So, I'm thinking FJ

[4Rescue]

See, I can relate. I have a 1st Gen 4Runner, a Fiance and a Dog... so, for US yeah a 2dr isn't much of an issue, BUT I do find myself WISHING I even had the lame 1/4 doors of the FJ. I think that for the most part though we are sort of the exception rather then the rule as ALOT of folks here seem to have familys of varrying sizes. Certainly the FJC's underpinnings are up to snuff, like I said, it's a re-bodied 4Runner adn we all know how god those are off-road so it's not that. For me, Leaf's will always be my choice in an overland/off-road vehicle u nless it's a crawler BECAUSE of load capacity. In my situation I catualy have basicly a P/U with a factory toper and more of a useable bed then an FJ so I've kind of got my perfect mix of attributes... I do however like the big back door of the FJ espescialy with my back wondow being on the fritz and making getting into the back of my truck a pain... And I've got leaves, but I'm getting off track...


It's funny, since this threadcame about, for some reason I've been parked next to an FJC 3/5 times I've gone to the store... ODD. Something I can'tr get over is how POOR the approach angle is on them stock and how much plastic garbage there is up there (this can be said of nearly ALL new toyotas though)... Is this a stock thing or some appearance package some people might have opted for???

Personaly, i don't LIKE the FJ's looks, IMO they look like something out of an Anime movie and I'm still bitter that Toyota gave a a variant of the 4Runner instead of a true Wrangler fighter (another story for another thread) But as i said previously, the underpinnings are sound if not a little weaker then the old trucks. I'm glad to hear everyone here with one is loving theirs, that's what it's all about and I can certainly relate. Every time I get into my old 4Runner I get... well... just...HAPPY. I love to drive it so I feel it too

To the OP: What IS your exact need??? Family size??? Need of hauling capabilities (despite my views, not everyone needs a P/U so...)

 

[dcoy]

Love the FJC

Yep I love my FJC also.

And one more thing (to that spoilsport "4Rescue"), those "lame 1/4 doors" work quite nicely for us thank-you.

So if you like it, buy it. I would encourage you to ignore all of the "facts" that it is an inferior vehicle.

 

[Corey]

Yep I love my FJC also.

And one more thing (to that spoilsport "4Rescue"), those "lame 1/4 doors" work quite nicely for us thank-you.

So if you like it, buy it. I would encourage you to ignore all of the "facts" that it is an inferior vehicle.

Could not have said it better myself.
Unless you own one or have spent many hours in one, one does not have the credentials to offer advice on one.

And yes, I dig the 1/4 doors too.
Lets me get to my camping gear to load/unload perfectly.

 

[01tundra]

We're working on securing our first FJC as well.

 

[STREGA]

Yep I love my FJC also.

And one more thing (to that spoilsport "4Rescue"), those "lame 1/4 doors" work quite nicely for us thank-you.

So if you like it, buy it. I would encourage you to ignore all of the "facts" that it is an inferior vehicle.

I might go as far as to say those "lame 1/4 doors are quite brilliant really"

As for the "poor approach angle" up until this year I have been running mostly a stock FJ and never had a problem with the approach angle and although I don't do really extreme rockcrawling, I do go to Moab, Ouray, Farmington, N.M. around Colorado, etc. While at Cruise Moab this year I was on a trail run with a stock 4runner (2010 model IIRC) and he destroyed his front (mostly plastic) bumper. None of the stock FJ's had any issues.

 

[go4aryd]

I have only found two reasons to NOT buy an FJC. Had mine since Aug06 and it has abt 60K adventure miles on it (I don't commute).

1) This is a very poor vehical to take anyone sightseeing on or off road. The back windows are so small they don't see much, and can have a tendancy to be motion sick after a while. My kids are grown, but we don't take the FJ if more than me and the wife are going. I pulled the rear seats for good last spring before a six week drive to the Yukon and Alaska pulling a AT Horizon. Great trip, great platform.

Others may have different needs here.

2) This is NOT an ideal vehicle for pulling long or heavy trailers. The AT trailers pull great, but are relatively small and <2000lbs. You won't be taking out the FJC to pull your 25 foot camp trailer, at least I wouldn't. The shorter wheelbase makes the FJC a bit unstable compared with longer wheelbase tow vehicles. A tacoma or an older style Tundra is a much better option if you have this need. Of course there are many options for heavy towing including powerstroke, duramax or cummings. Just not the FJC.

That said, my FJ has been several places I would never have taken my stock jeep TJ. ATRAC works great, as does the rear locker. The only thing I constantly complain about is the lack of fuel capacity for US toyotas. Of course, I would love to have a rig that can run 1600 miles between fill-ups, but 300 miles (250 if off-road or pulling an off-road trailer) doesn't cut it for me.

Corey and I are in the same camp - both love our vehicals and mod them to suit our individual purposes. Couldn't be happier with mine.

 

[BeachinFJ]

I love my FJ

I've had a Tacoma, it was a good truck no doubt about it. But at 6'4" the FJ wins, more room in back (though not enough) for kids than the double cab. Fun factor- FJ wins. I do miss the truck bed every so often. I just wish Toyota would make more comfortable seats in both of them, my back does not like them for more than a few hours at a time.:smiley_drive:

 

[FJLED]

I realize others have differing opinions but from a purely factual and and duty based engineering viewpoint a PU wil always trump a small 2.3dr suv...

Ahh, the purely factual duty based engineering view point. And what metrics were you using to make the comparisons? Are those metrics of any value to what the OP is looking for? Each vehicle has advantages (yes there is more to the FJ than headroom) and disadvantages. Without an understanding of the OPs intended use its pointless to make claims about one vehicle being superior to the other. If I recall his main question was around what quirks there are with an FJC.

To the OP: What IS your exact need??? Family size??? Need of hauling capabilities (despite my views, not everyone needs a P/U so...)

This is the question you should asked well before posting up why he needs to go with vehicle X over an FJ.

 

[Corey]

Over at the blue room
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/index.php?page=active_topics
many celebs FJs were posted when the FJs first came out.
Many included basketball players, and the reason why was the headroom, not to mention the great looks of the FJ too :sombrero:

They really do have lots of headroom.
I probably have a good foot over my head, and I am around 5'9" or so.

 

[Lichen]

I had both for about 2 years. It's hard to compare because the Tacoma was a '97 with a 4-cyl and the FJC is a 2008 with 6-cyl. The Tacoma definately had more room for stuff and was easier to sleep in and did fine off-road. However the FJC is much more comfortable, more powerful and more fun to drive. Apples and oranges.

 

[Wilbur]

I'll give a little input as far as owning an FJC.

I went from a Jeep Cherokee to one. I was looking at FJC and Element, the FJC won because of overall space, ride and felt well built. Granted I'm single, no kids but if I had I think if I did have kids I would have picked a 4runner probably.

Some of biggest selling points for me were interior space, ruggedness (nothing fancy). It honestly reminds me of a standard cab Tacoma with topper. Mpg could be a tad better but not terrible IMHO.

Just weight exactly what you want to do and see what offers best package for that.