...but before I ordered the Rubi, I considered the FJ very briefly. Just out of curiosity, I checked the FJ satisfaction ratings compared to the JK.

Quite the eye opener!

http://autos.yahoo.com/toyota_fj_cruiser-reviews_user/

Compared to

http://autos.yahoo.com/jeep_wrangler...-reviews_user/

 

I used to drive my friend's FJ all the time when he partook in too many adult beverages..... FJ's are great on road, plenty of power and great interior. But, when you try to take the top and doors off, you have to use a Sawzall!

 

When the FJ was first introduced to the press, Car & Driver ran some photos and I thought it was pretty cool... then I saw one in person on the road, and almost puked. They're fugly in real life, and the top doesn't come off! Game over!

 

I too looked at the FJ....I was really seriously considering it, but luckily the 4 door Wrangler became reality soon enough, and "saved" me.

As it was, several things kept me from dropping the cash early on.

1) premium fuel only (gas prices are already high enough for 87 octane...didn't want the 15-30 cents a gallon extra for premium)

2) MAJOR deadzones in vision when driving. If you though the back window view from a hard top in the JK was less than optimal, or that the side vision was marginal...the FJ smokes the JK for craptacular deadzones in vision.

3) suicide doors for the rear seat. this was always what had kept me from buying a Wrangler previously...not having easy access to the rear seat and/or real functionality of such. While the rear seat in the FJ certainly looks comfy enough, the access to it still looked far less than optimal.

4) This was me personally, but the closest Toyota dealer is 60+ miles away, compared to a Jeep dealer (albeit a lousy dealer to buy from) in town, as well as probably 3 others anywhere from 15-45 miles away. Just made more sense with a vehicle that might need factory service to have the option in town, or close by, rather than an hour+ drive away. Again, that complaint though was a "me" issue and not against the FJ itself.

I personally liked the "ugliness" factor of it....but then I have always liked a vehicle that stood out from the crowd, and it certainly does. But then, so does the JK, so I still won on that factor too.

 

When we first started looking at the JKs, my Dad wanted us to look at the FJ's and H3s too. My fiance asked "does the top come off? do the doors? No? hmmmm then why would I even look at one?" She always picks on him for his H2. When he first got it he was showing it to her and he showed her the power moon roof. She kept a straight poker face and said "Thats nice, but its a shame the whole thing doesnt come off.... interesting" He was speechless he did start laughing after a few seconds of unsuccessfully trying to come up with a comeback I was practically on the floor laughing

 

Talk about polar opposites.

 

I bought an FJ when they came out last year and wheeled it pretty good. I put a mild lift and the 32" BFG MT's from my Rubicon on it when I lifted my jeep. It was pretty solid, but it in no way compared to the jeep off road.
From a looks standpoint, I got as many looks in the FJ when it came out and a great deal of compliments as I did with the new jeep. However, now there are so many, everybody has seen one by now and the looks have stopped.
From a mechanical standpoint, the FJ had the jeep beat hands down, no contest, KO in the first 30 seconds of the fight. No problems and adequate power in over a year of driving the FJ. The jeep has had seven trips to the shop in just around 8 months...TSBs, recall, new ignition switch, torque converter, and front track bar.
Now with all that said (are you still reading this?), I traded in the FJ last month on a new car for the wife and the jeep is now my daily driver. Call me a masochist, but I guess I like the constant maintenance and waves from kids and girls when I go driving by with the top and doors off on a sunny day here in Atlanta.

 

The JK will be worth a lot more once Chrysler goes out of business and Ford takes over the Jeep line. We might all be holding onto collectable Wranglers if they're only built for 2 years.

Toyota will be around forever so they won't be worth squat.

 

The only FJ Toyota made that was any good was the FJ 40.

 

I know this is sacrelige, and I will probably get slapped all around the forum for saying this but.............since it looks as though Cerberus will be unable to come up with the cash to close the deal, and DCX is sucking wind hard........maybe Toyota will buy (and then build) Jeep. Then I can have the best of both worlds......My incredible Jeep and the reliability of all the Toyotas I've owned.