LX450 vs. New FJ Cruiser (1 Viewer)
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the FJCs that I've wheeled with all had great difficulty with mud as well as the 100 that was with us. In that situation 3 fully locked 80s drove right on through.
High traction situations are probably better suited for the electronic gizmos.
High traction situations are probably better suited for the electronic gizmos.
Ive had an '08 FJC and now have an 80. My FJ had ICON suspension, 305/70 Cooper STTs, URD shifter, Spidertrax spacers and some other goodies. I felt it capable and had no problems going where ever I wanted. I routinely hung and kept up with Jeeps on 35s and larger. I purposely took harder lines and beat the snot out of it. With the rear diff lock and ATRAC I had no problems with traction. At times it wasnt very graceful and routinely carried a front wheel. To me the FJC was very easy to get used to and build confidence.
Now with the 80 as I learn and get a feel for the truck Im liking it more. So far I have the OME med lift with stock size tires. The 80 flexes better and keeps the tires on the ground better. I also like the front locker over the ATRAC. Alot less dramatic and ungraceful, it just goes. I like the size of the 80 and that it is a bigger and heavier truck. The 80 is alot tougher than FJC though. With the FJC the frontend gets complicated when lifted too much and some of the parts can damage easily, not so with the 80. The rear gear problems were on way early builds (think mid '06 build '07 models) and has been corrected since early '07.
If I had the extra money I would buy a used FJC and build one back up. It was fun to surprise people with. Each truck has it's pros and cons. It's just up to the owner to figure out which is for them.
Now with the 80 as I learn and get a feel for the truck Im liking it more. So far I have the OME med lift with stock size tires. The 80 flexes better and keeps the tires on the ground better. I also like the front locker over the ATRAC. Alot less dramatic and ungraceful, it just goes. I like the size of the 80 and that it is a bigger and heavier truck. The 80 is alot tougher than FJC though. With the FJC the frontend gets complicated when lifted too much and some of the parts can damage easily, not so with the 80. The rear gear problems were on way early builds (think mid '06 build '07 models) and has been corrected since early '07.
If I had the extra money I would buy a used FJC and build one back up. It was fun to surprise people with. Each truck has it's pros and cons. It's just up to the owner to figure out which is for them.
I carefully considered the FJC, I liked the concept but wasn't sold on the IFS front end (weak parts, limited travel that leads to wheel lift) and lack of a pair of real back doors. Although the FJC is quite capable with A-TRAC etc. I couldn't swap that technology for what the 80 has.
I wound up buying a used '97 LX450 a few weeks ago and after owning an HJ60 and a US Spec FJ60 I think that the 80's are the best out of the box Cruiser issued to the North American market. You can't beat solid full float axles with available lockers hung on coil springs. The only options that I miss are a diesel power plant and a manual transmission, as we all know items we couldn't get here. Going to a JDM 80 series wasn't an option for me since I think that driving a vehicle from the "wrong" side offers up some arguably dangerous driving scenarios.
Had the FJC been offered with a solid front axle and lockers, I probably would have bought one. The concept of buying a newer FJC and doing an axle swap seemed nutty to me so I did the next best thing and waited for a reasonably low mileage LX450 or HZJ80 with lockers to appear on the market. That's just what I found, a '97 with 150,000 km's (90,000 miles approx) on the odo equipped with lockers.
With the difference in price that I saved by not buying a FJC, I can bolt on all the extra goodies, sliders, bumpers etc., and come out way ahead with a more comfortable, practical and trail ready machine.
I wound up buying a used '97 LX450 a few weeks ago and after owning an HJ60 and a US Spec FJ60 I think that the 80's are the best out of the box Cruiser issued to the North American market. You can't beat solid full float axles with available lockers hung on coil springs. The only options that I miss are a diesel power plant and a manual transmission, as we all know items we couldn't get here. Going to a JDM 80 series wasn't an option for me since I think that driving a vehicle from the "wrong" side offers up some arguably dangerous driving scenarios.
Had the FJC been offered with a solid front axle and lockers, I probably would have bought one. The concept of buying a newer FJC and doing an axle swap seemed nutty to me so I did the next best thing and waited for a reasonably low mileage LX450 or HZJ80 with lockers to appear on the market. That's just what I found, a '97 with 150,000 km's (90,000 miles approx) on the odo equipped with lockers.
With the difference in price that I saved by not buying a FJC, I can bolt on all the extra goodies, sliders, bumpers etc., and come out way ahead with a more comfortable, practical and trail ready machine.
There is no substitute for front and rear lockers at any level of build. Relying on brake modulation for traction is fine, until you really need traction.
Besides which I would never buy a FJC over a Rubicon Unlimited jk, because a) the Rubi Unlimited is infinitely cooler looking, b) it will walk all over a similarly built FJC, and c) its frame won't rip off just because you pulled it from the front, and this is the correct comparison rig, not an 80.
Besides which I would never buy a FJC over a Rubicon Unlimited jk, because a) the Rubi Unlimited is infinitely cooler looking, b) it will walk all over a similarly built FJC, and c) its frame won't rip off just because you pulled it from the front, and this is the correct comparison rig, not an 80.
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jvazquez53
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Doesn't take much to make a FJ80 bullet proof, I don't think the same can be said on the FJ Cruiser, both stock without the traction control gizmos, I'll go for the old 80!
Recently I had a fj cruiser behind me on the trail. I can say the stock fj cruiser more or less kept up with me. It had no lift and stock tires compared to my 285's and ome medium lift. clearance issues aside, it did not flex as well or have a front locker and simply got hung up more. I did have to strap it a couple times. I cant imagine paying for a new fj cruiser when my 80 did so well for just a fraction of the price.
I believe the only truck that is new that can compare to the 80 and is heavy duty is the 70 series (fj 76, or the other iterations), they still make them brand new, and it will be my next truck although i love the look of the 80 so i will never let it go.
When the FJ cruiser came out it was touted as a rugged off-road vehicle, even the pictures are all shot on trails, and without pavement. otherwise i like the retro look. I guess time will prove if it's a heavy duty off-road or not. but i still believe the only heavy duty truck that Toy manufactures now is the 70 Series. and they come with optional front and rear locked axles, and still have the 1fz-f as the engine. should tell you something, about the durability of the drive train and the engine.
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
X2 ... it's the only way that I see to replace my 80 series .. with a VDJ76 ..
jvazquez53
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I haven't read this whole thread but was sent the link and read the first posting so if I missed anything my bad. I wheel the S*** out of my FJC and haven't been disapointed yet. I have been everywhere I have pointed it to date to include the one day straight thru run on Rubithon last year. It is no boonie basher that is for sure, but for a stock or semi stock rig you would be hard pressed to do any better. (by boonie basher I mean a mini truck or simillar with 44's and 11'' of lift...).
If you are looking for something to wheel "out of the box" or close to ready to go this rig will do what you are looking for.
If you are looking for something to wheel "out of the box" or close to ready to go this rig will do what you are looking for.
How so? I'd lay odds on my fjc over most 80's....this statement holds no merit what so ever! Your 80 vs an unknown fjc maybe, but both in well repair......this isn't a chat thread so......
Can you provide anything to substantiate this statement? I've never heard of any issues with the FJC...asside from the travel from IFS....but what you lose in travel you gain in highway comfort...
I am an 80 owner but think the FJC is pure sex. Just wish it had better visibility
not sure what they were thinking on that one
As you guy's can see I've done a bit of reading on this thread and think most posts done about fjc's are just ..... people speaking out of their asses! The only "weakness" I've found around the FJC's are the same as the 80 and that is the lower control arms and their mounting points. That's pretty much it!!!!! I have not been nice to my FJ nor have I worried about the way it looks and it is still going very strong! As a matter of fact I have "abused" mine far more than the guy's in our club that are running 80's and haven't had any more issues than any of them. GRRRRR this thread has really upset me it seems that it should have been in chat and not a "real" thread. I'm going to have to stop for now....
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If I were to move to an IFS Toyota it would be the FJC. In my experience the best of the breed as far as wheeling is concerned, stick a lift and 35's on them and they go! Better size, angles, aftermarket support, etc makes for a good wheeler with plenty of mod options, when compared to the others.
First hand experience?
In all honesty though, the IFS kills the deal for me. Not interested. Also, the reliance on electronics seems to be overwhelming--not for me.
Nice rig though.
Lots of rumors that 2009 is the last year for the FJ ... and they will no longer be made. Not sure how accurate that is....but the rumor mill says it is possible.
Not sure if it's the last year made for the FJC, but it has been reported by Toyota that plans for the next gen FJC have been cancelled. One and done.
