Now I understand......

[The3Gs]

It started innocent enough, a google search for "most reliable off road vehicle" I arrived at this point after throwing in the towel on a large investment for an awesome truck I knew would be the “perfect” off-road vehicle for my needs. The wow factor wore off quickly as these old bones didn’t do well climbing out of that monstrosity and every time I passed underneath one of the damn “low clearance” bars I felt like I was going to get peeled back like a sardine can. So with my wife giving me the “I told you so” look, I grudgingly accepted defeat and sold it.

Back to my search, I needed a daily driver but something I could also take off road camping and fishing. Google directed me to an article titled “The ten best used vehicles for exploring the world.” What caught my eye was 3 of the top 5 were Toyota. So that’s how I first learned about the awesome reputation of the Land Cruiser and eventually purchased one of my own, a 00 100 series LC.

Fast forward several months later: What I hadn’t realized until now was how special they really are. I LOVE driving it. Land Cruiser is a fitting name as it’s a great feeling to cruise in luxury at highway speeds, and then turn off road to hit some trails. In my mind this is a big reason why they are special. But, the defining moment for me is my loving (but picky) wife who every time, when given the choice, chooses to take the old 00 over her 2013 bells and whistles SUV.

 

[Cruisercouple]

Well put, my land cruiser "love" started at 17 when my dad took me to buy my first car. Little did I know it would be a fj40 land cruiser. I saved $2100 and my dad told me I was buying this old beat up thing! But it was the best "car" I could buy he said and he was right. I learned on that beauty and it's been an awesome adventure since. I have owned a 40, 60, 80 and now my current cruiser is a 100. Good luck with it and enjoy, you will never look back. Congrats.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[suprarx7nut]

My wife had a similar reaction. She was VERY opposed to me buying it as to her it was just a big, ugly mom-mobile. Fast forward a few months after I bought my 99 and she loved it. Wanted to take it everywhere, likes driving it, etc...

It's just a better car than most any other SUV/Truck out there. Most of it comes down to the feel which people won't understand without having driven one.

 

[re_guderian]

My wife had a similar reaction. She was VERY opposed to me buying it as to her it was just a big, ugly mom-mobile. Fast forward a few months after I bought my 99 and she loved it. Wanted to take it everywhere, likes driving it, etc...

It's just a better car than most any other SUV/Truck out there. Most of it comes down to the feel which people won't understand without having driven one.

My wife hated driving, and usually riding, in the 60 & 80. Got her a 100 as her DD, and she'd get mad when I'd take it for the weekend to go camping with the Scouts or whatever. So I bought my own, with no resistance whatsoever... even now that both have over 200k, they still drive great, and set the bar for newer cars to be compared against. Just bought my kids an old RX330 to drive, and thought I'd enjoy driving it for a few weeks before handing over the keys, but , I'd rather drive the sixteen year old cruiser...

 

[nick j]

I started appreciating the LC when I was living in Botswana, awesome vehicle to go into the bush but also use for my trip to the office, then got transferred to Saudi, Prado there, then onto Qatar and took it with us, eventually back to the UK in 2005 and bought a 90, kept it a couple of years then moved up to a 120 series, kept that until 2013 when a mint 2004 100 series popped up. Now my wife drives that 100 every day and I'm left with a town car....

 

[Porter]

Sitting in my 99 cruiser now, waiting to pick up kids at school. Many a day in the same school carpool since fall 2004 when my daughter started preschool. I don't need a sign with my kids names in the window, the Principal knows my Cruiser.

Two more years and I might let my daughter behind the wheel- we'll see!

With a new coat of wax, and fresh leather a couple years ago, nevermind the 200k I've put on since purchase 04--the rig is always a pleasure to drive. With the maintenance I've put in, might as well be new. And I love the old school climate control knobs, and non Nav stereo!

 

[uzj100]

Hard to beat a 100. Driven all kinds of vehicles and I just keep coming back to my 16 year 100 with 239k miles. Enjoy.

 

[Rigger]

My Hundy is an '03; has 104k miles. It's really nice. I sometimes think I ought to sell it because it does not get used all that much. But I'll probably keep it. It has a solid feel to it.

 

[TXLX100]

It's a well built machine. My wife was unsure when I wanted it for her and my kids, but after having it for a while and some updating and mods it's "her" car that I get to drive when I need it.