Nitro vs. FJ as a dive transport vehicle
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Nitro vs. FJ as a dive transport vehicle - 10/24/2006 9:54:00 PM
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monkeymanf
Posts: 1
Joined: 10/24/2006
Status: offline
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As an avid (some say fanatical) scuba diver, I'm comparing the Nitro and the FJ Cruiser as my next vehicle to get me to and from dive sites and dive boats. I've started making a list of which has the advantage in different areas, not all dive related, but those items are key. This list is as non-biased as I could make it and includes everything I could think of. If you can come up with some others to add to this thread, that would be great.
Exterior:
Nitro: One color or, one color with the plastic flares
FJ: Two tone with a cool white roof (particularly with the black cherry color)
Advantage: FJ
Nitro: Hidden spare tire
FJ: Hideous thing bolted to the rear door
Advantage: Nitro
Nitro: Plain side view mirrors
FJ: Cool lights on the mirrors, don't know why they're there, but I like 'em
Advantage: FJ
Nitro: Easily replaceable wipers from any auto parts store
FJ: 3 wipers? WTF, they don't sell wipers in 3 packs, unless they are going to sell them at Toyota, but I'm sure theyll be inexpensive
Advantage: Nitro
Roof racks/trailer hitches/running boards: Tie
Nitro: Bach hatch opens up and out of the way
FJ: Back is a side swinging door, I envision smacking it with scuba tanks and it being generally in the way during loading/unloading.
Advantage: Nitro
Nitro: Bulbous, I like it, but it is best described in a review I read as Bluto-esque (as in Popeye's enemy)
FJ: clean classic lines, front grill looks nicely retro
Advantage: FJ (slightly)
Nitro: Four full doors
FJ: Suicide doors in back, meaning when I make my deadbeat friends who want me to drive to the dive boat buy me a soda on the road, I have to get out to let them out. I say Nay-Nay.
Advantage: Nitro (heavily)
Overall impression of exterior appearance: FJ
Final: 4-4-1 Like kissing your sister
Interior
Nitro: YES seats with stain resistance, odor resistance, anti-static
FJ: Water resistant
Advantage: FJ, no kids so no stains. I've never had a problem with static in a car. Water resistance for a scuba vehicle? A plus.
Nitro: Slide out cargo floor
FJ: Nothing even close
Advantage: Nitro, are you kidding? Ability to slide out the floor to get a better grip on 40 lb cylinders? Huge advantage.
Nitro: I don't remember what the floor boards are covered with
FJ: Floorboards have a rubber like matting protecting against sand and water.
Advantage: FJ if Nitro has cloth, otherwise a tie.
Nitro: Fold flat front seat allowing for better options of storage and it can be used as a desk.
FJ: Nope, hey, at least it reclines.
Advantage: Nitro, I work a lot out of my car, this is a handy feature.
Nitro: Fold flat back seats that also recline
FJ: Fold flat back seats
Advantage: Nitro (for my friends, I'll never be back there.)
Nitro: No lumbar support in seats
FJ: has lumbar support
Advantage: FJ. After a long day of diving, lower back support feels really good.
Nitro: I really like the way the dash looks on the drivers side
FJ: I really like the way the dash looks from the radio to the passenger side.
Advantage: Nitro (slight) since I look at the drives side way more.
Nitro: No aftermarket stereo can be put in without major modification
FJ: Aftermarket radios fit with no modification
Advantge: FJ (information is from Crutchfield.com)
Nitro: Great cupholder configuration
FJ: Cup holders are in the way where I usually put my right arm while driving.
Advantage: Nitro
Nitro: 110v AC outlet + various DC plugs
FJ: DC Plugs only
Advantage: Nitro
Final 6-4-1 Nitro
Other Stuff
Nitro: UConnect with the mid grade radio
FJ: Could not find anything about blue-tooth connectivity for a phone
Advantage: Nitro
Nitro: Garage door opener in visor
FJ: Nope.
Advantage: Nitro
Nitro: Price equipped as I want: $24,620
FJ: Price equipped as I want: $28,800
Advantage: Hmmmmmm, lets see, I'll guess Nitro.
Final: 3-0 Nitro
Other things affecting my decision:
Dodge/Chrysler: I've had 3 (83 Laser, 90 LeBaron Convertible, 2000 Ram). Each time I said I would never buy another (I wanted to drive the LeBaron onto Lee Iacocca's lawn and set it on fire. I got as wet in the rain with the top up as I would have with it down) but then they come out with some vehicle that really catches me with the style and the right options for the right price and I get sucked in again. DAMN YOU DODGE!
Toyota: My wife had a Celica convertible. Never had any problems and never did anything but change the oil, tires and get alignments. Got our asking price when we sold it so she could get her Mustang convertible.
Toyota Dealership: Has highest Toyota rating and is located directly next to my place of business, can walk to work after dropping off for service. Sales people were very nice, no high pressure. We spent more time talking about diving than the car. He really helped relate the features of the truck to my needs.
Dodge Dealership: No info on ranking, but is not a 5 star (as per Dodge website). Is right next to Toyota so still within walking distance. They have worked on my truck with satisfactory results, but the sales people and sales managers are pushy <explitive deleted> and I hate to help them make money. Spent more time on why the Toyota is not as good as opposed to why the Nitro is the right vehicle for me. I know this is a new vehicle, but they did not have a lot of info and couldn't answer many of my questions. They get bonus points for admitting they didnt' know instead of just making up an answer. I had to get all these facts off the web site (which also gives an advantage to Dodge, they are both slick, but the Dodge site makes it easier to look up info. Perhaps the salespeople should spend some time there).
Other Stuff Advantage: FJ by far. The Toyota folks really did a much better job at earning my business.
And the Envelope Please:
To be honest, I like the overall appearance of the FJ a bit better (but not by a whole lot) and my personal experience with the reliability of Toyota over Dodge makes me lean heavily that way. Also in Toyota's favor is the professionalism of the sales people and how they really earned my business. So it kills me that I"m 90% sure I'll get the Nitro. I can put up with quite a bit for 4 g's. Add to that the fact that the features just work better for my lifestyle and it swings the pendelum the other way. But it kind of irks me off that it turned out this way!
Winner: Nitro.
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RE: Nitro vs. FJ as a dive transport vehicle - 10/26/2006 5:32:54 PM
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2coff
Posts: 965
Joined: 5/11/2005
From: So Cal
Status: offline
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To by pass the pushy sells people (I hate them) go online to like MSN or Yahoo, fill out what you want and send it to the dealer, that way you will deal with the fleet manager and not a sale person. It's like night and day buying a car, and you will save thousands not paying commission.
_____________________________
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety
-Benjamin Franklin
-2005 Dodge Dakota QC SLT
-2000 Chrysler Concorde LXI (stock)
-1968 Datsun pickup
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