Sell my 80? I need a voice(s) of reason.

[blupaddler]

Ironically this is about a year after Kevin went through his sell/don't sell phase.


But, I have been thinking about affordability, and taking more trips with less of a hit on the pocketbook. Moving up, or down depending on how you view the situation.

I am considering selling my 80 and purchasing a diesel 60 series. I know of a nice, clean HJ60 for sale currently in ______. The MPG would almost double, and there is kinda the coolness factor of a 60 series. It has about the same mileage as my 80, 5spd, A/C, 2H, reg. in CA...with some extras.

I know I will be driving slower and parts may be more difficult to come by. So that doesn't need to be discussed.

The question is...
Do I want to start over base-lining a vehicle?
Have I been working too much and lost my marbles?
Do I sell my 80?
How much could I ask?
Go on vacation and don't worry?





Anyway, here are some specs on MY (for now) 80:

1994 FZJ80
175,xxx miles

Metallic green paint (oxydizing on the hood)
NO factory roof rack (this is a good thing)
Factory lockers
Bunch of Power goodies (locks, windows, steering, cruiser control, etc.)
Grey leather seating (drivers cracked/ing, others good)

Just tuned up
PHH and fire wall hose just done
Radiator hoses just replaced
O2 sensors replaced
Front axle done about 30k ago
Rear axle done about 15k ago
Drilled/Slotted rotors f/r
Slee stainless braided brake lines
Slee upgraded light harness
IPF fog lights to factory switch
Lightforce 240's to factory switch
ARB bull bar
Warn 8000 winch with Amsteel blue rope
CB radio
Pioneer CD player
Some kind of upgraded speakers
Dual Battery set up using the "perfect switch" and Odyssey batteries (1200 & 1700)
Hella map light
Tinted windows (people can't see what's inside)
West marine cig. outlets (2) in front & (4) in rear
Kaymar rear bumper with dual pivots & tire carrier on driver side
Slee sliders (original version step sliders, they are two piece. You can take the "extra" step off for more clearance, less step.)
Slee transfer case skid plate
OME lift (850J's in front and 864's in rear)
OME shocks
OME CC bushings
Extended axle breathers
Toyo Open country M/T's less than 5k miles
Auxillary tank, yes the 44 gallon monster.
Rims rattle-caned black
*tent not included*





So, am I nuts...Or should I just care for the green tank for a couple more years?

 

[ZooJunkie]

What's wrong with it?

 

[blupaddler]

Nothing.
Just the fact that I get 11-12 mpg.

 

[SOAZ]

Is that the ONLY thing wrong with it?
Be honest. Are you tired of it and looking for a change. Does it blend in and you want something more classic.
Are you really doing it to save money. The 60 will have more repairs etc. You could drop a diesel into the 80 for what you might put into the 60.
I say do what you want. Are you just needing a new toy? Maybe just want to make a change to the current one?
Sounds like there is more to it than just MPG...

EDIT: I just read your should i just take care of the green tank comment. Do you not have confidence it will get you through the next trip. Maybe its a good time and good excuse to have it gone through. axles, motor etc...?

 

[Christian P.]

I understand your pain about the gas mileage. I am driving my friend's Prius this week...I am looking to get another SUV but the 45 mpg of the Prius is sooooo nice.

Have-you test drive the 60? it's slow, it probably smokes and it's old. Does it have lockers....?

Keep the 80. there's no way you will win financially by making that swap, as you seem to have invested a lot already on the 80. And it's so much more comfy...and powerful...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I had a HJ60 that I loved but between that and a built 80 is a good toss up. Bare minimum you need to invest in a turbo. They are good and peppy at sea level but larger tires and the slightest elevation and they turn into complete and utter dogs, painful and not enjoyable. The lift springs are more expensive and it will always be leaf sprung so slightly bouncier. But unique. If the HJ60 were really clean then I would consider it. If its rusty or has any mechanical problems at all I'd stick with what you have. The turbo kits are expensive but there are some cheaper home brew options assuming you are/know a good mechanic and fabricator as some welding will be required..

Cheers,
Andre

 

[blupaddler]

I will admit part of the draw is something new to tinker with...
This is the longest I have owned a vehicle, 3 1/2 years. So I am starting to get the itch.


The 60 has a Belton (sp?) lift. And NO turbo.






Oh, the tank comment is just that. She's a tank, take you where ever you want just not very fast. And she's green.
:shakin:

 

[Brian894x4]

If you're actually looking for an excuse to keep the 80, then it really comes down to economics.

I'll bet that even with double the mileage, the numbers won't pencil out in favor of the 60, once you sell you're 80 at a net loss and then have to baseline and build a new vehicle.

And don't forget that diesel has almost always been more expensive than gasoline over the last few years, so that will subtrack some of the mileage advantage.

On the flip side, the idea of gasoline going to $5/gallon or much higher in the few years, is pretty likely, so investing in a gas guzzler like our 80s, does require some pause.

If it's a diesel that you want, how about swapping one into the 80? At least going forward, an 80 with a diesel will probably always be worth more than a 60 with one.

Either way, good luck.

 

[XXXpedition]

i kinda like the idea of thinking of new upgrades and doing new changes.
i see the gas milage adventage...
how much do you have to pay for the 60?
how much do you get for the 80?
do you loose a lot for all the aftermarket? (most likely)
what's the price difference of selling the 80 and buying AND modifying the 60?????
how long can you drive for that price difference???

but you probably could use a few aftermarket parts for the new rig... lights, etc.

but i've also always liked the 80s and kinda like the diesel conversion option (although very expensive)
just my 2 cents...

sven

 

[Moody]

I just came from a 62 to an 80. Not exactly the same, but I am more than happy to have the 'cushiness' and modern upgrades the 80 offers. I could see myself in another 60 series for a daily driver or fun mobile, but not for the long haul anymore...especially with the kiddies along. That said, there will always be a love for the old 62.
I would keep the 80.

 

[locrwln]

I know how you feel when it comes to "building" another rig. I have gone through 4 rigs in less than 7 years.

Now having said that, I had a 97 Lexus 450, had a lift, new tires, etc. had completed all of the PM including having to replace the HG. Got a wild hair up and decided to sell it and buy a Tacoma, because I wanted better mileage. I kept the Taco for a total of 4 months. Guess what I ended up with again...'96 Toyota Landcruiser. The Taco average 20 mpg, so far this 80 is in the 15 range.

There were many reasons, but one that made a big impression was when you drove the LX all day offroad, you got done and still felt like doing something. The Taco made you feel like you had just spent the day offroad, (physically and mentally more taxing) and that feeling didn't go away on a multi-day trip.

My suggestion, drive the 60 or any 60 over some rough terrain (that you can get away with) and really see if you can live with it. Also you will lose your a#$ when you go to sell your 80. Unfortunately nobody wants to pay for your labor and most of the pm stuff is just part of the deal, so you loose all of that money, mods...maybe half value if you are lucky.

Take a deep breath and really think about it. Would a diesel 60 be cool, yes. Good luck.

Jack

 

[Scott Brady]

Keep the 80 and swap to a diesel when it needs a new motor. You have big money in that truck and relatively new mods. The 60 cannot be justified in this case.

Are you still only driving it for trips?

 

[cruiser guy]

Robb, the cheapest vehicle to drive is the one your driving now! Keep the '80 series and when the engine takes a dump drop in a diesel!

That's my recommendation and that's from a diesel '60 owner. On the flip side I'm not about to sell my '60 either because as I said above, "the cheapest vehicle to drive is the one your driving now".

I've had my '60 since 1989 and under 90,000 km's, now it's over 500,000km's and 25+ years old.

 

[offroad_nomad]

For what it's worth, keep your 80.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Disclaimer: I've never owned a Land Cruiser, nor have I ever owned a diesel (though I drove plenty of them in the Army.)

However, I wonder if your MPG expectations of the HJ-60 might be a bit inflated. Can you really get 22 mpg with the diesel? And is that on a stock vehicle? What happens when you start adding lift, bigger tires, etc? My guess is MPG goes down to maybe the 15mpg range. Add that to the already mentioned higher cost of diesel and I think you're right back where you started, only now you have an older vehicle with less aftermarket support that's not as nice to drive.

Here's a thought that may or may not appeal to you: What if you modified your existing rig to try and extract the maximum MPG out of it? The first thing might be to put it on a diet. Do you really need all that heavy gear? Look at things like tires - skinny tires weigh less and offer less resistance. Might that be the "project" you seek? I'd be willing to bet a lot of the 80 owners on this board would be interested in finding out whether you're able to boost the MPG numbers on yours. And, as has already been said, if you have to, you can always just swap a diesel into your current rig.

You could do a couple of short trips to determine whether you really need all the stuff you carry. Just eliminating excess weight can give you 1 or 2 mpg, as can keeping your speed down. Again, I have no experience with LCs specifically, but I've always been able to extract pretty good MPG out of most of my vehicles. For example, I routinely get 22-23 mpg on the highway in my v-6, 4x4 Taco. There are lots of guys with this truck who can barely break 15 but then again, they've got lifts, 100lb bumpers, sliders, monster tires, roof racks, and they're driving 75-80 on the freeway.