Upgrading the 80 for a 200

[High Lander]

Apologies if this has already been covered, I did search for it

I love my 80 Series, I really do, but I think the wife is getting a bit fed up of it's more agricultural attributes and I need to get something a bit more modern as a daily driver. I'm also a bit sick of fixing it, and parts availability is becoming an issue

So after looking at pages of moderns with waning enthusiasm, I have finally decided that it's probably a 200 I want, probably in diesel flavour

Any readers made the journey from 80 to 200 and willing to share their experience please?

Many thanks, Aaron

 

[Yossarian]

Still have my 80 as it's a classic, last of the solid axles. The 200 is better in almost every way as a DD, and the V8 is a joy to drive (no diesel experience). I have an early 200, 09 and it's still a very simple vehicle.

The transition will be easy.

HTH.

 

[TheComedian]

2009 diesel owner here with around 334k km‘s on the clock.
It is my daily driver and so farbit takes little to no care. Every 8.000km I give the car a oil change (cheapest diesel oil I can find) and lube every now and then things that look weird.
This car can take so so much of no care.
Runs like a charm

 

[residualboulders]

Apologies if this has already been covered, I did search for it

I love my 80 Series, I really do, but I think the wife is getting a bit fed up of it's more agricultural attributes and I need to get something a bit more modern as a daily driver. I'm also a bit sick of fixing it, and parts availability is becoming an issue

So after looking at pages of moderns with waning enthusiasm, I have finally decided that it's probably a 200 I want, probably in diesel flavour

Any readers made the journey from 80 to 200 and willing to share their experience please?

Many thanks, Aaron

Man, I'd love to travel Scotland in an 80 or a 200 - The skodas we've rented in the past just didn't do it for me

I have an 80 and a 200. Love them both. Very different in a lot of ways. You will love the 200. More comfortable, more power, newer tech and super quiet. Capable on the trails and posh on the pavement. I'd keep your 80 if you can though - it's a classic. I'll rent it from you next time I'm in Scotland.

I'm thinkin the 200 would suit you.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Another happy owner of both an 80 and a 200 and also support the idea of keeping the 80 to rent to all of us foreign mudders. In fact with an 80 available to rent, Scotland would be next on my list.

 

[ryanCA]

No need to spend $170,000 on a ugly 80 series, when you can get a cheap much better looking 200 series - which is a much better vehicle

 

[96bruizer]

Another happy owner of both an 80 and a 200 and also support the idea of keeping the 80 to rent to all of us foreign mudders. In fact with an 80 available to rent, Scotland would be next on my list.

put me down on the list as well. can you please order a Magnuson Supercharger for when I rent it.

 

[High Lander]

So to update this, I ended up getting a VW EV as a company car on a stupidly cheap lease. They're basically giving them away

Am keeping the 80 series as an RV, fun car and garage queen. All the enthusiasm I'm getting from you guys about a rental camper is intriguing, and I may well sort that out in the next year or so

Thanks for all the input

 

[Boston Mangler]

I've owned multiple 80s, a 100, and now a 200

If i had a dream combo of best of eveything, it would be the 200 drivetrain and suspension, with the 100 interior, gauge cluster and HVAC controls

80s are cool and all, but after driving my 100 i lost all interest in them personally

 

[Heckraiser]

Glad you got an EV work vehicle and kept the 80. I owned both the 80 and the 200. I loved the 80 and went on drives for no reason just because. It just felt right to me. I bought the 200 for something I could take on road trips and tow a camper with. It's really nice to drive on the road in comparison to the 80 and the power is just amazing by comparison. It does not have the soul, vibe or feeling of the 80. Neither one was my DD, by the way (I also DD an EV).

When the 80 died at 340k miles, I decided I had too many cars anyway and sold it, then kitted the 200 out with front and rear lockers, gears and 35's to try and make it fill the 80's shoes as an off roader, in addition to road tripping and pulling the camper. The 200 does pretty well off road with the lockers and big tires, but it will never be an 80. It gets hung up on stuff the 80 would have sailed over. It's just a simple problem of size and ground clearance. But it is still pretty damn good for what it is and people are often shocked to see the big fat Lexus on trails it doesn't belong. Not that that off-road is necessarily a concern for you, but that's been my focus. I kind of wish I had kept the 80 and swapped the blown motor for something new. So I'm glad you've decided to keep yours

 

[residualboulders]

I've owned multiple 80s, a 100, and now a 200

If i had a dream combo of best of eveything, it would be the 200 drivetrain and suspension, with the 100 interior, gauge cluster and HVAC controls

80s are cool and all, but after driving my 100 i lost all interest in them personally

Ha ha. I've owned quite a few cruisers but never a 100. What makes it's interior better than the 200, just curious? Just more control through buttons instead of the screen? I find in my 200 I rarely need to go into the screen to change anything. I just set it on auto and it works well enough for me. To be fair it's mostly an adventure rig, so maybe daily driving I would change my mind.

 

[High Lander]

I've owned multiple 80s, a 100, and now a 200

If i had a dream combo of best of eveything, it would be the 200 drivetrain and suspension, with the 100 interior, gauge cluster and HVAC controls

80s are cool and all, but after driving my 100 i lost all interest in them personally

I test drove a couple of 100's before I bought my 80. They left me utterly underwhelmed. Just got no feels for the vehicle. First time I saw my 80 I was certain that I had to buy it

 

[residualboulders]

I test drove a couple of 100's before I bought my 80. They left me utterly underwhelmed. Just got no feels for the vehicle. First time I saw my 80 I was certain that I had

I get that, the 80 has a special feel. I was just over in Scotland last fall and as usual always on the lookout for Land Cruisers. I only saw one 200 with dubai plates and a couple of 70 series. Lots of land rovers though.

 

[High Lander]

I get that, the 80 has a special feel. I was just over in Scotland last fall and as usual always on the lookout for Land Cruisers. I only saw one 200 with dubai plates and a couple of 70 series. 80's can't be too common over there?

Not many left. They mostly died on crofts and farms

 

[Heckraiser]

Ha ha. I've owned quite a few cruisers but never a 100. What makes it's interior better than the 200, just curious? Just more control through buttons instead of the screen? I find in my 200 I rarely need to go into the screen to change anything. I just set it on auto and it works well enough for me. To be fair it's mostly an adventure rig, so maybe daily driving I would change my mind.

Never owned a 100, but I've driven them and I actually prefer the 100 interior to the 200 too. For me it was:
-better visibility (still has the 90's japanese car huge windshield, small A pillars, lower dash and beltline). Just feels more like the older cars and trucks I love, while being pretty plush and modern too.
-button-based controls
-basically the same interior roominess (and cargo area) as a 200 with a smaller exterior package. This physics-defying feature has always made me scratch my head. I guess the 200 just has thicker doors and bodywork?

But the 4.7, while a good motor, does not deliver what I would call "modern power." 200 is a BIG step up in that department.

 

[residualboulders]

Never owned a 100, but I've driven them and I actually prefer the 100 interior to the 200 too. For me it was:
-better visibility (still has the 90's japanese car huge windshield, small A pillars, lower dash and beltline). Just feels more like the older cars and trucks I love, while being pretty plush and modern too.
-button-based controls
-basically the same interior roominess (and cargo area) as a 200 with a smaller exterior package. This physics-defying feature has always made me scratch my head. I guess the 200 just has thicker doors and bodywork?

But the 4.7, while a good motor, does not deliver what I would call "modern power." 200 is a BIG step up in that department.

That makes sense. When I first bought my 200 i remember feeling like it had a similar drivers positon to my 60 and that's one of the reasons I liked it. Obviosly way more modern and different.

The 200 surely isn't as old school as the 80. I imagine the 100 is somewhere in between there. It's fun that the modern ones somehow still manage to have some characteristics of their predecessors. Until now I guess, new ones don't have the tailgate, inside postion feels more like an FJcruiser. Even the 300 we don't get lost the tailgate, bummer.

 

[hoser]

I've owned multiple 80s, a 100, and now a 200

If i had a dream combo of best of eveything, it would be the 200 drivetrain and suspension, with the 100 interior, gauge cluster and HVAC controls

80s are cool and all, but after driving my 100 i lost all interest in them personally

I've owned all three and agree with this. The 100 interior materials have a better feel in quality, better visibility and comfort me. Less bulky feeling.

 

[Boston Mangler]

I've owned all three and agree with this. The 100 interior materials have a better feel in quality, better visibility and comfort me. Less bulky feeling.

Yes and no. I meant more of the gauges, knob layout, controls and HVAC stuff. I prefer the 100. Also, agree with you on the visibility being superior on the 100 over the 200.

My main gripe with the 200 is the seating position and seats. 100 was far superior here.

Never owned a 100, but I've driven them and I actually prefer the 100 interior to the 200 too. For me it was:
-better visibility (still has the 90's japanese car huge windshield, small A pillars, lower dash and beltline). Just feels more like the older cars and trucks I love, while being pretty plush and modern too.
-button-based controls
-basically the same interior roominess (and cargo area) as a 200 with a smaller exterior package. This physics-defying feature has always made me scratch my head. I guess the 200 just has thicker doors and bodywork?

But the 4.7, while a good motor, does not deliver what I would call "modern power." 200 is a BIG step up in that department.

I agree with every word of this but will also add, the 200 ride stock vs stock is FAR superior

 

[hoser]

@Boston Mangler I didn't like the 200 seats nor position as well. The DDI Seat Jackers has helped though. Also, like many, I prefer the good 'ol H-N-L shift lever.

But I think anybody coming from an 80 will, overall, love the 30 year advance in ergonomics of the 200. Actual cupholders, armrests and stereo within arms reach.

 

[Boston Mangler]

@Boston Mangler I didn't like the 200 seats nor position as well. The DDI Seat Jackers has helped though. Also, like many, I prefer the good 'ol H-N-L shift lever.

But I think anybody coming from an 80 will, overall, love the 30 year advance in ergonomics of the 200. Actual cupholders, armrests and stereo within arms reach.

Yeah. The DDI jackers helped some, but I’m 6’4” and my head is still JUST touching the headliner in the lowest position. Will have Scheelmans at some point