Going from a Tacoma to a Fj

This happened Tuesday.....I'm in love. The Tacoma was nice, but man this thing is pimp! 2007 FJammer auto 4x4

 

Congrats!
Now go to the "Blue Room" at once !

(Nevermind, see you're there already,LOL)

 

I owned a 2.7L 05 tacoma 2wd than an 06 X-Runner supercharged and now an fj cruiser. I can tell you that you will love the power from the 4.0L much better! The ride is also much better in the fj cruiser than the tacomas. The 2 things you will not like are the poor visibility (which you get used too) and slightly worse mpg

 

May I suggest you start with a small mod before you get all crazy.....like a Ellis Precision shift knob set!

 

The FJ has a softer ride but the trade off is handling on pavement. I find my new DCLB sport to handle way better on road. Off-road and in snow the FJ is like driving an ATV.

 

I would definitely agree with this. Aside from the visibility hindrance, I enjoy offroading in the FJ 100 times more than I did with the Taco. Tube doors on the FJ help a bit too.

 

A good set of blind spot mirrors help a lot. I had about a cars length worth of blind spot on my drivers side that made passing on the highway almost dangerous. Put a 3" blind spot mirror on each mirror and no more blind spots! Also helps with rear tire placement when off-roading

 

I have a 2014 FJ, also had a 2007. Waiting on a 2016 Taco. Best of both worlds....but I can tell you this, I will never part with the FJ.

People whine about visibility in new gen Camaros as well, but I haven't seen a single FJ or Camaro smashed on the side of the road this year. Or ever. Does this mean people are using their mirrors? Puzzling.

 

I bought a new FJ in 2010. Had to have it... it was on the showroom flow with a 3" inch lift (no spacers). I traded a '97 Tacoma TRD 5MT that I had owned for 10 years. I was commuting 80 miles on the weekends to see the GF. The transmission kept searching at highway speeds with the 33" tires and lift. Couldn't get the tires balanced; I missed being able to downshift, no manual mode on the AT. I had terrible remorse in letting the Tacoma go. I sold the FJ after 6 months...yikes! Replaced it with an '07 Tacoma Sport 6MT. Had I bought the FJ with stock suspension and MT things may have been different. It looked bad*ss though...

 

I love my fj, I like driving it a lot more than my Tacoma dclb. It's more roomy inside, rides nicer, and is literally 3 feet shorter, making it a lot easier to maneuver around in parking lots and other tight spaces. And honestly I don't feel there are any worse blind spots than in my tacoma. Between looking over my shoulder and the mirrors I can see everything. When it comes to hauling, there's quite a lot or room in back, even more with the seats down. For lumber or sheets of plywood, you can use a roof rack, which I plan to buy.

 

Unfortunately I'm on my last week or so of having my 13" FJ as I will be trading it in for the 16" Taco once they find the one I want. The FJ is a solid machine and treated me good but I do miss having the bed for more storage and hauling stuff etc. I had the 11" SR5 Taco before the FJ which I never had any issues with neither so theres been times where I just needed a pick up again. The FJ's blind spots were never an issue for me as you get use to it like anything else. Just use your mirrors and turn your head like you should be doing, Plus the backup camera helps some on the later models. It's all just comes down to personal preference...

 

I would def vote FJ, but I'm biased. I can deal without the bed by having that huge trunk and fold down seats....and a full roof rack. I rarely ever have more than one person ride with me, so the seats could stay down forever. The full time 4wd from the 6mt is def fun, and makes most driving situations safer by default. Blind spots....meh, people drive buses and box trucks without hitting people everyday....so their hindrance is almost always greatly exaggerated. Other than that...it's got great build quality like any $30k+ Toyota will. I think the decision should weigh most heavily on your desire for the bed in the taco.

 

I've always driven a Tacoma. An 04 DC TRD Off Road then an 07 DC TRD Off Road. Just picked up this 2012 on Friday. LOOOOVE IT! I drive an ambulance daily and have no vision other than with side mirrors so driving an FJ is no big deal. Ride is better than my Tacoma and the driver seat already had the 1 1/2" billet aluminum spacers to level it. The clam shell doors are the only gripe I have, but like everything else, I'll get used to it.

 

Hey looks just just like the 2012 I just bought!

 

Nice ride. I really like my '14 FJ. Ride is great and is fun to drive. It has been 100% no issues for 80k miles.

 

Got mine with 3 yr 100% everything is covered front to back top to bottom platinum plan with free blowjobs. No worries for three years.

 

Lol. And made in Japan. Everything on mine feels much tighter than my made in US toyotas, tacoma/tundra.

 

For mine being 5 going on 6 years old, it still feels pretty solid. I would really love to know why they discontinued the FJ in the US but still produce them for Japan and Australia.

 

I have the flat utility Baja Rack. Can carry 10'+ lumber unlike my taco. At one point I built a whole 10x12 shed that everything was hauled on top my fj, except the crete. Not all at one time.

 

Fleet mpg avg rules imposed by the fed govt. Toy decided to keep 4rnr and Sequoia as they had a larger market.