The first time you saw an "FJ Cruiser"..

[millertime]

first one i saw was bone stock, caught my eye as something that had alot of room for improvments. After seeing some customized i knew what i was getting, amazing how much you can change the look with some minor upgrades best vehicle i have ever owned!

[tisilverFJ]

I saw one at a Toyota headquarters before they hit the dealer ship. They even left the doors un-locked. We had a great sales guy that we bought my wifes 4-runner from and he held one for me that was just allocated and not spoken for. He didn't even ask me for a deposit because he knew I wanted it. As soon the first truck load came in they gave me a call.

[BettieB]

For about a year and a half all I heard from my husband was about this new truck that Toyota was coming out with, he made me look at the offical site over and over again and all he could do was talk about how much he wanted one of these things.

Then in Sept of 07 I thought it would be nice to surprise him with a new vehicle. So I got the loan ready so we all we had to do was walk into a dealership, pick out a truck, and drive home or so I thought. My husband works out of town most of the week every week, but somehow he was home this particular week, so I took him out looking at FJ's, I still didn't like them much but this was our first time seeing one up close.

A couple of days, a couple of dealerships later, we has discussed all the options, colors I was down to VD or SF he like the BD and TT. At that point but we still hadn't test driven anything, because we all know that's the point of no return. By that Thursday at lunch we were at the dealership deciding between '07's and '08's, really colors.

Finally, a test drive he drove first he seemed to like it, then it was my turn that was the moment I met Betti B and I fell in love ...total mid-life crisis... As we were driving back he must have seen it on my face, he said to me "You know we all hate your car ('05 Suzuki XL7 loaded), so you should get this for you." The rest is history.

[gericurl]

I don't remember exactly when (2003 or 2004) , but I do remember where. I was sitting at the computer in the spare bedroom of our crappy little condo. I was either a freshman or sophomore with 2-3 years left in school working at Kinko's.

I had test driven so many FJ40's that never worked out for me. After getting married I took my wife on one test drive in a 40 and all she could say the whole time is, you are actually wanting an old piece like this? I was crushed.

When I surfed into the site showing the concept vehicle there was this glimmer of hope. If they would only produce it... The years went by and we were too poor to even think about buying any vehicle. And all of a sudden there it was in all it's voodoo blueness. Toyota had actually made it. My wife hated it, but I on the other hand already had a little place in my heart for it.... Still not done with school, I drove my wife crazy talking about the FJ's. I changed our normal game of slug-bug to a game of FJ. She rolled her eyes every time we passed one, and I punched her in the arm in triumph. She would get so mad because I could recognize them from so far away, she would get slugged and have to wait 5 seconds before she could know if I was cheating or not... I never was.

Graduation. Was it time yet? Nope! Still working at Kinko's. We test drove one of the brand new bricks and she liked it. She said that as soon as I landed a "real" job I could buy one. 2 weeks later (October 07) I was at the dealership picking up a 2007 Black diamond (2 weeks before starting the new job).

I was laid off a year later from the good job, and at my current interim job I make less than I did at Kinko's. Money is tight and I offered to sell the FJ to help make things easier for us. The response from the wife was an emphatic NO! "You love that truck and you deserve it". My wife is awesome. I still smile every time I go out to the garage and there it is.

[Coldnapalm]

i never even noticed the fjs until 2007 and even then when i did i thought they looked horrible and hated them all my friends did aswell including my gf... but when i went to the dealer to buy a tacoma 4x4 6mt the salesmen pointed to the fj and said 4500$ off this month only and it became a choice quick and then it became my fj and everyone still hated it until i took them wheeling

[blade59]

Two and a half years ago I decided I didn't need two vehicles (a car & a 4x4 truck) what I needed was a good on & offroad suv type. We have 3 dealerships that are very close togeather,GMC,Chrysler,Ford/Toyota. I was actually looking at a Dodge Nitro (God forbid) and i test drove it.It was underpowered and not very offroad capable.

When I was leaving the Chrysler dealership I spotted the FJ in the Toyota lot. I didn't know what it was but I remembered the FJ 40 from when i was a kid and I saw the resemblence. I went over and checked it out and knew that this is what I needed.They never stayed on the lot very long and they usually only had one at a time.

Fast foward to 6 weeks ago.They had a new 09 Sandstorm sitting on the lot. i went and tried it out and went home and thought about it overnight. I decided I had to have it. I went back the next day and it was sold.

Three weeks later I see another one in Black Cherry sitting on the lot. This time I didn't hesitate. I checked it out and it was an 07 with 7800 miles in like new condition. I bought it on the spot.

Funny part is a couple days later I was in the dealership and the salesman told me i broke another guys heart as he came in the next day after I bought it and asked "where,s that FJ I was looking at?) He had decided he wanted it.

KARMA....lol

[Chatsworth 818 FJ]

!st time I saw one in person was the one I bought.

[Toadily Insane]

I had driven (new) Landcruisers throughout the '90s and up until 2005.

In 2005 I started driving a 4Runner. Great rig. I really enjoyed it but I am a big guy and the traditional "high floor / low roof" of the 4Runner was just not conducive to comfort - at least for me. I think I exacerbated a lower back problem when I started driving the 4Runner - and was having to bend to the right while driving to avoid hitting my head on the headliner. Herniated L4 disc.

When the 2007 FJ was first released I didn't like it at all. The look was all wrong. It just looked "fake". It had "fad" written all over it. I remember saying to my wife, "you'll never catch me driving one of those disasters" !

I had the 4Runner in the shop one day for routine service and an off-duty fireman had a new Black Cherry FJ in for an oil change. I started talking with him and he was SO excited and passionate about the FJ. He insisted I sit in the rig and - no joke - it was "love at first sight" for me once I sat in it.

The headroom, the ability to spread out, the perspective out the windshield - I am one of those that LOVES the slender, extended setback, flat windshield (no cracks yet - dings yes - cracks, no). He let me drive it. I WAS SOLD !!!

Two weeks later - out with the 4Runner and in with a 2007 Sun Fusion FJ.

I later bought a 2008 (Sandstorm). I have NEVER had more fun with a rig. I continue to look for ways to get out of the house and drive, take extended road trips and look for new off road opportunities. It is still a BLAST to drive this rig.

[davidHchiem]

The first time i saw an FJ i jizzed in my pants.

[Mightyboss]

Who has broken in their FJ with their significant other? and where? front or back?