Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
I looked, and it seems to be a pretty good vehicle. I love the interior and there is a lot of room behind the back seat for storing stuff. The dash is laid out very nicely, and everything interior-wise feels solid.
The 4X2 model I saw had some things I didn't like though. It had Bridgestone HLs on it, which seem to be highway tires, and even though the ground clearance looks good from the side and rear, the front skid guard hangs way too low, which only allows around six inches clearance. There wasn't much room to add bigger tires in the wheel wells, and the suspension looks pretty complicated. I don't know how hard it would be to lift the FJ. The door handles stick out around two or three inches and are plastic, so I doubt they would hold up to something hitting them (like a tree branch).
Even though this vehicle (albeit a 4X4 model) finished the Rubicon Trail, this vehicle seems a lot like my brother's H3. It looks tough, but then when you actually touch it, you find a lot of plastic where you wouldn't find plastic on our Fords.
The salesman told me straight up that the 4X2 would go for the sticker price (almost $28K) and that the 4X4 version on the showroom floor was $5K over invoice -- no negotiation. Until they bring the prices down a lot, I won't be buying one of these.
The 4X2 model I saw had some things I didn't like though. It had Bridgestone HLs on it, which seem to be highway tires, and even though the ground clearance looks good from the side and rear, the front skid guard hangs way too low, which only allows around six inches clearance. There wasn't much room to add bigger tires in the wheel wells, and the suspension looks pretty complicated. I don't know how hard it would be to lift the FJ. The door handles stick out around two or three inches and are plastic, so I doubt they would hold up to something hitting them (like a tree branch).
Even though this vehicle (albeit a 4X4 model) finished the Rubicon Trail, this vehicle seems a lot like my brother's H3. It looks tough, but then when you actually touch it, you find a lot of plastic where you wouldn't find plastic on our Fords.
The salesman told me straight up that the 4X2 would go for the sticker price (almost $28K) and that the 4X4 version on the showroom floor was $5K over invoice -- no negotiation. Until they bring the prices down a lot, I won't be buying one of these.
