Just found out my drivers ed teacher watches RCR. I found out he had a focus st. We started talking about cars and he told me how his girlfriend didn't realize it was a stick until after he bought it. I said you could have told her st stood for supple trim. He responds with, "see Tanya." Made my day. It made me realize how great the RCR community is.
Only valid argument here is the drain your wallet part. Jeeps aren't cheap. Other than that, they are the iconic off-road vehicle of the world for a reason. Just spend your money on what you like and don't let anyone tell you different.
Right. It's a car for the woman who would have bought a Hummer, but felt guilty about it. So she buys the Hummer package, but that gives the impression of a modern family car. FJ Cruiser.
One of my cub scout leaders drove an FJ. It was always out of the back of that thing that we had our deepwood taco lunches. The guy was simultaneously all masculine and cool because, hey, in our eyes as Cubs, he was a big bearded leader who made fires, threw hatchets and brought food spicier than our soccer moms would ever feed us. But on the other hand he always looked kind of afraid of you when you looked at him and talked to him, and sounded like he was apologizing whenever he spoke, which was seldom. Whether this says something about FJ Cruiser drivers or about Canadians, I'm not sure.
You sir, I believe, have hit the nail upon the head. That’s just about a perfect representation of this car. (Also small world, I’m a BSA Assistant Scoutmaster lol)
I live in Middle East and this car is god-tier here, shame that they canned production for the NA market due to low sales, the only cars that beat it in dune bashing are the Land Cruiser/LX570 and the H1 Hummer.
Ultrakillerism its seems like u people only drive toyotas, I've always used that as a reason to like toyotas, My grampy always said If 15 arabs can fit in the bed of that thing with an with an anti aircraft gun and still smash through the desert, than it must be reliable
should have taken it off road, it would make you appreciate it for what it was made for. Staying on paved road the whole time is like using an RV as a daily commuter and criticizing it for being a giant lumbering gas guzzler with a microwave.
My Product Design, Quality processes, and senior design professor drives an FJ Cruiser and uses it as a snowplow in the winter. He bought it to replace his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Here's his review on your review: "Well I don't think they paint a very clear picture of the consumer, but i agree with the rest. I bought mine based almost exclusively on MPG, the guy in the video called the FJ a gas hog. He has a point with the aesthetics, it is styled with the middle aged hipster in mind. My FJ spends as much time on dirt and gravel as it does on asphalt and it is great in the winter. I need the clearance in the winter and the 4 wheel drive works flawlessly. I don't like the traction control bullshit, but i have been very happy with everything else. take care, W"
+Jevon Maddox He made a great choice. Jeep's are horrible for reliability and the FJ is a great vehicle for everything. This guy making the video obviously must be a Jeep or Hummer fan trying to trash an FJ.
Japan Hummer ! but Not ! really wish they wpould make a newish 1975 toyota landcruiser with maybe an airbag or two so we did not die at the thought of a roll over ..... they were pretty narrow !
I agree, it's fucking hard to describe this car. You can clearly see what they were trying for. But pegging it is difficult because of the diverse nature of its drivers. The context of masculinity is hilarious. Because here in SoCal these are driven by soccer moms and dentists with garage gyms and mountain bikes that they mostly use to hang stuff on. To me, it embodies a form of pseudo masculinity that says "I LOOK LIKE I CAN DO STUFF...BUT I DON'T." It's never a choice for real off road people, because the idea of building a sweet jeep for less money will always appeal to those guys. And anyone with real money buys a Land Rover. So where does this thing fit? I don't really know. Somewhere in middle class mediocrity I guess.
Jeeps cost quite a bit more than the FJ. My dad wanted a car that he could go offroading with, but also daily drive. For a 2007 FJ a good starting price is 16k. For a 2007 Wrangler 4door, the price is >20k.
Brockftw69 Then why do all the rich people around here drive Land Rovers instead of Rubicons? I've never seen a home worth at least a million sporting a Jeep out front. You're confusing rich people with guys who actually want to spend a week in Moab or Death Valley.
Brockftw69 Yeah, but I'm not talking about new Jeeps when I say "build for less money." You're forgetting that 90% of off road culture is 80's Toyata Hiluxs and 90's Jeep Cherokees. Those are the guys I'm referring to.
Lol, I didnt know you actually did a review of the FJ Cruiser because I own one. I think to me the FJ cruiser totally makes sense the way it is designed. It's reliable. Most people buy cars like this type are not hardcore offroaders but they want 4x4 and ground clearance living in a snowy area. They also want to use it daily for many miles. I've seen people with over 400k miles on the car never had any issues. The interior is designed to be functional. All plastic, easy to clean. Big buttons and knobs, easy to use with gloves on. The last thing you want in an SUV is carpeted floor and fancy trim to get damaged and buttons too small to use. Think of it as a shovel, you never cared what kind of material its made out of. The design however is a bit odd mainly because it's retro looking and the other problem is the brand. People buy Toyotas don't really look for unique looks, they want something that blend in and reliable. The FJ is too much look at me kinda retro. Overall, I like my FJ. It's not something you see everywhere on the street.
I bought my '08 FJ brand new, and currently have a little over 100k miles. It has been as reliable as I expected, for a Toyota. Replaced tires, battery, brake pads...no other problems. I've only used 4WD a few times. In each case I was going someplace to shoot guns that most cars would be unable to navigate. Take that however you want.
Exactly!! What good is getting 40mpg if your replacing your car every 3 to 4 yrs. Or all the folks who can't drive around in a low clearance small vehicle. My dirt roads would tear up a little car in no time at all.
Or, because the windshield is so short and wide that any pair of conventional wipers would not give sufficient coverage. I think the three wipers are basically a result of a vehicle going straight from concept to production. It is probably the quirkiest thing about the FJ and I too am surprised it wasn't mentioned.
2008 Trail Teams Owner, you can’t just hose down the interior because realistically there’s wiring underneath the flooring interior and it would damage them over time if not properly dried. You can easily clean the interior and it’s a breeze after off-roading.
I own one, and while I wouldn't take a hose to the interior, a bucket of water and a sponge combined with the plastic and rubber floors make cleaning much easier.
I like that my FJ CRUISER doesn't have: "Death Wobble", "Hood Flutter", transmission problems, engine start issues, air conditioning break downs, oil leaks, cabin, road and wind noise. I like my FJ Cruisers ride & the looks I get from Jeep & Range Rover owners. I like the looks of my FJ while I'm towing my trailer. I like watching others watching me make it through 2 feet of snow as they envy my unheeded progress. I like picking up my FJ after getting it detailed and having to answer questions about if I just bought it off the showroom floor. I find that getting 20 miles per gallon works for me. I like the handling and taking it off road. Mainly I like the fact that my last 4 Toyotas made it a 'no brainer' to get the FJ Cruiser because of the quality & the reliability built into all TOYOTAS. All politics aside FJ Owners have no remorse purchasing an SUV made by TOYOTA that will follow in the footsteps of $30,000 to $100,000 FJ40's built back in the 1970's for $6,000.
I don't know... the FJ is pretty capable off road. It's a good choice if you want something that will take you just about anywhere, but you're not a hobbyist off roader and don't want a project build. Maybe it gives off an air of faux-masculinity, but it does have the nuts to back it up after all.
People tend to shit on off-road capable vehicles if they don't have solid axles, lockers or if they are unibody. A lot of SUV's are more capable than you think they are.
"You're not remembering the memory itself, you're just remembering the last time you remembered it." It may be an RCR quote, but it's a very real twist on a car review. Bravo, it describes this car very well.
***** "I own a 1992 Ford Festiva," YOU LIE!!! LOL. I want one of those SO FUCKING BAD BRO!! I need to get another Bronco first but festiva is on my top 10 cars to own list.
alexander1485 Metros aren't bad. If I'm honest I'd own either one. I'm not too tall and I don't mind a slow car in town. If I had to choose I'd choose a festiva and if I had a second pick it'd be the Chevy Sprint Turbo.....look that one up :D
Having been off-road quite a few times in one of these, and having been half way up the door in swamp water in one of these, I feel like you missed out on seeing another side of this car. Yes, there are tons of bros compensating, and yes it guzzles gas, and yes plastic as f*uck. But give this car another run. But next time, please go off-road and see how far you can work that level before thinking it's going to flip end over end. :)
Sorry for the late reply. I'm also drunk. Anyway, I would totally buy one of these if it wasn't so got dang expensive in the used market. I don't want to be a hardcore off roader. I just want to hit trails and go camping. Do some star gazing at night. This truck would be perfect. But damn, Toyota used inflation on top of the fact that these are loved but not in production anymore.
this vehicle is on point,mountains, dunes, desert offroad and highway 4x4 is great in action. I have to question weather or not you've ever driven one.🙄
No... it’s not. If you’re serious about off-roading, you’re not buying one of these. You’re buying a beat up truck to turn into a prerunner or flogging an old [insert light, narrow, body on frame SUV here] around. This is too new, too ponderous, too plasticy, and too complex for serious off-road work.
Exactly. Why review an off road capable vehicle and leave it on the pavement? I dont mind that he makes fun of it, but at least engage the 4WD and let it eat!
this video made me watch it and take in all the knowledge but at the end of it all i kinda sat back with a understanding and still said to myself like a remedial child with adhd in algebra "Wait what"
Yes,they can definitely be salty, but no matter how salty, never as salty as a new one. (Also I'm not sure if this was some dig, but the FJ40 IS a Land Cruiser) :)
Sm ramgator Listened to it again, but it bears little to no resemblance to Radiohead's Creep compared to the Adventure Time's Daddy why did you eat my fries. Besides it's way too upbeat for the very grungey Creep song
My contribution: My hairstylist/barber has an FJ Cruiser and asks me constantly if I want to go off-roading, possibly because I have an old 4Runner. I've accepted his offer multiple times but he always seems to find an excuse to not go. He's a nice guy; hell, I'd even call him a friend. But I've never understood his reasoning of purposely buying a vehicle and then setting up 'just kidding' offers to take it on a trail. I chalked it up to small talk until I noticed that he asked me every time I got a hair cut. And he's even said, "Hey, do you remember when I asked you if you wanted to hit up a trail", quickly followed by a smile... almost as if he's recalling our imaginary trip like it was a genuine memory.
I've met people like that who are all talk and no action, I hate that shit. It's probably a fantasy of his but he's too afraid of breaking it or something.
It's called owning a "Mall Crawler". You buy it and fix it up for off roading but youre actually too scared to take it out. Exactly like being a poser.
Oh MAN I love RCR but it's nice to see you massively wrong about something. FJ Cruiser has the highest resale value of any car full stop. 2016 and everyone wants one desperately. Turns out the opposite of nobody wanted this thing. It's a fantastic offroader for those who don't want a Wrangler like everyone else. No subconscious image issues, it's just a great SUV. And saying it's for a guy "trying to make ends meet"... Well, again even with a shitload of miles the resale is about 90% of the original msrp I'm not a hater, I don't own this, and never will. But damn, the FJ is a great truck.
They're not great at all. They're junky as fuck. They're so cheaply made. I literally watched one with a stock Toyota battery die while the car was driving. The battery died while the car was driving!! I've heard plenty of other horror stories about these too
You forgot about one important demographic. The FJ Cruiser also appeals to people who appreciate its unique and very robust drivetrain. 6 speed manual, coupled to a high/low transfer case pushing power to a Torsen center diff, which splits the power to Torsen front and rear diffs, meaning there's always power going to all four wheels, through a fully mechanical linkage (no viscous couplings here!). It's the Unicorn of OEM 4WD systems.
Its not, all Wranglers have come with that for basically ever. But I do appreciate it non the less because basically nothing else does anymore. Once I heard six-speed it sounded so soothing, I am buying a car that is fun to drive but then getting it in automatic.. why?
@@cefb8923 Wranglers never came factory-equipped with Torsen diffs. Some higher trim levels have electronic locking diffs, like the Rubicon. Not the same thing.
This guy rips a great car, I live in the northeast where it snows roughly 7-8 months a year, and the FJ is an absolute beast in bad weather on bad roads. Maybe he should stick to reviews of minivans and imports that run above 100 grand. Sounds like that might be HIS style.
Is that a problem? They clearly meant it to keep running for hundreds of thousands of miles. Audi only got 300hp and 295lb-ft out of the original Audi A8 at 4.2 liters. That car does 0-60 in 6.7, not too shabby for 1997
I never really considered these ultra-masculine. Only the precise example he's driving, in black and lifted, gives the impression of a hulking vehicle IMO. But its face belongs on some tiny Suzuki off-roader. My mother really wanted a FJ until the massive plastic interior turned her off, and she's the stereotypical suburban female SUV driver who never intentionally leaves the pavement. She thought the FJ was cute.
Cars getting smaller? No, not really. Cars are getting lighter and better and gas, but if you take a look at modern versions of older models they're larger. My '91 Civic, half the size of a modern Civic, but hey, those are different cars, what about the Fit? The '91 is still smaller. 90s Rav4s are tiny, new Rav4s big. Early to mid-2000 Ford Escapes, small, 2014 Ford Escapes, sorta big. But all of those are lighter and better on gas. Cars are getting bigger, but more efficient.
Peregrine M Yeah, but the smallest SUV on the market these days (probably the Jeep JK) is bigger than my '83 S10 Blazer, heck my Blazer looks small even next to modern sedans.
yeah modern cars are heavy and big becouse of safety regulations. big crumple zones, airbags everywhere, A pillars like that big monument in washington. allso this weight has to be pulled around so car manufacturers cant realy afford to make undertuned engines anymore which is kinda sad.
vehicles aren't getting smaller, but people are buying smaller vehicles. CRV has gotten bigger over the years, but it's still smaller than a Suburban from the 90's. Hence the cars (that people buy) are getting smaller
I know someone has already said it earlier and better but this quality of writing is so rarely seen in the automotive community, in particular yt that I can’t help but come back and watch these older (now) videos almost entirely for the talent that you have, and a fun(ish) car to boot. Thank you
I'll remember this episode of RCR so that one day I may remember remembering it, and when that time comes I will come to better understand these things (maybe).
Toyota missed the boat here in a big way. What NA should have gotten was a 70 series land cruiser like the rest of the world gets. You say there is no FJ 40 like trucks anymore and that simply isn't true. 70 series Land Cruisers are everywhere, except for NA. Offered in so many different flavors you would be shocked, pickups, troopie's, short wheel base, long wheel base, hard top, soft top and then the custom trucks.. They run in mines underground all day long all over north america, but rarely see the light of day. When you see 20 non american soldiers hanging off a truck strapped and loaded with heavy artillery, ak47s and ammo, you can bet your ass the only truck they're trusting is a 70 series. Protectionism at it's finest and it's been happening for years, if we were able to buy what the rest of the world gets the big three would have been tits up long ago....
Love my fj, 07 Trd special edition. Super reliable, beat it to death 130k miles all original except tires obviously. Only needed oil brakes and the 100k tune up. Just won't die
I saw one of these today and the driver was King Douche. Everytime I switched lanes he would switch to the same lane that I was in. I eventually decided to just floor it past him
Ironically, now that old SUVs are becoming desirable in car culture, the FJ Cruiser's value has gone up, and they are being sold for more money used at Toyota dealerships than they nearly were new. That is for the folks who want a vintage looking off road machine....without all the hassle of it being an old off road machine. Hahahahaha.
This reviews are so well put together. I love that you could have made reviews of any art piece, book, whatever... but you chose to do it about cars. Even better, and more niche: about old cars.
I still don't understand the issue with plastic being used, what's wrong with it? The only issue I ever hear is "it's cheap" which isn't even an issue far as I'm concerned, it's a benefit.
+big john Same here and I drive it proudly. Trust me if you don't drive a broken down, full of plastic and unreliable parts Jeep than your an outcast. The FJ is a great vehicle and I love it and it's built off the tried and true Prado platform. Previously owned a 04 4Runner and got up to 372,000 miles when I traded it in last year for the FJ. The FJ is excellent and don't believe this idiot who made this video. Gotta be some Jeep or Hummer fan. He talks about the plastic interior but has he been in a Jeep or Hummer because those are all plastic as well but Toyota does use stronger plastics. He has only negative to say and totally is ignorant.
. Agreed, I'm getting a salvaged one to rebuild and looking forward to it. It fits everything I want for offroad use, towing capacity and everyday driving. I'm not buying it becuase it's some kind of cool status thing, I'm getting one because they are bulletproof and fun to drive. The video maker is clearly an overeducated elitist moron. As for me I'm just a guy who paint and builds motorcycles and lives in the country.
When you've been watching RCR for years and now when someone in your master's class asked what a simulacra is, you just say, oh it's like the FJ Cruiser to a room of confused looks and stunned silence
I LOVE THESE!!!! The reason they do this plastic, is because you can wash out the interior with a hose. I sat in a orange one in 2013, I loved it, with matching orange interior plastics. Id have the same thing, but with a manual
I bought 1 of these because I love how it looks and I like the fact that you see a jeep everywhere and never see these trucks. If I wanted a jeep I would have just bought a tire lmao
Went back to this today, it really is one of the best especially with the way the commentary folds in on itself ånd even the intro/outro song tales konger than usual. I will noe always remember remembering this. As I drive my PT Cruiser...
In a lot of ways isn't this similar to the "new" Beetle. I mean it's a derivative work of the original, but nothing like it at the same time. And if RCR doesn't know what to do with an FJ I'd love to see them review an Isuzu Vehicross...
I was glad when this car came out because companies taking any real chance on styling are few and far between... especially Toyota imo... win or lose, someone had some fun designing it and it always at least makes me smile when I see one on the road... so I say it's 'neat' at least
I have 2 comments. You should have reviewed the better car ( Nissan xterra) and why on earth did I completely understand what you said about the simulation and simulacra. And remembering the last time you remember a memory I strangely understood that... Great job as always
bruen77 Xterra still uses leaf springs in the rear... Nissan basically decontented a Pathfinder and sold it to poor college grads in hopes they could find something fun about their lives.
But the Xterra is smaller and (IIRC) cheaper as well. I wouldn't really compare the two. The Xterra is more of a conventional 4x4 SUV that maintains some semblance of urban utility in addition to its off-road capability, primarily manifested in real glass windows, while the FJ40 is more of a dedicated off-roader.
Take the Xterra out of the equation and replace it with the last gen 4Runner. The 4Runner was a better choice in almost every way. The FJC seemed to be the desperate sidekick that relied on macho posturing to mask its flaws... almost like an overeager wingman.
Even though these went out of production in 2014 the resale on these is incredible! as soon as they stopped making them the resale value went through the roof.
I wanted to be an author and journalist until I ran into this stuff being spewwed by my English professor. All very interesting to the point that it hurts and I know it makes for an engaging read but I couldn't help but thinking through every single lecture "no one cares!". Yet oddly this is one of my favorite RCR's to date. Keep it up regular car reviews guy.
I like how this car was just 2 years old when he reviewed it, yet the interior is used up looking. the condition the cars in makes it look like it was filmed today(2019).
The Mazda Miata was just a British Roadster but without all the poor engineering. Now it's Mazda's most celebrated car. The Jeep Wrangler has always notorious for being an unreliable money pit. I thought that this was Toyota trying to do the same thing. All the fun of a Jeep but with none of the headaches. I worked with a guy that had one of these. He abused the poop out of it and it never failed him once. I was sure it would be a hit because it was as capable as a Jeep but as reliable as a Toyota. Don't know why it fell flat on its face. Guess for the reasons you stated but I think it's a shame because now the Jeep has no competition and now they're so badly screwed together they catch fire. Saw one catch fire with my own eyes trying to get out of a sand pit. A SAND PIT!
I guess the FJ Cruiser does not make much sense for people in the US, where, if you want to go fishing you just jump into a boat and get to the fishing spot. This car makes perfect sense for the niche group of people it was built for, though. Criticizing the FJ for being all plastic is not understanding the intention of the car. It is all plastic so you can -basically- hose it down after a long day outdoors, getting rid of mud, sand, scales, blood, etc in a simple way. In my country you do not take boats to fishing spots (you just can't), you have to drive there through some very rough terrain. I've seen Jeep Wrangles not making it to certain places and breaking down on the road in several occasions, whereas FJs just keep going. For those of us who do not want a soccer mom car this is just perfect. Fuel consumption will, of course, be higher than that of a typical family car, but it is, actually, very decent when you compare against the handful of options for serious off-road that are out there. It is also very utilitarian, to the point where the only competitor would be the Jeep Wrangler, which is not as realible, and not as comfortable as the FJ.
Here's my take on the simulation-simulacra existance of this car. You know all those guys in the comments here that keep telling you to review the PT Cruiser? Well, in this video you already sort of reviewed it. And the Prowler. And the HHR. And the New Beetle. (Yes, the New Beetle, the one from the 90s, not the New New Beetle, but same principle applies with that thing.) And trinkets like plastic bits shaped like phonograph horns meant to "amplify" the sounds on your smartphone. It's a little something I came to grips with in high school (2006-2009) when that kind of stuff was all the rage with a certain kind of people that were slowly developing into hipsters and the Culture of Victimhood. To this day, I call it "nouveau retro", half in parody, half in parallel of the nouveau riche, and also because it's got a nice ring to it. Much like new money jerk-offs who only see the world in terms of what they read in People and/or clickbait Top 10 articles that showcase worlds within time periods they never lived in with little to no context aside from why it carries a certain aesthetic, the nouveau retro way of thinking thinks that the only thing you need to know what it's like to have been from somewhere is to have "throwback" styling, and then make everything else super modern. Y'know, getting an iPhone case with a Walkman print on it, or grabbing yourself a New Beetle because you believed, hook, line and SUCKER, that it was to harken back to the "original Beetle spirit of peace, love, and flowers in your hair" as the VW blurb put it. Or, in this case, buying an FJ Cruiser so you can be seen to be driving an "oldskool"-style Land Cruiser with all kinds of modern comfort while at the same time owning a Hummer alternative. It's what happens when you go to a hole-in-the-wall café in New Philadelphia, OH or Kenosha, WI or whatever Smalltown, USA place you can think of and find out that they're gonna start serving alcohol but at the same time keeping the café feel. And you realize you've found yourself in one of two things: a bar for hipsters with no bar, or a small café that's clutching at the straws of communal respectability. Then you notice that the owner's driving an FJ. Or a PT. Or a New Beetle (but probably not). Or an HHR. And that's where you realize where he REALLY got the idea. And why he's decided to decorate the place with a bunch of photographic prints of modern models dressed as greasers or beatniks. And a couple of kitsch dog sculptures next to the counter. Because he's nostalgic for a past that doesn't exist except in the catalogs of Montgomery Ward, of which he only saw 10 pages of in a Blogspot journal linked via Facebook from the same person that suggested he get the FJ or PT or HHR or whatever other automotive gateway into the nouveau retro he drives now.
