I was at the Toyota dealership. They told me that the FJ had a higher resale value than any Toyota in history. I saw an article that showed FJ at #1 with 80% where others were all at 50%.
So why is FJ so special? All it is is a SUV body on a Tacoma frame. Kinda like the H2 is a Tahoe chassis and the H3 is a Trailblazer chassis.
what is the big deal here? What sets FJ apart from other Toyotas?
It's unique. It still has a lever shifted transfer case instead of a knob. It's built on a Prado frame. It pays homage to the original FJ40. It's a great off road vehicle. It doesn't look like every other squashed egg on the road.
The FJ is a niche type vehicle with low production numbers that is fast approaching cult status.
Like any true off-road capable SUV, there are a lot of the FJ's that get mod'ed and off-roaded.
That creates a couple of different types of vehicles available for the aftermarket- you have the stock units that are like they were when new and the ones that have been mod'ed.
The limited production numbers make both groups of trucks worth more than they would otherwise be worth if the FJ was available in the aftermarket in the same numbers that there are Jeep Wranglers.
IMO, when they stop production, the value of the used FJ will improve the same way the LandRover Defender turned into a classic when they stopped importing them to the US Market in 1997.
A low miles Defender sells today for about what it cost new in the late 1990's….gm
The FJ Cruiser and the Land Cruiser Prado are even build on the same assembly line at the same time. Besides being a bit shorter overall than the 5 door Prado, I think mechanically they are pretty much the same. I never understood why they didn't call it the Land Cruiser FJ - it sure would help the sales if people knew they are getting a Land Cruiser.
I know this is true, because that's what made me buy mine, as soon as I found out that it was a Land Cruiser, I had to have one! I always thought they were some sort of cross over or something, I never paid much attention to them till a friend of mine got one. Toyota definitely did not do themselves any favour in the marketing department for these things!
I had a 2010 and put probably 10 grand in mods. Without going into the depressing story, I traded it for a 2013 4Runner. It was nice, mature, showed me MPG's in the dashboard. It had heated mirrors, turn signals, leather heated seats, and a badass radio with Nav. I never smiled, not the day I got it, not once for the month I had it. I went to the dealer and told them I wanted my FJ back and I don't care what it cost. Well, they sold my 2010 so I went to another dealer (I told the first one I don't care about cost, shouldn't have said that) I negotiated and haggled, bought a 2013. I smile all the time while driving. The FJ is me in vehicle form. There are two kinds of people when it comes to the FJ, those that love it and those that don't understand it. I have not met anyone who likes it or hates it a little.
EDIT
After writing this, I just offered to go get some milk from the store. There is still snow on the roads and it will be a blast.
ha, ha ... FJC's stir it up, all right ... I was recently on another, to remain nameless Forum where one of the "jedi masters" so to speak i.e. a gizzillion posts, took someone to task because the someone had the audacity (or innocence) to refer to his truck as an "FJ" ... the jedi master said don't call your truck an FJ ... then went into this tirade that Toyota had basically sullied "FJ" and "Land Cruiser" along with the rich tradition by using FJ as a name on those plastic, pretender FJCs ... he would be apoplectic if he read this thread ... lol
to each their own, he can think what he wants ... I went in to buy a V8 4Runner and drove out with an FJC ... have never looked back ... I remember your angst at the time, thorncse, when you dealt your 2010 and agree 100 per cent that I can't wait to get in and drive mine ... it does everything I want it to do and then some, with civility ...
:cheers:
I NEVER post anything on this forum cause everything has already been said (mostly).
...but I recently test drove a new TSS tundra, fully loaded, even kept it over night. Awesome truck, and yet I couldn't part with my FJ. I know it sounds lame but there is not another Offroader available like the FJ Cruiser, I have a sad love affair with mine. Slow? Yes. MPG? Don't ask.
Side note: Jim Norton Toyota in Lawton/ FT. Sill had called me every other day since that visit. Even offered to buy it outright for KBB (22,500ish). I can't do it, it's a part of my family now. I recently bought my wife a fully loaded Venza, very comfortable, she loves it. I drive the FJ no matter where I'm going, I see the Venza in the drive way and walk right past it. So... there's that. Sorry I couldn't help with your question.:cheers:
If you want an off road capable SUV in stock form, there aren't many options. A Rubicon or a FJ....both have pretty good resale values. And like Bigguy said, it's based on the Land Cruiser Prado, so you're getting a solid dependable machine with all the off road goodies you need.
It is unique. It is extremely more well built than a Jeep or another other off road ready vehicle that isn't a good $15K + more in cost out the gate. I thought it was on the 4 runner frame, not Tacoma or prado??
The FJ is extremely well built, built to be worked on far more than an other vehicle that I know of, most now are built to last the warranty so you'll be back to buy another one or spend thousands fixing it.
The Toyota cars are bland IMHO.
It is unique. It is extremely more well built than a Jeep or another other off road ready vehicle that isn't a good $15K + more in cost out the gate. I thought it was on the 4 runner frame, not Tacoma or prado??
The FJ is extremely well built, built to be worked on far more than an other vehicle that I know of, most now are built to last the warranty so you'll be back to buy another one or spend thousands fixing it.
The Toyota cars are bland IMHO.
They stopped giving away the scale model with purchase :mecry:
The FJ Cruiser and the Land Cruiser Prado are even build on the same assembly line at the same time. Besides being a bit shorter overall than the 5 door Prado, I think mechanically they are pretty much the same. I never understood why they didn't call it the Land Cruiser FJ - it sure would help the sales if people knew they are getting a Land Cruiser.
I was just having a similar conversation with a friend. He ask me, you have had Chevy, Ford, Tacoma, and Jeep, so whats so good about an FJ? Of all those vehicles, the FJ is the one that I have done the most off-roading with up here in the Eastern Sierra. Why? Because I have confidence it will get me there and back. Often times we are 50 miles out from the nearest services. My wife goes along on all our outings because she says "I just love the FJ." Nuf said.
Im a newer owner, so I can just add a few things from what has been said already (which are all good points) - The FJ is solid, feels like you are in tank when driving it, comes stock with a real nice exhaust note - a nice low growl, Toyota reliability - you can see posts on here where people are already clocking 150-200k miles with no problems, love how it has the 4wd stick and not a push button, can off road with the best of them, voltmeter, tachometer, the attention to detail is pretty good with this one...so many other things. Im sure you will hear more answers!
Made me cool with yellow! Comes from a legendary heritage. When I first saw it in Petersons 4wheel mag I told the wife I wanted one, never thought that would come true. Still sorta miss my taco thought, but the FJ is a good cure!
I changed out of a very basic old, beat up, Cherokee and I like basic vehicles that are utilitarian. The fewer electronics, the more reliable. The FJ is bigger than the Cherokee, sits higher, but now I have more goodies and the GF will not be embarrassed being seen in it. New owner of a used one and so far I am pretty impressed. Still concerned about the apron buckling but don't plan on doing much off road where, IMHO, the frame torsion flexing is probably the problem. I do like being able to drive when others cannot.
Now, why so special? No clue. Before I researched them and before I bought one, I thought they were kind of funky with a retro vibe and would have rather had the older version but it is nice to have all of the comforts of a newer vehicle and the capability of a frame-on off-roader. So far, at less than a week ownership, I am impressed with everything except gas mileage, but then, nothing I own has good gas mileage and I knew this going in. The RX8, the Cherokee, and the FJ have about the same gas mileage. I don't commute so it is not an issue so I don't really care.
I expect this to last a long time. I owned the Cherokee for 11-12 years and put on 66K and expect another 100K out of the FJ at a minimum, meaning I will have it a long time.
Well I must say. I started this thread thinking I would hear all about things like the locking rear differential etc. Instead I got some sort of defensive agressive response.
So allow me to clear the air. I have wanted an FJ since I saw it in 07. Last month I pulled the trigger and bought one. Realizing the salesman knew nothing about the heritage of and the capabilities of this vehicle, I thought I would start this thread to learn.
I had only seen them and thought they were kind of weird. Lusted over the originals. Never thought about buying one before. After doing some research was more impressed. Some design flaws like the apron issue but ended up buying a used one. Time will tell.
That said, I would always consider another Jeep as long as it is the Jeep with the inline 6.
Well I must say. I started this thread thinking I would hear all about things like the locking rear differential etc. Instead I got some sort of defensive agressive response.
So allow me to clear the air. I have wanted an FJ since I saw it in 07. Last month I pulled the trigger and bought one. Realizing the salesman knew nothing about the heritage of and the capabilities of this vehicle, I thought I would start this thread to learn.
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