Toyota FJ Cruiser is scarce, hot and high-priced

[CoolMax]

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...yota-fj-cruiser-is-scarce-hot-and-high-priced

Automotive News
November 15, 2015 - 12:01 am ET

Neal Wheat, used-car manager at Gloucester Toyota in Gloucester, Va., tried to buy a 2008 FJ Cruiser at an auction about three weeks ago.

But he was outbid by another dealer who was willing to shell out $18,000 for the 8-year-old, 87,000-mile off-road vehicle -- a price Wheat estimates is about 60 percent of its new-vehicle sticker price.

"It's crazy," he said of the off-the-chart values of the off-road SUV. He hasn't had one on his lot in over six months.

"It's a [body-on-frame] SUV, which nobody makes anymore. Dodge Durango went to a unibody; the Ford Explorer went to unibody; they're all car-based SUVs. The Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Wrangler are the only ones that are truck-based anymore."

Toyota dropped the quirky-looking, rock-crawling FJ Cruiser from its lineup last year. FJ Cruisers were low-volume sellers during the vehicle's one generation -- 2007-14 model years -- and are now scarce, hot and high-priced, dealers and industry analysts say.

Toyota sold about 20,000 FJ Cruisers a year on average and about 222,000 all told in the United States.

NADA Used Car Guide data said a base, typically equipped 2012 FJ Cruiser, which had a sticker price of $27,840, had an average trade-in price of $25,275 from August through October 2015 representing 90.8 percent of its sticker price.

That retention is one of the -- "if not the -- highest recorded among non-collectible models" tracked by the company over the last decade, said NADA Used Car Guide analyst Larry Dixon. It's also way ahead of the nearest competitor, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport, in the same three-month period. That vehicle, typically equipped, had an average trade-in value of $18,413 or 68.1 percent of sticker.

Dixon said used cars and trucks overall are on pace to depreciate about 14 percent this year.

Dave Depew, corporate manager of fleet, Toyota certified used vehicles and Toyota Rent a Car, called the FJ Cruiser "iconic". He said the company knew its resale values were good, "but we didn't know they were that good."

Timing for the vehicles is good, too, he said. "We ended production a little over a year ago. The light-truck market is so good right now. People that really want FJs have to get them in the used-vehicle market."

Otto Belovich, owner of Traverse City Toyota in Traverse City, Mich., has two FJ Cruisers on his lot: a 2007 with 141,601 miles listed for $16,950 and a 2014 with 28,061 miles listed at $35,985.

"It's unbelievable how much money they are worth," Belovich said.

According to Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, a 2014 FJ Cruiser's sticker started at "a little over $27,000"; a loaded 2014 model topped "at around $36,000." Automotive News' sibling publication Autoweek reported in October 2006 that the 2007 FJ Cruiser's base sticker was $22,555.

 

[Knight-Errant]

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...yota-fj-cruiser-is-scarce-hot-and-high-priced

What I see happening to the FJ is what happened to the Land Rover Defender. You could buy those relatively inexpensive new, but after they were discontinued the value actually went up (years latter). I would see Defenders going for 40k to 80k in California. Even beat up defenders could be 20-something and destroyed ones in the teens.

If I had one I would hold on to it, my bet is the values will eventually start to creep up.

I would have bought an FJ but the dealer wouldn't offer a reasonable trade in on my car (one year later I got 2k more than what that dealer was offering as a trade in, when I went for the 4runner). Edit: The FJ was discontinued by then...

 

[MelindaDavidson]

We just totalled our FJ and Im crushed. Trying to find a decent one here in KC is proving to be difficult. Our original one was silver and it seems like the only ones on Craigslist are yellow....do not want the yellow.

 

[MelindaDavidson]

One other thing I forgot to ask. Would you guys buy a car that has been lifted?
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ctd/5323241544.html
I'm a little leary of it

 

[T4R2014]

One other thing I forgot to ask. Would you guys buy a car that has been lifted?
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ctd/5323241544.html
I'm a little leary of it

Probably a cheap spacer lift on a truck that has never hit the dirt. Don't worry too much, you could always remove it.

 

[Knight-Errant]

this one guy I knew bought an FJ with a lift...the second he drove off the lot this happened...:target:

 

[Knight-Errant]

...but seriously it looks like that lift combined with those wheels was more for style than anything else. It doesn't seem like it would be abused off road.

 

[Cronus402]

this one guy I knew bought an FJ with a lift...the second he drove off the lot this happened...:target:

Hahahahaha that's hilarious man!

 

[IdahoAngler]

My FJ is apparently worth more now than it was when I bought it three years ago. Trouble is, I have no plans to sell it.

 

[Warrocket]

The old girl is finally getting her due! That being said, used dealers will still try to tell you they can't move them, lol.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

Always liked the FJ's and almost bought one myself, but I needed something with more room so I bought the 4Runner. I did find a FJ for sale today, 2011 with 22,484 miles, price is $32,995.

Used Toyota FJ Cruiser Inventory - Toyota Inventory serving Fresno, Clovis, Selma, Madera - Michael Toyota

 

[WI_4Runner]

Commodity market - cut off supply = only drives prices one direction...

Same would occur if Toyota discontinued the 4Runner line... We'd see our value jump overnight.

 

[Serenity Now]

My FJ is apparently worth more now than it was when I bought it three years ago.

It probably is. About a year ago I paid almost as much for a 2010 as it sold for new, and prices have gone up a bit since then.

 

[Frisco]

Commodity market - cut off supply = only drives prices one direction...

Same would occur if Toyota discontinued the 4Runner line... We'd see our value jump overnight.

I'm getting rid of my FJ this weekend. I think people are going to start asking themselves "Why am I paying a new vehicle price for a three year old vehicle?" I'm getting 32K trade-in, paying $5,700 and receiving a new 2016 4Runner Trail Edition with KDSS, Nav and running boards.

 

[Knight-Errant]

I'm getting rid of my FJ this weekend. I think people are going to start asking themselves "Why am I paying a new vehicle price for a three year old vehicle?" I'm getting 32K trade-in, paying $5,700 and receiving a new 2016 4Runner Trail Edition with KDSS, Nav and running boards.

How many miles did you have on your FJ?

Sounds like you're getting a great deal on your Trail.

 

[Serenity Now]

I'm getting rid of my FJ this weekend. I think people are going to start asking themselves "Why am I paying a new vehicle price for a three year old vehicle?" I'm getting 32K trade-in, paying $5,700 and receiving a new 2016 4Runner Trail Edition with KDSS, Nav and running boards.

[shrug] Depends what you want. I don't have or want KDSS, Nav, and running boards that would get torn of by the first rock I scraped over. But if you're not going to go off-road, then yeah I see your point.

 

[Frisco]

How many miles did you have on your FJ?

Sounds like you're getting a great deal on your Trail.

My FJ had 22K and some change. I wonder how hard it is to temporarily remove the 4Runner running boards on the rare occasion I go offroad. I'm considering the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree in East Texas.

This is the dealer's link trying to sell my old FJ.

Used 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser SR Fort Collins CO

 

[Knight-Errant]

My FJ had 22K and some change. I wonder how hard it is to temporarily remove the 4Runner running boards on the rare occasion I go offroad. I'm considering the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree in East Texas.

This is the dealer's link trying to sell my old FJ.

Used 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser SR Fort Collins CO

3 bolts each side, so it is not too difficult. The running boards are about 13 inches off the ground. I've haven't had a need to remove them on the trails I've driven on, although I don't doubt they'd scrape on tougher trails.

 

[IdahoAngler]

My FJ had 22K and some change. I wonder how hard it is to temporarily remove the 4Runner running boards on the rare occasion I go offroad. I'm considering the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree in East Texas.

This is the dealer's link trying to sell my old FJ.

Used 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser SR Fort Collins CO

They're asking $4,000 more than what I paid for my brand new 2013 Trail Teams FJ in 2012.

 

[Toyota4Runner1234]

I just dont get why they cost so much there nice and all.