Blind spot comments
I sat in one, and thought it was hard to see out of, I mentioned it above. I too know how to use mirrors, and yes it has decent mirrors. But I think it would sit better with me if Toyota had actually put some windows in the thing. I don't know why the Cpillar is so big. We commented on it at the event I was at. Several participants said it was probably structural to account for the large door opening. And that is great, Toyota cabs are structurally sound, and designed well, but I think it is overkill. Also the rear windows, are glass wraparound on the outside, but in reality they are just for show, and are only little portholes. The drivers side is useless to see out of for the driver, and they tapered the interior trim panels to see out of the passenger side window. As for the back window, too small also. Hard to see an obstacle right behind you. I think the rear opening would have been more funtional as a 40/60 split like a 70 series. The large door will get old and the lift up rear glass is phony. It was probably the cheapest thing on the whole rig that I saw. It was fragile looking, and had a funky way of opening. I'm 6'1", my wife is shorter, she sat in it, and had a hard time seeing over the tall hood and dash, and visibility for her out the back was null. She also noted, from a womans point of view, grabbing a few groceries or what ever, would be a pain, as she could not reach over the back door very well and could not see at all in the back while using the rear lift glass. Add a muddy, wet vehicle in the winter time, and you really don't want to lean on it.
I don't understand why the plastic intereior peices on the pillars are so large on new vehicles. I don't like the lack of visibilty on the sides of the windshileld either. I've had several problems with that on Ford and Dodge pickups. As for rear visibilty, as others noted above, the 40 and 60 have wonderful windo coverage. They are great for kids, because they can see out. Whenever I take people in my 60, they always comment on that, wow, I can see out so nicely. There has been times when I've been pinned against a tree or a rock, or a vehicle or whatever, that I was watching it thorugh the sides or the wrap around window on my 40, and I was going oh s***, hope I don't hit that. I can see issues in the new FJ, as it would be hard to see those things.
That's my opinion on it, like I said above, nice vehicle and I'm glad Toyota is going to do it for us and others looking for a good little 4x4, but I think in this modern day of alloys and engineering, they could have put a little more glass in it and still had a secure cab.
