The FJ Cruiser has big tires, big door handles, big mirrors, big HVAC knobs, a big shifter, big roof rack, big blind spots, big everything. Toyota set out to give it an exaggerated boost of stylized testosterone and dang it, they succeeded. Yet, when a Benz E350 driver sat at a green light with either his finger in his nose or phone in his ear, my resulting honk of the horn produced nothing but a small, pathetic meeeeep. I hid behind the dash-top storage cover to hide my embarrassment (yet another use for it!)...
Although we hardly keep data on such things, the FJ's got to have the worst vehicle-size-to-horn-strength ratio of anything presently sold. The FJ's steering wheel is very similar to the one found in the Scion line-up and it seems their little-car horn came in a package deal. Now, I'm not expecting an Amtrak train whistle bolted under the hood, but come on. This thing looks like it's ready to go on safari (well, maybe not when painted electric blue), so it should have a honker that can frighten away the odd water buffalo. Yet the current horn couldn't shoo away a paranoid squirrel, let alone properly alert a mindless driver who's parked at a green light or about to merge into you on the freeway.
I also found that our long-termer's XM satellite radio is rather meek sounding. FM, AM and CD sounds fine, with lots of audio power generated from its eight speakers and subwoofer that looks like the dilithium crystal chamber on the Enterprise. Yet XM sounds incredibly tinny and weak, like an old book on tape played through bad headphones. The factory-installed XM in my own car and in our long-term Silverado and Tahoe sounds better than regular "terrestrial" radio, so I wonder if there's something wrong with the FJ's XM receiver. I shall look into it.
James Riswick - Associate Editor at 23,758 miles
redliner says:
04:25 PM, 04/ 3/07
Maby the FJ would benifit from an aftermarket air horn, like this 118db unit from Wolo...
http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm
SubyTrojan says:
04:27 PM, 04/ 3/07
Nice entry, James.
redliner, Hella Supertones FTW (for the win)!
http://www.rallylights.com/hella/supertone_horn.asp
thebigal says:
04:50 PM, 04/ 3/07
I hate tweet tweet horns. I love cadillac style horns. Every vehilce I own has at least a 2 note horn and I have even toyed with the idea of adding more notes... nothing like a "General Lee" type horn, but at least one that wakes up the neighbors should I happen to use it at 2 in the morning.
2002blksle says:
05:09 PM, 04/ 3/07
On the 07 Camry JBL's, they allow you to select different base and treble for each audio mode you are in. When I bought the car, I adjusted the base and treble on the CD mode but the radio sounded like crap... then I hit the audio tune button and realized that I could program each mode... i.e. more base on MP3 and CD and less on FM, etc. Not sure if the head unit on the FJ follows the same logic, but give it a try.
oldmanshirt says:
08:15 PM, 04/ 3/07
I believe Automobile magazine reported having to replace their long-term FJ's head unit. I don't believe they gave the cause for it having to be replaced, however.
zach101 says:
10:01 PM, 04/ 3/07
Hahah! Big guy with a small voice.
roar02ram says:
05:16 AM, 04/ 4/07
Thebigal-
I always snicker at mid-90s big Buicks & Cadillacs with that ridiculous 4-note horn that make the cars sound like Amtrak Trains.
I do not, however, like those beep-beep pathetic horns that Japanese automakers stick on their cars, particularly the cheap ones. It's demeaning.
Ever heard the horn on a VW Beetle? It ain't wimpy. It's actually reassuring when driving a small car.
chernysh says:
10:14 AM, 04/ 4/07
The FJ is actually prewired for an additional horn. I believe it is the same horn used in the trucks. It is a simple plug in and bolt on job. Owners have reported that it adds a lot of character to the FJ. Only about $50 too.
stingray454 says:
10:41 AM, 04/ 4/07
Last summer I saw (and heard) a Dodge Ram that the owner fitted with a genuine train air horn. It could blast cars out of the way it was so loud! I want one!
I have noticed that Japanese (and German) auto makers have recently switched their car horns from the wimpy sounding meep meep horns that they all had to more American sounding horns. Well, I guess most of them. The FJ apparently still has the old Japanese horn.
desmolicious says:
02:17 PM, 04/ 4/07
All the German cars I've had have had authorative horns. The one in my Wrangler is embarassing.. "meep meep!"