A co-worker got a Toyota FJ about a month ago. It is dark red with a white top (for some goofy reason they all have white tops). Anyway, I rode in it the other day and she let me drive it some. It handles very well and seems to have the "toyota" quality (yes, I know about the recent recalls). I don't know about it off road or in snow, but it did see to drive fine (automatic tranny). Her biggest problem is mpg. She gets around 20-21 on the hiway, but combined mpg is usually less than 17 so far. She has about 2k on the truck including the drive up. Of iinterest is that here in New England the dealers are asking a premium of 1-2k over sticker. She bought the vehicle at sticker at a dealer in florida where her parents live. She got a 4wd and I guess down south they have premiums only on the 2wd. She said the dealer in FL had comparisons up on the wall to the Xterra, but not the Liberty.

In any event, I'm not giving up the CRD, BUT if they only had a diesel I would at least look (at least when the 70k warranty is up). This will of course be true with other vehicles as more diesels come on line.

I've test driven two now and I really like them. I've had an AWD Toyota Sienna now for 2 years. No recalls, no TSBs, nothing but oil changes and tire rotations for 24,000 miles - not a single problem on a complicated 4x4 minivan. I'd probably switch over to the FJ from the Jeep if the engines were E85 compatible as I have several of those pumps nearby.

Oh yeah, and IF I had any more $$$ left.

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'05 CRD Sport born on 06/20/05, bought on 9/23/05, L.O.S.T. on 9/27/05 - modding ever since:

Daystar 2.0" Lift, P255/70R16 Revos, Boulder Bars, Reese Front Hitch w/9k Hooks, Poison Spyder Rock Ring, MOPAR Skids/Bug Shield/Roof Rails/Mats, WARN Hitch Shackle(Rear), 10k Hitch Hook(Front), Custom Tilt/Slope Meter, Ammo Box Mod, Rotella T 5W-40.

There is a "thread" in the section "Other 4x4's" on the FJ also. It also temted me a little...

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... php?t=7308

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

My dad drove a 1970-something Landcruiser when I was growing up and I always loved that truck. When I first saw one of these new ones driving around, I went to look at them. I was impressed by the design...I liked that little compartment on the dash above the instrument cluster. I didn't drive one, though.

vtdog: I believe the original landcruisers had white tops regardless of their color, hence the white top now. The white top and the grille design makes it more "retro". Also, If you look closely, there are no toyota symbols/emblems, just the word "toyota" like the originals had.

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2005 liberty Sport CRD

I also posted this on the other thread:
I really like the FJ a lot. It comes with a lot of extra cool features we dont get with the KJs; Rubber floor that can basically be hosed out, locker, seat material is better, rear electrical plug, the back of rear seats and storage area is covered with plastic. The FJ is also more capable stock and just about everything is overall better quality. These are all features that I think the KJ should have or wished the KJ had, but Toyota could add any number of other features and I would have still bought my CRD. The Diesel option is the only reason I decided to buy my KJ. If they offered the FJ in the diesel then I would be on LOSTFJS.com right now. That is unless Jeep had these extras that make life a lot easier. I would rather own a Jeep than a Toyota but you can't argue with quality.

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2006 Liberty CRD Sport Black
EHM, ORM, FUMOTO, SAMCO HOSES, SKYJACKER
REBUILT @ 105K
ARP HEAD STUDS
GDE HOT TUNE
FLORIDA TORQUE CONVERTER
WEEKS KIT
JBA UCA’s
Etecno 5v Glow Plugs
Updated Fuel Filter Head

I always find it funny when the KJ is not given marks for fit and finish. I think this thing is very solid and I don't see gaps/flaws inside or outside...I rolled my 2002 off a 15 foot cliff while wheelin...it rolled 2 times landed on it's feet and was still moving like nothing happened. Visibility is much better in the KJ than the FJ on or off road and the KJ seems to have a smaller turning circle. I do think that without the CRD it would be a toss up (gasser vs gasser). The big advantage the FJ has is tire clearance and the ability to add larger tires without trimming. I do like the old FJ's and I did look at them...it was really the only other vehicle that drew me in...but like it was stated earlier...the DIESEL was the deciding feature.

Did not even glance at the H3...

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

My CRD is in the Lemmon Law process right now. I am looking to replace it with an FJ or a Ridgeline. The FJ looks like more fun but the Ridgeline has a ton of room and places to store stuff. One of the reasons I am looking at these vehicles is the reliability and service that these two companies represent. I have owned cars from each in the past and had excellent experiences in both cases. I traded in an '04 Dodge 2400 Ram Deisel for this CRD. I never had the first problem with that truck in 2 years and 40,000 miles.

I love the diesel in my CRD but not all the headaches that have come with the vehicle. It has been out of service, in the shop, for 28 days in 6 months. If it had not been for this forum, I would not have had a clue about how to handle some of these problems. I thank you guys for all your valuable information and ingenious inventions to make the CRD better. The deciding factor in getting rid of my CRD was the service. The last time I had it in for a tranny leak I had an oil change done. It took two days just for them to look at the transmission. They said it would be several days to order the filters to replace the origional transmission filters, which were installed backwards at the factory. I brought it home and it proceeded to leak dirty engine oil all over my garage floor for the next week. When they did the oil change they spilled oil all over the skid plates, and didn't even bother to clean it up. With all the problems I have had with my CRD and more problems down the road combined with the sloppy work in the service dept., I am calling it quits. Oh, and I just brought it back again for another transmission leak. This was last Friday. When they told me it would be Monday before they could look at it, even though the service is open on Saturday, I said I would leave it with them anyway. Only then did they put it up on the rack and look at it. They found a leaking seal in the linkage that was not properly sealed at the factory. This whole process took all of ten minutes to find and fix. The only reason they looked at it right away was because the service manager knew that I had applied for the Lemmon Law and called the district Service Rep. She told him to look at it immediately and not to have it out of service because it would look worse in the arbitration.

Sorry for all the negitivity, but I tried my best to stay the course with my CRD. I just don't see it in my best interest to continue. By the way, the Lemmon Law pays me for all added extras, taxes, title, and any lost revenue due to out of service, minus a reasonable amout for the miles driven.

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2006 CRD Sport

Shred,
Good luck on your Lemmom Law arbitrage. The dealership is a Lemmon also. What a bunch of losers!

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2005 Black CRD Limited w/105,000 miles
Mann Provent 200, Airbox Mod, ORM Mod
New 545RFE, TC & Redesigned pump @ 25,020 miles
New EGR Flow Control Valve @ 25,020 miles
New Transfer Case input/output seals @ 32,787 miles
SEGR Kit @ 52,000 miles
SunCoast TC and Transgo Shift Kit @ 52,000 miles

Alljeep, your experiencing the joys of buying the second year out. I fell into the "its a Toyota trap" and got my wifes Sienna about six months after they were released. My 3 year old Sienna FWD has had three recalls plus numerous trips to the dealer for repairs. The Sienna has already been in for repairs more times at 36k miles than my old beater Chevy Cavalier has at 135k miles. Never buy a first year run car!!!......not even a Toyota. Sorry about the rant.

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The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten

Man ain't that the truth. Bought a Toyota Echo when they first came out fvor the wife, had nothing but trouble with it and dealer service was very lacking. We had 2 CEL's, 3 recalls, and engine slugging at 10,000 miles, traded it for a VW at 22k miles with 3rd CEL as I drove it into the VW dealership to switch cars. It got 32 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, the VW TDI got 38 mpg city and 48 mpg highway.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

My 2004 Sienna is a first year model run. New engine, new body style, new electronics, new AWD system, new everything for 2004. Not a single problem, not a single recall, not a single TSB needed. It's only fair to note that it was produced in August of 2004, so near the very end of 2004 production - but it's a first year model run regardless.

Now the Jeep CRD - I have not broken down yet - it just feels like it wants to with the transmission shuddering. But I have been out of service way too many times for TSBs and now the upcoming ball joint recall... I'm sticking with it though as I'm determined to defeat all the problems that may pop up with it!

Another note about the FJ... I parked my lifted KJ next to one this weekend, and I just like the look of the KJ way more now that it's set up just how I like it with the lift kit, boulder bars, and such.... The FJ does not look any bigger once they are parked side by side...

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'05 CRD Sport born on 06/20/05, bought on 9/23/05, L.O.S.T. on 9/27/05 - modding ever since:

Daystar 2.0" Lift, P255/70R16 Revos, Boulder Bars, Reese Front Hitch w/9k Hooks, Poison Spyder Rock Ring, MOPAR Skids/Bug Shield/Roof Rails/Mats, WARN Hitch Shackle(Rear), 10k Hitch Hook(Front), Custom Tilt/Slope Meter, Ammo Box Mod, Rotella T 5W-40.

If the FJ had a V6 diesel and enough sound insulation to be drivable on highway, I'd be trying one out tonight.

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2005 LTD CRD RB1 NAV/Htd Leather seats/Amsoil EA filters
SunCoast Mega Trans & Billet TC/PML pan/Aux cooler
Fuel cooler/Lift Pump/10um Pri/Racor R490 2um Sec Fuel Filters
IronMan Lift/Shocks/Provent/Moog ball joints/ V6 Airbox/Fan/Hayden
Cobalt Boost/EGT/Oil/Trans/Volt gauges/Aeroturbine 2525
Yeti Hot Tune/Odessey 65/Samco's/Michelin Defenders

I love my new CRD !, Having also owned 4 diesel landcruisers I know the old Toyota FJ diesel version well.
Toyota makes excellent diesels, The 3B engine which went into earlier landcruisers is extremely reliable
and problably one of 2 or 3 that survives and is servicable in remote area's such as Africa and the Himalaya's
It's been even put into Toyota city busses.

The 2 million miles that went onto the cruisers posed no problem for either one and all had the original engine
when sold and 2 are still driving.

The only thing Toyota had not figured out at the time, like many others was rust control and did the FJ's in around here.

We'll see, how long my CRD will last.

-Gab

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2006 CRD Limited, Manfufactured Dec 13/05

One more interesting (at least to me) fact about the FJ that my co-worker bought. I saw her today and we talked again about the purchase in FL. She said that the salesman would only compare the FJ to the Xterra. He told her that the Liberty is "not in the same class as the FJ and there is no comparison". I don't know if the guy was blowing her off as the sale was done, (made over the phone after her parents saw the car) or if that is his opinon, or if Toyota has told their sales people to say that.

Coming home tonight, I see a very tiny pickup truck in front of me - it says VW on the back. This thing is tiny, I mean minature in size and the body is in rough shape. But then, I see black exhaust smoke - it was a diesel! I've never seen a VW pickup truck, much less a diesel. Couldn't have had much power - on the Interstate, even the slightest inclines had him dropping back to 60 mph and lots of black smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. Looked like a locomotive chugging uphill.

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2005 LTD CRD RB1 NAV/Htd Leather seats/Amsoil EA filters
SunCoast Mega Trans & Billet TC/PML pan/Aux cooler
Fuel cooler/Lift Pump/10um Pri/Racor R490 2um Sec Fuel Filters
IronMan Lift/Shocks/Provent/Moog ball joints/ V6 Airbox/Fan/Hayden
Cobalt Boost/EGT/Oil/Trans/Volt gauges/Aeroturbine 2525
Yeti Hot Tune/Odessey 65/Samco's/Michelin Defenders

I had a friend that bought one new, basically worthless as a PU by US standards, no payload, no power, but cheap to buy and drive back in the day. The little 1.3L or 1.6 L (not sure which) NA I-4 would run forever though, however most lost the rust war or were totaled. (from the rear?) These were about the only PU that my '81 Datsun LB 6spd I-4 gasser could out run back in those days.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Ranger1

What you saw was a US built Rabbit pickup from the early 80's. It sounds like a normally asperaited diesel of 52 hp. It was also available in a turbo diesel with 68 HP. Or gas. Looked ragged? Think 20 years old. Diesel engine was 1.6L and the gasser was 1.8L

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Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)

Let us know how your dealings go with DC.

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Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)

I had a '78 rabbit diesel sedan. I drove that thing until 1989 when it had well over 175k miles. Other than a rear seal replacement at about 80k I had no trouble with the diesel. It got over 45mpg and over 50 in the summer. It started in all weather and even had a manual "choke" you had to pull out in the cold weather. The glow plugs took about 30 sec to work when it was cold as well.

I had to get rid of the car when it was rusted so bad there were no floors left, only rug. It would not pass inspection anymore. I sold it to a guy who was going to pull the engine and use it in another vehicle. For all I know, it is still in use today (would not suprise me).

Took a stress relief long lunch today and test drove another FJ. This one was silver and looked very classy. It was a lower optioned one, so almost affordable at $26.9k vs. all the $32k models I've seen on the lots.

They were trying hard to sell me and they know I have the diesel Jeep. They said "bring it in an let us make you an offer" and I said "I know the value right now is $24k if I sell myself and I've already called over the phone to here and was offered only $14k."

They said, "no way that was us, bring it in and see what we can do." Whatever, I would not trade in for less then $22k and I'm sure they won't get there - but if they did - I'd be in a quandry for sure...

My point here is that the CRD is a valuable trade as long as you don't let them take you for it!

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'05 CRD Sport born on 06/20/05, bought on 9/23/05, L.O.S.T. on 9/27/05 - modding ever since:

Daystar 2.0" Lift, P255/70R16 Revos, Boulder Bars, Reese Front Hitch w/9k Hooks, Poison Spyder Rock Ring, MOPAR Skids/Bug Shield/Roof Rails/Mats, WARN Hitch Shackle(Rear), 10k Hitch Hook(Front), Custom Tilt/Slope Meter, Ammo Box Mod, Rotella T 5W-40.