Expedition vehicle: 80 vs. 100

[ShottsUZJ100]

Shotts,
There's so much poop in your response I don't know where to begin. But let's just look at engine durability, since that's the only (relatively) objective part of your post:

1. I'm not talking about your three cruisers. I'm talking about ALL of the cruisers, AS A GENERAL RULE. For instance, my engine has the original HG and burns very little oil (I won't even get into the fact that you have a LEAK for crying out loud. Remember your posts about the leak that you have? How your son's LC has a leak? Seriously, what does that have to do with whether the LC "uses" oil or not? I will stipulate that an engine with a leaky seal with "use" more oil than one without.), but I'm not going to say that "80's have no HG problems, and they don't use any oil." I also have a dent on my rear quarter panel; I'm not going to say "80's have dents on their rear quarter panels," or "80's dent very easily."
2. There are a ton of I-6's well in excess of 200k still trouble-free. I would not be surprised if the number of trouble-free 200k+ 80's on the road outnumbered trouble-free 200k+ 100's by 10 or 20 to 1. However, that doesn't mean that 100's won't be trouble-free, just that I doubt the reliability will be as high.
3. HG issue: How many people on the board actually have a HG problem? Anyway, the numbers have been crunched, and it's not an epidemic.
4. Your saying that the 100's V8 is more reliable is totally absurd, if for no other reason than it is impossible to know at this point.

My son's '93 isn't leaking oil. It's T-case fluid.
My '97 isn't leaking oil either. The rear mail is sweating.
They both burn oil. The 100 burn zero.

My "engine life longevity" comments are based on what people have posted in the 100 forum. Additionally you can find added reliability facts from mags. The 100-series is the most trouble-free Cruiser overall to date. As yes....there's many more aged 80's than 100's. DUHHHH the 80's are much older.

They're both awesome trucks. Face it. No argument. It's just nice to not worry about head gaskets, overheating, creaking sun roofs, and the other stuff they eliminated on the later series. As for starter contacts? Who cares. $200 and it's fixed, plus you have an idea it's acting up.

 

[Atticus]

My son's '93 isn't leaking oil. It's T-case fluid.
My '97 isn't leaking oil either. The rear mail is sweating.
They both burn oil. The 100 burn zero.

My "engine life longevity" comments are based on what people have posted in the 100 forum. Additionally you can find added reliability facts from mags. The 100-series is the most trouble-free Cruiser overall to date. As yes....there's many more aged 80's than 100's. DUHHHH the 80's are much older.

They're both awesome trucks. Face it. No argument. It's just nice to not worry about head gaskets, overheating, creaking sun roofs, and the other stuff they eliminated on the later series. As for starter contacts? Who cares. $200 and it's fixed, plus you have an idea it's acting up.

My mistake. I misread your posts about the leaks. I thought you had a leaky engine seal. I suck, and I apologize.

The 100 is an awesome machine, no doubt. I don't know where you got your info that the 100 is "the most trouble-free Cruiser overall to date," but you're sort of making my point about the overall durability of the two engines: we don't know yet, because the 100-series is too new. What people post in the 100-forum, IMO, don't really reflect the vast majority of owners. How many people regularly post there? I think that being on IH8MUD gives one (me included) a skewed perspective of the merits and problems of our trucks.

As for overheating, we'll see if there's a problem when more 100's get up there in age.

I guess I got lucky when I bought the one 80 that didn't overheat, leak, or have a creaky sunroof.

I also think the starter contacts are a non-issue.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I suck, and I apologize.

As for overheating, we'll see if there's a problem when more 100's get up there in age.

I guess I got lucky when I bought the one 80 that didn't overheat, leak, or have a creaky sunroof.

1. No you don't. I do.

2. I don't think we'll see overheating on 100's unless something fails. My '93 runs fine. The '97 sucks. With so many folks modifying their 95-97s I guess I'll need to do that to my '97 too.

 

[Atticus]

1. No you don't. I do.

2. I don't think we'll see overheating on 100's unless something fails. My '93 runs fine. The '97 sucks. With so many folks modifying their 95-97s I guess I'll need to do that to my '97 too.

As for sentence two, that's the whole issue: when does something fail?

 

[NeverFinis]

My 1996 LX450 supposed to burn oil? It hasn't yet at 145K miles and I do 5K Mobil 1 oil changes...I never need to add oil between oil changes.

Just remember, the 80 has multiple engines...

 

[-Spike-]

Neither of mine burn any noticeable oil, one at 90 and the other at 190K...

-Spike

 

[Romer]

My 97 doesn't burn oil or have any leaks.

Don't know about the sunroof issue your taling about

I never had a loose wheel bearing like you did on your 100 either

 

[Mikey]

Ford trucks 150-550 have coil springs to. T-bars are a bandaid and a short cut for fitting cv's, steering components, and some type of spring for suspension all in one IFS package. Everyone has used them and they have all gone away from them. Saying that a 100 is a nice highway/DD/dirt road veh.

And just one shot at shotts you forgot to mention that your 100 is worth $75,000.

 

[IDAHOTEMUD]

Hi,

Thought I'd chime in with some real world comparisons. I own a '91 w/350, '94 w/ 160k miles, and we just picked up a '00 FZJ100 for the wife. Picked up the 100 with 73k miles for $19.4k.

Two days after buying it we did 1,900 mile round trip from Boise to Denver and back for Thanksgiving. The 100 is plush and rides comparitively very quietly and smoothly; VERY ENJOYABLE AND COMFORTABLE on a long road trip. The 4.7L V8 is not incredibly torquey down low but REALLY scoots on a downshift at highway speeds. We towed an approx. 800lb load (military trailer & luggage) the entire distance. In OD the V8 power is noticeably better than 4.5L but not as much as you may think. The V8 was fairly quick to downshift on upgrades (remember my load), but when it did the power was impressive. It felt like I could accelerate up any grade in 3rd gear. And I think we pretty much did; and that was taking I-70 back (we took I-80 on the way to Denver).

Mechanically, it appears the 100 series may be prone to cracked exhaust manifolds (very expensive to have fixed) and quite difficult for a do-it-yourselfer. Other draw backs, replacing a key is a huge pain and possibly expensive (going through that right now). 2" lift costs about 1k and easily clears 33's; bigger then 33's don't seem to be the norm on the 100, not sure why (my '91 is riding on 35" MTR's).

It's the perfect cruiser for the wife and in 4 or 5 years when it has 160k then I'll take it over and do a build-up. So no plans to off-road it in the near future; it's just too damn pretty and the paint is so nice. Plus the wife wants nothing to do with that aggraviting rear tire you have to swing away when getting in the back.

2000 was the first year a rear locker was not available, instead a computerized traction control system is stock. I'm very curious how the system will preform; all indications are it works very well (100 series forum). I'm all for solid axles but if traction control can get power to the wheel(s) on the ground then IFS becomes much less of an issue.

Did I mention this thing rides NICE!

Mark
Boise, ID

 

[desmocruiser]

IFS sucks...........





If somebody GAVE me a 100 I'd sell it and buy something else........

I think this is fully supported by the fact that where expedition driving is DAILY driving, Toyota does NOT equip the 100 series with IFS. I think we really got very lucky when Toyota exported the 80 series in a near identical mechanical set-up as the rest of the world. With the 100 series we got a more refined vehicle for the road with IFS and gadgets everywhere, if I am not mistaken, Africa, Australia etc still offers the solid axle and very plain model availability.

I think the 100 series is a fine vehicle, I just prefer the 80's suspensionn set up and quite honestly the looks.

 

[Ting]

I think the 100 series is a fine vehicle, I just prefer the 80's suspensionn set up and quite honestly the looks.

X2 - Agree -
I like the look of 80 better than 100 maybe because of the flare... I actually kind of like newer LX 470 front.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

2000 was the first year a rear locker was not available, instead a computerized traction control system is stock. I'm very curious how the system will preform; all indications are it works very well (100 series forum). I'm all for solid axles but if traction control can get power to the wheel(s) on the ground then IFS becomes much less of an issue.

As you've read, the system works very well. Overall, better than a no-TRAC/rear-locker setup (98-99). 2000+ also safer.

Like an 80, you can lock a 100. You can't TRAC an 80 though. If you expo travel into snow and ice you'll be thrilled with the 2000+ 100-series. It'll do things my 80's only dream of in those slippery conditions (due to TRAC and VSC).

How lucky we are to choose from 2 such incredible Series Cruisers.

 

[aim]

Rear sliding windows? We have dogs and live in a low-crime area. A definite plus for the 80. On or off road, DD or expedition, spring, summer or fall. Besides, changing the starter contacts in the middle of nowhere should be easier on the 80.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Besides, changing the starter contacts in the middle of nowhere should be easier on the 80.

Have a thought about comments like your on both rigs. Sorry, not picking on you!

I think to point out things like the below, plays VERY little factor on comparing the two vehicles. Things like:

100 starters, manifolds, etc.
80 head gaskets, cooling, etc.

I would hope that before a person set out on a long expo trip, all of the vehicles weaknesses would be checked out and corrected just in case. This eliminates things like the above from the equation. It's because we maintain our trucks that they remain so reliable on such trips.

One example is my current situation. I just completely rebuilt my '97. It's ready for any trip I throw at it. Right now, my 100 is not. At 110K it needs several key items fixed and/or replaced before I'd hit the Arctic. When it's completed then it too is ready for the task.

I think the real issues are more along the lines of how each rig can be outfitted and how each rig will exceed the other. Combine that with the type of terrain involved and you'll get your preference revealed. There's no one winner. Depends on the purpose. I do believe that if hard-core terrain is involved, the nod must go to the 80-series.

 

[KliersLC]

excuse my ignorance,
but does a 100 have any way of ventilating the third row?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

excuse my ignorance,
but does a 100 have any way of ventilating the third row?

Yes...the rear windows are electric and controlled from the front dash. So it's a great plus for the DRIVER, BUT....the 3rd row folks might prefer manual control and the fact the 80 windows open more.

 

[Beowulf]

excuse my ignorance,
but does a 100 have any way of ventilating the third row?

IIRC, rear air was an option on the 100-Series starting in 1999.

-B-

 

[KliersLC]

Rear sliding windows? We have dogs and live in a low-crime area. A definite plus for the 80. On or off road, DD or expedition, spring, summer or fall. Besides, changing the starter contacts in the middle of nowhere should be easier on the 80.

I was referencing this post, which in my convoluted world read "100 series rigs have no sliding windows....."

 

[Beowulf]

I was referencing this post, which in my convoluted world read "100 series rigs have no sliding windows....."

They don't have "sliding windows." The rear widows in the 100-Series pop out like a mini-van. They are electric though.

-B-

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Yes. And it's great to have driver control when the kids pass gxx.