So what's driving an 80 like vs a 100?

[oro-o]

We have had a 100 for a few years; daily driving and occasionally heavier towing (5k lbs). Love it.

I was thinking of replacing another vehicle with an 80. Our trailering load is dropping to about 4k, so I was thinking a later 80 with the 4.5l should be fine with that once in a while. My question is what are the road manners like of an 80 vs. a 100 for those that have owned both? Just stock suspension/wheel size. Say two vehicles apples-to-apples, 150k miles each and well maintained.

 

[Ebag333]

80 drives like a truck. 100 drives more like a car.

100 is more of a plush/comfortable ride. IMHO you feel separated from what you're doing as everything is removed from the driver (IE: braking, steering, etc).

4k is doable towing, but if you're going up steep hills you'll be going slow. I regularly tow a 3k lbs bass boat without issue.

 

[Eicca]

Think "tank" vs "soccer mom tank"

 

[mxvet354]

We have both and the guys above hit it right on the head. I feel like you are a "part" of the 80, the 100 you are just there to input controls. It kind of does everything else on it's own and it is a disconnect to a point. The 100 drives better, rides better, gets better fuel mileage and is more comfortable.

All that said, I like my 80 better, even the spousal unit agrees with that. BUT if you tow or need to get uphill anywhere decently quick, the 100 wins hands down!

Curt

 

[oro-o]

OK, that all makes sense and helps. How about the "quality" factor, like in how durable/well put together it feels? Both inside and long-term mechanically. I am guessing this is more similar than the road manners?

Thanks.

 

[Eicca]

OK, that all makes sense and helps. How about the "quality" factor, like in how durable/well put together it feels? Both inside and long-term mechanically. I am guessing this is more similar than the road manners?

Thanks.

Having driven both extensively myself, there is no doubt that both are incredibly well built vehicles. My mom's 100-series has had zero problems since we bought it, and my 80-series has been equally reliable with the exception of a select few aftermarket junk parts (nothing critical though). Both feel very solid, and both are built very solid. I would say the 80-series has one up on the 100s with the solid front axle though (and maybe even beefier suspension), and the 91-92 80s have even one more up since all the dash controls are mechanical (I'm not a fan of electronic stuff when it comes to vehicles).

The best thing you can do is check one out very thoroughly for yourself

 

[fl4031003]

I have had 3 100s racked up about 160k on them. No issues with any all bulletproof. They are great in comfort, ride well and have good room. I used my 100s as daily drivers, I now have an 80 (I have always wanted one) it is not as smooth but it is just the way i feel a rig should be not as powerful and does not tow as well but the right size and better off road Just my 2 cents

 

[firetruck41]

The 100 series feels much faster/quicker/powerful, brakes felt much better, is quieter (engine and wind noise) and has a more comfortable ride. They are both built solidly and have great fit and finish.
Unless you're gettin' jiggy offroad, there is no common sense reason to go with the 80, over a 100 series. Though my rig is a road queen, I like knowing what it is capable of as I circle the costco parking lot. When it was time to get rid of a LC/LX, I kept the LX450 and sold the LX470. If I were to do it again, I would just keep the 100 and the 80, they look good in the driveway together

 

[Ebag333]

brakes felt much better

The brakes in the 100 series feel entirely different than the 80. The 80 is more a mechanical feel, the 100 series is more an electronic feel. I personally hate the feel of that style brake (electronic), but that's personal preference.

For actual stopping distance, the 80 and 100 series are virtually identical.

is quieter (engine and wind noise)

Wind noise I'd agree with, not sure about the engine. The 6 cylinder is one of the smoothest and quietest engines, V8's always seem to rattle and make more noise to me. Not that the 100 series is bad by any stretch, it's a very quiet engine for a V8.

Unless you're gettin' jiggy offroad, there is no common sense reason to go with the 80, over a 100 series.

80 series is probably cheaper than the 100 series.

 

[Eicca]

The 6 cylinder is one of the smoothest and quietest engines

Ha! You should hear my 3FE, it sounds like a jet-powered typewriter!

Our Hundy is pretty quiet though, unless I'm driving it

 

[oro-o]

80 series is probably cheaper than the 100 series.

Yes, that's why i am curious about the 80. I have an early 90s Audi V8 Quattro. I could likely sell it and trade even into a nice mid-90s 4.5l 80 type; a 98/99 100 would be 4 to 5k more (at least in this market in the PNW).

Most of the Audi V8 Quattros aren't worth much anymore, but this is a highly maintained 5-speed model. The funny thing is everything you all describe about 100 vs. 80 is exactly Audi V8 automatic vs. 5-speed. One was luxury box, the other "driver's car." So I can basically see it will feel like my Audi more than the 100 (the 100 feels like a Benz inside compared to my Audi 5-speed sport model).

OK, I look at the specs between the 4.5l 80 and the early V8 100 and the torque numbers and HP numbers aren't very different. I know the 100 will tow 4k with what can only be called "aplomb" and have taken it over long steep Cascade mountain passes and it has just flown up them with 5k on the hitch (with load-distributing hitch, mind you). So I tend to think the later 4.5l 80 (which is lighter than the 100 to start) with 4k tow would do about as well as the 100 with 5k tow? Or is the torque band on the 100 much broader?

I appreciate your guys input as while I can test drive an 80 before buying, I can't put 4k on the hitch and go over the North Cascades Highway/Rt 20. I only do that once a year (and back), but I need to know it can do it. We did it once with a Jeep Gand Cherokee with the 5k tow, which was tow-rated the same on the books as a 100 (6,500), and it wheezed and coughed and nearly overheated. Same conditions with the 100 was a little strain but a steady 50mph with no feeling of being "at the limit" like in the Jeep.

 

[Lc80series]

A cherry 80 would definitely be a step up over an early 90's Audi.......Having said that, I realized I have zero experience with the Audi. LandCruiser bias I guess....

 

[unwiredadventures]

My question is what are the road manners like of an 80 vs. a 100 for those that have owned both? Just stock suspension/wheel size. Say two vehicles apples-to-apples, 150k miles each and well maintained.

I don't know about the 100, but I drove a 4 door Tundra for 3 years before I got the 80. The Tundra drove like a sports car, the 80 more solid like a truck. But a lifted 80 is so much more comfortable off road verses the Tundra with the 80's increased suspension travel.

When I first test drove the LX450 my first impression was driving a Mercedes from back in the '80s.

 

[Cruisin']

So if I read your original post correctly, you're keeping the 100, and adding and 80? If that's the case, get the 80 and love it, but when you're going to tow, just use the 100. It will pull better in the hills around where we live (I'm just a couple hundred miles north of you). I dragged around a 4,000lb trailer behind my Diesel 80 for a couple years, and it works it hard. The gasser 80 won't be any happier with it.

There's my $0.02

 

[oro-o]

Having said that, I realized I have zero experience with the Audi.

No you are right for the most part. Most of the late 80s/early 90s Audis were very "blah" except the high-end V8 model (yes, that was the model name -just "V8"). In '97 the were re-skinned and became the A8 everyone knows (at least the auto, or "slush box" models). They were more luxury-oriented, except 154 units that were fairly different "5 speed" models which were made in small numbers so they could be homologated for European racing rules. These were fun, powerful, nearly hand-built cars. I am lucky to have one of those I've had since 96 or 97. So it's not like a normal Audi and I bought it for it's crisp handling and V8 power. It is significantly "harder" to drive than a 100 series - firmer, quicker steering, and you are always rowing a short-throw Porsche-like clutch and a firm Getrag 5-speed geaerbox.

 

[Dave 2000]

Pretty much all that needs to be said has been, personally I prefer the truck like 80 and would venture anywhere with it, the 100 with so much electronics

If you are particular about the more modern 100 looks and style you can purchase a 100 body with an 80 chassis with the SFA and no electronics, the serious guys do this in Africa.

I also agree the 100 is a more isolated and refined animal than the 80 which is, well......... just an animal, and I love it!

Just my 2 euros...(inflation)

regards

Dave

 

[firetruck41]

For actual stopping distance, the 80 and 100 series are virtually identical.

Not my experience.

Wind noise I'd agree with, not sure about the engine. The 6 cylinder is one of the smoothest and quietest engines, V8's always seem to rattle and make more noise to me. Not that the 100 series is bad by any stretch, it's a very quiet engine for a V8.

Never heard a rattle on my 100. Noticeably quieter than an 80, in my experience.

80 series is probably cheaper than the 100 series.

True.

 

[Brian894X4]

The one thing that blows me away about the 80 is how well it drives and handles as a solid front axle vehicle. Toyota really hit this one out of the ball park. It wasn't enough when trying to sell a vehicle to super luxery buyers who rarely ventured off pavement, but wanted the "look" of a big 4x4, and the handling of their other car, the Mercedes, hence the IFS 100, but to me, the 80 is the best compromise vehicle ever designed by anyone.

And that's one reason its such a favorite as an expedition vehicle. You have IFS SUV comfort and ride and handling for high speed highway driving, but the true off road capabilities of solid axles. The engine is absolutely bulletproof and smooth as glass at high speed. Just the other day, I was passing someone and really racking it up and I was just amazed at how sweet the motor sounded at full speed. It purred like a kitten while pumping out its max h.p., like it was designed to run at that rpm all day long. But I digress.

The answer is always the same between the 80 and 100. You can't go wrong with either one, but both have specific design advantages and disadvantages over the other and it always ends up depending on what you actually want to do with it. One of the major advantages of the 100, is that of the few quirks of the 80, Toyota fixed them for the 100...no more headgasket issues, no more PHH, tranny is the same as the later model 80s, but better designed, better brakes (in terms of no more bleeding issues), etc. And more power, along with about 500lbs more weight. But the 80 is a true off road bush vehicle, designed for 3rd world use, from the very beginning. The 100 is a true luxery 4x4, built heavy duty enough that it "could" be used for bush use if it absolutely had too be. But the 80 based 105 was the answer to a true commercial off road vehicle, for those who actually needed one on a full time basis, being a 100 in body only...and an 80 in every mechanical aspect.

 

[Ebag333]

Not my experience.

Reposted from another thread.

Here is some brake data that I have collected, it’s not directly comparable, temp, surface, test method, etc come into play, but gives a good idea of performance trends. Most of the groups are from the same source, so comparable. Note the ’96 Models group, the ’80 did better than vehicles weighing 1/2 ton less, I would call that “best in class” and the ‘80’s performance compares very well overall to other tested vehicles.

Note that most vehicles with well designed brakes group closely by weight. This is true because; if the brake system is capable of producing ~95% of tire skid, brake performance becomes a game of coefficient of friction (tire traction) and to a lesser extent mass in motion (rig weight). So in the end of the game it comes down to tire construction, compound, inflation, etc, a hard compound, over inflated tire will break loose, not stop as fast as a softer, properly inflated tire.

Braking Distance (60-0 mph):

1996 LX450 … 136
1997 LX450 ... 132
1998 Toyota Landcruiser … 140
2003 GX470 ... 131
2003 LX470 … 134
2005 Toyota Landcruiser … 135
FJ Cruiser ... 126

Some 1994 Models
Toyota Landcruiser … 136

Some 2004 Trucks
Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4WD … 139

2007
Toyota FJ Cruiser Auto 4WD … 123

I removed the non-Toyota vehicles, there's a whole bunch more listed if you click through the link.

If your 80 series braking was worse than your 100 series (in actual distance, not "feel"), then it's because you neglected the braking system.

 

[FirstToy]

One of the major advantages of the 100, is that of the few quirks of the 80, Toyota fixed them for the 100...

I don't believe this is the right way to think of it.

The 100 is a different engine and platform. What I mean is that you can say the V8 doesn't have a phh (a hose that takes an extra hour to replace once every decade- is that considered a weakness?) but it has a starter buried under the manifold, for example. 80 has a timing chain, 100 needs timing belt change every 100K, etc, etc.

bottom line is that no matter how excellent a product is (as both the 80 and 100 are excellent) it will have some inherent weakness or difficult to wrench areas.
As used vehicles, older models tend to require more maint.
Take a vehicle out of oem standards, tends to require more maint.

The major advantage of the 100 are, as I see it,
-interior comfort
-newer
-more power
-larger selection of clean, used examples