FJ Cruiser

cossie1600 · 08-19-2011, 12:48 PM

Since my 370Z decides to fail me at 12K miles, I am thinking about moving up my plans for a dedicated race car and baby. In order to get them, I will need a tow vehicle. I am thinking about a FJ Cruiser since it is relatively cheap and it has a decent towing capacity (5000lbs, 3000 race car with 2000 trailer). Have you guys driven one? I just want to see your thoughts on it.

I am tempted to get another sports car, but nothing is really good in the 20-30K range. I dont want to go overboard since I don't plan to track any car over 10K on the track in the near future as I saw my friend's 30K Corvette getting totalled. I will miss the autox scene, but I can always take the Prius with slicks to scare the rookies. I would also love a sports car to drive to work, but I am not sure a used European car for $20K is a good idea, especially with my luck on cars since almost every car I owned broke for one reason or another the last 4 years.

shadoquad · 08-19-2011, 03:08 PM

My folks just bought a 2008 FJ with TRD pkg.

It's not bad. It's not powerful, considering the weight. It's not sporty in the least. Brakes are a bit light, too.

But it's comfortable and capable. And you can fit adults in the back pretty comfortably. It's a nice ride, and they can be had for a very reasonable cost.

m4a1mustang · 08-19-2011, 03:10 PM

I dunno if I'd want to tow with that thing. You'd be maxed out with just the car and trailer...

shadoquad · 08-19-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I dunno if I'd want to tow with that thing. You'd be maxed out with just the car and trailer...

True. The putt-putter engine is already doing a lot of work to try and pull that hefty vehicle.

6MT · 08-19-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

My folks just bought a 2008 FJ with TRD pkg.

It's not bad. It's not powerful, considering the weight. It's not sporty in the least. Brakes are a bit light, too.

But it's comfortable and capable. And you can fit adults in the back pretty comfortably. It's a nice ride, and they can be had for a very reasonable cost.

And what's really weird on this vehicle is the 3 front windsheild wiper blades.

Makes it look kind of like a cyclops.

Dark Sarcasm · 08-19-2011, 05:49 PM

If you are gonna tow a trailer with a vehicle on it you need tow rig with torque and a long wheelbase. Look for an older used deisel truck or and gasser like a F250. I would be afraid of the trailer over powering the FJ on a windy hilly road.

birdmanx1 · 08-19-2011, 05:54 PM

I ride in my friend's FJ at least 2 or 3 times a week. it feels more like a truck above anything else. The space inside feels awkward IMO, especially if you plan on having adults of my size in the backseat; Very very good in snow. Decent car overall but not the best for towing anything else as the engine is not very powerful.

Red__Zed · 08-19-2011, 05:58 PM

FJ fails for towing tbh.

What are you getting for the track?

Waiz · 08-19-2011, 06:25 PM

FJ is all fluff, and over-priced.

I would recommend a low mileage 2005-2007 Xterra SE over an FJ

FL 4Motion · 08-19-2011, 06:39 PM

FJ's correctly optioned out are a very good off road vehicle, but I wouldn't tow anything substantial wiht it. Esp since it has a relatively short wheelbase.

If you're set on a 'yota, I'd go with the new 4runner instead, it's good better room/ergonomics inside and has the same tow rating and a slightly longer wheelbase.

A used ,or new for that matter, Xterra would be cheaper. Has a 5K tow rating as well, but like I said earlier, I wouldn't really want to take any of these vehicles right up to their max rating.

used 1/2 ton pickup or 3/4--1ton diesel pickup is your best bet for a tow vehicle.

cossie1600 · 08-19-2011, 06:42 PM

Xterra is an old design and it is a piece of poop. It gets like 16mpg average while the FJ gets 20. Look at the resale value, the FJ is not a bad car. The problem is that they all come loaded from the factory, I am not paying $32k for it.

Red__Zed · 08-19-2011, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Xterra is an old design and it is a piece of poop. It gets like 16mpg average while the FJ gets 20. Look at the resale value, the FJ is not a bad car. The problem is that they all come loaded from the factory, I am not paying $32k for it.

meh, sounds like you've convinced yourself to get an FJ and don't really care about advice.

FL 4Motion · 08-19-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Xterra is an old design and it is a piece of poop. It gets like 16mpg average while the FJ gets 20. Look at the resale value, the FJ is not a bad car. The problem is that they all come loaded from the factory, I am not paying $32k for it.

xterra may be an old design, but it works and it's super rugged. Won't argue about the gas mileage. No need to hate on it just cause your Z turned out to be a lemon tho.

Get an FJ, it's seems obvious you are leaning that way already. I personally really like them, wouldn't mind a trail teams ed. FJ in either white or this year's army green color at all.

shadoquad · 08-19-2011, 07:02 PM

My folks have an FJ, my bro has an Xterra. Both are nice vehicles.

Dark Sarcasm · 08-20-2011, 08:13 AM

suggestion for a track car..... Miata.

08-19-2011, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	FJ Cruiser Since my 370Z decides to fail me at 12K miles, I am thinking about moving up my plans for a dedicated race car and baby. In order to get them, I will need a tow vehicle. I am thinking about a FJ Cruiser since it is relatively cheap and it has a decent towing capacity (5000lbs, 3000 race car with 2000 trailer). Have you guys driven one? I just want to see your thoughts on it. I am tempted to get another sports car, but nothing is really good in the 20-30K range. I dont want to go overboard since I don't plan to track any car over 10K on the track in the near future as I saw my friend's 30K Corvette getting totalled. I will miss the autox scene, but I can always take the Prius with slicks to scare the rookies. I would also love a sports car to drive to work, but I am not sure a used European car for $20K is a good idea, especially with my luck on cars since almost every car I owned broke for one reason or another the last 4 years.

08-19-2011, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	I dunno if I'd want to tow with that thing. You'd be maxed out with just the car and trailer... __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

08-19-2011, 05:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dark Sarcasm Track Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Katy Texas Posts: 552 Drives: 11 CTS-V Coupe Rep Power: 15	If you are gonna tow a trailer with a vehicle on it you need tow rig with torque and a long wheelbase. Look for an older used deisel truck or and gasser like a F250. I would be afraid of the trailer over powering the FJ on a windy hilly road. __________________ wax

08-19-2011, 05:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
birdmanx1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Baltimore, MD Age: 95 Posts: 3,175 Drives: 370z Nismo Rep Power: 23	I ride in my friend's FJ at least 2 or 3 times a week. it feels more like a truck above anything else. The space inside feels awkward IMO, especially if you plan on having adults of my size in the backseat; Very very good in snow. Decent car overall but not the best for towing anything else as the engine is not very powerful. __________________ 370Z NISMO #0462 \| ClearBra \| 3M tint \| Head/Taillights \| Dynamat \| Black Roof \| Tommy Kaira HB \| CF Parts \| Berk HFCs \| FI SS \| NST Pulleys \| Takeda aFe \| K&N \| H&R Spacers \| Swift Spec R \| SPC F&R \| Zuperman M370 Nismo Vid \| Nismo Journal \| Nismo Rumble

08-20-2011, 08:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
Dark Sarcasm Track Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Katy Texas Posts: 552 Drives: 11 CTS-V Coupe Rep Power: 15	suggestion for a track car..... Miata. __________________ wax

08-19-2011, 03:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3885	My folks just bought a 2008 FJ with TRD pkg. It's not bad. It's not powerful, considering the weight. It's not sporty in the least. Brakes are a bit light, too. But it's comfortable and capable. And you can fit adults in the back pretty comfortably. It's a nice ride, and they can be had for a very reasonable cost.

08-19-2011, 05:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 119	FJ fails for towing tbh. What are you getting for the track?

08-19-2011, 06:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 459	FJ is all fluff, and over-priced. I would recommend a low mileage 2005-2007 Xterra SE over an FJ

08-19-2011, 06:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
FL 4Motion A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: FL Posts: 4,776 Drives: Baby Shark Rep Power: 701615	FJ's correctly optioned out are a very good off road vehicle, but I wouldn't tow anything substantial wiht it. Esp since it has a relatively short wheelbase. If you're set on a 'yota, I'd go with the new 4runner instead, it's good better room/ergonomics inside and has the same tow rating and a slightly longer wheelbase. A used ,or new for that matter, Xterra would be cheaper. Has a 5K tow rating as well, but like I said earlier, I wouldn't really want to take any of these vehicles right up to their max rating. used 1/2 ton pickup or 3/4--1ton diesel pickup is your best bet for a tow vehicle.

08-19-2011, 06:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	Xterra is an old design and it is a piece of poop. It gets like 16mpg average while the FJ gets 20. Look at the resale value, the FJ is not a bad car. The problem is that they all come loaded from the factory, I am not paying $32k for it.

08-19-2011, 07:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3885	My folks have an FJ, my bro has an Xterra. Both are nice vehicles.

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