The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124231   Message #2742903
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
10-Oct-09 - 02:02 PM
Thread Name: BS: GM sells Hummer to Chinese?
Subject: RE: BS: GM sells Hummer to Chinese?
Digression-
FJ developed a bad reputation on the Canadian prairies because it was hard to start in winter, and other winter-related problems.
Both FJ and Wrangler have 4 litre 6 cylinder motors, not economical, but with the power needed for off-road and mountain driving.

The Wrangler outsells the FJ because of the bad winter reputation of the latter and also because of its higher recommendations for off-road driving in reviews. The Wrangler also has many more models, from the basic at about $21000 to the top Rubicons at $33000 or so.

Here in Calgary, the FJ is rarely seen, but Toyota RAV models are common, and the new 4WD model with the 3.5 litre six cylinder motor is selling well, 21 City, 28 Hwy.

According to U. S. government figures, the FJ gets slightly better gas mileage in the basic models, FJ 17 city, 21 Hwy; Wrangler 15 City, 19 Hwy. The Wrangler is heavier.

All car companies are in trouble; Toyota has lost money for almost two years. Loss expected for 2009 is $550 billion; loss for 2008 was $432 billion. (www.bloomberg.com, their website).
Last month, Toyota sales dropped 34% in the U. S. and 23% in Japan. Toyota may consolidate models to cut costs.