I was very excited to see this baby for sale near me. Ad read:

94 Toyota Landcruiser. Excellent condition, $10.5k OBO. Call xxx-xxx-xxxx

So I called of course, the guy was very nice, knew NOTHING about the truck. Owned it for 3 years.

105k orig miles, no paint work
Hunter Green with tan leather
Title in hand, only issue is front driver window does not work

So I am psyched, go to check it out with my buddy last night, under, in and around it for a good 30 minutes. The truck is sweet looking. Paint is shiny except for scratches and paint chips. Interior is ok, nothing great.

-Front brush guard and tow package
-NO LOCKERS
-sway bar shows indication of oil residue but not leaking anything from what we saw when truck was cold, started, or after running it.
-only rust is on tow hitch
-Bumpers, roof, running boards all mint
-tires on their way out

The test drive:

how do I say this....sluggish?? It feels noticeably slower than my big fat 4Runner.

The tranny was smooth except for one jerky shift I felt at low rpm.

Brakes feel great

All power options work except for that one window (which he was quoted $270 to fix)

He does not ever track gas mileage

He has no maintenance records of service since it is always handled by his Vocational group that he used to teach

How are these trucks on mileage? My friend's father owned a 96 for many years and told me about 10-11 HIGHWAY? no thanks. Once the big meats go on that is single digits, and that I cannot handle with the driving I do. This is a big deal to me.

Bottom line: The truck was posted at 13k, then 12k, now 10.5k. He was rock solid at 10k and I fix the window. So he basically will not budge on the price.

I am still contemplating purchasing it, It can be mine for the 10k. But the mileage and lack of service papers scare me a bit. I also felt like a midget on the road in it. Maybe I am used to my truck but I was disappointed by the overall SUV feeling it gave off, felt more like a slow car. I love my 4runner but always wanted an fjz80

thoughts?

 

You said it yourself. it would be a deal if there were records. If you have any reservations you might be in for more repairs than you ancticipated. I am not saying not a good buy, but it sounds like oyu would like something with a better service history(and i don't blame you) Plus no lockers. Any service work done? Recently?

 

bingo

Aside from brakes, no. This guy didn't even know what a timing belt was. So needless to say, that was not changed out either.

 

WAYYYYYY TOO MUCH $$$$ for a 94. You can pick up a NICE 95+ (different engine/trans) with lockers for that much - easily.

They are VERY expensive to fix. Go to Slee Offroad and read the FJ/FZJ80 Newbie Guide and it will tell you what to look at.

Oh, and troll over on http://www.ih8mud.com and you can get a built 94 w/ lockers, bumpers, lift, 35's, etc for that much or a touch more.

As far as MPG's go, with OEM tires, no lift, etc, you're looking at 17 HWY AT BEST with it in top running condition and driving 65MPH. Probally more like 15 to be reasonable and driving 70-75. Add lift, sliders, bumpers, tires, winch (i.e. WEIGHT) and you'll drop to 10-12 HWY and single digits around town unless you regear, then you could expect around 13 - maybe. They don't call them "IRON PIGS" for nothing - built out they weigh over 6600#!!! If you think a 3.SLOW is sluggish, then drive a BUILT but non-regeared, non-SC'd LC and you'll find out what slow is...

 

H o l y hell, no. I dumped my 2nd gen for my 3.4 due to the ridiculous finger-pointing I received from the overall slowness factor of that rig. No WAY will I accept anything slower. Good to know, If I am to buy one and mod it like I need it, then a SC and gearing is a must. hmmmmmm..

 

SC isn't really a MUST, but gearing pretty much is. The difference is that the 3.SLOW is slow because it's gutless. The LC is slow because it weighs 6000# dry. It has torque and is decent, but when you add big tires (easily runs 35's w/ OME lift) with a lot of extra weight and don't regear, then it gets rediculous.

 

wow. You're following the same path I did. I got rid of my 3.0 for a 3.4, then I ended up with my 93 LC. Just to give you a perspective, I bought mine off eBay for $9500. It had 128k miles,but it was in mint condition (no lockers though). I calculated 15mpg highway during a 200mile trip from NC to Va. after just buying it. I now get 12-13 mpg in mixed driving(80% city/ 20% highway); that's with a 2" lift and 33" tires I expected the drop in fuel economy and slow acceleration but I don't regret getting my LC; it's an awesome vehicle. The price on the LC you're looking at is actually a good deal as long as you don't see any gear oil leaking out of the front axle(although front axle service is part of the maintenance) and it has a clean carfax. Hope this helps.

 

DO NOT buy a Landcruiser if you are concerned about MPG!!!
Yes it will be slower than your 4runner!!!

What do you intend to do with the Landcruiser?
If you want to go anywhere in confidence, comfort, luxury, and make it back...Then buy a Landcruiser.

Regarding expensive to fix, I don't quite understand. It is a Toyota...there isn't much to fix. Except all the mods you will do.

The price is decent, mileage is good. But I would be weary of the lack of knowledge from the owner. I would also hold out for Lockers. You will regret not getting them.

Regarding the SC, you should be looking at a 1995-1997. I have heard of people putting one on the 1993-1994, but usually have problems. You can get a Turbo-Charger for all years, but those are even more $$$ than the SC. The 80 has good power, and torque. You just have to remember that you're not driving a race car. They are heavy, tank-like vehicles that are unmatched almost anywhere.

Also lifting the Landcruiser is ALOT cheaper than other rigs. You can get the regular 2.5" lift for around $700.


They are great trucks, and I have taken mine everywhere. So I might be a little biased.

 

wait a minute he tuaght a vocational class and they did his work? but he doesnt knoww what a timing chain is? um....... yeah.....

 

Yeah, but maintenance is $$$$. Front axle rebuild is $1000+, and it's pretty much REQUIRED.

I would say the price is decent, but not a GOOD DEAL. If you MUST have an LC, then get it. If you're patient, and have cash in-hand to deal at a moment's notice, then give it a few months and get a 95-97 w/ lockers for the same or just a smidgen more.

I agree 110%. It's not an indy car, but it's at the top of the food chain when it comes to a DD that is incredible offroad in stock form. Also, the 95-97's have a refined interior and also supposedly get slightly better MPG's - maybe 1 MPG more.

OME Lift for a 4Runner is under $700 shipped from Wheeler's Offroad. I'd say the 2.5" lift costs the same, but if (when) you go to a 5" or 6" Slee lift, it get's pricey since you have to do a little more to it than just change out the coils and shocks. Aftermarket on an 80 is incredible. You can get front/rear bumpers, auxillary fuel tanks, snorkels, and tons of other sweet stuff, but most of that will come from Down Under so expect long waits to get them stateside in addition to the bank you have to drop to order them.

I'd say do your homework. I considered selling my runner and getting a 95-97 or an LX450 about 6 months ago, and I still think about it from time to time. I could sell my runner, pick up a nice 80 AND a commuter car for the same price, then mod the hell outta the 80 and put the miles on the commuter car. Only downside is the 13MPG's I'd get on highway trips AND having to sink a ton of money into it to get it built, but then again, I'd have a TANK for a trail/weekend rig and the fuel economy on the commuter would make up for it. Now I just need a 3-car garage.

P.S. Wanna buy an almost built runner w/ 125k on the clock?

 

Get a Fj-100. the v-8 should take care of the power issue. HAHAHA

 

It never ends. You want an LC now?? LOL

 

ahhh, but then you have IFS and REAR ONLY locker, unless you SAS a 100, and then you're talking MAJOR BUCKS. SFA rigs IMO should be ones that you're not afraid of using on the trails. I would use an 80. I would lift it w/ big meats and wheel it like it was intended to be wheeled. I'm hesitant to do that w/ my IFS cause it's my DD and it's also got weak OEM IFS so I'm hesitant about locking the front.

Wow, my rig is worth more than I thought even w/ the miles. I just checked edmunds, and it looks like the private party value on it is just over $15k, not counting the bumper, lift, wheels/tires, supercharger, winch, etc...

 

FYI: There is no timing belt on a FZJ80 (1993-97), there is a timing chain that lasts the life of the engine and does not need to be changed.

The front axle service is ~$1000, but you can do it yourself in a bout a day for ~$300 in parts and a bunch of shop towels, it is a messy job, but not particularly difficult, and uses mostly common hand tools.

The 100 series is the UZJ-100 not FJ100

 

thanks for the clarification.

 

Don't count the 100 out. They can wheel really well too. Not as well b/c of the IFS front. But I know a couple of guys with 35" tires that wheel them pretty hard. You get the V8 and could still get a supercharger. If you are that power hungry.


Regarding the front end, birfield job. That is $$$, but also is something every 80 owner who intends to wheel their rig should go through. A rite of passage. I have not done mine yet though.





Soooooo...enough of us jumbling around. Are you going to update us or not??????

 

ROADTRIP!!!!

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50771

http://www.actionjackson.com/cruiser/forsale/

 

ever since my high school girlfriend had an 80 w/ lockers I have wanted one. I buy a 4R, then dream about an 80 ...Roadtrip, yeah I'm up for it

 

Yes that is a really nice cruiser! Ben at Slee Off Road was the previous owner.

 

payyourtoll,

I just bought myself a 2000 LC but I looked at tons of 93-97's. 105k = front end service, which will cost you big at a Toyota dealer.

The lack of knowledge by the owner is scary. No maintenance records? And the oil was changed by who? Students?

No lockers? They're out there, and if you plan on offroading the vehicle, they are worth waiting and looking for.

Mileage will suck bad. This should not be a primary commuter vehicle for long trips if you are worried about mileage.

Slee off road has a buyers guide for the 80 series on their website. It should be considered manditory reading before looking at an 80.

Also, the 96-97 Lexus 450's are the same thing as the 80 series and can often be found for less money the same year Landcruiser. They also had lockers available.

I looked at a 96 LX 450 with lockers, 130k, all maintenance records, and exceptional condition. It was only $13,000 obo...

The 80 series forum at ih8mud.com is excellent if you are very serious about research.