What do you guys think? Any thoughts as to why there is this random surge in popularity? Or attention rather?

Hipsters in gentrified neighborhoods.

 

They're picking up the 40's series as well due to a lot of advertising using them.

I spotted a '74 soft top with an '80 bib, grille, and turn signals and asked the man bun, skinny jean wearing Portland hipster about it. He said he paid $33K for this "OEM correct restoration". Is rattle can black paint on the frame considered OEM correct? >

He saw one in an ad and had to have it.

 

From my perspective, you people who bought them and actually use them won't turn them loose. But those that "liked the style" kept them for a while and are finally turning them loose. So now people like me who have been frothing over them for years and years can finally get ours. New blood = new enthusiasm. Plus, these things are just about bullet proof (kinda like the old 40's; change out the head gasket and that 6 will chug on forever.) Which means the soft handed poseurs didn't really do anything but put miles on them. They got to wander the mall parking lots looking butch and we get to have a broken in monster ready for modding and running trails.

In addition to that, what else is out there that's close? A Jeep Rubi is 41k new. Then there's .... um ... a used Toureg I would say is fairly comparable. When I was looking, there were a ton of Jeeps out there. A ton of open diff Jeeps. Any Rubi that was out there was an old 2 door that'd been already modded. The Toureg has some cool tech and some real off road chops but no real aftermarket suppliers. Mitsubishi Montero's have a great off-road set up but they aren't real popular here and they are pretty worn out now. I wanted something that was reliable and not another projec.......well, I wanted something reliable. The project thing just sort of happens.

 

A Jeep Rubi is 41k new.

There's a 2014 TTUE with under 7000 miles for sale now for $48k... literally twice what I paid for mine. Don't know if he'll get it, but demand is still strong.

 

Toyota didn’t just stop the production of the FJ. They cancelled manual transmissions in NA market SUVs moving forward. Want a 6 speed four runner? Outta luck. Sorry but a Tacoma is not an FJ replacement for many. This seems to have pushed some FJ’s values even higher than anticipated. Especially if buyers are looking at them as spare, collectible, or toy, vehicles. Add to that the bronco supposed to enter the market at this point has been essentially vapor ware to date and even more buyers are looking to the used FJ market at the moment as it’s mentioned frequently in reports in various media about holding its value in the resale market.


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Your statement about the Tacoma is correct. I drove two of them before I decided on the FJ. They are pickup trucks and do very well in that class. The 4 runner is a different beast. While it's Toyota reliable it is really meant to be a people and cargo hauler. The higher center of gravity and extra weight make it handle very different than the FJ. Neither vehicle is a Fuji Jeep = FJ.

 

IMO - it is a quality build and the used prices for an SUV are reasonable. New SUV's with any form of reliability and/or 4 wheel drive excellence is big $$$ and in reality out of range.

I also believe with the rumoured TJ it is causing people to look back at the FJ and what it was and is. As well, the soon to be failed Bronco people are looking back at the retro design and movement again.

 

I agree with you, there aren't many solid offroad suv's for any reasonable price as of late, people looking for a dependable trail ready suv can pick up an older model FJ for less than $20k and still run with the big dogs in the new 4runners and jeeps on the road now. Example, I bought my '08 FJ a few years ago and have been tooling around with my buddy in his heavily modified 2017 Jeep with no issues- granted I've done my fair share of upgrading but that's neither here nor there.

 

I'd agree, the Taco really isn't a replacement for either the $Runner or the FJ. The current 200 series are so expensive they aren't going to be affordable for a long while. A Range Rover is in the same category; very capable but so expensive... I find it interesting no one has mentioned the Explorer. I didn't think of it either! There's a reason, it's a bloated mall crawler.
International Scouts, 80's LandCruisers, Bronco's, Grand Wagoneers and K20's have gotten very popular with people to rebuild/modify so those prices are going up. To be honest, drop a 350 in any of those with a TH400/NP205 and some Dana's and you'd have a pretty reliable off roader you could fix with a hammer.
So what is left? Mitsubishi Montero's (the later models with the huge butt and pointy fenders), Nissan Pathfinders before they went all Infinity, those 1 wheel drive Jeeps, H2's and maybe a good horse. The FJ gives you a lot of bang for the bucks: Atrac, locker, durability, longevity, a/c, lockable space.



And for the record - my FJ will not be back in the market. Not while I'm alive. So that's one less for a potential buyer.

 

Have you noticed that once one major Youtuber reviews something, the rest follow suite trying to catch some views? I think that is the primary reason.

Besides that, people tend to own their cars for a set period of time before turning them over for something new. I think we are starting to see that in the FJ market and market for similar model year Toyotas. Alot of people are moving to the 5th gen 4runner which pumps more FJ's onto the market for cheaper.

 

I'd like to know the majority demographic for who are buying FJs right now. There may be some explanation in knowing.

 

Obsessive
Tinkerer
Creative
Obsessive
Thrifty
Value-oriented


oh, demographics not personality traits...sorry.

 

I think it'sw an overall lemming-like movement within the entire auto industry. All sedans look alike, period. You can change the grillwork, colors, bumpers, etc., but at this point you can paint them all black and it would be hard to tell the manufacturers apart.

Ditto for the SUV market. Nissan, Toyota, Ford - pick your poison - paint them all black and it is hard to tell them apart.

Pickup trucks? The Ridgeline is the only one that looks different, and offroading would be total crash & burn in that rig.

Now, as a mental exercise, if we painted all cars black, could people pick the FJ out? Derpity derp derp....

Car makers want ZERO risk, and so you see all the different design types moving in unison to uniform shape and overall styling. Jeep has no risk with making the same old product for Jeep lovers. And it IS the same old product - SWMBO owns a Rubi, and they still ride like crap compared to an FJ, and you still have to pour loads of money into them to get decent offroading.

I think the recent unveiling of the "spiritual successor to the FJ" pretty much illustrates the fact that car makers are simply not going to take any chances. FFS, a minvan clone for offroading? Turning radius anyone? High centering? And want to bet they shrink down to 3.7L?

I think our FJ's are one of the last of the Mohicans for real offroad fun that isn't a Jeep.

And I think that after you own a Jeep, you can appreciate the Toyota engineering more when compared to Chrysler and the Toyota quality and reliability. SWMBO's 2016 Wrangler just required replacement of AC compressor, heat exchanger, evaporator core and alternator and she is at 90k miles...my FJ is at 327k miles as of today and none of those repairs...

I'm keeping mine, just like I kept the old FJ before these new ones came out...

 

I think it'sw an overall lemming-like movement within....

Now, as a mental exercise, if we painted all cars black, could people pick the FJ out? Derpity....

I'm keeping mine, just like I kept the old FJ before these new ones came out...

HARUMPH!!!

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I've always loved the look of the Fj, and finally was able to get one at a reasonable price for me. Sold my Tacoma TRD so I could own one. Couldn't be happier. Toyota is all about longevity and I wouldn't be at all hesitant with buying a 100000 plus Toyota, a jeep not so much. Good looks, dependability so much to love.

 

I've always loved the look of the Fj, and finally was able to get one at a reasonable price for me. Sold my Tacoma TRD so I could own one. Couldn't be happier. Toyota is all about longevity and I wouldn't be at all hesitant with buying a 100000 plus Toyota, a jeep not so much. Good looks, dependability so much to love.

I have three Jeep Comanches with 240K, 260K and 290K on their clocks, still run well. But they're with the late '80's bulletproof inline 4.0L engine.
But I love my FJC as well, best of both worlds???

 

Still love every minute driving mine. There is nothing out there that even interests me. Well maybe a Hellcat wide body Charger but I would need to sell a lot of body parts to get one.

 

I agree, the FJ has satiated the car bug entirely. This morning I was thinking how lucky I was to find mine AND the PO being a non-smoker. I'm kind of torn, be buried with the FJ or bequeath it to someone who cares. Before the FJ I was pondering rebuilding an '84 Montero or a '69 MGC or even finishing up the current flock of rebuilds I've got going on. But now there isn't much that catches my interest. The Icon FJ43 resto is interesting though....

 

Lost my FJ in 2011 NY, moved to Philippines in 2016 and bought a brand new one there and its still available till today. Had choice between VDJ79 and FJC, the former was the more practical choice but FJC won the hearts of my wife and myself and now we save money for VDJ but relish the FJC daily.

 

Social media push. I'm sure the guys just want to be the first in line for reviewing the new replacement in the future. These guys get noticed by marketing exec's to later review vehicles based on ratings. Some people I would trust to review (respect to those in the industry) but most of these guys I would not and somehow they get so many views. So I tend not to watch the guys on the hype train.

At any rate, there was a big push for Tacomas and 4runners as those were really hot for a minute. I follow several Toyota pages and that seemed like that's all they were posting but lately, they've been posting more FJs as well. I think when all the hype cleared, you still have the core base junkies that are sharing their love for their vehicle. Just get out there, post more creative stuff with your rig and we'll see a positive move in the right direction.

PS. I'm sure it's similar for others, but more people have been reaching out to me for FJ questions. Be prepared!

 

i usually get sick of my vehicles after 2-3 years and trade them in. my last 3 were jeeps. 2 grand cherokees then an '08 wrangler JK. i had wanted one for years, but after 2 months when the excitement of driving without the top and doors wore off i realized i hated the thing. horrible ride, totally gutless (they put a better motor in them after 2010), and it used oil for some reason the dealer never figured out. i put 32k miles on it and had to replace the whole brake system. rotors, calipers and pads. they were so rotted it looked like they came off the titanic. i traded it for my '12 FJ a month later.

every morning i walk out in the garage and smile. i get behind the wheel and it feels great. after 7 years i still love the thing and can't imagine owning anything else.

 

Amen brother!
Every time I look at and drive my FJ it’s with a smile on my face.

 

Sounds like someone that actually maintains his vehicles well.

 

They were made for only a short time, so they didn't suffer from "design bloat" (or marketing bloat) / former shadows of what they started out, as so many other things do in life.

They sold in relatively low numbers so there aren't a whole lot of them out there (note that even with all other years combined, the sales never beat the first year number sold).

They aren't available new anymore (in the US).

The toy on the playground that no one has paid any attention to all day, as soon as one kid starts playing with it suddenly all of the other kids want it.


All of us know the answer to OPs question is obvious. It seems the only question is why suddenly and not all along? But as the sales figures showed, while it was available, relatively few bought them (except for the first year). Maybe 5 years later is when what we've known is sinking in, to others?

 

I think off-road capable vehicles and overlanding in general has surged in the last 10 years, and seems to have really peaked in the last couple(peaked so far I guess). I remember driving around the back country of Oregon and Utah 10 years ago and you would seldom to occasionally see an overland build, now you see them everywhere. I think its not just the FJ Cruiser, but all capable off-road vehicles have seen a push.

 

I think off-road capable vehicles and overlanding in general has surged in the last 10 years, and seems to have really peaked in the last couple(peaked so far I guess). I remember driving around the back country of Oregon and Utah 10 years ago and you would seldom to occasionally see an overland build, now you see them everywhere. I think its not just the FJ Cruiser, but all capable off-road vehicles have seen a push.

Locally, Starbucks parking lot used to be filled with 911s and M3s. These days it's all filled with "overlanders."

 

When they announced they were done after 2014 here in the US, I grabbed one as I knew they would be hard to get, and I needed a newer wheeler and the Wrangler was too cramped for me. There weren't any alternatives I could afford. That continues to this day.

 

Plenty of FJ cruisers in Oz. Reliable good value.

 

Agree they have really come to the forefront. As a new this year FJ owner this year, I gave all the reasons in MY video review that I made for Scotty's Channel. I emailed him and asked if he wanted an FJ video as he didnt have one. While looking at used trucks, I watched his videos and he never mentioned the FJ actually. He said sure, and gave me a deadline. He has since talked about them a lot - probably because it was one of his more popular Show Off Sunday videos just because it’s an FJ. Video isn’t perfect by ANY means-- warts and all, first time editing, shooting and doing VO in done on one weekend. Scotty also cut out 2 mins, where I pointed out some things people complained I didnt mention suggested on the forum. Inspiration encouragement during a 3 months search for an FJ when I got the FJ bug was thanks to this group and some very friendly advice ( thanks forum rockstar jimmy-buffett ) when I had to buy one SIGHT UNSEEN because it was across the state a steal and had 11k miles.

I didnt want to buy or lease some depreciating built in obsolesce mobile. This will be the last vehicle I need. Maybe something else at some point but it will be parked next to my FJ. I will pride myself on keeping it going until it rusts out. Once I settled on a used 4x4 as the best option I looked at everything 4x4 80’s, 90’s that you would want — and fell in love with the FJ. Low depreciating, dead nuts reliable Froader, but one that was unique and customizable. Working in an industry where everyone drives a new Tesla, Porsche, Prius or a BWM, and the trucks are all new Landrovers. Those of us who want trucks that total arent trash fires got new LandCrusiers but while they are great- I wanted something a little different that I didn’t need to sell a kidney for. I have more people comment and compliment my FJ when I pull up than the douche who pulls up in a MacLaren or Tesla. Half of them say, ya know I used to hate these when they came out, and now I love them.

The 4x4 Canadian GMC Tracker(yes it was badged GMC in Canada) with a skid plate I had in Detroit that could truck though six deep layers of hell and drove across the country 4 times flawlessly and my current FJ 2012 TT stand alone in my heart against any other new luxury car I have had. Just today my friend walks up to me getting out of my FJ and asks to test drive it, he was considering a Tacoma, but he can’t shake wanting an FJ—I said ****, you got bit by the FJ bug and we all know what thats like.

You guys rock.

 

I wanted one when they 1st came out , but waited until I found my 2011 AG. I found out it's worth $26K without my add-ons. She's my girl until one of us dies.

 

I have also noticed the surge of videos AND a bunch of FJ's popping up in my area within the past six months.

I think the FJ is getting popular mainly due to it's uniqueness backed up with capability and reliability. All these new cars look the same and cost way too got damn much for what they offer! I'll eventually get an electric car 5 to 10 years from now and hold on to the FJ as a weekend car. I actually look forward to performing fluid changes on my FJ :smile I didn't give a s#!t about maintaining my prius - not that it needed much.

OP here's another FJ video from Scotty Kilmer

 

What about those tiny Suzuki Samurais? Those things can crawl. I've seen them surge in popularity and price recently.

 

All of these videos have shown up in my news feeds as well because Google knows I have an interest in FJs.

I think Toyota is starting their marketing campaign for the TJ by stirring up nostalgia for the FJ knowing these videos will be seen by people who have an interest in the FJ.

The new Toyota TJ is supposed to "fill the FJ void" (personally don't think the TJ does that). In anticipation for the TJ release, I think Toyota is pushing the idea that there is an FJ void.

I'm not saying Toyota manufactured these videos, but I am saying the people behind these videos make money and can certainly be suggested topics to cover.

 

If we're being honest i'm not a fan of the popularity the FJ is getting. One main reason why I bought my FJ was because nobody really knew about them or whoever did know just said "eh" its basically a Fake Jeep, "FJ", and i would have to explain to them how much better it is than a Jeep. Maybe i'll get used to the popularity but for now i'll just keep on Cruisin lol

 

If we're being honest i'm not a fan of the popularity the FJ is getting.

One main reason why I bought my FJ was because nobody really knew about them

In USA, production/sales ceased in 2014.

So even though you bought yours due to rarity, they are just as “rare,” as they were before.

It isn't like people are importing them from elsewhere. It is a finite number here

 

i bought mine in january this year after wanting one for a few years. hardly ever saw one in my area then, east tennessee, now 8 months later i see them all the time..?? :|