After 3 months of researching, nightly veiwing this forum and selling the wife that I need a FJ, I am planning on purchasing a 08 FJ TT this weekend. I have some questions that I hope this forum can help me answer and yes the mod bug has already got me so I apologize in advance if some of them are common knowledge.
Here is the basic specs on the FJ I am looking at: 08 Trail Teams Edition, Upgrade pkg #1, Roof Rack, Grille Guard, XM, Spare Tire Cvr.(don't want)
1) With the current inventory of FJ's on the dealer lots (there are 5 TT's in stock at the dealer and have been on the lot for 3+ months) and the 09 release of 8-1-08 what price should I be able to negotiate? (MSRP 34,323.00, cost as per Edmunds.com 30213.00) Could this be bought below dealer cost?
2) I would like to trade the TRD wheels out for steelies. I would assume the steelies are less expensive. Am I better off trying to trade out w/ the dealer or buying and selling the TRD's on ebay?
3) What is the difference in a front leveling kit and full lift? Can I use the shocks that come w/ the TT pkg. The FJ will be my daily driver averaging about 3000 miles per month. Most off roading will be on family ranch, hunting and camping trips. I am looking for a little higher profile and if I go w/ the steelies a slighly larger tire. I am currently driving an 04 Tahoe Z71.
4) Does the drop in TRD filter improve MPG?
5) Any recomendations on 4wheel shops in the Dallas, TX, area?
im still a noob at this but from what I have gathered Ill try my best to answer your questions. Others feel free to chime in.
1. Some people have gotten 4-5k off their msrp due to the abundance of FJ's and the poor economy, so asking 29-30k might be doable but will need some work. Then again those who were able to get 4-5k off their msrp were non TRD of TT editions, well from what ive searched at least.
2. I would ask the dealer if they would trade in for the steelies and refund you the difference. Since people on ebay or forums typically know what these rims are worth and will low ball, your best bet is to get the dealer to buy them back from you at a higher price than what you would be able to get from a forum and ebay. What these TRD rims are worth in the used department I have no idea.
3. From what Ive read all FJ's have a raked look, meaning the front is slightly lower than the rear. Some people install springs, or spacers or full on coilovers to make the FJ appear to look level. Im pretty sure if you purchase springs such as OME they are compatible with the stock shocks. A full lift kit is a set of coilovers or springs for all 4 wheels to achieve a certain height while still maintaining maximum performance.
4. Again from what Ive read you will notice very slight gains with the TRD drop in filter and probably no change whatsoever in mpg. The TRD cai intake on the other hand will definitely give you more power and a throatier sound from the motor. MPG typically worsens because people love the sound of that 4L v6 and will stomp on it every chance they get! But if your just cruisin around I would expect a +- 1mpg difference. If your that concerned with mpg then get the auto tranny. It has been proven and shown that you typically get 1-2mpg more than the 6speed version. The 6speed tranny is full time 4wd, but if your a die hard manual fan whats an extra 200$ more a year to enjoy what you love doing?
OH YEA! Since it seems like your going for more clearance with bigger tires and want steelies, supposedly the 09FJ non TT will have a white color available. So you might be able to save yourself a few bucks if you go that route. Unless you just want the name, but if you plan on changing out what makes the TT a TT then maybe a regular FJ better suits your needs.
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FJ TRAIL TEAMS SE OWNER / BILSTEIN 5100's / TRD CAI / AIR DAM WITH HELLA LIGHTS / 285/75/16 BF'S WWW.AMAESING.NET WWW.VENTCLOTHING.COM
After 3 months of researching, nightly veiwing this forum and selling the wife that I need a FJ, I am planning on purchasing a 08 FJ TT this weekend. I have some questions that I hope this forum can help me answer and yes the mod bug has already got me so I apologize in advance if some of them are common knowledge.
Here is the basic specs on the FJ I am looking at: 08 Trail Teams Edition, Upgrade pkg #1, Roof Rack, Grille Guard, XM, Spare Tire Cvr.(don't want)
1) With the current inventory of FJ's on the dealer lots (there are 5 TT's in stock at the dealer and have been on the lot for 3+ months) and the 09 release of 8-1-08 what price should I be able to negotiate? (MSRP 34,323.00, cost as per Edmunds.com 30213.00) Could this be bought below dealer cost?
2) I would like to trade the TRD wheels out for steelies. I would assume the steelies are less expensive. Am I better off trying to trade out w/ the dealer or buying and selling the TRD's on ebay?
3) What is the difference in a front leveling kit and full lift? Can I use the shocks that come w/ the TT pkg. The FJ will be my daily driver averaging about 3000 miles per month. Most off roading will be on family ranch, hunting and camping trips. I am looking for a little higher profile and if I go w/ the steelies a slighly larger tire. I am currently driving an 04 Tahoe Z71.
4) Does the drop in TRD filter improve MPG?
5) Any recomendations on 4wheel shops in the Dallas, TX, area?
Thanks for any help.
printink
Welcome to the group first. Second, I would negotiate the price of the one you want first and foremost. If you start off by wanted to take things off the vehicle before you buy then they will not be more inclined to negotiate. If you want steelies then just buy some and have a spare set of tires. The TT wheels scratch easily. I got a good deal on my TT from Toyota of Lewisville, but there are other deals out there to be had. Just don't back down on the price you want. As far as the TRD drop in filter, I do not know if you will get better MPG. I do know if you keep it at low rpm's and not hammer the gas you can get 300 miles to the tank. That is from personal experience. Good Luck.
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Toyota FJ TT Edition 6 Spd Man. 2 properly placed stickers.
"Your moral compass is so Funked, I doubt you could find your way to the parking lot."
" Introduce a little anarchy, you upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I am an agent of chaos. And you know the thing about chaos, Harvey? It's fair." The Joker
Unless you are stuck on the color get a standard FJ
You have to remove just about all the TT stuff when doing a 6" lift
(Rear shocks & Spring,Front Skid Plate and Wheels)
Toyota is releasing the white as a standard color in 2009.
Are the yellow stickers on the dash and gate worth $5000.00 ?
Any body shop can paint you mirrors, door handles , bumper inserts and
ends for less than a $1000.00
Get a VIN# from a TT and order the yellow emblems from the parts department
The factory subwoofer is only a little 30 watt speaker
(Go for the wicked C.A.S. custom driver's side mounted sub and keep the pass side
storage area.)
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2008 TRAIL TEAM EDITION
6" ROUGH COUNTRY KIT
35" TOYO M/T TIRES
DICK CEPEK DC1 17X9
AVIC-D3
TRD INTAKE
Thanks, for the responses. I like the all white color and I don't want to wait for the 09's to come out. I spoke to the salesman at the dealership this morning and they want $800.00 more to swap the wheels so I will keep the TRD's. If I do the front level kit could I run a large tire size without rubbing?
White is NOT a standard color for 09 white will be the TRD edition FJ so it will still cost more to get all white in 09. If you like the trail teams, go for it. Before you start trading out parts though, see what you REALLY need first.
With the TT i would say really all you need is a good set of skids and you're ready to rumble. the stock rock sliders are very sturdy, the stock rims and tires are excellent and getting 17 inchers just limits your selection of tires a bit more. The TT's suspension is very well done, and with a good pair of sliders will get you over almost anything safe and sound. Its really easy to read the forum and want to do everything possible to the truck, but in its stock form its already pretty beastly so you really need to ask yourself if what you plan on doing with it really warrants tossing mods onto it.
But if your just cruisin around I would expect a +- 1mpg difference. If your that concerned with mpg then get the auto tranny. It has been proven and shown that you typically get 1-2mpg more than the 6speed version. The 6speed tranny is full time 4wd, but if your a die hard manual fan whats an extra 200$ more a year to enjoy what you love doing? 
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