For those who want to see the FJ come back

I had 2008 & 2012 and would've bought a 2015 instead on Tacoma BUT they weren't importing them here. I loved my 2 . I don't need or want a true 4 door. The 4Runner has grown on me BUT if they bring back the FJ I will most likely get one when my 4Runner hits 80k mi.
 
I'm not a fan of leather seats in general, slightly more tolerant of the faux leather/leatherette style interior touches that some of the newer vehicles have.

But honestly, I would much rather have a "nicer" interior option geared toward "ruggedness" in a more utilitarian oriented vehicle like a 4runner, Tacoma, FJ, etc. For example:

"Rugged Expeditioner Package:"

-Option of water resistant Cordura or Carhart-branded Canvas upholstered fabric seats
-Durable dark grey or black patterned (canvas?) headliner that resists wear and tear from loading and unloading all your gear.
-Strong polymer interior panels with rubber/Softex like material on high wear/high touch areas
-Choose from a selection of optional decorative trim materials such as: Saddle Leather, Anodized or Brushed Aluminum, Cordura, and Softex
-Form Fitting Rubberized replacement for factory carpet designed to limit liquid/debris ingress into body (think grommets for harnesses and overlapped seams so the liquid doesn't seep under and it's much easier to clean.)
-Optional form fit expandable switch panel and weatherizatied secondary undeood fuse block for all your accessories (switches sold with accessories and/or available separately)

That's a "premium" option package I would gladly pay extra for over a "Luxury" oriented one. In my experience the luxury materials don't wear as nicely, last as long, or look as nice as they did in the first couple years. I would rather have "premium rugged materials" in my utilitarian vehicle over fashionista cowboy aesthetic or "Lexus/Mercedes done dirt cheap" that you see in a lot of the higher end trims. You CAN make solid, rugged, and highly durable materials look luxurious, quality, and not compromise the interior durability of a vehicle used for actual work and play. It costs more and needs the right design, but as a "premium" package oriented towards people who want a nice look but durable function I think it can work.
 
I'm not a fan of leather seats in general, slightly more tolerant of the faux leather/leatherette style interior touches that some of the newer vehicles have.

But honestly, I would much rather have a "nicer" interior option geared toward "ruggedness" in a more utilitarian oriented vehicle like a 4runner, Tacoma, FJ, etc. For example:

"Rugged Expeditioner Package:"

-Option of water resistant Cordura or Carhart-branded Canvas upholstered fabric seats
-Durable dark grey or black patterned (canvas?) headliner that resists wear and tear from loading and unloading all your gear.
-Strong polymer interior panels with rubber/Softex like material on high wear/high touch areas
-Choose from a selection of optional decorative trim materials such as: Saddle Leather, Anodized or Brushed Aluminum, Cordura, and Softex
-Form Fitting Rubberized replacement for factory carpet designed to limit liquid/debris ingress into body (think grommets for harnesses and overlapped seams so the liquid doesn't seep under and it's much easier to clean.)
-Optional form fit expandable switch panel and weatherizatied secondary undeood fuse block for all your accessories (switches sold with accessories and/or available separately)

That's a "premium" option package I would gladly pay extra for over a "Luxury" oriented one. In my experience the luxury materials don't wear as nicely, last as long, or look as nice as they did in the first couple years. I would rather have "premium rugged materials" in my utilitarian vehicle over fashionista cowboy aesthetic or "Lexus/Mercedes done dirt cheap" that you see in a lot of the higher end trims. You CAN make solid, rugged, and highly durable materials look luxurious, quality, and not compromise the interior durability of a vehicle used for actual work and play. It costs more and needs the right design, but as a "premium" package oriented towards people who want a nice look but durable function I think it can work.

Or you could just have nonluxurious rugged materials that cost less, last longer, and most importantly COST LESS!!!!! Seriously! Car culture is weird! I didn't care about luxury this, luxury that when I was a kid and wanted a badass car. I wanted a badass car! Nowadays everyone's all like "so I have this BMW that's practically a race car, but I also have all these ways the car can tickle my prostate while I'm wrapped in luxurious alcantara and soothed by the sounds of nature booming out of my JBL sound system" and I'm like "did you realize that there was weed in those brownies?" Tough dudes talking about how bling their car is and trying to outbling everybody else's bling. Makes me sick. I bet stereotypical mean girls aren't this superficial.
 
Or you could just have nonluxurious rugged materials that cost less, last longer, and most importantly COST LESS!!!!! Seriously! Car culture is weird! I didn't care about luxury this, luxury that when I was a kid and wanted a badass car. I wanted a badass car! Nowadays everyone's all like "so I have this BMW that's practically a race car, but I also have all these ways the car can tickle my prostate while I'm wrapped in luxurious alcantara and soothed by the sounds of nature booming out of my JBL sound system" and I'm like "did you realize that there was weed in those brownies?" Tough dudes talking about how bling their car is and trying to outbling everybody else's bling. Makes me sick. I bet stereotypical mean girls aren't this superficial.

Thing is they'd have to go out of their way to make separate molds, pull different materials and such to make your "plain jane" version because most people wouldn't want it. Not everyone wants a U-Haul Truck interior as functional as it is; so in today's environment is ends up costing them more to make it that different. That's why I was saying that if they're gonna go out of their way to make a more rugged interior they can tailor it as a premium option with actual good materials that look nice (it doesn't have to be blingy is my point with my proposed trim package, but it looks nice and functions).

Otherwise your best bet is to just plasti-dip your inside and use some rubber sheeting here and there... : /
 
Thing is they'd have to go out of their way to make separate molds, pull different materials and such to make your "plain jane" version because most people wouldn't want it. Not everyone wants a U-Haul Truck interior as functional as it is; so in today's environment is ends up costing them more to make it that different. That's why I was saying that if they're gonna go out of their way to make a more rugged interior they can tailor it as a premium option with actual good materials that look nice (it doesn't have to be blingy is my point with my proposed trim package, but it looks nice and functions).

Otherwise your best bet is to just plasti-dip your inside and use some rubber sheeting here and there... : /

The Maverick seems to be taking off with its less luxurious than average interior. I'd go even less luxurious than that, but still.
 
I agree that the styling is kinda...well...interesting and kinda looks like the new Defender. The color scheme doesn't help.

That said, and the range limitations not withstanding, I still wouldn't mind seeing a true off-road capable EV running around.
 
Till these off-road-centric vehicles have interiors that a LOT more people want (and they hardly go off-road...nothing wrong with that) they simply will not sell well enough. The FJ's dark/awful looking interior and the suicide doors simply turned off too many. We need those nice people to buy them too, so the FJ needs to offer options/packages for them. Otherwise, they fade away.

When I ordered my Rubicon, I ordered it with leather, heated seats, etc. It was far nicer to drive than my other Rubicon which was 2-door and all black fabric. Even a guy who does go off-road (me) would not buy the old FJ unless it was a third vehicle. Toyota just missed that whole demographic of people who want a rugged vehicle but also want leather, a lighter-colored interior, heated steering wheel/seats, and all the electronic connectivity features.
 
Had 2 FJ's and would've still been buying them if they imported it. I don't need true 4 doors. I liked the interior/suicide doors. I personally hate leather. My wife always has it in her cars.Hopefully it comes back when I'm ready to trade this 4runner in cause I don't like what I'm seeing in the 6th gen IF they're gonna look like what's been out there.
 
Till these off-road-centric vehicles have interiors that a LOT more people want (and they hardly go off-road...nothing wrong with that) they simply will not sell well enough

Then let it be an upper trim thing. I don't want to pay for that crap.
 
Then let it be an upper trim thing. I don't want to pay for that crap.

You may not but the people who matter...they do. They will happily pay $60K for a FJ while you may only want to pay $40 for a basic version. A top end package or two is exactly the point. THOSE packages make the manufacturer the high profit margins that are needed to keep that model from fading out.
 
You may not but the people who matter...they do. They will happily pay $60K for a FJ while you may only want to pay $40 for a basic version. A top end package or two is exactly the point. THOSE packages make the manufacturer the high profit margins that are needed to keep that model from fading out.

$40,000 on an FJ?

Also, all these people that matter are temporarily embarrassed millionaires. John Steinbeck is rolling over in his grave.
 
Why? Because they spend 60K or even 100K on a vehicle? Yeah, okay. Great logic.

When they're not financially stable enough to do so responsibly, yeah. Temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

There's no reason that there can't be off-road-centric vehicles that don't cost luxury car amounts of money. No, unibody car-based crossover things don't count.

This isn't the rich peoples' club. This isn't Greenwich, Connecticut. Too many Americans have deluded themselves into thinking they're made of money.
 
I actually know at least some of these people. Not at all deluded or whatever. They make a lot of money and like spending it on huge homes and expensive vehicles. Not sure who you are referring to. I don’t make 400K-500K a year but a lot of them do and that’s what some of them do….buy toys. Heck, a neighbor just bought his son a Raptor for graduating HS. More power to them.
 
I actually know at least some of these people. Not at all deluded or whatever. They make a lot of money and like spending it on huge homes and expensive vehicles. Not sure who you are referring to. I don’t make 400K-500K a year but a lot of them do and that’s what some of them do….buy toys. Heck, a neighbor just bought his son a Raptor for graduating HS. More power to them.

Those aren't temporarily embarrassed millionaires. Those are actual millionaires.

You're making a Land Rover out of an FJ Cruiser. An FJ Cruiser was roughly $30,000 for a 4X4 in its final year. There are way more people with $30,000 to responsibly spend than $60,000 or more, and the overall income a manufacturer would see through sheer volume alone would be nothing to scoff at. Of course, nobody's ever accused the average big business of being smart in the long term.

Your points are stupid. Go be dumb by your rich self. I'm out.
 
Good luck with that $30 mark if it comes back. You will be lucky if it stays below $40K. Toyota will need luck with the sales #s if it has a crap interior like it did. Remember...it was a flop here, so they stopped making it....similar to the Honda Element...sinking sales and a total flop. People stopped buying it. Next you will want a 6-speed. Yeah, people stopped buying that too. Let's stop living 20 years ago.
 

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