Courtesy Autospies

This thing is growing on me.

 

Interior looks nice, I like it...why did I get the 4th gen

 

I like that, almost tempted to get one in the future.
I wonder what the price will be?

Up to now, I have not paid to much attention to them.

 

cool pics, first i have seen of the 6 spd

 

I wonder where they got their inspiration from?

 

I dont like the color matched fascia.. unless its painted metal like they used to be.. i think it looks cheap..

 

I like it, I can't wait to test drive one! I wonder if it will have the exact same feel of the new Taco's?

 

Corey, I've been ambivalent to the retro design until recently. Then a couple of weeks ago it hit me that, good or bad, it looks nothing like any other SUV out there. Preliminary ride and drive reports are exceptional. It ran the Rubicon recently and had no problems at all bone stock. It's getting rave reviews from the few magazine gurus who have spent a week at a time with it. Apparently both on and off road behavior is superior to both Tacoma and 4Runner. The short wheelbase and 4" wider track must help both ways.

When I talked with some of the TMS suits directly involved with FJC, they were very excited about it becoming the Toyota image car near term even though it won't be advertised anywhere. Sales will be word of mouth and from demo drives at enthusiast gatherings by professional off-road driving instructors. Twenty were hired for various nationwide events to show FJ talents.

The price I was told was $25K loaded. But I'm not sure if they meant that it's loaded as a base model (it is), or with options like rear locker, alloy wheels and A/T. If they meant base truck, add $1K for A/T, $400 for locker, $800 for wheels and you're looking at $27,200 for a limited production piece.

The intriguing bit I heard was the coming Special Edition. I posted a link to an Edmunds article confirming it earlier today. It'll be more than monotone black paint. It sounds like the right kind of off-road bits like upgraded shocks, wheels and tires. It should be the most desirable model from a pure versatility and enjoyment perspective, and resale should be strong.

Production of any FJC will only be slightly over one per dealer per month. I know it's a niche vehicle, but I think they may have a home run on their hands. Easy to say on YotaTech, I'm probably in FJC heat and never second guess the brilliant product planners, but there's tremendous interest in cyberspace about this rig. If you're interested, get your deposit down now, especially if you're considering the Special Edition. My 2¢, but I put it where my mouth is and am #1 in line at my dealer for an SE.

 

Still don't like it, I can't stand the way most new vehicles look, at all.

Maybe in 20 years though it won't be all that bad compared to what we will have then though...


Lamm

 

I kinda like it in black.

 

Extra switch blanks! Alas!

 

I REALLY don't like those thick A pillars. The ones on my F150 cause bad blind spots in the worst place, and those on the FJ are HUGE!

I can already start a project list... lose the tilt-o-whirl ball and replace it with an altimeter... add a console arm rest... find out why the rear upper interior panels are 11" thick.... lift... tires...

But otherwise, even though the styling is... different... I still think I'd like one. Actually, I think they blew it on the styling, but I like it because it IS different. Another luxo box on wheels that looks exactly like all the others in the soccor field parking lot is never going to get my money...

I could be in love with the H3 if it had some power (it's horrible - slower than granpas golf cart...) The FJ should be an exceptional rig to drive with that engine and a 6 speed!

 

i think it looks awesome! can't wait to buy a used one in 5 years.

 

Indeed.
What's with the A Trac switch? What's it do?
Or perhaps my real question is what does A-Trac do?

 

Short answer: Yet another nanny system to save us all.

Long answer: From Canadian Driver magazine:

"...Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) technologies. Working closely with the antilock brake system and the electronic engine control module (ECM), A-TRAC uses sensors and actuators to apply braking and restore traction to a slipping wheel. The ECM regulates engine power to eliminate the propensity to overwhelm the remaining drive wheels. This system is automatically deactivated when the 4-wheel drive low-range setting is selected."

I first experienced the system in a '00 Land Cruiser and several other Toyotas since then. It's standard throughout the SUV line and available on most trucks now, part of the STAR Safety System.

IMHO, it's dreadful, too intrusive and worse case will bring the truck to a stop on a very low grip surface. Even in moderate grip surfaces it will intervene, like when pulling away from an intersection and rounding a corner in the rain. The truck will slow noticeable momentarily, then take off. The problem is those few moments can let approaching traffic that at first seemed safely distant become hazardously close. I'll take an LSD, preferable a Torsen, over A-TRAC, or even open diffs and a little wheelspin.

It looks like FJC has a manual disable switch. Hopefully it works for both 4Hi and 4Lo, or better yet a delete option when ordered with RR locker.

 

That's what I was afraid of.
I HATE systems like that.
Toyota has said the FJ will come standard with this stuff, and imports have never allowed any form of custom ordering (therefore no delete option) in the monthly preferencing. Hopefully they decide to disinclude it on a base model. Doubt it from the way it appears they intend to market the rig. But it that's a defeat switch it will be okay. My worry is that the computer wouldn't let you change tire sizes without screwing up everything, because if I bought one of these things lift and bigger tires would be on it as fast as I could gather together parts....

 

does that mean it has a built in inverter? both 100W and 400W?

 

Chris, I think it means 400W peak with engine running, 100W continuous on battery, or something like that.

Preliminary specs seem to indicate the base model won't have A-TRAC, and that it might become optional with the top two packages depending on region ordering practices.

Then again, the marketing and legal types may insist on 100% STAR Safety System at the last minute.

Subject to change, not all models, options and accessories will be available at intro and will likely vary by region:

Models
4702 - FJ 4X2 WAGON (AUTO)
4703 - FJ 4X4 WAGON (6SPD MAN)
4704 - FJ 4X4 WAGON ( 5spd AUTO)

Colors
02JR-WHITE/TITANIUM MET.
02JT-WHITE/BLACKCHERRY PEARL
02JU-WHITE/SUN FUSION
02JV-WHITE/VOODOO BLUE
02JW-WHITE/BLACK DIAMOND

Individual Options
FE- 50 State Emissions
GY- Side Curtain airbags
AL-17" Aluminum Wheels w/Spare
DL-Rear Differential locks
RB- Running Boards

Packages
CQ Package*
UP Package**
UR Package***
TRD Package****

Accessories
Alloy fuel door
Alloy Wheel w/ BFG Tires
All Weather Cargo Mat
All Weather Floor mats
Arm Rest Passenger side
Ashtray
Brush Guard
Cargo Cover
Cargo Net
Cargo Tote
Carpeted Cargo Mat
Carpeted Floor Mat
Door Sill Enhancements
Driving Lights- Off-Road
Emergency Assistance Kit
Exhaust System - TRD
Exhaust Tip
First Aid Kit
Front Skid Plate
Hood Protector
License Plate Frame
Navigation System - GPS (Quest 2)
Off-Road Shocks - TRD
Read Door Storage
Rock Rails
Roof Rack
Roof Rack Mounted Off-Road Lights
RR Attachments - Bike
RR Attachments - Ski/Board
Running Boards
Satellite Radio - XM or Sirius
Spare Tire Cover
Sport Shift Knobs
Tail Lamp Guards
Touch Up Paint
Towing Accessories
Towing Receiver Hitch w/ Wire Harness
VIP security w/ motion detection
Wheel Locks (5 piece set)


*CQ PKG INCLUDES:
-Keyless Entry
-Power Outside Mirrors, w/ image lights
-Rear Wiper
-Cruise Control
-Daytime running lights
-Back sonar
-rear privacy glass

**UP: UPGRADE PKG #1 INCLUDES:
-Requires CQ
-Multi-Info Display (Dash mounted trip pc, compass, altimeter
-2-1 audio 6-disc changer, equalizer, D-Pillar speakers, 400W Inverter, Headliner Speaker, (No Sub)
-AL: 17" alloys
-Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel w/ audio & cruise controls
-Metallic like shifter
-Rear Differential Lock
-Color Keyed (exterior color) interior door trim inserts
-Active traction VSC installation rate TBD

***UR UPGRADE PKG#2 INCLUDES:
-UP and adds a rear wall mounted subwoofer

**** TRD Package (Planned)
-Off-Road Tuned Shocks
-Off-Road "All-Terrain" BF Goodrich Tires
-Performance Exhaust
-Rock Rails

Edit: I was looking through my clipboard file and found that the above info is from another site, but the way I save pages it doesn't say which one. Attributed to ???

 

Also, the switch leads me to believe you can disable ATRAC, if you don't like it.

 

I want one.