The taco uses a different frame than the FJ Cruiser and the 4runner, though i dont know if the FJC and 4runner's are fully boxed or not.Ben said:...should be stronger than the Tacoma's partially boxed frames(and I'd assume FJ will be as well)...
i can see your point. However, comma, in my experience comparing my '94 toyota 4x4 pickup (fully boxed frame) and my buddies old 91 GMC Sierra ("C" section frame) i have to say i would take the boxed frame any day. i wheeled the piss out of that thing and it took it like a champ, whereas my buddys GMC we were working on every other weekend. not all of the problems had to do with the frame, but his was a lot more felxy than mine. 'course its just a rebadged chevy, but still...mpd8488 said:While fully boxed frames are great for full size pickups, I think it is a bit overdoing it for smaller trucks. It seems as if it would just add unecesary weight, and the frame's full capabilties would never be utilized because the truck is so much smaller.
Positive, my 88 4runner too. the only parts that arent boxed is the last 4-6" where the rear bumper attaches. I was kinda bummed when i found out about the Tacos being not fully boxed, than and the rank and pinion steering, but the steering seems to hold up pretty well after all.mpd8488 said:And are you sure that your old pickup had a fullly boxed frame? right now the only trucks with fully boxed frames are F150's, Titans, and Frontiers. I don't think Toyota would go backwards when designing the trucks and revert back to partially boxed or "C" section frames.
I ve read recently that the new xterra was selected as truck of the year in motortrend december issue and online...and they selected the the new civic as car of the year...!Percy said:The other thing to consider - which might be a big deal - is the reliability of the running gear. I had a nissan that had already been through two transmissions and was in need of a third. I also had two other friends with Nissans that had to do Transmission replacements at about 60,000 miles. Whereas Toyota transmissions are way more reliable. If I'm not mistaken a lot of Jeep products actually have Yota Transmissions in them and then there are the Toyota's themselves. Why buy a nissan just to save a couple thousand if you are going to be replacing a couple of thousand dollars worth of parts in the first couple years of it's life?
I'm going FJ, all the way. You can keep the Xterra. It may be a better deal right now, but 5 or 10 years down the road you will probably have spent enough repairing certain items that you will have spent just as much as you would have on an FJ anyway! I have also heard that the turn radius on the Xterra totally sucks which could pose a problem for some of you die hard rock crawlers. I have had two friends return their Xterra because the turn radius was worse on it than on the full-size Expedition!
If you are really considering it - drive it. It might change your mind.