2004 Tacoma vs. 1997 Land Cruiser: Long Term Ownership

[Ozark_Prowler]

To your first statement, send me your address. I’ll be there tonight to pick it up. To your second statement, possibly the dumbest thing ever said on the internet.

Landcruisers may not be right for YOU, and I get that, but they are definitely NOT overrated. They are meant to be used and abused in the harshest conditions on the planet. They are not intended to be used as daily drivers in the mall crawling world of the USA. Toyota offered them here up until the FJ80 arrived as a utility vehicle, which is what they are. Only with the 80 and subsequent series did the changes appear to up the appeal to the well heeled. Everywhere else in the world, all models are available as originally intended in a utility trim.

I don't mean to say they are overrated as a whole. But I think the combination of the antique 4 speed auto, tacky leather/wood trim interior, and no diesel option make for a less-than ideal platform. If I had a cloth interior 5 speed model, I'd probably be raving right now.

Also, by "overrated" I meant to say that they are often portrayed as infallible and indestructible by the fanbase when they need serious overhauling to be made reliable at this point, with thousands tacked on to any purchase price depending on how well it was looked after.

They were a no brainer back in the Obama era, when they were well within their service life and came at a bargain, but nowadays you pay a premium even without the baselining costs, so you have to really, really want one to make it "worth it".

 

[Arktikos]

Still working on selling the LC but I can't seem to give it away. Buying this thing might be the most catastrophically stupid decision I've ever made.

I really do not get the excitement over the 80 series at this point. I can't wait to get back into a Tacoma or similar. After all, nobody replaces head-gaskets as PM, does an 18 hour axle service, or replaces the whole trashed interior on those, and they can actually be used as DDs to boot..

The FZJ80 has to be one of the most overrated 4x4 platforms. I'll get a diesel 70 series if I ever want a real Cruiser, but this will almost certainly be my first and last foray into LC ownership.

Have you sold it yet?

Not all 80's have trashed interiors. My driver's seat bottom was torn so I bought some decent leather seat bottom covers that were relatively inexpensive and a close match with the tan seat back color. Otherwise my interior is OK. It's a Cruiser not a Mercedes, doesn't need to have a perfect interior IMO. But, if you buy one with an interior not to your liking then obviously it's an expected expense to upgrade.

Just because some talk of doing HG as PM doesn't mean we have to. I won't.

The bad MPG can certainly an issue. With my locale there's not many miles of road to drive, so it's not as relevant. Again, it's a consideration before buying the rig.

Front end maintenance? Well yes, it's the same story with all SFA Land Cruisers. Full time 4WD with 80 series adds to the wear.
Tacos have a steering rack, don't they? Not sure I'd prefer that setup.

Diesel engine Land Cruisers aren't so bulletproof as you may think. Go read up on them at the IH8MUD site. Plenty of problems can occur with those engines too. The older 70 series available for US customers have the inferior leaf spring suspension. 80 series has way better suspension for on and off road than any earlier LC.

I get the 70 series appeal though. They're simple, tough and look cool. For LHD there's Canarian Island imports. RHD Cruisers direct.

 

[Ozark_Prowler]

Have you sold it yet?

Not all 80's have trashed interiors. My driver's seat bottom was torn so I bought some decent leather seat bottom covers that were relatively inexpensive and a close match with the tan seat back color. Otherwise my interior is OK. It's a Cruiser not a Mercedes, doesn't need to have a perfect interior IMO. But, if you buy one with an interior not to your liking then obviously it's an expected expense to upgrade.

Just because some talk of doing HG as PM doesn't mean we have to. I won't.

The bad MPG can certainly an issue. With my locale there's not many miles of road to drive, so it's not as relevant. Again, it's a consideration before buying the rig.

Front end maintenance? Well yes, it's the same story with all SFA Land Cruisers. Full time 4WD with 80 series adds to the wear.
Tacos have a steering rack, don't they? Not sure I'd prefer that setup.

Diesel engine Land Cruisers aren't so bulletproof as you may think. Go read up on them at the IH8MUD site. Plenty of problems can occur with those engines too. The older 70 series available for US customers have the inferior leaf spring suspension. 80 series has way better suspension for on and off road than any earlier LC.

I get the 70 series appeal though. They're simple, tough and look cool. For LHD there's Canarian Island imports. RHD Cruisers direct.

My dream configuration is a short wheelbase 70 series with a 5 speed manual and 1fz-fe. But most of those are in SA or the GCC, where they often have sketchy maintenance histories as I understand it. Still, that's my dream rig.

I would attempt an h151 swap into my Cruiser if it weren't so prohibitively expensive.

 

[nickw]

My dream configuration is a short wheelbase 70 series with a 5 speed manual and 1fz-fe. But most of those are in SA or the GCC, where they often have sketchy maintenance histories as I understand it. Still, that's my dream rig.

I would attempt an h151 swap into my Cruiser if it weren't so prohibitively expensive.

I honestly think you are a good candidate for that 04' Tacoma...it's sportier, cheaper to maintain and uses running gear from many of the overseas Hiluxes and Prado's.....engine, trans, tcase, axles, etc. I think those 1st gen Tacomas are every bit as reliable as Landcruisers, not as durable, but within their intended use case, bulletproof.

 

[Ozark_Prowler]

I honestly think you are a good candidate for that 04' Tacoma...it's sportier, cheaper to maintain and uses running gear from many of the overseas Hiluxes and Prado's.....engine, trans, tcase, axles, etc. I think those 1st gen Tacomas are every bit as reliable as Landcruisers, not as durable, but within their intended use case, bulletproof.

Yeah the rack and pinion is a definite weak point though, along with the crappy metallurgy of the frame. As much as I might complain about the old Cruiser, I’d be very sad to see that old hunk go. I wish I could afford to run both..

 

[nickw]

Yeah the rack and pinion is a definite weak point though, along with the crappy metallurgy of the frame. As much as I might complain about the old Cruiser, I’d be very sad to see that old hunk go. I wish I could afford to run both..

Rack and pinion is a non-issue IMO.....very reliable, easy to repair or replace and not expensive.

 

[Ozark_Prowler]

Rack and pinion is a non-issue IMO.....very reliable, easy to repair or replace and not expensive.

Yeah I guess you can get a bent sector shaft in an 80 too.