What did you think of the FJ?

[ALEXGAR]

Hello, fellers!

With the help of Marshall and Andy Hardin I was able to pull the tree off my house yesterday. I'm sure Troll will have some compromising pictures of the event posted somewhere here shortly ( I'm gonna bust that d**n camera of his one day ).

The FJ party was fun and informative. Even my wife enjoyed it. With that said, I would like to ask the club (notice the word "I") what your thoughts are on the cruiser:

What did you like about the FJ?

What did you not like?

What would you like to see different?

Yes, I know we filled out a questionaire. But if you are like me, you want to sit on your experience for a while before coming to a conclusion.

 

[mhall10407]

Wish I could of made it but I had already committed to taking some people to the Lowry's Xmas parade. From the photos looks like it was fun. I saw the article that mentioned they are thinking about producing a topless version of the FJ. If that happens I'll probably have to get one. Wish I could of made it.....

Mike

 

[clemson55]

Well as some of you have seen I HATE the styling. I think it has weird angles all over it, the body doesnt flow, that blind spot is ridiculous, the bumper are huge plastic pieces of crap, its not convertable, instead of reinventing the 40 they just ripped off all the important styling ques and painted them on the fj cruiser. And I owul have liked a solid front axle. That said I did like the interior a lot. Kaye Specter hinted about some good offroad stuff already out there and being made so I like that. I heard the removable top thing floating around which would make it a lot better. All that said if they restyle the outside some in a few years I'd probably get one. But I am definitely going to give them time to work some of the bugs out. The thing that will suck is I think it will do good and that means driving a cruiser wont be the same anymore because there will be tens of thousands of them out there instead of hundreds.

 

[tabraha]

Likes:

The sliders are functional. I asked and they used the hi-lift on it a few times with no problems. The suspension guy who took it through the rubi said he used them to walk around the tight corners and they worked fine.

I like the dash layout. Looks functional, modern, not cluttered.

I think the rear diff lock and A-trac up front will get one plenty of places. Only need to buy one arb if you really wanna be fully locked.

I liked the roof rack too. Looked substantial and very useable.

Dislikes:

Even the most basic one should come with AT tires of some sort. No HT's please.

I'll reserve judgement on the bumper till the production model. I'd ARB it straight off the lot as it is now.

2nd row seating is way smaller than that of even a double cab tacoma. I could not put 4 men and equipment in a FJ cruiser. That was my biggest problem but that is not a flaw with the vehicle. It just doesn't suit my needs as such.

I'm not a big fan of the "open the front door to open the back door" design either. Our tundra access cab was like that and it gets a bit old if you access the back seat regularly. If not then it's no big deal.


Overall, I'd love to have one. Looks to be a fun, capable vehicle that will hold up Toyotas reputation for reliable and capable transportation. I know what a 100 can do with a rear locker and a-trac (mine doesn't have a-trac) and putting that combination in a smaller more manueverable vehicle will definitely make one get up and go like a mountain goat for a stock vehicle.

 

[Capt. Jim]

Hard40 told me today that the FJC is built on the Prado Platform. Here's a pic of a Prado I rented in Costa Rica, A stout little truck with a peppy 4-cylinder diesel. They are even badged as Land Cruisers down there. Although a nice vehicle, I believe this Prado falls short of being a Land Cruiser. Here's what you'll get, albeit with a different body style.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I liked it a lot better than the current 100 series, though I personally don't see myself buying one, but I showed my mom the pictures from the opening tonight and she really liked it and wants one now!!

I think it is just to "cute" looking it lacks to me a rugged composure............. but I do believe it to be a capable vehicle on and off-raod and I appluad Toyota for a vehicle that appears to be well made and appealing to the general public, sadly though I have a feeling the FJCruisers will see a lot more street time than off-roading

 

[Gundy]

it's ugly in a functional way

You know I think before it's all said and done this will be
something that grows on you. I think the attention to detail was
excellent. I saw it more of a form following function thing.
Body all tight and round. Looks like you could get the mud
out /off of it too. I H8MUD. Looks like it would be hard to
beat to death.
If it drives ok, I think I'll buy one. 5 speed auto with "special" 1st
selection will be da bomb off road. I think they expected this thing
to get trashed. I KNOW they would if they surfed here on Mud.
It just seemed it was designed for a good trashing. Owner Mods were
anticipated. Hehe...we all like doing it our way.
My .02

 

[Hard40]

A Suggestion

Capt. Jim & I think Toyota should have built a modernized version of the 40. Having said that Mary and I will look more when it hits the dealers and consider a purchase if she is interested. I feel like its a sound vehicle but like Tad says it has a few rules with the doors that I'm seeing with my Tundra that are awkward.

 

[CruisinTiger]

Well I liked it! The thing we need to realize is that this is a landcruiser. Yeah it would of been cool to come out with a 40 but this is a stout landcruiser. They have made it close to the size of a 40. So it doesn't have a solid front axle, yes I would like to see one, but hey ARB has already come out with a front locker for it. Also if they were to make a hard top version and an off road package version all at the same time then you would have one good year of sales and then that would be it. Ya know there is gonna be an off road package in 2 years, and then rumor has it 2 years after that it's gonna have some kind of removable top. Well that is 4 or 5 years right there of good sales as oppossed to blowin your load all in the first year. I've never been on the Rubicon but from what I hear it's pretty damn tough, well this stock vehicle except I think it had some off road tires made it all the way thru, like Tad said the sliders work, It's got a rugged interior with the rubber floor, useable dash, 6 speed manual. I can see ARB comin out with a front bumper for it, the roof rack is solid. If you look at a bone stock 40 built in 1970, about the only difference is solid front axle, inline 6, "square" look. You look at one built in 83 and see all the differences from the 1970 one. I think it's a bad ass vehicle and will only get better with age.

Oh yeah when I was talkin to Marv Spector, I asked if he had been asked about the cruiser. He had told me that when the toyota exec's came to his store and asked for his input, they told him they didn't wanna see Ben Affleck driving one of these. So toyota's goal for this is for it to be an offroad vehicle, maybe they realize that not too many 100 series are out on the trail and they wanna bring the cruiser back to the trail where it started off at and where it belongs.

 

[VTCruiser]

Capt. Jim & I think Toyota should have built a modernized version of the 40. Having said that Mary and I will look more when it hits the dealers and consider a purchase if she is interested. I feel like its a sound vehicle but like Tad says it has a few rules with the doors that I'm seeing with my Tundra that are awkward.

I have always looked at the 70 series as a "modern" version of the 40. Too bad its not sold here in the US.

 

[Capt. Jim]

I have always looked at the 70 series as a "modern" version of the 40. Too bad its not sold here in the US.

I agree.

 

[Trollhole]

It's a Cruiser. I liked it. No it's not perfect. But no landcruiser is. Every model has some sort of drawback. I consider myself a Cruiser freak. It will be perfect as a daily driver, as a 4wheeler on moderate and light trails. I'll be able to haul kids around in safety and take them four wheeling. It will tow my boat, trailer and I can use my hitch and hual. It will work great in snow with the traction control so when I go camping or skiing or when the road are cover over. I can take it to the Outer Banks without needing a massage therapist every 100 miles. I could drive it out to California. It gets good gas milage. Better than any other cruiser. It will be easily cleanable. Better than any other cruiser except a 40. I can plug my Ipod in. It has a kick ass stereo. And it cost les than 30k. Please find me a cruiser that does this today right out of the box that has all of these qualities.

Please find me someone who is dumb enough to buy this vehicle in the next two years and take it out and tear it up at mountain estates. And I'll show you an idiot. Find me someone in 10 years or so who does that sort of thing and I'll call them an enthusiast.

I'm glad we are starting to think about events for people who want to take there 100 or 80 or FJ Cruiser out and have fun without getting any damage.

 

[clemson55]

Also if they were to make a hard top version and an off road package version all at the same time then you would have one good year of sales and then that would be it. Ya know there is gonna be an off road package in 2 years, and then rumor has it 2 years after that it's gonna have some kind of removable top. Well that is 4 or 5 years right there of good sales as oppossed to blowin your load all in the first year. .

Chuck if that were true then how come most cars show increased sales without ever doing anything besides restyling every 4 or 5 years. Look at those damn x terras everywhere they havent done anything but restyle twice and their sales have gone up every yr.

Marshal not that I would buy one but you better believe if I did Id take it to mt estates tellico ure and anyplace else I could. Its a cruiser and I expect it to perform like one especially for 30k.

 

[Trollhole]

Chuck if that were true then how come most cars show increased sales without ever doing anything besides restyling every 4 or 5 years. Look at those damn x terras everywhere they havent done anything but restyle twice and their sales have gone up every yr.

Marshal not that I would buy one but you better believe if I did Id take it to mt estates tellico ure and anyplace else I could. Its a cruiser and I expect it to perform like one especially for 30k.

1. Sales have gone up on every SUV for the past 5 years. Wait for the numbers next year I bet there will be a drop in those numbers. I seriously doubt they will have a removeable top. It's just to heavy. Why do you think there is such a blind spot? Thats not air behind those pillars it's steel to keep the roof from crashing in. We are in a different age these days. The only way the jeeps get away from it is weight. This thing weighs a lot.

2. Have you seen Gehns 60? Did you see what mountain estates did to it? So you would buy a brand new FJ Cruiser 30k's worth and damage every panel on it to have fun? Get married and give yourself 5 years and see what your wife will think about you buying a FJ Cruiser and going out and beating every panel up brand new.
When I was in High School my dad bought me a brand new 4x4 pickup truck. Within a year I had beat every panel of it up. Did I care "hell no" it wasn't my money and I had no real perception of what I was doing. I was young dumb and stupid all the way through College. You say you would wheel the crap out of it now but give yourself about 5 years and see how you opinion will change. Unless you become filthy rich and afford to buy a new vehicle to trash. I'd be willing to bet that even John (informationjunky) wouldn't be willing to trash his 97 LX 450 out at mountain estates even though it has some damage already.

 

[CruisinTiger]

1. Sales have gone up on every SUV for the past 5 years. Wait for the numbers next year I bet there will be a drop in those numbers. I seriously doubt they will have a removeable top. It's just to heavy. Why do you think there is such a blind spot? Thats not air behind those pillars it's steel to keep the roof from crashing in. We are in a different age these days. The only way the jeeps get away from it is weight. This thing weighs a lot.

2. Have you seen Gehns 60? Did you see what mountain estates did to it? So you would buy a brand new FJ Cruiser 30k's worth and damage every panel on it to have fun? Get married and give yourself 5 years and see what your wife will think about you buying a FJ Cruiser and going out and beating every panel up brand new.
When I was in High School my dad bought me a brand new 4x4 pickup truck. Within a year I had beat every panel of it up. Did I care "hell no" it wasn't my money and I had no real perception of what I was doing. I was young dumb and stupid all the way through College. You say you would wheel the crap out of it now but give yourself about 5 years and see how you opinion will change. Unless you become filthy rich and afford to buy a new vehicle to trash. I'd be willing to bet that even John (informationjunky) wouldn't be willing to trash his 97 LX 450 out at mountain estates even though it has some damage already.

Ditto!!

Precisely why I don't wheel the 60 anymore, don't feel like damaging it anymore, that's what my 40 is for. Although I would take it to Uwharrie or to the rubicon, somewhere it's a challange but I wouldn't trash the FJ like at Mt. Estates.

If they can't make the removable top due to the weight I hope they are able to come up with a bad ass sunroof. Somethin like where 2/3's of it opens. or maybe somethin along the lines of a T-top on a corvette, where you could remove it by hand.

 

[tabraha]

If they can't make the removable top due to the weight I hope they are able to come up with a bad ass sunroof. Somethin like where 2/3's of it opens. or maybe somethin along the lines of a T-top on a corvette, where you could remove it by hand.

I'd like to see a huge multi-panel retractable moonroof as an option moreso than the removeable hardtop. I like your targa top idea too. That's how my 911 is and it is every bit as good as a convertible, except it's better when the roof is on. I think it would be a bear to keep the torsional rigidity up to par on a vehicle the size of an FJC with a removeable top.

That's one thing I noticed about it. It looks little from some angles, but make no mistake it is not a small, light vehicle at all.

 

[jcoles]

I agree with Richard's original comments, 100%.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I agree with Richard's original comments, 100%.

This is never a good idea just for future reference

 

[clemson55]

I knew someone else would agree.

As I said before your damn right Id take it to Mt Estates and beat the heck out of it. If I'm gonna pay the money for it I'm gonna get every cent back out of it. And I dont need to hear anything about get being young and not thinking things through because I'm in college. I have been paying for everything I have including all these yrs at Clemson since I was 15 and could get a real job. My dad didnt give me a new truck he gave me one he paid off 10 yrs earlier. So I would wheel it.

 

[Trollhole]

This is kind of a ridculous argument. I stand by my opinions and you stand by yours. Lets just leave it at that.

Get that pig out of the garage and get it running for MLK. You have worked so hard to make it safe and look good it would be a shame not to have it out on the trail to test it out.

Let me know if you need a hand. I can work on two vehicles at once (JP's and Yours)