I'm going to get the FJ hopefully in the near future. My friends think its pretty cool with its features but they refer to it as the "H2 of the Land Crusier". I see where they get that from.

When comparing the H2 to the H1, the H2 is so much more.... "excentric"....? is that the word? i cant think of the right word... but it seems to have so much more exagerrated lines, fenders, etc etc.

I think that the way the FJ is too. the new 4R and Tundras are approaching that level too....but the FJ being a yota, i cant not like it. call it biased but yeh... i want it.

i guess that the way new car designs are going these days. gone are the old days of the simple straight forward body styles.

 

We've hit the point where the futuristic shapes are finally here;I saw designs/shapes back in the '80s that are now here.

I am a little tired of the retro styling on too many cars but I do appreciate the new Mustangs,the proposed Camaro and Challenger and the FJ is nice without going overboard but I'd like to see what's next instead of what's been.

So,when is the rebirth of the Pinto and I can't wait for the '74 'Stang to come back.

 

I agree completely, it is the H2 of Cruisers... Cruisers have solid Axles, they're rugged and most of the good ones have diesel's. I'll forgive the later models (espescialy my favorite the 70 series...oh baby) for having fixed roofs. But since the new cruiser was going for that "retro" look that's so hip these days, I cannot forgive Toyota for not making it's top removable. It makes no sence.

Also let's not forget that the trucks they're trying to envoke images of were boxy and very much built for a purpose... these new things are made to LOOK like they have a purpose, but I don't think they hold up very well in that respect.

- The original Hummer: Wide, huge ammounts of groundclearence and designed to be a Military vehicle. THey look funny cause styling wasn't an issue. While we've all probably seen the Hummer out-done buy alot of good built rigs, it's still a widely sucessfull military vehicle that deserves as much respect.

- H2: Made to LOOK like the Hummer for No apparent reason other than marketing. Made by the worst car company in teh world, it'
s underpowered, breaks fairly easily and is based on an aging Suburban/Tahoe platform. It's big, it's hard to see out of, and soccer mom's everywhere were dying to get one as were small dicked middleaged men who wanted to seem "macho" just by buying a "big trtuck"

OLD FJ's and really all Cruisers up to the 70 series: Made to work in teh harshest environments. Made to be used like tractors and such. Boxy to fit crap in/on. Solid axles and great reliability. I personaly drove several Cruisers in Australia where i used them for everythign I just mentioned. They are heavyish, but burly and stout. The seem to go forever, and they wheel great.

New FJ: again, made to LOOK like the old original SWB FJ40's but really not made to be anything LIKE the old FJ. No Soft-top, hard to see out of, kinda bulky and bulbous in all the wrong places (like the fenders and the roof) IFS front end... I'm gopnna love to see one SAS'd and all worked up, but it'll still never command the respect of an old FJ ya know...

Cheers

Dave

 

The main reason the new FJ Cruiser makes me twinge is because it's gone from being a rock-crawling, mud-bogging, butt-kicking beast to a "cute-ute". I see it right there with the Rav-4 as far as looks & ruggedness, and that makes me sad.

 

Bass, it is obvious you have not seen it off road yet.

Take a look at the vids on Toyotas site.
This thing is rock crawling stone stock.

Many more vids here too.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=86889

http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/foru...ead.php?t=1100

http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/foru...ead.php?t=1122

It is the most capable off road rig out of the box made by Toyota.
Even the old FJ40 owners are realizing this.
Their old rigs came with no lockers at all, only open diffs.

The FJ has the rear locker and the A Trac which has already been proven off road to work sometimes better than the locker.

 

"bulky and bulbous" those are the words i was looking for! i'mma still get it probably for a few good reasons:

1. i'm a hard core saltwater angler, so it will fit my long rods and tackle
2. its has lots of cool utility features. (built in power invertor, rubberized floors, waterproof seats,etc)
3. its an SUV (to keep my rods safe)
4. they offer it in a manual (unlike the 4R, so stupid!)
5. its a yota!

 

Joshik I feel ya, it has utilitarian features, I really like the Inverter, and the ruberized floors. For you it sounds like a winner. 4x4 and a locker make it a good rig, and yeah it's Yota which should mean it'll last forever. If you're not really into hard-core trailrigs then it's totaly fine. I kinda see it as a Honda Element with real 4x4 underpinnings.

Corey, you sound like you work at a Toyota Dealership, or is your day job working as a pitch man. A good driver can make a nearly stock rig look like the most capable thing ever eh... The truck's just being ridden in, the driver's what get's it up and over

edit: Joshik I just looked at your rig... I'd say throw a cannopy and a locker on/in it and call it good. that's a good looking truck you've got there.

 

I'm stunned that after all of the reviews, ride reports, press releases, spec sheets, photos and videos here that anyone who took the time to see them would have that opinion.

Here's an independent review from Bill Burke, acclaimed off-road instructor, who took a stock FJ over the Rubicon:

http://www.hypemakers.net/cruiser/co...hp?site_id=549

http://www.hypemakers.net/cruiser/co...hp?site_id=549

If you've seen all of this and still think FJ is a cute-ute, there's no point in saying any more because it's the same as saying a SWB Land Cruiser Prado is a RAV too. There's ample evidence that FJ is the real deal and no, I don't work for a dealership. Although I admit that for the first time today I saw another one on the road being driven by an oblivious older bleached blonde on her phone. Not too happy about that, but I'm sure Rubicon owners report similar sightings.

 

Not even close.

H1, unique platform unto itself, not shared with any other truck.

H2, re-bodied Tahoe platform and every bit as capable.

Land Cruiser, in various forms including Prado, the ultimate Toyota SUV.

FJ Cruiser, a re-bodied short-wheelbase Land Cruiser Prado platform and every bit as capable. I've predicted here before that it's a future classic in first issue low VIN #'s and coming SE's and softops that will become collectible. Of course you'll need to keep it 25+ years. Just my 2¢ from a few years watching automotive trends.

 

I finally got to see 'em today while they were doing the work on my rig.

Salesdude said they'd all been spoken for, as well. First impressions:

Mucho gusto!!

Looks tons better in person than the pics. But that massive wall in the back looks like a HUGE blindspot to me.

In a year's time, when the Porkchop Express has met its daily driver requirements, I'd consider one. But only if Toyota offers a soft top This way- best of both worlds- winter beater/trail truck and nice ride to go off roading and still take the woman out in.

 

Turd, cool blog. Hope your shoulder is recovering well.

 

Ive seen a few driving around town down here. Hate the way they look in person. They looked cool in the video but way worse IMO in person. Capable rig, but looks too much like an H2 for me,
My .02

 

i never doubted the FJs capabilities. ive seen the reviews and videos. i think most people that dont know toyota and just see the FJC think "oh its just another retro car ... the H2 of landcruisers....how cute, it comes in a smurf blue!" just by the looks of it... and i would see how they would come to that conclusion.... it's coz they dont know. oh well for them. my only real beef is the styling.... its new... i like it... but can be excessive. but TONS of cool features!

 

thanks for the complement on the yota! it has a locker too... air compressor went out though.... too bad it doesnt look like that anymore. i got rear ended..... TWICE!

first time, no damage to my truck, just a tweaked trailer hitch. i DESTROYED the other car though. say buh bai to the hood, grill, radiator and anything a foot and a 1/2 behind it. hahahah. it was some pontiac sedan.

2nd time, it was a stock chevy 1500. i destroyed its hood, grill, and radiator, but the body is higher so its corners hit my bed corners and smooshed my be d in. sucks.

its time to get a new rig. i beat my yota too much. i dont wheel as much anymore. i do longer trips to the bay area, san diego and mexico to chase tuna and other fish. so its time for a more comfortable truck so my wifey can drive it too

 

Something else to consider...

Yes, FJ40s had solid front axles - but those very same solid axles had U-bolts that would get hung on ANYTHING! In stock form, I'd take IFS over solid axle any day.

Second... While I may not like the smurf blue or the yellow that the new FJs come in... the old 40s were available in similar colors. So even if you don't like smurf blue, it does speak to the days of the 40s.

 

That's great if it performs well. Yippee. My problem with it is it looks like someone took a legomobile & put working parts on it. I just can't stand what they did to the looks of it.

 

I agree. The FJ is a little overdone but I think it looks nice. i didnt really like the H2 when it came out but it was a Hummer. Lets just hope that the FJ doesnt end up with a maintenance record similar to the H2

 

i know a lot of you guys put the H2 down, but have you driven one personlly, could you afford one,my guess is most of the time no, so maybe you just secretly want one, i dont know, but its best not to rip somthing apart you dont really know about. i think that pretty cool for the price, and do handle themselves pretty well, you have to keep in mind they dont have the 120,000 price tag of an H1.

 

o ya, i also think the FJ is sweet, just needs a little lift and tires.

 

Yes I have... an no matter how cool it might look (which is subjective, by the way), the 8mpg or whatever it gets and the suburban platform scare me like Janet Reno with a vibrator.