My issue with the current GX is the hideous new Lexus bumpers. Can that even be fixed with an aftermarket bumper? Soooo much plastic and it hangs down so low.
I could get used to the door. My disco has the door and in a lot of ways I prefer it to the lift gate (split tailgate is preferable).
Thanks for letting me know the GX has a Full-time t-case. If it can take the same aftermarket lockers as a 4Runner, I'll definitely add it to my list.
Also...the manual transmissioned FJ Cruisers are full-time 4wd, but y'all probably knew that. I have 3 kids, so the FJ's rear seating arrangement hurts me, or I'd be all over that too.
The modern FJ is way too small inside and with terrible visibility out of those tiny windows. To me it's like the antithesis to Land Cruisers new to very old that I've ever seen. The old leaf srpung vehicles had nice big windows and upright seating. I rode in the back of a friends new FJ last year and vowed to never do it again and it was only a 30 minute trip.
FJ would be cool with the top chopped off though
People with swing out rear doors learn to utilize their benefits like mounting folding work surfaces and enjoy that the spare tire is already in a smart location without having to buy bumper swings, etc. It's even quite convenient to have a tire mounted bike carrier with all of it swinging out of the way together.
I lived with Disco 1 and II doors for years then got an LR3 with its split tailgate. There are in fact some negatives to the tailgate approach. On the swing door you can easily have a RTT open over the rear to become your roof and create a room with an annex. Most tailgates open too tall which requires the RTT to be mounted so high to still work there it's silly or to just mount it opening over the sides or front. Then if you want a rear area space created, you now have to add awnings which for most people then also requires a substantial rack system. This all adds weight, cost, complexity, etc.
My Hannibal awning mounts to a Hannibal rack. I love how they work and it has side walls to create an enclosed area from wind for cooking, rain, snow, direct sun, privacy but the rack, awning, a few lights under its front edge and the 3 Yakima bars it sits on weighs almost 100 lbs. I have recently located the RTT to the front with some overhang such that 1/2 the rack is used and 1/2 empty allowing some "porch" space or for other items like a chainsaw inside a case. However, it would be slick and much less roof weight if all that were removed but RTT just on 2 bars and opening over the rear. I might be able to do that if I remove the ladder which is mounted to the upper hatch.
