just wanted some feedback
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Can he turn a wrench?
LINUS
Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
We can't read into your lifestyle, wallet, priorities, time constraints, etc.
So it becomes like saying "my kiddo wants a purebred _____ as his 1st dog"
Any animal may fit fine, but the litmus test is getting past the FAQ's.
80-series FAQ
It is a wonderful rig they'll walk away from 99% of any accident, take being dented well, and you could do far worse.
Airbags are a '95-'97 thing, and let's be real there.
If it's a fit is best left to you though.
So it becomes like saying "my kiddo wants a purebred _____ as his 1st dog"
Any animal may fit fine, but the litmus test is getting past the FAQ's.
80-series FAQ
It is a wonderful rig they'll walk away from 99% of any accident, take being dented well, and you could do far worse.
Airbags are a '95-'97 thing, and let's be real there.
If it's a fit is best left to you though.
I'd say go for it. I let my 16 yr old drive my 80 to High School because it was reliable, slow, and I had the knowledge of having 5500 lbs of steel wrapped around her for protection.
My kids help with maintenance and upgrades so it's good time spent under the hood and working together.
Probably goes without saying, but be ready to spend some serious money getting a used 80 up to snuff. I'm assuming he up to the task of wanting to wrench on it.
John
My kids help with maintenance and upgrades so it's good time spent under the hood and working together.
Probably goes without saying, but be ready to spend some serious money getting a used 80 up to snuff. I'm assuming he up to the task of wanting to wrench on it.
John
my first car was a 65 mustang with only lap belts, manual brakes, and a single brake cylinder (that failed one time and i just coasted through a busy intersection untouched...super lucky!). An 80 is a great first car IMO. Not too fast, safe, and easy to work and learn on. If i had a son, I'd get him one!
Very solid first vehicle. I hope my daughter will be driving ours in 10 years. I had a 72 Waggoner with hopped up 401 amc out of a cop car as my first vehicle. I could fit 8 friends and six kegs of beer comfortably. Ahh those were the days....
I sent my grandson to college with my 96 locked 80. 250K miles, triple locked.. 200 miles each way. He doesn't run around too much in it---cant afford the gas. He could have taken a 2005 civic. Chose the LC
Been working out so far---
Been working out so far---
mehbohdi
SILVER Star
Owned 2 Wagoneers they are TANKS. Landcruiser better... My Dad did used to say Trial by fire is the best way to learn, you break it you fix it. Go for it, what could possible go wrong. We were all 16 once, OH yeah
I think its a great first vehicle.. safe, dependable, pretty easy to maintain if you pick the right one.
Solid. Reliable (for the most part). Safe.
He could do worse.
Land Cruisers are simple, but everything is hard. It'll be good experience for him to be responsible for all repairs and maintenance. He'll build a good tool box and a solid body of knowledge. Plus, it may even help him focus more intently on a professional career as he's going to need some coin to keep his truck running at its best.
He could do worse.
Land Cruisers are simple, but everything is hard. It'll be good experience for him to be responsible for all repairs and maintenance. He'll build a good tool box and a solid body of knowledge. Plus, it may even help him focus more intently on a professional career as he's going to need some coin to keep his truck running at its best.
Expensive for fuel, which could be a good money management lesson. Lots of learnin on it if the kiddo helps do the maintenance. I also like the idea of not having all the nannys and aids that newer cars have, so that they learn to be less reliant on these things even if their next car has them. Only other plus would be if it was manual. That would be awesome.
Okay I can answer his pretty well. I am 16 and bought my cruiser when I was 15. I have always been passionate about cars but was mediocre at turning wrenches. Let me just say after owning this car for a year and a half and driving it for 6 months every day, there is not a car I would rather drive and I have learned so much.
When I first got the cruiser, I got addicted to this forum and went through just about all the base lining stuff. I was fortunate enough to find one with a new head gasket on it and was very well maintained. After going trough spending a year crawling under the hood and dinkin around with it I absolutely love it. I added a lift and some rock sliders so far.
It's a tank here in the snow, awesome on the trails (33s and 3 inch lift), and I just feel safe and confident in it. Driving up to the mountains, it's not quick, but I don't need it to be. Also it is very tricky to get caught speeding in.
Mine just crossed 200k and my goal is to at least get it to 350k and I sure believe I can do it. I find it a pleasure to drive.
Only complaint is gas mileage. It's very expensive to go skiing every weekend just because it's such a pig, but I like what a lot of people say on this forum "life's to short to drive a boring car"
I so highly recommend getting this for a first car. I don't see myself getting rid of it. Yes it's expensive for a 16 year old to maintain and pay for gas (I do both) but i totally find it worth it.
When I first got the cruiser, I got addicted to this forum and went through just about all the base lining stuff. I was fortunate enough to find one with a new head gasket on it and was very well maintained. After going trough spending a year crawling under the hood and dinkin around with it I absolutely love it. I added a lift and some rock sliders so far.
It's a tank here in the snow, awesome on the trails (33s and 3 inch lift), and I just feel safe and confident in it. Driving up to the mountains, it's not quick, but I don't need it to be. Also it is very tricky to get caught speeding in.
Mine just crossed 200k and my goal is to at least get it to 350k and I sure believe I can do it. I find it a pleasure to drive.
Only complaint is gas mileage. It's very expensive to go skiing every weekend just because it's such a pig, but I like what a lot of people say on this forum "life's to short to drive a boring car"
I so highly recommend getting this for a first car. I don't see myself getting rid of it. Yes it's expensive for a 16 year old to maintain and pay for gas (I do both) but i totally find it worth it.
Last edited:
ewillis
SILVER Star
80s are for grown ass men...get him a 100!
I asked my 10 year old son if wanted one when he turns 16. He said "No, I want that one" pointing to my cruiser.
He helps with maintenance and with front and rear aftermarket bumpers it is likely one of the safest trucks on the road. So in 6 years i have some decisions to make...
He helps with maintenance and with front and rear aftermarket bumpers it is likely one of the safest trucks on the road. So in 6 years i have some decisions to make...
Disregard everything I said, I was kidding.....
My neighbor had a philosophy for his boys. The oldest's first vehicle was a plain jane 2WD Ford F150 standard cab. That way, he could only fit two more knuckleheads in the cab with him.
The youngest got a used 96 Land Cruiser. He beat the CRAP out of that truck. The head gasket blew after they owned it for a couple years and they had it rebuilt at the local Toyota Dealer.
He succeeded in literally driving it into a house with a high blood alcohol level. He also succedeed in hitting a guardrail on the RF corner and tearing it up.
They had both incidents "repaired" by not the best body shops. But after that, they neglected ALL maintenance.
Fast forward another 6 months (they owned it for 6 years and put about 50K miles on it.
I now own this truck. I totally knew what I was getting into with it. In fact, my neighbor would NOT sell it to anyone else in the neighborhood, because he knew they did not have the tools and ability to rebuild it. He gave me a SMOKING deal. The right place at the right time kinda deal.
We went through it and got it up to snuff for maintenance and it is now my very reliable DD. This all occurred right about the time our oldest son needed a car, so he got my old 95 Jeep GC, and I got the LC.
I absolutely LOVE my LC.
Yes, the LC can withstand knucklehead teenagers.
The youngest got a used 96 Land Cruiser. He beat the CRAP out of that truck. The head gasket blew after they owned it for a couple years and they had it rebuilt at the local Toyota Dealer.
He succeeded in literally driving it into a house with a high blood alcohol level. He also succedeed in hitting a guardrail on the RF corner and tearing it up.
They had both incidents "repaired" by not the best body shops. But after that, they neglected ALL maintenance.
Fast forward another 6 months (they owned it for 6 years and put about 50K miles on it.
I now own this truck. I totally knew what I was getting into with it. In fact, my neighbor would NOT sell it to anyone else in the neighborhood, because he knew they did not have the tools and ability to rebuild it. He gave me a SMOKING deal. The right place at the right time kinda deal.
We went through it and got it up to snuff for maintenance and it is now my very reliable DD. This all occurred right about the time our oldest son needed a car, so he got my old 95 Jeep GC, and I got the LC.
I absolutely LOVE my LC.
Yes, the LC can withstand knucklehead teenagers.
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I say no. I'll be putting my son in a Subaru when the time comes for a first vehicle. I'd rather he be in a newer unibody car than a truck based SUV. Better chance of avoiding an accident in the first place.
Bludozer
SILVER Star
This is a point that is rarely addressed and I totally agree. It is undebatable that the 80 does well in the event of an accident (especially when compared to other cars of its time) but it is incredibly slow with poor steering and shoddy breaks. Evading a potential accident in an 80 takes a lot more skill than doing the same in a s***ty civic. I wouldnt expect a 16 year old to have those skills.
LINUS
Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
If your kid has expressed interest in wrenching & doing this stuff, maybe it's a match. Speeding isn't an issue, stopping & momentum is - so make sure he gets physics applies no matter your age, sex, or day of the week.
If your kid is into sports & figured out girls aren't icky - then get a G3 4Runner or a Subie, and tell him not to speed. He's got more on his mind than wrenches.
If your kid is into sports & figured out girls aren't icky - then get a G3 4Runner or a Subie, and tell him not to speed. He's got more on his mind than wrenches.
LINUS
Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
I rode with a paramedic a bunch & had to for annually getting/keeping my EMT cert - if they let kids do that then make him.
Nothing like seeing a stray leg not attached to anyone to drive home physics.
Nothing like seeing a stray leg not attached to anyone to drive home physics.
