Drove the new Toyota today

Hubby showed up at my office with the new FJ Cruiser today for me to test drive. Ok, so they were kindof cool in the magazines. But, WHAT THE....??(Fill in the blank). This thing was just stupid.

It felt bigger than an H2 but rode like a golf cart. The interior sucked and nothing was placed in a reasonable manner. I mean nothing. I had to go on a scavenger hunt for the window controls.

The side doors are TINY and the back seats are small too. The seats fold down, but then it looks like a BMX ramp. No flat storage space available.

It's just awful. Glad I drove it so now I can make fun of them when I see them on the road.

The only option I have left myself is the H3 or....an H2. We'll see.

Danielle

Thank you for that candid review..I was seriously looking into to those.. for No1, the reliablity factor, this was on my list of Pros..But I was as well concerned for the looks/appeal also and interior ergonomics as well...Thanks again..I'll probably make fun of them now too as they hit the streets..

My girlfriend is interested in one, but I suppose even after she reads that we will still have to go down and look at one. How was it for power? You said it drove bigger then a H2, so am I to understand that it turns wide? How was visibility?

i think you should go drive one and give us a guy's review. ya just can't trust a girl that can't make up her mind between an H2 and an H3. and i think she's e-flirting with Dennis too, so maybe she had been hit in the head alot as a youngster. or didn't wear her helmet on the bus on the way to school . . . .

If I can work it into my schedule, maybe I will tomorrow.

I looked into these. I think you have to treat them as you would a supercab truck. The back doors are cool being a suicide door but are not meant to be a true back door with full sized back seat. I personally didn't mind the quality of the interior but didn't really pay attention to the layout so much. As for turning radius, it is almost identical to the H3 (less than a foot larger). I personally really like the styling being throwback. It's nice they didn't make something new and just put that name on it. It seems more like a true off roader's vehicle and not made for the soccer mom. I think for two people who occasionally want to have a passenger it would be fine. Of course I didn't drive it either. The extra hp has to be ok, dependent upon gearing I guess. Just remember it's significantly cheaper than the comperably equipped H3 too!!

I know! When I saw the pricing for it, I felt like I should have waited a bit before buying the 3. Seeing all of the off road videos put out by Toyota also makes me think I should have waited, but I think the thing is fugly. It also doesn't look like it would be as comfortable over all as the H3. I guess we'll have to wait and see how they do. I'm in a lease, so it's not like I could (or would) jump ship for it.

Here is a pretty unbiased review of it...Kinda goes along with what Cruizer was saying about the retro look

Edmunds.com

After watching that, I think I made the right choice. The only thing that really appeals to me is the off road prowness.

Shortbus, you are too funny.

Well, here's why I didn't like the FJ Cruiser.

For one, it's a new model. Who knows what they may find wrong with it in it's first year. Toyota is a good name, but all new things must be perfected.

The power of the vehicle wasn't anything spectacular. I believe it was actually not as peppy as the the H3 I drove.

Turning radius-didn't seem as good as the H3, but I only drove it for 10 minutes. I thought the vehicle was a behemouth on the road.

It really did feel incredibly large. Even when I drove the H2, I didn't think it was that big. The Cruiser just felt 'bulky' if that makes sense. I felt like it was hogging the road.

The interior controls and layout certainly lack functionality. There is a large display in the center of the top of the dash. All that does is block visibility of the road. The rest of the controls are barely within reach for me, but I have short arms. The H3s interior certainly portrays more of a luxury theme. I believe the FJ Cruiser was going for rough and rugged.

The seats don't sit up as high as the H3, which is one of my favorite things about the H3. The seats are also very basic, not cushy or forming like the H3.

The FJ Cruiser's rear visibility is good. I'd say better than the H3 in that aspect. But, your A and B pillars are still just as thick as the H3.

The suicide doors are small and the backseat is even smaller. I have an extended cab truck now, and even it has more backseat room than the cruiser.

FJ Cruiser offers Manual 4 wheel drive only-The H3 has push botton controls. Chicks don't like to mess with manual 4 wheel drive.

The Cruiser I drove had step bars to assist entering the vehicle. However, the seats are already about a foot away from the door frame. So I took one step to get close to exiting the vehicle and another step to find the step rails. The vehicle isn't THAT big, and I don't think it needs step rails at all.

Gas mileage averages 17 and 20. It's not available in leather, OR a solid color. They have all that stupid white roof (Which they say is tradition).

I just wanted to share my experience. If anyone is interested, I'd say go check them out yourself. I'm just glad I drove one so I can remove it from my list of choices.

Danielle

ok, y'all are gonna make me go see if the local toyota dealer has one on the lot now. loved my 4runner, still miss it. every other 4 wheeled vehicle in our family is a toyota, they simply make long lasting, quality vehicles.

quote:

ORIGINAL: shortbus

ok, y'all are gonna make me go see if the local toyota dealer has one on the lot now. loved my 4runner, still miss it. every other 4 wheeled vehicle in our family is a toyota, they simply make long lasting, quality vehicles.

Exactly..That's what spiked my interest in them initially

You guys buy one if you want, but they are seriously fugly.

To sum up my opinion on it: There's nothing on that Toyota that Hummer hasn't already perfected with a lot more style and class.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dapembroidery

You guys buy one if you want, but they are seriously fugly.

To sum up my opinion on it: There's nothing on that Toyota that Hummer hasn't already perfected with a lot more style and class.

Oh you can bet your doggy bones I ain't gonna buy one..I just will acknowledge the TOYOTA quality and reliability overall..Ain't got nothing to do with looks...Butt ugly is what I call it.

quote:

Chicks don't like to mess with manual 4 wheel drive.

Danielle

Yeah and I am always the one who has to lock in the hubs on the bronco! Actually I am surprised they are like that. I didn't notice.

BTW the white roof is the whole retro thing. Go look at the old ones on ebay for example. I think it's also an optical illusion making it not look so tall. Although the ones with the roof racks look even taller.

Here's a cool pic from our Phoenix trip where one parked right in front of us. It was cool. Like I said, if it was just the two of us I think it'd be cool but don't take the backseat as a full back seat.



They are also stickered $5k or so less comperably equipped.

Cruzer, thanks for the pic of the FJ next to a Hummer. It's good to see a comparison.

I must have missed it before but you said it drove bigger than an H2? I don't see how that is possible. It is the same size roughly as an H3.


Check this out.. http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GCTGd3ptJ8N7L3Lvxl8PvPlZLC4PhTzLKdKz6y3JLjbSvgX3LThN!-201803605?styleid=100512301&styleid=100688146&styleid=100541823&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=3&tab=features

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GCTX2j2yrpJN6JhpXnq2H4lc6WhJPmlvT9R4jM0kN0nLyvLWyntL!-201803605?styleid=100512301&styleid=100688146&styleid=100541823&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=3&tab=specs

the benefits of working from home - i get to dress the way i want. the benefit of that - car salesmen see someone in desert camo pants and a hard rock t shirt and figure you can't afford a new toyota, so they leave you alone.

i figured driving this beast would have been a waste of everyone's time - but here's my take on it.

the only one on the lot at the time was silver, which made it look less idiotic than the blue ones. this one had upgraded blingy rims with simulated beadlock and it listed a lift, but everything i saw underneath looked stock.

i'll start outside - tiny sideview mirrors, with incorporated turn signals that are just asking to be smashed by tree branches. the undercarriage protection looks pretty useless, the only thing covered is the engine, and the top of the leading skidplate has no mechanical connection for the first 6 inches - you hit something, it's going to be bent into your plasitc bumper. the exhaust from the driver's side, as it passed across to join the single muffler, is a good 1/2 - 3/4" BELOW the frame! there are 2 tiny bars connecting the crossbeam to the side rails, that's it for protection. the transfer case and tranny are totally unprotected. for all their bluster, this is not a toyota made to take off road out of the box. one thing i did like though, the rear suspension is kept tucked up nicely above the axle, or tight against the rear hubs, something that should have been done for the H3.

once i opened the door, it just got worse. the interior looks like they stole a page from GM. cheap plastic! i expected that in the H2, but not in a $35k toyota. the center console is completely open, there's no lid on the storage box. which means anything bigger than a california highway pothole is chucking your stuff throughout the cabin. although it wouldn't be hard to reach on the backseat, which wouldn't fit my son's carseat without moving the front seats forward.

the only thing i liked about the inside was the level guage on the center of the dash (the compass could go though). it does both side and approach angles.

sorry, no drive test, so i can't say whether it drove bigger than the H2 or not, but it has to be easier to park.

Nice review...I'm almost certain this is one Toyota I'll pass on....Sorta like I did on the MR2.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dennis

Nice review...I'm almost certain this is one Toyota I'll pass on....Sorta like I did on the MR2.

my wife still has the logo from her mom's MR2. it was the only thing still straight after the T-bone. she didn't exactly walk away, but she's walking now, and driving my old 4runner. should have taken out the supercharger though . . . she likes it too much . . . .

She wouldn't be that "The lil ole Lady from Pasadena" I've been hearing about by any chance?


Ok..Now try and get that tune out of your head...

nope, i'm in the "other" california. we aren't accepted by those from the south, and we really don't mind . . . .

Cruizer, I didn't know a better way to describe it. But, yes I felt like the Toyota was bigger on the road than an H2. It just felt really bulky. And with a bare bones, no frills interior, it felt even bigger. At least with the Hummer line, you get the luxury and the comfortable seats that make you feel part of the vehicle.

I had no problem driving an H2, but driving the Toyota for even 10 minutes, I was not comfortable with it.

And I do agree with another poster, the side mirrors on the Toyota were way to small.

Danielle

quote:

ORIGINAL: dapembroidery

And I do agree with another poster, the side mirrors on the Toyota were way to small.

Danielle

great, i've been reduced to "another poster". guess it's time to go . . . .

Hey what do you want?..She did say she agreed with you..I thought she meant "another poser"