Toyota FJ Cruiser. Any experience with one?

[stealurface831]

My Suburban is on her last legs and I must move on. The FJ is at the top of my list. I am ballin on a budget here so looking at ones with 100k+ miles. By all accounts they are dependable cars and I could easily get 100k+ out of one but that is all according to google. Has anyone owned one? What is the beta? Could I actually get 250k+ out of one?

[SkiLyft]

Point of clarification here; we talking land cruiser, FJ cruiser or classic FJ40’s / FJ60’s here?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[stealurface831]

Point of clarification here; we talking land cruiser, FJ cruiser or classic FJ40’s / FJ60’s here?

Excellent question. We are talking FJ cruiser.

[BobMc]

I'd hate to drive one of those every day, you can't see shit out of them.

[Trapp]

My wife has an FJ Cruiser. She bought it brand new in 2008. Currently has 191,xxx miles. It's been mostly trouble free, though just recently we've been trouble shooting and replacing sensors due to a constant check engine light. It's never stranded her though.

[BmillsSkier]

It's got three windshield wipers, so that's neat.

[Viva]

I'd hate to drive one of those every day, you can't see shit out of them.

Agree. The field-of-view inside one of those is pretty bad. Probably outstanding vehicles off road, but I'd never use one as a daily driver.

[wooley12]

Big SUV on the outside. Small on the inside. So I've heard.

[jerlane]

My wife has an FJ Cruiser. She bought it brand new in 2008. Currently has 191,xxx miles. It's been mostly trouble free, though just recently we've been trouble shooting and replacing sensors due to a constant check engine light. It's never stranded her though.

I’m curious what code she’s getting? We’ve been having similar issues with a 2007 4Runner flashing a p0016 code which is a cam shaft sensor supposedly. Still drives fine, but annoying.

Sorry for the thread-jack!


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[stealurface831]

My wife has an FJ Cruiser. She bought it brand new in 2008. Currently has 191,xxx miles. It's been mostly trouble free, though just recently we've been trouble shooting and replacing sensors due to a constant check engine light. It's never stranded her though.

good to know. the sensors in my burban went to shit a few years back.

[Cruiser]

Auto is a pig. Manual is only slightly better. Plenty capable off road and decent yota reliability.

[Trapp]

Agree. The field-of-view inside one of those is pretty bad. Probably outstanding vehicles off road, but I'd never use one as a daily driver.

It's not bad if you're comfortable using outside mirrors. Not a rig for new drivers.

I’m curious what code she’s getting? We’ve been having similar issues with a 2007 4Runner flashing a p0016 code which is a cam shaft sensor supposedly. Still drives fine, but annoying.

Same deal, it's always ran fine, but I can't stand staring at that CEL. She doesn't mind lol.
I don't remember the codes off hand, but it's fuel/air related. The problem is it has like 8 intake/MAF/O2 sensors, difficult to troubleshoot and $$ to replace them all.

good to know. the sensors in my burban went to shit a few years back.

I personally wouldn't let that stop me from looking at them. Any 12 year old vehicle with that mileage is going to have its own issues.

[AdironRider]

I bought one new, drove it for 40k miles, then sold it three years later after they discontinued it and someone offered me more than I paid for it new. I think that resale value has faded a bit.

I really liked it when it was just me and my wife and a couple dogs. The front seats had a ton of room, the back ones not so much. It has the same suspension as a 4runner, lexus GX, and even shares some parts with the Taco's, so if you want to build one up there are some decent options.

The suicide doors were annoying when parked. My 12 had the updated motor but it still hunted for gears when going 75+ on the highway. Stone cold reliable for us though. Literally not a thing went wrong and the interior/exterior looked brand new when we sold it, and I parked it outside. Pretty sure they were all built in Japan and you could tell the difference.

I ended up maxing out its offroad capability and caught the bug for that kinda stuff so bought a Wrangler. Which is a lot more capable but equal amounts less reliable.

The manual transmission ones are full time 4WD and get substantially less mpg's if you care about that kinda stuff.

Tow capacity is rated at 5k but realistically that thing hated anything over 2k pounds or so. The rear suspension just couldnt hack it.

Overall, liked the rig, just ended up off-roading a lot more than I expected and stepped up to the Wrangler.

[stealurface831]

I personally wouldn't let that stop me from looking at them. Any 12 year old vehicle with that mileage is going to have its own issues.

The burban was great. I recommend. Served my family and me well for a longgg time. I just need something more offroad-capable.

[stealurface831]

I bought one new, drove it for 40k miles, then sold it three years later after they discontinued it and someone offered me more than I paid for it new. I think that resale value has faded a bit.

I really liked it when it was just me and my wife and a couple dogs. The front seats had a ton of room, the back ones not so much. It has the same suspension as a 4runner, lexus GX, and even shares some parts with the Taco's, so if you want to build one up there are some decent options.

The suicide doors were annoying when parked. My 12 had the updated motor but it still hunted for gears when going 75+ on the highway. Stone cold reliable for us though. Literally not a thing went wrong and the interior/exterior looked brand new when we sold it, and I parked it outside. Pretty sure they were all built in Japan and you could tell the difference.

I ended up maxing out its offroad capability and caught the bug for that kinda stuff so bought a Wrangler. Which is a lot more capable but equal amounts less reliable.

The manual transmission ones are full time 4WD and get substantially less mpg's if you care about that kinda stuff.

Tow capacity is rated at 5k but realistically that thing hated anything over 2k pounds or so. The rear suspension just couldnt hack it.

Overall, liked the rig, just ended up off-roading a lot more than I expected and stepped up to the Wrangler.

Thanks for the response. If I was doing any more offroading, I would definitely go with something else. I just need something that can handle old fs and logging roads on sar calls with relative ease. i think i'm gonna go with an auto for the mpgs since it will also be my daily driver. Hopefully I won't be towing much. I towed a landscaping trailer with the burban everyday for awhile. she did not appreciate it but handled the work well.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Isn't the correct answer an older Taco?

My 2002 Taco TRD was freaking incredible offroad. Great little truck. I sold it in 2008 for what I could sell it for now with another 100k miles on it.

[basinbeater]

I maybe mistaken, but, same drivetrain and suspension as a rrunner I believe. I actually bought the shocks off my buddies trail team fj cruiser and put them on my wife's 2000 4runner. So if I had to choose, I would choose a 4runner. Fj has an slight edge off road due to shorter wheelbase. 4runner is superior in every other way in my humble opinion.
A buddy with a lifted fj cruiser trail team (same one I previously bough the the shocks from)and I have done a couple of trips together, him with his lifted fj cruiser trail team, and me with a bone stock fj80 land cruiser. Land cruiser was far superior off road despite the lack of locking diffs and no lift. It just has superior suspension articulation. It has more storage, better back seat, more comfortable, etc... Where the fj was lifting wheels and engaging assists, the land cruiser just walked through with all 4 wheels firmly planted on the ground.

As with all "what SUV?" questions, the answer you are looking for is..... Land Cruiser.


sent from Utah.

[Peruvian]

Big SUV on the outside. Small on the inside. So I've heard.

Describes every Toyota SUV ever made.

[AdironRider]

Thanks for the response. If I was doing any more offroading, I would definitely go with something else. I just need something that can handle old fs and logging roads on sar calls with relative ease. i think i'm gonna go with an auto for the mpgs since it will also be my daily driver. Hopefully I won't be towing much. I towed a landscaping trailer with the burban everyday for awhile. she did not appreciate it but handled the work well.

I think you will enjoy the FJ for that type of off road use. It'll handle a bit more, but anything serious and a Wrangler will be better.

Having also owned a Tacoma, I really liked the FJ more. The taco has a horrible seating position, tows basically the same in the real world, and is built in the US and you can definitely tell the difference in quality. It is also worse off road with a longer wheelbase and overhangs.

[stealurface831]

I maybe mistaken, but, same drivetrain and suspension as a rrunner I believe. I actually bought the shocks off my buddies trail team fj cruiser and put them on my wife's 2000 4runner. So if I had to choose, I would choose a 4runner. Fj has an slight edge off road due to shorter wheelbase. 4runner is superior in every other way in my humble opinion.
A buddy with a lifted fj cruiser trail team (same one I previously bough the the shocks from)and I have done a couple of trips together, him with his lifted fj cruiser trail team, and me with a bone stock fj80 land cruiser. Land cruiser was far superior off road despite the lack of locking diffs and no lift. It just has superior suspension articulation. It has more storage, better back seat, more comfortable, etc... Where the fj was lifting wheels and engaging assists, the land cruiser just walked through with all 4 wheels firmly planted on the ground.

As with all "what SUV?" questions, the answer you are looking for is..... Land Cruiser.


sent from Utah.

we are in complete agreement. i would kill for a LC...but i am ballin on a budget. and LCs are fucking expensive.

[AdironRider]

I maybe mistaken, but, same drivetrain and suspension as a rrunner I believe. I actually bought the shocks off my buddies trail team fj cruiser and put them on my wife's 2000 4runner. So if I had to choose, I would choose a 4runner. Fj has an slight edge off road due to shorter wheelbase. 4runner is superior in every other way in my humble opinion.
A buddy with a lifted fj cruiser trail team (same one I previously bough the the shocks from)and I have done a couple of trips together, him with his lifted fj cruiser trail team, and me with a bone stock fj80 land cruiser. Land cruiser was far superior off road despite the lack of locking diffs and no lift. It just has superior suspension articulation. It has more storage, better back seat, more comfortable, etc... Where the fj was lifting wheels and engaging assists, the land cruiser just walked through with all 4 wheels firmly planted on the ground.

As with all "what SUV?" questions, the answer you are looking for is..... Land Cruiser.


sent from Utah.

Solid front axle is why I bought a Wrangler, and laugh at the new Bronco.

But it sounds like this is more of a daily driver, and I don't think a 30 year old cruiser (and the cost to obtain one now that is in any form of reasonable shape) is really what the OP is looking for.

[Skidog]

I maybe mistaken, but, same drivetrain and suspension as a rrunner I believe. I actually bought the shocks off my buddies trail team fj cruiser and put them on my wife's 2000 4runner. So if I had to choose, I would choose a 4runner. Fj has an slight edge off road due to shorter wheelbase. 4runner is superior in every other way in my humble opinion.
A buddy with a lifted fj cruiser trail team (same one I previously bough the the shocks from)and I have done a couple of trips together, him with his lifted fj cruiser trail team, and me with a bone stock fj80 land cruiser. Land cruiser was far superior off road despite the lack of locking diffs and no lift. It just has superior suspension articulation. It has more storage, better back seat, more comfortable, etc... Where the fj was lifting wheels and engaging assists, the land cruiser just walked through with all 4 wheels firmly planted on the ground.

As with all "what SUV?" questions, the answer you are looking for is..... Land Cruiser.


sent from Utah.

youre soo biased

[snowaddict91]

I kind of like them, but as others have said blind spots are terrible for its size and suicide doors kind of suck. I'd probably just go 4runner if looking at something in that range.

[Timberridge]

I put 375,000 on one or was it 385, can't recall...never any major issues. Sold it for $8500. I replaced the wheel bearings a lot because it liked to go in rivers. Had a better highway ride than 4-Runner.

[Yanos]

I bought one new. and sold it after 30K miles. It was a fun vehicle and plently capable offroad, but I always felt it was more of a toy than utility. The deal breaker for me was trying to throw camping gear, two bikes and two dogs in the back for a weekend. Wasn't going to happen. Traded a guy for a newer tundra and never looked back.