27 years owning my 97 Cruiser and looking forward (1 Viewer)

[Herrett]

Well, at 70 I’ve been retired for a little over two years. Getting healthy, dropped from 295 to 190lbs (much easier to climb into the lifted cruiser). And thought it might be time to decide on my daily driver for the next 10 years or so as we’ve owned our Land Cruiser for 27 years. I’ve always loved the cruiser’s looks and the only thing with remotely a similar body style is the four door Bronco. So I began to compare:

Land Cruiser - paid for
Bronco Badlands - $60,000
Average monthly Bronco payment - probably $600 plus depending on down payment
Annual gas costs based on 10K per year
Bronco - $1,618
Cruiser - $2,292
Only around $674 difference
Full coverage insurance for financed Bronco - $2,500 per year
Liability for Cruiser - $700 per year

So, I figured my average cost of ownership for the Bronco would be - $11,318 for a lot of years, not including initial down payment and excise tax.

Annual cost of ownership for the Cruiser would be $2, 992 not including maintenance.

So, that means I would have to spend $8,326 plus to maintain the Cruiser every year to equal the ownership cost of the Bronco, and after owning the Cruiser for 27 years, I know that’s not going to be the case.

Its a no brainer for me that I’m keeping the Land Cruiser as my DD, fishing and hunting truck. And I’ll keep relying on the forum for tips and advice. Looking at the numbers and quality of the FZJ80 vs the Bronco this decision is easy as we have my wife’s vehicle to drive if the Cruiser is in the shop or down for repairs. Thanks again for all the help and advice, it’s invaluable. If you disagree with my ownership estimates. Let me know.

 

[Herrett]

Sorry for image dupes. I couldn’t figure out how to delete the duplicates.

 

[SoTexCruiserDoc]

Good for you on your LC, retirement and health! Great looking truck with the tutone. How many miles?

 

[Herrett]

Good for you on your LC, retirement and health! Great looking truck with the tutone. How many miles?

Thanks. Just turned 200,000 miles this week.

 

[RAYJON]

We will gladly help you spend your $$$…lol, one of cruiser and company turbo kits makes an 80 much more fun to drive, then we can talk bumpers sliders and bypass shocks….drawers 12v fridge and more fun stuff.. nice looking cruiser even if you keep it like it is and just maintain it will be a great rig going forward…. I still daily my 93 and have been for over 20 years…

 

[jonheld]

Been daily driving an 80 since I drove my brand new one off the dealer's lot in 1991. After 22 years I stepped into a pristine 97 LX450.
Honestly, I can't justify spending money on something new. Even the newer Cruisers don't have the same appeal to me. Well, maybe the 200 Series at some point
I've done multiple cross-country trips in both 80s over the years, and they turn heads wherever they go.
Yes, maintenance and parts are issues, but I consider it therapy to be away from hi-tech, computers, etc.

 

[ScoutRecon]

I'll chime in on this. We recently traded in my wife's 22 Bronco 2door sasquatch black diamond with the 2.3l and auto transmission. Traded it for a new 4runner sr5, we had a 19 trd premium prior to the bronco. Here is my opinion on the bronco coming from a service dept manager for a gmc garage.

It never left us stranded or stuck in deep snow or sand. I've never owned or driven a new vehicle with more squeaks, rattles, and air leaks (sounds like twenty bird when the wind hits it while going down the road). From day one I never cared for how the transmission felt, especially downshifting to go downhill. A trip to the service department for reprogrmming netted zero results. The shifting became worse when stuck in traffic in hot weather resulting in banging shifts, and this was the last draw convincing us to trade it at 39k miles.

The broncos have had a lot of issues like various oil leaks, fuel pump failures, various module failures, and many QC concerns that are widely documented on the inter webs. I didn't have any of these except oil leaking out of the rear shocks which became a recall (with no remedy for repair) just before we traded it. The seats and window buttons showed a lot of wear in the time we owned it.

The fuel mileage was pretty impressive for a brick rolling on 35's. Any speed over 65 would net less and less mileage. We would usually see an average of 19mpg around our hilly area. The 2.3L had enough power for us and I never felt it being under powered. Fords are notorious for turbo failures so my opinion is 1 is less expensive than replacing 2. I loved the vinyl floors for the ease of cleaning.

We love this new 4runner! It feels like a race car compared to our 5th gen, rides smooth over our 3rd world country roads, no squeaks rattles or air leaks, and is averaging 22+ mpg. I only wish it had a rear locker, but I didn't want all the tech in the trd model. I was looking hard at the new 250, but the hybrid system was a complete turn off for me.

My suggestion is to take that 60k your going to spend on a bronco, take 1/2 to refresh the 80, and the remaining $30k buys a lot of fuel to take you on many amazing trips. Absolutely nothing on the road today compares to the quality and simplicity of an 80 series.

I'm driving a 2011 gmc 1500 to save $$$ to throw at my lx450.

 

[Herrett]

Thanks, I think many of us have come to the same conclusion. While I don’t rock climb, I have modded the FZJ80 to suit my needs. Old Man Emu suspension, ARB bumper, ARB roof rack, Slee upgrading headlight wiring harness, Light Force driving lights integrated into my stock headlight controls and LandTanks seat upgrade. Dog friendly rear seat cover from Marathon, CarPlay head unit with upgraded speakers, 285 tires, Mudd middle seat organizer and numerous cosmetic upgrades like new leather on the front seats. The main service this summer is Birfields.

I would like one of the rear bumpers I see on many of your rigs but I can’t bring myself to give up the quick and easy rear access. As for power, it has plenty for me but I probably won’t drive it to Yellowstone this summer based on the 2nd gear, 4000 RPM mountain related posts I’ve read on this site, lol. After 27 years of owning this rig, I should knock myself in the head for even considering something newer. I’m sure most 80 owners have experienced this but it’s pretty cool to watch people’s reaction in the parking lot looking out the window from the local breakfast diner or while filling up at gas station. Thanks again for all the help and advice over the years.

 

[Herrett]

Based on my calculations, 12mpg just isn’t that big of a hit compared to 17mpg trucks.

 

[bicycleagent003]

Yeah, the 80 Series is just a special vehicle. So durable, great looks, a good balance of new enough and old enough, amazing off-road. I hope I never part with mine.

 

[whiteyota]

Good call on the truck, I bought mine a couple years ago and dont see myself ever getting rid of it either.
But what I want to know is how did you lose the weight?
That is a huge achievement!

 

[Herrett]

After retiring……move more eat less, Wife is really a good cook and just switched over to healthier food and less mass quantities, lol. While working, I never made time to walk, work out or just take care of myself. Too busy traveling and eating drinking the wrong stuff. Doesn’t hurt that after 30 plus years I started taking care of all the outdoor chores instead of hiring it oht. It’s been a two plus year transition but on most days I feel twenty years younger.

 

[bicycleagent003]

After retiring……move more eat less, Wife is really a good cook and just switched over to healthier food and less mass quantities, lol. While working, I never made time to walk, work out or just take care of myself. Too busy traveling and eating drinking the wrong stuff. Doesn’t hurt that after 30 plus years I started taking care of all the outdoor chores instead of hiring it oht. It’s been a two plus year transition but on most days I feel twenty years younger.

Good for you. That's way more important than what vehicle you're driving. It's hard to make major life changes like that. Cheers to you, as well, for being in what sounds like a functional marriage. I wish you many happy years.

 

[Herrett]

Good for you. That's way more important than what vehicle you're driving. It's hard to make major life changes like that. Cheers to you, as well, for being in what sounds like a functional marriage. I wish you many happy years.

Thanks….married going on 48 years.