My wife wants an FJ Cruiser...or an Xterra

[freekyFX4]

Well, my wife has an '04 Eddie Bauer 4x4 Ford Explorer. It is paid off with about 100,000 miles on the clock. I am afraid that she is going to be in for some expensive repairs soon, although it is running and looks great. NADA trade-in value is around $14,000. With all that said, she is wanting either an FJ Cruiser or an Xterra. I don't know squat about either one of them, so I figured I would ask the guys who know...you guys! There are several options that I cannot decide on...obviously the engine is a given, since there is only one available. She loves driving a manual shift, but the auto seems to get better gas mileage. I am not sure if she needs 4x4, but how much does that affect resale value? Since I have never bought a Toyota new before (always bought used) I am not familiar with the options packages, A-E. What package seems to be the favorite/most common/most desirable?

In short, what do I need to know about the FJ Cruiser before going down to my local dealer and looking at them? How much off MSRP is a good starting point for dealing with them? There is currently a $1000 rebate for the 07 and a $500 rebate for the 08. Is there anywhere I can see the invoice for the FJ or maybe a page that shows approximate invoice prices for different trim lines?

Thanks in advance for the help. It's been a long time since I have bought a vehicle retail...I get family pricing from Ford, so I have bought at or close to invoice for years. It's a little exciting.

[JBK23]

FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Special Edition is best if you want a look of off road and and great quality here are some specs for the Model stated above

Specifications

Exclusive Iceberg paint
Matte black bumpers, mirrors and door handles
Bilstein® shock absorbers
Cyclone air cleaner
Differential lock and A-TRAC
Floating ball-type multi-information display
Bumper-Mounted Auxiliary Lights
Front Skid Plate
Rear Skid Plate
Rock Rails
All Weather Mats/Cargo Mat (5 piece set)
Trail Teams Special Edition badging
TRD Performance Exhaust System
16-in. TRD alloy wheels with matte black powder-coated finish
Special Edition shift knob and transfer case lever
P265/75R16 BF Goodrich® All Terrain Tires
Remote keyless entry
Cruise control
Power outside mirrors with markers
Rear privacy glass
Rear wiper
Rear parking sonar
Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls
Exterior color-keyed door trim inserts and instrument panel
AM/FM 6-disc CD changer with MP3/WMA playback capability and nine speakers
115V, 400W power outlet

here is gas and features of the FJ cruiser above is special edtion which I recommend.
Mileage Estimates (mpg city/highway) [6] 2WD: 16/20
4WD manual: 15/18
4WD automatic: 16/20

Engine 4.0-liter DOHC 24-valve SFI VVT-i V6
239 hp @ 5200 rpm;
278 lb.-ft. @ 3700 rpm
Ignition Electronic, with Toyota Direct Ignition System(TDIS)
Transmission 5-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive (ECT); 6-speed manual (full-time 4WD model)
Drivetrain Rear-wheel 2WD or part-time 4WD for automatic transmission models; full-time 4WD for manual transmission models; automatic limited-slip differential (2WD model)
Suspension
Front

Rear
High-mounted, double-wishbone front suspension and stabilizer bar (click here to see how IFS works);
4-link rear suspension with lateral rod with coil springs and stabilizer bar (click here to see the rear suspension in action)
Steering Power-assisted variable-gear rack-and-pinion
Turning circle diameter --
curb to curb (ft.) 41.8
Brakes Power-assisted 4-piston front/2-piston rear ventilated disc brakes with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist [1]
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) [2] Standard
Traction Control Standard
Active Traction Control Available (4WD model) (click here to see A-TRAC in action

[freekyFX4]

Thanks! That is definitely the model I would choose, but I am not sure the wife wants the sooper-dooper offroad edition for a daily grocery getter. I have been on the Toyota website building FJ's all morning and it is amazing how many accessories they sell for them.

[JBK23]

I can't find a pic right now if any one else can help that would be great.

[JBK23]

Well kind of go figure but i still think it is nice they have down sized models with less stuff so it should not be a issue.

[freekyFX4]

I think she wants a manual transmission...that FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Special Edition looks awesome. I love the all black bumpers.

[07DCMRB]

If you're gonna haul kids and groceries/ dry cleaning around, I would recommend the Xterra over the FJ. Dont get me wrong, the FJ seemed to be of very high quality, but we drove and got in and out of the FJ several times, it just seemed that it's visibility was not as good as the Xterra. The Nissan 4.0v6 has good power as well. Ours will rarely leave the pavement. If it was just me and wife, probably would have got the FJ.

[ChicksDigEmToo]

Ditto on this.. the Fj stinks for getting kids in and out... that back door is a nightmare! Visibility is limited as well. I owned one for 2 months and traded. If you are looking for the best trail rig... the FJ would be my choice. But for a grocery hauler it is way sub par.

[dav1550]

I'd tend to agree that of the 2 the X-Terra might would suit better..... The daughter had a FJ for a time, it was excellent quality and flawless mechanically while we had it..... But for a grocery getting, haul the youngins to soccer and such ...... The FJ is not much the suited platform..

But with that being said....we all may well know how things are when the "wife's not happy" and if the FJ is the way you go...... I wouldn't fret over it not giving good service.

[TacomaOffRoadGrl]

I have been going over this debate myself. I don't know much about the Xterra but was considering it. I have decided on the FJ because it is just me and I don't have to worry about hauling kids. So it is a perfect vehicle for me and some groceries Now if your wife will be doing a lot of hauling the kids around I would agree that it MAY not be the best choice. Still a great SUV though. Good luck in your decision.

Also, as far as pricing goes I am shopping right now for a left over 07 and the prices I am finding are $1600 - $1900 below invoice.

[DevinSixtySeven]

Hey Freeky-

There's another forum you might find worth browsing, tho it may be a bit more than what you're seeking. The Expedition Portal has a section for just about every vehicle, I know there is a thriving Nissan subforum with a lot of very happy Xterra owners. Dunno about FJCs over there, but it might be a good place for detailed information on the Xterra. FWIW there's no brand bashing over there, you should find the same quality of information at ExPo on the Xterra as you will here for the FJC.

-Sean

[imjin]

I was about 90% successful into talking the wife into replacing her aging Sentra with an FJ, but after the test drive we did over a weekend, we opted not to. I was crazy about it for the offroad side, but realistically, for a daily driven on-road vehicle for her, it didn't fit very well. The rear visibility was terrible and according to the salesman, it required premium and the mileage on the sticker was a lot less than she was used to in the go-cart she'd been driving... alas, I lost the battle on that one.

If I had those 2 options of the Toyota over the Nissan, that would be tough call. Toyota is all I drive but the Nissan's we've had over the years have been pretty much equally reliable.

[jiujitsudude]

watch out for paint chiping off for no reason and the dealship blames it from rocks !