FJc > Taco > 4runner

[Tranman]

I saw a Blue FJ driving around my neighborhood today while I was going to get lunch. Hunted him down to look at the color. Freakin awesome! Hadn't seen a blue in person before. He was in the neighborhood looking for a house to buy.

For those of you who are still considering a Taco or 4Runner. Just my thoughts.....

Yeah so here's my dilemna. A taco or an FJ (but can't have both).
FJC:
+: doors are heavier, solid body feel (tank like), feels peppier than taco, has the new "gotta have it" appeal, pwr seats, short vehicle (easy parking at mall), more ground clearance stocked (for speed bumps), looks even better lifted (than taco IMO), interior plastic seems better.
-: No truck bed. Have to use a trailer for pontoon float/kayak., have to wait (possibly 2-6 mnths after I sell my F-150), $29-31K (not a big deal, but still 4-6k more than taco), 4x4 shifter (not a switch or push button.)

Taco:
+: Avail. now, at least $2k off MSRP ($24K loaded?, 6-7K cheaper),
has a truck bed (home depot crap, float tube and kayak without need for a trailor). smoother and quieter on hwy., 4x4 switch, 4 drs, better visibility compared to FJ, looks great lifted.
-: doors feel light (lighter than FJ). Doesn't seem to have as much pep. Doesn't have FJ appeal or cool factor but holds its own by all rights, seat doesn't raise, steering wheel tilts a little low for me at the highest setting, dbl cab short bed is still a long ass vehicle (harder to park at the mall , interior plastic seems cheaper.

4Runner: (I placed last, how ironic)
+: Avail now, $4K off MSRP ($32K for a comparable one to FJ, but with a V8)
has sunroof, rear glass pwr window, 4 doors, can sleep in back , more window square footage (better visibility) , slightly peppier with v8, smoother and quieter on hwy. comparable in length to FJ (better than Taco)
-: terrible body style, low ground clearance, cabin not as roomy as FJ, lacks appeal of FJ, doors are light like taco, lacks truck bed of taco.

Benefits of waiting (or so I am persuading myself into believing):
-wait to sell truck instead of getting hosed on a trade = more $ for DP or aftermarket stuff.
-may be able to get FJ below MSRP in a couple of months.
-Toyota may surprise us by summer with launch of new colors for SE, ie tan or sema green (I can hope can't I)
-Patience is a virtue.

It's driving me crazy (pun not intended), but I am waiting until I sell the truck. That could take months! and I don't give a crap about virtues anyhow! Dear God, please send a buyer for the F-150 my way soon, please. I promise I'll be good......

[Pocket Twinkie]

Why do you say 4runner is 4k off MSRP and Taco is only 2k?

[Bostonian1976]

FJC = pwr seats? Check your notes

[Tranman]

Those prices are what my local dealer(s) gave me. Whoops on the pwr seats for the FJ. As long as I can move the driver's seat up I'm happy.

[JFF]

Tranman - you can throw that kayak on the roof too, and add to the Wow factor, a friend of mine wanted to mount an old surf board on the roof of my PT crusier when they first came out, he said, it belonged there.

[Tranman]

I like sit on top kayaks for fishing. The lightest ones are about 50lbs. Pain in the arse to get over your head and onto a lifted FJ. Much easier to drag onto a trailer (like the Pulmor trailer - cool!). Even if, I'd only put it up there when I was using it. couldn't imagine someone riding around with it all the time. That may be more shameful than the Bling bling poser mobile!

[Bostonian1976]

Tranman previously said:

I like sit on top kayaks for fishing. The lightest ones are about 50lbs. Pain in the arse to get over your head and onto a lifted FJ. Much easier to drag onto a trailer (like the Pulmor trailer - cool!). Even if, I'd only put it up there when I was using it. couldn't imagine someone riding around with it all the time. That may be more shameful than the Bling bling poser mobile!

get some Hully rollers.......Yakima I believe.

They are wheeled at the back, and a cradle at the front to hold the yak. all you do is get the front of the 'yak in the wheels, push straight up, and have it land on the front cradle. Makes everything a LOT easier....

[Tranman]

Cool. Will check them out. I like doing things the easy way...like sittin' over the seat belt to negate the chime I guess I have an odd sense of humor cuz it makes me laugh thinking about it.

[Percy]

I went Taco and honestly, it's got more than enough pep to keep you in traffic court... are you driving the 6 speed or the automatic?

For me, the FJ was my first choice, I just couldn't get past not having a bed and the price of the Taco was great. I went with an Access Cab, not a double-cab. The double cab is just way to damn long and the bed is useless on the double cab.

Either way, out of those 3 you're gettin' a Yota... nothing to worry about. However, had I opted for the FJ, I would have already had to rent a trailer - twice.

[Lost Cosmonaut]

Manual shifter for the 4x4 is a + btw. I don't trust push-button or knob-turn 4x4 systems, plus they are for soccermom-mobiles.

- LC