Does anyone happen to know the reason why Toyota did not included the OEM Center Console Refrigerator/Freezer on the 80 series LC US specs? In Africa, Australia, Middle East and LC's sold in Venezuela came factory fitted with this.
...via IH8MUD app
Because overseas vehicle manufacturers will only provide options on vehicles they think will sell well in that market, particularly if they have to import their product.
The owner demographic for an 80 or 100 series Land Cruiser is changing in North America - as these vehicles become cheaper to own, more people, such as ourselves, are interested in them for what they should have been used for in the first place, off-roading, overland travel etc. In other parts of the world that's what they were purchased for off the showroom floor, it's what you need to get you reliably across Africa or a desert in the Middle East or Australia. If you want a cold drink in the middle of the Sahara you'd better have one in your centre console - there's no where else to get one.
When your typical yuppie team-mom bought hers in America she didn't need a console refrigerator because there's a 7-11 every second block. Just like you don't need the extra fuel range that a sub-tank provides, or the comfort of rear air (well, okay maybe in the southern US you might), or the toughness of a front straight axle in a 100 series to drive across town to drop your kids off at baseball practice.
My LX450 spent all its time driving back and forth to the mall, the owner decided to sell it when the A/C quit working (which of course turned out to be the expansion valve). She was bored of it and wanted to replace it with a Porsche SUV. When she put the LX up for sale she certainly had no clue that the truck had lockers, never mind even knowing what they were actually for...
So yes, I now too lust after a sub tank, a turbo diesel, and a 5 speed manual, though I think if I were contemplating spending $500 on a console fridge I'd skip it and put that money toward a full pull out fridge/freezer in the hatch.
