Are they good trucks? Really?

[Ballsie]

I will start by saying Ive wanted an 80 since 1993 and I know that Toyota makes great cars and trucks. I did a lot of research before buying my first 80 in June.

I ended up with a very clean 97 LX450 with 130k miles. I have all sevrvce records as everything was done ON TIME at the Lexus dealer in Southern CA.

EVERYONE says how great these trucks are, but I really dont see it. I have had Hondas and Nissan 4x4's with a lot more miles with WAY less issues. My GMC Yukon has 155k miles on it and I have only had to do routine maintenance since buying it new in 04. No other issues.

Since getting the LX 3 months ago I have had the:

power antenna fail
both front seats stripped gears
brake fluid level sensor fail
rear door lock actuator fail
weak AC
oil level sensor failed

All of this along with it being extremely underpowered and the atrocious fuel economy. I also have the constant worry in the back of my mind about the head gasket failing.

Am I crazy for thinking my 99 nissan Pathfinder 4x4 with 210k miles was a WAY better truck? I never had any issues with that truck and I put 150k miles on it. General maintenance along with a cv boot replacement and it NEVER gave me any problems.

Should I expect to be constantly fixing something on this truck? I thought this truck would just be a "get in and drive" kinda truck as long as I kept up with routine maintenance. Im I wrong?

 

[mattafact]

You should probably sell it. It's only going to get worse.

 

[jcardona1]

If you think a bad power antenna and a few failed switches and sensors make a truck unreliable, you really should get rid of it.

 

[mgilvan]

you should have bought a land cruiser .
jk
just sell it if u dont like it

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Sounds like even with all your research you ended up with a real POS. Sometimes it just better to cut your losses and sell. Some guys have good luck with Land Rover, just say'n

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Sounds like a lemon, should sell it.

 

[tirewater]

Should I expect to be constantly fixing something on this truck? I thought this truck would just be a "get in and drive" kinda truck as long as I kept up with routine maintenance. Im I wrong?

Truth be told, yes you'll constantly have to maintain the truck. My truck has about 130k miles as well and a seeping oil pan gasket, oil pump, power steering pump. Amongst other things I'd like to address...and the pending headgasket possibility.

The truck comes with the "it's a Land Cruiser thing", just like any other marquee...whether it's Rand Rover or MB G-Wagen.

As the truck ages, it becomes less of a daily driver type vehicle and more of a specialized, only when camping or hauling vehicle. Especially when it costs $10 in gas to run simple errands.

Anyway, my point is the 80 is now a labor of love type vehicle. You don't buy it because it has the best comfort, power, reliability, etc... you get it for the special enjoyment we get out of fixing or modding it...and occasionally driving it.

The 100/200 series may be a better fit for me personally (and you as well), and many 80 owners have migrated toward the newer vehicles.

 

[nukegoat]

As a daily driver, the LC is nothing to write home about as far as reliability goes. It will tolerate a lot of neglect, and if you don't care about creature comforts, it'll keep on rocking for a while. If you jsut need a commuter, though, a Honda Accord would probably be better than either an 80 or a pathfinder.

So now you're left evaluating whether the LC is reliable "for it's intended purpose." With that in mind, I'd say yes, but I don't think any more reliable than most other body-on-frame solid axle rigs. People will disagree and cite the reliability of things like the sunroof and power window switches and things like that, but in all reality, there are plenty of mid-90s wranglers and cherokees where those things are still functional as well. This is a Land Cruiser forum, though, so there's an affinity for the mystique associated with owning an 80.

 

[canman]

I think sometimes it just good/bad luck. A guy in our club has JDM 80 series, and just last week he blew a brake hose and his A/C clutch bearing packed in. Another 80 series Land Cruiser he has has over 300K miles, and he has had very little issues with it. I myself have had my 97 LX now for 6.5 yrs. Other than "regular" maintenance, the only items that have "failed" are:

- Headgasket - $2K
- rear diff actuator - $800 (rusted out)
- condenser - $700 (rusted out after 2 yrs after the orig was replaced during accident repair, but it was not an OEM one).
- A/C not working (not yet diagnosed)
- leaking power steering pump (not yet fixed)
- leaking front oil pump seal? (not yet fixed)
- leaking brake line (rusted out - not yet fixed)
- P401 (not yet diagnosed - just keep clearing code)

Don't forget that these truck are getting old and stuff will start "failing" due to age, rust etc. I still have orig exhaust, but it's almost done, but how many cars on the road can you say after 16-17 yrs still have the orig exhaust - Canadian rust belt to boot!

When I first started working on my truck, I was truly amazed at the attention to detail and the quality that went into the truck. Everything seemed over engineered to me at least and reminded me of the quality and attention to detail that I witnessed going into the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon at their production facility in Graz, Austria.

 

[Ballsie]

If you think a bad power antenna and a few failed switches and sensors make a truck unreliable, you really should get rid of it.

Well, The antenna was unreliable, the power seats were unreliable, the oil level sensor was unreliable, the brake fluid sensor was unreliable, the door lock was unreliable.

I don't think Im crazy for asking the question. I think I have had more than a "normal" amount of issues with the truck in the last 3 months. I drive the hell out of all my cars and this LX has been more problematic in the first 3 months than my GMC and Nissan were in 9 years.

This is my wifes daily driver and I dont want to be working on it all the time. I thought this was going to be your average 250k mile Toyota with no major issues. I planned on spending time and money modding it, not just keeping it on the road.

Im going to move it and get something that isn't going to break the bank on gas and parts.

 

[cruiserdan]

Sell it and move on. Clearly it does not suit you.

You can easily fix the "underpowered" part by aquiring a Grand Cherokee SRT8. They stop better too. Those 6 piston Brembos work good.


Don't let the Chrysler background scare you.........too much.

 

[Douglas S]

There are lemons in every bunch (and it seems like you got one), but that said there's nothing magic about the 80 in general that makes it super reliable. It's well built, but the things you're having issues with aren't any better on an 80 then they are on a Honda Civic. In fact, most Civics aren't as tarded up with accessories, which is (IMO) one of the biggest failings of the USDM 80's. Power accessories tend to have issues when they age.

 

[thadscottmoore]

LMAO! We are talking about a vehicle that is twenty years old and no telling what kind of abuse history is behind it. I have a well abused 310,000 miles 21 year old beast that has never been rebuilt engine or transmission. I broke the antena off while offroading through a swamp, never had power seats, which I don't think any real 4 wheel drive should have. I like the fact that it is super simple and super stout built from the factory. I don't mind if I have a foot of water in the cabin while trailing. I didn't buy it to go grocery shopping or take the kids to the mall in. And I damn sure didn't buy it for the fuel economy. I have a corrola for that. I don't think you will find a mint 20 year old vehicle that will not start having issues sooner or later.

 

[jcardona1]

Well, The antenna was unreliable, the power seats were unreliable, the oil level sensor was unreliable, the brake fluid sensor was unreliable, the door lock was unreliable.

I don't think Im crazy for asking the question. I think I have had more than a "normal" amount of issues with the truck in the last 3 months. I drive the hell out of all my cars and this LX has been more problematic in the first 3 months than my GMC and Nissan were in 9 years.

This is my wifes daily driver and I dont want to be working on it all the time. I thought this was going to be your average 250k mile Toyota with no major issues. I planned on spending time and money modding it, not just keeping it on the road.

Im going to move it and get something that isn't going to break the bank on gas and parts.

Maybe I look at things differently. When speaking about reliability, I think about serious mechanical failures. The kind that leave you stranded in the forest or riding your bike to work, which the few bad electronic gizmos and gadgets you described don't amount to. None of those affect the ability of the car to function as a daily driver.

Expensive and annoying? Sure. Sometimes I wish the 80 didn't have so many electronic parts because they get expensive to fix when the fail. Just all part of the game when trying to use a 16+ yr old luxury SUV as a daily driver. I knew that going in and even after doing the head gasket, I still have no regrets.

It just depends on purpose and goals for the truck. If you want a daily driver, I'd be looking elsewhere. No way would I drive this thing to work everyday.

 

[Funner]

I will start by saying Ive wanted an 80 since 1993 and I know that Toyota makes great cars and trucks. I did a lot of research before buying my first 80 in June.

I ended up with a very clean 97 LX450 with 130k miles. I have all sevrvce records as everything was done ON TIME at the Lexus dealer in Southern CA.

EVERYONE says how great these trucks are, but I really dont see it. I have had Hondas and Nissan 4x4's with a lot more miles with WAY less issues. My GMC Yukon has 155k miles on it and I have only had to do routine maintenance since buying it new in 04. No other issues.

Since getting the LX 3 months ago I have had the:

power antenna fail
both front seats stripped gears
brake fluid level sensor fail
rear door lock actuator fail
weak AC
oil level sensor failed

All of this along with it being extremely underpowered and the atrocious fuel economy. I also have the constant worry in the back of my mind about the head gasket failing.

Am I crazy for thinking my 99 nissan Pathfinder 4x4 with 210k miles was a WAY better truck? I never had any issues with that truck and I put 150k miles on it. General maintenance along with a cv boot replacement and it NEVER gave me any problems.

Should I expect to be constantly fixing something on this truck? I thought this truck would just be a "get in and drive" kinda truck as long as I kept up with routine maintenance. Im I wrong?

I don't know about that list and your gripe. It really seems like minor stuff to me, nothing that would leave your wife stranded or would require you to drop everything and get right on it. I don't want to call you Alice, but you are kind of being a .....Probably should sell it.
Or-
Take a deep breath, put your wifey in one of the other 10 cars you seem to own, and run it through the proper PM schedule and get it back to top shape. If you plan on using it like an old accord ie doing the least possible maintenance and running it into the ground while beating on it on trails over the weekends, not going to be good for you.

 

[kreiten]

I drove my 80 series hard everyday I owned it, did almost no maintenance(I was young and dumb) and put 280k of hard miles on it, never really replace much other than brake pads, hoses and some seals.... was proly the most reliable rig I ever owned, at 280k is still ran perfect, I traded it in on a 100 series, and now a 200 series! I've never really had any major repairs on any of the 7 LC's I've owned and or still own... just my experiance...

 

[scrowley]

A 99 nissan pathfinder is a very very reliable SUV. But for the purpose of 4 wheeling, which most of us here on mud use our 80's for there is NO comparision. I would have NEVER bought my 80 for a daily driver. Sounds to me that you made a poor choice for a daily for your lady. You should have kept the pathfinder even with 200k it probably had more time left. You can get into a 01, 02, 03 pathfinder which has the timing chain engine. Superior reliability.

Also on the other hand I love my 80 for camping, wheeling, exploring, weekend trips, beach, etc. but not to drive to work every day. I know my 80 is well maintained and will not be leaving me stranded. Even blown HG's on an 80 seem to give tale signs FAR before they actually need to be changed. Most other vehicles would leave you stranded with no tail signs

I have a 05 4runner for my lady and son as their daily and a 02 F350 powerstroke for my daily/work. Both have tons more power, less maintanance and much better MPG. But I like to wrench on my 80. Its fun. I hate doing anything to the runner and the powerstroke.

 

[erea77]

I drove my 80 series hard everyday I owned it, did almost no maintenance(I was young and dumb) and put 280k of hard miles on it, never really replace much other than brake pads, hoses and some seals.... was proly the most reliable rig I ever owned, at 280k is still ran perfect, I traded it in on a 100 series, and now a 200 series! I've never really had any major repairs on any of the 7 LC's I've owned and or still own... just my experiance...

That's what I like to hear as a new LC 80 owner!!!!!

 

[Ballsie]

LMAO! We are talking about a vehicle that is twenty years old and no telling what kind of abuse history is behind it. I have a well abused 310,000 miles 21 year old beast that has never been rebuilt engine or transmission. I broke the antena off while offroading through a swamp, never had power seats, which I don't think any real 4 wheel drive should have. I like the fact that it is super simple and super stout built from the factory. I don't mind if I have a foot of water in the cabin while trailing. I didn't buy it to go grocery shopping or take the kids to the mall in. And I **** sure didn't buy it for the fuel economy. I have a corrola for that. I don't think you will find a mint 20 year old vehicle that will not start having issues sooner or later.

I dont understand why you would be "LMAO". I DID buy mine to be a grocery getter and to take the kids to the mall. I dont see a problem with having power seats in a 4x4 and there will never be a foot of water on the floor.

I bought the truck from the 65 yr old original owner that never took it off the pavement. It has been well taken care of since new and I take VERY GOOD care of my vehicles. It is a rust free, low mileage, well maintained truck and I feel like I paid a premium to get a truck in that condition.

I knew the fuel economy was bad, but I was willing to deal with the extra cost to have an 80 that would make me feel like I have a stout Toyota beast that would never die. Unfortunately, every time I get in it Im just waiting for the next dash light to turn on.

Sorry to go against the grain, but with the experience I have had with my clean, low mileage, well maintained, well documented 80, I dont agree with the people saying its a beast that will last forever. I feel like Im already on borrowed time.

 

[gray rider]

If you are selling, how much do you want for it?