txejo, ya se que tienes tu decision tomada... pero he encontrado en un foro americano a un tio con tus mismas dudas entre el rubicon y el fj cruiser, te copio y te pego lo mas interesante:
Rubicon and it's not even really THAT close:
1) Sollid Front Axle vs Independent Front Suspension
Rubicon has significantly more flex and can be lifted higher for less money if you so desired. I have read that the RTI score of a stock FJ is around 400 and the RTI of a stock Rubicon disco'd is over 800 (double the flex of a FJ).
This is to completely ignore the fact that a SFA is typically much more durable on the trail and significantly easier to field-repair if you do manage to break it.
2) Dual Lockers vs Single Rear Locker
Rubicon has much better traction in situations that call for lockers.
3) Improved Crawl Rate
Rubicon (4:1) has lower gearing in the TCase than the FJ (2.56:1) as well as in the axles (3.7:1 or 3.9:1 vs 4.11:1)
4) Ground Clearance
The Rubicon (10.2") has improved clearance over the 4WD FJ (9.6)
5) Approach / Departure / Breakover Angles
The Rubicon (41/37/22) exceeds the FJ (34/30/unknown) here as well
6) Turning Radius
The Rubicon's short wheelbase offers a significantly more agile platform (34.9" radius) than the FJ (42" radius) thanks to the FJ's 10" longer wheelbase & 20" longer overall length.
7) Visibility
The FJ with it's massive pillars is notorious for having blind spots. The Rubicon with it's removable doors and top as well as collapseable windshield offer the best visibility as well as most immersive off roading experience.
The only arena where the FJ is superior is with regards to the power output of the engine, however the torque multiplication of the lower gearing found in the Rubicon makes it arguably a more potent arrangement in 4LO (Where most of us do our wheeling).
The FJ also boasts higher fording numbers, however some feel these are exaggerated (due to the rear axle completely lacking a breather) and the Wrangler's being understated (as transmissions, axles and Tcase are all vented well up the body).
One final video to show a FJ struggling with a piece of terrain a better driver (or a rubicon) should handle with ease. The breakage at the end shows the fragile nature of the FJ front end.
OJO EL VIDEO QUE HA PUESTO ESTE TIO NO ME PARECE PARA DECIR QUE LOS FJ SE ROMPEN PORQUE ESO LE PUEDE PASAR A CUALQUIERA
https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=07fE-IV5tP0-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First off, go drive them. Not around the block, unless you want a strickly DD, but off road, over a few serious bumps, rocks, etc.
No dealer from Toyota will probably let you do that, but Jeep sets up a course at Camp Jeep just so you can try their brand new vehicle; that should tell you something.
Do FJ's come stock with front and rear locking diff's? NO. Those might come in handy off-road.
Do FJ's come stock with an electronic swaybar disconnect? NO. The new JK rubi does, those might ocme in handy off-road.
Do FJ's come with MT tires, NO. Rubicons do, they might come in handy off-road.
Does the FJ have sturdy armour? How about under the door sill? Compare the armor between the FJ and JK and you'll find more exposed soft spots on the FJ.
What are the four things people most often do to improve a vehicles off-road performance? 1. Bigger MT tires; 2. Locking differentials. 3. swaybar disconnects; 4. armour.
How's the visibility in the FJ in comparison to the TJ or JK? The FJ's sucks, huh!?! Visibility might be a factor when you're off-roading...
Don't get me wrong, the FJ is a nice rig, I was thinking of getting one for the wife. Toyota reliability, rides nice, fun looking, etc.. But you asked how it compares OFF-ROAD "stock" to a Rubicon. It doesn't. It doesn't even come close..
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I've owned a 03 TJ Rubi & a 05 LJ Rubi plus 10 other jeeps. I currently have a FJ Cruiser its thread on ROF
The FJC & Jeeps both have strengths & faults, so wich is right for you depends on how you plan to use it.
The FJC is a far better DD, a blast in the sand & high speed desert runs but the IFS & horrible visabilty are not very good in the rocks. Rear axle w/e-locker & A-Trac work well but not as good as selectable F&R lockers in solid axles.
There are some issues with the FJC:
Poor visability.
Design flaw that causes inner fender wells to bulge & crack. This is not a wheeling or mod issue!
Winshield is prone to pits, chips, cracks & was about $1,500.00 to get replaced.
Paint is very prone to chips.
When wheeled even aftermarket sway bar links have failed & take out CV boots - a expensive non-warranty repair.
Tough looking plastic interior - Isn't and scratches very easy.
Some were built were supplier forgot to heat treat R&P in rear - they didn't last long.
https://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/problems-dealer-service/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I own one of each (TJ and FJ) and have had the FJ for about 12,000 miles now. I drive it as seldom as I possibly can, and don't enjoy driving it, UNLESS I have that 40 minute commute or day trip on the freeway. Then, I enjoy the quiet ride with enough power to accelerate in 5th gear. Other than that, I don't enjoy driving it much at all.
I would definitely not recommend the FJ unless you just have to have the body style. Here are my thoughts, and I'll admit that there are probably NO other FJ owners who would agree with me:
For the trails I drive in Colorado, mostly easy to moderate Forest Service roads, I don't believe I could get the FJ between the trees or under overhanging rock without doing some damage. I also feel that the wheelbase, clearance and approach angles, combined with virtually no stock armor at all, combine to create a vehicle that, on a moderate to difficult trail, would give you fits with damage. I have not confirmed this and it may only be my 'impression'--I don't have any intention of driving it offroad again.
Visibility is not good for backing up in a parking lot, but my unit has the sonar in the back and I've gotten better using the mirrors. But, I can't imagine ever being confident & comfortable on the trail with such limited vis.
There are two windows that come down--driver's and passenger's. If you've ever experienced severe chuffing with your window cracked on the highway, the standard remedy is to crack a rear window. I find the rear passenger side window, cracked a smidge, will stop head-hammering wind chuff. You can't do it with the FJ, and there is no way to fix the wind chuffing...you roll up the window and turn on the air. Period. I'd say this is a PITA at any speed above 35-40 mph.
It's just too big, but with none of the advantages of a 4-door SUV. The rear two suicide doors cannot be opened without first opening the front door, and there is no way to ensure the rear door is closed before the front one is. I feel the door arrangement is an injury in the making if you have kids, and it renders this SUV impractical as an SUV. It is an absolute pain in the butt in any normal parking lot to get a brief case or package out of the back seat--if you can't open that front door ALL THE WAY, you can barely get yourself out the way enough to open the back door--and I'm not a fat guy.
All other owner's opinions to the contrary, this is not an offroad vehicle to me. Perfectly capable offroad I'm sure, but I can't imagine doing so. It comes with mud flaps and arm rests, for god's sake. I have the TRD Special Edition with 6-speed manual with short-throw shifter. Without question the most miserable manual I've ever had the displeasure of driving. The experience of offroading to me is, in large part, open air. The FJ's two windows just don't 'get it' for me and would make me feel I was driving a panel truck.
My recommendation would be to look carefully at the other 20 Toyota SUV models if you want a 4WD SUV--I believe Toyota makes very high quality vehicles and I believe they are worth every penny. But this one is brain dead for any purpose, IN MY OPINION. If you want a vehicle that you intend to drive over rough terrain regularly, can put up with less comfort and you don't want to spend $1,200 for an aftermarket bumper, go Rubicon. I would also look at the availability and price of aftermarket stuff for the FJ before you commit to one.
As far as I know and can see, you could hose out the FJ more easily than the Rubicon...there isn't any carpet in the FJ and the mats will fly out of the vehicle on their own if you're not careful.
Oh I almost forgot--while the FJ has enough room in the back to allow one or two people to sleep there with the seats folded down--when folded down, the back compartment is not flat. There is a substantial, 2" higher area toward the front (the backs of the rear seats). This isn't a huge deal, but it makes the back less convenient for sliding stuff in and out of and for sleeping on.
But the paisto resisto of the back is that there is no way out of the back...you can't get out the tail gate, and you can't open the rear doors. The ONLY way out of the back of the vehicle is to get yourself into the front seat (or reach, if you have long arms and are flexible) and open the front door.
If I had the resources to replace both axles with Hi9/D60 combination axles, I would put them on the TJ instead--I truly see no point in even trying to make the FJ more capable offroad, because I wouldn't enjoy driving it offroad any more than I do around town.
So, I guess my vote would be for almost any vehicle other than the FJC. I like it less each time I get in it.
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Just thought I'd chime in here - First I'd like to say that it is nice to see something like a real discussion on this kind of a topic. This would not be possible on many other boards....
I live and wheel in southern Arizona, so rocks and no mud. I drive an 04 Rubicon which was stock except for swaybar disco up until a few weeks ago. A friend of mine got an FJC back at the first of the year which was stock until a month or so ago. He hadn't really done any wheeling before, so he's been learning as we go with me spotting and giving advice.
We did a few trails, including Chiva Falls, Charouleau Gap, and Hackberry Creek from the Wells book. No surprise, the FJC has a good amount of articulation in the rear but very little in the front. As long as he chooses a line that keeps all four wheels on the ground he does just fine. However as soon as he lifts a tire its over. He's always gone where I've gone, but I often take a harder line and we do spend some time stacking rocks for him. Now he's got a ~2" lift and 33" BFG ATs, and I've got 2" OME, 1" BL, and 33" MTZs. Today was our first trip post-mods and we did Woodpecker. We both made it, but had to stack some rocks for him while I had an easy time. Absolutely no contest at this mod level.
For offroad ability, I think the Rubicon wins no contest either stock or with similar mods.
The FJC clearly wins in most other categories - onroad, cargo capacity, creature comforts.
Its just what you value - offroad/topless or onroad.
Te he copiado las respuestas mas interesantes... las demas eran en plan mas de lo mismo, que los recorridos del fj traseros son aceptables pero los delanteros dejan mucho que desear, que se hace muy grande e incomodo, que la gente lo que hace es poner eje rigido delantero (como se nota que no tienen ITV los jodios), se habla un poco del tema de las roturas de chasis, de hecho ponen este link que me imagino que ya habras visto:
https://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/problems-dealer-service/33440-engine-bay-body-rips.htmly poco mas, no se como andaras del ingles, pero creo que son interesantes las contestaciones que ponen, sobre todo porque hay un par de respuestas de gente que tiene un rubicon y un fj, aunque los rubicon que tienen son como el mio, no el jk, pero vamos si prefieren un TJ a un fj cruiser, me imagino que con el JK mejor todavia.
se que lo tienes todo tan claro..., de verdad que siento liarte mas... pero creo que debias verlo, saludos