LX470 vs. FJ100 Reliability long term

[SR.GRINGO]

LX470 vs. UZJ100 Reliability long term

What are your guys thoughts about long term reliability on the Lexus vs. the Toyota? I was thinking in particular of the gauges, Hydraulics, climate control, head lights, etc. I'm looking at the 2000 model year. The nearest Lexus dealer is about 850 miles North of me but there is a Toyota dealer about 150 miles away......

I was thinking the Land Cruiser is simpler but value your thoughts. I really like the Lexus for the Xenon, suspension, better leather, telescoping steering......did I mention the adjustable suspension?

 

[hoser]

People have had problems with the LX470 suspension but that wouldn't stop me from getting one. The vehicles share most of the same mechanical parts. Your Toyota dealer should be able to fix any mechanical problemes. Perhaps you should call them and ask if they'll service/repair an LX470.

 

[ace10]

there are no xenons on the lexus.

the steering column motors are a known weak point.

 

[ryanjl]

As far as steering column motors, you can get your dealer to disable the automatic extension/retraction of the column whenever you open the door. Should save their life considerably.

 

[ace10]

re: disable motors

that's a good option when the warrantee runs out. the dealer told me to "make sure" that it "broke" one more time, right before 60K miles. i don't recall seeing the tally on the bill but it was a two attempt repair plus another b/c the dufus pinched the wires for the horn.

our '02 has been mechanically reliable (filter and fluids through 35K), it's just been the BS luxury stuff that sucks... the aforementioned steering column motors, the cd changer, the subwoofer (talk about an expensive item) and some minor trim items.

 

[bad_religion_au]

our '02 has been mechanically reliable (filter and fluids through 35K),

americans don't expect much from their cars... in australia we bitch if our 15 year old beater isn't mechanically reliable, let alone a car that's all of what, 2-3 years old

 

[ace10]

i was comparing and contrasting the mechanical reliability with the less-than-expected luxury item reliability we've experienced on our 100. not braging. since it's only gone 35K miles, i am only able to state that it has been mechanically reliable thus far. give it a few more years, and i'll be sure to report back with a bucnh more miles.

you're making a generalization about americans that simply isn't true in all cases. i would bitch to high heaven im my '94 fzj's engine crapped the bed or the tranny puked. our society is just simply infatuated with cars (new cars) preferably with every gizmo possible. the 80 is a brutish truck with lots o' luxury stuff that i'm sure will fail before the mechanicals. ie window motors, stereo head unit and speakers leather seats etc. it's expected on an 11 year old vehicle... i didn't expect that on our 2 yr old 100.

to be honest, our 100 scares the crap out of me when i think about owning it post-warrantee. that is one complex rig with an alpabet soup of gadgetry. we'll probably get the extended warrantee from lexus, should we decide to keep it past 60K.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

What's an FJ100? Never heard of that model?

 

[SR.GRINGO]

I picked up a consumer reports used car guide and on the Lexus LX470 they rate the power equipment with a big black dot(this is usually reserved for Chevy's)--they recomend the Cruiser but not the Lexus.....

Any thoughts why the Lexus is rated with 1 more inch of head room compared to the Land Cruiser?

 

[Jim_Chow]

i was comparing and contrasting the mechanical reliability with the less-than-expected luxury item reliability we've experienced on our 100. not braging. since it's only gone 35K miles, i am only able to state that it has been mechanically reliable thus far. give it a few more years, and i'll be sure to report back with a bucnh more miles.

you're making a generalization about americans that simply isn't true in all cases. i would bitch to high heaven im my '94 fzj's engine crapped the bed or the tranny puked. our society is just simply infatuated with cars (new cars) preferably with every gizmo possible. the 80 is a brutish truck with lots o' luxury stuff that i'm sure will fail before the mechanicals. ie window motors, stereo head unit and speakers leather seats etc. it's expected on an 11 year old vehicle... i didn't expect that on our 2 yr old 100.

to be honest, our 100 scares the crap out of me when i think about owning it post-warrantee. that is one complex rig with an alpabet soup of gadgetry. we'll probably get the extended warrantee from lexus, should we decide to keep it past 60K.

I'd tend to agree that Americans who buy Ford/GM/Chrysler SUV's don't expect to keep the car more than 5 yrs. A buddy of mine only bought US cars/SUV's...he'd keep them for 60K miles and sell them, knowing they'd be in the shop all the time the older they got. I finally convinced him to buy a new 100 last year and he's been extremely impressed.

As far as the electronic gadgetry goes, yeah, it's scary. I think this is one reason why you still see a lot of 80's Toyota 22r/22re minis on the road...manual everything (windows/tranny, etc), virtually devoid of electronics, headlamps are cheapo rectangular H4's one can find at practically any dept. store. The only thing that compares these days are the 70's sold overseas and the 105 tropical spec vehicles w/ manual tranny, live front axles, diesel engine, manual windows, part-time 4WD (wonder if Toyota thinks part-time 4WD is more reliable than full-time?). No wonder dealer service is a huge and growing industry. The LX470 would be too scary to service when old. One buddy of mine looked up the price of a 100 series brake master cylinder...over $1K! How can this be, when the 80 series one I bought (an Aisin) is only around $130 at MAF and $160 at the dealer (internet price) a few years ago?

--Jim

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

MASTER CYLINDER, Land Cruiser, w/Vehicle Skid Control 01-02 $1,812.12 $1,304.73
Includes: Accumulator & Pump.

YIKES! James was correct! $1304! (Though the brakes work in a 100 and they suck in an 80)

 

[reffug]

(Though the brakes work in a 100 and they suck in an 80)

OK next guy to run with Shotts and who might accidentally run into the back of his 100 cause it was trying to go where the 80's go remind him that it was cause your brakes suck. :whoops: Nothing but love Shottsz nothing but love

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

LUV IT REFFUG! I knew somebody'd nail me back for that comment. Knew it. While the 80 vs 100 thing is all in good fun, ya can't dissagree with me on the 80's brakes. YUCK! It's the one thing about my 80 that was under designed for sure.

I also thou.....ooo....eeee......WHAM!.... ......YEEEOUCHHHH... ..geeze, I just seen a lady in her 80 hit the back end of a Peterbuilt that stopped quickly.

 

[reffug]

LUV IT REFFUG! I knew somebody'd nail me back for that comment. Knew it. While the 80 vs 100 thing is all in good fun, ya can't dissagree with me on the 80's brakes. YUCK! It's the one thing about my 80 that was under designed for sure.

I also thou.....ooo....eeee......WHAM!.... ......YEEEOUCHHHH... ..geeze, I just seen a lady in her 80 hit the back end of a Peterbuilt that stopped quickly.

No I gotta admit that is one modification that is coming to my rig sure. Although I have searched alot of threads and done alot of reading on the topic I am still not sure what I am goint to do to mine. Might go DBA or 100 pads on the front and 80 on rear or several other after market types but definately it is a system which can use a upgrade. Stay cool Shootz

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Phew....you called me SHOOTZ. I was afraid you'd call me " ".

I've read that pads make a small difference so I haven't changed anything on my 80. Wish there was an affordable fix though I don't think there is.

Anyhow, we can bring 2 rigs each time we wheel. An 80 for UPhill and a 100 for DOWNhill.

 

[Jim_Chow]

MASTER CYLINDER, Land Cruiser, w/Vehicle Skid Control 01-02 $1,812.12 $1,304.73
Includes: Accumulator & Pump.

YIKES! James was correct! $1304! (Though the brakes work in a 100 and they suck in an 80)

John, I *suspect* one could vastly improve the braking performance on an 80 by using a 100 series booster, assuming one could find a wrecked 100. In my 1st gen 4-cyl runner test platform, I've tried a number of things. Brakes originally sucked bigtime. First, I went w/ PowerSlot rotors, braided stainless hoses, and performance carbon/kevlar pads. While those worked wonders in feel and hard, sustained braking, one still had to apply quite a bit of leg power. Next was the FJ80 master. Same leg power was needed. Last came a booster from an early 80's V6 extracab. Wow! What a difference! Now, my rig probably stops faster than 90% of the vehicles on the road. Under hard braking in traffic, I've noticed vehicles behind me having to swerve into the shoulder to avoid rear-ending me since their brakes sucked. And this is with stock 4-cyl calipers, which have one pr of smaller pistons. So I find it difficult to believe that one can't make an 80 stop fast, especially when it has 4 wheel discs (while I have stock rear drums w/OEM shoes). My rig does have a manual tranny (I don't downshift to brake unless downhill). Maybe the auto tranny is working against the brakes too much?

 

[CruisinGA]

I don't see what yall are bitching about as far as 80 brakes. ???

If you think 80 brakes suck, try driving a 40 with 4whl drums.


mumbling~damn #&&*%* late model cruiser drivers~

 

[e9999]

agreed, I think my 80 brakes are just fine!
(Of course, I drive it like a loving ole' granma!)
E

 

[robbie]

THere is no vaccuum booster on the 100 series with abs. all done with a high pressure electric pump. so a big difference on the braking system. the ABS is also 4 channel vs 3 channel so it would be harder and more expensive to adapt. later robbie

 

[mabrodis]

I don't see what yall are bitching about as far as 80 brakes. ???

If you think 80 brakes suck, try driving a 40 with 4whl drums.


mumbling~damn #&&*%* late model cruiser drivers~

Very true, I remember wheeling my dad's '72 FJ40, all drum brakes, always out of adjustment, always leaking, it always took a good 3-4 pumps to get to a stop, and that was without them wet or full of mud... Problem was offroad when stopped, engine off, even in 1st gear and low range the engine would rarely hold the vehicle from rolling, so one guy held the brakes as others gathered rocks to put behind tires, then it was safe to walk away from it...crank the wheel so when/if it rolls it hits the nearest tree...good times!!