New Defender vs FJ Cruiser

[army scope jockey]

I am an ex US army physician now working for the army in Germany. We are able to get defenders at somewhat of a discount. As I will be staying in Germany for sometime , I am thinking of getting a Euro spec defender. I guess if I stay here 25 yrs I could bring it back to Texas. I have also thought about the Toyota FJ cruisers (not sure if you have them down under).

I need a vehicle that can tow bikes, haul 7 people when the outlaws visit and can pull a trailer as German home ownership is a constant DIY battle.

Both the defender and the Toyota will do both except for only 5 pass seating on the FJ.

Can anyone post a real pic of a Carnis blue 110. I kinda am leaning towards white but blue or stornoway grey is also in the running.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[dullbird]

I am an ex US army physician now working for the army in Germany. We are able to get defenders at somewhat of a discount. As I will be staying in Germany for sometime , I am thinking of getting a Euro spec defender. I guess if I stay here 25 yrs I could bring it back to Texas. I have also thought about the Toyota FJ cruisers (not sure if you have them down under).

I need a vehicle that can tow bikes, haul 7 people when the outlaws visit and can pull a trailer as German home ownership is a constant DIY battle.

Both the defender and the Toyota will do both except for only 5 pass seating on the FJ.

Can anyone post a real pic of a Carnis blue 110. I kinda am leaning towards white but blue or stornoway grey is also in the running.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/TJ101/100_2844.jpg

Looks wise no contest i think;).......this car is from the deender2 website its one of there forum members

[Redback]

I am an ex US army physician now working for the army in Germany. We are able to get defenders at somewhat of a discount. As I will be staying in Germany for sometime , I am thinking of getting a Euro spec defender. I guess if I stay here 25 yrs I could bring it back to Texas. I have also thought about the Toyota FJ cruisers (not sure if you have them down under).

I need a vehicle that can tow bikes, haul 7 people when the outlaws visit and can pull a trailer as German home ownership is a constant DIY battle.

Both the defender and the Toyota will do both except for only 5 pass seating on the FJ.

Can anyone post a real pic of a Carnis blue 110. I kinda am leaning towards white but blue or stornoway grey is also in the running.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Fugly is a word that comes too mind, thank god they don't have them here, i'd be supprised if they have them in Europe.

Baz.

[solmanic]

Well look at it this way - if you do ever manage to import a new Defender back home to Texas, you'll be just about the only person with one. Also the w@nker meter registers much higher in an FJ cruiser ;).

[p38arover]

Don't forget a Discovery 3 is available as a 7 seater and diesel. I wonder if you can take the diesel version back to the USA?


Fugly is a word that comes too mind, thank god they don't have them here, i'd be supprised if they have them in Europe.

Baz.

I saw a yellow one at the last 4WD, Caravanning and Camping Show at Rosehill a few months back

[army scope jockey]

The LR3 is too much like an Audi Q7. Price wise, the defender runs about 45,000 USD without taxes vs 30,000 USD for the FJ. The FJ is more of a pavement pounder than the Defender. The FJ is US spec so I could take it back to Texas. The Defender would have to be 25 yrs old before getting it into the US.

I need to work on my American dealer on some of the options to see if a better deal can be had. Unfortunately, the **** poor USD does not help.

BTW, thanks for the pic.

[DirtyDawg]

I hadn't seen a pick of the new FJ..I reckon its kinda cool;)

[DiscoDave]

I glanced at the pic of the FJ and my first thought was you'd taken a photo of a kids toy! Second thought was it's a new model plastic Hummer, then I read the badge. It's a real car. :o

Makes me wonder what's the drug-of-choice for SUV designers these days? :twisted:

[p38arover]

Makes me wonder what's the drug-of-choice for SUV designers these days? :twisted:

Well, it was designed in the USA - not many good looking cars come from there.

[army scope jockey]

Well, it was designed in the USA - not many good looking cars come from there.

Well I don't know if it was designed in the US but I am sure it was made for the NA market. Here is some more info since you guys can't procure this one in your neck of the woods.

Toyota FJ Cruiser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_FJ_Cruiser)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/08/938.jpg

[George130]

If you base it on what they are worth in the US. then there is only one choice. Defenders in the US are worth a lot due to availability.
Defender looks better to me.
First step get thee to a dealer and check it out. If you still love a defender after having a look and a test drive then nothing else will do.

[cols110]

Out here in Dubai the FJs are everywhere, a well set up one will kill a Defender in the desert, great power to weight ratio combined with a nice length wheel base and good clearance angles, chuck on a lift and a set of 285/75s and it is almost un-stopable, but for mud plugging or playing on rocks I`d prefer a Defender anyday.

From those who drive them find the visability from inside the FJs pretty average, end of the day is a mid wheel base Prado better set up for offroad use, as for looks some love em, some hate em.

I have seen one in the desert driven by a madman do things that only quad bike were acheiving, he nearly put it on its roof a few times doing 180s at no speed on some big slip faces but managed to keep it all together, not in my wildest dream could I ever get to the places on this face that he was getting in a defender.

[rosettaquarrier]

Hi, go for the Defender.
I looked at FJ's recently in Utah. On the face of it they seem pretty capable out of the box, not up to defender standard though. Personally I think the styling is perhaps too much 'of the moment'; they could be a passing fad, although I must admit in the flesh the white Trail Teams version did look pretty cool.

I'm moving to the states soon, i think it'll be a Disco for me (plus my Stage 1 of course :D).
Cheers
Chaz

[army scope jockey]

Well, with the dollar creeping upward, I ordered a 2009 Defender 110 SE. I am still thinking about the color. Wife likes Carnis Blue and I like Stonaway gray or white.

[Leo]

Did the G-wagen not appeal? I would love to get my hands on a new G420Cdi....

[Michael2]

You've already ordered, so, congratulations, welcome to the fold.

Did you consider getting a 15 year old Defender, it's 15 years closer to TEXAS, and you could probably get a 2.8HSE Ford Ranger Engine, which is a 300Tdi anyway, to try to bring it to a NA standard (Maybe the 2.8 was a South American motor though, so I may stand corrected on that one).

Anyway, congratulations again - good choice.

[Mick-Kelly]

Oh that is an ugly, ugly vehicle. My eyes, the burning arghhhh. Look at all those big steel body panels just waiting to rust like their original brethren.

[army scope jockey]

Pulled the trigger on a new 09 110 Defender SE in Stonoway gray. I should have it in December. My US military dealer was able to procure it. Just 25 yrs in the EU and then it comes to Texas.

[muddymech]

remember an fj is just a highlander underneath, think thats reason enough not to buy one