Fun, sporty and practical, Toyota’s retro-styled mid-size SUV is a perfect compromise for this active, sports car lover
Richard Nguyen is a technology consultant who implements smart homes for his clients across the city. The Etobicoke resident is also a big fan of performance vehicles. Besides owning a motorcycle collection, and running a car club for over a decade, he’s best known for using his 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser like a pickup truck.
In addition to carrying all his work tools, the FJ has ample space for Nguyen’s weekend adventures in the back roads with a 10-foot-long kayak. It can also pack friends and five snowboards on the roof, while accommodating his pet husky, Raiden, in its cargo area. Raiden loves the vehicle’s rear roll-up window, which he’s known to pop his head through on daily drives to the dog park (much to the delight of neighbouring drivers).
Having a practical driver might not be surprising, until one learns that Nguyen is a sports car lover with a history of owning modified vehicles, including a lowered Infiniti G35 that had trouble going up a 30 C incline or curb without getting scratched.
Admitting that his love for sports coupés didn’t suit his lifestyle needs, he sought a wise compromise. Seeing the potential in his good friend’s FJ, Nguyen eventually found one with 170,000 kilometres on it. He purchased his own in summer 2017 from a private seller in St. Catharines. Since then, he’s easily doubled the mileage. He tells us what he loves most about his vehicle.
“I use the car every day for every purpose,” said Nguyen. “It’s my only non-motorcycle vehicle, so it’s got to be practical for everything I do. Going from a car to a SUV is a change in how it handles, manoeuvres, and how high you’re sitting off the ground.
“I had a bit of an obsession with having a van life (chuckles). There was a period where I started looking up all kind of unique vehicles and researching minivans like a Dodge Sprinter or the Mercedes Sprinter, converting it, and doing a road trip across Canada. I don’t think vans are very sexy, (laughs), so this is the perfect in-between: a fun, sporty feeling car that’s practical, and I still have a unique vehicle that defines me.
“I’ve always been fascinated with the one-off, underdog cars that are practical and outperform in their class. The Toyota FJ Cruiser had a limited run between 2007 and 2014 and has gained cult status. It’s one of Red Book’s highest retaining value resold cars. It was a throwback to the older Jeep-type Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 from the 1960/70’s era – a car I’d love to own (I really like that vintage look) but it’s overpriced like many classics due to supply and is also unreliable for its age.”
Like most used cars that have chalked up many clicks, the FJ required some work to cater to Nguyen’s needs.
“Car enthusiasts, like myself, have a passion to make these older cars work to our purpose through modifications and upgrades. The FJ had issues with its brakes, bearings, and suspension. It was a clunky, terrible sounding car. I did all the safety things that made me feel secure and comfortable driving the car first, including brand new brakes and things that would help it pass inspection.
“I replaced the brake calipers, put in drilled and slotted rotors for heat dissipation, put mud and snow terrain tires onto the vehicle. I’ve added modern bells and whistles like reverse cameras for when I’m towing stuff, an in-dash monitor, lighting components, and upgraded the headlights because the headlights were old (they were yellow and not bright enough for going into the back roads where there are no streetlights).
“It’s roughly around $15,000 I’ve put into the car. I did most of the work myself with the help of a friend who owns a shop. And now my friend with the FJ is kind of envious of mine even though hers is technically newer.”
That enviable performance came into play during January’s heavy snowfall.
“Let’s just put it this way,” said Nguyen. “I was probably one of the first guys on the road and the Gardiner wasn’t even ploughed. I didn’t have to leave my house, but my dad got himself stuck in the middle of the 427. So, being a good son, I went to tow him out of the ditch. I think the FJ was purpose-built for that reason; I’ve taken it out on ice roads and it’s competent. I’m very confident in my abilities with it, but I may take too much liberty with this vehicle [chuckles] and that’s why I get door dings.”
Asked if he would ever consider selling his ride, Nguyen notes the reliability of Toyotas and their resell value.
“There are owners with over 400,000 clicks on their car who are asking for ridiculous prices – about 10 per cent under what their MSRP was a decade ago,” said Nguyen. “But I would keep mine. It’s a true sports utility vehicle for people who like to get off-grid on the weekend with their gear and dog. Just don’t ever call it a Jeep!”
This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why I Love My Vehicle? email us at [email protected].
Renée S. Suen is a Toronto-based lifestyle writer/photographer and a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @rssuen
A CLOSER LOOK: 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
CAPABILITY
“The thing I love most about the FJ is how absolutely capable the car is from the factory. I’ve done minimal performance upgrades to it. I’ve done river crossings in my car, gone up inclines of mud and rocks, and it just plows through everything. I’ve never been stuck. I know there’s Jeep owners who have invested so much money in their suspension and car to make it do all these things, while the Toyota just glides through with flying colors. I know because I see some of these massive kitted out old Jeeps and 4×4 vehicles in some of the places I go off-roading, and I’m able to take on some of the same terrain riding along in my little Toyota FJ.”
LARGE CARGO SIZE
“I think trunk space is really cool. My dog – he’s a pretty big husky – absolutely loves it. He has a full set up: He can sit up in there comfortably and can lie down in the trunk space. If he’s not with me, and I have to use the FJ for work, I can carry tons of stuff with the seat folded down.”
UNIQUE LOOK
“It’s a very unique looking car – one that you either love or hate. The front is this kind of a throwback to the original FJ40. Esthetically, I wasn’t fully in love with it at first – I wanted something a little bit more antique looking or a little bit more vintage looking. The FJ was a modern evolution of the original FJ40, and perhaps it didn’t perform too well for Toyota at the time, but looking back, I think maybe these guys were ahead of their time because now these vehicles are sought after.
“It’s funny because I was looking at the Bronco that just came out, and it certainly took a few cues from the FJ. It’s everything that the FJ has had from a decade ago. So yeah, it’s kind of funny that the new Bronco is very similar in shape to the FJ, many confuse the Bronco for the FJ.”
THE SPECS: 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
BODY STYLE: Mid-size SUV
DRIVE METHOD: Four-wheel drive
ENGINE: 4.0-litre V6, 239-hp; 278 lb.-ft. torque
FUEL ECONOMY (CITY/HIGHWAY): 14.5/11.2 litres per 100 km
CARGO VOLUME: 1891.6 litres
PRICE: MSRP started at $30,725
Keyword: WHY I LOVE MY VEHICLE: 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser