Help me out here. I've run the pros and cons against my priorities and am having a tough time deciding. The candidates are a Tacoma TRD DC 6M/T or FJ Cruiser. I know, apples and oranges, but which will be a better DD doubling as a camping/fishing/biking rig and, most importantly, which will have better resale?

The last part is a tough one. Both will have incentives, a little later for FJC. Both have the same drivetrains with similar chassis. Handling, acceleration, braking and off-road ability go to FJC. Ride, comfort, versatility and I suspect resale go to Tacoma. One is ugly as sin, the other is mighty fine with greater color choices in and out. One is built in Tahara, the other in Tijuana. I'm guessing a $2K-$3K price advantage to FJC, but will that matter when compared to one of the best resale trucks out there?

You know, after thinking about, maybe it would make more sense to just get another 4Runner, but a Sport V-8 this time. Talk about great resale, and there are rumors of some GX trickle-down features coming in '06.

I'm bringing this up because I order fleet and must decide by mid-July for the August production order, October production, November arrival for Taco or 4Runner if I go that way. Your thoughts are welcome...

 

the taco is probably a more friendly dd and will have a higher resale as its 40 years newer....

unless the fj is totally rebuilt and sold to a collector

the fj in my opinion is cooler and can be built up much mroe readily for offroading than a taco dc....


i would get both if i had the $

dcab for family/dd

fj40 for me/wheeling

 

wait till the FJC is out and then see how you like it
the taco wil probably be more practical, but not as cool
the resale on the FJC can be much higher if the market likes it

 

Jim, the FJ Cruiser is a new model rolling out 2/06. There's a sticky thread about it up top. No family to haul around, just the dog and I.

Andries, if they were only making 10K FJC, I'd definitely agree. But they're making 40K the first year and possibly increasing after that. I'm sure the product planners know what they're doing, they hardly ever make a forecasting mistake.

 

ah.... get the dc... then you get a bed too and still can use some of the utility

the fjc looks ok, but i wouldnt drive one.... to goofy looking for me, liek the honda element

 

I'd get the 4runner, the taco holds its value, but not like the runner does.

 

i'd go for the a 4runner or the fj. if you go camping or need to sleep in your truck, at least you'll have shelter.

 

I'd say go with the FJ. Nobody knows he final specs, but by the looks of it there will be a rear locker and traction control on the top models. It come stock with 32" tires so you will probably be able to drop in 33" with no sweat. Overhangs and wheelbase are better for offroad than the Taco and 4Runner. SO it should be ready for good wheeling with minimal effort.

The only issues are that nobody really knows how big it will be inside and whether the market will like the styling. If the market likes the styling it will probably hold its value better than either 4Runner or Taco. The problem is that there will be an initial rush for the FJ, wait it out and then see what deals you can get. It will also tell you if it hit the spot with the market. There is a difference between selling it and a rush for it.

 

if its just you and your dog I'd go for the Taco. I love mine, I rarely use the passenger seat so it would be dumb for me to haul 3+ un used seats around. Plus I have the bed to move stuff with, and being a home owner I could never live without a pickup truck. It makes life soooo much simpler.

4runner is nice and I'd love to own one but I couldnt justify having an SUV quite yet. Since I dont have a family and such. V8 4runner will cost you 10k more then a loaded taco. You could always go with the double cab if you did want more room.

As far as resale, I've been comparing the Taco's to 4runners and its true you get more back from a 4runner but only because you paid more. A more expensive vehicle produced by a company will have a higher resale then a less expensive vehicle produced by the same company. Well as long as the vehicles are of the same design basically.

 

telling someone who wants a taco or fj to get a 4runner isnt helpful cause the 4runner is so much more expensive than both

id say wait till you see the fjc in real life.. then the choice may be easier one way or the other.

 

 

its was the original poster idea to get a 4runner...he said it in the very first post...


EDIT : Oops I see someone already pointed that out. My bad...hehe

 

yup, my bad, sorry

 

screw them both!


get an H3


you know, they are accualy pretty badass vehicles

options include 33in tires, lockers, FULL underbody protection and a winch i think


...get the FJ

 

Kinda looks like you wanted a 6speed. Can't get that in a 4Runner.

 

For laughs I went to the closest Toyota dealer this afternoon for a test drive. I took out a 'Runner V-8 Sport in Galactic Grey Mica. Wow, I'd forgotten what a refined drive it is. With the VVT-i and X-REAS, it's hard to resist at the price. Without even breathing hard they came down to $29,500 because of the $1,000 cash back on V-8's only that expires at month end. They said that was $500 over invoice. They were sold out of DC 6M/T Tacos. The green salesman, who was filling time until he got the call back from the local police department that's hiring, hadn't heard of FJ Cruiser. It was a fun test drive, he kept encouraging me to go faster so I did, figuring he could talk us out of a ticket.

 

refinment is nice but I kind of like just old fashioned simplicity...all these gadgets on new cars are just more things to break...

BT, did that v8 runner come with a standard tranny? or can you only get them with the 6?

oh - and I say go with the Taco! 6 speed, V6

 

GA, all 4th Gens are A/T only in the U.S. Grrr...

 

oh wow is that crappy.

 

I know what you mean by simple.Traction used to be controled by your right foot now it has a computer.