The 100 Series is "The Land Cruiser to Buy"

[tmoneyallday]

I don't see any argument for a 98/99 over a 2000+, or an argument for a 2000-2002 over a 2003+

Just my personal opinion, the ATRAC in 2000+ is worth buying over a 2- pinion front diff 98/99 even with a rear locker, and then an 03+ with the 5 speed is always better than anything before it. Having owned both, to me, the 5 speed makes the truck feel so much more modern driving and smoother than the 4 speeds.

The 06/07, again just my opinion, isn't worth the premium over an 03-05.

When I was looking into what year I wanted, this is the line of thinking I took. I own an 03 and personally think it's about the best deal you can get for a 100 series. You get the 5 speed transmission + non-interference engine so if you snap a timing belt (which shouldn't happen of course) you're good. It also is much cheaper than the 06/07 too.

I’ve had a rear locker hundy and I’ve had a triple locked 80 series. I would rather have ATRAC than either of those.

I'm always envious of lockers but I've had a good experience with atrac. What makes atrac stand out over lockers to you though?

Over the years, there seems to be a number of people on this forum, that build a 100 series, lose interest, sell, build something else, lose interest, sell, build another 100, lose interest, sell (rinse & repeat).

100% lol

 

[Trapper50cal]

If high mileage, hail damaged, well accessorized 99's didn't exist, I wouldn't be in a 100 Series, so I'm just grateful that there are some good options in my price range.

 

[BullElk]

I'm always envious of lockers but I've had a good experience with atrac. What makes atrac stand out over lockers to you though?

I am in the woods everyday in South Alabama where any nontraction situation is slick mud or sand and usually under most wheels if under one. So I like to have each wheel have power but independant of each other. Then I like to creep thru the situation so the power can bounce around from wheel to wheel getting bits of traction off and on minimizing my chances of spinning a tire. Spinning a tire is loosing.....traction, steering and progressing.

However, if I were rock crawling on unstable rocky ground where wheels may be suspended in the air while others are on the rocks, lockers would be much more useful.

 

[Kabanstva]

So you agree that '98-'99 LC are better without all of those electronic systems to fail? JK

In some regard yes. No AHC (Toyota), no ATRAC, no VSC, no VGRS, no VVTi. It’s definitely more simple.

 

[bozncsurf]

In some regard yes. No AHC (Toyota), no ATRAC, no VSC, no VGRS, no VVTi. It’s definitely more simple.

Don’t forget no TPMS (06-07) ... I despise dash lights

 

[jLB]

I get that but you’re driving a modern car and any issue on these cars basically puts you in limp mode. ATRAC, VSC, AHC all go in limp mode if some issue comes up. The brake booster thing that plagues all these cars, ABS can be deactivated in some cases. These issues are far more real and likely to happen than a broken Timing belt prematurely. I had a bad wheel sensor after an off-road trip and that wasn’t fun, AHC always had issues when wheeling.

100s have a ton of electronics and probably not the right car if you really want something bomb proof with no fear of going in limp mode. Prob want an early 80 series or even 60 tbh lol.

When was the transition to “drive by wire” throttle control?

 

[MongooseGA]

When was the transition to “drive by wire” throttle control?

I could be misremembering things, but I think my '05 has a *kind of* drive by wire system.

 

[Jack90210]

In some regard yes. No AHC (Toyota), no ATRAC, no VSC, no VGRS, no VVTi. It’s definitely more simple.

And if it matters: no dual-stage front airbags, no side airbags, no deployment if vehicle rolls.

 

[cruisin4bruisins]

I would definitely say the 2006 - 2007 are the years to buy. I think Doug was going off the optional diff lockers in the earlier years but in my opinion most people don't even use them lol coming from a 2002 id definitely like the increased engine power that comes with the later years of the 2uz-fe

 

[Rhetoric]

I really question if Dougie is actually writing this content or coming up with these thoughts on his own. I think it's either an underling that skims buzzfeed articles from 2018 or he's just using AI to come up with these really out of touch recommendations.

 

[Kabanstva]

How come Doug had a video review on an 80 series and a 200 but not the 100. Maybe he’s going to make a video soon?

 

[jLB]

How come Doug had a video review on an 80 series and a 200 but not the 100. Maybe he’s going to make a video soon?

You could always substitute Hoovie’s video, until Doug does one, although you might want a tetanus shot before watching the video.

 

[jLB]

I would definitely say the 2006 - 2007 are the years to buy. I think Doug was going off the optional diff lockers in the earlier years but in my opinion most people don't even use them lol coming from a 2002 id definitely like the increased engine power that comes with the later years of the 2uz-fe

As an owner of an 06 LX, a 99 LX, and my son’s 00 LC, depending on use case, I’d lean 03-05 model years for a ~20 year old used vehicle. The 5spd is noticeable in daily driving. The “extra HP” is mostly on paper, but noticeable under certain circumstances.

Then again, I added aftermarket lockers to the old 99 LX, and have actually used them.

 

[xeuxaz]

The newer 200s are great. But I do find myself driving the 100 because I enjoy it more. I don’t even have a logical reason for it.

 

[ZetheGSD]

When is the interference engine ever been an issue for someone? They stuffed that motor in every newer GX, Tundra, and Sequoia and made millions of them probably. Change your timing belt on time and it’s a non issue. I don’t buy that as an argument against vvti. Every modern Toyota motor is interference.

To me that’s about as valid as the morons that used to say the Toyota V6s (3.0 and 3.3) were bad motors because of oil sludge issue. Of course only complained about by idiots that went 40,000 between oil changes. I probably have around 500,000 on several vehicles wirh those drivetrains and every time I did a valve cover job the heads looks clean as a brand new motor. Point being, don’t neglect your maintenance and it’s a non issue.

I’ll chime in. I’ve had a 2000 an 03 as well as a triple locked 96. The 2UZ becomes a pain if you do a camshaft seal while doing a timing belt. Some DIY’ers like to tackle their own repairs and u less your a decent professional tech that turns a timing belt job from intermediate to somewhat harder.

I feel the 5-speed is a large upgrade for the 03+ years and something real world that makes driving more pleasurable. But a real downside from the 2000 is losing the double din radio that I could swap out and have CarPlay and great sound…

Just buy a clean-ish good running 100 and have fun. If you get caught up completely by the option list you are probably missing out on a great deal.

 

[manh3]

I have both a 99 LX470 and a 2018 LX570 and I enjoy the fun nature of the 99 more than the 570 but the wife and kids love the comfort of the 570. I couldn’t live without either of them and looking for a 80 series lx450 next.

 

[xeuxaz]

I’ll chime in. I’ve had a 2000 an 03 as well as a triple locked 96. The 2UZ becomes a pain if you do a camshaft seal while doing a timing belt. Some DIY’ers like to tackle their own repairs and u less your a decent professional tech that turns a timing belt job from intermediate to somewhat harder.

I feel the 5-speed is a large upgrade for the 03+ years and something real world that makes driving more pleasurable. But a real downside from the 2000 is losing the double din radio that I could swap out and have CarPlay and great sound…

Just buy a clean-ish good running 100 and have fun. If you get caught up completely by the option list you are probably missing out on a great deal.

The camshaft seal is a one time repair in the life of the vehicle. It's annoying (I know I have an 07 and it was done recently). The way I would look at this is, just do a giant while you're in there repair on valve cover gaskets, cam seals, timing belt, water pump blah blah blah. Then you're set for a really long time.

The radio is annoying but also solvable. I put in a TEYES unit which still controls the AC and then replaced the amp with a cheap amazon special. It was like $750 all in and I have carplay/good sound and a really nice screen.

The extra power from the VVTI and 5 speed + LED tails is nice. Is it worth a huge premium? ehhh.. very much depends!

 

[ga12r1]

Im a lover of both platforms and with kid about to turn 16 I knew there was gonna have to be a new cruisers in the family. After weighing all the pros and cons of an 80, 100, and a 200 we came home today with high milage early 200. A very clean rust free 2008 with 280 miles on the clock. We were able to pick it up for what alot of late model 100s go for. At less than 20K in the end it was a no brainier.

Having wheeled and built all 3 platforms I felt like this was the best route to take. The 200 being more durable and safer than the 100 and much more modern and comfortable than the 80 sealed the deal.

So I guess I can't say the 100 is the LC to buy especially if talking late model 100s vs early 200s. I would haver been happy with either but I look forward to experiencing him learning to wrench, wheel, and become part of the community in this rig. Fun times ahead

 

[xeuxaz]

Im a lover of both platforms and with kid about to turn 16 I knew there was gonna have to be a new cruisers in the family. After weighing all the pros and cons of an 80, 100, and a 200 we came home today with high milage early 200. A very clean rust free 2008 with 280 miles on the clock. We were able to pick it up for what alot of late model 100s go for. At less than 20K in the end it was a no brainier.

Having wheeled and built all 3 platforms I felt like this was the best route to take. The 200 being more durable and safer than the 100 and much more modern and comfortable than the 80 sealed the deal.

So I guess I can't say the 100 is the LC to buy especially if talking late model 100s vs early 200s. I would haver been happy with either but I look forward to experiencing him learning to wrench, wheel, and become part of the community in this rig. Fun times ahead

View attachment 3643690

Absolute bargain snagging any 200 that clean around 20k.

 

[Rucavene]

Hi everyone, hope you guys are doing well. I have a 1999 LC100 1HD FTE. The diesel (injector) pumps connectors wiring coming from the ECU was cut off buy some "famous guy" and now I'm sitting with the mess of not knowing which wire to connect where on the diesel pump connectors. I Am in desperate need of someone to assist me with some pictures of wiring coming from the ECU side to the pumps connectors. (The coloring) the help will be much appreciated...