'99 T4R (elocker) or '97 LX450 (locked) or '05 TJ

[vmboy84]

So I have a few options available to me and I think they're all really awesome. I just wanted to get some input from those of who might have experience or otherwise useful insight.

Back Story:
I currently own a 2005 Jeep Wrangler "Rocky Mountain Edition". I bought it brand new and currently have about 61k miles on it. I haven't really done any modifications, but I do most of my own maintenance. It's completely paid off and KBB says it's worth around $16k.

My wife likes the Jeep okay, but she doesn't really like to ride in it because it's too loud and doesn't have many creature comforts. Also, it's not all that great storage/hauling-wise because the backseat is so small. We're also expecting our first child in September so it would be wise to think long-term as far as child seats, strollers, etc. I would also like whatever vehicle I get/keep to serve me well on roadtrips (camping, skiing, offroading, etc.). This vehicle would also be my DD, but I live about 6 miles from my office, so MPG isn't a huge deal, but better MPGs would help us on roadtrips. As far as mods go, I'm hoping to have some fun with whatever I get, but still reasonable as a DD....so moderate lift, tires...maybe some bumpers eventually. The idea is whatever I net in the sale/trade of the Jeep, I would put some toward mods, and a lot toward savings/baby/home improvement.

Options:
1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited - $5981 - 223k miles - I went and looked at this one today at a dealership. It does have the Multi-Mode transfer case AND the rear e-locker. I know these are very rare and sought after. Everything appeared to be in good condition. Fairly new tires. Carfax checked out and indicated VERY consistent maintenance. Because this is at a dealership, it would be easy to do a trade-in without having to try and sell the Jeep.

1997 Lexus LX450 - $5900 - 203k miles - I will go look at this one tomorrow. I can tell from the pictures that it has the magical locker switch. The current owner claims to have had it since 2000. It has "good, new tires", unfortunately they are about 28" blingin' rims and maybe 34" tires ....so those will have to go soon. I did find an ad on Craigslist for a set of LX450 wheels and 50-70% 285/75R16 Nitto Terra Grapplers for $900, so that could be a quick fix. But his choice in wheels/tires tells me this guy has no idea what he's driving (and that he's never taken it offroad), and his poor use of English suggests I might be able to get an even better deal on it.

So what do you think? What would you do?

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

97 LX, More reliable motor with fewer miles, large aftermarket support, roomier than the other choices and you can sell the current wheels and tires to recoop the cost of the ones you replace them with. Would blue book it to see its actual private party value and haggle him down. Best of luck.

 

[western flyer]

I would probably keep looking, for what it is worth. But drive them both so you can get a good feel for them.

 

[jynx]

I have a 98 T4R and a 91 FJ80 and I DD the 98. I love them both, but I drive about 30 miles one way so the mileage on the old 3FE is terrible.

As far as creature comforts they are actually going to be about equal, the LTD is going to have all the nice bells and whistles as will the LX. The LX is going to be much roomier, but might be more difficult to load and unload a little one into. My little girl loves "Daddy's White Truck" but my wife can't buckle her let alone load her very easily. LTD will have good storage capacity don't get me wrong, the LX will just have more.

If the LTD has that crazy digital temperature control then be aware if it goes bad then it could be a high dollar fix. Both motors are proven and both have their quirks, you just need to know what to PM on each one and when and either will serve you for another 200k miles.

The LTD is based off the same 120 Series chassis as the FJ and a few other rigs and the aftermarket has been good the 3rd Gens, so there are lots of good parts out there. The LX's solid axle is going to be superior off-road, but I have seen 3rd gens in some nasty places, and for moderate wheeling, either one is going to be more than adequate.

Given your two current choices, and since you are not worried about mileage, then I would probably lean more toward the LX450, or any 80 based rig.

Now to throw a monkey in your equation, based on what you indicated the JP is worth, but not knowing how much you want to spend, I might suggest you consider a 100 series LC. That would actually combine the best of your two current options. The ride will be better in the 100/470, you will get the nice creature comforts of Toyota's flagship vehicle, V8 power and still very capable off-road and has a decent aftermarket offering.

Hate to pull that on you, but given your criteria, and the info you have given, that is my advice.

For record, I bought my 80 as a third vehicle when we were expecting our little girl. I brought it home 2 days before my wife went into labor, so it has become a part of the family and I hope to teach her to drive in it one of these days.

Good luck.

I will probably edit this or post additional thoughts as they come to me, sorry for the multiple edits so far.

 

[Danimal92sport]

Practical Answer; What is this vehicle expected to do? Based on what you mention, it sounds like 99% pavement? If so, I'd look pretty hard at the 4Runner or a 100 series Cruiser/LX470. If keeping your baby mama happy is part of the deal, then those are great choices. My 80 is smaller than my wife's big ass 2011 Odyssey minivan, but yet she's too intimidated to drive it. I think it's related to steering effort, and brakes. Wuss.

However, if you're handy with a wrench, legitimately enjoy doing preventative maintenance, and insist on owning a vehicle/tractor with character - then look at an 80 series. I've owned far more practical vehicles (including a '98 4Runner Limited), but after 1 year of ownership, I'm still legitimately excited to own my LX450.

 

[RKFZJ80]

So I have a few options available to me and I think they're all really awesome. I just wanted to get some input from those of who might have experience or otherwise useful insight. Back Story: I currently own a 2005 Jeep Wrangler "Rocky Mountain Edition". I bought it brand new and currently have about 61k miles on it. I haven't really done any modifications, but I do most of my own maintenance. It's completely paid off and KBB says it's worth around $16k. My wife likes the Jeep okay, but she doesn't really like to ride in it because it's too loud and doesn't have many creature comforts. Also, it's not all that great storage/hauling-wise because the backseat is so small. We're also expecting our first child in September so it would be wise to think long-term as far as child seats, strollers, etc. I would also like whatever vehicle I get/keep to serve me well on roadtrips (camping, skiing, offroading, etc.). This vehicle would also be my DD, but I live about 6 miles from my office, so MPG isn't a huge deal, but better MPGs would help us on roadtrips. As far as mods go, I'm hoping to have some fun with whatever I get, but still reasonable as a DD....so moderate lift, tires...maybe some bumpers eventually. The idea is whatever I net in the sale/trade of the Jeep, I would put some toward mods, and a lot toward savings/baby/home improvement. Options: 1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited - $5981 - 223k miles - I went and looked at this one today at a dealership. It does have the Multi-Mode transfer case AND the rear e-locker. I know these are very rare and sought after. Everything appeared to be in good condition. Fairly new tires. Carfax checked out and indicated VERY consistent maintenance. Because this is at a dealership, it would be easy to do a trade-in without having to try and sell the Jeep. 1997 Lexus LX450 - $5900 - 203k miles - I will go look at this one tomorrow. I can tell from the pictures that it has the magical locker switch. The current owner claims to have had it since 2000. It has "good, new tires", unfortunately they are about 28" blingin' rims and maybe 34" tires ....so those will have to go soon. I did find an ad on Craigslist for a set of LX450 wheels and 50-70% 285/75R16 Nitto Terra Grapplers for $900, so that could be a quick fix. But his choice in wheels/tires tells me this guy has no idea what he's driving (and that he's never taken it offroad), and his poor use of English suggests I might be able to get an even better deal on it. So what do you think? What would you do?

If the LX has been properly maintained, go for that. If the guy doesn't know what he has, and never used it off-road, he likely never serviced the front end or exercised the lockers, make sure the magic dial actually works, and that the birds aren't toasted. I put 3 kids in my 80 & it is much better at fitting all the necessities that go along with kids. Good luck on your search

 

[vmboy84]

Now to throw a monkey in your equation, based on what you indicated the JP is worth, but not knowing how much you want to spend, I might suggest you consider a 100 series LC. That would actually combine the best of your two current options. The ride will be better in the 100/470, you will get the nice creature comforts of Toyota's flagship vehicle, V8 power and still very capable off-road and has a decent aftermarket offering.

I actually have the LX470/FJ100 on my radar. There's a '99 close-by for $7500, but not sure of mileage. They tend to be a bit more than I'm comfortable with. My gut tends to like the $4-6k range because I'd like to be able to play around with mods and still have some cash leftover. My knowledge is also a bit limited as far as modifications and aftermarket support for the 100s (actually, Toyota's in general since I've been a Jeep guy my whole life, but I'm learning). I also get concerned about having too many electronic gadgets that could go wrong. But none of that makes the 100s a deal breaker.

Thanks for the info so far. It's really been helpful. Keep it coming.

 

[bhicks]

I owned a 95 4runner (I know that's a different body style) and I owned a 2001 TJ and I have owned two 80's. The 4Runner and TJ are gone and only one 80 is left. There is a long list of reasons why I HATED the TJ once I started having kids. It was a nightmare trying to load kids into car seats with only two doors and a 6" lift on 35's. The 4Runner was better but wasn't as duel purpose as I wanted. The landcruiser allowed me to get 3 car seats in with plenty of room and drive it to the store, camping, or hit the rocks. No other vehicle could do that. Hands down go with the LX if multiple kids are in the future. If your obsessed with owning a Jeep then find a 98-99 XJ. Build it up to your needs and go nuts. I loved my XJ and it was the only vehicle that ever came close to being a duel purpose rig like my 80. The big difference wasn't really in function or on the trail, it came down to reliability. 70-80% of my wheeling budget went to repairs on the XJ. I would say about 25% of my wheelin budget goes to repairs on the LX. That gives me WAY more money to add goodies.

 

[vmboy84]

The other issue is liquidity/cash flow. I'd be willing and able to spend $5k or so on this vehicle and then turn around and sell the Jeep later. When that 5k creeps up toward $10-13k, then things get a bit more risky.

Also, that $7500 470 has been sold already...just got a response this morning.

 

[CONFUSED]

Something to consider as well is the budget that you have for all the PM work that will come with either of your options, they are both toyotas and parts carry a bit if a higher price tag over anything domestic such as jeeps. They are also much older than the jeep that you are use to driving and therefore may/will require more work to keep it in great working order.
I just want to throw that out there as I wend from a new xterra to a fj80 thinking it won't be that bad to maintain and I'm now over 8K into maintenance throughout the vehicle and no real big mods yet.

 

[pkelly72]

So I have a few options available to me and I think they're all really awesome. I just wanted to get some input from those of who might have experience or otherwise useful insight. Back Story: I currently own a 2005 Jeep Wrangler "Rocky Mountain Edition". I bought it brand new and currently have about 61k miles on it. I haven't really done any modifications, but I do most of my own maintenance. It's completely paid off and KBB says it's worth around $16k. My wife likes the Jeep okay, but she doesn't really like to ride in it because it's too loud and doesn't have many creature comforts. Also, it's not all that great storage/hauling-wise because the backseat is so small. We're also expecting our first child in September so it would be wise to think long-term as far as child seats, strollers, etc. I would also like whatever vehicle I get/keep to serve me well on roadtrips (camping, skiing, offroading, etc.). This vehicle would also be my DD, but I live about 6 miles from my office, so MPG isn't a huge deal, but better MPGs would help us on roadtrips. As far as mods go, I'm hoping to have some fun with whatever I get, but still reasonable as a DD....so moderate lift, tires...maybe some bumpers eventually. The idea is whatever I net in the sale/trade of the Jeep, I would put some toward mods, and a lot toward savings/baby/home improvement. Options: 1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited - $5981 - 223k miles - I went and looked at this one today at a dealership. It does have the Multi-Mode transfer case AND the rear e-locker. I know these are very rare and sought after. Everything appeared to be in good condition. Fairly new tires. Carfax checked out and indicated VERY consistent maintenance. Because this is at a dealership, it would be easy to do a trade-in without having to try and sell the Jeep. 1997 Lexus LX450 - $5900 - 203k miles - I will go look at this one tomorrow. I can tell from the pictures that it has the magical locker switch. The current owner claims to have had it since 2000. It has "good, new tires", unfortunately they are about 28" blingin' rims and maybe 34" tires ....so those will have to go soon. I did find an ad on Craigslist for a set of LX450 wheels and 50-70% 285/75R16 Nitto Terra Grapplers for $900, so that could be a quick fix. But his choice in wheels/tires tells me this guy has no idea what he's driving (and that he's never taken it offroad), and his poor use of English suggests I might be able to get an even better deal on it. So what do you think? What would you do?

Someone asked a similar question the other day. I think I you scroll down a page or two you would see the earlier discussion. Also search 'cost of ownership'

My thoughts - go and look at each vehicle. Take them for test drives. See which one you like the most. I've never owned a 4runner but if the 80 wasn't cared for you might have to spend time and money to take care of the PM. Depending on the level of neglect, you could spend thousands getting things sorted out.

 

[half k cruiser]

Well so far you've been getting some surprisingly unbiased answers for posting this in an 80 series forum

You could also look into a 4 door JK. Maybe even find a deal on a Rubicon. My buddy just sold his two door unlimited Rubi TJ for a 4 door Rubi JK. He did it for the very reasons you just mentioned, not enough room, pain to get the kids in there car seats, etc, etc.

 

[FirstToy]

The LTD is based off the same 120 Series chassis as the FJ and a few other rigs and the aftermarket has been good the 3rd Gens, so there are lots of good parts out there.

Just a footnote:
The 99 ltd he is considering is a 3rd gen, like yours. I think it's based off the 90 series? but not sure.

The 03+ 4Runner, FJC and GX470 is based off the 120 series

 

[vmboy84]

Update

Rough LX450
So I went to look at the LX450 this afternoon. It's a beast of a vehicle, but this one was pretty ragged. With all the talk about how important care and maintenance is on these older, high mileage vehicles, it was apparent to me that this one had not been properly cared for. Mechanically, it seemed okay during the 15 minutes that I drove it, but aesthetically, there were several issues (broken passenger visor, bent wheel on 3rd row seat, messed up console, stains throughout carpet). I realize all of those things would probably be cheap and easy to fix if I was so inclined, but there's just no telling what other things were abused.

4Runner Still Appealing
So the 4Runner is still in the running. I'll go look at it again tomorrow. One of the things I really like about it is the Multi-Mode - so I can pick just enough umph for the appropriate driving conditions - seems very efficient and effective. It also seems like it will be cheaper (maint., gas, mods, etc) in the long-run, but it will still accomplish all of the tasks I'm hoping it will. When I go look at it tomorrow, are there any glaring warning signs I should be on the lookout for?

Also, thanks for all of the help so far. I'm very impressed with the amount of response I've received in just 24 hours. Given my experience, in the Jeep world for the past 14 years, this forum feels very welcoming compared to what I'm used to.

 

[Delancy]

This forum feels very welcoming compared to what I'm used to.

And you didn't even receive a proper welcoming.

Welcome to Mud.

 

[93yotasr5]

It's a simple decision. Get the LX

 

[RKFZJ80]

Update Rough LX450 So I went to look at the LX450 this afternoon. It's a beast of a vehicle, but this one was pretty ragged. With all the talk about how important care and maintenance is on these older, high mileage vehicles, it was apparent to me that this one had not been properly cared for. Mechanically, it seemed okay during the 15 minutes that I drove it, but aesthetically, there were several issues (broken passenger visor, bent wheel on 3rd row seat, messed up console, stains throughout carpet). I realize all of those things would probably be cheap and easy to fix if I was so inclined, but there's just no telling what other things were abused. 4Runner Still Appealing So the 4Runner is still in the running. I'll go look at it again tomorrow. One of the things I really like about it is the Multi-Mode - so I can pick just enough umph for the appropriate driving conditions - seems very efficient and effective. It also seems like it will be cheaper (maint., gas, mods, etc) in the long-run, but it will still accomplish all of the tasks I'm hoping it will. When I go look at it tomorrow, are there any glaring warning signs I should be on the lookout for? Also, thanks for all of the help so far. I'm very impressed with the amount of response I've received in just 24 hours. Given my experience, in the Jeep world for the past 14 years, this forum feels very welcoming compared to what I'm used to.

I have to say that I am impressed by the durability of the 3rd gen 4runners, I have not owned one myself, but my mother in law ( the queen of ZERO maintenance) has a 1999 with 190,000 on it, and has had little to no problems with it, clear coat peeling being the biggest thing so far, remember that the 3.4 has a timing belt that will need to be dealt with. I have owned several jeeps, ( YJ, XJ, ZJ, TJ) and my '97 80 series is by far the best 4x4 I have owned, hands down, feels way more solid than any of the jeeps ever did, even with twice the mileage! You will really enjoy the 80 if you end up going that way. I'll 2nd your opinion of this forum, it is BY FAR the best one on the web, for any topic. Welcome.

 

[Jetboy]

I had the same decision about 5 years ago. Went with the 4runner. For me the mpg was the deciding factor. I ride my bike to work most of the year (SLC is a smoggy s***hole in the winter- so I drive). Even so, I drive to moab and up to montana a few times a year each. I'm always over 20mpg on the highway in the 4runner. My brother's 80 never breaks 16, and is usually more like 14. Over time that starts to add up.

IMO the 4runner is every bit on par with the LX/80 in reliability and durability. Both engines will last as long as you want to keep maintaining them. The 3rd gen 4runner is smaller - obviously, which can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for.

If you want to build one for offroad use, the 80 with lockers is going to be better out of the box and probably cheaper to do a mild build up to say 35s. Once you go past that I think the 4runner becomes the cheaper option becasue you'll be needing transfer case gearing changes and such that are a lot harder/more $ to do on an 80.

I'm going to be trading my current 4runner for a 5th gen sometime in the near future, which is now larger in every dimension and heavier than an 80 series landcruiser. Mostly because I'm bored with it and ready for something new. In 100k miles I've owned it, it's been an excellent vehicle and I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

One other vehicle to consider is a 1st gen sequoia. Might find one in the same ballpark of pricing and condition.

 

[Finnyfam60]

Seems your complaints on the lx are more aesthetic, and I used those same things to negotiate a lower price and then spent $100 on a detail. And mine was filthy! Without off pavement abuse there is probably few mechanical issues with it.

 

[vmboy84]

So CarFax shows that the vehicle was serviced at the dealership right next to where I work. So I checked with them to see if they could provide me with the history. Turns out any work at a Toyota dealership is saved and online for about 8 years. So after I looked up the 4Runner, I learned that about a year ago (11/12), the "200k mile dealership special" was performed - new battery, Timing Belt!, Water Pump!, all other drive belts, efi injector cleaned, 4 new tires, tune-up, and brake fluid flush. The history also indicates new brakes and turned rotors last summer. Transmission fluid exchange 3 years ago along with a replaced valve cover gasket.

You know how everytime you go to a mechanic, they say, "would you like ____ replaced?" and you're usually like, "meh, I'll do it myself". I think this person just said, "sure, why not". There are several "xxx,xxx mile dealer special" on here, including 60k, 90k, 120k, etc.

I think I may have hit the jackpot with this one. Now I just have to see if the seller will give me what I want for the Jeep.