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Toyota's New FJ
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7308		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  SethX9 [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Toyota's New FJ
Has anyone actually seen one? Test drive? Comments on what they've read about it?
Author:  krazz1e [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
I saw vids of it on the Rubicon, looks pretty capable stock.... it's very ugly IMO though.
Author:  skrracing [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yep...see them all the time now.. I love the old FJ-40 and have owned a couple and have owned many Toyotas but the new one looks like a bunch of plastic parts to me. Just not my type of rig at all. Later...Clint
Author:  SethX9 [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
A co-worker here test drove one and was impressed. They don't have any off-roading history though so I was wondering what anyone here had to say about it.
Author:  JJsTJ [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:37 pm ]
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Saw one in town the other day and wasn't liking it in yellow though I think it has lots of potential, I would just want a different color. I would wheel one for sure!
Author:  '05renegadeDave [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
isn't it just a shortened 4runner frame? i know i read were it needs premium(92) octane :shock:
Author:  CaKJFreedom [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:16 pm ]
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"I would wheel one for sure"

You? :shock: Nah, can't believe it.
I'd love to see one out at Hollister. I'd love to see another KJ out there for that matter. :cry:
Author:  JJsTJ [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Tried talking the wife into one but she had to have a KJ. :wink: Oops....cat outa the bag? :wink:
Author:  SethX9 [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
A co-worker here test drove one and was impressed. They don't have any off-roading history though so I was wondering what anyone here had to say about it.
Author:  labman1 [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Stopped and checked one out on the lot on Sunday. Not sure how I feel about it, it was dark red with the white top and all the plastic parts....... for $32,000... I'll stick with the KJ :roll: .
Author:  USAFCOP [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
JJsKJ wrote:
Tried talking the wife into one but she had to have a KJ. :wink: Oops....cat outa the bag? :wink:


yep, loose lips sink ships...

I know what you got... :twisted:
Author:  JJsTJ [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:08 pm ]
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Ummm errrrr.....No you don't! :wink:
Author:  bighause [ Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Toyota's locking rear axle and 32's should make for a pretty good set up. I read in a mag that it has about 10 inches of rear flex and that the traction control actually worked offroad and it can be turned off when you want to. It could use 4 real doors though.
Author:  jpzkj [ Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:17 am ]
Post subject: 
I got in and under one the other day and have to say there is alot of PLASTIC in the interior.

The fit and finish is good...but the feel is kind of cheap.

The underneath was very nice..everything is out of the way Especially the lower control arms as opposed to ours :roll:

The view out the windshield is good but seems like it might be hard to judge tire placement. The view out the back is pretty obscured.


There was a dealer mark up and added things like lojack and paint protection for a total of 35K

Sticker was 30 and the premium was 5K on top !!! That buys a whole lot of mods for sure
Author:  Vern [ Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:43 am ]
Post subject:  FJ Cruiser Opinion
One of our local car dealerships carries Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln and Mercury. They had two FJ Cruisers in that didn't last a day. On Wednesday night graveyard I found a third one on their lot, that hadn't been prepped yet. I went down with a friend (he has a 4Runner and a 70's model Land Cruiser he is restoring and modding) to look at it and test drive it.

We got to the lot and talked to a friend, who is a salesman there. We looked over the FJ. One nice feature on the FJ was the view from inside the driver's seat to the front. The 3 windshield wipers cleaned off almost every inch of glass. Another nice feature was the location of the oil filter. It is mounted upside down and you reach it by opening the hood and reaching over the left fender. The rear window is practically useless, except to let in a little light. It will allow you to see a tree or something like that, if it's taller than 4 feet, otherwise you can't see much behind you. Also the rear glass opens up from the rear hatch (which opens sideways like a KJ), but on the FJ it is so high up that it's only practical for someone about 6 foot or taller to reach and set in a jacket or the like, you can't reach and grab something off the floorboard or set something down to the floor through the window. The front seats had decent comfort, good leg room hip room and shoulder room, but I didn't care for the way the seat supports under the thighs. The rear seats are only good for kids, or for short trips with someone much above 5'6" tall, and the rear suicide style doors are extremely small making crawling (not getting in) difficult. Another nice feature was the rubber floor throughout the vehicle, allowing it to be hosed out.

We took the FJ out for a test drive. We found it handled well at 90-95 on the highway (Passing Speeds :) ), it has a smooth ride. This FJ was equipped with the convenience package, rear backing sonar, locking differential and the automatic transmission.

My friend was driving and we went off road into soft sand and tried out the locker, and the transfer case. We went down some steep inclines, and the automatic transmission (in low, with the transfer case locked in low) handled the speed of descent and crawled down the hills.

On the way back into town we switched driving and I took over. Once I was driving the salesman friend told me to go to the 4WD trails (I always test my vehicles before buying them) and try it out. I went crawling up some hills, and tested the articulation over rocks and between some tight spots. The FJ handled well, but I did note that because of it's much wider stance that I had to watch carefully not to scrape the sides going through some spots which a KJ or a Wrangler handle with ease.

We took it back into town and stopped and showed it to my wife. She looked at it and with disbelief inquired if I was serious about wanting one instead of my KJ Renegade. Had to stop and get her wondering for a minute. Then we took it to where my friend's wife worked and let her drive it.

We went back to the dealership and my friend bought the FJ, he traded in his 12 year old 4Runner. The dealership sold it to him at sticker price, which considering most of them are trying to jack the prices up from $5-10K seemed like a descent deal. He got out the door for under $28K, before taxes.

Overall the FJ Cruiser looks like it is well built for the suspension and the power train. It handled well on the highway and off road. It looks like Toyota has come out with something that will compete with the Jeeps, if someone is truly in the Toyota camp this is a good choice for them. The couple things I wish that Jeep would do that Toyota is offering is offer the a switchable rear locker, from the factory, on the KJ and to offer the vehicle already lifted the extra couple inches for a little more clearance.

After driving the FJ Cruiser I still like my KJ Renegade better. The only thing it made me want to do is get a lift put on it, maybe later this year I'll look at a Frankenlift, larger tires and a locker. :)
Author:  Eddo [ Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:24 am ]
Post subject: 
I've only been in one at the Auto show. Looked nice from the outside, especially in Yellow. Did look kind of bland with highway tires and low to the ground though. Kind of like a KJ when stock. However, a small lift and probably some 32" MTRs would fix that. However, most of all I just didn't care for the inside. It felt like you where sitting inside a huge shoe box. Very dark, limited rear visibility and felt quite big and bulky. Almost like a full size SUV. The FJ just seemed kind of large wheel in thigh spots. The KJ feels much smaller and there are plenty of place that even in a KJ it is a very tight squeeze. I actually like the way the H3 felt better. Overall, not bad at all and definitely be something I would look into if in the market for a new rig.

Finally, it was quite pricey. Seems to me the KJ is still the best value. You can get a CRD (no diesel FJ yet), lift it, throw in a locker, add armor, and new tires and still be below a new FJ cruiser.
Author:  wilfredcruz [ Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
very nice vehicle....
but premium gas is not for me.
keep the KJ
Author:  nickmv [ Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:11 pm ]
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I'm shocked Toyota hasn't announced any plans for a diesel version of the FJ...it just makes sense with a truck that size
Author:  bennybmn [ Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:44 pm ]
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Got news for you guys, the inside of the KJ is all plastic too aside from the seats and carpet. Maybe the FJ is more bland (have to see for myself) but I did read it is meant to hose out. I also like the small size of the KJ (why does everyone insist on going BIGGER?) but I bet the FJ would spank a stock KJ in everything but a tight squeeze offroad. Also, since it's built off a shortened 4Runner chassis, there's already some aftermarket for it! Big plus.
Author:  SethX9 [ Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Great posts everyone. It looks like an interesting offering from Toyota. A lot of people (here and elsewhere) have talked about the sticker price. I've gotta say though...Toyota has an amazing service record. It'll be interesting to see how the 4-by crowd accepts it.
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