I have too much need for my FJ and the utility aspects of it. Now, I would agree that folks that don't have any particular need for a 4x4 suv would be likely to switch to a more fuel efficient vehicle.
The question should be how many FJ owners bought it because it they just wanted it, and how many owners bought it because they need a capable SUV for their work or lifestyle? The latter isn't likely to stop buying them, but the former is.
I agree... I need my FJ, or a comparable vehicle to do the things I like to do. There will always be a need for capable offroad rigs. I think it is a good thing that all the soccer moms and "just for looks" buyers will be getting rid of their SUVs.... if you just need carrying capacity, get a minivan! I've never understood why people would buy a rig like the FJ if they never plan to take it off the pavement. It is just unnecessary wastefulness. Then again, who am I to tell people what to do.
__________________
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
If diesel is problematic due to pollution requirments, then they could always just do like they did with the 08. Simply make the 09 the same as the 08 with a few minor low cost tweaks, and include passenger arm rest standard. Maybe add a new color. They might not even need to come up with another package like the 'off road'.
Then, they would have a 'new' model at almost no cost, making another year of production a no brainer.
Guess I just like unique cars or cars that not enough other people like.
If they discontinue the FJ, that will be 3 out of 5 cars that I own and lease that will have achieved that status.
__________________
Marty
Vote for Obama in 2008!
2007 Titanium Metallic Toyota FJ Cruiser
2006 Mineral Gray Dodge Ram SRT10 Quad Cab
2006 Driftwood Pearl Toyota Prius Hybrid
2002 Absolutely Red Toyota MR2 Spyder
I guess the next year or so and the economy will dictate a lot for the future of all SUV type vehicles I read the other day that Chevy has closed 4 plants that produce trucks already because of dwindling sales.
__________________
08 BLACK DIAMOND, OFFROAD PACKAGE,CQ,
MORE MODS TO COME IN THE FUTURE RIGHT NOW TOO BUSY SAILING THE SEVEN SEAS WITH THE NAVY!!!!!!!
Toyota has the ability to make THIS engine a lot more fuel efficient without denting the HP or torque too much. They just need to put some work into it, or create an FJ hybrid as I previously mentioned. The FJ sales potential already been proven, adjustments now need to be made by the engineers at Toyota to account for the jump in gas prices. They can and should do it.
BTW, with the super high price of diesel fuel, which experts say will continue to rise at a faster rate than regular fuel, making a stinky, smoking, diesel FJ seems a damn dumb idea to me.
i am surprised that there is not more of the fuel management type engines... my dad has a new z71 pickup with a huge v8. when the power is not needed it goes to four cylinders... he gets 25ish mpg not bad. the older Honda accord hybrid was this way too, not really a hybrid, but it ran on six and switched to three, totally seems like it could be a great alternative to true hybrids especially for some cars that need some horses...
1. The FJ really does not get that bad of gas mileage compared to other off-road capable SUVs. Check out the Nissan Xterra, Jeep Wrangler, etc. you will see the FJ does fairly well in comparison. The small gas tank makes you think you get less MPG than you do. I agree it could use a larger gas tank.
2. They would get rid of the 65K LandCruiser that gets worse gas mileage before the FJC. The soccer mom SUVs have MUCH more to fear than the true off-road type vehicles. True offroad vehicles have a strong fan base that will pay the extra. Soccer Mom SUV owners will trade for a VW station wagon or something like that.
3. A hybrid FJC would be a bad idea for a off-road vehicle. Electric batteries + water you encounter when offroading = Bad.
4. A Diesel FJC would not be any more economical unless it got GREAT gas mileage with the price of diesel compared to gas in the U.S.
5. Gas will go down. This is the hardest one for anyone to believe, but it will. Oil is in a bubble, period. To put it in perspetive; four years ago I remember people telling me that housing is not in a bubble...that it was simply a market correction and the price would only climb higher and higher.....after all people HAVE to have houses right? Sound familiar to what we are dealing with now?
This seems to be a hot topic lately and I think it shows very clearly how the US has reacted to gas prices without looking beyond our borders to what other countries are doing. Yes, gasoline is high. Yes, it costs about 60 dollars to fill the FJ. Yes, my FJ is near and dear to me (its my first landcruiser) and 60/tank is really not that bad. Yes, the FJ's 'useful' 15.5 gallons seems terribly defficient in such a capable offroad vehicle. Now, the diesel argument:
Newer requirements on domestic (US based) diesel is such that is produces fewer of the greenhouse gases that the environmentalists lovely to dis on. This is good for plants and lobbyists, bad for us = higher diesel price. If you were to swap into a diesel engine, you get some serious leverage over the gas models: 1) ability to take your FJ anywhere in the world and KNOW that you can get fuel in the middle of the Sahara, Gobi or Indonesian jungle (my personal plan). 2) better low range torque. 3) you now have the option of a host of cheaper fuel alternatives that don't require the high refining level of gasoline, ie WVO (waste vegetable oil..costs 1.20/gal once your setup is built), Biofuel (quite possibly the future of cars before Hydrogen is widely accepted) and other low grade oils since diesel engines are capable of using them. The existence of diesel engines capable of being transplanted are already avalable, costs about 13-15k (engine+work) and they get 25-35mpg. My response....why not and why wouldn't you?
Linear Mode
