NooB to the FJ - Is it any good?

[gratefulJED]

So I've had the FJ40, 60,80,100 series - still have the 100 - was looking at a Tacoma then sat in an FJ. Funky enough - I committed to buy the manual - white - convenience package - off road package - roof rack and rockers - short shift - tow.

I'm a little disappointed in the mpg figures but think I can improve on that somewhat, I was hoping they are really conservative. Are they?

Are these rigs reliable? Are there any real gotcha's I need to be aware of?

I appreciate your time and answers and look forward to owning this rig...

 

[lgrt]

the MPG is pretty accurate :-( The FJC has all the aerodynamics of a brick and makes for those #s Lift it, heavy tires and its down hill from there.

As for reliable... they carry the Toyota name badge well. 126K and a that includes Rubicon, Baja, Arctic Circle miles and tons of local trails. Still reliable as our daily driver.

The one thing to get is Windshield Replacement rider on your insurance. Every little rock seems to find the windshield and leaves a chip or a crack as a reminder of your travels.

 

[gratefulJED]

The one thing to get is Windshield Replacement rider on your insurance. Every little rock seems to find the windshield and leaves a chip or a crack as a reminder of your travels.

Thanks for that - I know on the 100 the second windshield leaks air and can never seem to get where the factory windshield was quite wise. Sorry to hear of that on the FJ. Maybe some 3m protection. I wonder if the hood deflector is a plus or minus for that. I love the Toyota reliability but I hope mine was made on a good day for the factory guys.

Any of you guys running with that funky parking mirror from Toyota Japan?
https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=727240&stc=1&d=1360995048

 

[CBPO]

Nope. I put smaller adjustable mirrors on the actual mirrors... works well and doesn't look so damn foolish. 85,000 miles on my '10. Running strong. Had to replace a wheel speed sensor after playing in the snow - they are somewhat unprotected and fragile... and $200+ - good thing is they are easy to install. After the install I couldn't get the system to re-set - took off the neg. battery cable for a night, and it was right as rain the the morning. Only issue I've had. I love mine.

'77 FJ40
'78 FJ40
'08 Tacoma
'10 FJ Cruiser

 

[Grouper]

I have an 07 with 90,000 miles on it and I have loved it up until very recently. I will agree with the windshield thing and poor mpg but sadly I am also getting hit with a lot of the problems that affected some of the early models. I have the water leak on the driver side rear door issue, the faulty drive shaft issue, and now I am dealing with the tranny/torque converter shudder. Thankfully I missed out on the bad rear end problem so far. The truck is solid and the truth is I still love it and would probably buy another one. I am a bit disappointed with the factory issues that keep surfacing but probably no more than I would deal with on any other make or model with this many miles. I just had some pretty high hopes with this being my first Toyota. Maybe unrealistic expectations.

 

[gratefulJED]

good call on that mirror - foolish is the perfect word! You drill 2 holes in a perfectly good rig, stick an arm on there that is bound to get caught and tweaked, then you use the two hole to bend the metal back out, fill, paint, and your back to square one!

Good Lord Grouper I'm sorry to hear of your woes. 90k is not many miles at all for system failure like you describe. I guess 07 was near the beginning of the run so there is that. I hope that by now bugs are worked out. My 00 LC has 247k on her now with only a relay failure behind the dash and a fuel pump. Our 07 LC seems more problematic nothing major but like a sickly frail child that is needy - light bulbs - rough running sort of but diagnosed as ok - it is weird.

That's why I asked the question - I bought this on impulse - relying on my love and respect of the marque and the 6 speed manual! Hope all will be well and in 10 years with 200k I can still say it.

 

[1911]

I'm a little disappointed in the mpg figures but think I can improve on that somewhat, I was hoping they are really conservative. Are they?

Best I ever got in mine was 22 mpg on the highway, with a tail wind, and mostly stock, and that was only one time. Once you start doing any mods it's a downhill slope - I probably get 14-15 around town and maybe 17-18 on the highway now but mine is very heavy.

Are these rigs reliable? Are there any real gotcha's I need to be aware of?

I have 130,000 hard miles on mine (use it for business in the oil field as well as wheeling) and it does not burn or leak a drop of oil between extended changes. Other than a minor rattle now and then, it still rides and runs as good as new.

 

[Lovey]

I bought mine on impulse in 06 as well. Driving one with the Trail Teams at the time is what did me in.
I still think its ugly. But, it has been the most reliable truck I've had so far. Numerous 40's, 80's, 4runners and a Tacoma in that group. I figured its a Toyota what can be so bad?

The motor/6 speed combo is my favorite by far of all the above mentioned Toyota's I've owned.
Took a huge rock to the windshield a few days ago...this will be #2 when it gets replaced. 100k miles.
Driven across country 3x. Wheeled plenty.
Its treated me very well.

 

[Grouper]

Just to clarify, my overall experience with the FJC has been a good one. I think I drew the short straw on some of the defects that Toyota needed to work out but you risk that when you buy a first year vehicle. My truck served as my wife's daily driver for the first four years and it survived,which is saying a lot. She drove it to every god forsaken neighborhood in the city of New Orleans and did her fair share of damage to it due to her driving style. I took it over from her once she got pregnant and quit work. Since I have had it I have wheeled it and continue to use it now as my daily driver. I love the truck and to be honest even with the issues I am currently dealing with, it still seems more solid than some of the other types of Toyotas in our Krewe. I just wanted to point out that it has had some factory problems which seem to suspiciously appear right outside of the warranty range. Like I said before, I would buy another one and may do so if I continue to run into problems with the 07. It has never left me stranded anywhere and I even managed to get it to limp home from the 9th ward when my wife somehow managed to severely bend the passenger side spindle. I hope you enjoy yours as much as we have enjoyed ours.

 

[jmylie]

Much better gas mileage than a 40, 55, 60 (except my old HJ), 80 or 100. But still only high teens.

It also wheels like the rest of the family. Power steering, A/C, a radio you can actually hear and all those "magic" buttons are spoiling me though.

I'm happy with mine, only 60K and no issues.

 

[Motleyone]

I love mine. Since I got it my 80 has been treated like a red headed step child. I have to agree that there is some type of force that causes all the rocks on the road to hit the windshield. The kids complain about not being able to roll down the windows in the back. I just tell them to suck it up.

 

[Mtbcoach]

I had no issues with mine, drove it from NC to Rubithon, Santa Cruz (home), LA (Demello), Moab, FJCsummit, NC...zero issues, wife, 2 daughters and dog (for most, I soloed home from CO). Only reason I sold it was I couldn't throw any more money at it...

 

[NorthFJ]

Over 200,000 miles on mine and still running strong.
We don't 4x4 ours hard like most of the folks on this forum but it does see it's share of rough use and hard work.

 

[DAGORED]

Almost 65K on a '08 Trail Teams and no issues for the first 5 years. Still on the same windshield, No cracked fender aprons (mine has 2nd gen fenders) or other things that others have had happen. I do have the occasional drive shaft thud but a quick shot of grease always eliminates it. I did replace the battery last week, although it wasn't completely dead yet it was a little weak and since we were going on a 1k mile trip I decided to go ahead and replace it.

Before the mods started it got the 20mpg it was advertised to get, but with the lift, 33", bumpers, RTT and etc. I see about 16mpg now. When towing a trailer the worst I've seen is 13 mpg.

I don't know how many of those 65K miles have been offroad but I'am sure its well above the average. FaJada has been all over the southwest and of all the vehicles that I have owned over the last 40+ years, none have had as high of a fun Factor as this one.