Just reading this thread now.
My viewpoint.
I have a 95 with 417,000 miles on her, she started to use water, still ran perfectly but would empty the reservoir bottle on a long trip. Ran it like that for 3 months!! Really hadn't the time as it was either a head gasket or the head, so I took her off the road and decided to give the lady a wee rest.
I bought a 2nd hand Mercedes ML 270cdi - 15 minute decision. I need a 4x4 for my work as I am in and out of quarries. Yes the ML was more comfortable, yes it was better on fuel, yes it was Auto with cruise and yes it looked 'posh'.
After three years I went out and bought another 95 which now has 245,000 miles on it. Why?
The ML did not like getting even wet not to mind getting drowned in liquid mud. Some sensor or other would stop working and I would have a light on the dash. It could not go places that the 95 would stroll through without even thinking and I found the 4-matic system with its 'girly' button low box was just not up to the 95 for overall traction. It was far too low with minimal ground clearance - I put phase 2, 17" wheels and high profile tyres on it - which did improve things somewhat. It would at least once a month go into limp home mode with no warning. Easy enough to reset but meant a visit to the laptop man to reset and put out the dash light.
Despite being serviced properly and on time - the auto box decided to pump out the transmission fluid through the breather on the box - despite Merc experts telling me that was impossible even though I watched it pumping even on tickover. In between I had removed the intake manifold swirl flaps - not a 5 minute job and what a crazy idea and flimsy design, and I also deleted the egr.
To sum up the ML and from what I see a lot of the modern 4x4 so called offroad vehicles are cars with a 4x4 system stuck on to them as they then try and masquerade as an offroad vehicle.
A Landcruiser is a 4x4 work vehicle with a commercial engine which Toyota have tarted up a bit to try and make it into a luxury 4x4.
Both have failed in their ultimate objective - but for me it is a very simple decision as to which philosophy I will stick with.
I am not picking on Mercedes, as I will only drive older Mercedes cars. Would I drive/buy a G wagen - yes but only an older one. I think all the modern cars are far too sophisticated and are mobile computers which when they get a micron of dampness on a printed circuit board they will just not come out to play and the cost of getting them up and running again is mind boggling
As an addition - I have found that the best way to make a standard Landcruiser 95 more comfortable on and off the road, is to fit Koni shocks and high sidewall tyres. It s like driving a totally new machine.
Regards
Bill