97 Land Cruiser - Can’t Let Go

[mtquinn]

We bought our 97 40th Anniversary Limited Edition LC in 1999 with only 16K miles on it. She was our Valentines gift to each other and a year later with “Just Married” written on her we drove her all over northern & southern California. Well 25 years, 200K miles, 4 dogs and 1 kid later she is still going strong.

Now we’re retired and felt the need to reduce the number of cars owned (4) and possibly purchase a new one. After driving multiple new cars, we determined that there is NOT a better vehicle out there for primitive camping with two big dogs and hauling lots of gear.

As I write this, we are driving her 800 miles to “Toyota Heaven” in Maryland for some serious love. Convinced $$ is better spent restoring her. Especially as the past 15 years in the Florida sun have taken their toll.

This LC is a tank and always does what we ask of her without complaint. IH8MUD has been an invaluable tool addressing the minor issues that arise on a 27 year old vehicle.

Thank you all for freely sharing your knowledge!

 

[Comet]

Tis’ but a baby with that mileage. Your thought process sounds perfectly logical to me. Safe travels.

 

[YotaTrail]

I had similar thoughts. These are keepers and possibly built during the greatest decade for Japanese car quality.

Every new car seems cheap with cost cutting measures with respect to weight savings and too sophisticated with electronics and gadgets. Cars today seem.disposable but not these.

Great story and enjoy the retirement.

 

[basalt51]

Just put $$$$ into ours. Looking forward to the next 20 years.

 

[77mustard40]

We bought our 97 40th Anniversary Limited Edition LC in 1999 with only 16K miles on it. She was our Valentines gift to each other and a year later with “Just Married” written on her we drove her all over northern & southern California. Well 25 years, 200K miles, 4 dogs and 1 kid later she is still going strong.

Now we’re retired and felt the need to reduce the number of cars owned (4) and possibly purchase a new one. After driving multiple new cars, we determined that there is NOT a better vehicle out there for primitive camping with two big dogs and hauling lots of gear.

As I write this, we are driving her 800 miles to “Toyota Heaven” in Maryland for some serious love. Convinced $$ is better spent restoring her. Especially as the past 15 years in the Florida sun have taken their toll.

This LC is a tank and always does what we ask of her without complaint. IH8MUD has been an invaluable tool addressing the minor issues that arise on a 27 year old vehicle.

Thank you all for freely sharing your knowledge!

Also in a 97 that carries similar cargo…keep the rig, it may outlive you

 

[IdahoDoug]

Couldn't agree with your philosophy and more firmly. Bought our 93 new in 92. It has 250k on it and is still a joy to drive. No gadgets, never yells at me for lane changes without blinkers (we live in an area where there's not usually another car near enough to use blinkers), I don't have to wait for the hatch to open itself (swoops up fast), it's got a tailgate, people give me thumbs up, steel ARB for the deer to protect my baby, etc. We also have a 97 we bought with 100k that now has 314k and burns no oil and simply keeps cruising along.

 

[flintknapper]

200K miles is 'Just getting started'.

My '97 now has 360K and still runs like a top. Has some oil leaks but nothing serious.

Replaced the Head Gasket at 316K. Cleaned up the head and lapped the valves, slapped all back together and we keep on going.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I look forward to being "that old guy who drives a 40 year old LandCruiser" one day. Guess I'm a "reverse snob" in that respect.....

 

[OffRoadScott]

I have thought about selling mine, posted it for sale and couldn't come to selling it. I have sold cars in the past that I thought I would regret selling, I do but nothing like I would if I sold the 80.

Beautiful pups by the way. I have a Dutch Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix.

 

[YotaTrail]

I regret selling my 100 series that only had 70k miles.
My 80 has 130k and will be handing it down to my son. I was thinking about selling it 2019 glad I didn't. I will be putting a lift on it next.

Even the internet was better in the 90s without all the ads, data theft and pop-ups and prompts we get today. Sometimes something well-built but simple is the ultimate solution.

 

[mtquinn]

Also in a 97 that carries similar cargo…keep the rig, it may outlive you

View attachment 3655575

Nice

 

[mtquinn]

I have thought about selling mine, posted it for sale and couldn't come to selling it. I have sold cars in the past that I thought I would regret selling, I do but nothing like I would if I sold the 80.

Beautiful pups by the way. I have a Dutch Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix.

View attachment 3655688

Your passenger is a sweetheart.

 

[mtquinn]

I regret selling my 100 series that only had 70k miles.
My 80 has 130k and will be handing it down to my son. I was thinking about selling it 2019 glad I didn't. I will be putting a lift on it next.

Even the internet was better in the 90s without all the ads, data theft and pop-ups and prompts we get today. Sometimes something well-built but simple is the ultimate solution.

We kept the car for our daughter, but she never wanted it (we thought she was nuts!). Agree that we are perfectly capable of driving this car w/o electronic assistance.

 

[mtquinn]

Couldn't agree with your philosophy and more firmly. Bought our 93 new in 92. It has 250k on it and is still a joy to drive. No gadgets, never yells at me for lane changes without blinkers (we live in an area where there's not usually another car near enough to use blinkers), I don't have to wait for the hatch to open itself (swoops up fast), it's got a tailgate, people give me thumbs up, steel ARB for the deer to protect my baby, etc. We also have a 97 we bought with 100k that now has 314k and burns no oil and simply keeps cruising along.

Also in a 97 that carries similar cargo…keep the rig, it may outlive you

View attachment 3655575

You have good taste in cargo!

 

[robnicko]

I think this pic is their way of saying please dont get rid of our car

I miss my GS who passed away many years back

 

[OffRoadScott]

Your passenger is a sweetheart.

Thank you. She is my ride or die literally

 

[smooth]

I’m only a few years from retirement and I plan on using my 96 80 as my DD. Will give my current DD 2019 200 to my wife to keep it in the family.

Glad to hear you’ve reached that conclusion after checking out today’s vehicles. For all the reasons you mentioned, it helps me reaffirm my decision. There currently isn’t anything on the market that interests me. Good luck in retirement!