Car of the Week | Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40V '74

[Hdbd04]

There was a lot of things going on throughout the whole week:

• My new semester began, and there's two class that starts at 8AM, as it takes 40 minutes at best to get to campus.
• TXR 2025 has been released, continuing over my EA progress and completed the main story for now. I think there's less than 15 wanderers left too.
• I spent way too much time designing an "Itasha" thingy over Illustrator to GT7. I'm proud for the effort I did, but embarrassed for the character I did.
• Spending too much time too on the Honda eRacing Time Trial, knowing that I won't make the round, but it was an effort to break the 1:41 barrier (in which I didn't when my finger gave up).
• And it was only today I realised that I haven't touched the Cross-Bow in over two years.

I guess the night light was the challenge here as it does give me doubt, as the braking points gives me second thoughts as to how I would exit anyway. The car is actually well balanced to drive with the mediums, and for what was a 30 minute session, a 1:15.017 lap time isn't too bad. If it wasn't for TXR 2025, I would have pushed further throughout the week.

But alas, I'll be going back to TXR.

 

[Snake55wildcat]

Definitely an enjoyable car this one, liked it a fair bit back in GT6 too! Love the way this car's suspension is so prominently visible, it's also the one manufacturer I'd love to see a VGT from in the future if they ever decide to do it, even if it's highly unlikely, the time trial set up for this week was also fun! Watkins glen is one of the few IRL circuits I genuinely enjoy driving on, though playing it night was definitely a new challenge for me haha though it did mean I couldn't see the lucky rabbit of the glen, as I call it still I managed a time of 1:15.807 which i do have uploaded as “GTP COTW - KTM XBOW R @ Watkins” (with the tags #gtp #cotw #xbow if you want to see it, it's not that good of a run I bet but I'm happy enough with it!)

Also I wasn't kidding about the rabbit

Spoiler: rabbit

 

[XSquareStickIt]

Hey all. I'm very sad to say that I've decided to end GT7 Car of the Week at the end of 2025.

As some of you might already know, my health has taken a sharp nosedive in this year, and it has caused me to delay posts, skip reviews, and even fail to host the Saturday lobbies on several occasions. And even when I do show up, I feel so out of it that I drive so embarrassingly, causing wrecks and being seconds slower per lap than the friends I used to go toe–to–toe with. I therefore play it extremely safe, starting last every time and never going for overtakes. It usually just means I'm time trialing by myself seconds behind everyone else.

I'm usually of the mindset that we welcome drivers of all skill levels, as more variety means that drivers of a wider skill range can fight among themselves. I'll admit that part of the reason why I'm deciding to retire is because I can't get over myself. I know I should be better than I am currently, and it feels uncomfortably disingenuine offering opinions on cars that I can't even keep out of the walls. More and more I'm losing that confidence in writing and sharing, to the point that neither racing nor writing feels all that rewarding anymore.

All that is to say nothing of the fact that the gaming industry nowadays deeply sadden me, and both wheels and the DS5 controller I've used have given me problems that take yet more time and money to fix, and I just don't know if I can keep up with it any longer with my body the way it is. GT7's lobbies have been rather laggy from day one, and its esoteric annoyances have never been addressed in the 3.5 years since the game launched, and it all just wore me down over time. That, and modern cars just don't interest nor excite me any more. I just feel completely apathetic towards cars and games nowadays. Throughout the year as I've tried to fix and better myself, I've come to the conclusion that taking care of and fixing a broken body is a full time job in and of itself—one that I can't half–ass or juggle. And I think I'm much more worthy of my time and resources than games and virtual cars. And quite frankly, I think disconnecting from obligations for a bit will do me much good in the long run.

Despite all that, the decision to end COTW is not an easy one to make. I feel extremely bad for the regulars who contribute greatly, be it showing up to races, submitting SPC entries, or even just the quiet lurkers who show up occasionally to read the thread. I appreciate you all, be you a COTW veteran of several years and games, or someone who just popped in this year. It means an incredible lot to me that something like this can bring value to your lives and warrant the time you take to put into this. Believe me when I say that I feel like I'm letting each and every one of you down by choosing to end COTW for selfish reasons. But at the end of the day, it just doesn't feel right to ask someone else to do my job for me.

I'm projecting the final car we feature will be announced on December 29th, then we'll host our usual lobbies at January 1st and 4th. That car, whatever it ends up being, will be eligible for our usual year end Car of the Year awards. If there's any car any of you want to feature on COTW, now's the time to tell me.

I'm aware that Spec III is dropping on Christmas this year, and could massively shake up the game. Future updates could add much anticipated cars that regulars would like to feature. I'm open to regulars requesting to feature and race a car sporadically in 2026.

Again, I'm massively sorry for not being able to hold up my end of the deal as the thread keeper, lobby host, and the erector of walls of text. But I think this is for the best. And thank you all once again for being a part of this, for however long you've been here, in whatever form you choose to participate in. I hope that we can still keep in touch, even though we won't be racing regularly anymore.

 

[Vic Reign93]

I’ve already said this before, but I’ll repeat for folks on here.

It’s lasted an incredibly long time, I’ve been here in COTW for over 11 years and some have been here longer than me.

I completely understand your reasoning as to why Square, don’t ever think of it as being selfish, real life always comes first and I’ve always stressed that to folks who couldn’t make it for IRL reasons.

While not the OG thread, both me and Obe have made tough choices when closing the Forza branch’s of COTW over the years, so yeah I get how you feel about it all.

It’s lasted longer than some of us probably expected, but it’s been a hell of a ride, I’ll never regret all the very early mornings I did to join or host the antics.

As Baron said to you before, don’t be sorry, be proud of what you done, I’m sure as hell taking his advice because COTW also led me to RXGT because of Rick joining COTW and Sunday Night League because of meeting Rob through COTW.

In short, COTW will always have a place in my mind, it’s more than earned it. 🙂

 

[skydragon49]

Hello there

I lack the technical lingo and understanding when it comes to driving (I'm an average player and also there's the language barrier) but I do get to retain the feelings I get when driving cars in video games.

The X-Bow was a favorite of mine back in the Driveclub days. Music cue 🎶How fast you wanna go...🎶 It was a twichy little monster road/track legal car which always made me think twice before hitting the gas. The car was an iminent crash, just waiting to happen. And I liked it. The other car I can recall being like that is the Oreca Viper at Laguna Seca license test back in GT2. Good days....

In GT7 we had an online time trial some months ago with the X-Bow at Road Atlanta. Just like the GT-R some weeks ago, it was a car it made me spend quite some time and quite some work so I could break into the golden 3% range. Just like the GT-R (sorry for the repetition) I kept the very same copy of the car since then, which is a rare thing for me that only happens when I do enjoy a vehicle.

Lap time and possible optimal:

The lap:

 

[skydragon49]

@XSquareStickIt I'm deeply sorry about your health. It goes without saying that real life comes first and after all GT7 is just a hobby, then I reckon your call is the correct one.

I hope everything works out for you and wish you a speedy recovery. My prayers will be with you.

 

[ShonnDaylee]

@XSquareStickIt

I'm really sorry for your health problems. I know how hard it can be. To put it in context...

I've been on these forums since around 2002/2003 (I went by "Delphic Reason" back in those days) and was very active for a very long time and was even a "Super Moderator" (old title...lol) for a handful of years. Then, in 2011 I had a brain aneurism that nearly took me out. The recovery was rough to say the least, and I ended up leaving the forum. I stopped skateboarding (used to be semi-pro back in the 90's so it wasn't an easy choice to make), and I struggled to do a lot of the things I once took for granted (like racing). It took years but I made it. I'll never be the same person I was before the aneurism. Brain damage has a way of doing that, but I've learned how to maximize my potential by focusing on my health and mental state. The rest tends to fall into place, for the most part.

So, by all means, take care of yourself. Your health is WAY more important than racing virtual cars.

 

[XSquareStickIt]

The results for last week's SPC, the X-Flow TT, are in!

Snake55wildcat	1:15.807
skydragon49	1:15.479
XSquareStickIt	1:15.258
Hdbd04	1:15.017
Aiko_Mac	1:14.593

Congrats to Aiko for being the best in night driving!

---

And speaking of SPCs, it's time for the SPC specialist, @Skyrocket44 , to pick the next car to feature!

The car they've gone with? It's the hot off the oven Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40V '74!

Skyrocket44​

I really really really really really REALLY wanted to nominate the Veyron for its 20th anniversary this month, but since it's an invite car it'll either get rejected or reserved for Spec III.

So instead, here comes the unstoppable Big Six...

...the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40V.

Come rain, sleet, snow, sand, dust, fire, ash, there's no stopping a Toyota - not even so-called "driving standards." All those snobby, tight-lipped stewards, sitting pretty in their air-conditioned boxes with their high-visibility jackets and double shot espressos think they know better than us. But we can't be stopped. There's no stopping a Toyota - not even white lines. Igor Fraga can slice his Super Formula around Japan all he wants, but one lick of grass and around he goes. But not a Toyota. There's no stopping a Toyota.

Happily, as a newly added car, the Land Cruiser is available for a long while still at the time of posting in the LCD, so you've no excuse to not buy one! Or two, in case, you know, we decide to go offroad in it and can't enforce BoP...

Just remember: it ain't no Hilux. Don't go crashing it into trees or setting it on fire in the Single–Player Challenge or Weekly Lobbies, now!

---

Join Our Weekly Lobbies!​

Our weekly lobbies are ongoing as usual, and anyone (not a dick) is welcome to join us in racing Land Cruisers under BoP conditions!

Spoiler: Lobbies Information

Click on the hyperlinks to convert the times to your time zone, and feel free to add the hosts as friends on PSN to make searching for the lobbies easier!

The Americas Lobby​

• Tuesday. 30th September, 10 P.M. CST
• Host: Victory_Reign93

The Asia/Oceania also kinda European Lobby​

• Saturday, 4th October, 4 P.M. Singapore Time
• Host: XSquareStickIt

BoP/Settings Disabled: On (Cars will temporarily be reverted to stock settings, WIDE BODIED AND/OR ENGINE SWAPPED CARS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE!)
Tracks: Randomly selected by lobby participants (~5 mins practice, ~7 mins sprint)
PP Limit: 316PP
Car: No Limit
Tyres: Comfort Medium

---

~Single–Player Challenge!~​

Skyrocket44​

Your challenge this week is to go to Autopolis International "Racing" Course for a Time Trial at 16:00 when the track is sopping wet. With Grip Reduction set to Real, set the fastest time possible.
Yes.
You can cut the track as much as you want.
No.
You won't need upgrades. Nothing wrong with a stock Cruiser.

You read the rocket; you don't need anything else from me!

Remember to save a replay of your run!

---

Of course, we always welcome opinions, tunes, liveries, photos, videos, or stories about the car here on the the thread!

 

[Hdbd04]

~Single–Player Challenge!~​

[Autopolis Racing Course, 16:00, wet]

Remember to save a replay of your run!

Oh thank goodness it's a road track! I swear the Weekly Challenge at the Fisherman's Ranch nearly made my wrists break, if it I get to the "bumps" of the track. And I wasn't using a direct drive wheel either!

Although now I need to buy another stock unit. I haven't seen any exact model of it in-person, but the closest was this pickup model when I was walking around for a photo trip earlier this year:

 

[skydragon49]

That's gonna be a fun week! Here in Brazil the FJ40V was named "Bandeirante" which refers to the explorers who advanced through inland in order to discover and claim the lands during our colonial historical period.

The car itself is nothing but legendary in my country. It was seen as a nearly indestructible and unstopable vehicle. Another car that has the same reputation is the Uno, which is known as Fiat Panda in the international market.

This last picture is the last car ever assembled in Brazil. It is kept in a car museum with 0 mileage.

 

[lilcat89]

View attachment 1482672
This last picture is the last car ever assembled in Brazil. It is kept in a car museum with 0 mileage.

Out of curiosity, when was that last FJ40 built?

 

[skydragon49]

Out of curiosity, when was that last FJ40 built?

November 2001.

Its production ran from 1962 to 2001.

 

[lilcat89]

It's crazy that it was produced for that long. Thats right up there with the Beetles and Type 2 Buses built in Mexico!