Toyota FJ thoughts

[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

[1nando]

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

No first hand experience however have been on a couple of trips with a bloke who has one and can confirm they are very capable. Good clearance, angles and rear factory locker.
As much as the Toyota crowd had turned me off i think its a good little truck

[donh54]

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 were built on the Prado base, so hardly a "Defender version".
Apparently they have improved approach and departure angles than the Prado. Common name is a "Prado in a clown suit!"

[Tombie]

Exactly that - they’re a Petrol Prado with a retro body.

A mob in Melb was doing huge work on them.

Local guy here did a D4D swap...

[martnH]

I like it. I think it's a good 4wd especially with that crawl control function.

The only downside for me is it's a partime 4wd.

For most ppl they will never ever do difficult tracks. so FJ is plenty enough

[edddo]

May of interest if it had a diesel option. Seems a marketing oversight?
But pretty limited as a long range/remote tourer just in petrol.

[PhilipA]

I have driven one quite a bit on sand and highway.

The one I drove had 33 inch tyres which blunted the performance a lot and made it drink fuel.
It was the earlier one with the traction control that turned off if the diff lock was used.

On sand I found it puzzling. We did a photo shoot on Blacksmiths beach and I was supposed to jump it, but I couldn't get up enough power because of the stability control not turning completely off.
I bogged it in the first time I have bogged a car in 30 years of driving including in the Sahara.

The rear suspension geometry seems wrong as it bunny hopped when putting down the power.
Even dropping tyre pressures to 10PSI wouldn't unbog and it needed a snatch.
It was nowhere near a RRC even with BW on sand.

Otherwise typically good Toyota design. I don't like the low seating position.
I remember the bloke who owned it came back later and was asking me why his LF tyre was shredding. It was easy to see the bolts hanging down at the top of the wheelarch.

Also to fit a decent 2nd battery you would have to swap battery positions as the second battery position only fits a tiny battery. They were asking me why the fridge only went for 6 hours and it was easy to see as the second battery was a tiny 42AH Optima.
On highway it was quite OK considering the overgearing but never felt as fast as it should with the large 4 litre engine. Quiet with little wind noise. I think the rear doors are a stupid idea but I guess that is to personal taste. You have to open a front before you can open a rear.

Also the rear door opens the wrong way.

I even did a video on fitting a roof rack to them as the replacement Baja rack was our biggest seller.
Regards Philip A

[YOLO110]

Interesting replies, thanks!

I am mulling selling my 90 and getting one, whilst there are still low km examples about...

Tough thought however... as I am quite 'emotionally' attached to HUE! But the FJ will probably be more reliable, comfortable and usable on a 'Lap' towing my camper trailer...

Mmmm...

[1nando]

Interesting replies, thanks!

I am mulling selling my 90 and getting one, whilst there are still low km examples about...

Tough thought however... as I am quite 'emotionally' attached to HUE! But the FJ will probably be more reliable, comfortable and usable on a 'Lap' towing my camper trailer...

Mmmm...

A few things;

-Not even in the same category offroad. Yes they are capable but independent suspension does not cut it compared to live axles.
- not as HD as a defender
- not as versatile
- not as frugal

It comes down to what you need the vehicle for. If you're wanting something more comfortable with the ability to tow for that sort of money then i would consider a pajero or mu-x instead. Roughly the same size, good offroad, both extremely reliable and plently of after market stuff availble, they will also tow better than the fj.

Have u considered a rubicon unlimited aswell? Very capable off road, id argue better than a stock defender. Just dont know how they go towing??

[martnH]

I have driven one quite a bit on sand and highway.

The one I drove had 33 inch tyres which blunted the performance a lot and made it drink fuel.
It was the earlier one with the traction control that turned off if the diff lock was used.

On sand I found it puzzling. We did a photo shoot on Blacksmiths beach and I was supposed to jump it, but I couldn't get up enough power because of the stability control not turning completely off.
I bogged it in the first time I have bogged a car in 30 years of driving including in the Sahara.

The rear suspension geometry seems wrong as it bunny hopped when putting down the power.
Even dropping tyre pressures to 10PSI wouldn't unbog and it needed a snatch.
It was nowhere near a RRC even with BW on sand.

Otherwise typically good Toyota design. I don't like the low seating position.
I remember the bloke who owned it came back later and was asking me why his LF tyre was shredding. It was easy to see the bolts hanging down at the top of the wheelarch.

Also to fit a decent 2nd battery you would have to swap battery positions as the second battery position only fits a tiny battery. They were asking me why the fridge only went for 6 hours and it was easy to see as the second battery was a tiny 42AH Optima.
On highway it was quite OK considering the overgearing but never felt as fast as it should with the large 4 litre engine. Quiet with little wind noise. I think the rear doors are a stupid idea but I guess that is to personal taste. You have to open a front before you can open a rear.

Also the rear door opens the wrong way.

I even did a video on fitting a roof rack to them as the replacement Baja rack was our biggest seller.
Regards Philip A

This is quite different from my experience

In low range, I used the crawl co tell quite a bit. It is amazing

You activate it with the knob in the roof console and it sets the speed.
Then the computer controls the brake throttle etc...So that the preset speed is maintained. The computer can see the speed of each wheel so the FJ is trying not to break traction.

If you only go high range, the stability control won't turn off. It will work above 45km/h No matter what.

An experience driver can do this without the computer of course. But it will be a struggle in the dark. Not for the ecu.