I have a friend who is in the market for a new SUV. He is torn between the H3 and FJ. I have been trying to sell him on the fact the H3 is the better choice......I may be a little bias. This will be his daily driver + moderate off road use on the weekends. I guess what would you tell him the advantage of a H3 is over a FJ. I have never seen the FJ off road but would assume they are quite capable. Let me know your thoughts. I will print out the responses and leave them on his desk next week. Hopefully we can have a new Hummer owner to the family! Have a great day and a Happy new Year'

 

I was in the same boat as your buddy. I was considering an FJ and an H3. I loved the style of the H3 ever since I see it. I wanted one, but I liked the look at FJ and I had only owned Toyota's and an Acura and I knew it would be reliable and I was on the fence about owning and American vehicle.

I drove the FJ first (the fully loaded one) and I left feeling unimpressed. I didn't like the interior. I didn't like how far forward the windshield was, I didn't like the suicide half doors to the back, the short seat backs in the back, not to mention the back windows didn't roll down. I also felt alot of body roll when turning corners at speed.

The only thing I liked was the motor. It had lots of power/speed and felt smooth.


I then took the H3 for a rip. The first one I drove was an 06 Lux edition. I'm sure I had a stupid grin on my face as soon as I left the lot and it didn't leave my face for the whole day. I knew I had found what I was looking for. I loved the interior, I loved how it drived and I loved how it looked. I took a new 07 base model next and liked the extra power and the warranty helped me get over buying my first American car.

It took about a year, but eventually I found the Hummer I had been waiting for. A slate blue 07 H3X. I have never been happier with my vehicle. For me a vehicle is more than just transportation. Every time I get into it I feel like a little kid. The FJ didn't give me the same emotion.

Hummer for life !

 

Personally I think the FJ is really ugly.

Aside from the fact that Hummers are beautiful SUV's and are so capable, there is also a whole "culture" that comes with buying a Hummer and it's really cool to be a part of "the club". The FJ is really nothing special, and it's certainly not a head turner (unless someone wants to comment on it's less-than-desirable appearance lol).

And it's American. Can't go wrong there!

Be a part of our club!!

 

I got an FJ when they first came out.. then returned it 3 weeks later and got my money back because the dealer was screwing me over with a "dealer premium" and not putting in the satelite radio like we agreed on (brilliant on their part ... for $4k they lost a $36k sale and couldn't resell it as new because in that time it was titled to me!). Now I have an 06 H3.

In the 3 weeks that I drove the FJ, the things I can compare against the H3 are:

1) Those 1/2 rear doors are a pain in the neck! The H3 has real full size doors that your passengers (kids??) can get in and out independently. If you buddyhas kids in car seats.. getting them in and out of the FJwould be HARD.

2) Those same rear doors and B/C pillars create a HUGE blind spot. I have been VERY surprised on the visibility in the H3. The rear view from the back window is about the same. At least the FJ has rear parking assist. I got one for the Hummer though that plugs into the trailer hitch and works great. I bought mine on eBay but I think the dealerships sell these too.

3) The side view mirrors are verticle vs. horizontal. This orientation makes the blind spots worse!

4) FJ is only part time 4 wheel drive, assuming you get the 4x4 version. They also make a 2x4. I never took the FJ off road... haven't taken the H3 off road yet either but am planning up a few trips. Depending on where your friend is, 4 wheel drive may be hard to come by. The FJs are starting to sell with discounts now but 4 wheel drives tend to sell with less discounting around here.

5) FJ is premium fuel only. I see that as odd in that where you'd take a 4 wheel drive vehicle, sometimes premium fuel is hard to find. Certaintly not a global platform like the old FJs were. It also likes to drink the fuel a bit more.

6) There is little in the way of luxury options with the FJ. They don't even come with... carpet (they only come with rubber floor coverings and mats.. whichhas an odd smell). When I had it, leather was an aftermarket option. I just went online and did a "build" and saw leather was a $1400 option but didn't see any pics with one. Still wonder if that is a farm out job. I don't know about anyone else but I love my Lux's heated seats. I had to take my H3 in 2 weeks ago and got a base loaner... I was ready to get mine back! The interior feel and quality of the Hummer is much better than the Toyota.

7) Hummer is a premuim brand of GM and at most dealerships you get that premium feel. The Sewell group here in Dallas is absoutely great. The FJ is just part of the basic Toyota lineup and you get the same level of attention as if you were coming in to buy a $13k Yaris.

8) FJ Warranty is 3/36 and a powertrain of 60/60.I believe Hummer is 5/50 and 5/100 on powertrain. I've seen quite a bit of stuff broken reading through the forum.. that's what happens even with light wheeling. I've also NOT see many problems with warranty repairs.I can only wonder howgetting a broken diff taken care of under Toyota will work out ... I know some dealerships will quickly bring out the "abuse clause".

9) ... not sure if Toyota is still sending these out or if they were for the first year only but I did get a cool 1:18 scale model of the FJ. Its still in the box sitting in the closet. If you buddy really wants an FJ.. tell him to buy the Hummer for driving and I'd be happy to sell him the model that he can put on his desk

Of course you can option anything to the sky but feature to feature they are pretty close in price. With as close in price as the two are and to use as a daily driver, in my opinion and experience I'd definatlely go Hummer. I'm gald I was able to get out of that FJ!

 

Hearseman and radak99 said it all. Nice reviews!

I was in the same boat - FJ or H3. I had ruled out all the others for various reasons but my choice of the H3 over the FJ mirrors hearseman's pretty closely. Plus, the Alpha had just come out and I was really looking for a V8. I got the best of all worlds with my Alpha and have been totally pleased with it's quality, reliabilty and value.

The FJ gave me more of a feel that it's kind of a "Toy" whereas, the Hummer feels like an adult's vehicle. Also, I spent a lot of time on the FJ forum and it has it's share of issues - Toyota has been sliding in the quality department as of late so. The H3 warranty is also a winner and the treatment at the dealersip is definitely quite good.

I ordered the Adventure pkg. and the Morocco leather interior and really loaded it up and it is truly nice and comfortable. We love long trips in it. Couldn't imagine dealing with the FJ's spartan interior and those horrible suicide doors and small rear seats. The Alpha's V8 uses regular gas and mileage similar to the I5 with excellent torque, acceleration and smoothness.

Nowadays, I always breathe a sigh of relief whenever I drive by an FJ. Can you tell I'm happy with my choice?

 

There were a number of things I liked about the H3 over the FJ when I was looking for a new truck in February 2007
But to me the biggest stand out was that the FJ looses the ESP (electronic stability program) when you shift from two wheel drive to four wheel drive. To me that's where you sometimes need it the most.
The 2007 H3 has it's full time four wheel drive and ESP (stabilitrac) in both 4H and in 4H lock.
That is a major plus to me.
You also couldn't get a factory nav. system in the FJ in 2007
The buyer and dealer incentives for the H3 were very enticing back then and I haven't looked back
I would like a 6 speed like the FJ, tho.

 

Toyota seems to have a better chance of surviving the current market.. At least I haven't heard anything about them asking the government for a multi-billion dollar bailout.. But the FJ is scheduled to be dropped for 2010..

The FJ has MUCH better aftermarket support for off road stuff..

All that said, I still think a stock FJ is ugly and looks like a Pacer..

 

Have your friend watch this video from a friend of mine....
http://www.youtube.com/user/N7COF

He will have his mind made up real fast !

 

This debate has been played out on many forums.

The general consensus is that the base H3 is underpowered but superior in most other regards, except perhaps onroad driving to pick up groceries.

You friends will not respect you if you get an FJ and your man card may be revoked.

Furthermore, the H3 is MUCH more capable for prius ascension. The approach/departure angles and underbody protection provide best-in-class capabilities for driving over priuses.

 

FJ's biggest downfall is the body rips