Bernie's Top 10 Vehicles: The Toyota FJ Cruiser

Of course, this is on my "must test drive" list...

The Toyota FJ Cruiser was originally a concept car and then it was green lighted for production form. It's considered a retro-style compact SUV, and thanks to the response of the consumers, production began in early 2006.

Let's talk specs, shall we???

The FJ Cruiser is working with

• 4.0L 1GR-FE DOHC V6 Engine with 239 hp.
  
• Available in 6-speed Manual (Full time Four Wheel Drive) or 5-speed Automatic (Part time Four Wheel Drive or Full time Rear Wheel Drive)
  
• 0-60: 7.8 seconds
  
• 60-0 (Breaking): 126.6 ft
  
• Top Speed: 120 mph
  
• MPG: 17 city and 22 highway with a 19 gallon fuel tank for the Automatic. Manual is a little different (15 city and 19 highway)
  
  
  
  
• Exterior: Two-tone exterior color (color-keyed body with white roof top)
  Multi-reflector halogen headlamps
  Black bumpers with metallic silver trim
  Silver-painted mirrors
  Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers
  Rear window defogger with intelligent timer
  Rear-hatch glass window with release lever
  Two full doors and two access doors with silver-trim door handles (Suicide Door style)
  Black overfenders with integrated mud flaps (Mud flaps bother me, I always think of pickup trucks)
  (5) 17 inches with the vehicle. (Note: The spare is a full size tire)
  
  (Photo from carbodydesign.com)
  
  
• Interior: The same stuff that any SUV would have: Flat dash panels with pipe-like structure with silver instrument-panel trim
  color-keyed center instrument-panel trim
  Tilt 3-spoke steering wheel with silver trim
  Analog instrument meters with backlit white surface area on tachometer, speedometer, fuel, temp and volt meters
  CFC-free air conditioning
  AM/FM/MP3 CD player with six speakers
  Auxiliary audio jack
  Dual sun visors with driver's side vanity mirrors
  Four cup holders and two bottle holders
  Power windows and door locks
  Fabric-trimmed 8-way manual-adjustable driver's seat with armrest
  Fabric-trimmed 4-way manual-adjustable passenger seat with seatback pocket
  Fabric-trimmed 60/40 split rear seats with tumble/removable bottom cushion and fold-down seatback
  Key cylinder light
  Rear window defogger, and more
  
  
• As far as recalls are concerned: Surprisingly there's not a lot, and it wasn't affected by the "Sticking Accelerator Petal" recall earlier this year.
  

Other than the two that were customized at Unique Autosports, I have yet to see one customized (Which is what I love). If I were to get this vehicle, this is what I would do to it: Buy it in Black Diamond and black it all out. Black out the white roof top. Upgrade the audio system by making it the six disc changer, change the front hazard lights from orange to clear, black out the tail lights, get a custom spare tire cover, and throw some black 22’s on it. I looked at the photos of the FJ Cruiser on Toyota.com, and they were all off-roading. Sorry, but off-roading to me is driving on a pothole covered street of Manhattan. I’m just sayin…