Toyota FJ Cruiser Changes You'd Like to See
What does Toyota need to add to the FJ to make it perfect?
Navigation (or is the Garmin ok)?
A diesel engine option?
That rumored Moab edition?
Navigation (or is the Garmin ok)?
A diesel engine option?
That rumored Moab edition?
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It's not just a matter of adding - they need to subtract some things as well: I want an FJ Cruiser that's more true to the original FJ40's standard of function taking precedence over form.
- Simplfy the bumpers, dump the hideous cladding and plastic bodywork.
- Fix the big blind spots, (shrink the C-pillar, increase the size of the rear passenger windows).
- Improve the forward visibility.
- Improve the turning circle diameter.
- Add a diesel engine option.
- Switch to independent front suspension.
- Add wider rear passenger doors with external door handles.
- Add traditional FJ40 colors (red, green, beige)
- Add removable hardtop, optional softtop, optional sunroof (for pretenders).
- Increase flexibility in adding options.
- Improve the stereo (or make it optional for those of us with good ears).
- Remove the premium fuel "requirement".
- Add proper side mirrors.
- Add rear seats that fold completely flat.
- Keep the price around $25,000.
I think you mean solid front axle (like the old FJ40-80), right?
I agree, oh and a removable roof option and make the Moab version simple with only 4WD goodies added... 33" all-terrain tires, locking rear diff, ATRAC, roof rack, winch, etc.
And a smallish one, not some firebreathing behemouth...just a nice mild maybe 4 cylinder Perkins type 150 hp or so.
My wife has a Jeep Liberty with a little 4 cylinder diesel in it..great mileage, power aplenty...great little truck, but interior is just a tad small for my 6'6" body..
I would arm wrestle you for an FJ with a nice moderate diesel in it.
GypsyJon
- Winter package: windshield wiper, washer jet & exterior mirror deicers, engine block heater, heated seats
- Stability control that remains on in high-range 4WD
- Opening rear windows
- Engine immobiliser
1. Tailgate option instead of a swing out door.
2. Move the rear view mirrors forward four or five inches.
3. Sunroof
FJ Cruiser's Suicide Doors Are Well Named
Add a big canvas sunroof and I would be pleased.
Overall still best all purpose off-road vehicle on market.
Also a sunroof, although i understand that it might interfere with the integrity of the overall structure.
I got Toyota to install heated seats on mine... good for my winter trips to the snow. Otherwise, please keep the FJ pure and keep navigation and as much electronics out of it.
1) A warning system for when you leave your lights on.
2) A way to control the interior lights on the dash as
opposed to the overhead light control switch.
3) Remove the blind spots.
4) Less plastic on the interior.
Still love my FJ but these things would sure make it a better vehicle.
Things Toyota got right:
-hardware: V6, 6-spd tranny, 32" tires, 4WD goodies
-interior: big gauges, simple layout, waterproof interior
-heritage: headlights, "TOYOTA" badge
-vehicle dimensions: layout, suicide doors, etc, keeps overall length/overhangs manageable for both offroad & everyday use/storage
-aftermarket support: Toyota was smart to anticipate demand for this vehicle
Things Toyota got wrong:
-styling: seems oversyled for a "basic" 4x4, cartoonish, C-pillar size (blind spot), not enough retro or basic 4x4 cues for my taste, protruding tail lights, vertical windshield seems unecessary
-develop a soft top/removable hard top verson
Oh, the arm rests seem to be too low on the seat for me.... maybe it's just I have short arms?
1) Rear (1/2 doors) windows should go down. Like others have said, it is like a cavern for rear seat passengers now. Plus, I have dogs and need that increased air circulation.
2) Needs a sunroof at least. Would be great to have a sky slider canvas roof, like the new Liberty. They may need to add a rollbar in the middle, which would look cool too.
3) Would be good, but not needed - power rear lift gate window, like 4 Runner.
4) needs a liftgate and no side opening rear access. When raining, lift gates are much appreciated when outdoors. Plus, much easier for loading. In doing this, maybe place the spare tire on the bottom, or on the inside ceiling, with a bump in the roof. kind of like Xterra does with their first aid kit in the rear tailgate. With a the thick rack on top, you have a bit of room to add a bump in the roof for the spare tire and hide it with the rack. Most items on a rack are placed on top anyhow.
5) Address the huge wall in front of the passenger seat (just below the dashboard). This big empty space needs a shelf for storage, a glove compartment or something. This is an outdoor SUV and has a lot of unused space here. At the very least, add a shelf here with a mesh pocket to hold things.
Keep the price around $30K with these options and I guarantee sales will skyrocket. With the domestics and many other mfg's cancelling future production and greatly reducing SUV production, this will make the FJ own this market. Everything goes in cycles and the American car market reacts so fast to these current changes, so when people are budgeting for the new gas prices and finally accepting them for the way they are, SUV's will be back. We've been lucky to have low gas prices for so long. It needed to go up at some time. Just like housing prices had to adjust downward at some point. Once we accept it and our budgets are in order, SUV's will be back and Toyota keeping their big sellers will be in a great position.
Add a knob to tailgate to get out of from the back.
The sun visors, You need monkey arms just to adjust one.
The armrest for the passenger is an option, please just through one in.
All in all I still love the hell out of mine 07. Funny story..........................
I was down in Kentucky pulling a trailer with two quads and supplies when I looked in my rear view and noticed a Hummer coming up from behind, “the small one” he had about the same type of load on his trailer. He passed me at the beginning of a hill with a smirk on his face. Well The Fj went right by him on the hill and I believe I had a bigger smirk.
Rattles, can't see out of it. Back seat is a joke. Gas milage is very (VERY) poor.
etc., etc, etc.
Gas is going to be back above $4/gallon within a year.
If Toyota would put a diesel in it I'd write a check today. And I do mean today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rOGmGXcR7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUGFxoMTnpw
The 1KD-FTV is a 3.0L (2982cc) straight-4 common rail diesel engine with a variable geometry turbocharger and Intercooler. It has 16 valves and a DOHC (double overhead camshaft) design. Bore is 96 mm and stroke is 103 mm. It generates 170 hp (125 kW) at 3400 rpm, and 260 lbf·ft (352 N·m) of torque at 1800-3400 rpm. Redline of this engine is at 4200 RPM. Compression ratio is 17.9:1.
This engine uses Toyota's D-4D Common Rail fuel injection technology operating at ultra high pressures of up to 135 mpa (1350 bar or about 19,580psig) which is about 8 times more than the pressure of conventional fuel injection systems within a "common rail" that feeds the injectors on all four cylinders (older diesel engines have a separate line leading from the injection pump to each injector). This is combined with a 32-bit ECU which controls fuel quantity, valve-timing, and boost pressure at different engine parameters resulting in best fuel economy and also full utilization of power during acceleration. Pilot injection is also utilized by the common rail fuel system to smooth engine operation. Small amounts of fuel are introduced into the combustion chamber prior to the main injection event, reducing lag time and promoting more continuous and complete combustion. Exterior and interior engine noise is also reduced.
The 1KD engine produces 17% more horsepower with 11% less fuel consumption than its predecessor, the 1KZ engine. Fuel consumption is also 12% more efficient than Toyota's Hybrid synergy drive.
This engine was first used in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and now used in the Toyota Fortuner, Hiace and Toyota Hilux.
Urban (City) 24.6 Imperial MPG or 20.5 US MPG
Extra Urban (Highway) 37.7 Imperial MPG or 31.4 US MPG
Combined (Combined) 41.4 Imperial MPG or 26.1 US MPG ( or 9 MPG better than the US FJ using Super Unleaded Gas)
0-62 MPH was 11.2 Sec
Top Speed was 109 MPH
Super Unleaded costs $2.833 here on the East Coast (Aug 16 2009)
Diesel costs $2.665
If you drove 15,000 miles a year using Super Unleaded $2360 per year
The Diesel would cost you $1537 per year or a savings of $823 per year without the government tax incentives for Diesel Vehicles...
Seven year savings (usual time I keep a car) would be $5761 before the government tax incentives!!!
Why don't we have these in the USA? 597 Miles per 19 gallon tank of diesel verses 291 Miles with Super Unleaded (hwy)... WTH Toyota???
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Al Wells