Shopping for a 80 series....

[Deep South Cruisers]

After almost 10 years in my 87 FJ60 as a daily driver I am considering upgrading my ride to an 80 series.

Most advice I have seen points me towards 94 or newer 80 series due to anemic performance on the earlier 80's. Anemic performance is a relative term since I've been driving my slug like 60 for so long and I wondered if some of you could give me your experiences of the earlier 80 series.

Thanks!

 

[concretejungle]

mine is a 95 so i can't give any advice on newer ones, but i looooove mine! I will know where a cherry 96 green with lockers and about 110,000 miles will be around Christmas time!

 

[firetruck41]

93 to 97 are the FZJ80, they have the 1fz-fe. Also they have 4 wheel disc brakes, ABS, full floater rear disc, etc. (some early 93 did not have some of this). Check the FAQ at Slee's website.
I test drove a 91 FJ80 before I bought my 93 and noticed an appreciable difference in power between them.

 

[Deep South Cruisers]

I'm in no hurry

I would like to use my Fj60 or Fj45 as partial trade for the right vehicle.

The question about the earlier 80 series is a tough one because I'm betting they drive pretty dayum good compared to my high mileage 60 series.

 

[e9999]

I was under the impression that the early 80s have the same engine and are heavier than the 60/62 which would suggest that they may feel even sluggisher?
E

 

[ginericLC]

I have a 91 and a 94. There is night and day difference in them in performance. The 94 has power, it stops great, and it gets much better mileage (even when they were both in stock form). 91 best was 14 typically got 12/13. 94 best was almost a solid 19 and it regularly gets 16. I actually get upset if it drops below 15. Mine are getting pretty old. I think the 91 has 229,000 or so and the 94 has 195,000 on it. About the only plus to the 91/92 models is the seats compared to the leather. A lot of the later models leather did not survive very well with some of the previous owners care (or lack there of). I also like all the manual controls on the heater/AC better on 91/92s although I've never had an issue with a later model one. The Lexus models got better leather as did the 40th anniversary. If things go as they have been going my next one will be a 97 LX450. Everytime my dad goes to trade I've offered him to give him the price that they'd actually give him on trade, that is how I ended up with the 91 and 94. If I were shopping I would look for the best maintained one I could find, miles aren't as scary as poor maintainence. Only drawback of a 93 is the R12 AC which is expensive. So anything from a 93-97. I'd also shop and try to find one with lockers. Both of mine do not have them. With ARB raising their prices every other month it makes adding lockers really expensive.

PS A stock FJ60 would probably take a stock FJ80 in a drag race. I previously owned a FJ60.

 

[MoJ]

I owned a 91 3FE. It was great. Before that I had owned 4 cyl Toy PU's so I never really felt the 3FE was overly sluggish with 32 x 11.50 tires on it. IIRC, my single cab 1998 tacoma 2.7L had the same horsepowere as the 91 3FE - BIG difference in weight. I bought my 94 with the intention of keeping both but later decided to sell the 91. I bought the '91 with 90k miles, drove it to 130k with only having to replace the radiator along the way. Even mostly stock and without lockers the 91 was very capable offroad. I wheeled mostly with Jeep Cherokee drivers with rear lockers and many times would climb much easier then they would and suffered less breakage (none). I liked the simplicity of the 91. If I was solely wanting to see how many miles an engine would go before it died I would go with the 3FE. However, when I decided I was going to sell one, the decision was a no brainer. The 94 is much smoother to drive and requires a lot less effort on the interstate. The lockers are a nice plus as well. Although I never tried 33 inch tires on the 91 (only 32) I'm sure my 94 handles them a lot better than the 3FE would have.

Hope that ramble helps.

Edit --- agreed as said above --- big difference in brakes.

 

[Deep South Cruisers]

PS A stock FJ60 would probably take a stock FJ80 in a drag race.

now that's a good comparison, hard to imagine my 60 beating anything on the road LOL. I'm getting older ;p I want auto and a nice smooth ride.


I shopped Tacoma's quite a bit but just can't bring myself to pay the new car prices. The LX450 appears to be a good option and I e-mailed a seller about one this morning.

 

[Skim]

I got a 1993 FZJ-80 with 213K on it, no lockers, cloth interior, and is Rudy Red.
Sunroof, Stock-no lift, never been off -road, Michelin tires.

I'd trade it for your FJ-45 or maybe your 60 but need pics.

 

[lovetoski]

I have an fj60 and an fzj80. I've driven a bunch of fj80's, and a few fj62's. Yea, there are some differences in performance, but lets be honest - none are quick. For me, speed/acceleration is not a legitimate decision factor in buying a cruiser. Is it in good shape, has it been well cared for, do you like driving it, is the price right? These are more appropriate questions for a cruiser purchase.

Not that a quick cruiser wouldn't be fun, it just won't be stock!

 

[ginericLC]

Not that a quick cruiser wouldn't be fun, it just won't be stock!

I would never use the word quick to describe any of my Cruisers (or any others for that matter unless you count those few with excessive mods) unless comparing them to other Cruisers. I almost feel like I'm driving a sports car when I get in the 94 after driving the 91 for weeks on end. A Toyota Camry V6 would probably be like driving a Ferrari for me now as I've become conditioned to slow. Years ago I was never without a week of blasting past 100mph. Now it has been literally years since I've seen that speed. Not sure I would know what to do anymore. My wife has told me that since I've been bitten so hard by the Cruiser bug that she no longer worries about me so much. A roll at 2mph is pretty easy to survive, a roll at 170mph pretty much means death for somebody in a street car.