Well I took an FJ Cruiser out today.
Some first impressions.
First the good:
Awesome brakes - this thing stops on a dime.
Good build (it's a toyota)
mirrors are great to drive with
Feels solid
Good power (if you like gas engines)
3rd front wiper is cool and useful
Has good forward visibility (but the 80 series has more)
Nice feeling truck, but not without its problems
Bad:
Transfer case hangs down (has skid - but your can still hang on it)
gas tank hangs down (has skid - but your can still hang on it, dent it, or put a hole in it)
Poor rear visibility - very bad
Small rear window hatch - not very useful
Hard to get in and out of back seat (smacked my head)
Not much back seat room ( not for adults)
Hard for the backseat passenger to close their own door (bad angle/design - I doubt a kid could do it).
Lots of Rad/ AC stuff hanging low in the front
No rain gutters - how can you add after-market racks - roof top tents, etc...?
Quirks:
Rear locker only works in 4low
I prefer the older split tailgate - not one door
Wants:
Diesel!!! This one is big for me
Solid front axle - would be nice, but could live with independent.
Fix the items on my "bad list" - especally the rear doors/backseats and the visability.
Not enough room to sleep in - can work around.
Tires can be changed, so I am not worried about those.
Would prefer a split folding tailgate like the 80 series.
I never tried the truck offroad, or in 4low.
I was on my lunch hour and did not have time.
If I was more serious I would try it offroad.
But to much needs fixing for me to get it.
Anyways, my feeling is:
The FJC is without a doubt a nice truck.
Very solid to drive. But I think there is some design issues.
The suicide doors look nice but are not functional.
There is not enough back seat room.
Rear visibility is poor for driving and off roading.
As an advertised off road truck, I would of liked to see Toyota do a better job with tucking things up more - mainly the transfer case and the gas tank. To much stuff hanging down. The gas tank is right there to be hit (just like a 4runner).
To me it feels to much like a 4runner, and not enough like a land cruiser. I don't want to come down to hard on Toyota, because they did build it, and try to make something with the offroad in mind. But to me its to much like a 4 runner. Toyota made to many design compromises to make it look nice. In my opinion, its a nice truck, but not a Land cruiser.
Toyota did a good job, but they are capable of doing so much better. I think they missed the mark, it will still sell, but it needs some things addressed. If Toyota fixes the issues at hand I would reconsider.
I will take my 80 series cruiser any day of the week. Sorry Toyota.
Anyways, that is my opinion, so please take it as that.
I really wanted to like the FJC, and I tried to like it.
If they address some of the issues I speak of, I would consider it again.
Cheers,
Nick
Some first impressions.
First the good:
Awesome brakes - this thing stops on a dime.
Good build (it's a toyota)
mirrors are great to drive with
Feels solid
Good power (if you like gas engines)
3rd front wiper is cool and useful
Has good forward visibility (but the 80 series has more)
Nice feeling truck, but not without its problems
Bad:
Transfer case hangs down (has skid - but your can still hang on it)
gas tank hangs down (has skid - but your can still hang on it, dent it, or put a hole in it)
Poor rear visibility - very bad
Small rear window hatch - not very useful
Hard to get in and out of back seat (smacked my head)
Not much back seat room ( not for adults)
Hard for the backseat passenger to close their own door (bad angle/design - I doubt a kid could do it).
Lots of Rad/ AC stuff hanging low in the front
No rain gutters - how can you add after-market racks - roof top tents, etc...?
Quirks:
Rear locker only works in 4low
I prefer the older split tailgate - not one door
Wants:
Diesel!!! This one is big for me
Solid front axle - would be nice, but could live with independent.
Fix the items on my "bad list" - especally the rear doors/backseats and the visability.
Not enough room to sleep in - can work around.
Tires can be changed, so I am not worried about those.
Would prefer a split folding tailgate like the 80 series.
I never tried the truck offroad, or in 4low.
I was on my lunch hour and did not have time.
If I was more serious I would try it offroad.
But to much needs fixing for me to get it.
Anyways, my feeling is:
The FJC is without a doubt a nice truck.
Very solid to drive. But I think there is some design issues.
The suicide doors look nice but are not functional.
There is not enough back seat room.
Rear visibility is poor for driving and off roading.
As an advertised off road truck, I would of liked to see Toyota do a better job with tucking things up more - mainly the transfer case and the gas tank. To much stuff hanging down. The gas tank is right there to be hit (just like a 4runner).
To me it feels to much like a 4runner, and not enough like a land cruiser. I don't want to come down to hard on Toyota, because they did build it, and try to make something with the offroad in mind. But to me its to much like a 4 runner. Toyota made to many design compromises to make it look nice. In my opinion, its a nice truck, but not a Land cruiser.
Toyota did a good job, but they are capable of doing so much better. I think they missed the mark, it will still sell, but it needs some things addressed. If Toyota fixes the issues at hand I would reconsider. I will take my 80 series cruiser any day of the week. Sorry Toyota.
Anyways, that is my opinion, so please take it as that.
I really wanted to like the FJC, and I tried to like it.
If they address some of the issues I speak of, I would consider it again.
Cheers,
Nick
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Congrats Tim on your new travels. Keep up the pics!!!!
