FZJ80 Vs LX450

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As a note, both rear sliding windows on my LX open.

both of the windows on mine open also but only 3 of the 4 halves slide the fourth is fixed,

do you have the antenna on the left aft window?
 
unless it was replaced at some time with a LC slider, the drivers side rear most slider doesn't open.
 
Pics please.

-B-

I apologize, I misunderstood the depth of the statement that the driver side rear window on the LX does not slide. I didn't know that both of them slid on either side, and you are correct, only one of the rear windows on my DS slides.
 
Just call your insurance company.. here's one of the LX450's that Brodis mentioned.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2485501440&category=13473 just give them that VIN, they'll be able to say how much insurance is. Then give them the VIN of an FZJ80 of the same year, and see if there's a difference.

Curious what you find out, my brother's looking at making the same decision you are, and this is a factor to consider for sure.

In case anyone is wondering what the difference in insurance cost is (I have USAA)...the LX-450 is $7 more than the Cruiser (that's $7 difference on a six month premium...not per month). I just checked on that this morning.

I just got into the market looking for a cruiser/LX. I think I'll likely pick up whichever I can find that has low miles and is cheaper (it's looking like 450's are $1,500+ less than an equivalent Cruiser).
 
pretty much, the lx has softer springs

The LX has softer shocks.
-B-

Correction for Beo and wob: I believe it was cruiserdan who stated that the shocks are softer on the LX, but the springs are the same on the LX and LC.



ok, damn... 65% of the posts here are tech posts... wow... Note to self: sharp stick to eye...


Hey the suspension on a Mudders Lx is killing me, and might kill him!

The thing is WAY too loose at the rear, the front is fine, and it girates all over the place...

Hold the wheel straight and you can feel the (pardon mua) ass-end all over the place.

"Different suspension" aint gonna get it... is it the shocks? The springs? Or both?

I need to know b/c I AM gonna put some bushings in it... I just as soon put spring too...

The thing is dangerous to me... But too be honest, the original owner prolly cant tell.

He "saws" :steer: the wheel when he drives... So he might not feel it, or he might think it's him and not the suspension.

THIS THING'S RIDE SUCKS!

oh, PS... 11/96 Lx450... rides like sh** and has 180k on it... rear end is loose at low AND high speeds.
 
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ok, damn... 65% of the posts here are tech posts... wow... Note to self: sharp stick to eye...


Hey the suspension on a Mudders Lx is killing me, and might kill him!

The thing is WAY too loose at the rear, the front is fine, and it girates all over the place...

Hold the wheel straight and you can feel the (pardon mua) ass-end all over the place.

"Different suspension" aint gonna get it... is it the shocks? The springs? Or both?

I need to know b/c I AM gonna put some bushings in it... I just as soon put spring too...

The thing is dangerous to me... But too be honest, the original owner prolly cant tell.

He "saws" :steer: the wheel when he drives... So he might not feel it, or he might think it's him and not the suspension.

THIS THING'S RIDE SUCKS!

oh, PS... 11/96 Lx450... rides like sh** and has 180k on it... rear end is loose at low AND high speeds.

just had to
 
Have the mudder that is having problems post up, so we can understand the question. Also have him tell us about his rig, like whether it has a lift or heavy accessories, etc...
 
...
The LX uses different FSM and EWD manuals and may have different colored wires so it's a good idea to use the appropriate manuals if you are a DIY guy.
...

For sure some of the wires in the wiring harness use different color codes. The wiring for the audio systems is definitely different too.
 
ok, damn... 65% of the posts here are tech posts... wow... Note to self: sharp stick to eye...


Hey the suspension on a Mudders Lx is killing me, and might kill him!

The thing is WAY too loose at the rear, the front is fine, and it girates all over the place...

Hold the wheel straight and you can feel the (pardon mua) ass-end all over the place.

"Different suspension" aint gonna get it... is it the shocks? The springs? Or both?

I need to know b/c I AM gonna put some bushings in it... I just as soon put spring too...

The thing is dangerous to me... But too be honest, the original owner prolly cant tell.

He "saws" :steer: the wheel when he drives... So he might not feel it, or he might think it's him and not the suspension.

THIS THING'S RIDE SUCKS!

oh, PS... 11/96 Lx450... rides like sh** and has 180k on it... rear end is loose at low AND high speeds.


My LX did that when I first got it, you could feel the ass end sway side to side like a dog wagging its tail. new Bilstein shocks made it stable as a rock.

The coils on FZJ-80's varried over the years, there are bunch of different coils, they can be identified by a 3 dot color paint code, the LX has the exact smae same springs as similar year LC, the shocks are different and at least after 100K miles are junk.
 
Thanks Raven...

Gonna start with the shocks 1st...
 
I was looking at an LX before I got my 93. It had more miles and was more $. If you can find a well maintained LX at a good price, why not? Most mechanics who know 95-97 FZJ will be able to work on an LX. OEM parts will be more expensive both new and used for the LX though.
 
ok, damn... 65% of the posts here are tech posts... wow... Note to self: sharp stick to eye...


Hey the suspension on a Mudders Lx is killing me, and might kill him!

The thing is WAY too loose at the rear, the front is fine, and it girates all over the place...

Hold the wheel straight and you can feel the (pardon mua) ass-end all over the place.

"Different suspension" aint gonna get it... is it the shocks? The springs? Or both?

I need to know b/c I AM gonna put some bushings in it... I just as soon put spring too...

The thing is dangerous to me... But too be honest, the original owner prolly cant tell.

He "saws" :steer: the wheel when he drives... So he might not feel it, or he might think it's him and not the suspension.

THIS THING'S RIDE SUCKS!

oh, PS... 11/96 Lx450... rides like sh** and has 180k on it... rear end is loose at low AND high speeds.

mine did that till i replaced the old LTX tires...
 
I always ask for Landcruiser parts (engine and mechanical, ones that I know will fit) for my 96 and 97 Lexus. Typically they are always 10-20% less. Who knows.
 
Slightly wider rear end due to the side cladding.

Just had a new rear bumper fabricated for my LX450 by a local guy that had made a similar bumper for an LC. The wings to protect the rear bumpers had to be adjusted out to accommodate the slightly wider rear than the LC because of the side cladding.

Worth knowing if you are thinking about a rear bumper.:meh:

Cook.
 
how far up are those rear wings? I had no issues with my slee rear bumper with cladding interference.

one more difference is the rear marker light is slightly "taller" or sticks out a slight bit more to accommodate the cladding...but LC marker lights are still interchangeable with LX marker lights...just fyi...
 
This is my first Lexus and the other 80's were LC's.

My personal preference would be locked in:
1. 1997 40th Anny
2. 1997 Collectors edition
3. 1997 LX450
4. 1995 FZJ80 without airbags

The springs are softer and I find my rig all over the road on the freeway. Currently budgeting to get rid of those. The LX450 Side trim is one piece with the Fender flares which annoys me. The 6 disc cd changer is soooo 90's. With iPod's you don't need any of that fluff. The speakers still all work great in the pink panties, however I'd much rather have more room in the Center console. For some reason my interior trim is all black, no fake wood trim, I prefer black.

All minor differences. Having a Locked 80 is really the selling point for me though.
 
The insurance on my 92 80 was 43 dollars/month. Told my agent I was getting a 96 80 and she pulled the vin off a local one for sale to give me a general quote and the 96 80 came to 46 dollars/month.
Went to the insurance office yesterday on my way to the DMV/SOS and she put in the info to the lx450 and the insurance came to 66 dollars/month. Wtf. I told her they're both essentially the same and even tool her out to show her and she said "it looks like your old one but it's not lifted and stuff". She couldn't figure out why the lx cost more. Pretty weird though.
 
No Diff Lock or No Diff Lock Switch?

Addition 25-Sept-2005
All LX's have the rear diff-lock wiring harness from the cowl to the rear quarter. This harness is present even on those vehicles without the diff lock option. On the LC, only those vehicles with the diff lock option have the proper wiring harness.
-B-

I just purchased an LX that does not have a DLS on the dash. I've seen on YouTube how easy it is to install this switch. When you say "diff lock option" are you speaking of the switch or the actual diff lock? Is it not true that my LX locks the diff when in Lo? I want to install the switch but obviously the diff lock needs to be there before the switch will do me any good. Please clarify what you are saying.

Regards,

wabwab
 
Diff lock option refers to the optional front and rear locking diffs. All 80 serious have a center diff lock, that locks in "lo", the switch just gives you more manual control of it.

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