I've always admired those vehicles. I have an opportunity to bring one home Monday. If you have one, or have had one, what are your opinions?

Test drove one and spoke to a really good friend about hers.

The thing breeds blind spots and is not built to be driven in places where you need to worry about blind spots or other vehicles. (Her description)

Ive had a 2007 since mid-2008. Solid, capable and reliable. I don't drive it a lot, only about 65K miles, but really like it. Maybe a smudge small, sometimes I wonder if a 4Runner would have been a better choice.

I'd buy it again. Hope that helps.

Are you referring to an FJ Cruiser or a true FJ40??
Big difference.

I test drove one. It was solid, but the posting about blind spots is dead on. Very poor visibility.

BigRedFish has one.

I’ve had a 2007 since 2008. 145,000 miles. Have had to replace one coil pack and just replace the original battery last year. It’s stock and 4wd is excellent. Yep, it’s has blind spots. No, I ha met wrecked it because of blind spots but my wife might if it was hers to drive. If I ever have to buy another vehicle I’d want another FJ. If I couldn’t get an FJ I’d get a 4runner. Oh, factory CD changer and radio are crap.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Are you referring to an FJ Cruiser or a true FJ40??
Big difference.

FJ1200

I wanted one so badly, but the suicide doors and the poor fuel mileage kept me from pushing the button on one.

I would have gotten one for sure if they had a diesel option, but it never happened.

At this very time, I'd go for a 4Runner TRD Pro over one just because of those stupid suicide doors.

I have one. 2007 with 116,000 miles on it now. I am the second owner. I bought it in the spring of 2015. Bought it from our local Toyota dealer. All the service from the previous owner was done there as well. Absolutely love it!!!! Goes through anything. Sat outside this winter when the windchills got to about 36-40 below zero. Started everytime without a stutter. Still has a Toyota battery in it.

The only thing I have had done with it is new brakes and the obvious oil and fluid changes. Thing is bulletproof. Everytime I take it Toyota for it’s service they want to buy the thing. They sell around here quickly and for good money. In fact I drove it to the Toyota dealer when we were buying the wife a new Highlander and our salesman liked it so much he bought one that came in on trade that day. Not kidding you.

Yes, there are blind spots but, lots of vehicles do. Don’t worry about it and put your head in a swivel.

I have no regrets and have no plans to sell it.

Get it. You will not regret it.

I had one for a while. loved it except the suicide doors. Was a lot of fun to drive

As a prior owner, my two cents. As others have mentioned, prepare yourself for the blind spots. The second row seating isn’t really suited for adults. Kids, yes. Or do like I did and leave them folded down flat for a nice cargo area. Gas mileage was “meh”. That said, me and my buddies road tripped in it from Texas to Colorado for a ski trip. No complaints there, and it handled like a champ in the mountains and snow.

Is there a cool factor? Yup. They’re cool.

FJs have held their value well. The only vehicle I regret not buying new. The ones around here have high mileage and high prices.

 
Former owner. This is before I sold it:
 

 

My wife has had hers for 10 years. No wrecks due to blind spots. No issues of any kind, except getting hail damage repaired. A couple body parts needed replacement due to excessive hail damage. The parts were hard to find. Her repair bill, or the insurance company, was around $9K. The insurance company wanted to total it. Fortunately these vehicles hold there value. I told them to find one in as good of shape as hers for less than $18K. Apparently they couldn’t so they paid to repair. So you might want to ask your insurance company about covering these vehicles.

Oh, and the damn windshields crack easy.
And, gas mileage is bad for its size.

Mrs DF has one. It is reliable and stable. There are a few quirks, blind spots and the trim is 300.00 if it breaks while replacing the windshield (almost every time). And replace the windshield you will because of its angle. It's a rock magnet. Suicide doors require extra effort to close from the back seat. The recirculation button resets to outside air whenever it wants. Oil filter changes require a yogurt cup to catch spillage which is unavoidable when removing the filter. Three wipers to replace up front. A bit more road noise without carpet. Rear door catch makes two armed grocery removal and door closing next to impossible.

If you can live with all of that, they are super fun and kool vehicles.

I think they are a lot like Jeeps in the sense that if you like them you will put up with their quirks/weaknesses for the benefits and the things you like about them. In my completely biased opinion (I have owned/own four Toyotas; two Corollas, two 4x4 trucks)though, the comparison ends there because it's worth it for a Toyota, but not for a Jeep. Toyota, especially Toyota trucks (which include FJ's) did not get their reputation for reliability and longevity without good reason.

More directly, to the point of OP's question, should he bring one home Monday, my answer is, YES! MarinetoRN... think of it this way: you are interested enough to ask about it, and my guess is you really do want it. They are scarce and hard to come by, and hold their resale value very well. Jump on this opportunity, and if you decide you don't like it after all, you can sell it.

Aside: I don't like to think of the mayhem I might have caused to get ahold of henryaz's FJ pictured above. Beautiful beast. Yeah, I like Toyota 4x4's.

EDIT: My "buy it" suggestion is, of course, assuming it's in good shape, reasonable mileage, acceptable price; same standards you'd apply to any used vehicle.

Had a ‘76 FJ40 as a kid.

The reincarnation drove and handled well I thought, albeit a bit underpowered IMO. But it was like driving in a barrel .... can’t see anything but forward. Heartbreaking for me as I really wanted to love it.

Eventually bought a JKU and am very happy.

Jump on it! I have owned a 2010 I bought new in February 2011. Current mileage is about 130K. So far no issues. My only complaint is that it has been discontinued and I can't buy a new one.

As for the blind spots, you quickly become used to them and learn how to use the oversized side mirror. I don't find them to be an issue.

I do not thing that the blind spots are such a big deal. Many people, me included, drive trucks with no glass at all aft of the windows in the front seat doors. My delivery truck is a cargo box on GMC 3500 running gear. Big mirror on each side. The FJ had a fair amount of glass. Yes, couple of blind spots, but that's what mirrors are for.