A New 80 v 100 thread

[Box Rocket]

I am constantly considering picking up a 100 series to replace my 80 but just can't do it. I've got lots of time in both so I know what to expect from both and the 100 just doesn't get me excited like the 80 does. A 200 with the 5.7 on the other hand......I would make that switch, but can't afford it.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Buy the newest Lexus you can afford and leave the 80, 100, and 200 for others

 

[uzj100]

Get a 100 and DT headers and EMS exhaust. One of the best sounding vehicles I have ever heard.

 

[Heckraiser]

The million mile tundra was actually a 1GR-FE 4.0 v6, IIRC.

4.7 will be "more" maintenance in the sense that you have to do periodic timing belt changes, but is still solidly reliable and maybe easier to work on in other aspects.

 

[spd11]

A big factor to me is that the 80 front bumper screams "replace me" and for some reason I think I would feel weird stripping all the bumpers off a 100, but at the same time one of my favorite LCs in my area is a 200 in that lighter green color with ARB everything and a roof rack. I need something that isn't so nice that I won't use the hell out of it and take it apart all the time. 80 seems more conducive to me tinkering with it and swapping parts out.

I thought I might get destroyed for saying I don't care much for the additional creature comforts after a certain point but it seems like there are some other nuts out there.

 

[CDmpc]

The million mile tundra was actually a 1GR-FE 4.0 v6, IIRC.

4.7 will be "more" maintenance in the sense that you have to do periodic timing belt changes, but is still solidly reliable and maybe easier to work on in other aspects.

Negative on the 4.0. But nice pipe dream..... cut to 1:19 below

 

[Heckraiser]

I stand corrected

 

[baldilocks]

@spd11, it's obvious that your decision was made at post #34. Now the fun part, hunting for the right 80.

 

[LouisianaRubicon]

I'll jump in. I still daily drive a 96 LX450 and its not because I have to. We have several other vehicles that are "more practical". I bought a 07 LX470 a few weeks ago "for my wife". A quick story is in order. As my username would indicate, I'm a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon owner. A few years ago I decided I needed a daily driver that had more room and was better on the road. I wanted a tough 4wd body on frame suv. It needed to be reliable, good off road, good on road,preferably solid axle and have more room than my Jeep. I hear about these "80 series Land Cruiser things" that are legendary. It came down to a Land Rover Discovery (reliable) which I had always wanted and the Land Cruiser.

So I'm talking to my local "Land Rover Guy" and he asks me what I'm looking to do with the prospective suv.
I say, "tough, reliable, haul my stuff, take road trips, business trips, go off road. "
He says "so you want it to work all the time?"
I respond, "Yeah..."
He says, "I'd buy an 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser"

I never looked back

Truth is anything the 80 series can do on the road the 100 will do better. Its a night and day difference.
Anything the 100 will do offload the 80 will do better. I'd say a 100 can do 75% of what the 80 will do.
Cool Factor = 80 series. Guys have literally come to my office and said "is that your 80 outside". Walk into the coffee shop, tundra guy asks "what is that thing", guy at the gym "that thing looks like a tank"

Buy the cleanest, rust free, best maintained one you can find, 80 or 100. You should have many years of trouble free fun. Sounds like you can turn a wrench.This forum, Field service manual, and you're good to go. 80s are not a maintenance nightmare but could be if they haven't been maintained at all. Its a couple grand to bring one up to snuff for most people. 80s are trending up in value just like the 40s and 60s did. Keep in mind it wasn't that long ago a nice FJ 40 could be had for $10K.

Most of us operate within the realm of insanity on these things but remember, this is the internet and everyone here is a millionaire with six-pack abs and rebuilds his sealed knuckle axles everyday.

Bottom line, you want an 80 series and you should get one.

 

[uzj100]

A fully locked 100 with armor is fun too.

I have had 4 80s and 5 100s. I keep coming back to the hundy.

 

[LS1FJ40]

100s are fine.

I owned one. Thought about buying another. I own 3 80s.

I just can't bring myself to buy a 100. It would make more sense for daily driving but if I had to drive a 100 every day I'll just drive my Camry Hybrid.

The 100 series was the end of the Land Cruiser. I know people will argue that it's capable and post links or pictures to a built 100 series. Blah blah blah.

They are boring and lame. And I hate Tommy Bahama.

 

[ewillis]

100s are fine.

I owned one. Thought about buying another. I own 3 80s.

I just can't bring myself to buy a 100. It would make more sense for daily driving but if I had to drive a 100 every day I'll just drive my Camry Hybrid.

The 100 series was the end of the Land Cruiser. I know people will argue that it's capable and post links or pictures to a built 100 series. Blah blah blah.

They are boring and lame. And I hate Tommy Bahama.

Agree 100%. Thought about buying/trading for one many times. Even built, they're too for me.

 

[Lumpskie]

I am constantly considering picking up a 100 series to replace my 80 but just can't do it. I've got lots of time in both so I know what to expect from both and the 100 just doesn't get me excited like the 80 does. A 200 with the 5.7 on the other hand......I would make that switch, but can't afford it.

Whoa, that comment caught me off guard. Are you saying you think you could be happy with a 200 series being your only off-road capable vehicle? When I lived in CO, I wheeled my Tacoma with an 80 series and a 100 series. When I wheeled with them, the 80 series would make obstacle look easy, my Tacoma ( mid travel front, long travel rear with 12" shocks, orbit eyes... you know my build on TW) would make the obstacle look moderately easy and the 100 would have a lot of trouble getting up the same obstacle, having to use lockers where we were open/open. After those experiences, I emotionally wrote off the 100 and 200 series for weight, size, lack of flex and clearance for any kind of real rock crawling. (trails like Holy Cross, Spring Creek or Chinaman Gulch in CO... trails like Behind the Rocks, Metal Masher or even the Trifecta in Moab) If you're saying that a 200 can do everything you want a Land Cruiser to do... maybe I wrote them off to early.

 

[reconranger]

LC = Jenner.
80 = Bruce
100 = Caitlyn.



Seriously, both are great vehicles. I'm looking for a cheap 100 to buddy up with my 80.

 

[uzj100]

I hate Tommy Bahama too. ;<)

 

[AllLC]

Seems like alot you 80 girls are little obsessed with this Tommy Bahama guy. I own a 100. I wish i had an 80 too.

The 80 is definitely more capable stock. The 100 has done everything i have asked it to, except for that one time i had to get pulled out by my buddies 80.

I would argue a well maintained 100 will last longer than a well maintained 80, but only time will tell. I also bought a 100 because it tows a lot more than an 80.

If you don't have to tow anything and you're driving 5 minutes to work- buy n 80. Weather these tommy bahama guys want to admit it or not both of these vehicles are incredible and both have amazing support on this forum. Both are a fun purchase, it sounds like you have already made your decision. So lets see those pics of your BA 80! (yes, nobody ever says ba 100).

 

[uzj100]

100s work ok as race trucks too. And Daily drivers. And tow vehicles.

36 Hours of Uwharrie - Race 100

 

[Lumpskie]

OK. Now that we all agree you should get an 80... I'm here to tell you that you should step up and buy a diesel!

(ok ok, ok... that was tongue and cheek. I figure everyone is already riled up enough)

 

[BltByKrmn]

Drive both and see what you like, nothing any of us say is going to do a better job of convincing you as to what you should spend your money on.

 

[Box Rocket]

Whoa, that comment caught me off guard. Are you saying you think you could be happy with a 200 series being your only off-road capable vehicle? When I lived in CO, I wheeled my Tacoma with an 80 series and a 100 series. When I wheeled with them, the 80 series would make obstacle look easy, my Tacoma ( mid travel front, long travel rear with 12" shocks, orbit eyes... you know my build on TW) would make the obstacle look moderately easy and the 100 would have a lot of trouble getting up the same obstacle, having to use lockers where we were open/open. After those experiences, I emotionally wrote off the 100 and 200 series for weight, size, lack of flex and clearance for any kind of real rock crawling. (trails like Holy Cross, Spring Creek or Chinaman Gulch in CO... trails like Behind the Rocks, Metal Masher or even the Trifecta in Moab) If you're saying that a 200 can do everything you want a Land Cruiser to do... maybe I wrote them off to early.

The 80 is capable of a broader range of terrain than any of the IFS model cruisers. Trade offs! The IFS models will win in terms of comfort but it's all relative. I can have people in a brand new Jeep ride with me in my 80 and they are blown away by how comfortable it is. So it's not that the 80 is uncomfortable, it's just that the 100 and 200 are more comfortable. If rockcrawling is a significant part of how you go offroading, the 80 is superior to the 100 or 200. Rockcrawling is not my priority. Been there, done that. Still enjoy it and do it frequently but it's not my main type of offroading. For exploring and getting to remote locations even if they are difficult to get to, the IFS trucks are more than capable. I do like that I don't feel any apprehension about the terrain I might encounter. I feel like my 80 will get through whatever I encounter. The 100 or 200 might make me stop and think a bit when I encounter the real gnarly stuff.

I wouldn't use a 200 as my only offroader if the majority of trails I ran were ones like Holy Cross, or Behind the Rocks or the Rubicon.

The thing about a 100 vs 200 is that the 200 has the same positive features of the 100 series and even more. The 5.7L is so good compared to the 4.7L. Yes the 200 is heavy but so is any cruiser. My experience with Canguro Racing and using a 200 Series to race Baja has removed any doubt of the ruggedness and durability of the 200 series. Having some trail time with 200 series has shown also how good some of the new technology is (i.e. crawl control) that is missing from the 100 series. Case in point, I did a trip with a friend, me in my 80, him in is 200 with only OME suspension. It was mostly mild wheeling but we encountered a steep and difficult climb. There was a group of Jeeps there that had been struggling for a while to get their group through. They let us "play through" and my friend went first and put his 200 into crawl mode and proceeded to make the climb with zero drama and hardly a wheelspin. The jeepers were shocked and embarrassed and I'm sure a bit impressed. I made the same climb easily but used the rear locker. An open diff 100 series would have struggled and even with a rear locker could have struggled because of limited front travel. The 200 in nearly stock form using the new tech of traction control and crawl control made it look silly. I was impressed.

Bottom line is that I see no reason to get a 100 series. My 80 might be older and slightly less comfortable than a 100 series for highway driving and possibly highspeed desert stuff dpending on the suspension in each truck, but overall outperforms the 100 series offroad IMO. If I was to move to a newer cruiser the 200 is the only logical choice to replace what I have currently. Yes, there are tradeoffs. The only obstacle in getting a 200 is cost.

One guys opinion. I'm sure others may feel differently.