Thinkiing of buying a FJ, how do you like yours??

[scottie]

I went out and drove a FJ last week. I have been looking at them for while, but wanted to see how the did over time. I also knew that when I broke down and drove one, I would soon have a new car payment. I have a FJ 62 and had a FJ40, not to mention a few 4-runners, T-100, and a few other Toyota trucks.

I would like to know what you think of your FJ's. What do you like and dislike. How do they run on and off road. Have you seen any mechanical or engineering problems? Are they as solid and easy to work on as their name sakes? Are they as modular as the old ones, where you can take everything apart and work on it yourself? What about the factory locking differentials and the A Track, how would they stack up to after market such as ARB air lockers.

I read the stickys at the top, and I wanted to see what you guys have to say.

 

[Dusty 66]

FUN FUN FUN to Drive the 6 speed gearing is Fantastic for stock ! +++

Overall Driver & front passenger comfort +

Low range ++ (Lot better than my 60 or 80)

My Wife and I love to drive it.+ +

Runs nice on long ass washboard road's, tires @ 18 Lbs. 45 mph + ++

Power E++

A/C filtration +

Over all handling ++

Sound system works Off Road ++

Don,t like the lack of overhead light in front seat -

Fold down seats in rear suck I took mine out - love it now !

Stock roof rack is pretty, but got to go,- ARB YEA !+

Rear Door Needs to open from inside -

Skid plates -

A tract & locking Differential ++

Over all it It's a great platform to drive stock or Modify .......IMHO......Dusty

 

[corsair23]

Fold down seats in rear suck I took mine out - love it now !

Dusty,

you removed the second row seats or have I missed something and there are fold down third row seats available? I've searched and looked at pictures but I haven't seen any pics with fold down seats.

 

[Dusty 66]

THere GONE !

Tried it out last week in Death Valley Now I just roll out my sleeping bag !.....Dusty

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Love it!!


Plus's:

Fun to drive.

Typical high-quality solidly-built Toyota.

Lot of thought went into its off-road design. (Thank you, Toyota.)

Relatively reasonably-priced, especially compared to all the other 4x4 SUVs out there.

Lots of front room passenger space, even for a 6'4" 250-pounder like me. (Forget the back seat unless kids or midgets are riding back there.)

Comfortable ride.

Predicatble (and safe) road manners. (Great lateral stability for a high center of gravity vehicle.)

Fun to go crazy spending money on.

A great truck for "building up" and/or accessorizing as you go (and finances permit).

Impossible to lose in a parking lot (Sun Fusion yellow).

Fun to drive. (Did I already say that??)



Minus's (real picky stuff):

Knobs too tiny on stock AM/FM/CD radio.

Dark interior shows every spec of dust and chesseburger crumbs.

Jury's still out on my bright yellow dashboard center panel. (May paint it to match the rest of the dashboard.)

Slightly protruding body mounts at the back of the front wheel wells sometimes makes the next size larger tire a "rubber." But, there's mods and lift kits that quickly solve that problem.

Not the best gas mileage in the world, but that's not why I bought it. (Matter of fact, NO Toyota SUV has ever been know for its fuel economy.)

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

THere GONE!

Dusty, I like what you did. Does it lie flush with the rest of the rear cargo floor? Any rattles? More pics / dimensions? Did you do a write-up on this?

 

[Dusty 66]

yes nice and flush !

Yes a build link to our local club

http://702fjcrew.net/FJForums/viewtopic.php?t=282

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Thanks, Dusty!!

 

[mbaker]

I got all fired up when the FJ came out last year. Got one right away. After a while though the financial reality set in and a car had to go. My wife chose the FJ over her 01 land cruiser with less than 20k miles. Same horsepower in both rigs but the FJ is way lighter and a six-speed over an auto. The difference is incredible. Bottom line is the FJ is not a luxo car but a hell of a lot more fun to drive. Highly recomended

 

[TrAiLbUs1]

Does this answer your question? Chiva Falls/ Three Feathers Tucson, AZ

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Does this answer your question? Chiva Falls/ Three Feathers Tucson, AZ

Now, that says it all.

(Geez, I miss AZ )

 

[foxtrot6]

I keep hearing complaints about the rear windows not opening. The windows in the secondary doors? Or is it the window in the tailgate that does not open?

 

[BC_FJC]

Back door windows do not open but the rear hatch do's...

 

[TrAiLbUs1]

I keep hearing complaints about the rear windows not opening. The windows in the secondary doors? Or is it the window in the tailgate that does not open?

It's the rear suicide door window that does not open, come on engineers did you forget something? No the window in the tail gate works, leave it open on the trail, and all the sudden your brown from dust

 

[Blues Dawg]

All in all, I love mine. The rear windows not opening hampers good ventilation tho - if the rear door windows or rear quarter windows simply vented open, that would improve air flow considerably.

 

[Dusty 66]

I keep hearing complaints about the rear windows not opening. The windows in the secondary doors? Or is it the window in the tailgate that does not open?

My problem was opening up the rear door when sleeping in the back,
Think I solved this problem by opening up the rear window hatch before I getting in, and close it but not let it latch ! It seals good enough to keep the skeeter's out.
If I want to get out I push open the rear hatch window, and reach out and grab the outside door latch.
Do not Lock and set the alarm ! my buddy did this in his FJ in Death Valley it kept going off and kept everyone awake !

..........Dusty

 

[foxtrot6]

It's the rear suicide door window that does not open, come on engineers did you forget something? No the window in the tail gate works, leave it open on the trail, and all the sudden your brown from dust

OK thanks, I was starting to worry, Ive all but decided to buy one but I didnt want to ride around in a coffin

 

[foxtrot6]

All in all, I love mine. The rear windows not opening hampers good ventilation tho - if the rear door windows or rear quarter windows simply vented open, that would improve air flow considerably.

Wonder if anyone has installed a roof vent. Wouldnt open much with the roof rack but maybe it would help.

 

[Corey]

I think this about sums it up

 

[scottie]

Thanks for all the input, this helps a lot. Looks like the new FJ is developing a devoted following like it's predecessors. Guess I will be getting another cruiser.

If any one else has more input or advice feel free to keep it coming.

Thanks again