The 2014 FJ Cruiser
Back in 2014, Toyota discontinued its FJ Cruiser—a body-on-frame SUV whose quirky styling competed with the likes of the Jeep Wrangler. Despite it being a favorite with die-hard fans, sales of the FJ Cruiser just weren’t cutting it, so Toyota removed the vehicle from its lineup.
Now, the demand for used FJ Cruisers has gone through the roof. One dealer, Neal Wheat, told Automotive News that he was outbid at an auction a few weeks ago on a 2008 FJ Cruiser. The dealer who won the auction paid $18,000 for the SUV, which had 87,000 miles on it. That price is roughly 60% of the FJ Cruiser’s new-vehicle sticker price, showing that the off-road vehicle is back in such high demand that customers are willing to pay big bucks.
Trade-in values for FJ Cruisers are also sky high. Data from the NADA Used Car Guide shows that a 2012 base FJ Cruiser has an average trade-in price of $25,275—a whopping 90.8% of its new sticker price.
But why the high demand for the FJ Cruiser? It’s partly due to current low gasoline prices driving sales of light trucks up. Quite simply put, it’s pretty damn cheap to power a gas guzzler right now, and many drivers are ditching their compact cars for bigger, more powerful machines. On top of that, the FJ Cruiser’s standout looks make it truly one-of-a-kind in a market that often trends toward the bland.
Bottom line? If you’re an FJ Cruiser driver thinking of changing vehicles, now might be the time to cash in that money maker. And if you’re in the market for a used FJ Cruiser, you’d better be ready and able to pay top dollar for the unique SUV.
News Source: Automotive News (subscription required)
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