Why would dealer sell a new FJ Cruiser with 16" Tires?

[Ugadog]

Has anyone received their new FJ Cruiser with 16" wheels and tires? Mine came with the steel 17's from factory, but SE Toyota Distributors "upgraded" my truck to 16" wheels and Michelin Tires for $1,599!

Thanks for any info as a build a case for the legit 17" wheels and tires...

 

[FJ40Jim]

Because they can

Why?

You answered the question- $1599.

They put $500 of wheels & tires on, then sold the OEM wheels and tires back to the tire shop.

They installed 16's because they are cheaper and there's a bigger selection, both in wheels and tires.

Has anyone received their new FJ Cruiser with 16" wheels and tires? Mine came with the steel 17's from factory, but SE Toyota Distributors "upgraded" my truck to 16" wheels and Michelin Tires for $1,599!

Thanks for any info as a build a case for the legit 17" wheels and tires...

 

[FJCruiserOwnersGroup]

Has anyone received their new FJ Cruiser with 16" wheels and tires? Mine came with the steel 17's from factory, but SE Toyota Distributors "upgraded" my truck to 16" wheels and Michelin Tires for $1,599!

Thanks for any info as a build a case for the legit 17" wheels and tires...

TRD offers 16-inch alloys, which are available through the parts department for $600 ($550 through trdsource.com).

Some people have ordered them. I'm not sold. I'm keeping my steelies.

 

[justinh]

I have seen what he is talking about. Both of the FJ's at Cherokee County Toyota in Canton have 16" Tacoma wheels from the 2003-2004 body style, they are split 3 spokes. I was trying to figure this out too when I was there, they didn't even use a 16" wheel that is OEM on a current vehicle!

 

[Weedo]

I'm dumping my 17" alloys in favor of the 16" TRD rims with 33" Goodyear MTRs. Nothing wrong with the 17's, I'd just rather have a 16" with more sidewall. I like the look and capability more in an off-road vehicle.

 

[singlespeed]

justinh - That is because the people at Chreokee County Toyota are rip off artists. A liar, I mean, a salesperson there told me that the stock 17" alloys didn't exist! He said that Toyota couldn't find a vendor to make them so the only wheel available is the BBS wheels. LOL Jackasses! They also own Cobb County Toyota and if you have been there you've seen all the used '03 and '04 Tacomas they have out front for 24k!

 

[John F.]

SE Toyota has hosed up most of the FJ's they have brought into the country. I spent several hours last night looking through them online (over 180 FJ's out of 611 available) to find one with the Upgrade 1 package (to get Active Traction Control) and to find one they forgot to equip with useless running boards. No-go. ALL were Upgrade 2 package and ALL had running boards!!!! The local dealer told me "we can't order one from the factory with the options you want and tell you up front what the price will be, because one like you want hasn't been built yet, so we can't find a price for it." HUH??

I was sitting right in front of them with all the factory option codes, specs, dealer prices of each option, and retail prices of each option, which they knew I had, and they felt compelled to try to blow smoke up my ... well... you know. He also refuses to remove any options from an FJ to accomodate the customer. He had an FJ I could sort of live with, but it had a $300 TIRE COVER on it -- ridiculous!! He refused to take off the tire cover, saying "because it came that way from the importer he had to sell it that way." So, if I get one with running boards I don't want, I will have to remove them and dispose of them just to add sliders.
Due to the upgrade package's coming with aluminum wheels, I will also have to pull the alloy wheels off and sell them just to get the factory steel wheels I prefer.

I called a Toyota dealer in Atlanta who was incredulous that the local guy had told me they "couldn't" order an FJ with the specs I wanted. Quote: "I can order you anything you want, depending on how long you're willing to wait, but I'm not going to discount it any." [That was my cue to decide "will not deal with this dealer, period."] There is about $2600 profit for the dealer in the truck I want; that's obscene for essentially doing a bit of paperwork to get the thing, wash it and have me hand them a check.

As I told the local salesman (from whom I had bought a Camry just a couple of months ago) -- I can wait until NOBODY is paying sticker price; they are not rare, not hard to get and they are cranking them out every day. There are 3 on the lot locally right now and they have gotten a bunch of them in so far.

I am sick of dealing with SE Toyota; they have jacked many of the vehicles up with expensive, useless doo-dads or, based on the local dealer's attitude, you can't get options added that you want for trucks that are already in the country; there is a $641 "Administration fee" from SE Toyota distributor for 4WD/Automatic models, and if you get certain options, they charge more for them than other places in the country. They also refuse to offer packages that are offered elsewhere in the country (such as off-road package.)

I am wondering if there are any REASONABLE dealers in the Atlanta, GA area? I am very seriously considering making a deal over the phone with a dealer in MS just to get away from SE Toyota's ripoff policies. (They do not control the FJ's coming into MS).

Any suggestions/comments are most welcome. I know I can wait 6 months and have my pick of the litter; would like to get one now but refuse to be grossly taken advantage of.

John

 

[etp095]

i heard of a guy finding a dealer that discounted one $500 in the dakotas.sticker is pretty much the norm for the time being,so i think your gonna wait for a while.what configuration are you looking for?i heard gulf states region is adding some kind of bs package also.looks like your surrounded by greedy distributors.i ordered one the way i want and it should arrive any day now.buying it for sticker price and no port installed options.4x4 auto,convienience pkg,locking diff and aluminum wheels.i live in the midwest region,chicago.good luck in your search.

 

[CandyPants]

He also refuses to remove any options from an FJ to accomodate the customer. He had an FJ I could sort of live with, but it had a $300 TIRE COVER on it -- ridiculous!! He refused to take off the tire cover, saying "because it came that way from the importer he had to sell it that way."

Get this...when I bought mine it didn't have the tire cover. I didn't see that it was included in the package until I got the thing home. Well, I called them up and asked for the $$ back since I didn't get it. They said they can't do that, same thing they said to you. Here's the kicker, they said it's backordered and I'll have to wait for it. I bought mine March 25th and the stupid cover still isn't here! I am out for blood now...

 

[justinh]

justinh - That is because the people at Chreokee County Toyota are rip off artists. A liar, I mean, a salesperson there told me that the stock 17" alloys didn't exist! He said that Toyota couldn't find a vendor to make them so the only wheel available is the BBS wheels. LOL Jackasses! They also own Cobb County Toyota and if you have been there you've seen all the used '03 and '04 Tacomas they have out front for 24k!

All of the sales guys there seem to be really friendly and not over bearing but not knowledgeable at all. I was chatting with one who snuck off to the back lot to smoke a cigar while I was waiting to get my oil changed last time i was there and he tried to tell me that they were only building 5,000 FJ's a year, I had to remind him that may be all that SE Toyota was getting but they were building a lot more than that.

I don't deal with Cobb County at all, I only deal with Cherokee county for oil changes on my wife's Lexus and my Tacoma. I like their service and have had better experiences there than local quick lube places and their prices used to be much lower than other places but they are steadily climbing and they are starting to get a little careless which is resulting in oil spots in my driveway after our last two changes because they are too lazy to spray some brake kleen on the skid plates to clean up their mess.

 

[singlespeed]

yea cobb county toyota does my maintenance on my 05 taco. always had excellent service there. as for buying, i'm gonna do the internet or costco thing. i will have to wait a few months but its cool. i got my latest taco at around 4k less than msrp and plan on doing the same with an fj.

 

[calamaridog]

From an "off roading" perspective, the 16" tire selection is better. More brands, styles, and sizes are available in 16".

 

[ginericLC]

From an "off roading" perspective, the 16" tire selection is better. More brands, styles, and sizes are available in 16".

Until you go past 35" then the 17" tire selection is better. 16s are also a lot cheaper.

 

[dieseldog]

Also, in years to come, the 17" size is going to be MUCH more common. More spec'd by OEM and more offerrings in rubber as well. Get used to it.

I've put 17" '03 Tundra/Sequoia double-five spoke alloys on both of my 7x-series cruisers.

 

[zagazowFJ]

toy of orange sold me my fj with aftermarket eagle alloys and nitto ATs...and they ripped me on them. go figure. everyone needs $ rite?

 

[Ugadog]

I complained to the dealer and got my $1,599 back!

Dealer had a FJC with the standard 17" steel wheels on the lot that was not moving. When I complained about the 16" TRD wheels the GM offered to trade out my "upgraded" 16" wheels and Michelin tires and he put $1,599 in my pocket to boot. I'm happy with the trade and the GM really went out of his way to make the deal right. The steel wheels look good especially parked next to my 78 FJ40.

 

[SINCITY100]

Get this...when I bought mine it didn't have the tire cover. I didn't see that it was included in the package until I got the thing home. Well, I called them up and asked for the $$ back since I didn't get it. They said they can't do that, same thing they said to you. Here's the kicker, they said it's backordered and I'll have to wait for it. I bought mine March 25th and the stupid cover still isn't here! I am out for blood now...

Backordered? The stock FJ tire cover with the "tire tread" on it ?

If so, that should be easy to get, there are 4-5 in stock locally at any given time