Match up between an 06 X-Terra and 06 FJ Cruiser?

[Zack1978]

Hey everyone,
Based I guess on specs, which truck would be King? What truck is the better "bang for the buck"? They both come in 6spd, so that is a good starting point. At this point I would have to say the X-Terra would win in my book. What does everyone else think? Any feedback?


Zack

 

[dropped74]

Read This Months Issue of Motor Trend

I think you might be surprised.

Nolan

 

[VoodooBlue]

nitpick: there is not an '06 FJ Cruiser. Sooooooo, I'd pick the '06 Xterra over a non-existent veeehikle.;p




but I know what you meant and I'm picking the Cruiser. The wife has a $runner and I'm very impressed with the quality, ride and capability - even if it's only a 2wd! The abs limited slip system works extremely well with one drive wheel in the air. Plus Toyota has done a great job figuring out what gears to use for the motors power band. Something that my little Ford lacks. If I were in the middle of nowhere, like Lubbock, I'd buy one & UPS it without a test drive. No problem or buyers remorse.

 

[Corey]

Pick up this months Motor Trend magazine.

Thw FJ goes head to head with the Xterra, Jeep, H3, the FJ is the clear winner.

 

[98LXand99LC]

According to Motor Trend they rate the FJC higher than the Xterra (their recently annointed SUVOTY).

 

[Voodoogirl]

I totally compared these two vehicles. When my FJ arrived, it had been about 6 weeks since I had driven the Xterra, so I drove the FJ, then went across the street to the Nissan dealer and drove an Xterra. WOW! Driving them back to back really shows the differences. The ride and handling and noise of the Xterra made me feel like I was back in my Wrangler! Literally like going from a cadilac to a jeep. The FJ is quiet and smooth, handles like a dream....for this type of vehicle. Don't mean to be too harsh,but it's true, hope this helps. Bang for the buck? My 4x4 auto trans FJ, with some options, was only 27500, same as an Xterra.

 

[MoJ]

According to Motor Trend they rate the FJC higher than the Xterra (their recently annointed SUVOTY).

But try this months Car & Driver and notice they rank it

1. Xterra
2. Jeep
3. FJ
4. H3

 

[Corey]

There is another thead here about the Car & Driver review.

First off they are a car mag, not a truck mag, so they do not know theie booty from a hole in the ground when it comes to testing a truck or SUV

 

[freewheeling frank]

RTI, baby. The Xterra has 384 RTI versus FJCruiser 491. Suspension articulation is huge, even if not rock crawling. I think offroad the FJ owns the X, even if you can't lock the rear and use ATRAC at the same time.

Of course, I haven't tested it my self! But I have an FJ on order.

 

[98LXand99LC]

But try this months Car & Driver and notice they rank it

1. Xterra
2. Jeep
3. FJ
4. H3

I haven't seen that one, but it surprises the hell out of me. Was it a Rubicon, it couldn't have been the Liberty. God forbid (in my best Sopranos accent)!

 

[rjp1]

I test drove both and they are not even in the same league. Although they probably have very similar capabilities, there is a clear difference in the quality of the vehicles.

Everyone is different so I would suggest you test drive both - only you can decide what is right for you.

 

[Brett06]

I haven't seen that one, but it surprises the hell out of me. Was it a Rubicon, it couldn't have been the Liberty. God forbid (in my best Sopranos accent)!

no it was a cherokee

 

[WagonsRule]

I totally compared these two vehicles. When my FJ arrived, it had been about 6 weeks since I had driven the Xterra, so I drove the FJ, then went across the street to the Nissan dealer and drove an Xterra. WOW! Driving them back to back really shows the differences. The ride and handling and noise of the Xterra made me feel like I was back in my Wrangler! Literally like going from a cadilac to a jeep. The FJ is quiet and smooth, handles like a dream....for this type of vehicle. Don't mean to be too harsh,but it's true, hope this helps. Bang for the buck? My 4x4 auto trans FJ, with some options, was only 27500, same as an Xterra.

That's interesting because in the Motor Trend writeup it seems to me that it was the on road performance that put the Xterra on top in their minds. They were impressed with the FJ on the trail but did not like it much at all on the pavement.

File under "Everyone has their own opinion."

 

[REKCUT]

I bet a 3 year old FJ will be worth 10k more than a 3 year old xtera

 

[warpedone]

A Rubicon will hold its value better than any of them.

 

[Elijah]

A Rubicon will hold its value better than any of them.

So go get a Rubicon.

 

[DBS311]

If you ask a Cruiser forum, of course you are more likely to get "buy the FJC." Head over to the XTerra forum and you will get the opposite. Like somebody said above, go drive both and see what you like best.

Corey, you can't knock Car&Driver without knocking Motor Trend. They are both car magazines.

Having driven both, I tend to see where both mags are coming from. To me, the XTerra is sportier (on road), but the FJC has a better ride quality. I like the V6 in the XTerra more than the Yota's. I also like the room inside the XTerra and the fact that there are 4 full doors. Unless Toyota has really beefed up the frame and body on that thing, I see the FJC developing squeaks from having such a large opening between the A and B pillar. At this point I am only guessing, but I am always a little hesitant with door designs like that.

I like them both, but I wouldn't buy either for any serious wheeling. IMHO you have a great daily driver with whichever you pick.

 

[dropped74]

So go get a Rubicon.

It looks like he already does. If you look at his pic it looks like the Rubi's dash with the 4wd engaged and the lockers locked!!!

Cheers

 

[uhoh7]

A Rubicon will hold its value better than any of them.

we will see.....frankly I doubt it. Compared to it's consumer base, which is way bigger than the Rubi, it will be more rare.

With very little promotion the FJ is impossible to find under MSRP. Is that true with the rubi?

For rock crawling the rubi is better, no question. But for everything else, from backcountry cruising to road trips the FJ is far superior.

On top of that, as far resale is concerned, the road presence of the FJ is alot stronger than the rubi, which most people can't tell from a CJ5, hehe

 

[saigonsmuggler]

With very little promotion the FJ is impossible to find under MSRP. Is that true with the rubi?

You may be right...but wait a few months and see if FJC still commands MSRP. Already, the "market adjustment value" is going out the window...and we're still in the first month!

In the first few months in 2003, Jeep Rubicon went for MSRP and above too. I remembered one dealer marking it up to $35K!! That was just plain ridiculous! And when Lara Croft Rubicon edition came out, the same thing happened...$5K markup at most dealerships. This lasted a few months also.