Underwhelming

[Romer]

Spuhns - Your opinion is welcome. There have been a few non toyota guys coming in here bashing the FJcruiser and how it compares to a ......Jeep.

I have no problem with an 80 owner saying he drove it and liked the 80 better.

I also have an 80 and was impressed. Different perspectives and opinions are part of life.

edit: I wouldn't trade my 80 in either, but I was thinking of replacing the wifes GMC. It's nothing against the FJ. I just love the 80 and the way it rides and wheels. The FJ Cruiser is great in that area, but it's like trading in one of your kids. I would rather have both.

 

[DBS311]

I admit that when the FJC was first getting exposed I was bitter and upset with the direction Toyota had gone with it. Then I start looking at more and more pictures of it. Ok, it isn't that bad. Now there are pictures circulating of FJCs with lifts, bumpers, etc. and it is starting to look better and better. I decided that I needed to see one in person when they hit the local dealer.

After 5 miles into the test drive I knew that I'd rather be behind the wheel of my 62. Sure, it's nice, drives ok, has decent power blah, blah, blah.........but it wasn't my cup of tea. If I had absolutely loved it, I would have probably sold the 62 and bought one. Not everyone is going to love the FJC, so deal with it. I know plenty of people that don't like the 60 series but I don't get pissy about it. I appreciate the people that offer their opinion whether it is good or bad. We are all intelligent adults (except Shotts - he even admitted it) and we can tell when people are just trying to bash the FJC rather than offering an honest opinion. My advice, just look past the bad posts. We need the good with the bad.

There are those out there that really want to like it, but feel it doesn't offer enough to warrant selling their current rig to buy one.

 

[alaskacruiser]

FJCOG- I would hope people on these forums would be open to different opinions. The FJC forum isn't only for people to post about how much they love their FJC's, is it? Toyota people do read this forum, and it is good to get constructive criticism out there. Every vehicle has weak points or can be improved upon, especially the first year they are released.

I haven't driven the FJC yet, but I will test drive it soon. And you can be sure I'll post my honest opinion here. It is illogical to assume that every person that doesn't like the FJC says so because they weren't going to buy it in the first place. This makes no sense! For example- I drove a Mercedes G-Wagon and I loved it, but I'm not buying one because it is too expensive. I knew I wasn't going to buy the G-Wagon when I test drove it, but I still think it is a fantastic vehicle! You need to accept the fact that some people aren't going to like the FJ, and will post honest reasons as to why. Please don't put words in peoples' mouths and make up reasons why they don't like the FJ. News flash: they may have real reasons for not liking it and constructive criticism is a good thing, especially since it has a good chance of making it back to Toyota!

 

[tnegiet]

Does anyone want to hear why I bought an FJ instead of a Tacoma? Oh wait, I'll go to the Tacoma thread and let them know...

 

[FineWynsFJ40]

I'll admit, I'm a tire kicker. On both my FJ40 and LeSabre, before I bought them, I kicked the tires. Since they didn't fall off, I bought them

I got to crawl under and over the FJC at the Detroit Auto Show, as well as drive it. Once I'm out of college, once my Buick bites the big one, and I'm comfortably into my first tour of duty with the Coast Guard, I'm going to the local Toyota dealership and gettin' me an order for one FJ Cruiser.

 

[thorvald]

I'm sure the test drive posts will die down,

and be replaced with should I get a used 100 series or FJ.

I find these threads somewhat informative by the way.
Especially if the person doing the feedback is someone's opinion I've come to respect/value.

It's your chance in your tech section to draw people to the FJC, not away.
Negative qualities people see are an attribute of the vehicle, not the owners of the vehicle. I hope Toyota listens to some of the criticisms as they seem valid, and I would possibly get one in the future if they fix some of the things mentioned, maybe even if they don't.

Most 80's owners dog the 91-92 models for being underpowered and other reasons. all in good fun. the 07-08 model FJ's will probably be the same

 

[johnny4ever]

First my Qualifications: NONE
Am I planning on buying an 07 FJ...nope.
Have I test driven one? nope

Looks to me like someone may work for toyota.

 

[SnyderMan]

I too enjoy hearing what honest, objective people have to say about the vehicle. these are what i looked for before test driving myself. this way i was able to concentrate on thing people disliked or liked to see if it affected me the same way. like the blindspot. some people cant get over it. but to me it was nothing and really is only a minor concern when backing up.
also the wind noise on the rack. some do not like it and i can only notice it if i have turned everything off in the vehicle and concentrate on hearing it.

it was nice to have others do some leg work and see if i agreed with their opinions. but i made up my own mind and i will put money down tomorrow on mine!

the great thing is sometimes i miss stuff on a test drive so the more i can find out the more i can look for on my test drive. i dont find negetive opinions negetive at all, unless it comes from some j**p guy that is looking to impress himself by saying he wouldnt buy one cause his jeep is the end all be all. if there is substance in your post i am interested.

 

[Beowulf]

I'm sure the test drive posts will die down, and be replaced with should I get a used 100 series or FJ.

I find these threads somewhat informative by the way.
Especially if the person doing the feedback is someone's opinion I've come to respect/value.

It's your chance in your tech section to draw people to the FJC, not away.

Thorvald makes some excellent points and I think all of you FJC owners that are frequenting this section should reread them.

1. It is your section of IH8MUD. You can make it whatever you want it to be.
2. You really do NOT want it to be simply a "tech" section. For one, there isn't much "tech" out there right now and you should be solicting ideas from the 4Runner, Taco, 80's, and especially the 100 guys.
3. Whether you like it or not, you will be getting opinions from those here at 'Mud that spend most of our time in other sections. Get used to that fact and find a way to embrace it and our feedback.
4. Use the negative "test drive" posts to educate the poster about the positive attributes of the FJC. Some won't read them but there are dozens (hundreds) of lurkers that are reading your responses. Be professional and courteous with your rebuttals.

The FJC is a very capable and kewl truck. Some will never like it, some will be ambivilant, some will love it, and most will just let the vehicle prove itself. Proving itself is the whole purpose of the FJ Cruiser Trail Teams. I *firmly* believe that most forum members will not be writing those "I hate it..." posts here on 'Mud after they've had a chance to see it off-road and to DRIVE it off-road on some challenging terrain. The following 2 photos are from the High Desert Cruiser event at Gordy's Hill. The FJ Cruiser Trail Teams sent 2 vehicles and we had a great weekend.

A friend of mine took this shot and titled it "The Future." You can decide for yourself if he is prophetic or not.

-B-

 

[alaskacruiser]

Beowulf- great post! Speaking of which, what is your opinion of the FJC's ATRAC vs. 100 ATRAC vs. 80 lockers?

 

[Beowulf]

I have never driven a 100 on road or off road.

My 80 is locked so I have a lot of experience with it. I spent about an hour behind the wheel of one of the FJC Trail Team rigs. Robbie spent some time explaining how the A-TRAC works and the nuances in getting it to engage when you want it. I would estimate that it engaged ~10 times while I was driving.

I loved the A-TRAC. If you are on rocks with the 80 front locked, it can be hard to steer. With A-TRAC the front diff is open and the system senses which tyre has traction and sends torque to that wheel. Steering is normal.

Just to be sure everyone understands, I am not an expert with the A-TRAC system and I don't own an FJC. This was my brief experience but it was overwhelmingly positive with the vehicle and with A-TRAC. Pristine has nothing to be concerned about but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the FJC for what it is.

-B-

 

[tnegiet]

tnegiet- you obviously haven't read much of the 80 or 100 series forums. The 80 vs. 100 thread has come back countless times, and people state the various reasons (most including technical content) that one is better than the other. Learn to ignore posts you don't like, or get used to going to Taco boards, posting, and then coming back here and reporting!

alaska,
Really I don't read much of other forums, and honestly don't care what others think of the FJ...I was just having fun making fun of everyone else and all their bantering about. I love my FJ and thats all that matters! Although, I originally was looking to buy the Taco...but I won't bore you or anyone else (and especially Taco owners) with why I did not.

 

[FJCruiserOwnersGroup]

Why can't people test drive it and not decid to buy it and then share that with the Toyota community?

That'd be great! There haven't been any posts like that yet. I've seen - we've all seen - plenty of deciding not to buy and then going for a test drive posts.

Again, I agree with you that senseless posts of the "drove it and didn't like it" aren't going to help anybody. But those that actually speak their mind and offer constructive information whether good or bad should be welcomed here.

No offense intended or implied ... but a five minute test drive isn't nearly enough time behind the wheel. Offering constructive or informative info is impossible without collecting the info in the first place.

I would be more interested in hearing the opinion of someone who has driven an FJC with - for example - one of the trail teams. Someone with some real seat time, not someone with a preconceived idea who has just driven around the block in city traffic while the salesman talked to them, played with the radio, and pointed out the features of the vehicle.

tnegiet- you obviously haven't read much of the 80 or 100 series forums.

Neither have I. Probably because I'm interested in the FJC and not at all interested in comparing the FJC to an 80 or a 100, have no interest in buying an 80 or a 100 and don't think that pointing that out in the other forums is anything other than a waste of space, have no interest in test driving an 80 or a 100 and posting about it, and really, really feel that - since I won't be buying either of them - I don't need to read or post over there.

 

[madams557]

Moderator

Please bring an end to the bantering or this thread will be moved to Chat.

I have no problems with someone expressing their opinions, whether for or against the FJC. I do have a problem with the constant bickering.

Bickering belongs in Chat and not in a Tech forum.

 

[Romer]

Micheael is the sheriff in this here section and has the power to move, delete and edit posts.

This is a new section for us at Ih8MUD and the chat has been allowe dhere because there really wasn't a lot tech about the FJ until people started to get one. What Michael is syaing, is the we will begin to enforce the no chat in tech rule and that includes bickering and slaming.

Please understand that IH8MUD is a graet sire and others toyota owners will frequent in here to ask questions about the FJ. A lot of them will be asking from a point of Ignorance. In the other sections, we have developed a habit of helping the noob by kindly explaining rather than telling them they don't know what they are talking about.

Constructive conflict is a good thing when two people (or moer) discuss different perspectives so that they can be understood and develop a mutual understanding. Constuctive conflict has no name calling or bickering just discussions to reach a common plane.

There are other forums out there were bashing others is the norm, but here we have greatly reduced that so that lots of people become really addicted to come here. So much so that they contribute and buy a star which gives them lots more capabilities.

However, Chat is another matter.

Enjoy the site, Help us make the FJ section one of the better sections. You will see a lot of non FJ owners like me here. I don't own an FJ, but one may be in my future so I want to stay on top of it. Plus I like knowing abouy the new technology.

And yes I have wheeled with the FJ Cruiser team. and will again next week. One of our close friends here is one of the FJ cruiser team drivers.

Welcome and enjoy and lets help Michael in his moderation. If you see one of the post you don't like, PM Michael or hit the red diamon in the post. Tell him your concern. If Michael is unavailable, you can notify one of the other moderators and we can send a message to one of the super mods or the admin. We all have green star's.