My brain hurts...

So, I've been noodling this a lot in my head lately, and I think I've decided that I'm going to sell my Runner. It's been a great truck so far, even with it's cracked windshield, but I really miss having an FJ. Having both is impractical and impossible to justify financially. The FJ is just more my personality. I've been casually searching for a decent one nearby that isn't stupid expensive. My budget will be $30k or so. This will make my Director of Personal Finance happy, and if she's not happy, I'll guar-an-damn-tee that I won't be happy. I have grown used to sleeping in a bed.

I doubt I'll build it much. In fact, I may not even lift it or do any other mods besides a rack that will work for my hang glider and a decent audio system. I need my tunes! My previous FJ was Army Green, so I'm thinking I'd like a different color.

Man, I do miss my old FJ!


Good FJ's are expensive, and even ones with a lot of miles aren't exactly cheap. I'm kinda torn between one that's tired and high mileage, and spending a bit more for a cherry one. I'm leaning more towards the expensive side, just to save on immediate maintenance. What set this off really, is seeing that some mouth breather slammed a shopping cart into the right rear quarter of my Runner. It's not creased fortunately, but the skid mark will need to be buffed out. And I realized, my Runner is so pretty, I don't want it to get dinged up. With an FJ, I could load it up with trail stripes and I really wouldn't care.

So as I was shopping around, I found these two FJ's. I'm thinking the maroon one is closest to what I want, but the tan one just flat out rocks! Jer, I'm sure you'll appreciate how the Sun Fusion Yellow color is poking through the rattle can maroon paint on the first one. The tan one has so many farkles, I don't even know which is my favorite! I'd probably have to replace the wheels/tires first. Those 30's just aren't tall enough or low enough profile for our Colorado trails. It's a tough choice between the two. I'm sure I'll figure it out soon...





Happy April Fools Day, fellow gearheads!

 

My birthday is this week. That’s kind of like an April fools on the Earth....lol

 

Got me.

 

lulz.

So wait, are you seriously wanting to switch back, though? haha

FJ's are pretty cool. I definitely get it. Would be nice to have the more rugged interior for off-road adventures, for sure. That said, the 2020 4Runner interior is actually quite nice and well styled.. I love how my 4Runner fits perfectly both in the city as well as the forest! I wasn't the biggest fan of the FJ interior, but the price when I started looking (2 years ago or so) is what steered me away. Supply and Demand! Funny how less people wanted them when they were being sold by Toyota, lol. Trends.

 

This is what it feels like to me when driving a FJ cruiser.

 

Some of what I wrote is true. I like the quirky'ness of the FJ: the three wipers, white roof, the vaguely FJ-40 design cues, etc. It's also roomier for me while driving. The Runner feels like the FJ-60 I used to own, though a lot more comfortable and capable. BUT, there's no new FJ's to be bought, and I'm a little sketchy on buying used now. And the prices asked for good used ones are just dumb. The Runner has been and will be a great truck. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my FJ.

 

I mean at just under $70k this is a steal...

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/836889713/overview/

 

Yikes. One of the dealers here had a 2010 w/ 16k miles for around $35k. I almost went to the lot to look at it, but figured it's better to not risk temptation.

 

Yep, I know what you mean!

 

ya got me bruh !

 

My brain hurts by looking at those completely ruined FJs.

 

Lol!

 

2/10 for effort

 

Meanwhile in Subaru world..


(Update - This is fake news. I edited the page. Just April Fools Day fun)

 

Still being sold as a 2021, allegedly, in the Emirates:
https://www.toyota.ae/en/new-cars/fj-cruiser/

 

Caught...........went for it hook line and sinker

thanks for the chuckle.

 

LOL, The FJ is still being made and sold even closer to home for 2021. Land cruiser, FJ and 4Runner available in CR and priced very similarly to each other.

https://www.toyotacr.com/autos/fjcruiser

 

Czech Republic?

 

Costa Rica

 

Don't know, but I probably couldn't afford either version after all the import fees, etc!

 

Wow, hard to believe they're still making them but not importing them to the US. I have the power to make them start back though. All I have to do is go buy a ridiculously overpriced used one, say for $25k. The same day I do that they'll announce the return of the FJ and the one I just bought will then be worth about $9000.
But seriously, I really wish they would bring them back. Not so I could go get a new one, but so the price of the used ones will get back down to where it should be. Then I could get one. I actually looked for one for about a year before realizing that I wasn't gong to find one in my price range unless it was totally rusted out and had 350K on it. That's how I ended up with a 4th gen, which I really like. But every time I see a nice FJ the desire comes right back.

 

Either there are a lot of FJ's out there, or they're just really popular in my city. I think I saw 3 on the way to work today. But I guess everyone that has them loves them and keeps, unlike most other vehicles.. so the value stays high. Used 4Runner prices are also silly so I'm not surprised. The Toyota SUV love is strong, for sure.

 

I think the only thing that can kill them is a wreck. There's one for sale in Va with a bad engine, with 518K miles. And they still want $7700 for it. Wow.