It’s a slow news day at Virtual Mirage. I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m headed up the Pacific Coast in the Raptor for Santa Barbara, leaving the venerable FJ Cruiser as a driveway ornament. By the time you read this, I will have likely returned from the trip.
Here they are, side by side on my driveway. The 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser was made in Japan, but was made COOL in the USA. There are still genuine Toyota parts on the FJ, but it has a lot of after-market improvements that turned it from a capable off-road rig into a superbly capable off-road and expedition rig. You will immediately note that there are some obvious differences between the Toyota and the Ford. In point of fact, they’re almost nothing alike, which is why I have both of them.
The Toyota FJ has a 4 liter, 6 cylinder engine, the 2014 Ford Raptor SVT has a 6.2 liter, 8 cylinder engine. There are more horses under the Ford’s hood and whereas the FJ as currently configured struggles up hills at 80 mph, you don’t know that you’re driving up a hill at 80 in the Raptor. Off-road is where the FJ shines, but a stock Ford Raptor came in #3 at the Baja 1000 in Division 8. The Raptor is off-road capable out of the box, with a long travel suspension, racing quality equipment and a powerful engine.
Both the FJ Cruiser and the Ford Raptor have beadlock wheels, which keeps the tire on the rim, particularly when you need to reduce the air pressure in the tire in difficult conditions to provide a better ride and traction. The Raptor has a longer wheel base but the passengers in the back can ride in comfort. The FJ Cruiser is narrower and has a shorter wheel base for difficult trails, but riding in the back is less than fun.
The Raptor has air conditioned front seats to keep my tush cool even in the hottest desert. My rump is warm in the FJ…
The Raptor smells new…and it goes with my Kimber.
The FJ smells a bit like Hoppe’s #9* and is a war wagon/zombie assault vehicle.
*Hoppe’s #9 is a powder solvent used for cleaning firearms.
When the Zombies attack, are you gonna tow the FJ with the Raptor?
That may be the only solution.
Jealous
It's important to have toys – even if they're owned by the bank. I paid cash for the FJ, 7 years ago. I can't say that about the Raptor.
I have a 100,000 mile factory warranty on the Raptor. I doubt that when zombies inherit Ford that they will honor it.
Both look fine.
Your son needs to add a Raptor to his fleet.
Important to have a truck that goes with your guns — my fleet 150 seems to mirror mine. Budget!
It's good to spoil yourself.
I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, my friend.
I think so. It's a source of pleasure and that six foot drop awaits us all.
Both are 'work' trucks, just in different ways… Nice to have both, depending on the requirement! 😉
Actually, he just brought another vehicle of some kind – but I don't know what.
Better to have and not need than to need and not have
SWEET… I'm not jealous, not much, well a bunch actually… How do you like the new ride?
The Raptor is every bit as cool as I thought that it would be.
Those Raptors have had me drooling for several years now.
In 2015 the body will change and they'll no longer be made with steel I-beams. They will have aluminum unibodies to satisfy the Federal demand for better mileage. How strong will they be? I can't say, which is why I bought one this year.
Interesting information, but if anyone can make it work with an aluminum unibody, Ford can. Maybe Ford can get together with Kimber and offer a "truck gun" as an option!
THAT would be quite an option – but so politically incorrect in the halls of power where they'd prefer a helpless populace.
The present administration sufferes under delusions of adequacy.
"I'm headed up the Pacific Coast in the Raptor for Santa Barbara, leaving the venerable FJ Cruiser as a driveway ornament. By the time you read this, I will have likely returned from the trip." This sounds like a very good start to a story……:)
Nice ride.
I stayed on pavement except for a brief run out on the ocean shingle (beach) but the Four Seasons Hotel in Santa Barbara didn't meet expectations for luxury – but met all of the expectations for expense.
Time for a travel log-blog? Maybe.
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