Thoughts on Toyota FJ Cruiser?

[hyunelan2]

I can't decide if this thing is horribly wierd, or wierd enough to be neat. I hated it at first, but after seeing a few on the road, it's starting to grow on me:

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/gallery/c460027a.jpg
http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/index.html?s_van=GM_TN_FJ_INDEX


I do like the fact that you can get the 4.0L, 239hp, 4x4 in a 6-speed manual transmission. There aren't many 4x4s out there anymore with a manual transmission option, especially starting for less than $25-grand.

[SWortham]

I like it for what it is. It's quite capable off-road. I even like the look of it. It's different than say a Scion xB or Honda Element which try to be cool by being different but fall on their faces.

And it's a pretty good deal for what you get.

[Tx_boy]

I read the challenge between that and like three others. I cant remeber but I dont think it did that well like it should of considering that is ment to go off road first.

[03GTE]

I love it. its got that retro look but still has good style and its clean looking. not complicated. :thumbsup:

[Keyan]

They had one of those at my school the other day and i've seen a few driving around.

They make it 6-spd! :eek:

[hyunelan2]

^^^Yep. The 2x4 is a 5-spd automatic only. The 4x4 is a 6-spd manual or 5-spd auto option.

[CTele02]

Horribly ugly.... id rather drive a purple with pink pocadots element than that... 4.0L and only 240hp (though 280tq) is kinda sad too the 3.8L lambda makes 263hp and 255tq... Still who the hell actually buys an SUV for the off road capability... sure for snow and bad weather... but most people dont go rock crawling...

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Hell no. First off, it's a 'yota. Swore them off when the we had the Rav AND while I worked with them. Secondly it's fugly. Retro meets comic book. Not a good mix.

You want a potent offroader, pickup a 01-05 Grand Vitara 5-spd. With the 5.18 axles and 2.21 transfer and awesome approach/departure angles you can't go wrong.

[hyunelan2]

Oh - I have absolutely no intentions to buy this vehicle, if that's what you thought. I'm just trying to 'sort out my feelings' for this vehicle. I think I like it BECAUSE it's ugly. Looks similar, but better, than the H3 in a way.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Personally, I'm real tired of the retro crap. Still waitinganxiously for the new Camaro, but other than that . . . nope.

[robs02elantra]

I like it. Didn't at first, but I really let it grow on me. Not as nice as my "new" pickup though.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Yeah, my new Sierra is leaps and bounds nicer than that thing is!

[hyunelan2]

I'm taking a liking to the 'off-road market' vehicles lately (i.e. FJ Cruiser, Xterra, Jeeps, etc). Even though most drivers won't take them more than 2 feet from the shoulder of the road - and I wouldn't have much room to either, they're appealing to me for some reason. Again, I'm not thinking of getting any of these things, just 'liking' them for now.

[Vampyrate]

to me, it looks like someone took the H3 and beat it with the uglier stick... it looks like something steve irwin might use, and it looks like total plastic crap inside. i peaked in one when at the DMV one day

[soullesselantra]

its HAWT in blue...id rock one

[SuperGLS]

I've always like two door SUV's. From the old one of these to the Blazers/Broncos and even the Yukon GT's. Since the late 90's they've all been gone and I was glad to see this surface. I like the look, it's different, a lot of things are similar these days (which isn't bad really).

From what I understand however it was going for 8-10K over MSRP when it came out. I imagine it's cooled off some, but probably not much. Might want to wait for the 2009 version (that is, if you were going to buy one).

I think people tend to hate something for what it's not instead of liking something for what it is. (That's spiritual right there).

On a side note, I've never understood why nobody tries to sell a Wrangler clone.

[PSUsouthpaw]

So thats what those are. I've been seeing them every now and than around here and I keep thinking, "What the hell is that?" I thought it was a newer, uglier isuzu amigo at first, but than I saw the Toyota emblems on them. It looks...repulsive enough to be fascinating.

I wouldn't buy it simply for the fact that if I'd have that much money earmarked for a 4wd vehicle, I'd find and older jeep or blazer and drop the extra cash into that. It's amazing to think of how much an aftermarket can do for some vehicles.

Of course, I've never gotten to buy anything new, and likely won't for a few years, so that may bias my opinion somewhat.

I

[QuickSilverGT]

Horrible. Put it in the same category as the Baja and Aztec.

[chillbro1]

I think these are pretty cool.

I prefer the ones with the Black Steel Wheels better though (fits the whole spartan Off Road motif for me).


Peace,

[ba_feitl]

I like it ... but I'm in your boat, I like it because its kinda ugly. I like driving a "different" car. The only things I don't like is the tailights. They poke out a little too much.

Brad

[Corey Johnson]

it reminds me of kind of a land rover.
it looks pretty cool, but i fish and hunt so i would actually use it, not just to drive an SUV like a lot of people do.

[2001GLS]

I think it's ugly. Not to mention the price is high and they are a niche vehicle. I wouldn't seriously consider it an off-road machine. I saw one on the road the other day & wasn't impressed.

[Elantravision]

For me the overall design of the vehicle is nice. I've only seen a smurf blue version at our Toyota dealership. There's just too many damn colours. Black, Yellow, White, Silver/Chrome all on one vehicle. If the whole thing was midnight black, some of you would be singing another tune.

Something closer to this version, found on Ebay (http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ambassadorautosales.com/2144%2520FJ%2520CRUISER%2520PASS%2520SIDE.jpg&imgrefurl=http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-4X4-FJ-CRUISER-BE-THE-FIRST-IN-YOUR-TOWN_W0QQitemZ4628238223QQcategoryZ6059QQcmdZViewI tem&h=480&w=640&sz=112&hl=en&start=16&tbnid=2MQrXuxlgYGdfM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3DFJ%2BCruiser%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%2 6lr%3D%26sa%3DG) .
http://www.ambassadorautosales.com/2144%20FJ%20CRUISER%20PASS%20SIDE.jpg

[scud]

A good friend of mine got them when they were first released and I think it looks nice. She got it in all silver and unlike a lot of the funky color versions it looks great.

The interiors pretty nice and damned if having those suicide doors isn't cool as well. Now I just have to remind her she promised me a drive in it.

[hyunelan2]

I wouldn't seriously consider it an off-road machine.

Why not? It's getting great reviews in the off-road community. 4Wheel Drive Magazine loved it off-road; it did very well in Car & Driver's off road comparison (vs. H3, Grand Cherokee, Xterra); 4x4 Review is advertising a slew of bolt-on off-road accessories for it, and some reviews are calling it even better off road than on.

Built on a modified 4Runner platform, the FJ Cruiser has a strong resume of off-road credentials. It has a whopping 9.6 inches of ground clearance, 34-degree approach and 30-degree departure angles, eight inches of front and nine inches of rear suspension travel and skid plates for the engine, transfer case and fuel tank.

Vehicles equipped with the five-speed automatic come with a transfer case that can be driven in 2-Hi, 4-Hi and 4-Lo modes. Cruisers equipped with the six-speed manual are always in four-wheel drive with 4-Hi. 4-Hi with locked differential and 4-Lo with locked differential are at the ready.

The limited slip differential offers a 40-60 torque split with as much as 70 percent of the power directed to the rear wheels and as much as 53 percent to the front wheels depending on traction requirements.

The fact that they built it a RWD platform, then added a real transfer case, instead of the weak FWD/AWD designs of many SUVs today, makes a statement as well.

You don't have to like it, but should realize it is definatly a capable off-road vehicle.

[CTele02]

You don't have to like it, but should realize it is definatly a capable off-road vehicle.
Lol its an internet forum... you should know that people will type their opinions as they please :D And realization for many people is beyond the reach of the internet..

[hyunelan2]

Lol its an internet forum... you should know that people will type their opinions as they please

Lol, it is an internet forum... meaning we have discussions and reply to what other people say - otherwise it's not a forum, but just another website.

[ba_feitl]

http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/index.html?s_van=GM_TN_FJ_INDEX

watch the little video background and say you can't take it offroad. How bout some rock crawling !

Brad

[OPZ]

Actually seeing that thing in a solid color is pretty sweet...and if its getting that good of reviews...hello muddin! haha

[Jlivan]

I have seen a couple around town here. I happen to think they look cool, I like how they brought back the retro look. I dont' think I would buy one though.