It has been said that the most successful and memorable cars are those that have a very polarizing effect on people. There are numerous examples. Remember when the 1994 Dodge Ram came out? It was such a radical break from its stodgy, out-dated predecessor, not to mention the rest of the full-size market at the time, that it caused an immediate stir. Polarizing, yes. But Dodge's truck sales nearly tripled almost overnight compared to sales for the previous model year.
When the Escalade received its sharp, chiseled schnoz for the 2002 model year, it went from being a forgotten last-minute re-hash to the dominant player in the full-size luxury SUV market.
The Chrysler 300's bold re-design for 2005 likewise was controversial, and a complete departure from the comparatively sleek, cab-forward 300 M that preceded it.
The new Toyota FJ Cruiser is different in that it doesn't exactly replace or succeed anything, but rather brings back some significant heritage design cues from the legendary FJ 40 from the '70s and early '80s. However, there is not universal adoration for Toyota's newest off-road toy. While there are many that hold unwavering affection for the FJ, others see it as an Element on steroids, or dismiss it as "girlie."
Undoubtedly, females are expected to be a significant percentage of the FJ's buyers. Why else would Toyota offer a 2wd, automatic-only version? However, its archrival, the Jeep Wrangler, has likewise always had a strong following among the cheerleader and sorority-girl set, as well as hard-core off-roaders.
So let me ask this question to all y'all: Are you a lover or a hater? We want to know!