Yesterday I dropped off my FJ Cruiser at the Toyota dealer since I’m trading it in for the new Hilux. I’ve had the FJ Cruiser for over 12 years and didn’t really think I’d ever sell it. I loved it so much I even ended up buying a 1980 FJ (video below, more on that another time). But, after test driving the Hilux earlier this month, I decided I’d part ways with it. 12 years! I was still working in advertising when I bought the car, I was married, I had a dog, I had a completely different life and so it all feels really weird.
I bought the FJ back in 2010 for 10,450KD and yesterday when I dropped the car off, it had done 250,053KM. If the dealer had actually called me a day earlier I might have been able to coordinate it properly so I could hand it over to them with a perfect 250,000 mileage. Over the years I’ve had only a few issues with the car so it’s been pretty great considering how much abuse it’s taken from me. Right after the warranty expired I ended up having a problem with my AC. A common issue with the FJ where the AC evaporator needs to be replaced, a job that involves having the whole dashboard pulled out. That cost me around 650KD to get sorted at the dealer. 5 years later the problem happened again although the second time it cost me 400KD to get fixed. Finally, the last issue I had with the car happened last month when I had issues with my brakes. The dealer wanted 1,000KD to fix but I ended up fixing it outside for 220KD with a used part. Other than those three issues, I’ve had no other problems at all.
Servicing the car was never an issue either which is why I really wanted to buy another Toyota. I actually feel lucky that the two dealerships I deal with, Toyota and Lotus both have been really great. I’ve dealt with other dealerships before and these two by far are the best ones I’ve experienced. They’re also the exact opposite of each other. Toyota is probably the largest car dealership in Kuwait with multiple service centers and a ton of staff, while Lotus is probably the smallest dealership with just one tiny service “corner” and only a handful of staff.
The dealer took the car off me for 2,850KD which isn’t pretty bad considering the original cost of the car and the fact it’s 12 years old. I could have sold it for higher myself directly to a buyer, but I didn’t want to go through the hassle of dealing with different people, the price negotiations, or the process of transferring the ownership.
It was pretty sad letting go of the car but I think it’s for the best and I should pick up my Hilux tonight or tomorrow. I ended up going with grey and got to finally see it in person a couple of days ago after it had finished the pre-delivery inspection. The dealer didn’t have any cars in stock other than the white test drive vehicle so I had to wait till their shipment arrived to see the color in person. I’ll probably post about the Hilux once I get it, but for now, I just wanted to dedicated a goodbye post to my FJ.
40 replies on “Goodbye FJ 😢”
Congrats on the Hilux!
And 2,850KD for a decade old vehicle that did 250k is a good deal 😮
Got my hilux gr a couple of days ago, you wont be disappointed
Congrats on your new vehicle.. But I thought expats aren’t allowed to register pickup trucks in their names? Or did that changed?
I sure hope it did.
We can’t so the car isn’t in my name.
You will need Tasria to drive it I am sure you know it.
What’s a tasria?
Ok, just realized it’s not gonna be as simple of a process as registering under a friend’s name and getting tawkeel. Looks like I now need to transfer it under my companies name and then have them issue me permission to drive it. Crazy, can’t believe its such a complicated process just to drive a pick up.
Yea if you register under a local friends name, I don’t think you can get that “tasria”
Yeah I’m going to have a lot of new content for the blog, “How can an expat own a pickup”, “Step by step guide on getting a tasriya”, “Here are 7 things expats can’t own in Kuwait!”, “Find out how you can make 100KD a day selling watermelon out of a pickup truck!”
Yeeeeah !! lesss gooo
Come on Mark, at least give us a spoiler alert.
Hahaha. Been there.. done that.
So firstly buy it on your companies name then tasriya to drive. That’s pretty straight forward.
Only to realise that they won’t issue a tasriya for someone who is not on a drivers visa.
Lol
But anyways you are in kuwait. I’m sure if I got it done. You can get it done too.
If it ain’t complicated for expats, it ain’t Kuwait.
Haters gonna hate.
If only expats didn’t go out selling sand/random objects with pickup trucks
The first thing I’m planning on doing is selling watermelon out the back on the side of the road!
By that logic, we should ban all vehicles because some people are using them to break traffic laws. If selling random items out of a pickup truck bed is illegal, then only arrest people doing that? Why ban all expats from driving them?
Correction: *ban expats from owning them.
Permit
I’m a european guy and there is a way. I opened a company here, then I bought my regular cab GMC Sierra from Behbehani and registered on my company’s name. In this way I was also able to issue the tasriya to myself plus technically I own the truck too. You can even get the customs permit (valid until the daftar expires) in Sulaibikhat for travel. I drove down to Qatar several times with it, no issues at all.
So long FJ. It served you really well and I’ve seen you in it on a couple of occasions. A really cool vehicle!
Congratulations on the new Hilux! 🙂
Congrats on the Hilux …. waiting for a detailed review&photoshoot 🙂
I’m in the market for an used FJ and just the other day I was thinking I’d buy yours if you post it for sale as at least I’d know it has been properly taken care of.
I thought about listing it on Classifieds cuz I wanted someone that reads the blog to take it over instead of some stranger, but because of the speed which everything happened I figured it would also take time and it end up being a hassle.
That dark gray on the Hilux is 🔥
New Prados have it too… looks great, congrats man 👍🏻
As they say, you never can go wrong with a Toyota in Kuwait
I can feel you. Recently sold my 12 year old Maxima – bought it with my dad, drove him around in it, brought by son home in it, took my dad for a drive before he passed away.
Never felt attached to the car until the day I finally sold it – felt like I let go a part of my life.
Posts like this hit different I guess.
Hey Mark, congrats on ur new vehicle venture. I like the way you explained about the FJ. I’m in love with FJ but still I’m more in love with my 1987 caprice Classic Chevrolet which is with me for last 22 years. I had purchased for kd450/- in the year 2000. Before owing any vehicle, I always dreamt of having this Chevy n my bro somehow got the same dream n this vehicle arrived at doorstep . At beginning I was blood scared to drive this long strong vehicle, I drove partime Honda Accord n Nissan for few days. Even colleague n myself would book rent a car play the cd of A R Rehman song Mustafa new released song n roam around for 3 days each. That’s the only experience of vehicle I had in Q8. Few days I didn’t knew to ignite the vehicle, thinking it’s battery issue, I had call my bro n his friend mechanic. Just my silly mistake of not giving full ignition turn of the key. I was so scared to drive that my passenger side door was banged by some school transport drivers. It was first repair without even driving it. One day my bro fed up with daily complain on vehicle issue, made take control over the wheel n sat beside me, n boy my heart was pumping so fast, thought either me in the hospital with my brother n the vehicle total damage or passing by driven vehicle in the ICU. When I exit the 4th ring road going toward shuwaikh my vehicle started drifted toward the right or left, you can say like drunken driver not in his driving sense. I remember one incident where a local sitting with friend in his posh SUV vehicle, when seen my vehicle racing to occupy his space almost jump with his foot to the ceiling, as it his foot was already on dash board but watching the Chevy driver to take that little space even scared the life out of them. Then I heard my bro saying just look at the center of the road or vehicle logo n drive. That’s why I’m great full to my bro coz he knew I was capable of driving this vehicle which was sold to Arab but my bro’s word to his colleague, why don’t u sell this vehicle to your own kind. I’m happy I have fixed Mechanic for mechanical n for electrical maintenance I have another mechanic . Anyways I manage to get my dream car n it’s part of ur life. I have done lots of changes like I installed full rooftop of Impala from Amghara, this was possible of friend who does denting n painting job. Long experience with this vehicle thru expense n maintenance is pretty good. I have not stop fueling Super Petrol until dated. Many of the admirers wants to buy my vehicle, but my only answer it that this beauty it’s with me for 22 yrs n it’s like my second wife. Then they reply “MashAllah “ n leave. I’ m just awaiting another 5 yrs to maintain this beauty n hand over to some close friends n safe hand without any road/ vehicle abuse n leave Kuwait for good by God’s Grace.
Well Mark, 12 yrs with ur FJ n all that you have gone thru is good experience n you made me aware of liking of vehicle or having a FJ is not everyone cup of tea. I always told my colleague that my next vehicle will be FJ. I learnt a very important lesson to buy a vehicle is easy but the maintenance cost is what one must consider. As compared to Chevy I’m happy I’m still stuck with my white beauty n thanks to you for inputting in details about FJ coz it will still my second choice, if only I that amount of spending on trouble shooting behavior. Like the famous saying “ All that Glitters is not Gold.” God bless you all.
❤️
damn 22 years, thats amazing
Always Loved this car growing up and dreamed of owning one, naive little old me knew nothing about fuel consumption, and life span / durability back then, driving a sad japanese SUV now, but always drops my jaw and gives me a nostalgic burst of happiness to see the classic caprice on the road.
Kudos to you for maintaining it.
Appreciated this post.
I owned two FJ’s over 13 and half years(my first January 2008 to March 2018 ran 343 kilos, and second March 2018 to October 2021 ran close to 50 k)
Took great care of both and got excellent prices for them.
Nowadays don’t really need to drive much so I share an SUV with wife…
I really can’t get interested in buying anything else. Maybe that Hilux you got? Looks exciting!
nice goodbye post for ur FJ, it served u well,
congrats on ur new hilux,
looking forward to the hilux content
Toyota in general is a gem no mater what model
So did you register it under your name ? I was thinking pickups only for Kuwaitis ?
No under a Kuwaitis name
Congratulations for the dark gray Hilux it looks super cool !
I just had the silver one ! Silver Hilux I just looking for the dark gray or Cooper color but the supplier say there was only White and silver ! ;(
(Little disappointment!)
I originally wanted the Oxide Bronze but then it was between silver and grey. Dealer only had grey available in the shipment arriving so that made my choice easier.
Hey Mark! Just saw this Hilux behind Assima Mall but you were not in the pickup, probably at 1 of those restaurants! The pickup looked great!
lol yeah that was me, was picking up a bagel from While I’m Baked
Hey, idk if you’re still active here. After I register it on my company, is it only for me to drive or anyone who owns a driving license can drive it?
The registration of the pickup truck should be under the name of either your company or your sponsor. Your pickup driving license (tasriyah) should also bear the same name. Anyone with a tasriyah under the same sponsorship can drive that truck. Additionally, you are permitted to drive all pickups under the same sponsor or company.