Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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Toyota FJ Cruiser
Okay, I'm sure this should get a few posts, so here goes. I currently own a 1993 Toyota 4wd truck that goes anywhere in Baja. But, now that I am
approaching 200k, I think it might be time to do more than a tune-up. (I can see all the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge owners nodding in agreement).
Anyways, I'm pretty impressed with the specs on the new FJ Cruiser.
Anyone out there in Nomad Land have some insight:
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/future/fj_cruiser/index.html
Thanks in advance.
Zac
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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one of the things that will sell me is if you have room to sleep in the back(must be at least 6 foot), when tired just pull over and crawl in the
back. i'm still likeing the tundra,after driveing my girlfriends down through baja a few times i was sure that this was my next truck. allso heard
rumors of a full size diesel truck comeing out soon. i have allmost 100,000 miles on my truck(tacoma) with not 1 problem and thats what sells me.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65209
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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That's for sure! Stevo, my 2001 Tacoma has over 120,000 miles now... never broke down! I have only had two items replaced: an Oxygen sensor and the
water pump at 90,000 miles (when I had the timing belt replaced as recommended, they noticed some water leaking, and it is cheaper to change the pump
when they had it exposed like that).
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bajapablo
Nomad
Posts: 226
Registered: 1-27-2004
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That FJ Cruiser
Sure looks cool. As us toyota owners know, you can't go wrong with a toy. We've had two camry's and have no complaints. I am still waiting to get
my first truck (Tundra). If I was single or married with no kids I would be all over that Cruiser...
\"changes it lattitudes, changes in attitudes\"
J.Buffet
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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Toyotas do occasionally break down
My '97 Camry blew it's auto transmission at 72,000 miles, and it had positively never been abused-----just blew up going down the highway at 65 mph.
Cost to replace: $3200. Car now has 83K and no other problems ever encountered. Dealer said that my problem was "unheard of", but it was 26 days
"out of warrantee" on an extended 7 year warrantee, so I had to foot the bill. Does that surprise anybody? Barry
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4342
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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That looks like a cool truck. I can see it know parked on a lonely beach somewhere south of Bahia de Los Angeles! 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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git a Hummer.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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dug
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Oceanside
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We have 5 diesel Hilux 4x4s and two 2004 turbo diesel Land Cruisers here in Peru. The FJ is too small for our use. The Land Cruisers don't have room
for me to sleep in back. That's why I keep a full size Dodge diesel in California for Baja.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Barry I'm not surprised as I believe any vehicle can have a problem. I too have owned a camry, a 91 and thought it to be the best car I had ever
owned. I have also purchased 4 Toyota trucks, 3 for my son and 1 for me. All new. Had great luck with all except son's first. It wasn't Toyota's fault
he rolled it in Mexico after one month.
My only complaint is with the 3 liter and later 3.4 liter truck engines and lack of power. Not a problem off-road but on the hwy, especially freeways.
However I have been looking at the new Tacoma with the 4 liter engine. I haven't driven one yet but have been told it moves. I saw a double cab 4x4 at
the RV show last Sunday. Gas milage claim was 18 city and 22 hwy or something close to that. With the standard size composite bed.
I also like the Tundra but would like to see a 5.7 engine in it. It was the best riding truck I ever test drove down hwy 99.
I see the FJ has the same engine. I looked at the site Bajaboy gave but I couldn't find specs on the Wheel base etc. From the looks it appears the
size of the Nissan Xtera.
Bruce a lot of people do like the Hummer. Another interesting thing at the RV show was that the Hummers were the only trucks and SUVs that did not
have the gas milage posted on the MSRP sticker. With todays gas prices I don't think I'll be driving a Hummer any time soon. maybe if I hit the lotto.
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Nikon
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 12-11-2003
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Dug, let me guess, it's the size of your head that prevents you sleeping in Cruisers.
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Bajadtodebone
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 1-8-2005
Location: Kingston Springs TN/Campo Gecko
Member Is Offline
Mood: baja dreamin'
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FJ Cruiser
I dare say the only thing (like the Hummer) that this "Cruiser" will be good for is stroking th ego at the local shopping mall. This thing is just too
damn pretty for baja. If you are SERIOUS about a vehicle to do the outbacks of Baja I suggest you spend about $30k less and get an original FJ40 Land
Cruiser. Why? NO electronics to quit, you can fix them easily, and they are essentially bullet proof. I know, I've owned two of them and have run
them through places in the Sierras that would make Baja blush. My only wish is that I still owned one of them.  
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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Whistler and others:
I'm enjoying the debates...I will be interested to see what price the FJ comes in at..then I'll have a better idea of what I want to do. Parts of me
want to invest a bit of money into my current truck, parts of me want to buy a Toyota double-cab, and now I have my eyes on the FJ.
I think Toyota should donate a few FJs to us Nomads to test drive in Baja.
Zac
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A-OK
Nomad
Posts: 162
Registered: 9-11-2004
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: faded
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H2's are just big galoots sitting on Tahoe frames. They are also notorious for front end malfunctions
just the facts ma'am....... just the facts
http://www.fish-store.com/h2_pop_tie-rod.wmv
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
Member Is Offline
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A-OK that was great i allways though they were a piece of crap and that video proves it. love the toyota!!!!
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Pappy Jon
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Wrong side of the Continental divide.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Temp rising.
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I've owned too many Toyota 4x4's ... 1982 (RN38?) short bed, 1985 xcab (RN66), 1985 4Runner (RN61, still have), 1998 Taco, 1969 Land Cruiser (FJ40 in
parts). So I have a rather strong opinion on the alleged "FJ" Cruisers.
First, I will argue that Toyota can't call it an "FJ" model. Why? It doesn't have an F-series straight 6 motor, it has the 4.0L V6 motor. Second, no
solid axle, no Land Cruiser. Toyota stopped importing real Land Cruisers with the introduction of the 100-series in the late 90's. Of course the rest
of the world was still able to purchase 100-series LC's with solid axles and part time transfer cases.
Would I own one, a FJ Cruiser? Don't know. I want to see one first. I suspect it's not as tough as they make it out to be. The rear locker is nice and
a big plus. It's certainly too low to the ground. And to me it looks like a shrunk Hummer. I want more information.
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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Here's another link with lots of pictures:
http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/newsshorts/03january/fj_...
Zac
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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Those are some weird looking tires. Personally I'd probably get rid of the 20 inch rims and put 16's on if they cleared the brakes and go with 33 inch
BFG tires.
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