Give me ONE Reason NOT to buy an FZJ80...

[DaveInDenver]

I feel people want too much for 'em because they're a status symbol, not due to their exceptional off-road prowess and reliability.

It makes more financial sense to me to pay $4K or less, for an equally capable FJ62, in good condition with 160K miles. Same rep, same quality, same heritage, same aftermarket support, etc. I don't think the 62's are quite the lookers that the 80's are, but I like Toyota's oddball offerings best anyway.

You make good points, but I thought these two statements are worth taking a look at. They are status symbols right now primarily for their offroad capability. They are very similar to a 62, but with coil springs and that is not a minimal difference. I really like the 60-series, but have always though the 62 looked a bit pieced together compared to a 60. I like the round headlights! The 80 is a very nice looking truck and add the flexy suspension, hard to beat. Right now there is rush to get them within TLCA and the 'Yota enthusiast crowd, where as a few years ago you'd be cast out with the Hilux owners if you showed up to wheel one. Then someone recognized that despite their girth, they wheel darn good (about the same time that the mini truck craze started, too!). I agree that 80 are overpriced, but I also don't think they are any more crazy than any other old Cruiser. I know a guy who bought a stockish FJ60 for $4K with about 200K. This thing has a poor repaint job (they painted the hub locks, which took him a day of cleaning to get to work freely again), needs a fair amount of engine love and the tranny isn't happy. There is no way I'd pay $4K for what is essentially a straight body that will need a lot more money to bring up to where I would feel comfortable. I paid $4500 for my truck when it was 9 years old, just barely turned 100K miles from the original owner and I thought that was premium at the time!

 

[kcowyo]

They are status symbols right now primarily for their offroad capability.

Right now there is rush to get them within TLCA and the 'Yota enthusiast crowd....

In the TLCA crowd they are a status symbol for their off-road capability, I agree.

But in the much larger general populace they are a status symbol because they cost more than an Explorer or an Envoy. The typical buyer, I feel, is driving the prices, not the guys who go to Baja or Tuk.

You don't need a coil suspension and diff locks to go to Pilates.....

 

[DaveInDenver]

In the TLCA crowd they are a status symbol for their off-road capability, I agree.

But in the much larger general populace they are a status symbol because they cost more than an Explorer or an Envoy. The typical buyer, I feel, is driving the prices, not the guys who go to Baja or Tuk.

You don't need a coil suspension and diff locks to go to Pilates.....

Do you think that a 10 or 12 year old LC with 150K on the clock and worn out leather seats impresses the rest of the foursome at the country club? My guess is that's why the used 100 series and 4th gen 4Runner prices are high, but I think the 80 series inflation is a more pedestrian crowd. People looking for something to replace (or augment) the built 40 series. Sure seems like the majority of the guys in the Rising Sun who have recently bought 80 series already have a 40 series and are looking for a way to keep the checkbook holder and lil' TLCA'er happy while in Moab. I think in general Cruiser prices are high, they are not terribly common and their reputation precedes them. But I think the current 80 series bump is artificial due to a bit of hording by Yota people. Same thing happened about 5 or 10 years ago with the 40 series. People would be asking $25K for a nice one.

 

[Christian P.]

It makes more financial sense to me to pay $4K or less, for an equally capable FJ62, in good condition with 160K miles. Same rep, same quality, same heritage, same aftermarket support, etc. I don't think the 62's are quite the lookers that the 80's are, but I like Toyota's oddball offerings best anyway.

I am afraid I am going to have to disagree with you on this one.

I have owned both models for a long period of time, and the 80 series is far superior on many aspects.

More comfort, more power, safer (airbags), less noisy, power everything, etc. It's a more modern SUV, but still build like a tank. The major downsides are gas mileage, parts are a bit more expensive and no manual transmission (in the US).


The FJ62 looks nice in my opinion, it's a bit smaller for offroad and parts/add-ons are less expensive. But at 160000 miles you may be looking for a head gasket (happened on mine) and a rebuild tranny.

I even bought a FJ62 after my relationship at the time ended with my ex-girlfriend keeping the 80.... Bad decision. After I added the ARB bull bar, Kaymar rear bumper, long range fuel tank, roof rack, roof top tent, etc, it became totally underpowered and gas mileage was barely touching 2 digits. It was a real challenge to climb sand dunes, as the truck did not have enough power.

My original plan was to use the 62 for our RTW trip but I ended up selling it on Ebay. I should have started with a 80 as a platform. Live and learn.

Furthermore, you can get a 80 with both diff locks. I don't know if they are as good as the ARBs, but to add 2 diff locks on a 62 will cost you almost $2K.

If I had to choose one again, I would go with the 80 in a minute. It is such a sweet ride.

I agree that they are expensive, but not over-inflated.
Depending where you are located, you can find them on Craiglist for $8-9$

 

[Christian P.]

LC on CL

here's a couple finds for today...

1994 $7900
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/car/312465057.html

1990 $9300
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/314799913.html

1995 $7000
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/car/314009119.html

1988 $2250
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/313517293.html

1988 $2500
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/313292302.html

1993 $6000
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/313350882.html

so many choices...

 

[SOAZ]

Buy this or I swear to god I will, if someone wants to buy my 4runner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-Land-Cruiser-1996-FZJ80-Toyota-Land-Cruiser-119K-Fully-Loaded_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6443QQihZ004QQitemZ140108861189QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
unk03: unk03:

 

[Christian P.]

Right now there is rush to get them within TLCA and the 'Yota enthusiast crowd, where as a few years ago you'd be cast out with the Hilux owners if you showed up to wheel one. Then someone recognized that despite their girth, they wheel darn good (about the same time that the mini truck craze started, too!).

This is a very good example of social perceptions and influences.
I remember when I moved to CA 5 years ago a 80 series was perceived as the perfect soccer-mom mall crawler. I had a different idea because I had seen them in Europe and Africa, under different packages. Eventually they became recognized for their offroad capabilities, perhaps as the prices went down and more and more people could afford them. I am sure someone could write a thesis on this.

I would not be surprise if the exact same thing happen with a Serie 100. In Australia they are all over the place now. Sure some of them has front solid axle instead of IFS, but not all of them. They also have diesel, but beside the gas mileage, I am sure the V8 is pretty sweet. As price goes down for the serie 100, I am convinced more and more people will start taking them to Baja...

I know that I don't see them with the same eye anymore...just look at this beauty I saw in front of the ARB dealership in Sydney..

 

[Skillet]

One thing to watch out for if you are buying...

Many of these clowns who are selling put "locking diff" on the list.

This could be referring to the center diff only.

You have to double check for the infamous dial.

If you are looking for lockers, that is.

 

[kcowyo]

Do you think that a 10 or 12 year old LC with 150K on the clock and worn out leather seats impresses the rest of the foursome at the country club?

Only when they find out how much they got on trade-in for it at Stevinson Toyota.....

I am afraid I am going to have to disagree with you on this one.

I have owned both models for a long period of time, and the 80 series is far superior on many aspects.

More comfort, more power, safer (airbags), less noisy, power everything, etc. It's a more modern SUV, but still build like a tank. The major downsides are gas mileage, parts are a bit more expensive and no manual transmission (in the US).

You can disagree, no big deal. I'm just stating why I won't buy an 80 at this time, even though I'm a big fan.

Far superior? I'll disagree back but there's no need to split hairs. The 80 should be improved over the 62's. That's the idea of presenting new models, for improvements and upgrades. I just feel the 62's at their current market price at this time are a better value and smarter buy than the 80's and their current high asking prices. When the 80's taper off like the 40's and 60's did, I would probably jump on one.

See, maybe to the housewife who drives her Landcruiser to the plastic surgeon to get the fat sucked out of her ass and have it shoved back into her forehead, fancy accruements like heated leather, airbags, center diff lock and a sunroof are worth paying for. But not to me when all I want is the coilover suspension. I would rather pay less for less, than pay too much for too much.

And the headgasket went on my old '89 FJ62 at 189K. An $800 rebuild kit (the equivalent of an ARB bullbar) and we were back in business. Last I heard it was approaching 300K miles.

But back to the OP, these are the reasons, even though I love the 80 series LC's, why I wouldn't buy one at this time.

 

[blupaddler]

See, maybe to the housewife who drives her Landcruiser to the plastic surgeon to get the fat sucked out of her ass and have it shoved back into her forehead, fancy accruements like heated leather, airbags, center diff lock and a sunroof are worth paying for.

But back to the OP, these are the reasons, even though I love the 80 series LC's, why I wouldn't buy one at this time.

LOL!!!
Thanks, that reminds me...I have to confirm my appointment with the DR. Only my fat is going to my chest, pec. implants baby!
rngartis

For me the decision on the 80 vs. 60 came down to comfort. If I am going to be driving long distances. I want to be comfortable, not that a 60 isn't, its just that an 80 is more comfy. (minus the T100 seats)

 

[adventureduo]

One thing to watch out for if you are buying...

Many of these clowns who are selling put "locking diff" on the list.

This could be referring to the center diff only.

You have to double check for the infamous dial.

If you are looking for lockers, that is.

Yeah and.. now i've heard of people buying the actual dial switch, popping it in and telling you it has lockers to get a few more bucks out of the sale. I would check the vin# and crawl under the rig to make sure too.

 

[Skillet]

Yeah and.. now i've heard of people buying the actual dial switch, popping it in and telling you it has lockers to get a few more bucks out of the sale. I would check the vin# and crawl under the rig to make sure too.

When I first got my vehicle, my dash locker lights would not come on and I thought it was just a bad switch. Then I read about cases of what you mentioned and I puckered up a little. I ran out and crawled around, verified the presence of lockers then discovered that someone had unplugged the main unit under the dash on the PS.

I plugged it back in and the thing locked right up, both front and rear. Has worked great ever since.

Still cannot figure out why someone would unplug it, unless someone with knowledge of the truck did not want another driver, with less knowledge, locking those things in on the pavement and cruising to the Doctors for some adipose removal.

The world may never know.

 

[SLOwag]

Yeah and.. now i've heard of people buying the actual dial switch, popping it in and telling you it has lockers to get a few more bucks out of the sale. I would check the vin# and crawl under the rig to make sure too.

WOW!

Thanks for that gem of info. I'm kind of lurking for the right 80 or 100 and hoping it will fall in my lap...now I'm a little wiser.

 

[CodyLX450]

The ONLY downside I see after owning mine from stock to half modded, is the FRUSTRATION of seeing how much more expensive the bolt ons like roof rack, bumpers, sliders, etc......compared to more common rigs like Wranglers.

The thing that never gets old tho, are the people who think my 97 is some brand new truck Lexus came out with....and how shocked they are that it is 11 years old and has over 150,000 miles.

 

[Jenny Cruiser]

There are a lot of 80s around here, but there are at least 3-4 Xterras for every 80 I see and every one I pass checks out my slow, gas guzzling, 14 year old - expensive to maintain ride with that "Damn. That's a nice Land Cruiser." look on their faces. Go get you one. This is a good time of year to pick them up.