Yes, it's true. I bought an FJ Cruiser this week to sit beside my SC. So far, the two seem to be getting along nicely- no fighting and no biting.

The FJ of course is 4WD and gets about 5 less mpg. It sits MUCH higher but lacks side air bags and curtains. They have a different feel- the FJ feels much, much heavier and more truck-like. The SC feels more like a CIVIC SI with a sports car flavor.

Headroom is better in the SC. Ground clearance is better in the FJ. Both have VERY similar interiors in terms of seating, fabric, etc.

The FJ has a 3rd set of seatbelts in the back seat, but it would only be useful for a child I suspect.

Each is fun in it's own way and the two look GREAT sitting in the driveway together. The Black Cherry FJ makes the Alabaster Silver Metallic glow that much brighter! And the SC accents the FJ's rich Black Cherry paint as well.

Interestingly, they're a similar height outside- but the FJ sits much higher in terms of ground clearance. The result of course is that you sit up higher in the FJ but have less interior height, headroom and cargo volume.

I guess I just like "Boxes!"

Steve

:cool: Pics? I'm so very jealous!

:cool: Pics? I'm so very jealous!

Because you asked,

Steve

Nice !
Tried to talk the wife into another Element or the FJ, but, ended up with a new CRV........I'm jealous - guess the FJ will be your Michigan Winter car.
I love the Black Cherry Color

Nice !
Tried to talk the wife into another Element or the FJ, but, ended up with a new CRV........I'm jealous - guess the FJ will be your Michigan Winter car.
I love the Black Cherry Color

Yep... 4WD is handy in Michigan in the winter, although we spend mostly summers up there to get out of the Missouri 90's and into the Michigan 70's.

I THOUGHT about another SC, and I drove the new CRV- which I liked a lot- but I've wanted an FJ for 35 years. I first drove one in 1972 (Yes I'm OLD; 57) so I guess better late than never after 35 years!

Steve

Great pics! Thank you for sharing. I'm glad you got the car you've been wanting. Do you just smile everytime you see your gorgeous cars?!?

Great pics! Thank you for sharing. I'm glad you got the car you've been wanting. Do you just smile everytime you see your gorgeous cars?!?

Pretty much! I'm a car guy- always have been and always will be. I've owned about 60 vehicles now, but these two are about as nice looking in the driveway as any I've ever owned. And then of course there's the Harley in the garage!

Steve

I love the look of the new FJs, but I don't love the mileage (or premium fuel requirements) of them. Its a good looking car, and I like them more than the modern Land Cruisers, and easily as much as the classic LCs they're based on.

How bad is that C pillar blind spot?

I love the look of the new FJs, but I don't love the mileage (or premium fuel requirements) of them....

How bad is that C pillar blind spot?

No... the mileage isn't great. At least 4, perhaps as much as 5 less MPG than my Element. And then the premium fuel too.

I don't find the C-pillar too bad, but then I always use convex spot mirrors on my side rear-views on every vehicle.

That said- you can't see SQUAT directly behind you!! Because of the high ground clearance, the high body height and then the rear, spare tire, even an Accord or Camry absolutely is INVISIBLE if it's behind you at a stop light.

To tell the truth- I IMMEDIATELY went out and bought a VR3 bluetooth rearview color camera and installed it on the FJ. (About $95 at Wally World.)

I went ahead and bought one for the Element and the Odyssey while I was at it. They're quick and easy to install and I am NOT comfortable backing the FJ out of the driveway with absolutely NO IDEA what's behind me; could be a kid, a bicycle, a Miata or a Ford Taurus and I wouldn't be able to see it!!!!

Steve

I'm gonna have to look into that camera, then. My wife's biggest complaint about the Element is not seeing anything out the back of it, or when merging.

She's short, and we're both used to little, low cars with expansive windows.

As for the mileage, I look at it in such a way that if you can afford it, and justify it, have at it. From my perspective, it gives me something to diesel-fetishize over, as well. :)

I'm gonna have to look into that camera, then. My wife's biggest complaint about the Element is not seeing anything out the back of it, or when merging.

I've installed the one on the FJ already- piece of cake. Can't imagine it will be any different or worse on an Element, though I'll get my chance to try in the next week or so.

The camera comes as a "license plate bracket" which should work fine on the Element's "centered" license plate. (I cut the sides off of the one on my FJ and just mounted the camera itself in the center of the rear bumper since the license plate is way off to the right edge of the FJ.)

Then just route the wires to the rear back-up lights and use provided wire splices to attach wires. The camera activates and begins broadcasting on bluetooth any time the car is in reverse.

The receiver can be mounted real fancy by loosening the headliner and routing the provided wiring harness to a hot lead and ground near the overhead dome light, or down the A-pillar and to a fuse box or underdash wiring and then mounting the receiver/screen just above the rear-view mirror.

Or... do as I did and use the (also provided) 12V cigarette lighter plug and mount the receiver on the dash somewhere- quick and dirty.

It takes about 5 seconds for the camera to adjust to the ambient light- enough time to check your side-view and rear-view mirrors before backing up. Then double-check the monitor for children, bicycles, pets or shopping carts hidden behind you before backing up.

VERY slick and very simple and at less than $100- pretty affordable.

Steve

I'm gonna have to look into that camera, then. My wife's biggest complaint about the Element is not seeing anything out the back of it, or when merging.

She's short, and we're both used to little, low cars with expansive windows.


The only time my wife (5'2") has any problems with visibility is when both back seats are folded up. If you experiment with adjusting the side mirrors properly (and perhaps add convex stick ons) there really aren't any blind spots IMO.