Anybody gone from an FJ to a Tacoma 3rd Gen?

Learn A new term daily

Sounds like my British cars

 

The only things I've done are the idler pulley's, a new battery and the infamous rear axle pinion bearing. Definitely haven't babied it...appreciate the insight on this topic so far!

Cheers!

 

Mine was fairly reliable. It never let me down...without influence. (See water picture earlier)

I did buy it with the screaming rear diff, which my warranty covered. Then the left brake caliper. (FYI they are the same as on 2nd and 3rd gen tacomas and are notorious for locking the inside lower piston).
The first let-down was the starter, but that was due to being submerged in "water" for 10 minutes.

Blind spots were not a huge problem once I added a 7" monitor with wide angle rear view camera.

 

Never submerged mine like that but close many times lol...fun rock crawling pic of mine:

 

We have both and glad we kept the Fjc.
Fjc wins hands down in all departments.

 

Well said. FJ > Tacoma

 

Had a 2011 Trail Teams FJ that I sold to get my Tacoma. I've got about 2500 miles on the Taco and I can tell the FJ was built to a higher standard. I'm currently keeping an eye out for a manual FJ and will probably make the swap back. The Tacoma is nice but for me the FJ was better.

 

Man I use to have the brick FJ Cruiser with automatic. I truly regret selling that solid and problem free truck. I always loved the iconic looks of the cruiser and was sad they stop making them. I think the fact that it was built in Japan made a difference in quality and reliability.
But my third gen has been bullet proof too. No issues. Transmission hunts sometimes but no big deal to me.

 

Do you have a thread on your timing chain tensioner drama? I have seen very few issues with timing chains on the 4.0 and have not seen the motor pulled to service it. Or was it pulled to replace the motor?

 

I don't have a thread on it, but I have the service records. Motor was pulled due to fewer man hours required to pull it and have clear access than to do it in the engine bay. I was there with the master tech looking at the motor on the rack as he pinpointed which pulley was responsible for the noise.

Oil pump was also replaced at that time, along with seals and chain tensioner guides.

The oil pump was replaced as there was a tapping noise believed to be improper hydraulic valve lashing.

 

If your tiny, the back seat is big enough. I'm only 6ft 213lbs but I would not ride back there.

 

My wife went from a 12 FJ to a 15 Porsche Macan S. I still cry over that move. the FJ was bullet proof. Never in the shop a time. I had a Baja Rack with ladder on top to sleep on. Up top I could feel the cutthroats climbing up to get me.( Sleep beside the road from time to time. Perfect. I also have an '11 TRD OR 4x4 that I am selling today since my 17 TRD OR DCLB came in yesterday. The '11 was also bulletproof. The FJ was more comfortable and drove smoother than the Tacoma but neither had enough cargo space. That's why I bought the 17. Like the 6 ft bed. I travel up to Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Az, and NM every summer and haul bicycle and camping junk and the 5 ft was just too small.

 

Coming from 2012 FJ Cruiser automatic, bought new $29,800, put 26000 miles in, got offered $28,000 for trade-in. Got a Tacoma TRD OR DCSB manual for $32,500. I missed my old FJ but driving stick again is so much fun!

 

I went from a fully built 14 FJ with Toytec boss suspension to a 17 Tacoma PRO. I haven't miss my FJ at all and so far much happier in all respects with the tacoma. The tacoma ride is much smoother, more comfortable for long trips, cabin is quieter, better mpg and having a truck bed for hauling stuff is priceless. The suspension on the PRO is a lot smoother at speed than the 2.0 toytec boss setup I had on the FJ. Driver visibility is also much better to the sides and rear. The FJ has better departure angles for off-road, but my general sense for the wheeling I've done so far is both vehicles are excellent off-road with upgraded tires.

 

Absolutely agree on the lack of visibility in FJ. The only grief I have in the Tacoma is the inability to adjust the seat height.

 

i agree. but i am also keeping my FJ when i buy the new taco.

 

I had an 07 FJ. All bells and whistles with an manual transmission. 13x,xxx miles on it. Just wasn't enough room for me with all my hunting gear. Traded it in for a 2010 Tacoma. Kept the 2010 for right at a year and then went in and bought my 2016 TRDOR. I'd say my 16' has been my favorite out between the 16' and my FJ.

 

Bought the '68 FJ40 in 1970.
Bought my first Tacoma, an '02 in '04. Kept the FJ40.
Bought the '16 in Dec of '15, and sold the '02 after 14 years of ownership.
Still have the FJ40 after 46 years; runs like a dream.

 

You dont like gear hunting then get a CVT.

Seriously though no issues with my 17 that the 16s have had.

 

Tacoma is better for daily driving. But FJ is a lot of fun