Driving Land Cruisers

[toolsplus]

I've owned an 80 and 120 and driven a 100 and 150. My 120 really suits me,adequate handling,good engine and gearbox,easy to drive and look after.
Just wondering how the other series drive compared to a 120, i.e the 70 and 90.
I liked the 80 but never felt at home in it and the 150 test drive was as good or better than my 120.
Cheers

 

[Juddian]

My first LC was a 70 series with the 3.0 litre Diesel and manual box, i liked it a lot, whilst low bhp headline figure in practice it pulled like a train, simple and durable obviously but being RWD (selectable locking centre diff and manual front hubs) for all normal driving it could be a handful in the wet, tyre choice very important.

We test drove a low mileage 3 year old petrol 100 series at a Toyota dealer, the drive was limo smooth and enjoyable, would have had it LPG converted so now that LPG is like rocking horse poo very glad we didn't buy it...the reason we didn't buy because it had one odd new tyre and a newer looking wheel on the NSF the steering wheel was at 10 to 2 position when straight ahead and it seemed to pull slightly to the left, suspect it had seen some accident damage, not what one would normally expect from a Toyota approved used, they couldn't even be bothered to centre the steering wheel.
Bought a new Hilux instead.

95 series with the 3.4 litre petrol lump, i really liked this too, one of the nicest looking LCs to date in my humble, went surprisingly well the engine was sweet, ride was a bit hard because someone had fitted OME springs and shocks all round, only sold it because the present 120 LC5 cropped up unexpectedly, traded in at a motorhome specialist for a new camper van, call it fate but within about 3 hours of that ad going live we'd travelled 75 miles and after looking underneath bought it on the spot.

I really like how the 120 drives, no doubt the 150 is a further improvement still but haven't driven one, don't really want to trial a 200 because chances are that would be even more addictive than a V8 Diesel Range Rover, not wishing to be tempted to part with that much dosh that i don't have.
Regret not snapping up that 66 plate 150 i linked here during national house arrest, prices were really low then as no one was buying and it would still be worth now what the dealer was asking 4 years ago, such is life.

Toyota don't make many mistakes with vehicles, haven't found anything they make that is horrible to drive or that i couldn't live happily with, if the 120 was beyond fixing for some reason we would almost certainly buy a Toyota Hybrid.

 

[toolsplus]

I love my 120 but in 10 years I'll be posting on here for a decent forumites 250 series,I'm hoping it's less than 20 grand then...

 

[Grimbo]

I have owned my 80 for a couple of decades.....

Driven loads of other vehicles both other Cruisers and JLR products.... dynamically newer Cruisers are way superior and JLR Disco 4 and V8 Range Rovers superior to even the newer Cruisers in both driving dynamics and power ..... but somehow my 80 suits me.... I know it's 100% reliable and will do anything I ask of of it both on and off road .... it drives like truck on the road but still cruises at 70+ mph happily and with a few mods is now also very capable off road when I get to where I'm going ...... carries myself and wife and dogs in comfort .......it has ice cold A/C with climate control and heated seats so every creature comfort I need without tech that will ultimately stop working or need a software update .

I've looked at every newer Cruiser , Range Rovers , even import big V8 Patrols and while they all offer big improvements in noise levels and dynamics they also bring issues with tech... be it EGR , DEF systems , chassis sensors or air bags .... rust on newer Cruisers.... the advantages are not for me outweighed by the fact they will all cost sheds loads more to buy , more to run and will all loose money directly I drive it away from the dealers.....

The 80 providing I keep on top of any little issues will probably keep going up in value.... is barely run in at 160K.... and increasingly is complimented by young lads who are younger than it is.. as being a "cool truck".... besides if I need to do a rapid cross country or Europe road trip I can just take the Wife's ridiculously fast and smooth Merc Estate ;-) ;-) and enjoy cruising in a vehicle designed for smooth and quick road transport.... without the compromise of trying to make it also work off road .

 

[LandcruisingFarmer]

I have owned my 80 for a couple of decades.....

Driven loads of other vehicles both other Cruisers and JLR products.... dynamically newer Cruisers are way superior and JLR Disco 4 and V8 Range Rovers superior to even the newer Cruisers in both driving dynamics and power ..... but somehow my 80 suits me.... I know it's 100% reliable and will do anything I ask of of it both on and off road .... it drives like truck on the road but still cruises at 70+ mph happily and with a few mods is now also very capable off road when I get to where I'm going ...... carries myself and wife and dogs in comfort .......it has ice cold A/C with climate control and heated seats so every creature comfort I need without tech that will ultimately stop working or need a software update .

I've looked at every newer Cruiser , Range Rovers , even import big V8 Patrols and while they all offer big improvements in noise levels and dynamics they also bring issues with tech... be it EGR , DEF systems , chassis sensors or air bags .... rust on newer Cruisers.... the advantages are not for me outweighed by the fact they will all cost sheds loads more to buy , more to run and will all loose money directly I drive it away from the dealers.....

The 80 providing I keep on top of any little issues will probably keep going up in value.... is barely run in at 160K.... and increasingly is complimented by young lads who are younger than it is.. as being a "cool truck".... besides if I need to do a rapid cross country or Europe road trip I can just take the Wife's ridiculously fast and smooth Merc Estate ;-) ;-) and enjoy cruising in a vehicle designed for smooth and quick road transport.... without the compromise of trying to make it also work off road .

Totally understand your sentiment, I’ve had mine for nearly as long. I feel at home in my 80, had lots of adventures in it and now hopefully with the family for a long time to come.
Most new or newer cars offer none of the character. Funnily enough, we have a 12 year old Volvo xc70 for day to day family stuff and that is epic at crossing Europe at 80mph +. I’ve looked at changing it but there’s nothing again that can quite fill the gap. I reckon it’s almost the car version of a landcruiser.

 

[Grimbo]

Totally understand your sentiment, I’ve had mine for nearly as long. I feel at home in my 80, had lots of adventures in it and now hopefully with the family for a long time to come.
Most new or newer cars offer none of the character. Funnily enough, we have a 12 year old Volvo xc70 for day to day family stuff and that is epic at crossing Europe at 80mph +. I’ve looked at changing it but there’s nothing again that can quite fill the gap. I reckon it’s almost the car version of a landcruiser.

We now have the same issue with replacing Mrs Merc Estate..... newer versions are loaded with stupid tech and also loose the very quick V6 diesel that will do 45mpg if she drives it like a granny ( which she is ;-) )
Sitting at the computer now she has been looking at newer S/H ones..... her search seems to have been for petrol versions....somehow they all seem to be V6 or V8 AMG versions which concerns me slightly ;-)

 

[Shayne]

Its what floats your boat , driven my mates top notch V8 range rover and his new defender a few times recently and while giving him a lift in my 80 he nodded his understanding when i said if i won the lottery I would not trade it in for either of his pretenders.

That said my brothers auto 120 bored me instantly compared to both my swb 90's even the d4d which i never gelled with because for me its character is electronically muted over the rawness of the tuned and modified 1KZ-TE .

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

The other day I had cause to drive my 99 100 series GX 75 miles to drop it off for some work being done and drive the 120 back. I enjoyed the drive there in the Hundie , comfortable and easy, soft to a point. Driving the 120 back, I was in a much more precise place with just as much power in a smaller truck which after 176K ( same as the 100) still feels tight.

Today I drove a pals RR 405, now that is something and for a quarter of the 250 price makes you think. By the way he's had it 18 months, its done 90k and nothing has gone wrong with it ( yet).

I've had a D4D VX Collie and really liked that ( replaced by the 120) and still have my V6 Collie which I keep out of interest really but it's a good drive.

As everyone knows, I've been an 80 owner for nearly 30 years and driving one is still an event compared with the others.

I've not got to a 150 yet as having spoken to several who had jumped from a 120 generally thought the giant financial leap into the 150 was hardly justified, I may be wrong but I don't know.

 

[toolsplus]

Great insight mate,I love the precise driving feel of my 120,I can put it on a sixpence onroad and off-road all it needs is tyres.It's taken me just about anywhere,it's especially good at climbing...

 

[Bob]

I've had my 95 since 2008, and It's been there for everything.. for me it's just agricultural enough to be a workhorse tractor, and just comfortable enough for continental mile munching.. both of which it has done plenty of. I've driven a 120 a few times and while more comfortable, is less tonka truck feeling.. which is one of the joys of the landcruiser brand if you ask me..

I drove it today having not done so for a few weeks.. it does feel rough around the edges compared to my Rav4 (smoother than a criminal in a Michael Jackson song)
That's part of the appeal though, and after 16 years of ownership and a zillion miles, I have never once gotten tired of it.

 

[guruvetim]

We now have the same issue with replacing Mrs Merc Estate..... newer versions are loaded with stupid tech and also loose the very quick V6 diesel that will do 45mpg if she drives it like a granny ( which she is ;-) )
Sitting at the computer now she has been looking at newer S/H ones..... her search seems to have been for petrol versions....somehow they all seem to be V6 or V8 AMG versions which concerns me slightly ;-)

I 'upgraded' from my 09 E280 diesel estate to the newer 2015 E350d estate and to be honest I'm not entirely sure it was a good move.. It's not any better on fuel despite what the figures say and the amount of stupid tech is worrying. I've just been quote around £500 to fix the DRL in the Intelligent LED headlight, thats if it's the control module if it turns out to be the headlight that's buggered then it's over £1000. Having said that, it's super quick. Both cars were remapped for better fuel consumption but the E350 managed over 330hp and a bucket load of torque.

 

[Shayne]

Bob explained it better

As a kid first bike I ever rode on the road that wasn't a salvage parts bin special with various bits welded , glued or taped back on was my mates brand new Honda MTX125 , I hated it , some might say smooth and gentle but to me it was soft and floppy . Next was the all conquering new CBR 600 which was just to easy to ride so I spent the whole time telling myself to slow down because the beast that fights back will not be seen until your cornering at double the speed limit and the fun might start about a second before I hit the wall .

If I were Chauffeur driven I'd want it smooth enough that I could write an essay with pen and paper while sat comfortably in the back seat but as a driver that would send me to sleep . Like the age old auto or manual debate preference is a very personal thing

 

[Grimbo]

I 'upgraded' from my 09 E280 diesel estate to the newer 2015 E350d estate and to be honest I'm not entirely sure it was a good move.. It's not any better on fuel despite what the figures say and the amount of stupid tech is worrying. I've just been quote around £500 to fix the DRL in the Intelligent LED headlight, thats if it's the control module if it turns out to be the headlight that's buggered then it's over £1000. Having said that, it's super quick. Both cars were remapped for better fuel consumption but the E350 managed over 330hp and a bucket load of torque.

And like Toyota it seems Mercedes have "forgotten" how to rust proof the newer models....
Wife's not particularly cossetedW211 E320 CDI has no rust and on MOT's minor comments on corrosion ..... next generation E class having rear subframes replaced under Merc warranty (if you're lucky ) because they rust so badly.... and yes the tech is worrying .... with our local roads being of 3rd world or worse standard the life expectancy of alloys on a V8 AMG petrol version would be in hours otherwise they look an attractive proposition seeing as her mileage is now around 5K a year .

 

[karl2000]

Mercedes dont build them like they used to, thats for sure. I think the old w211 is a great all rounder. W212 looked awful imho

 

[yogi]

I've owned a couple of 80 series over the last 10-15 years, and lately also a HJ61. Ive driven 100 and 105 and various 90/70/120 over the years and round the world.

My current 80 is parked in Irkutsk, Russia at the moment, having been driven all over central asia Mongolia and Russia in the last couple of years. The HJ61 is my current farm vehicle, mainly for towing.

I don't like newer vehicles because of unnecessary complexity, and can't see myself ever going nnewer than the 80 series.