I got my first drive in LandCruiser VX yesterday. It was a '94 4.2litre turbo diesel. 6 cylinders and 24valves !!
It's some rig. I could not believe the size of it.
So now my problem is, will i sell the Surf and buy one!
This rig has everything, its fully loaded.

I would be going back a few years for what I can afford. Probably a '96. I would buy an Japanese imported model. More goodies!

So anyone got an opinion on this?

Cheers

 

Opinions? Yes. My opinion is that it really sucks that we can't get those diesels over here in the US.

 

Ciaran.

If I could find one I could afford I'd trade the Surf tomorrow even though I love it. The 4.2TD VX really rocks and lasts for ever. I don't think that it is actually possible to break those engines even if you drive everywhere at well over 100, never change the oil or do anything else for that matter.

I've never driven an 80 series before but I remember driving one of the previous models and it was Awesome, didn't feel like anyone could stop it.

Mind you it will take up most of the road it's so big.

Go for it, you won't regret it.

Cheers

 

Andy,
If I was going to do it, I would shop around in the UK first and maybe pick up one for around the 10-11k mark. Then bring it back to Ireland and commercialise it, i.e. take the rear seats out and fit a steel sheet floor. That way I would avoid the VRT tax and the road tax would be very cheap. I reckon I could have a 95 on the road for about 15k euro.

 

Just noticed........... Over 100 posts.......

 

Yeah I'm pretty sure you could get one easy for that. Cheapest 95 I've seen on Autotrader was £7500 so I think you would easily get one for 15K Euro with shipping etc, commercialising it shouldn't cost too much.

Godd luck and congrats on the 100 posts.

Cheers

 

Any idea on what the 4.2 is like on diesel. I cant imagine its too bad, it would never really be under any strain

 

Just thought I'd put my 2 cents in. The Land Cruiser is a great machine. My brother in law has one called the Active Vacation, a 98 model. It is quite expensive here in Trinidad but available as we do a lot of used imports from Japan.

 

Get one with dual electric lockers.

 

The one I drove the other day had a switch on the dash to lock the rear or, the center and rear. Is this what you mean?

 

Ciaran.

Reckon about the same as the Surf, 20 - 26 depending how you drive it. The engine is seriously under stressed so isn't as juicy as you would think.

Cheers
Andy

 

What about routine maintenence, is servicing going to be an expensive issue.
I do most routine stuff myself, oil change, filters, shocks, springs etc.

 

Again about the same as a Surf, filters, grease points, Injectors every 100K or so. The one thing you will never have to worry about is heads. The 4.2 goes on for absolutely ever. It is probably the best 4x4 Diesel engine ever and makes the rest of them look like pointless pieces of scrap metal. Like the surf is likes to be looked after but will not misbehave badly if you don't. Change the oil and filters rregularly and you can't break it. I would say that the cost of ownership is probably less than a surf except for being heavier on Tyres (it is one heavy great beast).

Cheers

 

Hmmm, this makes for interesting reading, It's making me lean a little more towards the 'Cruiser. I just want to drive a few more before I make a decision. One thing I would like to do if I got one is put 33" tires on, would it need a lift to do this?

 

I think you would need a couple of inches lift however I think the best job would be to talk to the guys at frogs Island 4x4 as I think they should know. They also do all the ARB stuff for the LC and OME lift kits and suspension goodies.

Cheers

 

So cmar... what are you going to do with those clear tails now that you are getting a LC???

 

If I buy a LC, I'll let you know....