Talk me out of a 100 series

[joseywales]

For those of you with 100's is the 99 a good year to have?

It’s the best year! Last year of the factory rear dif locker. People get all excited about all the initials like VSC, AHC, THC ETC. They aren’t at all necessary. And the whole “you gotta have a 5 speed” is a load of crap. Yes, the extra gear might gain you 0.5 mpg, but the extra $$$$ to get that 0.5 will take 50 years to pay back. My ‘99 rolls along at 2000 rpm at 75 mph. That’s good enough for me.

Dump the 4Runner and go for it!

 

[ChuckB]

My wife commuted to work in my 60 when we were first married, she loved it. Now I can hardly keep the LX keys out of her hands. She literally begs me to drive it periodically as its my DD currently. If your wife is anything like mine, she will LOVE the 100 LC/LX.

I echo the thoughts on looking for LXs as well. Cherry LXs can be found pretty easily. Worst case AHC can be completely removed. When AHC is working, which is the norm, it's a dream!

 

[medtro]

My ‘99 rolls along at 2000 rpm at 75 mph. That’s good enough for me.

My 99 RPM is over 2000 before it gets to 75 MPH. What tires and/or gears are you running?

 

[rroverbkk]

this thread proves everybody loves Landcruisers no matter what vintage

Ps my 06 runs at 600rpm at 110mph. And climbs inverted without spilling my coffee.

 

[joseywales]

My 99 RPM is over 2000 before it gets to 75 MPH. What tires and/or gears are you running?

Stock gears with 34” tires. It might be 2050 rpm at 74 mph, but my point is, it’s not at 2500 struggling to hold 65 which is when I would be wanting another gear.

 

[od4x4]

Nevada Rain Storm

• od4x4
• Jul 23, 2017
• 1

I have ridden in a 100 and they are nice for running to Starbucks or the mall.

If you are looking for a “mom-mobile” for Starbucks and the mall then there are better options out there.

Most importantly you need your wife to choose the new car if it will be hers. She may not like the 4Runner because of the height and the seating position, or it could be the color, or that the cup holders are not in the right place. If you dump the 4Runner just to buy a 100 series and then turn around and sell it later for something else then you will be further under water.

When we bought our 2001 LC my wife had test drive no fewer than 20 vehicles on dealer lots to see what she liked. I personally wanted the Land Cruiser and I was pretty sure that she would want it too... but it was one of the last cars that she test drive. She loved that it drove like a truck, but had a nice interior and was built like a tank... and the fact that there are not a lot around did not hurt. (She is a redhead after all)

Then last year the LC got a make over with lift, bumpers, rack, KISS drawers, new sound system.... she loves it even more because it is now her personalized mom-tank and I feel great knowing that she is safe on the road everyday.

Moral of the story... take your time and let her choose. If she decides on a stock 80 Series then you will both be happy!

 

[Bigsky80]

It will definitely be the wife choosing. She likes the Land Cruisers better that the 4runner because they get around well on the ice without needing to put it into 4WD and have an A-pillar handle on the driver side (it's the little things). Honestly we might keep the 4runner and just buy the 100 My kid will be driving in a few years so one will likely get sold in exchange for a car. We have a lot of icy crowned roads and miles of gravel so I don't want the kiddo learning with a top heavy SUV.

 

[dace voit]

this thread proves everybody loves Landcruisers no matter what vintage

Ps my 06 runs at 600rpm at 110mph. And climbs inverted without spilling my coffee.

View attachment 1607125

True.

And LOL.

 

[jLB]

And the whole “you gotta have a 5 speed” is a load of crap. Yes, the extra gear might gain you 0.5 mpg, but the extra $$$$ to get that 0.5 will take 50 years to pay back. My ‘99 rolls along at 2000 rpm at 75 mph. That’s good enough for me.

Having both a 4spd and a 5spd in the family, I'd agree that the 5spd is not mandatory, but it is much more enjoyable.

I think you miss the point about the 5spd, sure the top gear is slightly taller, but the real difference is the lower 1st gear (which with your 'stock gears and 34' tires' would be very noticeable).

Last year of the factory rear dif locker. People get all excited about all the initials like VSC, AHC, THC ETC. They aren’t at all necessary.

I'd also argue that if it's for a wife or kid's daily driver, VSC/ATRAC may be preferred and more useful than a rear diff locker.

 

[dace voit]

Having both a 4spd and a 5spd in the family, I'd agree that the 5spd is not mandatory, but the it is much more enjoyable.

I think you miss the point about the 5spd, sure the top gear is slightly taller, but the real difference is the lower 1st gear (which with your 'stock gears and 34' tires' would be very noticeable).

That says it all right there. It's not just first, but the smoother ratio to get to 4th in the A750 vs. the bigger jump to get to 3rd in the A343. It's much easier to hold the power band with closer ratios. The A343 is a great, proven transmission. The A750 just allows the motor to be more efficient.

 

[joseywales]

Having both a 4spd and a 5spd in the family, I'd agree that the 5spd is not mandatory, but it is much more enjoyable.

I'd also argue that if it's for a wife or kid's daily driver, VSC/ATRAC may be preferred and more useful than a rear diff locker.

Well, I’d have to say “much” more enjoyable is up for debate, and the places my wife drives the 100, a locker is far handier. She’s used the center and rear lockers to get unstuck when playing solo more than once.

That says it all right there. It's not just first, but the smoother ratio to get to 4th in the A750 vs. the bigger jump to get to 3rd in the A343. It's much easier to hold the power band with closer ratios. The A343 is a great, proven transmission. The A750 just allows the motor to be more efficient.

Again, another subjective point. I’m very satisfied with the ratios in the A343. The money I didn’t spend to buy a 5 speed truck (which all seem to be priced substantially higher in my area) allows my wallet to be much more efficient!


There is no right or wrong answer here. Any 100 series is great out of the box, and has the potential to be downright amazing with very few mods.

 

[dace voit]

There is no right or wrong answer here. Any 100 series is great out of the box, and has the potential to be downright amazing with very few mods.

Absolutely.

But whether or not you like a particular transmission is the subjective part. My statement was not about my preference. It was just fact on how they work with the engine and it's power band as shown in the spreadsheet. If my 80 had an A750 in it(or even just the first four gears, it would do better than the A343. That thing is a pig on the hills at 9000'. When driving it around sea level, it was no problem. Being at altitude makes a big difference.

But like you said, these trucks are great out of the box. The only problem with mine is it just might be too nice...

 

[joseywales]

My statement was not about my preference. It was just fact on how they work with the engine and it's power band as shown in the spreadsheet.

Because we all drive spreadsheets around?

But seriously, I’m at sea level to 5500’ most of the time, so I wouldn’t have the same perspective as you. When I was in Colorado this fall I spent a ton of time between 10,000’ and 12,000’. I didn’t notice any lack of power, but I was pushing 30 pounds of boost in my diesel! Next time I go I’m going to bring the 100 to play, so I’ll see what you mean. When I took my diesel 60 series to Telluride way back when, I could barely get up the hill from Cortez in 3rd gear (5 sped manual). I also blacked out the whole road with my injection pump set for 2,000’.

 

[dace voit]

Rollin’ Coal!

 

[chrisratz]

Nevada Rain Storm

• od4x4
• Jul 23, 2017
• 1

Any chance you were in Fresno a few days ago, on Herndon? Very nice looking truck.

 

[jLB]

Well, I’d have to say “much” more enjoyable is up for debate, and the places my wife drives the 100, a locker is far handier. She’s used the center and rear lockers to get unstuck when playing solo more than once.






Again, another subjective point. I’m very satisfied with the ratios in the A343. The money I didn’t spend to buy a 5 speed truck (which all seem to be priced substantially higher in my area) allows my wallet to be much more efficient!


There is no right or wrong answer here. Any 100 series is great out of the box, and has the potential to be downright amazing with very few mods.

From a subjective standpoint:

I've owned a 98 LX, my son's DD is a 00 LC, and my DD is an 06 LX. I've owned (1) A442F, (2) A343F and (3) A750F equipped Toyota vehicles. My son’s (4spd) LC, it’s still a huge improvement over an 80 series, and I wouldn’t sell a perfectly good 4spd 100, just to get an extra gear. If I were in the situation that I didn't already have a 100 series, I'd strongly lean towards the 5spd. Yes, they are all good, you have some minor trade-offs between the different model years of the 100 series, and there is no right or wrong answer.​

From an objective viewpoint:

In 1st gear, an A750F and a 4.1 axle is roughly equivalent of a “5.15” axle ratio in an A343 equipped vehicle. While at the the same time, in 5th gear, the A750F and a 4.1 axle, is the equivalent of a “3.92” axle in an A343 equipped vehicle (in 4th). So you get the benefits of an axle gear swap (or a Mark’s 3:1 TC gear) without the drawbacks.​

As a wife/kid daily driver, Lockers vs. Letters:

So your wife has actually used the OEM locker buttons. If I’m putting a wife or kid in a tall, top heavy vehicle that’s main usage is on the road, it is my viewpoint is that having VSC, to keep it on the road under wet/icy road conditions, might be more important to me than a locker. While ATRAC might be less efficient than lockers, a Harrop or ARB locker is a whole lot easier to install than it would be to retrofit “letters” onto a 98/99 100 series
​

As for wallet efficiency:

I probably didn't do so well there by buying new, then again I've been driving the same DD for the last 12 years, and expect to drive it for many more.​

 

[od4x4]

@chrisratz I can say yes! Taking my kid to a doctor appointment in fact. I think I may have seen you as well if you were driving a Cruiser... we don’t see many in Fresno.