New Buyer(?) in CO

[skiller]

Hey all - looking to either get some sense slapped into me or be given the go-ahead. Single dad - 3 kids, comming out of an 02 Trooper (actually liked it lots - good truck), but need an extra row of seats now for friends etc... Love the 80 style - but getting up in years and MPG bites. Waffling on wether to get what I want (97 LC or LX), or be responsible and get sissy minivan or something newer. Really just need some input on how these bad boys are for daily usage with lots of kids etc... Benifits are the bulletproof reliability, safety, fun, looks, exclusivity etc. Minuses are room (?), repair costs when they break, MPG, age....

So - anyone have some real-life input as a daily driver soccer-dad mobile?

Oh - this is probably on here somwhere - but do these things take reg or premium? I think the newer v8's like the expensive stuff, which adds up ...

 

[justagirl]

Welcome!

I'll let the guys who know what they're talking about address the more mundane issues. Let me help you with the philosophy and psychology of the issue.

Are you one of those people for whom your vehicle has to reflect you, either as you are, or as you wish to be? (Be honest with yourself. You don't have to share your answer.)

If you answered "no," get the minivan.

If you answered "yes," you then have to ask yourself:who are you, or who do you want to be?

Good luck!

 

[KliersLC]

It is good as a soccer mobile, but if you have more than one car seat, access to the back row is a bit tricky because of the 50/50 split bench. Minivan will definitely be more friendly at the pump, but how are you going to pick up chicks in a minivan?

rear seats are more versatile than a minvan(except for the brand new ones) probly slower than a new minvan too, but its all about slow and steady with these rigs. durability is probly better than even the new sienna. Not any cup holders for the back seats, you might think about a 100 or a seqouia for that purpose(or get lots of those funky ones that hang from the door......

repair costs are a bit steep, but these rigs are a LOT easier to work on than anything else of this vintage or newer. parts can be had from CruiserDan for cheap, and you get the build it yourself satisfaction. My guess is that out of three you have at least one boy that can help get wrenches and whatnot, those were my favorite memories with Dad.....sorry for the rambling.......

You'll love the 80 but you'll hate the fuel guage. the long and short of it.

Good luck,
Dan

 

[FJ809496TLC]

Just get a lower mileage 80 with a good maintenance record.

 

[OZCAL]

Skiller, first of all welcome

My brother is in your shoes. Single dad, 2 kids, Los Angeles. Sometime 4 kids when his GF's kids are there. He looked at minivans and then bought the 97 LC I showed him. He and the GF are very happy with it, and they don't even fully appreciate the offroadability of the truck. They just like the reliability and the style.

(Also it's got FR RR locking diferentials so I promised I'd buy it from him if he ever gets sick of it ).

David
\
EDIT: both of mine are soccer mom trucks weekdays. Well, one is a rugby mom truck. At the same time, we drive them up the beach, on trails etc.

 

[tarbe]

I am in your boat (except the single part), and I have a '97 LX-450 and a '98 Sienna.

I drove the 80 today for the first time in two weeks. With gas at about $3, the Sienna, at nearly double the miles per gallon, is getting the nod day in and day out. Driving the 80 reminded me what I have been missing

So I guess my answer is, have two vehicles!

Seriously, if I just had to get rid of one, I would keep the 80 and bite the bullet on the gas.

 

[trainrech]

Ditto what tarbe said, except I have 4 kids.

Also kept my 40 for "personal time".

 

[skiller]

Good stuff

Hey - thanks all for the quick responses - I really didn't expect anything much back so soon. Its a tough call really - double MPG in the Sienna? - tough to pass up that big a difference. Only 1 car seat - so no biggie there - but no cupholders??? Whats up w/that?!

I'm not really worried about picking up chicks or looking cool. More about boring as sensible vs something pretty cool and rare - and just always have had my eye on. . .. OK - well - maybe a few chicks...

However if I bite the bullet - rest assured I'll make sure it gets a few good workouts a year. Got a pop-up that my Trooper actually did very well with - got into some pretty tough spots - so it won't be completely and utterly domesticated.

Your right - got 1 boy in the mix - but he's only 8mo! If this thing is still running when he is old enough to start changing the oil then I really would have picked a winner!

I too have noticed that LX450's seem to run a little cheaper than LC's. I'm totally fine getting a better stereo and such for less buckaroos..

Even if it means sporting pick panties.. !
(yes - i read through some other posts....... )

But not if my mom laid them out for me........

skiller

 

[elmariachi]

I have owned 7 of them. I would never have thought I would get so attached to an automobile, but I am. I know every bolt, screw, creak, rattle, bump, thump, whirr, smell, moan, groan, twist and turn on it. Give me 10, 12, 14 and 17mm wrenches and sockets and a Philips-head screwdriver and I'll have it damn near disassembled in less than 24 hours. I have hauled CEOs and jackasses, young kids and old grandmothers, beer, guitars, BBQ, guns, live and dead animals, lots of friends and one or two enemies with them. I've pulled boats, jet skis, Harleys, snowmobiles, my M416 trailer, other Cruisers and even a horse trailer with them. I've recovered Chevy's, Fords, Dodges, Jeeps, a Range Rover, one golf cart, an F350 Super Duty wrecker and a John Deere tractor with them. I've driven in and through rain, sleet, hail, snow, mud, sand, rocks and two tornados in them. And I even fled one bitch hurricane. I've ripped a couple fender flares off, at least one bumper, two sets of running boards, bent a D-pillar backing into a tree, knocked the back glass out of one with only 316 miles on it backing into a low hanging parking space at DFW airport and totaled one slamming into a wood chipper. I have had a red one, a beige one, three white ones and two sage 40ths. My kids don't care where we go, as long as we take the Land Cruiser. When we show up in our other car, family members say "Why didn't you bring the Land Cruiser?" I've only been stuck...really "damn I need help" stuck one time in an 80 Series Land Cruiser, and that was solely because of my stupidity and no fault of the truck. I have never had to walk home or call a tow truck because of a Land Cruiser.

As for responsibility, well I would never, ever, ever be caught dead in a mini van. Period. My truck gets on average about 12 mpg on 89 octane and I don't care if gas goes to $10/gallon, I'll be driving it every day.

 

[yosemitesamiam]

VERY well said!

I have owned 7 of them. I would never have thought I would get so attached to an automobile, but I am. I know every bolt, screw, creak, rattle, bump, thump, whirr, smell, moan, groan, twist and turn on it. Give me 10, 12, 14 and 17mm wrenches and sockets and a Philips-head screwdriver and I'll have it damn near disassembled in less than 24 hours. I have hauled CEOs and jackasses, young kids and old grandmothers, beer, guitars, BBQ, guns, live and dead animals, lots of friends and one or two enemies with them. I've pulled boats, jet skis, Harleys, snowmobiles, my M416 trailer, other Cruisers and even a horse trailer with them. I've recovered Chevy's, Fords, Dodges, Jeeps, a Range Rover, one golf cart, an F350 Super Duty wrecker and a John Deere tractor with them. I've driven in and through rain, sleet, hail, snow, mud, sand, rocks and two tornados in them. And I even fled one bitch hurricane. I've ripped a couple fender flares off, at least one bumper, two sets of running boards, bent a D-pillar backing into a tree, knocked the back glass out of one with only 316 miles on it backing into a low hanging parking space at DFW airport and totaled one slamming into a wood chipper. I have had a red one, a beige one, three white ones and two sage 40ths. My kids don't care where we go, as long as we take the Land Cruiser. When we show up in our other car, family members say "Why didn't you bring the Land Cruiser?" I've only been stuck...really "damn I need help" stuck one time in an 80 Series Land Cruiser, and that was solely because of my stupidity and no fault of the truck. I have never had to walk home or call a tow truck because of a Land Cruiser.

As for responsibility, well I would never, ever, ever be caught dead in a mini van. Period. My truck gets on average about 12 mpg on 89 octane and I don't care if gas goes to $10/gallon, I'll be driving it every day.

 

[yosemitesamiam]

Hey all - looking to either get some sense slapped into me or be given the go-ahead. Single dad - 3 kids, comming out of an 02 Trooper (actually liked it lots - good truck), but need an extra row of seats now for friends etc... Love the 80 style - but getting up in years and MPG bites. Waffling on wether to get what I want (97 LC or LX), or be responsible and get sissy minivan or something newer. Really just need some input on how these bad boys are for daily usage with lots of kids etc... Benifits are the bulletproof reliability, safety, fun, looks, exclusivity etc. Minuses are room (?), repair costs when they break, MPG, age....

So - anyone have some real-life input as a daily driver soccer-dad mobile?

Oh - this is probably on here somwhere - but do these things take reg or premium? I think the newer v8's like the expensive stuff, which adds up ...

I got ur pink panties right here. LOL

Gas mileage is going to depend on your usage. I mean, how many miles do you normally drive per day? Also, consider the used price of a decent Sienna vs the price of one of these. I remember my days at the Chebby dealer. We were comparing mileage of a 3/4 ton truck, one with a V8 gas, the other diesel. The cost in upgrades for the diesel came out to 260,000 miles or so (give or take) to break even on mileage. NOT a good reason to buy one or the other...sure, a minivan might be twice the mileage...but really, it isn't worth it if the van cost you twice as much up front.

 

[OZCAL]

... no cupholders??? Whats up w/that?!

skiller

By the way you can buy a cupholder (original equipment) from sleeoffroad:
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_interior_main.htm

 

[Proven]

I have owned 7 of them. I would never have thought I would get so attached to an automobile, but I am. I know every bolt, screw, creak, rattle, bump, thump, whirr, smell, moan, groan, twist and turn on it. Give me 10, 12, 14 and 17mm wrenches and sockets and a Philips-head screwdriver and I'll have it damn near disassembled in less than 24 hours. I have hauled CEOs and jackasses, young kids and old grandmothers, beer, guitars, BBQ, guns, live and dead animals, lots of friends and one or two enemies with them. I've pulled boats, jet skis, Harleys, snowmobiles, my M416 trailer, other Cruisers and even a horse trailer with them. I've recovered Chevy's, Fords, Dodges, Jeeps, a Range Rover, one golf cart, an F350 Super Duty wrecker and a John Deere tractor with them. I've driven in and through rain, sleet, hail, snow, mud, sand, rocks and two tornados in them. And I even fled one bitch hurricane. I've ripped a couple fender flares off, at least one bumper, two sets of running boards, bent a D-pillar backing into a tree, knocked the back glass out of one with only 316 miles on it backing into a low hanging parking space at DFW airport and totaled one slamming into a wood chipper. I have had a red one, a beige one, three white ones and two sage 40ths. My kids don't care where we go, as long as we take the Land Cruiser. When we show up in our other car, family members say "Why didn't you bring the Land Cruiser?" I've only been stuck...really "damn I need help" stuck one time in an 80 Series Land Cruiser, and that was solely because of my stupidity and no fault of the truck. I have never had to walk home or call a tow truck because of a Land Cruiser.

As for responsibility, well I would never, ever, ever be caught dead in a mini van. Period. My truck gets on average about 12 mpg on 89 octane and I don't care if gas goes to $10/gallon, I'll be driving it every day.

Wow...I need a towel after reading that.

Seriously though, I drive a "Daily Driver" which is a Toyota Matrix to and from work (30'ish miles one way) and then I drive my Cruisah around Atlanta. I have to say that it doesn't matter where I go, I get the nod from just about everyone at stop lights, intersections, gas stations, mall parking lots, or people headed the same direction as me on the highway. When I drive it, I feel that same twinge chicks with big boobies must feel...

I have only owned this one, but that is because I just got old enough to purchase it and have a daily driver (28 this month) but the versatility of this vehicle is astounding. I wanted an off-road recreation vehicle to build up and play with. I looked all over every brand looking for the weaknesses and strengths. The Land Cruiser is the most stout and dependable of the bunch and with the ready supply of knowledge on this forum, and the service manuals direct from Toyota as long as you are able bodied you can fix most all your problems yourself.

I love my Cruisah....excuse me while I go mount it one more time.

 

[tarbe]

I would never, ever, ever be caught dead in a mini van.

Good thing I drove the Cruiser to Church today or you'd disown me

 

[elmariachi]

Good thing I drove the Cruiser to Church today or you'd disown me

You're in under the grandfather clause. Besides, the Sienna is your wife's.