Was looking for a unique vehicle that's tall, reliable & wasn't a truck (read: suv). The FJ fit the bill. As to why 4x2 over 4x4 for me? Simple...I'll never go offroading in any way, shape or form unless you consider going over a curb offroading. As much as I want to go offroading, I'm way too paranoid about scratches, dents & bent/cracked suspension parts. Besides, it snows/ice once a year (if that) here in Dallas. Now if I lived in an area where it snows often then yeah I'd mos def get a 4x4.
This is the "first" vehicle that wrigman has not been scrupulous about scratches and pinstriping! (although when nala got a bath this week and waxed, he did try to rub some out! but it did not work!) so she has some trail scars! and the first lil door ding she got, he did in the garage! i am usually the one to put all the dings and scratches on the cars, and used to create tension, too! but not now!!! the rockrails are great door protecters with the lift, only higher trucks can get us! i have been parking her in a busy parking lot for 2 years now and no one has got me yet! knock on wood! I think the fun factor has out weighed the scratch/dent fear! you should give it a little try! my .02
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07 FJ, 2wd, modded pre-runner, Click the link below for Nalas build up thread:
Heh Sandabbe - my wife would talk on the phone, leaning on the fender of the Mach 1. Man, she got barked at. That was a show car, and a daily driver. But when she leans on the FJ, it's all good. She can lean on it, stand on the running boards, whatever floats her boat! She saw me looking at her leaning on it last week, and got off of it. She was really surprised when I smiled and said, "Go ahead! You can lean on it" and gave her a smooch. As long as she doesn't take a crow bar to it......
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2007 4X2 FJ, Black Diamond, "Frankenstein", AT5, with option 1 - bought 7/20/07, 2008 Side Visors, Passenger Arm Rest, OEM sliders, iPod Connection, 6" Bazooka Tube Subwoofer, Bandi Mount + 4 foot Fyrstik Antenna and Midland hand-held 40 Channel CB, factory bling plate, 2008 Trail Teams Edition factory front and rear suspension, side window vent visors....Oh, and 4 stickers rated at 10 RWHP each!
I have already owned several 4x4 vehicles, from fullsize trucks to jeeps to a samurai, and I no longer hunt, I don't travel off road ever, beyond the occasional dirt or gravel road, and I no longer have the time to head up to tellico on a regular basis like I did years ago. Georgia is flat where I live , and mud bogging is just no fun to wash up afterwards, and is just excessive wear and tear at this point to me. 2wd and the locker is more than enough for my needs. My Fj is a Pavement pounding mobile stereo containment device.
The 4x4 is more capable, no doubt. I didn't go for it because I knew the mod bug would bite even harder. At least I'm not tempted to test the limits of traction in mud, snow or other other fun terrain.
because my old truck was a 4x2 manual and it was lots of fun. I have never needed 4x4 for snowboarding trips, mountain biking trips or any mild off roading I did. I just wanted a new vehicle to replace my truck and hold more stuff inside instead of outside (friends always want to use your truck for moving and crap).
also, zoshyii my college roomate, made me change my mind about an sti and convinced me I just had to have an FJ. he also convinced me I would get in to bigger trouble with a 4x4...and now that I use my FJ offroad I get myself into enough trouble with a 4x2.
__________________ 2007 4x2 black diamond, "Shadow"
GOT PINSTRIPES?
convenience package, tow package, TRD CAI, KC Daylighters, Demello front skid, Gibson catback, upgrade 4x4 front coil overs, Kenwood sound system, Thule tray bike rack, black out door handles and mirrors, blacked out bumpers and bezel, TRD floor mats, bronzed rims, Royal Purple oil.
silverado canyon, cleghorn, hungry valley, ride along at Mojave
Bought it for the wife, and only needs 4x2 in non-snow Texas.
HOWEVER, since we got the FJ, I want one for me. I was going to get a 4x4 and mod it to the hilt (thanks Forum!), but then I got thinking, when would I "need" four wheel drive? I've gone offroad a lot, and never "needed" four wheel drive, even when hunting in the north (that is, I never got stuck). I guess my needs aren't as bold as a lot of people in this forum, but it's been fun to play offroad in the FJ and with the rear lockers I'm especially good. I guess another way of looking at it is that I don't see me getting in a situation with the FJ that I would NEED 4-wheel drive. That's just me.
BTW, there's more to the FJ than 4x4 4x2 drive: rugged construction, ground clearance, interior that can old up to messes, roof rack, and most of the mods don't matter if you have 4x4 or 4x2.
I never "needed" to engage 4-wheel drive when I had it on other vehicles. I went offroad plenty, but not hard-core. Just camping, fishing, and to get away.
My personal motto is that if I need 4 wheel drive to get thru a situation, I probably shouldn't be there in the first place...
Here in north Florida there is nowhere we would want to go that we can't go with a 4X2. I had a 4X4 in the past and used it exactly once in four years(and I was somewhere I had no business being). Beach launching my boat with the rear locker is as hard as it gets, and as others have said tires are more important on sand than 4X4 capability. I'm more like J-Rock! in that I don't want to mess up my rig off-roading...just too anal to do that to my vehicle...however, my wife offroads her BC with no problems...just need to steer clear of deep mud. The lower initial purchase price, increased gas mileage, and lower maintenance requirements all added up to a smarter buying decision for us. If we had to worry about snow that would be another story. We both love our FJs and we plan to keep them for many years to come...and I am also happy to report that the new meds are really helping with the mod addiction...at least for now.
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Voodoo Blue '07 Prerunner
CQ, UP1, OEM Roof Rack, OEM Skid Plate, OEM Rock Rails, OEM Brushguard w/Hella 500 Aux Lights, OEM Airdam w/Hella 500 Lights, Tail light guards, Gobi Ladder, Five 17" BBS Wheels w/Scorpion ATRs, 4X4 Coil Springs and TRD Bilstein Shocks, TRD CAI, TRD Exhaust, RR Diff Lock, Reese Hitch, FJ Brushed Door Sill Guards, Passenger Armrest, ipod, tinted front windows.
As much as I want to go offroading, I'm way too paranoid about scratches, dents & bent/cracked suspension parts. Besides, it snows/ice once a year (if that) here in Dallas. Now if I lived in an area where it snows often then yeah I'd mos def get a 4x4.
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