I want my 80 to last forever, but...

[abruzzi]

This is probably sacrilege around here, but if I had to replace my 80 in 10 years, I'd probably be looking at a Land Rover LR3 or LR4. LR seems to have gotten past their reliability issues of the early 2000s. They are far more high tech dependent than the 80 series, but so is almost everything else these days. They are still very capable for the sort of off roading I do. They have a genuine off road aftermarket, so there are a large amount of options that you can build on to them. I'd definitely take one over a JK. (I should say that I am not a rock crawler. I'm more of an expo vehicle person, so I have idea whether the discos can be turned into rock crawlers.)

Geof

 

[gravygrabber]

This is probably sacrilege around here, but if I had to replace my 80 in 10 years, I'd probably be looking at a Land Rover LR3 or LR4. LR seems to have gotten past their reliability issues of the early 2000s. They are far more high tech dependent than the 80 series, but so is almost everything else these days. They are still very capable for the sort of off roading I do. They have a genuine off road aftermarket, so there are a large amount of options that you can build on to them. I'd definitely take one over a JK. (I should say that I am not a rock crawler. I'm more of an expo vehicle person, so I have idea whether the discos can be turned into rock crawlers.)

Geof

Hope you have a lot of $$$ to keep it running.
They are an absolute nightmare to work on. The factory scan tool is horrible (symptom based diagnostics) and you will need one to even reset the maintenance light
The rear hatch cable breaks about every 5k miles, the parking brake cables every 10K and brakes for some reason are replaced completely everytime (rotors, pads, shim kit, brake pads sensors)
I'd take a Toyota over anything Land Rover makes anyday of the week.
Don't think of going into a earlier than LR4. The LR4 is suppose to be the better one. The earlier ones were plagued with head gasket failure and worse than that many of them will push up a cylinder liner when they fail and you need to replace the block as well. Complete junk IMO when compared to a Toyota.

I've worked on them and my opinion is based on that. They can go offroad and the owner's are very proud of them but the cost of ownership is rough. Almost all of them have an extended warranty to help keep them on the road you can believe that!

 

[RockJock82]

Gravygrabber is right... I did head gaskets on a friends 04 Land Rover and wanted to burn that rig after 2 hours of working on it. Engineering is counter productive. For example, if you have normal size hands and need to change the spark plug wires removal of the upper intake is required as the distributor is in the back... Air bag suspension leaks, suspension compress fails...$$$$$

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[Stylo07]

But back to my question....does ANY company compete with a rubicon in stock form??

No. When you consider its intended purpose, versatility, capability, price, resale value and aftermarket support, nothing in the US comes close -- perhaps in the world.

 

[1973Guppie]

This is probably sacrilege around here, but if I had to replace my 80 in 10 years, I'd probably be looking at a Land Rover LR3 or LR4. LR seems to have gotten past their reliability issues of the early 2000s. They are far more high tech dependent than the 80 series, but so is almost everything else these days. They are still very capable for the sort of off roading I do. They have a genuine off road aftermarket, so there are a large amount of options that you can build on to them. I'd definitely take one over a JK. (I should say that I am not a rock crawler. I'm more of an expo vehicle person, so I have idea whether the discos can be turned into rock crawlers.)

Geof

Geof, in all honesty I would really reconsider this. Land Rovers are just junk. Don't buy a car designed by the english. The newer models are no better. I have a friend with a brand new rover and it had problems continuously until he finally sold it a year later (it was brand new).

FWIW, it is common knowledge that they are not well engineered by folks that have experience working on vehicles in general. Others may disagree but I have seen many real life examples in order to form my opinion.

 

[Apounder]

Maybe moving to the new 4runners instead of the 200 series and other options? I know it's no landcruiser but my buddy has one and it has impressed me. Plus the size of them is now about the exact same as an 80.. Just sayin

 

[THEROK]

Geof, in all honesty I would really reconsider this. Land Rovers are just junk. Don't buy a car designed by the english. The newer models are no better. I have a friend with a brand new rover and it had problems continuously until he finally sold it a year later (it was brand new).



FWIW, it is common knowledge that they are not well engineered by folks that have experience working on vehicles in general. Others may disagree but I have seen many real life examples in order to form my opinion.

I've owned two range rovers. One 2011 and another 2013. Both had the supercharged 510hp engines.

They drive like sedans though in corners and braking it is tough to disguise their 3 tons. End of day they feel quite... Regal. Big badge pulling power. Great lease car. Not long term proposition.

Now that the new gens are aluminum unibodies aka lifted sedans I believe land rover has thrown in the flag to better align their product to the demands of their customer base.

Prestige. Luxury. Acceleration. Rugged appeal. And they knocked it out of the park with the 2013+. Land rover brand marketing is up there with Porsche.

And These values have much less appeal to me now. IMHO Toyota makes the best utility trucks in the world today bar none. I just wonder how much longer they can hold out.

Mpg needs to improve and body on frame is simply too heavy for mass production vehicles moving forward.

Hold onto them! Hopefully gas prices don't hit $5 per anytime soon.

 

[86tuning]

The FR-S is a rebadged Subaru and the LFA sold all 500 produced with a list price of $375,000, not what I would call something marketed for the masses.

IS-F is every bit what a 4-door supra would drive like. And a veritable bargain.

My brother has an FR-S and I've had AE86s for as long as anyone can remember. Both are awesome drivers cars. Yeah, the FRS/BRZ are twins, but its not a rebadged Subaru. One of the best driving cars for about $20k that you can buy today.

 

[englaneato]

Toyota will never ever build a vehicle with SFA in the front again for the US market. Not happening. They have moved on to other things like making a gazillion dollars every quarter.

They are, face it, not interested in folks like us anymore. They are willing to lose this market to gobble up every other market. They will let Jeep have the SUV enthusiast market.

The fact remains 99% of people on mud (including me) can't afford a new Land Cruiser. It's made to be that way folks. Toyota is not interested in supporting anymore people driving 20-40 yr old vehicles.

Just be happy we can get the parts we can currently.

I can't wait to revisit this topic in 10 years when 80 series parts really start drying up and gasoline hits $4-5 a gallon and none of us will be able to continue driving them anyway.

Enjoy this while it lasts. Because things are going to change rapidly in the next 10-15 yrs regarding automobile development, manufacture and sales.

10 years to 4 dollars a gallon? Are u kidding that was last year

 

[superstan26]

10 years to 4 dollars a gallon? Are u kidding that was last year

Although I really hate to admit it Beno makes a lot of sense. Not because I have anything against beno, I appreciate all that he contributes to this forum. But because I understand what he's saying, and although the reality hit me pretty hard, I must admit that we stand a really good chance of losing not only this forum, and our 80s as we know them, but possibly recreational off roading in general!

I'm sure there will still be those with deep pockets that will continue to do the things that we all currently enjoy but the rest of us may have to beg for a back seat opportunity (thankfully there's room for 6 passengers).

I guess I'll quit looking at the possibilities of a diesel swap now and start considering a hydrogen swap!

@ englaneato the national average in the U.S. was about $3.24 p/g last year but I doubt $4-5 is anywhere close to a decade away. Wouldn't surprise me if it happens before we change presidency.

 

[englaneato]

Although I really hate to admit it Beno makes a lot of sense. Not because I have anything against beno, I appreciate all that he contributes to this forum. But because I understand what he's saying, and although the reality hit me pretty hard, I must admit that we stand a really good chance of losing not only this forum, and our 80s as we know them, but possibly recreational off roading in general!

I'm sure there will still be those with deep pockets that will continue to do the things that we all currently enjoy but the rest of us may have to beg for a back seat opportunity (thankfully there's room for 6 passengers).

I guess I'll quit looking at the possibilities of a diesel swap now and start considering a hydrogen swap!

@ englaneato the national average in the U.S. was about $3.24 p/g last year but I doubt $4-5 is anywhere close to a decade away. Wouldn't surprise me if it happens before we change presidency.

Just saying 5 dollars a gallon is very close. Here on the west coast we were pushing 4 all 2012. Refinery Fires and planned maintance caused pretty high prices. Also 2007 we were around 4.50 the market turned and demand fell. Might as well put on that LNG conversion for 2.59 a gallon supplemental for the future. I don't daily drive mine but its a great people mover

 

[superstan26]

Just saying 5 dollars a gallon is very close. Here on the west coast we were pushing 4 all 2012. Refinery Fires and planned maintance caused pretty high prices. Also 2007 we were around 4.50 the market turned and demand fell. Might as well put on that LNG conversion for 2.59 a gallon supplemental for the future. I don't daily drive mine but its a great people mover

I have a cng kit on mine already. It's a good fall back, but not always practical since pumps are few and far between in this area of the Midwest.

 

[86tuning]

Just saying 5 dollars a gallon is very close. Here on the west coast we were pushing 4 all 2012. Refinery Fires and planned maintance caused pretty high prices. Also 2007 we were around 4.50 the market turned and demand fell. Might as well put on that LNG conversion for 2.59 a gallon supplemental for the future. I don't daily drive mine but its a great people mover

Our gas has been at $5.25/gal for most of the year. It's been over $5.50/gal for most of the summer

 

[Riley]

Our gas has been at $5.25/gal for most of the year. It's been over $5.50/gal for most of the summer

True and I was just going to point that out but you beat me to it.
The fuel cost and the limited lifetime of the 80 series are reasons that my truck sits nicely in the garage unless called upon for duty (no daily driving).

I use it like a recreational vehicle and other similar duties that the other cars can't perform. I hope to get 10 years out of it and love it dearly. Everyone in the family knows to get take any other car (G37, IS250, camry) before touching the 80.

 

[scottryana]

Just bought a new car to stop driving the 80 everyday. Love the 80 and love driving it, but with age the 80's are stepping away from the "just gas and go" vehicles they once were, and maintaining them if you drive a lot will be a time suck.

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[SoCal FZJ80]

Rebuilding a worn out LC80 or buy a newer cruiser?

I will second with all the responses I read of rebuilding what you have, as I have done it for myself and am very happy with the results. Getting a low mile JDM engine is the easiest way to bring the mileage down once the original engine goes out. Rebuilding allows you to set up for your preferences.
If I was to buy a newer cruiser I would jump to a 200 and add an Arctic fender kit. You get the modern comfort/technology while having the wide fender style of the 80. You will forego the solid axle for the IFS, but at least you can set yourself up with a great set of coil overs for the front of the 200. Some companies make both upper and lower front control arms if you feel the need to beef it up beyond that.

Also, if concerns of LC80 efficiency come up- you can always use the eventual failure of the stock engine as motivation/justification for a diesel swap

 

[thespecialone]

Maybe moving to the new 4runners instead of the 200 series and other options? I know it's no landcruiser but my buddy has one and it has impressed me. Plus the size of them is now about the exact same as an 80.. Just sayin

Unless it's a refreshed '14, the interiors are cheap...plus that 4.0L is so unrefined...its noisy and doesn't have the sack to haul that thing around the way it should.

 

[musthave]

I'd love a 200 series for the wife as a daily driver. Then by the time my 80 dies, I can build the 200 for having fun.

 

[phsycle]

I love the 80. It has the classic looks, but features 90s tech.....

I have zero issues with "90's tech" and sometimes long for it.

 

[Marcus1983]

Here are my jumbled thoughts/rant:

"Every nation gets the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre

I think the same goes for cars. And, the two are closely related. I meet very few people who know or care about the Chicken Tax. It isn't worth losing a lot of sleep over why we don't have a 70 series in the US. We don't deserve them. We deserve Dora the Explorer Special Edition FJ Cruisers.

Many people I know want the function of a Camry or Sienna while looking like they are driving an SUV: answer . . . A Highlander. Pretty simple math and seems to be working pretty well for Toyota.

I think there is an upper limit to the wheeling most people want to do in a vehicle they are making payments on. I think a stock JK Rubicon will take you well past that point. I

wish cars were like desktop computers with some industry standardized chassis dimensions, parts compatibility, etc. Car companies and the government want cars to be more like iPads that are miniaturized, complex, glued together clustercusses that are considered disposable (and can also spy on you).

I am pretty sure my next daily driver will be a Tundra. On paper, it will serve many of the same functions a 200 series would for half the price. And I can haul all my junk around while I rebuild my 80. I bet it will cruise down dirt roads in much more comfort than my 80 . . .

Edit: if I were younger/cooler/single/kidless I would get tacoma with a stick shift.