Thread: Toyota FJ thoughts

Originally Posted by Rextheute

Random Thoughts follow .....

I've read this thread from go to whoa .

I have considered an FJ , at present i am torn - have looked at a Fortuna .

My next step is the new JL Jeep is tempting me , so will wait to see one .

The challenge is my RRS is getting on and the new jellybean shape ones , whilst beautiful and capable vehicles , Don't stir my emotions like the 'older shape ' .
The current RRS is getting on for 8 years old and just over 200k , last year threw some big bills ( gearbox and DSC pipes replaced ) . It currently does like a champ, tows great .
BUT , as evidenced by the burnt electricals and 'fear ' when a new vehicle - ANY Brand starts to get niggles , it cant really be fixed economically .

What next ? I really like my LandRover ,nothing else comes close so far that ive looked at .

Be careful with the Toyota, they are getting a bad reputation with their dpf blocking and either putting car in limp mode , or continually purging putting smoke out the exhaust.
If your looking at that $$$ range. maybe look at a Isuzu mux or Everest as well as the Jeep , with all(especially the jeep) try and get an extended warranty to 6-7 plus years. If you where looking at more expensive, maybe the lexus , but their not as good offroad as the rrs.

Originally Posted by barney

The old FJ truck were reliable as death, but very sluggish and very heavy. they were also a pretty capable vehicle.
If you are talking about the newer FJ trucks, they are very heavy, have a big engine with poor output (I can beat the V8 in my td5), they have good torque, (not as good as a TDV6 disco), have ongoing mechanical issues that are due to poor design choices.
If you are talking about the FJ Cruiser, they are just a petrol Prado with a different body. Poor visibility on the passenger side due to the massive C pillar, seats are shocking, access for the rear seat passengers is awful, access from the rear is awkward, little things are annoying, like the windscreen having 3 tiny wipers, that means you need to buy two sets when you need to change them (or every second time if you remember that safe spot where you put the spare one from last time) - they don't have crawl control. Crawl control is in the 200 series wagons. It is a really poorly designed. It surges with a blast of fuel into the injectors and then applies the abs to regulate the speed, over and over again. it is unbearable.
I have driven all of these and I would rather stick with all of Land Rover's problems than buy one.

Crawl control was on the FJ MY14 I drove.

Anyway your comment is quite emotional.........
But I get what you are saying FJ comes with a big stinky dump in the glove box from factory

Cheers
Martin

Defender comes with delicious British muff in in the chubbybox

Originally Posted by frantic

Be careful with the Toyota, they are getting a bad reputation with their dpf blocking and either putting car in limp mode , or continually purging putting smoke out the exhaust.
If your looking at that $$$ range. maybe look at a Isuzu mux or Everest as well as the Jeep , with all(especially the jeep) try and get an extended warranty to 6-7 plus years. If you where looking at more expensive, maybe the lexus , but their not as good offroad as the rrs.

A fake news internet reputation perhaps... like we are seeing on the reliable facebook and youtube news sources? There are indeed issues.. a lot of them are user error.

Most brands to date has struggled with DPFs. Give it a good highway run and you'll be fine.

Originally Posted by martnH

Crawl control was on the FJ MY14 I drove.

Anyway your comment is quite emotional.........
But I get what you are saying FJ comes with a big stinky dump in the glove box from factory

Cheers
Martin

the one I drove was in 2011. They probably fitted it since then. mostly to petrol vehicles (200) as they didn't have the low rev torque to crawl.
I get the irrits because I just do not see what all the hype is about toyatas. they have just as many, if not more problems than any other 4wd. if it's not the dodgy 100mm wider front axle on the FJs, its the gearbox or the crankshaft or the IFS that falls off the hiluxes.

No DPFs in the FJ Cruiser, it’s a petrol V6

Originally Posted by Johnno_p

No DPFs in the FJ Cruiser, it’s a petrol V6

Not to go of topic but hearing about all the new vehicles with dpf issues has lead me to believe that the gap between diesel and petrol engines has closed. Yes my comment is biased as i own a petrol but i also work with diesel trucks all day long so i believe im in a experienced enough position to pass that comment.

I think the only reason a fj wont suit your needs is cause it doesn't "tick" the "decent towing vehicle" box as you've clearly stated you want it to tick.

If you want a petrol that can seriously tow then your limited to grand Cherokee, patrol, 200, rr, disco...im sure ive missed a couple but a petrol prado, FJ or any other soft roader just wont have the balls to get the job done effortlessly. Towing is one thing, towing safely and reliably is another. Working with trucks all day long you learn to apprecaite that "size" of parts, chassis, transmission and engine combos etc make good tow rigs and HD working vehicles.

The fj is not a tow rig and definitely nothing about it is HD, i say that without having ever driven one or owned one and only being out on a few trips with a bloke who has one so you can ignore my advice based on my lack of first hand experience if you like.
Id buy one as a tourer to travel with the mrs but definitely not if i was towing something whilst doing it!

Originally Posted by YOLO110

Has anyone on here had any experience with the Toyota FJ?

Seems like Toyota's version of the Defender, a bit of a cult following and prices staying strong since they were discontinued in 2016.

Drove one yesterday and quite impressed with how 'civilised' it was compared with the Defender! Missus prefers it as well...

Cheers, Pete

They are a Prado with a FJ body, most say they go alright but not much room for camping gear etc