New Toyota FJ landcruiser

[RobertN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Serious, why not just a 4wd SUV typ absoulutely "stripped" of all "comforts"? You would think that there would have to be a market for those type of vehicles. )</font>

There is a market. It is just a tiny market compared to the overall pavement pounder market. 90% of the folks who buy SUV's never take them off road. 8% use the 4x4 a little, whether inclement weather, or a trip to the slopes to chase fresh powder. Those 98% don't want to dent or scratch thier $30-50k SUV either... The other 2% are us. They won't make a SUV for the 2% market segment.

 

[Sigarms]

Let me geuss, somewhere around Moab? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Have to laugh, know that "road" just outside of Canyonlands on 313? It's off on the right right below where all the R.Vs park. Goes out to the Green river. Somthing like the Horsesmans trail. While I came back from the green river on that road, they had parts of 313 closed with police. Couldn't figure out what was going on. Talked to one of the guys stopping traffic (what little there was), and he told me they where making a commercial for Mercede Benz (sp?) off road vehicle. One of those 80k jobbers. Was pretty funny with the film crew driving ahead filming the car. Funny part? THEY DIDN'T EVEN GO ON ANY DIRT! (and each time they stopped they (about 3 people) got out to shine the vehicle!

Sooner or later I'd like to get out to Horseshoe canyon /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[RedRocker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Let me geuss, somewhere around Moab? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Have to laugh, know that "road" just outside of Canyonlands on 313? It's off on the right right below where all the R.Vs park. Goes out to the Green river. Somthing like the Horsesmans trail. While I came back from the green river on that road, they had parts of 313 closed with police. Couldn't figure out what was going on. Talked to one of the guys stopping traffic (what little there was), and he told me they where making a commercial for Mercede Benz (sp?) off road vehicle. One of those 80k jobbers. Was pretty funny with the film crew driving ahead filming the car. Funny part? THEY DIDN'T EVEN GO ON ANY DIRT! (and each time they stopped they (about 3 people) got out to shine the vehicle!

Sooner or later I'd like to get out to Horseshoe canyon /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )</font>

Now how did you guess? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Behind the Rocks, White Knuckle Hill. I saw them filming a Toyota pickup commercial on the Moab Rim a few years ago, a little tougher than they planned on I think. 4WD commercials are a hoot, always tearing down some dirt road at mach 1, they never show them tearing off the rear bumper on a rock ledge. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[timb]

Better get an '06 Rubicon edition then. Sounds like the 07's will further 'ruin' the concept of a real Jeep in many ways. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[sneaky_pete]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just give me somthing with 4 wheel drive (decent suspension and tires of course) and some ROOM to put some things.

Why not an older style type forerunner where you can remove the top (or bronco for that matter).)</font>

You can now buy an FJ62 or early FJ80 Land Cruiser very reasonably; these have fuel-injected in-line sixes, are real 4WD, have lots of room, plain cloth seats, etc. And still reliable daily drivers.

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Better get an '06 Rubicon edition then. Sounds like the 07's will further 'ruin' the concept of a real Jeep in many ways. )</font>

Dude,
They've been losin my respect ever since they moved the spare off the right rear corner, and trading the tailgate for a gate....fagedaboudit /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But, like I said, I still want one. If I bought one, it would probably be an old one though.

 

[hobbyfarm]

I forgot to say...it's not just Jeep ruining their stuff as time goes on.
Those old Toyota FJs that looked like a Jeep copy ('70's?) were cooler than the current Suquoia etc.
Suzuki did the same thing with the Samarai, a cool, plain little fun toy and they turned that idea into a Grand Vitara /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
They keep adding junk to these vehicles until they've bloated them to the point that they have to make a new model, and with that more $$, and more ___, and more ____.
My all time favorite Jeeps are the old forward control Jeeps of the early 60's. (like they used in the John Wayne movie Hatari!) <font color="red">Forward Control</font> and <font color="green">FC 2</font>

And it's not just the auto makers, look at motorcycles also. You have to look long and hard to find one these days that's just plain.
Makes me think that our current breed of engineers need to go back to school. And Webster needs to reevaluate the words - "better", "improved", and "new"

HEY, Detroit! - Plain is cool!
Maybe International will reinvent the Scout. (wishful thinking)

 

[PhilNH5]

Thanks to marketing the SUV has replaced the minivan (which replaced the station wagon) as the family hauler of choice. As someone else pointed out most of these never ever go offroad.
My 2002 Dakota 4WD PU has a standard transmission, manual crank windows and no power seats nor power locks or mirrors. Finding one like this took a lot of work. Most of them come all tricked out because that is what sells - auto trans, CD changer, leather interior etc. Higher markup for the dealer and a happy suburbanite. Maybe Detroit's fault due to succesful advertising but mostly the consumers who buy them.


Phil

 

[KentT]

Personally, I'm excited about the Jeep Gladiator, if it should make it to market with specs anywhere close to the prototype -- midsize, 4-cylinder diesel, 6-speed, 1500 lb payload... with a great retro look....

Allpar Jeep Gladiator review

Autoshow pictures from Jeep site

 

[sneaky_pete]

But, it's still a "heep", and a Chrysler product. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Two strikes as far as I'm concerned, but to each his own.