Drove a 100 series today...

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jet200

jet200

10 Year
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Threads
18
Messages
113
Location
NYC/CT
When I first got bit by the Land Cruiser bug, I was hot for a 60 series. I've always loved the rugged, classic look of those trucks. Ultimately, I realized that an 80 was the truck for me and couldn't be happier with mine, until I drove a 100...

Today, I drove a 2001 LX470 that a friend of a friend is selling. 97,000 miles, dealer maintained. I wanted to share my thoughts because when I was on the hunt for an 80, I also considered a 100, but never had a chance to drive one until now.

Compared to the 80, everything is smoother on the 100. Much more get up and go, very nice smooth acceleration. Better brakes. Quiet. Roomier (I'm 6' tall and could immediately feel the difference). The ride felt a bit generic and the steering was light. Looks-wise, the 100 is uninspired compared to the 80. But the 100 has a refinement that is absent from the 80.

Overall, I LOVE my 80 and am not sure I’d ever feel the same connection to a 100. If i hadn’t just sank a small fortune into my truck in PM (birf rebuild, brakes). accessories (ARB bumper, lights), maybe I’d seriously consider this 100. I was impressed on how refined and strangely familiar it felt, but for now, I'm holding on to my 80 and can't shake the addiction.
 
jet200 said:
When I first got bit by the Land Cruiser bug, I was hot for a 60 series. I've always loved the rugged, classic look of those trucks. Ultimately, I realized that an 80 was the truck for me and couldn't be happier with mine, until I drove a 100...

Today, I drove a 2001 LX470 that a friend of a friend is selling. 97,000 miles, dealer maintained. I wanted to share my thoughts because when I was on the hunt for an 80, I also considered a 100, but never had a chance to drive one until now.

Compared to the 80, everything is smoother on the 100. Much more get up and go, very nice smooth acceleration. Better brakes. Quiet. Roomier (I'm 6' tall and could immediately feel the difference). The ride felt a bit generic and the steering was light. Looks-wise, the 100 is uninspired compared to the 80. But the 100 has a refinement that is absent from the 80.

Overall, I LOVE my 80 and am not sure I’d ever feel the same connection to a 100. If i hadn’t just sank a small fortune into my truck in PM (birf rebuild, brakes). accessories (ARB bumper, lights), maybe I’d seriously consider this 100. I was impressed on how refined and strangely familiar it felt, but for now, I'm holding on to my 80 and can't shake the addiction.
Click to expand...

HA! I'm in the same boat.

The 100 is very nicely refined and also parts seem to be quite readily available. There's no comparison for ride quality, I'm sorry there just isn't.

The NA version is pretty uninspired. The overseas models really come across as true Land Cruisers though. I was on the hunt for years and finally found one for myself and it really proved to me that they are true to their heritage.

It's an FZJ100 in Saudi Arabia and I'm trying to get it on a boat to Vancouver so I'll have both!
 
I test drove a 2003 100 series, 2004 LX470 and 2007 GX470 before test driving or buying the 1994 80 series. The LX470 was very nice but it felt "too nice" to take offroad and have a muddy dog in the back. I liked the 100 series and could see myself getting one someday but the allure of the 80 was stronger in the end. The GX470 was also very nice and my wife really liked it (plus it actually had some power), but she decided that the 50 mile round trip highway commute at 70+ mph would be a lot more fun in a E46 BMW wagon (325xi).

In the end we both ended up happy and the 80 has been a great all around vehicle. The 80 doesn't have to be used as a commuter (but could if needed) and instead gets to spend its time on forest roads, ski trips and road trips. I'm ok with the 80 being slower than the 100 and have changed my mindset to be content cruising the highway at 55-65mph. It'll cruise at 75 if i ask it to but has to work much harder to do so (especially at elevation).

Plus it doesn't' hurt to get compliments on a clean 80 pretty much everywhere we go!
 
Years ago when I lived in Colorado, I started with an 80, then got a new 100 for a company car, and sold the 80. Had to give back the 100 when I resigned and bought a (gasp) Range Rover. I punted the RR and went back to an 80.

The 100 was nice at altitude and much more refined and really loved it, but I was not in love with it.

Both great LandCruisers. In the end, I went back to an 80 because...it's an 80 (and supercharger).
 
A jeep is much better.
 
I have to admit that I'm keeping my eye on the neighbor's creampuff 100 series for whenever he decides to sell it...
 
My family has had 80's, a 02' 100, and an 07' 200.

The 100 was the least memerable cruiser we've ever had. Not to say its not good nor that I wouldn't buy one if the price was right... It was just unassuming. I've heard the 05-06 models with the i-force 4.7 are totally different animals however.

I don't like the 100's torsion bar spring set up for the front ifs.... Like even a little bit.. Springs should be coils IMO.

That's why I am in the process of purchasing my mom's 200 rather than a 100.
 
So what I'm gathering from this thread is that the 80 series forum will soon be flocking to purchase all of the 100 series within eyesight? :bounce2:
 
jet200 said:
When I first got bit by the Land Cruiser bug, I was hot for a 60 series. I've always loved the rugged, classic look of those trucks. Ultimately, I realized that an 80 was the truck for me and couldn't be happier with mine, until I drove a 100...

Today, I drove a 2001 LX470 that a friend of a friend is selling. 97,000 miles, dealer maintained. I wanted to share my thoughts because when I was on the hunt for an 80, I also considered a 100, but never had a chance to drive one until now.

Compared to the 80, everything is smoother on the 100. Much more get up and go, very nice smooth acceleration. Better brakes. Quiet. Roomier (I'm 6' tall and could immediately feel the difference). The ride felt a bit generic and the steering was light. Looks-wise, the 100 is uninspired compared to the 80. But the 100 has a refinement that is absent from the 80.

Overall, I LOVE my 80 and am not sure I’d ever feel the same connection to a 100. If i hadn’t just sank a small fortune into my truck in PM (birf rebuild, brakes). accessories (ARB bumper, lights), maybe I’d seriously consider this 100. I was impressed on how refined and strangely familiar it felt, but for now, I'm holding on to my 80 and can't shake the addiction.
Click to expand...

Don't drive an 03 or newer model, the 5speed auto is a pretty big improvement over the early 100 4speed.
 
My Avalon makes my 80 feel like a Clunker Junker.
I can't imagine what a LS460 feels like, and I sure don't want :princess: to find out either.
 
4G63 POWER said:
These improvements you felt are normal. This is what car manufacturers do, they improve newer models.
Click to expand...

Even so, I feel the ride on my 80 surpasses almost every vehicle I ride in. Better than my buddy's brand-new BMW X4 and so on. Sure, it lacks the refinements, but makes up for it in the cool factor. :worms:
 
If I were to go for a newer, less truckish SUV, i would prefer a 4th gen 4runner or GX470 over the 100 series. Too big and bloated, and the GX/4Runner platform is equally "refined" IMO.
 
Look under a 100 series compared to a 4runner, not even remotely close in the sizing/robust build, 100s are built like tanks for a 'refined' vehicle. I had a 100, so I am biased, but the 100 is really a great truck that can go anywhere 99% of us are taking built 80's, etc. All of that said, I have an 80 now and love it.
 
I have both an 80 and a 100. The 80 is a classic and a keeper, but the 4.7 UZJ in the 100 series is much better suited for a heavy vehicle than the 6 cyl 1FZ. I finally broke down and begged Christo to please install a 4.7 in the 80. Wow! For the price of a used Honda Civic, I payed for this swap and ended up with a fantastic land cruiser. Oh, the supercharged 100 series is fun too, but that 80 is just so iconic.
 
The 06 and 07 100 series have the VVTI 4.7 and are the ones to buy if you can find one. I had an immaculate 05 that was totaled right after thanksgiving with my wife and kids in it. They were unscathed thanks to the robust construction of the land cruiser. I liked it a lot but didn't really like the torsion bar setup in the front but is certainly not a deal breaker. After a few more months searching for a replacement, I gave up and bought a 2015 200 series and it's really impressive. They went back to the coil over front suspension and love the truck. I still daily drive my built 80 and love it as well but I don't think I would go back to a 100 knowing what I know about the 200 now.

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