I'd hardly call it a flop. At the time it had one of the highest re-sale values in the SUV market. Toyota does some stupid $hit when it comes to halting production. Look at the Celica, that was a huge seller yet they stopped it, MR2 also. So to say the FJ was a flop because Muffy & Biff couldn't get their leather/cushy interior is just :crazy:.:cheers: my friend!
For those who want to see the FJ come back
- Thread starter Blue 4ever Runner
- Start date
I'd hardly call it a flop. At the time it had one of the highest re-sale values in the SUV market. Toyota does some stupid $hit when it comes to halting production. Look at the Celica, that was a huge seller yet they stopped it, MR2 also. So to say the FJ was a flop because Muffy & Biff couldn't get their leather/cushy interior is just :crazy:.:cheers: my friend!
Thai
Elite Member
I don’t think that it sold well at all, certainly way behind the competition.
Before we reflect fondly back at the FJ, please remember that it had its fair share of issues:
1. Front fender bending/bulging with any off-roading…a weakness due weak front crossmember that was shared with 4th gen 4runner.
2. Piss poor visibility in any direction.
3. Tight backseat and smallish cargo.
4. For some, it rivaled the Pontiac Aztec as being the ugliest vehicle ever made….
I can forgive #2 to 4. But fender bending is a no-no in my book. That is pure fail.
Thai
Elite Member
My brother had one and we off-roaded with it. Well familiarized with it. And i was an active FJ forum member for years because we had group trips.
The fender bulge was a BIG issue that affected LOTS of FJs.
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Thanks for sharing!!! Like I posted wasn't trying to be a 'Richard" just asked if you owned one BUT you have basically 1st hand knowledge. Now I didn't do major off roading with either of my 2 nor W/2015 Tacoma TTRD Sport or W/Present 2018 4Runner TRD OR. I save that for my ATV. I loved the FJ, my wife was ok W/it /Never liked the Tacoma( I don't want/need true 4 dr) BUT I wasn't buying another Tacoma. She loves the 4Runner. Says it's way classier then Tacoma till I put the 275/70/17 Discoverer XT's on it :madgrin:
Thai
Elite Member
I would take a 5th gen over FJ any day of the week. 5th Gen is better in every way except uniqueness and maybe resale value now.
I will give you that the 4Runner (even TRD OR pkg) is nicer then FJ from what I remember BUT the FJ was WAS better interior overall then the Tacoma TRD Sport. That was chinsy/bland & just BLAAAA. In the Snow the FJ hardly needed to be put into 4x4 on the roads W/decent amount of snow accumulation. It was like a billy goat as others in that forum described it as!!
BlackWorksInc
New member
I do recall seeing lots of posts about that back in the day, weirdly enough I never had the opportunity to see it in person with the couple people I know who had FJs and wheeled them.
Stranger still... even though the J120/J150 frame is basically identical between the FJ & 4th/5th gens (for the most part it was just truncated in the middle) I don't recall many 4th or 5th Gens having fender bulging issues.
It was certainty an odd engineering oversight/failure for sure.
~
I didn't mind the looks of the FJ or even the weirdly poor visibility (you got used to it after a while). The suicide doors left a lot to be desired and the fact the rubber floor wasn't a true "hose out" style bummed me out. A lot of stuff about the FJ was both appealing and ultimately half-baked... which seemed odd to me since it was supposed to be a Jeep competitor but they sorta restrained themselves too much from going "full off-road."
Oh well.
Thai
Elite Member
BlairB 4th gen 4runner has a failure due failed crossmember. 5th gen crossmember is stronger I believe.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Will have to dig around and see if I can find that. It wouldn't surprise me that the 5th gen is a bit stronger. Despite the frames being very much the same overall, they did reinforce certain parts and upgrade the steel used in some sections.
