My concerns with a LC...

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1

12guns

10 Year
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
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I'm still working on selling my 4runner to get a larger vehicle. I've spent HOURS reading, searching, and drooling over pics of the 100 series Land Cruisers and LX470's. Here's my issues:

MPG: My V8 4runner averaged 14.7 on a 200 mile round trip, mostly highway driving. If I get a LC, I'll want a 2" OME lift and Kelly TSR tires, probably 285's. What can I expect for MPG? From the reading I've done, I would guess 15 highway, is that about right? I can live with that, but if I'm looking at 12 mpg, I might need to rethink what vehicle's I'm looking for. I know a LC is what I want, but keep rethinking due to the poor MPG, which is kind of silly considering I already get crappy MPG with the 4runner.

Size: My 4runner is just slightly smaller than what I need. By "need" I mean want. It's just my wife, myself, and my 60 lb black lab, but I like the though of a little more room than the 4runner.
I take weekend trips duck hunting and need room for all my junk! While the LC is "larger" it's not a huge step up. Or is it?

Seat position: My 4runner seat seems very low to the floorboard. I have a bad back and want to be able to adjust the seat up to get my legs down under me instead of "out" like I'm driving a go cart. How is the Cruiser for seat comfort?

Wheeling: I don't go wheeling nearly as "hardcore" as some guys I've seen on here, but I will be on rocky logging roads to get to my cabin and in some sloppy mud during duck season. I spend a good amount of time on the highway, so I thought the 100 series would be better riding than the 80 series.


Any thoughts would be appreciated. I've searched and searched and have come to the conclusion that I can get a solid 2000 or 2001 LC for less than 13k with under 150k miles. Just trying to decide if a LC is really what I need/want. I realize I"m not going to get anybody say NOT to buy a LC on this forum, so I guess I"m just looking for some more assurance that the LC is best of the best. I've always been a Toyota fan, so don't want to risk driving a Tahoe or anything other than Toyota. That limits me to Sequoia, Tundra, LX470, or LC. Thanks for any input!!
 
I get 12 to 17 on the highway, usually depending on uphill or downhill...she averages 14-15 and definitely do not drive with an eggshell between my foot and the right pedal. 285x16's, no lift.

I picked mine based on resale value, not that I intend to sell it, inherent reliability if you do your scheduled maintenance, and to my knowledge a small truck that was built completely in Japan.

Extremely comfortable on long trips, competent on crappy roads in crappy weather, and tough if it happens to get in a wreck...see recent post about the LC t-boning a full size Buick at 70mph.;)

If I had it to do over, think I perhaps would have spent a little more for an '03 or later to get the 5 speed trans, but not a biggie at this time.

I don't think you'll regret your choice, and if you're in ID pm me and I can talk your arms off as to what a great ride she's been for the last 2 years.

Steve
 
Great info, thanks. For what I want, I think the LC will do just fine. I honesly can't see myself happy with a Sequoia. I might be ok witha truck, but since my dog and wife are both spoiled, I think I'll need the interior room for both of them LOL. I like the oversized tires and may or may not need a lift. We'll see what happens once I sell the 4runner.
 
Since hankinid pretty much nailed it ill go off on comfort; the roads i drive are a mixture of dirt and pavement and both are in the condition you would expect to see a field after a ton of land mines went off, and on top of this my shocks on are their last legs but even still its a very comfortable ride in the LC. Having been in a lot of my friends cars i would say my LC is still the most comfortable. However, the Land cruiser is supposed to only take super premium gas just as something to consider (i dont know if 4runners are the same way). then again you could, like hankinid suggested, look for an 03 model with the 5 speed which will definitely help your highway mpg.
 
I average between 12.5 and 14.5 mpg. I was getting 19-23 with my 2006 V6 4Runner. Pretty big shock at the gas pumps. $70 to fill up tonight. I know you said you wanted more room, but if MPG's are a concern, I don't know how psyched you'll be with a LC. Bigger tires and more gear equal less miles per gallon too. I think we'll see close to $5 a gallon this summer. We're at $3.20 here in Denver right now.
 
Here's how I rationalize the MPGs and the shock at the pump:

The sticker on our '99 LC was something like $55k, we got it after 105k for $12.5k. There's an insane amount of value in the truck for what we paid. At the pump, we have to give a little back...

Compare the low initial cost and lower mpgs to buying a new more efficient full-size high quality SUV and a used LC is still the lowest in terms of total cost of ownership unless gas goes truly ballistic.
 
I don't think you will be disappointed with the fuel mileage. If you are already averaging 14.7 with the v8 4runner, then the LC is not that different.

Go to fuelly.com and look up Land Cruisers. If you drill down to 2001 LC's mine is named 'white L/C'. I have logged over 15k miles and my average is 13.2. A lot of my miles are in town. I usually get 14.? when all highway driving. BTW, mine has a small lift and 285/75-16 BFG KO's on it. When I fill up, I adjust the miles to compensate for the bigger tires.

You will not regret a LC purchase. Now that I have owned this one, I am not sure I will ever be w/o one again. They are world class 4x4's and I get to own it for a fraction of what it is worth.
 
All great points.
My 4runner did not require premium fuel, however I have used nothing but premium since my 96' Tacoma. I'm more than willing to pay an extra few dollars to have the premium, which at one specific Shell in town, is ethanol free.
When I compare the LC to my 4runner, I don't really think there will be much change. I don't plan on doing sliders or any tires over 33". Maybe that'll keep the mpg from dropping too much.
The more I think about the MPG and compare to what I drive now, I really don't think there will be that big of a difference.

My wife drive an 08' Accord EX-L. We can and will take her car on longer trips and even shorter trips around town in the summer when I can't take my dog. So at least we'll have the option of good MPG when we need it.

Why does the LC require premium fuel? Same motor as my 4runner, and it take regular (although I've always used premium). I'll do some searching...just curious. Thanks!!
 
I don't run premium in my 100, runs fine:meh: I get mid 14s off the ScanGauge with 305/75R16s, ARB on the front, Luke's on the rear, sliders, skids, etc. Hopefully that will improve when I install the DT headers as I'm getting new O2 sensors and am cleaning the MAF and throttle body.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
 
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If MPG's are a concern or in any way a reason to get rid of the 4R.... then move along and forget the 100/470, forget the Sequoia.

If dependability and comfort are are important.... Then get a 100.

A 100 is a very reliable vehicle if you take care of it. Will it have issues at some point? Sure, any care will. But it will be a much more reliable car than any other MFG. It is a Toyota and the flagship of the Toyota line.

If you do very little modifications, you can expect to see very little difference in MPG's. Problem is it can be addicting once spend some time on here and then it is a bumper, sliders, lift, etc.

People ask me what type of mileage I get. Truth is I dont know. I decided a couple years ago when gas prices go up to not pay attention. I love the rig and that is enough.

Comfort - Like you, I have injured my back a couple of times. My wife also has a 2002 Accord. I absolutely refuse to take road trips in her car. It is SO uncomfortable compared to the 100. You will sit higher like you want, the seats are so comfy, the ride SO smooth...etc.

My 2 Cents...
 
On the MPG thing, my 230K mile 100 gets very close to 15 in general around town driving. It varies a bit, but always north of 14 and mostly north of 14.5. These are generally shortish trips - 10 minutes to maybe 45 minutes tops, and often in DC are traffic which is seconds only to LA in degree of horror.
 
Great info guys, I do appreciate it. I'm sold on the Land Cruiser. I've never been 100% happy with the 4runner. I LOVED my 96' Tacoma. So much that I put 284k miles on it before getting rid of it. My goal (mpg be danged) is to get a ride that I "like" and that I will keep for a long time. Looks like the Land Cruiser is it. Thanks!!
 
The mileage will be pretty close to what the 4Runner is getting, my average with a lot of driving in traffic, driving 75+ when not in traffic and generally being a lead footed individual is still 13.6MPG.....and thats with data going all the way back to late June.

The main difference you will notice with the 100 and 4runner size wise is the width. That said, you will appreciate the extra room on road trips and when loaded for with all the stuff you need to hunt. Also the visibility is better.

Reliability and durability are gonna be better than the 4runner.....which is hard to imagine

For what you described as your off road usage, the 100 will be more than up to the task. Good tires will be all you need for that kind of usage.

As for the seat thing, i find them to very comfortable, and you should be able to get your legs under you, but IDK how tall you are so i say take a test drive.
 
The front seats in the 100 are a lot more comfy than the 4runner mostly because the seating position feels much higher. In the runner the seat feels like its sunk down. The visibility is much better in the 100. As far as the motor being the same I don't think they are exact. It may be on the ECU alone but there are some tuning differences in the LC . IMO Japanese built Toyotas are better. If your vin# starts with a "J" you have a real Toyota.
 
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Also FWIW:
- I'm 6' 4" 200# and the seating position and support are more than comfortable even 7 hour runs towing the race rig.
- I've run 89 gas in it since new. Runs perfectly, even on long climbs at or near wide open throttle on really hot summer days pulling a 6000# rig. Never seen a fuel trim code set either.
 
In 05' Toyota changed the 4.7 in the 4runners to the VVT-I. I'm not sure if/when they started using the Variable Valve Timing on the Land Cruiser. Heck, I"m not even really sure what the difference is, but I do know the non VVT0-i does not get any worse MPG from what I've read.
 
You can baseline your MPG and then it goes something like this:

2" lift (-1mpg)
33" AT (-0.5)
33" MT (-1)
35" MT (-1.5)
Roof Rack (-0.5 to -1)
RTT (-0.5 to -1) -1 being the boxy Eezi-Awn type
1000lbs of extra weight (?)
 
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