie rods and a front CV axle on my FJC in the field. I don't carry a rear axle but would if I were to do the Rubi and have spare spindle/steering knuckles and could replace those if necessary .

Let's say that we had a full compliment of tools and spare parts for each vehicle what areas do you consider the FJC unserviceable vs. the 80?
 
raYGunn said:
This won't be my daily driver at all, the FJC isn't either, it will be for trial runs around SoCal and eventually I want to branch out into longer expedition trips with it.
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Given this statement - absolutely look at a 95-97 80 series with lockers. Patience will find you one.
 
raYGunn said:
I've been in an FJC with the sun roof and it was nice but I don't think it would work.

This won't be my daily driver at all, the FJC isn't either, it will be for trial runs around SoCal and eventually I want to branch out into longer expedition trips with it.
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How tall are you?

I'm 5'7" and the 80 fits me perfect. But some of my taller friends find the 80 a little cramped. It's probably good to about 6', but if you're any taller, I'd go with the 100.

The 80 was made in a era when imports were typically a little smaller than domestics. The 100 and all the newer cars/trucks seems to built roomier.
 
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