Decision time: 4 Runner, 4 door Wrangler or FJC

[teotwaki]

Well I wasn't but now you've forced one on me it would be rude not reply...

I think the 4runner is a great vehicle and does everything really well. Its quiet, comfy, refined and big enough for two people to sleep in comfortably. If it didn't have this intangible Camry like boringness to it I'd seriously consider buying one. Its big sister Sequoia feels the same way although its fun playing with the radar cruise control on the interstate!

The TJ is brutal to drive any significant distance but it appears I'm a sucker for punishment! Fortunately my 16 year old girl has her sights on it and will probably end up with it in a couple of years and 200K miles. Then I'll be in the same situation of choosing a replacement vehicle and y'all can laugh at me when I say the 4runner is still the most sensible choice then I buy something else that's way less useful but isn't boring. :smiley_drive:

Cheers,
Graham

Really fun stuff! In the past I had plenty of non-"boring" vehicles: a home built "pre-runner" '55 Dodge 2WD, a '73 F-250 long bed with manual steering, a 4-speed, factory lift, manual hubs, 4:11s and a 8 MPG engine, then a '89 full-sized Bronco with a 3-speed C6, MTRs and a 5.8L engine. I'll throw in some short time in military hummers too as a really exciting vehicle to drive.

Basically I've been there and done that with noisy vehicles that beat you to death on road and off and I've no worries about being judged about the looks of my rig. :sombrero:

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

fj and 4runner look like moms suv,,no offence.

I'm sorry, what?

I don't think I heard you correctly...:sombrero:

I would go for the 4 Runner...it sounds like you need a practical vehicle that you can haul people around in and still have fun with on the weekends. I love the FJ, but if we had to carry anything around other than our dog it would have to go.

 

[grahamfitter]

Basically I've been there and done that with noisy vehicles that beat you to death on road and off and I've no worries about being judged about the looks of my rig. :sombrero:

I don't care about looks either although I like the way the 4runner looks. (And the FJC but the JK is ugly.) That's the funny thing -- there's nothing wrong with it and everything right with it -- yet I still don't like driving one. C'est la vie... :sombrero:

Cheers,
Graham

 

[The Swiss]

... but the JK is ugly....)
Cheers,
Graham

Better ugly than plane eepwall:
May I remind you that you should have been helping me, not confuse me more? Gotta love this forum.

Just to set the records straight; 90% of it's duty will be hauling me to the airport, where I board a plane and then either rent a boring white Sedan, (like the white H3 I just had as rental ) or drive in the plane boring cars of one of my sales guys. I am not in the fashion business, so the silky skirt situation unluckily is very, very rare...

 

[teotwaki]

I don't care about looks either although I like the way the 4runner looks. (And the FJC but the JK is ugly.) That's the funny thing -- there's nothing wrong with it and everything right with it -- yet I still don't like driving one. C'est la vie... :sombrero:

Cheers,
Graham

I think Jeeps are Way Cool looking. I grew up watching Rat Patrol!!

 

[grahamfitter]

Better ugly than plane eepwall:
May I remind you that you should have been helping me, not confuse me more? Gotta love this forum.

Just to set the records straight; 90% of it's duty will be hauling me to the airport, where I board a plane and then either rent a boring white Sedan, (like the white H3 I just had as rental ) or drive in the plane boring cars of one of my sales guys. I am not in the fashion business, so the silky skirt situation unluckily is very, very rare...

Apologies for the confusion, which can be cleared up by a simple process of elimination: you have a RTT which will be expensive to mount on the JK. And you have offspring who will disown you after riding in the back of the FJC.

peej eht teg
The 4runner would be best. :sombrero:
peej eht teg

Cheers,
Graham

 

[The Swiss]

... you have a RTT which will be expensive to mount on the JK. Cheers,
Graham

Naw, after living for 5 years here in the south, I learned that this is what's duc-tape for; it will be OK to to duc-tape the RTT to the rollcage.

BTW, peej eht teg lliw I

 

[calamaridog]

Is this a vehicle you might have to take clients out to lunch in?

Is there a chance another co-worker may have to drive it?

Do you pay your own gas?

 

[cshontz]

BTW, peej eht teg lliw I

Well, I think your decision is back-assward! :sombrero:

 

[Bongo Boy]

I'm impressed, first of all, with the reasonableness of the responses. A big hand-clap thingie to everyone. SinCityCruiser excellent job on a two-sentence wrap-up executive summary, I agree completely. Good job also to those who are thinking about stuff like 'will you have to drive another actual person in the vehicle'.

I own an FJC TRD edition, manual transmission, and a TJ Rubicon. So on the jeep side, no experience with the big JK things. But, naturally, I have an opinion.

I've had both for at least a year--the TJ about 2 the FJ about 1 or so. I can hardly express what a miserable experience the Toyota is...and I can't hardly say strongly enough, it's one useless miserable-to-drive vehicle. I loathe having to even take the dogs out for a 10 minute drive to the park in it. It is NOT a fun car to drive, and I can't even imagine how it could be considered an 'off road' vehicle OR an SUV OR a soccer mom car. It doesn't meet any reasonable requirements of ANY of these vehicles.

But, I'm expressing a very strong negative opinion that's way out there on the scale...so naturally you need to temper that with other viewpoints. If you can lease and expense that, then there's little loss--lease one for a year.

Honestly, I find excuses...ANY excuse...to get in the TJ and go get a 3 Musketeers or a bag of cotton balls or that bottle of dishwasher detergent. Any excuse whatsoever to get in that rig and ride. Conversely, my distaste for the FJC is so strong, I'd really rather have to go to work than face a weekend of driving it. I'm not kidding.

Try before you buy...that's all I can say in fairness.

OT: I don't think I've ever heard Rat Patrol mentioned since the last time I watched it...I guess in 1966 or something. What a great image there. I want the poster on my office wall!

 

[nwoods]

I rent about 30 cars a year, and I make a point of squeezing myself into as wide a variety of rental cars as possible.

I would suggest you add two vehicles to your list, and these vehicles are quite a departure from one another, but both are worthy contenders for their own reasons:

1. Land Rover LR3. You can get a lease on one for $499/month, or buy a used one for under $30k. They are simply amazing off road, and are FAR more comfortable on road than any of the other options you listed. There are more vendors now for them, so you can add roof racks, swing away tire carriers, skid plates, rock sliders, beefier tires, etc... and yet remain a civil height on the street, enjoy an outstanding sound system, and chauffer any of your clients around without a seconds thought....even if there are six of them standing at the curb waiting for you. Downside? gas mileage. I get about 16 with the V6, about 14 with the V8.

2. Nissan Frontier crew cab: I put about 3,000 miles on one over a three week period, and REALLY was impressed by it. Drove very smooth, great engine, great ride, extremley roomy front and rear, and some nifty little Overlanding friendly features like storage, accessory ports, tie downs, etc... it even got decent gas mileage. I seriously considered buying one as my daily driver after that extended test drive.

Here is my soccer mom mall crawler LR3:

 

[teotwaki]

.............SNIP..........I own an FJC TRD edition, manual transmission, and a TJ Rubicon. So on the jeep side, no experience with the big JK things. But, naturally, I have an opinion.

I've had both for at least a year--the TJ about 2 the FJ about 1 or so. I can hardly express what a miserable experience the Toyota is...and I can't hardly say strongly enough, it's one useless miserable-to-drive vehicle. I loathe having to even take the dogs out for a 10 minute drive to the park in it. It is NOT a fun car to drive, and I can't even imagine how it could be considered an 'off road' vehicle OR an SUV OR a soccer mom car. It doesn't meet any reasonable requirements of ANY of these vehicles.................SNIP...................Conversely, my distaste for the FJC is so strong, I'd really rather have to go to work than face a weekend of driving it. I'm not kidding.............SNIP!

Why did you buy the FJC and why do you keep it??????????????????????????

I'll take it off your hands for $5K cash..... :sombrero:

 

[The Swiss]

Is this a vehicle you might have to take clients out to lunch in?

Is there a chance another co-worker may have to drive it?

Do you pay your own gas?

Lunch? Maybe a couple times per year, not more.
Other drivers? Oh no; it's practicly mine.
Paying for gas? Nope

 

[The Swiss]

I rent about 30 cars a year, and I make a point of squeezing myself into as wide a variety of rental cars as possible.

I would suggest you add two vehicles to your list, and these vehicles are quite a departure from one another, but both are worthy contenders for their own reasons:

1. Land Rover LR3.
2. Nissan Frontier crew cab:

Isn't it nice to rent so many cars?
The LR 3 I don't really like that much. I used to have several Land Rovers when I lived in Switzerland, but - except the Defender - Land Rover somehow lost it for me.
The Frontier is nice, especially the engine. The rear seats however are very upright and not very comfortable. Therefore no option. But thanks for the ideas.

 

[xcmountain80]

I was considering the new 4runner for my wife but outfitted with all the ARB goodies. I guess it could be a soccer mom vehicle but that depends on how cool the soccer mom is. Here is a fj lightly modified not fit for a soccer mom.



Aaron