Dealership has a pretty sweet trail team fjc in stock. Should I trade in the Tacoma for it? How much will I miss the truck bed? How is the fjc? Thoughts?
should i trade in the Tacoma for a new fjc?
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I wouldn't. You already have a cruiser for the trails. I would imagine the Tacoma has more passenger room and it is always handy to have a truck bed. There are simply things you would want to haul in a bed outside the cab than inside the cab in a FJ.
While the FJ can perform well on the trails i've only ever seen one actually do it (Jerry's) to the degree that i've been impressed with the platform.
If I was looking for a 4x4 SUV in that category i'd have to go with a 4 door JK. As much as I hate to actually say that. But they are fairly reliable these days, have better road and trail vision and on the trail there is no comparison really. Sorry to anyone that has an FJ on here and I still think they are good vehicles but this is one time i'd have to say Toyota fell behind Jeep on this certain application. In just about every category out there for cars and trucks (not counting 1 tons) Toyota reigns supreme in their respective classes. Also if the rumors are right 2014 might see the introduction of the diesel into the JK by Fiat.
Now I don't own one so take what i've just said with a grain of salt but a few years back before we moved here we were looking at a 4x4 SUV for Andrea and we did extensive test drives in both vehicles and I even borrowed a few for weekend get trips.
From that limited interaction is what I base my opinion on.
Plus your truck is one of the nicest looking Taco's i've seen in Charlotte and that is one area (mini trucks) where toyota still gets is right in every category. 4 doors is better than 2 and 1 suicide for families.
Only downside with the truck over the FJ is people are asking you to help you move all the time.
While the FJ can perform well on the trails i've only ever seen one actually do it (Jerry's) to the degree that i've been impressed with the platform.
If I was looking for a 4x4 SUV in that category i'd have to go with a 4 door JK. As much as I hate to actually say that. But they are fairly reliable these days, have better road and trail vision and on the trail there is no comparison really. Sorry to anyone that has an FJ on here and I still think they are good vehicles but this is one time i'd have to say Toyota fell behind Jeep on this certain application. In just about every category out there for cars and trucks (not counting 1 tons) Toyota reigns supreme in their respective classes. Also if the rumors are right 2014 might see the introduction of the diesel into the JK by Fiat.
Now I don't own one so take what i've just said with a grain of salt but a few years back before we moved here we were looking at a 4x4 SUV for Andrea and we did extensive test drives in both vehicles and I even borrowed a few for weekend get trips.
From that limited interaction is what I base my opinion on.
Plus your truck is one of the nicest looking Taco's i've seen in Charlotte and that is one area (mini trucks) where toyota still gets is right in every category. 4 doors is better than 2 and 1 suicide for families.
Only downside with the truck over the FJ is people are asking you to help you move all the time.
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Traded my Tacoma in for an FJ and love it. Didn't think I would at first. Haven't missed the bed much at all. But, I don't haul dirt or trail bikes around either.
Keep the Tacoma unless there's something wrong with it. Cheaper insurance, a bed, closer to paid off, etc. I spent a few days driving a buddies TT FJC and thought it was great on the road but I'm not used to the creature comforts of modern passenger vehicles. You probably have better clearance with the Tacoma, too.
Didn't you tell me to put my money towards the 40 instead of getting an 80 I didn't really need?
Your wife has a 4-seater, right? There you go. Plus you can keep the Porsche for another fun car.
--john
Didn't you tell me to put my money towards the 40 instead of getting an 80 I didn't really need?
Your wife has a 4-seater, right? There you go. Plus you can keep the Porsche for another fun car.
--john
I wouldnt, i dont think you can see around on the road or on the trails.
P.S. john you can give me my truck back and put the money in the 40.
Having gotten rid of a Tacoma and Silverado when I got in my FJC, I can vouch that there are a few trade offs. I'm in the construction industry but even then, I didn't miss the truck bed too badly. I can actually haul longer boards in the FJ than I could in either truck. Toyota was kind enough to put the back door/window, seat and dashboard in the same plane so I can carry 16 foot boards with little problem now. I can think of two times in the past 2+ years where I needed a truck for something the FJ wouldn't do. I've found that the extra enclosed interior space has been much more useful for everything from carrying tools to going grocery shopping.
I don't know about your Tacoma, but the FJ has better clearance than the longer Tacomas and fits on the tight twisty trails better being shorter as well.
The FJ is crappy for visibility, but you can easily learn to work around that on the road. Offroad is a challenge to see anything frankly. When you catch a glimpse of a trail in front of you, you better memorize every detail of it, have a spotter or have a camera system. Backseat space isn't very usable for adults compared to 4-door trucks, but it works in a pinch.
Beyond that, the FJC is the first newer vehicle I've driven in years that actually has character and I look forward to driving every day. The manual transmission has a lot to do with that since the previous two trucks I've had were automatics, but there's an undefinable "it" that the FJ has that I've been looking for in a vehicle for years now. Is the FJC perfect? Heck no, but it's as close as I'm going to get in a newer vehicle. Of course, I got a heck of a deal on a used one with 30k miles on it, so price factors in to my review as well
I don't know about your Tacoma, but the FJ has better clearance than the longer Tacomas and fits on the tight twisty trails better being shorter as well.
The FJ is crappy for visibility, but you can easily learn to work around that on the road. Offroad is a challenge to see anything frankly. When you catch a glimpse of a trail in front of you, you better memorize every detail of it, have a spotter or have a camera system. Backseat space isn't very usable for adults compared to 4-door trucks, but it works in a pinch.
Beyond that, the FJC is the first newer vehicle I've driven in years that actually has character and I look forward to driving every day. The manual transmission has a lot to do with that since the previous two trucks I've had were automatics, but there's an undefinable "it" that the FJ has that I've been looking for in a vehicle for years now. Is the FJC perfect? Heck no, but it's as close as I'm going to get in a newer vehicle. Of course, I got a heck of a deal on a used one with 30k miles on it, so price factors in to my review as well
These are exactly the reasons why I won't own an FJC. Why did they go for a trendy look instead of function as far as the visibility goes? And the back seat is not good for anyone over 100 pounds. Maybe they will come out with a four door some day and lower the windows. Dare I say it but if it was my money I would go for a four door Wrangler Rubicon with a manual trans.
These are exactly the reasons why I won't own an FJC. Why did they go for a trendy look instead of function as far as the visibility goes? And the back seat is not good for anyone over 100 pounds. Maybe they will come out with a four door some day and lower the windows. Dare I say it but if it was my money I would go for a four door Wrangler Rubicon with a manual trans.
Actually, they went for safety and wheelbase. In order to have access to rear seats and keeping the weelbase where they did, one must either have front seats that tumble forward or have the suicide door route Toyota choose. Mazda did the same with their RX-8, ever check the visibility in one of those? Seen any side impact pics/videos of the FJC being hit and how well those doors handle the impact?
We could go on and on about visibility, it is an issue for the FJC, if its a deal breaker for some, then so be it. I've driven worse and better (love the 80), yet can't help chiming in when people who haven't owned one speculate on how bad it is.
I owned one for 6 years, my 2 daughters and dogs grew up in it. My daughters never complained, driving across the country in it to do Rubithon in '08 when they were 15 & 16 yrs old with our 6 month old pup. Drove the CA visiting family, into AZ for some wheeling and more family, then to Moab for some wheeling, then to CO for some wheeling, they flew home while I drove it home with the pup. My opinion comes from extensive first hand experience.
I actually like the suicide door, mostly running solo on the trails with one of my dogs, it was easy to have them jump in the back seat. Same when the kids were smaller, I could open the driver doors, kids jump in and buckle in, I close both doors and away we go.
As far as visibility, never found it an issue, in fact, found more issues with the A pillar. I didn't like where the A pillar is when pulling into traffic and/or checking traffic looking left. But, that has more to do with where I choose to put the driver's seat than anything else.
I've driven many cars and trucks worse then the FJC but I'm old and drove many cars to survive when I was young. That's why I prefer to commute with the highest degree of visibility, on a motorcycle. You adjust your mirrors as I was instructed many a decade ago and actually turn your head to look in the other lane when merging and its not a problem. Its the "cell phone" generation (sorry if I'm insulting those in that generation who do know how to drive and use their mirrors) who can't adapt, I know how old I'm getting when I want to go ballistic when being merged into by an @sshole talking on a cell phone that can't turn their head to check their blind spot.
[rant off]
I didn't initially chime into your thread because I don't believe anyone can answer your question other than you. I loved my FJC, it worked for me and my family. Yet, I can't say the same for you, don't know you well enought to know if you can live without a pick up bed. I USED my FJC, in all aspects as a home owner would, carrying 20' lengths of tubing on the rack to get ready to build my trailer.
As much as I loved the FJC, I'm loving the 80 more.
I have no regrets with the FJC. Building the 80 up, I can see that I can build a higher level of vehicle than I was shooting for with the FJC, do it for less $$ up front, similar costs of upgrades (suspension/sliders/bumpers/etc), give a higher level of comfort for my now grown daughters, increase visibility greatly (why I initially bought it for my daughters to learn how to drive) and still have room for the big @ss dogs I have.
Downside is getting a slightly used drivetrain in getting an 80 series Land Cruiser.
I was able to live without a pick up bed, still do. Yet, nobody can ultimately answer the question but you. Good luck with your decision, I'll share any experience I've had with mine...
Great post MTBCoach. Couldn't agree more. The FJC has received high safety ratings in back seat safety, especially those with the rear air bags. Makes me feel good with my 8 month old sitting back there now and later when she's out of the car seat. My wife also has an FJC and manages quite well with the "visibility" issues. There is only an issue if you don't pay attention and don't know how to drive with mirrors, as you stated already. I think some hate the FJC because it is not made like the 40, which has visibility issues of its own. You either love it or hate it. What I recommend is to drive one and see for yourself. I didn't like it until I drove my wife's, then I traded my Tacoma in for one for myself. It's not for everybody, but you won't know until you drive it yourself.
Mtbcoach, that is great that you like your FJC. Believe me I want to like it. I have looked at them several times through the years. I love some things about it and it is built to last and go places ordinary vehicles can't but as I said Toyota could have done better IMO. It just doesn't fit me where I am in my life right now. If I didn't have anyone but myself to worry about I would probably consider one but my kids are approaching grown up status. I even took them to the dealer once and had them sit back there. They said no thanks. They can't see outside back there and where I live there is too much to see, also they said it was like a cave. Their words not mine. I hope Toyota redesigns it for better visibility for all the passengers and like I said a four door with real back seats. And they can throw in a diesel too.
Mtbcoach, that is great that you like your FJC. Believe me I want to like it. I have looked at them several times through the years. I love some things about it and it is built to last and go places ordinary vehicles can't but as I said Toyota could have done better IMO. It just doesn't fit me where I am in my life right now. If I didn't have anyone but myself to worry about I would probably consider one but my kids are approaching grown up status. I even took them to the dealer once and had them sit back there. They said no thanks. They can't see outside back there and where I live there is too much to see, also they said it was like a cave. Their words not mine. I hope Toyota redesigns it for better visibility for all the passengers and like I said a four door with real back seats. And they can throw in a diesel too.
It sounds like you want Toyota to design the 4runner or a Prado
They probably had to dumb down the FJ so they didn't cannibalize sales from other models. The only thing I'd trade my FJ on would be a diesel FJ though, so I completely agree with you. I have no kids or rear passengers aside from my mutt, and he agrees that he'd like real windows in the rear. I prefer the cave though, especially with a dark tint since I have very sensitive eyes. Fits my life well!
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Hendrick has a 2008 Trail Edition FJC for 26,9$ which just happens to be in Iceberg White so close to the Cygnus white of Herman....Meant to be??? I'm going to test drive the 2013 version when we pick up Dana's Rav4 on THursday night before I make a final decision.
Those are nice! Another plus on FJC's right now- holding 60+% of their value after 5 years in terms of the used market. I could probably make money on mine for what I paid for it at the time. Good luck.
Never understood the FJC, why not get a 4runner? Almost the same vehicle, but you get 4 doors, more refined, they have a trail edition....only difference is the manual trans, can you get that still in the FJC?
Now a 4 door JK competitor from Toyota with a removable top would sell out in hours, but nobody asked me.
Now a 4 door JK competitor from Toyota with a removable top would sell out in hours, but nobody asked me.
Who is onemanarmy? Must be a ghost post.
I've been around a bit