First Land Cruiser After Four 4Runners — Here’s What I Think

[cruisergreen]

80s were around 40k new. That's ~90k today.

 

[Catching Neutral]

I would drive the Grand Highlander before I would drive the 4R.
Opinion but I am not a fan.

 

[Jetboy]

A 60 was pretty close to the same price as a 2 door K5 Blazer or the full size bronco is my memory. Might be bad memory. Google tells me an 85 FJ60 was $15k and a Bronco was $13k. About 15% more for the LC60. But they were pretty basic vehicles too. Manual transmission, cloth benches, hand crank windows. Remember that Toyota automatics had below average reputation at that point too. I think that generation turned out to be okay, but the reputation wasn't good because of the earlier stuff - cars like the Cressida didn't do any favors. And the FJ80 really was a dog - even compared to the other vehicles of the era. 14 second 0-60 and 11mpg wasn't a recipe for a good time on the highway. It wasn't until the FZJ came out with a bit more power and locking diffs that I ever really thought of the wagon as something I might want.

 

[Hiluxforever]

To be fair, most cars were slow AF back then.

 

[Jetboy]

Very true. But even a Suburban was around 10 seconds 0-60 and a Blazer was around 8.5. IIRC my old '71 Suburban was still significantly faster just by memory of the 350/TH350 combo in around a 4k lb vehicle of that era. Looking back at that era is so interesting now. The Suburban had 9 different gas engine options. Including some really oddball stuff like a big block v6. Almost 5 liters displacement at the same time they also had a 4.8L inline 6 and a 5.0L v8. Why did that make sense?

I did have an F250 way back with the 6.9 IDI diesel. For the unfamiliar - that's a NON-turbo diesel and my god was it slow. Cranked out a bone crushing 170hp. Probably right on par with an JF80 in a drag race. Haha. And it was so loud that you had to turn it off at a drive through to order. And then cross your fingers that it would start again. Not sure much has changed in 40 years about that second part.

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[joseywales]

That’s fair. I too found the 4Runner and Tacoma to be unsightly at first both inside and out. But like many other times before I’ve warmed up to the styling. Now I think the 6th Gen just looks like a modern take on the classic 4Runner. Oddly enough while the 550 is an improvement in regards to Lexus styling I’ve grown cold on the front and rear end.

250 with round headlights is the quintessential retro/modern look which I think will age well.

We had a Quick Look at a ‘25 4R today at a local dealer. Back seat is smaller than the 250s, and the rear cargo area on the 4R (ORP Hybrid) was ridiculous. I thought the 250 was low in the back with the battery, but the 4R is about 4-5” lower. My dogs couldn’t even stand up back there. I did Iike the styling a bit better seeing it standing still, but I’m still 100% happy to have bought the 1958.

A totally agree on the round lights. I owned 2 BJ60s way back when, so the 1958 is my favourite. The LC trim and its sq hare lights are nice too, and if I were to have owned 62s instead of 60s, I could see where the appeal is.

All this said, if I win the lotto tonight, I’m not buying another new vehicle. I’m going to get a FJ60 or 62 and have it restored to like new, with a modern-ish running gear in it like the one below. Good drivability, but without the “Safe exit mode off, be careful exiting vehicle” bull**** messages