Yeah, Toyota tried to transform a pretty basic military troop carrier, small personnel transport, into a luxury SUV during the 80 series model run. It's good to get a newer one for the ABS, lockers, leather, power seats, full float rear axle, and whatever other goodies they Velcro'd on during those years. These changes are worth thinking about in context though. One thing, and this is totally superficial, the 80's with the factory bronze tint are impossible to match. Charcoal tinted windows would be much easier to modify. I just basically gave up this week on the idea of trying to tint my bronze windows all around. That is, to do it right is just too cost prohibitive and still wouldn't completely match.
People still take any of the years and do all the same mods and all the same interior upgrades. Stereos, speakers, sound deadener, etc... Once you transform a stock 80 to a 'Mud vehicle, it's going to level the playing field a lot especially between a 95, 96, 97. All those years had all the same upgrades except the 40th with the "climate control". 95 got the ABS and air bags so they already had disc brakes and the better engine.
I'm sure you already know most or all of this. I would again argue for an insane level of detailed inspection of any of these and buy the one that gets the highest score, not the one with the lowest miles. The $$$ you'll spend on repairs and maintenance on a low mileage poorly cared for LC will easily surpass that spent on a well maintained higher mileage vehicle, IMO. If the 95 has no roof rack, that's one thing you won't have to deal with removing, for example.
People still take any of the years and do all the same mods and all the same interior upgrades. Stereos, speakers, sound deadener, etc... Once you transform a stock 80 to a 'Mud vehicle, it's going to level the playing field a lot especially between a 95, 96, 97. All those years had all the same upgrades except the 40th with the "climate control". 95 got the ABS and air bags so they already had disc brakes and the better engine.
I'm sure you already know most or all of this. I would again argue for an insane level of detailed inspection of any of these and buy the one that gets the highest score, not the one with the lowest miles. The $$$ you'll spend on repairs and maintenance on a low mileage poorly cared for LC will easily surpass that spent on a well maintained higher mileage vehicle, IMO. If the 95 has no roof rack, that's one thing you won't have to deal with removing, for example.
