Tag Archives: 2007

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon. Bravo Toyota for last weeks FJ experience but this week is Ho-hum week. After the exciting experience of a well priced fun and exciting sporty SUV this luxury SUV is sure to put me to sleep. The difference between the two parallels the difference between a guy who climbs to the top of the mountain and meets a guy at the top who was dropped off from his helicopter. Depending on your view point you may consider the first guy is ‘alive and exciting’ and the other is ‘married to Anna Nicole Smith’.   

For every ass there is a seat, it is said, and this Land Cruiser is obviously made for those who live in the lap of luxury and want all the comforts of home in the car their chauffeur drives. Leather seats, dash board and steering wheel are all nice and go well with the plush carpet. The desire for luxury is the other side of reality, necessity and need. This Land Cruiser is yet another ‘want’ some feel must be satisfied. But the prices in this category of SUV are obscene. Ok so I’m being a little critically sarcastic but it’s fun poking fun at the rich and famous. In any case I’m not the first and won’t be the last. Shopping places like “The Price of His Toys” or statements like “what do you buy for a person who has everything?” pokes a little fun at those who are pampered and out of touch with most of us who do in fact live in the real world.

Handling & Performance:

A big V8 captures 275 horses to do the pulling and pushing for maximum response as you press the gas pedal. Speed isn’t the intended purpose of this Toyota but it is fast, and of course very comfortable to drive as you’d expect of a well behaved well bred vehicle.

It has a height control for Hi N(ormal) and Lo settings for cruising to off roading. But no matter what goodies and gadgets they put on this truck the fuel consumption is piss poor. It is nothing short of appalling in these times. And it isn’t just the price of gas but when you can literally watch the needle move as you drive it is maddening.

Styling:

Rather plain and uninteresting and some might even say boring.

Fit and Finish:

Quite! I think these Japanese chaps attended Oxford .  

Cost:

Wow. Is this really necessary? Do we live in la-la land or what. I have driven about every car ever made after 1925, and I’m more convinced than ever that we spend way too much time, effort and energy worshiping the automobile. We attribute too much value to this form of transportation because we are mesmerized by the whole marketing con game. I suggest we all get a grip and determine what it is that we really NEED and become less moved by what advertisers tell us we should want. We really need to fall in love for our own reasons – not theirs.

Conveniences:

Embarrassing don’t you think? But I guess we all enjoy climate control for automatic comfort, leather everywhere, tape deck and a multi-disc CD player in the console and plush carpet like home. And of course what would home be like without an entertainment system to shut the kids up on those long trips.  

Consumer Recommendation:

Don’t grow so old so quickly. Look closely at the Toyota FJ, buy it and go hang gliding to celebrate your Independence Day decision.  

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Land Cruiser $56,215, Hummer H1 Alpha $128-140,000, Mercedes Benz M-Class $40-49,000, Land Rover Range Rover $74-89,000, Land Rover Range Rover Sport $56-69,000, Lincoln Navigator $49-55,000, Hummer H2 $53,000, Lexus LX 470 $67,395, BMW X5 $43-71,000, 2007 Cadillac Escalade $54-59,000, 2007 GMC Yukon Denali $47-50,000, 2007 Chevrolet Suburban $36-48,000 and 2007 Ford Expedition $ – unavailable.  

Good News:

Verrrry comfortable, lots of gadgets including an entertainment system for the children in the rear with silver spoons in their mouths.

Bad News:

Terrible fuel consumption – no economy in this thirsty beast, very pricey beyond value.

Standard Equipment:

4.7 liter 275 hp V8 engine, 5-speed auto trans, full time four wheel drive, locking differential, double wishbone independent front suspension with 4-Link coil spring rear suspension, 4-wheel ventilated ABS power assist disc brake system, transmission oil cooler, 18 inch allow wheels, vehicle skid control, dual air bags, side impact door beans, daytime running lights, moon roof / fog lights, 8 passenger leather seating, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, front and rear climate control, JBL 3-in-1 AM/FM with Cassette, 6 disc CD with 7 speakers, rear seat audio.

Gas Stats:

13 City and 17 Highway MPG
(I had difficulty getting 14 mpg on the road)

Pricing:

MSRP $55,815.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
Copyright © 2006 – An Automotive Love Affair

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Wagon that is a box office hit. The first thing I noticed was the solid feel and ride. I thought I would love to take this on my upcoming trip to the Sierras because that’s what this bad boy was designed for. Sam, at Toyota , says exactly that, and it has been compared with several off road SUVs and comes up on top. Toyota ’s target market is younger drivers who love the out doors and take off-roading seriously. They even tricked out the sound system to include a rear speaker assembly for enhancing the tunes that are so important to the new generation.  

In the early going this FJ has captured the hearts and minds of many. When you get in and drive for the first time you are instantly impressed and if that isn’t love at first sight I’m your uncle Harry.

The second thing you’ll notice is that the price is much lower than you’d imagine. Those two things alone will make this an instant hit and a big seller. The press is clamoring for a look see and test drive. I’m just happy I got it early even if I can’t give it the off road test.

I feel sorry for all those who just bought a Nissan Xterra or Hummer H3 before this hot new Toyota hit the scene. It is apparent the Hummer H3 is the real inspiration for this FJ. Toyota wouldn’t agree but when you sit in it that’s the first image that comes to mind. To Hummer ad people I would say they can no longer advertise “nothing else like it on the planet”.

Handling & Performance:

Many say it rivals much more expensive off road options. Sam (at Toyota) reminds us that no more than 10% of 4X4’s sold will ever get off road and the marketing for this FJ predicts a much higher off road figure for their target market. Its powerful V6 will do a ¼ mile in just 7.7 seconds, which is not shabby for an SUV.

Styling:

An obvious winner. It’s hot because it looks really capable and sporty. It fits the young man or woman. I told my friend Mar-gee she didn’t belong in the Lexus SUV she bought, but rather in this FJ. She’s young and cute as a bug’s ear and she’d win the wet T-shirt contest she blushes at the thought.

Fit and Finish:

Rugged large components that fit together well in spite of the need not to.  

Cost:

Outstanding. The price blows most interested people way away. If you want more luxury you’d be looking at the Land Cruiser at twice the money. In fact the Land Cruiser is $55-65,000. With all the ups and extra options the price of the FJ will not exceed $30,000.

Conveniences:

Just right for the vehicles use. It even has a 110 AC outlet in the rear with a 400 watt inverter in the upgrade options package. The seats fold down to make for a truck-like box. With the seats up the cargo area is quite small and the side doors (half size) house the seat belts that are a nuisance. Although the base price is reasonable I would surely upgrade to the convenience package for $1,840 that includes some essentials like remote keyless entry, cruise control, power mirrors, rear wiper and a few less essentials like privacy glass, daytime running lights and rear parking sonar (that I really like).  

Consumer Recommendation:

This SUV is perfect for the young at heart and not just the young. You’ll see these off road at venues like water rafting, fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. The decision you have to make, if in the market for a unique sporty SUV, is whether to wait for the 2007 Xterra or Hummer H3 to arrive before making a buying decision. Or do you buy now while they are still plentiful.  

Recognized Competition:

Toyota FJ Cruiser $22-23,000, Hummer H3 $28,935, Nissan Xterra $20-28,000.  

Good News:

Hot new styling for the young at heart, powerful V6, great feeling ride and priced to compete.

Bad News:

Gas guzzler, rear seat a little small with doors that are awkward with troublesome seatbelts and you must rely on mirrors because of the poor side visibility.

Standard Equipment:

4.0 liter 239 horsepower V6 engine mated to a 5-speed auto trans with part time 4X4 system, variable gear power steering, 17” black steel wheels, full size rear mounted spare tire, skid plates on engine, transfer case and fuel tank, tow hooks front and rear, mudguards, 8-way adjustable driver seat, water repellent seats, rubber-like cabin and cargo area flooring, 60/40 split rear seats with removable bottom cushions, audio system with CD w/ 6 speakers, power windows and locks, tilt steering wheel, 4 cup holders and two bottle holders, rear defogger, rear cargo tie down hooks, dual air bags, stability control, traction control, electronic brake force distribution.

Great options packages for things like dash mounted temp, compass and incline monitor gauge. You can upgrade the wheels and add differential lock, in-dash 6-disc CD changer, 400 W inverter for 110 outlet and lots more that can up the price to about $30,000.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 21 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $23,300.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
Copyright © 2006 – An Automotive Love Affair

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2007 Toyota Yaris 3-Door Liftback. And you have got to appreciate this car in today’s world of over $4.00 per gallon of gas in the US . In Europe it is pushing eight bucks a gallon. In Amsterdam it’s over $7 a gallon.  

Automotive engineer friend Merkel and I agree this is the most important car of the past decade. Merkel and I do not agree when he says American carmakers don’t know how to build small cars. I think it is more a matter of they “don’t want to” build small cars. In either case, shame on them.

Handling & Performance:

This is one amazing car. It is so comfortable handling and the seats are special and the car simply doesn’t seem like a small car.

Styling:

The ‘other’ love of my life, Ilona says she thinks it is a cute car but I’m not as attracted to it even if I do like driving the car. Since it sets higher than the Corolla she drives, for example, you feel like the Yaris is larger than it is. It has abundant headroom.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.    

Cost:

Outstanding for a conventional (non-hybrid) drive system car that has such great fuel economy.  

Conveniences:

Everything falls perfectly to fingers in this Yaris, although you’d expect that of a small car. That is not always true however as I found when I tested the MINI from BMW. It is tiny but I found the features controls to be hard to find and in the wrong places. I found the placement of things like the cup holders perfectly placed in this Yaris. I like carrying small bottles of water in the car and the cup holders are smartly placed right in front of the air conditioning vents so I can keep cold drinks cold. Very cool. Ok, so if you have hot drinks you will need to turn the vent off.  

Consumer Recommendation:

My predictions have finally been realized with the rapidly escalating price of gas worldwide. So to find a non-hybrid with essentially the same fuel economy without the complicated drive system of the hybrid is a real nice option. This Yaris, of course, has a conventional drive system.  

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Yaris $11-13,000, Chevrolet Aveo $9-13,000, Ford Focus $13-17,000, Saturn Ion $12-19,000, Scion xA $12,780, Kia Rio $11-13,000, Suzuki Reno $13-15,000, Hyundai Accent $12,455.  

Good News:

Priced very well, cute car, great design, big feel, lots of headroom, fantastic fuel economy and it’s a 5 seater.    

Bad News:

Poor placement of instrument cluster in center of dash, lightweight issues.    

Standard Equipment:

1.5 liter 106 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 4-speed auto trans, air conditioning, electronic power steering, front ventilated disc brakes and rear drum brakes, temporary spare tire, dual airbags, center high mount stoplight, cloth front bucket and rear seats, tilt steering wheel, intermittent wipers, folding rear seat, liftback luggage cover. Options:

power windows, locks, mirrors, split folding rear seat, AM/FM with CD player and MP3/WMA Playback capability with auxiliary audio jack, rear wiper and defrost and Alloy wheels, anti lock brakes, side and rear side curtain airbags and remote keyless entry will increase the cost by nearly $4,000.

Gas Stats:

34 City and 39 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $11,850.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
Copyright © 2006 – An Automotive Love Affair