FirstToyz
I had a 95 FZJ80 before I got the new 4runner. I thought I found gold when I started looking into the 4runner. Same vehicle as the Lexus GX470 but way less money, it has the same transmission and engine as a new 2004 LC but way less money. Plus it has all of the latest traction control used in the GX470 and new LC. I pulled my 95 FZJ80 next to the new 4th generation 4runner at the dealership and they were right about the exact same size (which I liked). The new Landcruisers are nice but they need a much bigger engine to push around that extra 1000 lbs. I don't think it is worth my money to pay $20,000 more for the same engine, drivetrain and a few more inches of room. Plus your not going to catch me driving a $60K vehicle over a bunch of rocks and logs, your not going to catch me driving a $36K vehicle over a bunch of rocks. That's what a FZJ80 with over 150K miles on it is for, unless your a multi millionare or nuts. JMHO

PS- the new 4runner is better looking then the GX470 and the 100 series LC's. I wish it was as good looking as the FZJ80's but no one has made a SUV that can compete with the looks of an 80.

FirstToyz, I don't think that it's fair to compare modified FJ80 to stock FJ100. If you want to, then wait a few years to see what the aftermarket can do with the 100 series.

Stock vs. stock...the 100 series is slightly more capable than a non-locker FJ80 and is slightly less capable than locker models.

After going through a similar comparison process to Pitbull's I purchased an 04 Limited as a replacement for my 10 year old 94 FZJ80.

I've got a fair amount of time behind the wheel behind of the, TLC FZJ80 both my modified 94 (locked) and my brother's stock 93 (unlocked), UZJ100 my father's 99 LX470 (stock), GX470 my mother's 03 (stock), & my 4th gen 4runner (stock so far).

In pure offroad ability I would rank them in the following order:
1) 94 FZJ80 (modified & locked)
2) 93 FZJ80 (stock)
3) 99 LX470/UZJ100 (stock)
4) 03 GX470/ 04 4runner (stock)

From my experience the margin is relatively small between 2,3 & 4 and the driver would make more difference than the equipment.

As far as using them as a Daily driver I would rank them in the following order:

1) GX470/4runner
2) LX470
3) Brother's stock 80
4) Modified 80

From my experience the difference is much greater here, the handling, quality of ride and perceived power decrease as you go down the list.

Fair assessment.

I only want to mention one thing, for any SUV/truck today to be a true offroad vehicle it requires some modification (yes even the Jeep Rubicon and HUmmer LOL).

As the LC have been out longer you find more stuff for it, vs the 4Runner which makes it better for now. The 80 is still tops due to its axles and vast number of stuff you canget for it. The 100 has got a lot going for it but its size and bulk counts against it. The 4Runner's biggest shortcoming is its ground clearance and lack of lift kits availible, once these are on the market I think people will see a big difference. Lets talk in 4 years again when the playing field is more leveled in terms of what people are doing with their rides.

A LX470 member on Clublexus.com recently had an accident...LX vs. tree.

Here's the link:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/show...18#post1021518

Here's the link to the aftermath pics:

http://www.jasonelcan.com/index_page...LERY/index.htm

That's a true off-set crash at speeds greater than the IIHS criteria...so, this proves just how strong the LX's frame & body! It's built the right way! Like i keep on saying, the LX's frame & body is amazingly strong! From the A pillar back, there's almost no damage at all. The front end and subframe seemed to absorbed all the impact. Wow!

So 10 years later what's the verdict?

I've had my 04, V8 4x4 Sport for about 6 years. I bought it for exactly the same reason as others mentioned same engine, trans and reliability with less weight and cost as compared to the LC100. But I still want for an LC...

Well for me at least a LX470 replaced my 4Runner as my daily driver. I kept the 4Runner around as a backup car and was saving it for my son's 1st car. I just traded the 4Runner in on a used TLC (100 series) for my son (he should get his license in about a month).

The 4Runner is a nice capable vehicle, but it's not a Land Cruiser. I owned my 2004 4x4 limited v8 for 10 years. I owned my 94 TLC (80 series) 10 years. I've owned my 06 LX470 nearly 8 years.

My minor *****es about my 4Runner:
- replaced lock solenoids in each door multiple times.
- front suspension travel seemed limited compared to 80/100 series
- headroom/visibility iritated me compared to 80/100 series
- dash spiderweb cracks
- soft brake pedal
- slack in steering
- transfer case should have a lever, not a dial
- never felt quite as solid/durable as an 80/100 series
- Nav system repair was $$$$
- Air susp repair was $$$$

Can anyone compare a TLC100 to a new 4R? Seems like they are very similar sized now.

Well maybe think about it this way...

Buy stock 4runner for 40k, put 40k worth of insane offroad rebuild into it. Now, how does your 80k 4runner go head to head with the stock 80k LC?

Or the inverse, buy a used 100 series for 15K, put 25k worth of insane offroad rebuild into it. How does your 40K stock 4runner stack up?

If a used 100 series is on the table, so is a used 4Runner. Fact is, if you're going for bang for the buck, the 4Runner is going to win every time. The LC is a luxury class vehicle and the 4Runner isn't.

That's not to say that the OP is interested in bang for the buck. There's certainly other reasons to prefer one vehicle over another.

Was under the impression that we were talking about newer vehicles based on the OP and basing on same year pricing. I suppose I could get a 5k gen one runner in good shape and do the same in reverse again...

But if we're talking 10-20 year old vehicles, the purchase price is a closer and the older LC is of course generally more offroad focused.

THe newer ones though.. the price and luxury of it... aimed at the land rover luxury crowd these days :/

And we could play the same game again, with a 40 series vs. your 1st gen 4runner, but I really wouldn't want either for a daily driver though.

And I was under the impression that the original post/thread was 4th gen 4runner vs 100 series, because of the similarities in the drivetrain but the rather extreme difference in price (when new).

No.

I was replying to the OP:

4Runner vs. Land Cruiser?

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Was wondering if anyone has experience or knowledge of how these two stack-up against each other off-road & on. Current models of each have the 4.7 engine, but the LC has a lot more mass to move around.

I'm talking pure capability, not price or comfort.

My fault for not quoting OP I guess. :/

I'm a car nerd so tend enjoy the details most aren't aware of (minutiae?) or info that's not well publicized like...

-Land Cruisers have been and continue to be manufactured at Yoshiwara which is one of their oldest assembly plants where even Mr. Toyoda himself regularly visits to stay in tune with how the most skilled Toyota engineers ply their long-held trade...

-Each 200 series Land Cruiser powertrain is fine-tuned by a Toyota takumi so even if the Tundra and LC share the 5.7 powerplant, they're not only assembled in different countries, but presumably assembled to a higher standard...

They've sold on average less than 3K 200 series LCs a year in the USA. In fact, Mercedes sold more G63 AMGs in 2015 than the Land Cruiser. The bigger sales numbers come out of the Middle East, Australia and mulitnational NGOs like the United Nations. Unfortunately, the LC is quite popular with terrorist groups like ISIS.

Bottom-line: The Land Cruiser is world-class in more ways than one.

Takumi, Toyota's Secret Weapons To Train The Robots