Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

[OLDSPUD]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

My better half has an "04 Cruiser, 4-door model. I believe it would be difficult to compare this version to the older models that your referring to. Honestly, the damn thing cost so much, I wouldn't take it into the back county. <br />That said, it is probably the most advanced vehicle I've owned. It drives nicer than most cars, I love the electronics. This thing is amazing, no wonder they want so much for the things.<br /><br />We test drove all the comparable vehicles: Rover, Lexus, Chev, Ford, BMW, and so on, none compare to this rig, they are heads above everything we test drove.<br />The towing capacity isn't bad, I could tow my 24 footer if I wanted, and its around 7,000.<br /><br />One of these days, I may take it four wheeling, but until then, its great in the snow.<br />Spud

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Yeah all through the other thread I was biting my tongue. <br />The Gwagen has your Toy beat hands down in all 4 of the above criteria.<br />The Unimog does also but then we're comparing apples to oranges again.<br /><br />And you made some rediculous claims in the other thread. You may have had bad luck with your own experiences concerning US made trucks.<br />I don't know the particulars in regards to the bird hauling F250's but in this part of the country there are literally hundreds of thousands Powerstroke F250/350's, Cummings powered Dodge Rams that are worked hard daily. They pull overloaded stock trailers all over the mountainsides around here in 100+F days. Most have well above 200K miles on them with no more than oil/filters/brakes and tires as their only requirements in that time. I have first hand experience with several of these rigs.<br /> You'd be dreaming to compare your Toy to them in this scenario. <br /><br />No doubt your Toy is a fine vehicle. Well made and very reliable for sure.<br />However it isn't the best and it isn't better than most in some circumstances.<br /><br />I think the only point you made was one you really didn't want to make.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Originally posted by spudbartlett:<br /> My better half has an "04 Cruiser, 4-door model. <br />Spud

That'll be the 100 series. FWIW, the V8 optioned up model IS the lexus. Same vehicle, different badge.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[PierBridge]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Do you foriegn experts have any opinions on Volvos my neighbor swears by them would not drive anything else says they are the safest and longest lasting vehicles in the world.He just ordered the Volvo SUV to go along with his S80 and that ugly volvo wagen of his with 345,000 on it.<br />I know there not an off road Vehicle but they must be doing something right.<br />Sweedish right?

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Good build quality-Volo use dip galvanised body panels so they don't rot either. Very expensive to repair when they go wrong.<br /><br />You can't compare the likes of the Volvo SUV and the Honda CRV to anything with a chassis. They ain't built for anything any harder than driving up a gravel driveway. As a road car they do their job well and comfortably.<br /><br /><br />A little story for you-heard it from a Porsche dealer mechanic from the Porsche/Ferrari/Maserati dealer in town.<br /><br />A guy came into their showroom and took a Porsche Cayenne for a test drive.He came back 2 hours later and said "thanks but no thanks, I wanted something with better off-road capabilities."<br />He'd taken it offroading for his testdrive and done £11000 of damage to the underside.<br /><br />The bit that made me laugh was that the dealer hadn't taken his details either...

 

[OLDSPUD]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Aldo, I thought the same thing. The Lexus dealership would swear otherwise. I don't go to these factories, so I don't know. If they are the same, maybe those ugly aftermarket-looking tailights are the difference.<br /><br />Skinny<br />I also agree with you, I have a Chev 2500HD, and I also think that this is an unbelievible truck. Drives like a car, works like a truck. <br />Driven the F250, I like the Chev better.<br />Spud

 

[dhammann]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

If your talking about the old F40 there is nothing to compare it to. The F40 is in a leauge all to itself unless you buy something from the military....even the Hummer has been civilized too much. You won't find any SUV that has full floating axles with dual brake cylinders, 6 lug wheels and totally encased CV joints. The sheet metal on the FJ could plow down brush without a ding it was the thickest metal I have ever seen on a vehicle. The pulling power was awesome, I used to pull stumps that my farm tractor could'nt.

 

[marcmccain]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

I recently updated my car(wife has her own car based on her own perference for her job in Madrid... a city car). My decision came down to three choices; An new Toyota Landcruiser, a New Volvo XC90, and a Mercedes ML. I liked all three for pulling the boat and our lifestyle when not working. In fact all three are known for quality but the deciding factor was after I talked with my mechanic. He said that (in Spain): <br /><br />Volvos are expensive to maintain and after one is 5 years old he sometimes has to wait 10-15 for parts. Parts are expensive in relation to other car makers.<br /><br />Toyotas are a quality truck but after they reach 5 years of age he has experienced waiting over 30 days for parts (sometimes coming from Japan) and the parts are sky-high in comparison to other car makers.<br /><br />He has always gotten Mercedes parts the same day he ordered them no matter if the car was 30 years old.<br /><br />Go figure.... I went with the Mercedes ML. I like it much better than any of the 5 Grand Cherokees I've owned.<br /><br />Does the availibility and the price of parts factor into your decision like it did mine?

 

[Darren Smith]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

KnotAddicted, I am specifically asking about the FJ-80, 1992-1997. Tell me about the Land Cruisers down there that are being scrapped. Are they Bandeirante's? There are few styles of those that would LOVE import to the US, especially the extended cab and four door pick-up trucks. The troop carrier versions would also be worth while to bring in the US. Please, tell me what you have down there.

I'm not that familiar with the newer models being offered down here. I'm guessing most of the ones I see are the FJ 80 and FJ100, but without the emissions required by the U.S. I have seen a few of the FJ 45's, and the pick up in both 4 door and 2 door. But I rarely see one more than 10 years old, and when I do its sitting in a driveway with parts missing. Many of the vehicles fall victim to off road abuse or on road accidents, driving here is crazy. The newest "fad" is the new Land Cruiser Prado. Basically a 4runner on steriods, in between the 4runner and Land Cruiser. But I did take note of the Full size Land Cruiser 2 door. <br />Also BigDee, the old Willys had real metal bodies and full floating axles, but are smaller than the FJ40. I'd still hold out for a 83 CJ7 widetrack, and put the Warn full floater kit on and be done!

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Hands down winner:BIG WHEELS c'mon alot of us had one you cant kill'em

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Go figure.... I went with the Mercedes ML. I like it much better than any of the 5 Grand Cherokees I've owned.<br />Does the availibility and the price of parts factor into your decision like it did mine?

Even though the ML has a frame it isn't a very capable off road vehicle. It sure shines on snow covered roads. It's a far cry from the G-class.<br /><br />I'm not sure about the european market where parts for the American made ML is conserned.<br />However, parts for the American made ML are dirt cheap as compared to other Mercedes. Most control modules are $200-$300 a pop. Window regulators are $60-70. Very reasonable parts prices.<br />Hope you went with a Diesel model, sure wish they were available with them here.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

my wifes 1999 suzuki gr vitara is pretty cool

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

I would vote for Rover - defender model from the 50-60s era<br /><br />Neighbor got one for stump jumping and rock climbing and I never seen a more rugged vehicle<br /><br />He said it was the #1 rock climbing machine<br /><br />Easy to work on<br />well powered<br />industructable<br /><br />It looked like a tank

 

[DJ]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

SW wrote:<br /><br />

Yes JB, what the heck happened between 1900 and 2000 to change our culture? Was it the ecconomic expansion post WWII? Was it the cultural revolution of the 60's? At any rate, I sure don't the direction we have taken.<br />

Yes, you are correct in your assumption in that MORAL values are NOW deemed to be "old fashioned". It is what happened to the Greeks and Romans. Those values have been diminished from the shop floor to the boardroom. It works BOTH ways.<br /><br />The American worker can design/build anything that will stand up to anything. Are YOU willing to pay for it? I think NOT. That's a "mindset", not always backed by facts. I see outstanding performance from my fleet customers-everyday. They use/abuse American products that stand up EXTREMELY well. That is all with drivers with; "don't own it" mentality. All with a "cost of ownership" being FAR less than anything else. <br /><br />I'll keep my values, regardless of what it costs me-my job included. <br /><br />After spending a week with my WWII bomber pilot father, I don't trust Japan or Germany, for that matter. World politics, of late, have shown that to be TRUE. I also spent some time driving my brothers Mercedes SLK 430. It's a nice car, but an oil filter for $15.00 is a little steep. The SLK is NOT that nice. I have more fun in a Mustang GT. Oil filter cost < $5.00. My son just sold a 120K mile + Mustang GT that brought top $$ and replaced it with a 180K mile + F-150. It's PROVEN safe, solid, and runs like a million $$$.<br /><br />SW, you're DISDAIN for your "brothers in Christ" that make the American economy work, is a little disturbing, to a fellow "brother". How many Japanese built LC's or German built Unimogs are built by "brothers"? My guess, very few. <br /><br />Pick a stance and stick with it. Either you are a "believer" and support believers, or you're not. Just something to think about.<br /><br />God made this country. As we drift away from Him, the obvious nature and effects of humanism become clear for those that choose to read both sides of a page.<br /><br />Call me narrow minded, or whatever. But, I believe in this country and for what it used to stand for. I'll die with my boots on, fighting for the well being of my working "brothers".<br /><br />Will You?

 

[JRJ]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Looking foreward to the new FJ out in '06/07

 

[JB]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

The Land Cruiser as sold in America, like the G class, has turned into a suburban status symbol only vaguely related to the originals. Both are available in other places properly equipped for wilderness travel.<br /><br />I have been very happy with both of my MLs, on and off road. I have not gone mudding, rock climbing or in other ways destroying the environment with either. Both have taken me places I wouldn't take a Grand Cherokee or many other vehicles that claim to be go anywhere vehicles.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

Just take a look at the engines in your I/O boats which is among the most demanding applications on the planet. Who makes those engines? where are those engines also used? What vehicles use those engines and their derivatives? What is the most used engine (years produced, volume produced, number of applications used) etc., in history? Where are those engines produced?<br /><br />There is no trick to producing the "most reliable" anything. Engineers everywhere no exactly how. The trick is hitting a market segment - a price/reliability point to make a profit. American's make the most reliable equipment in the world - just ask the people in the military who rely on it to keep them alive. And we the tax payers pay for it because, it that case it's worth it. When it come to a consumer truck it's a different story.<br /><br />So when you make these comparisons you have to really do a total cost of ownership over a period of time for a given level and type of use to have it be meaningful.

 

[JB]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

As I said before.<br /><br />Value and profit.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

JB, question for you. Do you think there is any difference in quality between the MB's built in Germany and the ones built in the US? One of my complaints that resulted in this thread is the difference in quality between Toyota's built in Japan, and the crap that is badged Toyota but made in America. I have owned more than a dozen Yota's, only one that was made in America. I was SEVERELY disappointed with the American made Tacoma. So, what about MB? Are the American made MB's as good as the ones from Germany?<br /><br />PS, when I drive off road, I "tread lightly."

 

[DJ]

Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?

So when you make these comparisons you have to really do a total cost of ownership over a period of time for a given level and type of use to have it be meaningful.<br />

Ditto. Being in the fleet business, I can attest to "cost of ownership" data for vehicles in VERY severe service. NOT grocery getters or, weekend warriors.<br /><br />The ML's are built in Alabama.<br /><br />I've been places with an '05' F-150 that I had NO business being. I've got the "desert pin stripes" to prove it. I'm talking 40 miles from the nearest so called "road". The desert southwest is a VERY punishing place. If you break, there isn't a tow truck made that can get you out. You're at the mercy of your "buddies".<br /><br /> I have a customer that tows out Hummers (H1's) with an F-450 4X4. NOT the H2 wannabe's. That is out of VERY tough terrain. Rocks, sand, 110 heat, etc. <br /><br />I did not see one: MB, Toyota or Nissan, or any other. All I see are Jeeps, Chevy's, Fords and an occasioanal Dodge. We're all crazy, but we trust our equipment-and drive it right.<br /><br />Price does play into this eqaution. Who wants to "scrape up" a $60K MB?<br /><br />On the other hand, price does not always play into reliability.