I'm surfin ads for a 4runner but have a question on the size difference between a 3rd gen 4runner and the same year models of the land cruiser. Is there significantly more interior space for expedition setup? How about a V8 in the cruiser, what kind of mileage? From reading here and elsewhere it looks like the 4runner is in the 16-18 and complaints of lack of power. So as I have only preference for the body style of the 3rd gen, if a V8 Cruiser get the same kind of mileage it might change my mind set. What the pros and cons? Thanks
size comparison 3rd gen 4runner and land cruizer
- Thread starter NoToyz
- Start date
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Which land cruiser are you referring to? Both the FJ/FZJ-80 (80 Series) and the UZJ-100 are significantly bigger inside than a 3rd gen 4runner. The 80 is rock solid but a lot of those who drive them consider them to be lacking in power. The 100 is better with its V8 but both are gas hogs compared to the 4runner.
A closer comparison would be the 4th gen 4runner (2003-2009) and 100 series LC. The 4.7 V8 is an option in the 4runner which is standard in the LC and 3rd row seating is also available. The LC would be slightly worse mpg's in similarly outfitted rigs. The upside on the LC is the harder to find options on the 4runner are pretty much standard on the LC or LX470. I have been bouncing around some of the same thoughts since taking over driving our Sequoia a year ago. For now I am sticking with it since it is loaded up, paid for and has a known service history and I don't offroad like I dream of.
Hope that helps a little.
Hope that helps a little.
I wouldn't be so optimistic with the 100 series mpg. I have one and I'm considering selling it for a 3rd gen, because of its horrid fuel consumption. The v8 in the Land Cruiser is no speed demon either, it's, as Rolls Royce would say, "adequate."
The interior space on the Land Cruiser is significantly larger, I just don't need it.; Single-ish, no kids or anything like that. College life is demanding some sacrifice.
The interior space on the Land Cruiser is significantly larger, I just don't need it.; Single-ish, no kids or anything like that. College life is demanding some sacrifice.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
There are a million + - between the two. Here are couple that came to mind.
3rd Gen. It can fit on trails a 100 can't. It's more stealthy than a 100. You can get some nice coilovers instead of torsions so if you like the "go fast" kind of offroading the 3rd gen will handle it better. ALso, long travel kits available. Parts are much cheaper than a 100. You could even buy an entire parts vehicle for $1500 if you wanted to. I know this will be a bone of contention, but if rock crawling is your thing (well a jeep or old fj40 would be better anyway) a 3rd gen is smaller and more manuverable than a 100.
100 Series. More power. More room. Cooler looking to most. Quieter. More luxury. Safer for the family on the road. Would likely be more stable on road and off because of it's width and weight. Lots of Expo after market stuff.
My worry on the 100 is that I like getting myself into some places I shouldn't go in my 3rd gen 4runner. Places like a trail where my tires are exactly on the edge of the cliff. A 100 would just be much to wide. Even a new 4runner might be. A 3rd gen, as long as you don't change the offset of the wheels, is the closest in width to an old CJ or earlier jeep or a wagon (Between these two trucks. Of course a Samurai or an old jeep would be closer). These are the things most remote old trails were built for so if you get too big of a truck you are limited on where you can go.
Don't get me wrong. I often think of a 100 series still, but these are the reasons I hold off and enjoy my friends 100 series when I can. If in the future I have a bigger family with some young ones. I wouldn't hesitate to get a 100. Right now the cost offset and my love of going too fast in the desert keeps me in a 3rd gen.
So, who knows. Get what you can afford and run it till the wheels fall off! Anything will work.
3rd Gen. It can fit on trails a 100 can't. It's more stealthy than a 100. You can get some nice coilovers instead of torsions so if you like the "go fast" kind of offroading the 3rd gen will handle it better. ALso, long travel kits available. Parts are much cheaper than a 100. You could even buy an entire parts vehicle for $1500 if you wanted to. I know this will be a bone of contention, but if rock crawling is your thing (well a jeep or old fj40 would be better anyway) a 3rd gen is smaller and more manuverable than a 100.
100 Series. More power. More room. Cooler looking to most. Quieter. More luxury. Safer for the family on the road. Would likely be more stable on road and off because of it's width and weight. Lots of Expo after market stuff.
My worry on the 100 is that I like getting myself into some places I shouldn't go in my 3rd gen 4runner. Places like a trail where my tires are exactly on the edge of the cliff. A 100 would just be much to wide. Even a new 4runner might be. A 3rd gen, as long as you don't change the offset of the wheels, is the closest in width to an old CJ or earlier jeep or a wagon (Between these two trucks. Of course a Samurai or an old jeep would be closer). These are the things most remote old trails were built for so if you get too big of a truck you are limited on where you can go.
Don't get me wrong. I often think of a 100 series still, but these are the reasons I hold off and enjoy my friends 100 series when I can. If in the future I have a bigger family with some young ones. I wouldn't hesitate to get a 100. Right now the cost offset and my love of going too fast in the desert keeps me in a 3rd gen.
So, who knows. Get what you can afford and run it till the wheels fall off! Anything will work.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
My only thought is that if you can afford a 100 series LC you can also afford a 4th gen 4runner. The 4th gen is not as big as the 100 but is definitely bigger than the 3rd gen.
FWIW I went from a 3rd gen to a 4th gen this summer. While I was shopping I also test drove a 100 series LC. It was absolutely GORGEOUS and I felt like a king while I was driving it. It was even in my price range. But ultimately I determined that a 4th gen 4runner would be more suited to my needs.
The things I didn't like about the 100 were:
* The 100's "Fold and tumble" back seat takes a lot of room when folded up, compromising cargo area. Not sure how difficult it is to completely remove those seats, either (and they look heavy!) Compare with the 4th gen's "Flip-up-and-fold-down" back seat where the seat back and seat bottom are separate components. Removing the seat bottom cushion takes 4 minutes with a socket wrench while the seat back lays flat and then you have an uninterrupted 6+' of cargo/sleeping space (the 3rd gen has the same configuration, BTW.)
* Lack of headroom on the sunroof-equipped 100.
* Poor MPG of the 100 compared to the 4th gen, considering both have gas tanks in the 23-24 gallon size, that gives the 4th gen a definite edge in terms of range.
* The "Lexus Factor", that is, the fact that "luxury" vehicles typically have parts and accessories that are priced significantly higher than parts and accessories for more mundane middle-market vehicles.
Having said all that, I'd by lying if I told you I wasn't seriously entertaining the idea of the 100. It really felt like a tank when I drove it, just awesome and rock solid! With a more economical diesel engine, it would be a serious contender.
As for the 3rd gen vs 4th gen 4runner, the only things I don't like about the 4th gen are the pushbutton (dial) 4wd selector and the parking brake placement (on the floor in front of the driver's door.) In every other way it's proved to be a great vehicle.
FWIW I went from a 3rd gen to a 4th gen this summer. While I was shopping I also test drove a 100 series LC. It was absolutely GORGEOUS and I felt like a king while I was driving it. It was even in my price range. But ultimately I determined that a 4th gen 4runner would be more suited to my needs.
The things I didn't like about the 100 were:
* The 100's "Fold and tumble" back seat takes a lot of room when folded up, compromising cargo area. Not sure how difficult it is to completely remove those seats, either (and they look heavy!) Compare with the 4th gen's "Flip-up-and-fold-down" back seat where the seat back and seat bottom are separate components. Removing the seat bottom cushion takes 4 minutes with a socket wrench while the seat back lays flat and then you have an uninterrupted 6+' of cargo/sleeping space (the 3rd gen has the same configuration, BTW.)
* Lack of headroom on the sunroof-equipped 100.
* Poor MPG of the 100 compared to the 4th gen, considering both have gas tanks in the 23-24 gallon size, that gives the 4th gen a definite edge in terms of range.
* The "Lexus Factor", that is, the fact that "luxury" vehicles typically have parts and accessories that are priced significantly higher than parts and accessories for more mundane middle-market vehicles.
Having said all that, I'd by lying if I told you I wasn't seriously entertaining the idea of the 100. It really felt like a tank when I drove it, just awesome and rock solid! With a more economical diesel engine, it would be a serious contender.
As for the 3rd gen vs 4th gen 4runner, the only things I don't like about the 4th gen are the pushbutton (dial) 4wd selector and the parking brake placement (on the floor in front of the driver's door.) In every other way it's proved to be a great vehicle.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
All good points. If the push button dies too often the good thing is that you can always swap in an FJ Cruiser manual transfer case too. Just a PITA, but if I do a 4th gen, I know I would after it broke the first time.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Do you know of anyone who has done such a conversion? Seems to me they'd have to hack up the center console a bit.
Biggest drawback to that, IMO, is that you'd lose the multi-mode capacity which is one of my favorite things about the 4th gen. I would actually just repair the pushbutton (as much as I hate it) before I got rid of my MM capacity.
From what I've seen over on the T4R forums, the people who have the most trouble with their pushbutton 4wd are those who rarely or never use 4wd, then they get hit but a sudden snowstorm and when they try to switch on their 4wd, it doesn't work.
So, what I did last week when we had several inches of snow in the forecast, was to make sure that the day before the storm, when the weather was still nice, I switched into 4wd with the center diff unlocked and just drove like that to work. It took about 30 seconds to finally "click in" to 4wd and I just drove it like that all day. Next morning, with snow and ice on the ground, it was still in 4wd and I drove it like that.
My experience (which is very limited, since I bought my 4th gen at the end of June) is that the "first time" you put it in 4wd on a cold day, it will take a while for the actuator to move and put the vehicle in 4wd. But once you've gotten it in and driven it that way, it switches back and forth very quickly. Like anything mechanical, it needs to be 'worked' periodically or it gets sticky.
Of course, the biggest advantage to multi mode is that you can have in 4wd/unlocked on paved roads without doing any damage. So I figure I'll just put it into 4wd whenever the weather forecast looks sketchy and leave it there. At worst it will cost me 1 mpg or so, and since it's not my DD, that's not a big deal.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
Yah, I saw them fail after some deep water crossings. Albeit, I was literally offroading for a living at the time so after wheeling 8-10 hours a day for a couple years it got more use and abuse than most will in a lifetime. I would go from 2wd to 4wd many times each day. Heck I'd air down and back up twice a day usually. I just killed the actuators.
I felt bad for the little actuator and put in a case from a 99 4runner. (Mine is an 01). I almost never used the AWD so I don't miss that function.
Wyatt of Rock Solid Toys is the most knowledgable on the conversion. Have to cut a spot for the shifter, but in the long run I wouldn't mind. http://www.rocksolidtoys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60
Sorry for the highjack NoToyz! :victory:
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Soaz: That's a very cool link. Glad to see I'm not the only one out there who hates the pushbutton 4wd! Even though I can't imagine doing the kind of "hardcore" 4 wheeling that would require such a conversion, it's awesome to know that someone else has figured it out.
I think Mile Marker used to make a push/pull system for some of the American 4wd vehicles when they came out with less-than-reliable vacuum-actuated transfer cases. IIRC it was a couple of cables, you would pull on one to put it into 4wd and the other one to put it back into 2wd.
I think Mile Marker used to make a push/pull system for some of the American 4wd vehicles when they came out with less-than-reliable vacuum-actuated transfer cases. IIRC it was a couple of cables, you would pull on one to put it into 4wd and the other one to put it back into 2wd.
I've owned an 80 series and 100 series Land Cruiser and now have a 5th generation 4 Runner, which is larger than the 3rd generation. The 80 and 100 series Land Cruisers are significantly larger than even the 5th gen. The additional room is due in part to the increased width, which has its drawbacks off-road as mentioned. However, if you leave the third row seats in, even when folded, the cargo space useability is compromised. With the seats removed, the cargo area is quite roomy and very useful.
Others have mentioned gas mileage and range, which is a real issue for both the 80/100 series Land Cruisers. My 80 series got 10-11 miles per gallon. My 100 series got 12-13 mpg. It did not matter if it was city or freeway driving. When I towed a boat with my 80 series, I see the fuel guage move steadily toward empty (and I had to plan my stops about a week in advance).
That said, I really loved both Land Cruisers. They were rock solid, unstoppable in just about any condition you would find on the road -- ice, snow, etc., and great vehicles for road trips (gas mileage notwithstanding). Unfortunately, I traded the 80 series for the 100 series and the ex got the 100 series.
Others have mentioned gas mileage and range, which is a real issue for both the 80/100 series Land Cruisers. My 80 series got 10-11 miles per gallon. My 100 series got 12-13 mpg. It did not matter if it was city or freeway driving. When I towed a boat with my 80 series, I see the fuel guage move steadily toward empty (and I had to plan my stops about a week in advance).
That said, I really loved both Land Cruisers. They were rock solid, unstoppable in just about any condition you would find on the road -- ice, snow, etc., and great vehicles for road trips (gas mileage notwithstanding). Unfortunately, I traded the 80 series for the 100 series and the ex got the 100 series.
Thanks all for the comments, I'm looking at something to be more of a sleep in the vehicle on long road trips, occasional DD, able to tow a small trailer (on and offroad) and somewhat capable for the zombie apocalypse you young whipper snappers are preppin for LOL. So in the comfort (LC) vs gas mileage (T4R) may put the 4runner at the front runner over the LC. For me Gen3 T4R body style is what I prefer, and it has the aftermarket goodies which make it attractive. On the other hand I'll still look into the LC for comfort / safety aspects. So far undecided and trying to keep and open mind on the choices. Soaz nice link, enjoyed the write up on that conversion, shows anything can be done with a creative mind and money :drool:
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
As far as sleeping in a vehicle, I am 6'1" and can sleep comfortably in the back of a 3rd gen 4runner provided I first take out the seat bottom cushions. This is a super-easy thing to do - it is literally 4 12mm bolts and then the two seat bottoms lift out. With the seat backs flipped down it's almost flat and there is about a 5" gap between the top of the folded seat back and the back of the front seats and center console, and to fill this gap I just put a simple piece of plywood with a single "leg" to sit on the center hump, and covered the wood with indoor/outdoor carpet. Then I just lay my sleeping bag on that and it's perfectly comfortable. I've even done the "stealth camping" thing in a wal mart parking lot in Gallup NM where all my gear sat to one side of the cargo compartment and I slept on the other side. Everything was inside and I was cozy and comfortable.
IMO the 3rd gen is a superior off road platform, especially if you can get a 1999 "tall coil" model like I had. There are a plethora of aftermarket suspension options (not that I needed any) and it's pretty easy to run 265/75/16 tires (32") without any lift at all. Add the availability of a rear e-locker and you've got a very capable vehicle.
MPG is OK but not great, and range is limited by the small (18.5) gallon tank, but those are limitations you can work within. Honestly if it wasn't for the need to pull a trailer on a fairly regular basis, I probably would have kept my 3rd gen "tall coil" SR5 instead of moving up to a 4th gen.
IMO the 3rd gen is a superior off road platform, especially if you can get a 1999 "tall coil" model like I had. There are a plethora of aftermarket suspension options (not that I needed any) and it's pretty easy to run 265/75/16 tires (32") without any lift at all. Add the availability of a rear e-locker and you've got a very capable vehicle.
MPG is OK but not great, and range is limited by the small (18.5) gallon tank, but those are limitations you can work within. Honestly if it wasn't for the need to pull a trailer on a fairly regular basis, I probably would have kept my 3rd gen "tall coil" SR5 instead of moving up to a 4th gen.
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