Which Toyota would you pick?

[Redline]

Exactly what a buddy told after his test drive with his girlfriend. I didn't think it could be that bad until I drove one myself.

I wanted to love that truck. I waited for one to show up at the local dealer. Went down there like a giddy school girl.

Then I sat in it.


Its a nice truck but the visibility I love with my old 4Runner is not there. You sit in a hole. everthing feels like it is at shoulder level. Don't get me worng....It is really nice but I was very disapointed that the from the seat veiw was so bad concidering it being hyped as such an off road monster.

That settled my desire for a FJ80 hopefully by spring as a DD for the wife and family EXPO truck.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Exactly what a buddy told after his test drive with his girlfriend. I didn't think it could be that bad until I drove one myself.

Feels like you are looking over a 6ft privacy fence on your tip toes doesn't it?

 

[AZ '83 fj-40]

really I hadn't heard that, is it that bad cause i'm 6'4" so maybe that would compensate for some of it?

 

[Ryanmb21]

really I hadn't heard that, is it that bad cause i'm 6'4" so maybe that would compensate for some of it?

I don't think it matter how tall you are, the windows are only so big. I thought sitting in the driver's seat gave me the same perspective as wearing football helmet.

 

[tacollie]

I would try to put some money into the 40. We used to take my brothers skiing all the time. We did 45-55 all the way up and back whether the roads were bad or not. I got passed that, what I hated was the heaters suck in them. I would put on all my gear on and get in the car and wear it all until we got back to the house. With a decent heater and some good seats the drive from Colorado Springs to Monarch wasn't that bad. I only save about 20 min one way in the taco. If you are worried about gear storage get some racks. Eat the gas mileage. The extra money you spend on getting, maintaining, and insuring a newer car will cost more. For now anyway.

Drive the FJ Cruiser and then make your own decisions. The visibility sucks but it does bother me since it sucks in my taco with gear in my topper.

 

[Redline]

I agree. I'm 6'2, like to sit tall and straight in the saddle, and didn't care for it (though I thought the new Tacoma seating was a little low too). This drove me to test a 4Runner with power adjustable seat and a V8.

I don't think it matter how tall you are, the windows are only so big. I thought sitting in the driver's seat gave me the same perspective as wearing football helmet.

 

[AZ '83 fj-40]

I think I really need to get out and drive some of these trucks. The fj cruiser seemed like a cost effective way to a new car. From what a lot of people ive talked to have said, I'm strongly considering a 4 runner. My dads friend was taking about an older one because of power, lift, and some design features. can't seem to recall what year it was, maybe 99 or 00. I also like the '04-'06 but that seems to be harder to find at a low price.

thanks for the help,

Brendan

 

[Jacket]

You might be able to find a 99 or 00 with a factory rear locker, which would be a huge bonus. I prefer that 3rd gen body style over the new ones, although the 4th gen has grown on me over time. I wouldn't call the 3.4 "powerful", unless you compare it to its predecessor It's a nice and capable engine.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I think I really need to get out and drive some of these trucks. The fj cruiser seemed like a cost effective way to a new car.
Brendan

Not sure what you mean by "cost effective." Last time I checked (which was several months ago) you couldn't touch an FJC in CO for under $25k. And that's used! New ones are $28k+.

But you can get a 4runner for less than that, a lot less if you're willing to go to the older models (which are also easier to find parts and accessories for.)

I don't know what your financial situation is, but to me $28k is anything but "cost effective."

 

[tacollie]

You can get a base model for $24k. Thats what my buddy paid in October for a 4wd auto 08 here in colorado Springs. That is bare bones. No sliders, roof rack, locker, or atrac.

 

[AZ '83 fj-40]

Not sure what you mean by "cost effective." Last time I checked (which was several months ago) you couldn't touch an FJC in CO for under $25k. And that's used! New ones are $28k+.

But you can get a 4runner for less than that, a lot less if you're willing to go to the older models (which are also easier to find parts and accessories for.)

I don't know what your financial situation is, but to me $28k is anything but "cost effective."


I was finding some FJ's for 17 to 20. 17 seems like a pretty good deal for an '07.

I haven't really found any 4runners for anything less than that. Well 4runners that are under 10 years old. It's been hard to find a '99 or '00 which would seem to be ideal.

Thank you for bringing up the point of CO. I was wondering about how much of a difference there is in car prices, as well as registration, if there is an advantage to doing it in CO, I would go that route. If there really isn't that much of an advantage to CO, I would just buy in AZ.

 

[Ryanmb21]

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=139047#post139047

 

[Grim Reaper]

You can get a base model for $24k. Thats what my buddy paid in October for a 4wd auto 08 here in colorado Springs. That is bare bones. No sliders, roof rack, locker, or atrac.

atrac is a switch. They all have it but they don't all have the switch to activate it.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/archive/index.php/t-85568.html

 

[Cackalak Han]

atrac is a switch. They all have it but they don't all have the switch to activate it.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/archive/index.php/t-85568.html

Wow, I feel bad for those that shelled out $$ for it.

 

[durango_60]

I'm really in a quandry as to why a college freshman is considering anything other than a kick a$% 40. You've got plenty of time when your old to worry about things like comfort and speed. Do you want to completely blend into the crowd with a newer fjc/4r/taco or be the guy with the "cool old jeep."