Talk me into a Cruiser....

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S

skopiec

Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Threads
5
Messages
27
Location
Tucson, AZ
Currently have a '99 Trooper w/ 70K miles that's fairly capable offroad (33" BFG's / OME suspension). Recently I've found myself really looking at FJ80's (locked of course!). Are the locked Fj's that much better offroad than the Troop? How about the 91-92 3FE's? (Prices appear to be much lower)

I go offroad every couple weeks, but since I usually have my 5 yr old son with me, it's typically not anything TOO crazy. We both really love it however - great opportunity for dad/son time.

Seeing that the market price for my Trooper is around 8K or so, I could probably get into a 93-95 Cruiser with ~150K miles or so - is this a wise move? Can I expect a Cruiser w/ 2x the miles to have a similar level of reliability as my current truck (which has been very good)? It would be a 3rd car, so I only typically out 6-7K miles a year on it.

My mind (and my wife) tells me to keep what I have, but there's something about those FJ's :)

Comments?

Thanks!
 
80s are wonderful on road and off. Ride in one and you will buy one.

No more convincing required.
 
Okay, just to split hairs a bit...

the 91/92 model years with the 3FE are FJ80s. No OEM fr/rr diff locks were offered. You might find some with aftermarket lockers, but those, IMO, would be quite a rare find.

the 93-97 model years with the 1FZ-FE engine are FZJ80s. OEM fr/rr diff locks were optional.

Regardless of model year, I think the 80 series LC is very reliable. I've never owned a Trooper, so I can't compare the two, but I can say that I wouldn't trade my 80 for a trooper with a tenth of the mileage, let alone half.

My suggestion would be that you find the newest 80 you can find, with the fewest miles that's in your price range. Lockers would be good to have -- most (including myself) would wait for one with lockers, but many do not. For around $3k, you can add fr/rr ARB air lockers later...but why pay for that when you can get the OEM lockers for free if you can wait?
 
I had two troopers before i got my cruiser. I'll be honest, the newer troopers are very nice and solid vehicles. Every once in a while you'll get a trooper that was built on monday or something and it's plauged with problems. For the most part i really liked my trooper. If you are going to get serious about off-road, the cruiser is the truck for you. if you are just getting one to own a cruiser, stick with teh trooper.
 
DanKunz said:
80s are wonderful on road and off. Ride in one and you will buy one.

No more convincing required.
Click to expand...


Sorry Dan, i have to disagree with that. My trooper rode smoother on the road than my 80 ever has. But, when it came to handling, the 80 wins hands down. It corners much better. The trooper feels like it's going to tip going around turns.
 
Well...

The Toyota Land Cruiser is in it's own world class, really - so not really an even or accurate comparison. Compare the frames and go from there. Trooper v 4Runner - better. Find a well-maintained LC and you won't have to sweat higher mileage beyond reasonable and expected maintenance. I expect 300k from mine! Good luck :beer:
 
concretejungle said:
I had two troopers before i got my cruiser. I'll be honest, the newer troopers are very nice and solid vehicles. Every once in a while you'll get a trooper that was built on monday or something and it's plauged with problems. For the most part i really liked my trooper. If you are going to get serious about off-road, the cruiser is the truck for you. if you are just getting one to own a cruiser, stick with teh trooper.
Click to expand...
Can you compare the off road ability between the 2? I feel the Trooper is pretty good, but it's high center of gravity gets me nervous at times. I'm sure the lockers would just be icing on the cake...

Do FJ's w/o lockers have a limited slip in the rear or are they open?

-Scott
 
I had the older style (box) trooper and a newer 97' trooper. The older trooper did really good offroad. The only thing i did was add rancho shocks, 31 mud terrains and crank the front torsion bars a little. I never wheeled the newer one much. It was more of a road-trip vehicle. And it was a smooth road trip vehicle, good ride in my opinion. The 80 on the road has a little more truck ride to it; but it IS a truck.

The cruiser is much better off road then both of my troopers. An 80 with lockers will go places a trooper can only imagine. But, the aftermarket support of the 80 is hands down the best there is.

Also, reliability is a huge factor. I know you say you haven't had much trouble out of your trooper, yet, but once it starts it comes in bunches. In my 80, even with 167,000 miles, i don't feel nervous going on long road trips. I always felt good when i got home from a long road trip in the trooper knowing i got back without a hitch. I never feel that way in my cruiser.

All this said, i wouldn't pick any other vehicle over the 80. But, if i were not to buy an 80, my second choice would be a trooper.
 
Not to state the obvious but.......................

This is a LANDCRUISER BOARD. :D

Of course we are all going to say the 80 will crush a trooper offroad.(not that this isn't a well know fact in the universe)

Oh also had several friends who had troopies and IMHO they SUCK. :flipoff2:

As previously stated.....DRIVE THE CRUISER YOU WILL BUY THE CRUISER.
 
Just get the Cruiser. Then you can hang here with us and not have to feel like an interloper!
 
Drive the Cruiser, buy the Cruiser! Drive the Cruiser, buy the Cruiser! Drive the Cruiser, buy the Cruiser! Drive the Cruiser, buy the Cruiser! Drive the Cruiser, buy the Cruiser!

:D
 
Cruiser . . . . . . . . .now a Lexus LX450 would be better :D

Don't you agree Doug?
 
Yea, yea, yea. . . . we all know what the real deal is. Just pointing out the fact that a nice Trooper is no slacker.
 
Having owned both, I can say that I agree w/ most of what concretejungle has stated. However, the seats & interior more than make up for the ride difference on the highway.
Also, that little 3.2L V6's torque is rather weak in comparison.
Trooper has no 3rd row either.

About the only edge I would give to the Trooper would be headroom, but my gawd you would have to be close to 7 ft for that to come into play.
 
Romer said:
Cruiser . . . . . . . . .now a Lexus LX450 would be better :D

Don't you agree Doug?
Click to expand...
You'll get no argument from me. I have 2 of them LX 450s. :D
 
A proper LX snob would say: A LX is a Cruiser, a Cruiser is not an LX :cheers:
 
firetruck41 said:
A proper LX snob would say: A LX is a Cruiser, a Cruiser is not an LX :cheers:
Click to expand...

Actually, an LX is a Cruiser with a subwoofer. A cruiser has no subwoofer so it can't be an LX.

Same thing! :D
 
3FE POWA!

You want me to talk you into one, troopies suck cruisers are a much better vehicle, back seat is bigger for sex and chicks dig a cruiser over a weenie troopy. 3FE engine is low on power but still a solid engine. I have one and love it, put it in 4LO and it'll go up anything I point it at pretty much. You buy a cruiser and do the same mods you did to your troopy and the cruiser will perform ten times better.
 
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