Selling my 98' 100 for a 2012 trail teams fj?

[Ralston]

Hi,
I bought my cruiser new in 98' and currently have 145,000 miles on it. It is a fantastic vehicle but I have been thinking of trading fora new fj. One of the things that concerns me most is will the fj have the same longevity as a landcruiser( is the engine as durable,is the frame as well made, etc....). Am I making a horrible mistake? Maybe having the same vehicle for 14 yrs is just giving me a new car itch. I am looking at the fj because I am no longer in a position to purchase a new landcruiser. I have been not much more than a lurker on the forums but certainly value your opinions. I plan on keeping the fj for a long time as well.
Thanks,
John

 

[FullyLitLED]

MY thoughts;


Pros for 100:
-V8 has ample power
-100 series has a lot of cargo room
-less blind spots in the 100 vs. the FJC
-towing capacity is a big deal for me since I drag a 7k car hauler around


Pros for FJC:
-short wheelbase
-LOTS of aftermarket upgrades, probably to compensate for the lack of quality from the factory! (jk guys, don't get mad)
-newer

Again, these are my personal thoughts, and the choice to trade for an FJC is your choice!

 

[3D FJ]

Most people go the other way around.

Brock, Layonn, AmityFJ, Me, etc have gone from FJC to 100 series. On the trail, the size of the FJC is what makes the biggest difference. As far as build quality... I can't say that the FJC is any better or any worse. I can tell you this... it won't be as comfortable as your 100. But there sure are a heck of a lot more mods for an FJC.

 

[gil12]

I assume that you have driven an FJC - when I tried one, I couldn't get past the poor access to the rear, the limited window use in the rear, and the terrible seeing.

I'd suggest you see how new a LC you can get for the same money as a new FJC.

Gil
Ventura

 

[gil12]

did a quick internet search - it seemed that a fjc w the basic options that come with just about any lc, would come in at about 35,000. in autotrader - it seemed that would get you, from a dealer, about a 2007 lc with about 50,000 miles - give or take.

(- i'd keep the truck you have, and just add something to it you like for the fun of it.)

Gil

 

[dfrelich]

If you have a family or frequently bring ppl in the back of FJ. You'll find that suicide doors are a pain in the arse. I used to have FJ before I traded up.

When opening both doors on one side, its like packing a tight box at the parking lot when you have car next to you.

Everything else is nice with FJ. As mentioned by few others, they've got their pros and cons.

 

[Layonnn]

The 4.0L is, IMO, one of the best engines in terms of power and reliability and low maintenance that Toyota has ever made. At work we have a 2005 4Runner that just went over 200K miles with the 4.0L. The engine still revs and pulls like my FJ did the day i drove it home new. It doesn't feel sluggish at all. As far as i know, it has never had a single engine problem either.

I had my FJC for 4 years.
The 100 suits my needs better. More room, 4 real doors, better towing, more comfortable, etc. It is bigger on the trails. But then again i have always hated trails where the obstacles are trying to weave through trees. I loathe that kind of wheeling.

If i was you and had the budget of a 12 trail teams, about $33-35K, i would try and find a low mileage 06-07 Land Cruiser instead.

 

[wellsj4]

My experience is as follows:
2000 land cruiser 100 purchased with 99,000 miles sold it with 275,000
Loved it every mile...

Had a whim and drove a new FJC purchased a new 2010 FJC sold it with 85,000 miles.
Very novel very impressive very exciting very dependable but not a 100...

Now drive a 2001 Land Cruiser 100.

Once you drive a 100 it is hard to trade down on any front. Unless you are trying to impress you 13 year old neighbor, I would stick to the 100.

 

[Layonnn]

Why did this get moved from the 100 forum to the FJ forum?
Seems as though it could go in either section but the OP chose to post it in the 100 section to get 100 owners opinions, but now most 100 owners won't read this.

 

[1911]

... will the fj have the same longevity as a landcruiser( is the engine as durable,is the frame as well made, etc....). ... I plan on keeping the fj for a long time as well.

As a single data point, I have more than 125,000 miles on my FJC (many of them off-road BTW) and it still doesn't burn or leak a drop of oil. FWIW, it replaced an FJ80 that went to one of my sons. I loved the 80 but honestly the FJC is way more powerful, more comfortable, and a better daily driver IMO. I'm sure your 100 is more powerful than my 80, so the difference would be less dramatic. But in any event, the FJC is a genuine made-in-Japan Toyota that has upheld the legendary Toyota reliability as far as I'm concerned.

 

[AmityFJ]

I just bought my 100 and believe it can be a 15 yr vehicle for me. Only reason why I will be selling my FJC is because I needed more room.

My initial thoughts are the FJC will cost less maintenance wise as years pass by. Parts will be easier to find for the FJC.

Both are made in Japan so you know the quality of build is better.

Pure fun factor and easy cleanup makes the FJC great driver on and off road. The 100 has the comfort factor over the FJC and nice visibility.
Can't comment on off road differences yet but I bet the 100 would go anywhere the FJC could except tighter trails maybe.

If I didn't have kids and grandparents i had to haul around I would be keeping the FJC. As of right now I'm still having a hard time putting her up for sale If I could swing it I would keep both.

If I were you I would find a 06-07 low mileage 100 series. It's easily in your price range and you know what you'll be getting since you own a 100 already unless you are looking for a change, the go for an FJ.

 

[9toys]

as much as i hated to, i just sold my '99 LC. Best car i've ever owned. It was just too much trouble to maintain 4 vehicles. Any home owner need a pickup so I have a '11 tacoma. the wife hates it so she bought a '12 FJ. We fight over who gets to drive it. More fun to drive than the LC and pointing out all the con's would be redundant as they have all been pointed out. However, the pro's outweigh the con's as far as i'm concerned. the lc only had 165K and was in excellent condition but with the rise in gas prices, it was a no brainer(jumped 12 cents today at walmart). also no warranty(obviously) on the LC. FJ mileage isn't great but dramatically better in town than the LC, which is where most of us routinely drive them. Some mods are a must on the FJ. unless you have the TT edition, the shocks, and maybe the springs, need to be upgraded. The roof rack is about worthless, also. Hence, Bilstein 5100's and a Baja Rack. Side steps or sliders are handy as it is quite a step up to get in.
all that said, as much as i liked the LC, I haven't really looked back since she bought the FJ.

 

[Jacket]

I'd get a 4Runner - or a newer 100 series.

 

[Alan802]

I drove a 93 LC for about 4 years, then an 06' LX 470 for 4 years and now I'm in a 10' FJC. I haven't spent as much time in any of these vehicles as others on this forum but I am very familiar with them so I'll add my opinion. My 06' had 103K on it, needed new tires and was not as smooth on the road as the FJ currently is with 28K on the odo. I'm sure the worn tires and the 100K on the shocks had something to do with the ride quality of the LX but I am very surprised with the comfort of the FJ. I've had the FJ for a week only and I absolutely love driving it. I have been an LC enthusiast for 12-15 years now and have almost 8 years behind the wheel of them and I think the FJ is a great vehicle and very well worth looking into if you like the looks. I know it's not a 100 as far as build quality and refinement, basically it can't match the 100 in most areas, but the FJ is still an awesome ride that is fun to drive and deserves to be in the family (maybe the bratty little brother but still blood related).

I absolutely loved every mile I put on the LX but it was time to move on and I'm not at all dissapointed in moving down to the FJ, I can't wait to drive it every day. Times are tough right now and I couldn't afford all the upcoming maintenance that the LX needs and deserves so it will make it another 10 years. Tires, brake job, the 90K mile scheduled maintenance was all too much out of pocket for me so I traded it in. Dropped my payment significantly, slightly better mileage, no need for tires, brakes or any other real expensive maintenance needs played a big role in me moving to the FJ. But with all that said, I think I'm going to enjoy driving it as much or more than I would have the LX over the next 4-5 years.

The 93' is sitting in a garage with a cracked head waiting on the day when I can start refurbishing it and maybe pass it on to my son when he's ready for his first car.

 

[RyanR]

I haven't owned a 100 so my opinion is one-side but I do wheel with several on a regular basis. The V8 in the 100 is more powerful but the lighter FJ will walk away from a 100 series when you're both on the gas. If we're talking towing the 100 is going to be superior.

 

[1BiGGuy]

Adding to what 1911 said I have quite a few miles off road on dirt roads and trails from WY to CO to UT and I've got a little over 175,000 miles on my '07 FJ. No leaks and not burning any oil. Other than normal maintenance I've had to replace a wheel sensor and a tie rod end and the charcoal canister is bad now. Still runs great.

 

[FJX2000]

I completely recommend the FJ Cruiser to you and thatyou should trade it in, but if yuo are going for a Trails Team FJ, unless you like the 2012 specifically for the color, I would wait for the 2013!!

They just announced this last week that the color will be cement gray and it looks awesome! And if your getting an FJ for offroading and whatnot, then definatly wait because along with the locking rear differential and the A-TRAC system, the 2013 has a new system called CRAWL. I'm still looking into it but it just sounds even more ready to hit the trails!

Hope you go with the FJ Cruiser! It wont let you down!

 

[Blues Dawg]

I recently sold my FJC and replaced it with an 80. Have done lots of road time and wheeling with 80 series, 100 series and FJ's including with the Trail Teams. After 6 years and about 120K miles, I was overjoyed to get out of the FJC and into the full 4-door (see posts above about access with suicide doors), improved visibility (not out the back as much as past the A-Pillars and over the hood) and vastly superior ventilation of the LC. I wouldn't worry about reliability as long as you maintain your vehicle - they both are built to last. The FJC is faster and is a capable offroad vehicle but, overall, prefer the built for function v. form Land Cruiser.

 

[2011cruising]

I've had my FJC for about a month and a half. So far I've loved it, I have done a good amount of off roading with it, and the only problem I have found with it is the small gas tank. This problem can be solved with a aux fuel tank, or extra gas cans. I do wish it had a larger tank so you wouldn't have to worry about running out of gas on the trail, or stopping to refuel it, with a gas can. For me the visibility was something that I got use to rather quickly and was able to adapt to. The two full doors is not an issue for me seeing how I do not have a family, and usually only have two passengers and if the passenger seat is forward there is a decent amount of space for the passenger in the back.

 

[paflytyer]

I looked pretty hard at the FJ. Looked at a lot of data on that hood crumple issue. I ended up (at that time) with a 06 4runner instead. Those suicide doors without roll down windows kinda sealed the deal for me. My dog needs a window to stick her head out of!

After the 4Runner, I went to a 100 series and started building it up. I really, really love my 100 and it does everything I need, but if they started making the FJ with real doors and windows that go up and down, I would consider it. I'm a big fan of the FJ's looks, especially once they're built up and trail ready.

Any plans from Uncle T to make it more 4 door-able?