Need FJ Cruiser advice

brushogger

Explorer
Hey Guys, I'm looking hard at these as I'm tired of running scared from the Disco Temp gauge. FJ owners- Give me your impressions. Happy, unhappy, glad you bought it or not? Recommended options? I've been looking online and have found nothing really bad about them. I'm going shopping this weekend.
 

1911

Expedition Leader
I've had a first-year model since 2006 and have 130,000 miles on it. It's been a great truck; you can drive it 80 mph all day long in air-conditioned comfort and still have a very capable 4WD when you get to where your going off-road. Toyota reliability (though the first year's production have a reputation for blowing rear diff ring gears if you hop the wheels when the diff is locked), good fuel economy for a 4WD when left stock. The main foibles are the poor visibility (which you get used to pretty quickly) and the suicide rear doors if you are carrying passengers in the back. Tons of cabin room for the front passengers. Way more powerful engine than any other 4WD truck I've ever had. It's not the perfect 4WD or expedition vehicle, but it's a damned good compromise of a really good comfortable highway vehicle with a capable off-roader. Huge aftermarket of cool off-road parts and accessories.

Recommended options? Get the rear diff locker and A-TRAC and nothing else if possible. The factory option skid plates are cosmetic jokes; the option rock rails are too close to the body to offer any real protection, and the factory roof rack is way expensive and not nearly as useful as any of the aftermarket offerings.

I use mine mostly for a work truck now, but it doesn't leak or burn a drop of oil and is perfectly reliable at 130,000 miles. I expect to double that and more easily. They're relatively easy to maintain.
 

VDBAZFJ

Adventurer
08 FJ here. I love it. By far the favorite car I've ever had. There are only a couple of things I "dis-like". That being the back seat. I have a 3 y.o. So, with only one car seat, its fine. If I had two...it'd be a little tougher to do comfortably.

Even though I average 20mpg, Id like more with the price of gas going up. 45k miles and thankfully no problems yet!
 

Corey

OverCamping Specialist
Best rock solid rig I have ever owned.
It is my 4th Toyota too.

Have not had one problem with it since I took delivery of it back in July of 2006.

When I first got it I averaged 21 MPG, but I am now down to around 16 average city/freeway due to the mods I have done to it.
Coming from a 1991 3.0 Automatic 4Runner, the 4.0 in the FJ feels like a V8 to me, plenty of pep.
Even when loaded down with all of my camping gear the rig never feels sluggish.

Like 1911 said, get the E locker and A Trac setup if you plan on doing any off roading with it.

Do not be put off by some who say the rig has blind spots.
If you can drive with mirrors (the correct way to drive anyways) you will have no problem.

Rear seating can be tight, but then I have no rear seats.
Mine are out to hold camping gear.

I use mine as a daily driver, and for camping, and light off roading, mainly exploring old growth forest service roads and side trails that take me to interesting out of the way camp spots.

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cnynrat

Expedition Leader
I've got an '07 that we've had since Dec-06, which now has about 82k miles on it. I think 1911 is pretty much spot on with his assessment of the pros & cons. It's a very driveable truck, suitable for daily use, that is also very capable off road. Perhaps not as rugged as a solid front axle setup would be, but for the types of trails most folks run around here it's more than up to the task.

In terms of factory options, definitely go for the rear locker and ATRAC. I'd advise against the factory skids, rock rails, and roof rack. In all three cases there are better options available in the aftermarket for the same or less money. As far as the rest of the options available I think that's really a matter of personal preference.

There are some idiosyncrasies. Outward visibility is limited, but you do get used to it, and a pair of stick on parabolic mirrors work wonders in terms of the rear blind spots. The rear suicide doors are a little odd, so if you are in and out of the back seat a lot I can understand folks who find that to be a negative.

The 4 Runner is another choice that offers similar off-road capabilities without some of the idiosynchrasies of the FJC. I'm not sure the latest version is as well supported in the aftermarket as the FJ (it may be, I'm just not sure). I originally set out thinking I was going to buy a 4 Runner, but then found out it has limited head room for my 6'4" frame, so I went with the FJC.
 

xpdishn

Adventurer
'07 here with 82,000+ miles. Best vehicle I have ever owned. Still smile when I pull it out of the shop. The fam is myself, the navigator and two dogs. A couple of years ago, pulled the rear seats out and converted all the space to storage with the dogs on top. If you have children then that should be answered by those that also have.

Have you gone to the "blue" room? -- http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/index.php?page=active_topics Nothing but FJ stuff.

You can drive all day on the pavement and not get tired - great truck for those long trips. Off pavement it is extremely capable and easy to drive. I have never broke down on the trail nor on the road.

Agree with all to get the ATRAC and rear lockers and leave everything else stock. The aftermarket is hugh and all of it bolts directly on the FJ.

Highly recommend the FJ.


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RocKrawler

Supporting Sponsor
Having owned one for several years and built thousands for customers at the last 3 shops I can thell you they are capable, but the chinese fire drill that is getting front and rear passengers in/out in a tight parking space and the visibility of driving a football helmet, all other things are good. My history:

TERRYS FJC.jpg

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BIGGUY

Adventurer
I've got an '07 bought in August of '06. I just turned over 163,000 miles on it. I had the brakes done on all four corners about 10,000 miles ago for the first time. I did have to replace a bad wheel sensor and I had a loose tie rod end replaced too. Normal maintenance other than that. Love it. Like the others said it is a great vehicle. I use mine as a DD and I also do a lot of dirt roads. I've been to Moab and done trails in other parts of UT, CO, and WY. I'm modded but on trips can still see 21mpg once in awhile. I mostly average about 18 in summer and 16 or so in winter. Mine was pretty basic with only the rear locker and cruise. I added the switch for Atrac and was set to go.




A couple photos when stock and modded on the stuff I drive.




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01tundra

Explorer
We bought my wife a 2012 and we love it. Haven't started building it yet, but she drives about 60 miles each way for work and she's very happy with it.

FJC.jpg
 

SWITAWI

Doesn't Get Out Enough
Nailed it -
It's not the perfect 4WD or expedition vehicle, but it's a damned good compromise of a really good comfortable highway vehicle with a capable off-roader.

I pretty much always end up being an echo for guys like Lee, Corey, Dave, and Gary. Maybe it's because they're responsible for my FJ purchase, warts and all. My still-stock FJC doesn't hold a candle to all of theirs, but I have enjoyed it immensely.
:coffeedrink:
Bought my '08 used in Aug. '10 with 12k miles on it for $25k. As noted before, A-TRAC and the Rear Locker are must-haves. Transmission is a more personal choice. I got the 5-speed Automatic and it's the best auto I've owned (after driving manuals all my life, lol). I specifically looked for a 'bald one' because I despise the half-useful Toyota roof rack. My hitch carrier has worked well enough as a substitute so far. Originally I really, really wanted a full-size pickup, but I needed a do-all vehicle that would serve as both my primary commuter and weekend getaway transport. A full-size would simply have been overkill due to daily fuel costs, the fact that I am single and don't haul a family around, and I have access to three or four 1-ton pickups I can borrow at a moment's notice if I have to. Now at +50k miles I have thoroughly enjoyed the stock configuration's versatility. Sure there are full-size 1/2-ton pickups rated for +20mpg on the highway these days, but their average over a tankful still probably doesn't come close to that. My mileage on an entire tank is still 17-19.5mpg every time I fill up with most tanks resulting in mid-18mpg's after a week of driving to the office everyday, including the obligatory stop-and-go traffic every morning. I've had one tankful that netted a +20mpg average, and that was all highway with the cruise control set at 70mph. I know I could get better MPGs, but that's just how I drive. Couple the mileage with the fact that it has taken me everywhere I've asked it to and back again on the crappy OE tires, and I could not ask for a more versatile stock vehicle for what I paid for it. Granted, I'm no rock crawler or mudder, and I'm old enough now that I don't feel the need to put myself out on a limb every weekend...
:coffee:
All that being said the FJ has well-documented warts...
1. The stock suspension is too soft for anyone needing to do more than just drive on pavement. If you put 3 big guys and a big dog inside, load up the rear, and then put a couple hundred pounds of coolers and camping gear on a hitch carrier you will feel like you're driving a Hollywood searchlight at a movie premiere. The headlights will be pointed so high as to be unusable on high beam and the low beams will blind oncoming traffic. The soft front end dives dramatically under hard braking, and if you manage to engage the anti-lock brakes you will feel like you should have stopped 20yds back.
2. The interior plastic quality is rather unforgiving of scratches, and the hard plastic floor in the rear cargo area (especially the backs of the rear seats) will quickly start looking like you have a Honey Badger for a pet if you throw stuff back there all the time.
3. The rear visibility is a mixed bag overall, but not something that can't be lived with. The view straight out the back window is actually okay, but the C-Pillar blind is pretty big.
4. The rear doors weren't really a factor to me, but I wouldn't have bought an FJ if I was married with kids.
5. After being thankful for the decent mileage, I must say my biggest gripe is the 19gal fuel tank and the way it fills up. Most owners of stock FJs get similar mileage as me, but often say they only get 300 miles on a tank. It's because the fuel nozzle shuts off early and no one wants to over fill. If the low fuel light comes on and I drive another 10-20 miles before I fill up, the gas pump will often get to 16-17gal and then shut off. By intermittent slow filling I can get another 2-3gal into it and that easily results in 350mi of highway travel. My best range yet has been almost 380 miles on one tank. Another 4-5gal capacity would have been perfect. If the also Prado 120-derived 4th Gen 4Runner had a 23gal tank and carried its spare tire underneath the body I don't think its unreasonable to be disappointed in Toyota for giving the FJ Cruiser a smaller tank.
:safari-rig:
There are obvious ways to fix some of the flaws, some for a reasonable amount, and some for not-so-reasonable amounts. I plan to avoid going the 'standard' 3" lift route with a shorter alternative, but it will involve uprated springs and shocks for better load and handling, not just some silly spacers. I'm gonna get all the miles I can out of the OE tires since I drive so much on the highway, but I sure will be glad to see them go in favor of some decent all-terrains. I will keep to the stock tire size so that my mileage isn't so affected. Less than 400mi of highway range is something I'm just going to have to live with unless I want to pony up the $1700 for a Man-A-Fre auxiliary tank. The visibility doesn't bother me much since I drove a company van for 7yrs, and the rear doors actually seem convenient to a single guy who used to have a straight-up two door for a personal vehicle. Nothing is ever really perfect, and the FJ is a prime example. It needs some fine tuning, but it works for me and I'm happy with it.
:beer:
Yeah, it's been a slow Friday afternoon...
 
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1911

Expedition Leader
... Transmission is a more personal choice. I got the 5-speed Automatic and it's the best auto I've owned (after driving manuals all my life, lol).

Excellent points and thorough review. I have the auto tranny also (couldn't find a manual when I bought mine), and it is an excellent one. Shifts so smooth that I sometimes can't tell that it has without watching the tach.

But this reminds me of one of my gripes with this truck that I forgot to say - the cruise control is super irritating! It frequently coasts to 3-5 mph slower than you set it at, then down-shifts a gear and accelerates to 3-5 mph faster than the set speed. It drives me crazy! Now to be fair, my truck is super heavy with all the steel crap I've put on it, and heavy oversize tires - but I've re-geared the diffs for a lower-than-stock final drive ratio even considering the 34" tires. And it was irritating even when the truck was stock. I know that Toyota knows how to make a decent cruise control; the one in my FJ80 was WAY better and that was an underpowered slug compared to the power and acceleration of the FJC.
 

justfred

Adventurer
Just one note of dissent, coming from a Disco owner.

Especially as compared to the huge, panoramic windows of the Discovery, he visibility of the FJ is abysmal. It's like being inside a cave. Front, side, quarter, and back windows are tiny.

I know there's a lot to like about these trucks - I was in line to buy one when they came out - but I couldn't live with the minimal viz.
 

1stgenoverland

Adventurer
These are my favourites. When I was a lube tech at toyota I got to handle these things. Loved them, convinced my uncle to buy one and he loves his. They are a good buy but I would suggest getting a 2009. Best year in my opinion. More colour options that year and it was the last year of the spin off oil filter at the top of the engine. After that they went to an oil cartridge at the bottom behind a skid plate. So for ease of maintenance the 2009 is the best. You will love these things I promise...Super tough frame too
 

Danimal

Adventurer
Especially as compared to the huge, panoramic windows of the Discovery, he visibility of the FJ is abysmal.

Agreed. Everyone's idea of what is acceptable is different, but as compared to my 3rd gen 4Runner and 2nd gen Tacoma the visibility out of my dad's FJ was just annoying. I can't imagine taking a trip to a beautiful place and being the poor soul who is stuck in the backseat of an FJ Cruiser.

Dan
 

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