A true off-roader has a manual transmission. Buying a car for sand adventuring and speccing it with an automatic is one of the automotive
deadly sins.
Some other deadly sins are buying a saloon and optioning it up to all-wheel drive in a region with no rain just because the AWD model is one above the RWD car (works for sportscars too) — car class warfare. Another one is rolling out of the showroom with the plastic seals on all the door cards, seats, sun visors, etc, and ‘forgetting’ to take them off 12 years later. An instant-death automotive sin, with a Mortal Kombat-style Fatality finish, is buying any Korean car, only because every Korean car in the nation comes with those blue spongy door guards for transportation protection only, that the new owner seems to think is valuable equipment welded directly onto the bodywork.
There are plenty more, of course, but Toyota’s new 2013 FJ Cruiser chose the righteous path. That’s because you can now have one with a six-speed manual transmission, clutch pedal on the left and all. Remember those?
The scribble to remember is TY08902. That’s the Al-Futtaim Motors code for the FJ Cruiser with the manual transmission. So walk into a showroom and shout at the top of your voice “TY08902!” and settle for nothing else. If they try to force you into one of the more expensive two trims with auto gearboxes just run out of there screaming with your arms flailing. Then go back in and try again, because the stick-shift FJ is worth it.
In every other way, the manual FJ is identical to its lazy-spec brethren. You can have it with a white contrasting top, some new-for-2013 spare wheel covers, and everything else is the same. But since the six-speed only comes in the base trim FJ Cruiser, you don’t get the new silver instrument panel, or the rear-view monitor on the mirror, no cruise control, no side steps or parking sensors, nor the cool off-roading gauges atop the dash.
The rest is the same: a strong 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270bhp and 380Nm of torque, manual differential lock and low-range gearing. This engine is fine with a 1,948kg SUV, but what’s most commendable about its performance is the seamless onslaught of torque that allows you to keep the manual FJ below 3,000rpm at all times. Pulling off in second gear is no problem, and the following procedure is to shift to fourth, then sixth and stay there at anything over 60kph. Basically, it’s a three-speed manual, which plays in your favour because changing gears with the extra-long shifter throw is like rowing a boat, although the linkage feels smooth (rubbery) and clicks into its final place in the H-gate pleasingly. Acceleration in top gear is adequate even for highway passes.
The FJ’s dampers are obviously finely tuned as there’s no juddering discomfort over bumps that’s usually associated with rugged body-on-frame SUVs. The long travel suspension helps, as do the compliant all-terrain tyres on 17in retro-look alloys. Finding a comfortable driving position is a bit difficult, though, because the steering wheel is still not telescopically adjustable, but the pedal placement is fine. However, the clutch travel is so long, you need either a pair of NBA legs or a pair of chic platform heels on your feet. The pedal action is at least light and precise with an early biting point so you can creep in traffic with ease.
The rest of the cool stuff about the FJ also remains for 2013. Undoubtedly, one of the car’s best features is a cubby hole on the dash top above the instrument binnacle. It also still has three window wipers, which is still more than the usual number of wipers on your average vehicle, and that’s awesome because you can always one-up your friends when they show you their measly two wipers, and you come back with, “Oh that’s an interesting story, come and have a look at my FJ Cruiser wipers. Same as yours, except plus one...”
At Dh126,500 for this FJ Cruiser, Toyota has cunningly offered the manual transmission only on its base model in an attempt to woo buyers over to a higher-spec, more expensive car with an automatic (Dh131K for the mid-range FJ, and Dh150K for the full-spec model). But you know better than that — an automatic off-roader is an automotive sin.
Just please, the moment you drive off the dealership lot, rip all the plastic seat covers to shreds.
Specs & ratings
- Model 2013 FJ Cruiser
- Engine 4.0-litre V6
- Transmission Six-speed manual, AWD
- Max power 270bhp @ 5,600rpm
- Max torque 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
- Top speed 175kph
- 0-100kph NA
- Price Dh126,500
