Video of '08 Land Cruiser offroad

[Jacket]

If you compare it to what everyone else is doing in the luxury SUV market, its impressive and laudable that Toyota is still maintaining ties to the Land Cruiser legacy, albeit with 4wd electronics. But generally speaking, I'm disappointed that Toyota is taking the "Land Cruiser" brand and taking it to the luxury level. The sticker price on a new one is shocking.

 

[cpg]

The sticker price on a new one is shocking.

The sticker on a new one has been shocking for over 10 years already.

 

[calamaridog]

However, what they definately are is MUCH heavier, yet less capacity. Well, at least compared to the 80. I guess the 200 has the 100 beat in terms of weight and capacity.

The 100 series and probably the 200 series are grossly undersprung from the factory. This affects the "capacity". From an engineering standpoint, they both have progressively stronger frames so this is really the only major thing affecting the factory "capacity".

Of course we all upgrade our carrying capacity with heavier aftermarket springs.

At least this is my thinking on the subject.

 

[Brian894x4]

The sticker price on a new one is shocking.

Actually it's in line with the past Land Cruisers.

My 1995 Land Cruiser FZJ80 sold for $47,628 dollars in 1994/1995. That's about $66,500 in today's dollars with inflation.'

What's shocking is just how devalued our dollar has become.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Actually it's in line with the past Land Cruisers.

My 1995 Land Cruiser FZJ80 sold for $47,628 dollars in 1994/1995. That's about $66,500 in today's dollars with inflation.'

What's shocking is just how devalued our dollar has become.

I have a window sticker from a 1978 FJ40 hard top and this one was $7,052.30 with the optional snow tires, all weather kits (RR heater), AM radio, undercoat and Warn hubs. That $22,551.14 in 2007 dollars. So I wonder when the relative pricing began creeping? What did a FJ55, FJ60 and FJ62 cost? I'd guess that it was in the mid 1980s with the 4Runner and 4WD pickups coming into the model line as entry level trucks.

 

[Brian894x4]

I would say Toyota really started the upscale marketing with the original FJ80. By the time they decided to go to coil springs, leather interior, etc, etc, that was when it was more than a basic SUV and price started to reflect that.

However, I think there were some pretty significant price increases in the early 1990s, and its hard to say what caused this. There were some tariff issues with Japanese products about that time. And the SUVs were just becoming super popular while the sport's car market, which was the "in" think in the 1980s and early 1990s was just dying off. So, those could be factors for the price increase back then.

This is the base MSRP price from what I could gather online. Remember this appears to be base, without options. All numbers are rounded off. Prices are in the U.S. market: For current inflation numbers add about 3.7% to the 2006 figure.

60/62 series
1983: $13,000 (40 series: $10,000) Inflation 2006 dollars: $26,000/$20,000
1984: $14,000
1985: $15,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $28,000
1986: $17,000
1987: $18,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $32,000
1988: $20,000
1989: $21,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $35,000
1990: $21,000

80 series
1991: $24,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $36,000
1992: $27,000
1993: $32,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $44,000
1994: $37,000
1995: $39,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $52.000
1996: $40,000 (Lexus LX450: $48,000)
1997: $41,000 (Lexus LX450: $49,000) Inflation 2006 dollars: $51,000/$61,000

100 series:
1998: $46,000 (Lexus LX470: $49,000)
1999: $46,000
2000: $51,000 Inflation 2006 dollars: $60,000

You can see the biggest price increase happend during the 80 series production run, where price literally doubled or more. Don't forget that most 80 series were sold for well above base price, because they were optioned out. My 1995 model based around $39,000 but sold for more than $48,000 and didn't even include things like lockers, tow hitch and roof rack.

The 2008 Land cruiser base MSRP is $63,200, but the important thing to remember is that there are literally almost no options available.

 

[LC/LR4Life]

I don't like the push button 4 low / 4 high.... also heard the 3rd member in the rear is aluminum? As well the 3rd row seating is permanent. You'll have to cut it out.

I think I'd go with the 100. However the crawl feature is cool. Still, I think the 100 is a better choice.

 

[Brian894x4]

I'm pretty sure the aluminum diff is the front, which isn't all that uncommon nowadays, but of course, one hopes it's strong enough.

As far as push buttom controls, I too don't like them, but then again, my 80 series center diff is push button and it works just fine.

The good news is Toyota is famous for bullet proof electronics, so we know that it should work and work forever. Unlike other makes, which I won't mention. :campfire:

I heard the 3rd row permanant too, but are you sure it just means that you doesn't pop out with the simply flick of a lever like the 80/100, but can still be unbolted to remove?

I can't believe the seat would be welded to the body. I've never see that before.

 

[upcruiser]

I just caught a show on Speed channel called Test Drive. The entire show was devoted to the 2008 Land Cruiser. They tested it in the Australian Outback, Yukon, and in Southern Cali. They even had guest test driver Ivan Stewart. Very cool show and given the nature of the tires and stock ride height I was impressed with how well the thing did. One thing I wonder though is how the heck a bullbar is going to fit onto that new front end with its integrated bumper.