new Toyota FJ Cruiser

kevb · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject: new Toyota FJ Cruiser

Hi all,

I was in Moab for my hols and thought you guys might be interested in this new FJ cruiser that joined us on some trails. It was very competent and we were impressed! not as good as a Land Rover though Wink

Kitesurf · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks for thinking of us but........................... yeeeeeeuuuuuuk! What a sad parody of the original and bombproof FJ and BJ trucks.

kevb · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:17 pm Post subject:

yep, its definately a love it or hate it thing, maybe i didnt get the angle right? they seem to be selling well as we saw loads.

Damian · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject:

That's what you get when you cross a Hummer with a 'yota..... someone should put it down and put it out of it's misery.

ross_fj73 · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:07 am Post subject:

The FJ cruiser is built on a prado floor and mechanicals.
There is also a 2wd version for those honest enough about their intentions .
Americans are buying nearly all automatics in prefernce to manuals.
Not available in diesel.

Owners are reporting bad rear vision from those bulky corners.

kevb · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject:

maybe so but the americans predominately use autos & petrol anyway, Bill Burke of www.bb4wa.com took 2 on the infamous rubicon trail in northern california and said they performed admirably. All they changed was the tyres and were told not to damage them as they were being displayed at the SEMA show immediately after. You cannot complete the Rubicon in a "soft roader".

Number 6 · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:57 pm Post subject:

I like the look of it - seems a bit of retro-cruiser styling has happened.

By all accounts they are well built and perform well.

I'd have one.

Pete

rarrki · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:55 am Post subject:

Hi ALL, ' Not as good as a Landrover' give me a break!! When was this side by side comparison done [THAT i MISSED] Just remember that the ultimate in Hi Teckery does not a 4by make. Toyota Landcruiser Rocks!!!

Regards Ken.

Kitesurf · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:05 pm Post subject:

Ken,
Some people just wear their patriotic glasses and when 4x4 is mentioned they can only see green ovals.
All manufacturers of 4x4 could do themselves a favour by bringing out lo-tech versions of all their vehicles, by which I mean trucks that could be fixed in the bush/desert/middle of nowhere without needing a PC in the toolbox.

kevb · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:

Sorry Ken, I didnt realise tongue in cheek wasnt allowed on the Toyota board! of course the right Toyota is every bit as good as the right land Rover/Nissan/Mitsubushi. just look at the outback challenge. This is what its all about for me......
It just happens to be a range rover in utah but could just as easilly be the land cruiser we used in south america.

rarrki · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject:

Point taken kevb, where I travel rugged construction,clean and simple design,reliability and ease of repair are the most important. When you are 1000km and 500 sand dunes from the nearest mechanical repairs the last thing you want is a vehicle that is over complicated and overengineered I am afraid that in Australia Land Rover products have a rather bad reputation for reliability. I favour the Toyota comercial vehicles 78 &79 series as they have proven themselves and are the choice vehicle in the mining exploration and tourism industries closely followed by Nissan Patrol range.
Regards Ken.

Son of Jabber · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject:

Was just sent this thread by a friend.

I bought an FJ Cruiser last Saturday, manual 4x4 6 speed. First impressions was that is reminded me of the Prado I had when I lived in the Middle East. Everyone ie very complimentary about it and it is great to drive. I have had various 4x4s in the past (Range Rover, Discovery, Suzuki Jeep, Vitara, various RAV4s and the Prado) and this one rides the best.

The blue is quite loud, mine is silver, will post a picture soon. The styling is love it or hate it and the interior is more functional than luxury, no carpet just a rubber floor and rubber mats, waterproofed seats and so on.

Will take it off road once it is run in, problem is that Houston is quite flat Sad

.

Damian · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:17 pm Post subject:

Hi Jabber Junior, and welcome to the land of Differshire! When you say Prado, which Prado do you mean? In the UK we get imported 70 Series Prados and the later, I think 100 Series badged as Prado's.

Each to their own really, my 'yota Smurf (4Runner) is a fantastic 4x4 and extremely good looking.... however I find the FJ ugleeeee, which is strange as I find the H2 strangley attractive! Anyhoooo, back to the red wine for me!

Son of Jabber · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject:

Hello Damian,

It was a 1997 Prado, same as the Colorado in the U.K., except that I had the 3.4 petrol engine with a manual gearbox. In fact I imoprted it into the U.K., spent a grand getting the headlights changed and a cat put on it and a few other things, then could not get a house anywhere near where I worked, so I had to sell it (35 mile commute each way). I will try and find a picture and post it. Still think it was the best car I ever owned, my Dad was interested in buying it, but timing was wrong. He got a Discovery a few years later which he loved and he posted a whole load of stuff on the forums here. (Hence 'Son of Jabber'.)

The FJ looks better in the flesh and there are very few nice 4x4s with a manual transmission here, and that is a must for me.