Coming from a 3rd gen--is the upgrade to a LC100 worth it?

[BudgetLC]

I'll be a bit of a contrarian. I sold my 98 4Runner to buy my 99 LC because I took on raising my girlfriend's 3 grand kids and needed the space. If I had to do it over again and only had 2 of the grand kids, I would differently keep the 4Runner. No, it is not as comfortable or nice as the LC, but I found it more fun to drive and I personally think that the 3rd Gen 4Runner may be one of the most capable off road vehicles in stock form (both my 4runner and LC were/are more or less stock). I'm basically belong to the working poor so the difference betwenn the 22 MPG of the 4Runner vs the 15 MPG of the LC would also factor into my decision for a daily driver, especially since my 99 requires premium.

Power to weight ratio is nearly the same so test drive a 100 series before making your choice. One can waste a lot of money chasing after that elusive perfect vehicle. Be sure of your choice before upgrading.

FWIW, a 3" lift with 33" tires on a truck as narrow as a 3-gen is overkill in my opinion unless you are going to do some serious off-roading. My 98 4Runner was stock with Michelin AT tires which was the combination that worked best for me.

 

[White Stripe]

Having a 3" lift on a third gen 4runner definitely will greatly hurt daily driving comfort. Do you wheel it often? The 3rd Gen will excel offroad. In the city with my supercharged 3Rd Gen it's much easier to drive than a 100 series, easier to park, easier on tight city streets. The 100 series is more of a boat, the 3Rd Gen is small enough to zip through traffic. The 3Rd Gen has a stouter motor and is simpler to work on. The land cruiser is more luxurious and has more interior room and towing capacity.

 

[MongooseGA]

Having a 3" lift on a third gen 4runner definitely will greatly hurt daily driving comfort. Do you wheel it often? The 3rd Gen will excel offroad. In the city with my supercharged 3Rd Gen it's much easier to drive than a 100 series, easier to park, easier on tight city streets. The 100 series is more of a boat, the 3Rd Gen is small enough to zip through traffic. The 3Rd Gen has a stouter motor and is simpler to work on. The land cruiser is more luxurious and has more interior room and towing capacity.

Correct me if I'm wrong, (I could be) but didn't the 3.4 in the 3rd Gen have the sludge issue? Or was that limited to smaller engines? Also, as far as I know, the 100 series (or at least certain years) used forged engine internals. The 3rd gens were never unreliable but I think it might be a stretch to call them stouter than the 2UZ.

 

[White Stripe]

Correct me if I'm wrong, (I could be) but didn't the 3.4 in the 3rd Gen have the sludge issue? Or was that limited to smaller engines? Also, as far as I know, the 100 series (or at least certain years) used forged engine internals. The 3rd gens were never unreliable but I think it might be a stretch to call them stouter than the 2UZ.

The 5vzfe 3.4 has really strong internals. I've seen it pushed to around 500hp with no internal modifications. I've never seen one sludge up, that was the 1mz motor that got sludge at times in some of the cars. The older generation v8 1uz was a robust motor but in the 2uz they went to really pencil thin like rods. So with the 2uz it can't handle much in traumatic mishaps such as injesting a bit of water or something causing additional stress during combustion. Also the 2uz starter is in the valley which is a pain, exhaust manifolds crack, and the air injection in the valley goes bad time to time and can be a expensive fix. That said they are still decent motors, but a 3.4 tends to have less issues.

 

[spaber05]

@128keaton : As a former 3rd gen owner (supercharged, locked, lifted, MTRs etc) I can tell you that while I enjoyed my truck for 4 glorious years of wheeling hard, there is no comparison when it comes to DD comfort. The LC is on a different level and I'm very grateful for that.

Do I miss the rear locker and the wheeling trips I took all the time? Sure, you bet, great truck for that. But I would never go back to one based on the driving I do now (mostly highway) because the Cruiser is just so much more comfortable and suitable for my needs.

Maybe one day I'll get back into something a little more bare bones utilitarian (FJ40 etc.) but for now, the LC is absolutely unbeatable when it comes to all-around capability.

Also, it's not a sports car, and if your genuinely concerned about having a vehicle that can corner remotely well, the LC may not be the best choice. A late 4th gen Limited V8 4Rrunner might be a better idea.

But if you've been wanting an LC for a while, have at it. Worst case scenario, you dislike it for one reason for another and you end up having to sell it. They hold their value so well you probably wouldn't lose much $$ on it either.

 

[128keaton]

Having a 3" lift on a third gen 4runner definitely will greatly hurt daily driving comfort. Do you wheel it often? The 3rd Gen will excel offroad. In the city with my supercharged 3Rd Gen it's much easier to drive than a 100 series, easier to park, easier on tight city streets. The 100 series is more of a boat, the 3Rd Gen is small enough to zip through traffic. The 3Rd Gen has a stouter motor and is simpler to work on. The land cruiser is more luxurious and has more interior room and towing capacity.

Yeah it was a mistake. Too bad I don't have the OEM parts that were removed. I don't wheel it as much as I'd like. I'll honestly be doing more highway miles this summer and the highway just sucks in a 3rd gen in general. The seats are horrible. I don't think I'll mind the "boat"y ness as long as it comes with comfort. I drove my lifted 3rd gen without sway bars for a while, and I didn't really mind.

@128keaton : As a former 3rd gen owner (supercharged, locked, lifted, MTRs etc) I can tell you that while I enjoyed my truck for 4 glorious years of wheeling hard, there is no comparison when it comes to DD comfort. The LC is on a different level and I'm very grateful for that.

Do I miss the rear locker and the wheeling trips I took all the time? Sure, you bet, great truck for that. But I would never go back to one based on the driving I do now (mostly highway) because the Cruiser is just so much more comfortable and suitable for my needs.

Maybe one day I'll get back into something a little more bare bones utilitarian (FJ40 etc.) but for now, the LC is absolutely unbeatable when it comes to all-around capability.

Also, it's not a sports car, and if your genuinely concerned about having a vehicle that can corner remotely well, the LC may not be the best choice. A late 4th gen Limited V8 4Rrunner might be a better idea.

But if you've been wanting an LC for a while, have at it. Worst case scenario, you dislike it for one reason for another and you end up having to sell it. They hold their value so well you probably wouldn't lose much $$ on it either.

Yeah I wish I could wheel more, I'd probably like my truck better. I, like you, commute (120-160 miles a week) and a 3rd gen built for wheeling is not a commuter, at all.

My sister has a v8 4th gen and, while its nice, I don't really care for it. Great engine, terrible styling and proportions. I'd almost imagine a LC would corner better than my 3rd with it sitting so high.

 

[spaber05]

@128keaton : I think you'll feel the weight difference more than anything else. A lifted 3rd gen is not a great highway vehicle. I personally love how an LC feels like piloting a bank vault at 70mph vs an empty Folgers can (3rd gen), but I realize that's not for everyone.

There's nose dive during braking, squat when accelerating and body roll when you corner, but cornering/handling being "better" is subjective. If you get a G meter and test both around a figure 8, let us know what the results are!

Again, if canyon carving is something you are prioritizing, an LC may not be the right vehicle. There are plenty of big crossovers that handle more like cars than anything else, Highlander for one.

 

[128keaton]

@128keaton : I think you'll feel the weight difference more than anything else. A lifted 3rd gen is not a great highway vehicle. I personally love how an LC feels like piloting a bank vault at 70mph vs an empty Folgers can (3rd gen), but I realize that's not for everyone.

There's nose dive during braking, squat when accelerating and body roll when you corner, but cornering/handling being "better" is subjective. If you get a G meter and test both around a figure 8, let us know what the results are!

Again, if canyon carving is something you are prioritizing, an LC may not be the right vehicle. There are plenty of big crossovers that handle more like cars than anything else, Highlander for one.

The car I learned to drive in was a Chevrolet Suburban, which I enjoyed driving aside from parking since it is so damn long. I know exactly what you mean by "driving a bank vault" that is what has me dissatisfied with my 3rd gen. It never feels safe or comfortable, even with stock suspension.

Nah, it was more just a curiosity factor. I can't make sharp turns at any sort of speed with my 3rd gen, well aware of those limitations, so it won't be a huge jump to a LC in that regard. Hoping to find one to drive locally before pulling the trigger, but I am definitely excited.

 

[spaber05]

As long as you're not expecting a Miata, you'll be very happy with how it drives. Good luck with the search, hope you're able to find something solid.

 

[lordflexus]

I had a 96 4runner for 6 years that I paid $3300 dollars for until I flipped and totaled it. I bought an 01 lX470 a week later because I decided it was time to grow up and I didn't know if I would survive through another 3rd gen. The 4runner got me into trouble because I wasn't afraid to go anywhere in it. It didn't matter if it got scratched, dented, or neglected. It was a 4runner. It got a lot better gas mileage, parts were cheap, and the back window rolled down....what else more could you ask out of a car during your wild years? Yes, the LX is still capable offroad, but not in the same manor in my opinion. Its just plain luxury. Everything about it is centered around luxury. It is like comparing a yacht to a jet ski. If luxury isn't the main thing you are looking for, then I would look for something different.

 

[128keaton]

I had a 96 4runner for 6 years that I paid $3300 dollars for until I flipped and totaled it. I bought an 01 lX470 a week later because I decided it was time to grow up and I didn't know if I would survive through another 3rd gen. The 4runner got me into trouble because I wasn't afraid to go anywhere in it. It didn't matter if it got scratched, dented, or neglected. It was a 4runner. It got a lot better gas mileage, parts were cheap, and the back window rolled down....what else more could you ask out of a car during your wild years? Yes, the LX is still capable offroad, but not in the same manor in my opinion. Its just plain luxury. Everything about it is centered around luxury. It is like comparing a yacht to a jet ski. If luxury isn't the main thing you are looking for, then I would look for something different.

Before this, I had a second gen 4Runner with their rough-riding T-bar setup (no coilovers), so when I had a chance to upgrade, I figured the third gen 4Runner would be a luxury upgrade. Long story short, not really. I'd rather have something capable of going offroad, but have comfort on road be the main focus. So far, that is how the Land Cruiser is sounding to be.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Everything you've stated tells me you'd like the LC - with two potential caveats:

1. It is not fun to drive. It very comfortable and I LOVE it for daily commuting and off-roading, but it is not fun. Though, neither is a 3rd gen 4Runner. The LC has decent passing power up to ~60mph, but past that I think it's painfully slow. That said, my other car is a turbo Supra, so my scale may be a bit biased.

2. MPG. If you can absorb the extra cost of gasoline (I get around 14 MPG on premium and 13 on regular) then it's no biggie. If your budget is tight, driving the LC might cause some undue financial strain.


The two downfalls above aside, the LC is fantastic. If you find a 98-99 with the rear locker and spend $1k on good off-road 33s you'll have a very capable and reliable off-roader that can serve as an excellent DD. It's a very comfortable and quiet ride. Replacement OEM shocks for the LC are stupidly cheap at ~$40 per corner. It's easy to have a very nice ride quality in an LC. Suspension lifts are almost entirely unnecessary, IMO. I've done lots of moderate to difficult trails with just 33's and sliders.

 

[bamabrock]

yes, the upgrade is worth it. 4 runners are for teenagers

 

[128keaton]

Everything you've stated tells me you'd like the LC - with two potential caveats:

1. It is not fun to drive. It very comfortable and I LOVE it for daily commuting and off-roading, but it is not fun. Though, neither is a 3rd gen 4Runner. The LC has decent passing power up to ~60mph, but past that I think it's painfully slow. That said, my other car is a turbo Supra, so my scale may be a bit biased.

2. MPG. If you can absorb the extra cost of gasoline (I get around 14 MPG on premium and 13 on regular) then it's no biggie. If your budget is tight, driving the LC might cause some undue financial strain.


The two downfalls above aside, the LC is fantastic. If you find a 98-99 with the rear locker and spend $1k on good off-road 33s you'll have a very capable and reliable off-roader that can serve as an excellent DD. It's a very comfortable and quiet ride. Replacement OEM shocks for the LC are stupidly cheap at ~$40 per corner. It's easy to have a very nice ride quality in an LC. Suspension lifts are almost entirely unnecessary, IMO. I've done lots of moderate to difficult trails with just 33's and sliders.

1. The "fastest" car I've driven was a Mazda Miata. Nice, fun, but uncomfortable for a taller person and the wind noise from a soft top sucked at highway speeds. I need to drive a LC on the highway to make a for sure decision, as your "Decent" might be great for me. 190HP sucks at 3200lbs of car weight, plus my metal bumper, lift, and tires. It gets to 70 and hates passing. I have no desire to do anything like this to a LC, as it looks perfect as is.

2. MPG. These numbers are really about what I get in my current 4Runner. No joke. I get around 250 miles to an 18gal tank of mixed driving. 13.5 city, and 17ish highway. Best I've seen is 19 but that was going across flat Texas with no one around. I owned a 1993 4Runner with the god-awful 3vze (think 150hp at same weight). Best highway I got going across the US was maybe 14 (not kidding, this is after a rebuild, with everything else stock). Looks like I could go two weeks without filling up if I keep driving the way I do. Works for me.

I thought about finding one with a rear locker, but honestly, I'd rather have the "smoother" 5-speed and potentially add the locker later if I get that "offroad" itch. I did fine on plenty of trails without a locker. Makes a huge difference, but I'm not sure I want to base my search around a locker. Thank you so much for your input, I appreciate it.

yes, the upgrade is worth it. 4 runners are for teenagers

Why do you think I own one?

The 3rd gen was a mistake. The 2nd gen mentioned previously was my dads from 1995-2010, then I got it, fixed it, drove it until the block cracked. I was hoping the 3rd gen would satisfy my "luxury" itch while providing a good platform for offroading. I should have looked for more luxury instead of offroading. Going into my 20s, I'd like to have something reliable, comfortable, and just nice.

 

[TidalVA]

The 3rd gen was a mistake.

From my perspective, the mistake was the lift w 33s on that little truck. Owned 2 ‘99s, one locked, and they took me across country, survived a head on collision and wheeled some serious rural hunt club winters. Reliable, smooth and nimble.

But the ‘01 LC is ina league of its own. Having owned a Suburban and loved the tank-like stature behind the wheel, the LC puts me back there but with a ridiculously smooth ride, incredible visibility and a turning radius unlike any other big SUV. I hauled 8 adults in the mountains for a day trip and it was extremely enjoyable and pulled its weight without issue. I dont have heavy bumpers or even sliders, but I did upgrade the suspension to a Tough Dog setup with 33” ATs. I used to do basic maintenance on my 4Runners and had fun learning the Toyota ....I’m right back in it with the LC. I find the 100 shares quite a bit if the same looks as the 3rd Gen 4Runner, which you said you didn’t like...I happen to think they are pretty sharp looking. My father and Brother-in-law owned Land Rovers, which they both regret, but to each their own. The 100 Series is a pretty fantastic SUV.

 

[128keaton]

From my perspective, the mistake was the lift w 33s on that little truck. Owned 2 ‘99s, one locked, and they took me across country, survived a head on collision and wheeled some serious rural hunt club winters. Reliable, smooth and nimble.

But the ‘01 LC is ina league of its own. Having owned a Suburban and loved the tank-like stature behind the wheel, the LC puts me back there but with a ridiculously smooth ride, incredible visibility and a turning radius unlike any other big SUV. I hauled 8 adults in the mountains for a day trip and it was extremely enjoyable and pulled its weight without issue. I dont have heavy bumpers or even sliders, but I did upgrade the suspension to a Tough Dog setup with 33” ATs. I used to do basic maintenance on my 4Runners and had fun learning the Toyota ....I’m right back in it with the LC. I find the 100 shares quite a bit if the same looks as the 3rd Gen 4Runner, which you said you didn’t like...I happen to think they are pretty sharp looking. My father and Brother-in-law owned Land Rovers, which they both regret, but to each their own. The 100 Series is a pretty fantastic SUV.

RE the lift: you aren't wrong. I just dislike the proportions of a stock 3rd gen. Looks too big for 265/70s or even 265/75s. a ~3" lift is the defacto lift that most people put on and enjoy, I just ended up not liking the 3rd gen in general, especially the rear end styling. I miss my tailgate!

I could easily go back and forth with you regarding the styling of a 3rd gen versus a LC, but the Land Cruiser's styling is great all around. The 3rd gen looks overfed imho in comparison.

My 2nd gen versus my 3rd gen:
IMG_3088 by keaton.burleson, on Flickr