My wife and I are in the market for a new car (the Saabaru is getting traded in) and I’ve had a yen for the FJ Cruiser which reminds me of the old 1960s Land Cruisers which may be the coolest 4wd ever made (IMO). She said I could get what I wanted this year, if we bought her a car next year that she wanted…I figured that’s a fair deal.
Dealer inventory of these are pretty tight and since I’m a member of Costco, the only local participating dealer has a Trail Teams with the BF Goodrich All Terrain tires etc. The dealership is looking to make a deal before the end of the month. The chances of me going off-road with any regularity aren’t much but there are a few times a year when it would probably happen (hunting season, camping etc.) and I would probably go off-road a lot more often if I could.
Has anyone owned one and regretted it? Are the All-Terrain tires going to piss me off on normal pavement? Should I wait until I get some better options in stock?
I don’t own one of these, but do like them a lot. The local Toyota dealership has one that is a dark OD green with black rims. Pretty slick! I would buy one if they came in a 4dr.
My buddy just got a 08’ with BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires…My impressions from riding in it as a passenger in the front and in the back is the ride is very uncomfortable for me. I would assume that the mud tires and the fact that the vehicle itself is promoted as an off road vehicle may have something to do with it.
It looks cramped but sitting inside it feels very open and spacious (in the front), again my speculation is from the increased head room/roof. The V6 has very little acceleration/pick up and feels tremendously underpowered. It is definitely a two person car as the backseat has little room.
The FJ has the looks going for it though. These are my observations and opinions, this is coming from a Tundra driver so I may be a little biased
No regrets. The motor, trans and ride comfort have been terrific. FJ blind spots? No problem. I’ve driven stuff with no side visibility and you use the mirrors. So far no fences, trees or garbage cans have died at my hand.
I run BFG KM2’s, which are basically knobbies for the street. They hum if I get on the expressway and drive me crazy in 2 hours. Under that they are completely tolerable. I will go to the BFG AT’s next time and those should be sweet.
The TT is a sweet rig. If I had the cash I would have one. The TT’s I’ve seen have the mono-color. Sa-weet!
MPG is a drag - if you put bigger tires on expect 16 mpg
My buddy has one with the 6 speed manual tranny and it will get up and go. Im 6’4 and bouncing around in it off road the “oh shit” handles will bust your noggin. You cant see a dang thing in reverse, I mean nothing makes backing a trailer a nightmare.
According to my research they’ve upped the horsepower in recent years as that was a common complaint.
The reviews I’ve read mark it as an excellent off-road vehicle…practical/comfortable/everyday vehicle? Not so much.
I’m just wondering how much I can live with. I hate full-time 4wd/Awd so my options are really limited to that or the Tacoma (wife hates pickups) and I don’t think it will ride much better on the road anyways (at least according to the reviews). So it’s either dedicated SUV or something practical.
My friend had one, I loved the look and concept but it has a cramped back seat and killer blind spots. He ended up selling it for a crew cab Tacoma and is much happier.
I still think they are sexy, but the blind spots are reallly bad
Mine is my everyday driver. More comfy than the 2011 Jeep Patriot I just rented for 3 days and it hauls everything I want. What “practical” are you looking for? Last I checked, this is a Toyota built in Japan. Quality and reliability from everyone I’ve heard and I’ve had zero issues in 2+ years.
Horse hockey. Use your freaking mirrors and brain. If you’re a blind senior citizen, then sure, stay away.
Taking a ride doesn’t make one an expert on visibility from the Captain’s chair! Ya know, most complaints are from elderly women who couldn’t see above the wheel without sitting on a copy of their Betty Crocker cook book. I think I’m starting to have a little fun with this! Thanks!
I have driven my Buddy’s 4 or 5 times, plenty to know visibility out of that thing sucks. I did step out of an F250 before driving it therefore I may be biased.
ok, spent a lot of time in it and it sucks, enough for it to be one of the first things he mentions and a factor for him selling it.
I was in the market for one when he bought his, and I’m glad he bought it first. Ultimately I decided my 4runner was a lot more practical without the cons.
"Ya know, most complaints are from elderly women who couldn’t see above the wheel without sitting on a copy of their Betty Crocker cook book. " you sound like a really bright guy, so i am sure there is some statistical data to back this up.
I’m sorry if I insulted you, I know how some people get with their precious belongings. I see it all the time with [insert brand/model] gun owners. I was just putting my input through my observations and the experience of a friend. I know 2 people who had them, they are both happier with a Toyota truck or SUV of a different flavor.
I think the FJ’s are good looking vehicles. There are few in my area that are fixed up for offroad and really look bad ass. As for all terrain tires, i have some pretty aggressive a/t’s (Mastercraft Courser C/T) and it is not bad at all. I drive an f150 4x4 so i have the E load range tires and they are great so far. Mud terrains are a pain in the ass on the road if you dont keep the rotated often and they make a lot of noise
I like the new Jeep Wrangler especially since they have the new v6 with a bunch more power. I have seen some videos and the comparative acceleration tests show the old v6 doesnt hold a candle to the new one. You can get it in 4 doors too.
I worked for 15 yrs at Ford Motor Company. It’s an industry fact that Chrysler makes the worst vehicles of the Big Three.
I’ve stated it before and I’ll state it one last time: Ford didn’t need a gov’t loan because they mortgaged EVERYTHING (including the Blue Oval) for a $22 billion loan back in 2006. Call it “inside info”, luck or “the first to fail”; it is what it is. I KNOW because I was there and chose to bail once it became hushed knowledge within the company. I’d much prefer that GM, Ford and Chrysler were all US-owned as opposed to us losing Chrysler (some time ago to Daimler-Benz and now Fiat). So if gov’t loans were required then so be it. Once you have no domestic industry and you report to foreigner who despise you and treat you as property perhaps you (and others who gripe about GM) will “get it”. Somehow I doubt that many will, though.
Now that this is out of the way try looking at the Ford Raptor. Let me qualify this: I, too, am not pleased with domestic vehicles and I have some issues with Ford Motor Company but I LOVE what they did to that truck. It could have been (and should have been) a “Rogue Warrior” as opposed to a “Raptor” but that’s another story for another time.
I, too, adore the FJ. It’s cramped, has huge blind spots and gets poor fuel economy. The dark green with black wheels STILL has me looking at it despite it’s “flaws”. Hell, I swear it whispers to me at night in a way Porsche does. Maybe they take turns. I dunno. But I find myself trying to justify purchasing one.
