Land Cruiser 100 series vs V8 4Runner?

[Donoharm]

Trying to decide between the two... I need something that can tow a boat, 2 kids, and swallow the potholes on my 5 mile daily commute through poorly maintained roads. Has anyone had experience with both? Market prices in the New England region for a 2006 V8 4Runner are about the same as a 2004 Land Cruiser making it a real choice.

 

[alpinhi]

I have never driven a 100 series before however my wife drives a Sequoia. The Sequoia and my T4R both have the 4.7L V8. I would think the 100 and the Sequoia would be comparable in size, weight, and wind resistance.
That said the T4R pulls our camper much better that the Sequoia. The Sequoia has the same engine but weighs 1500 lbs more. Toyota put 4.11 gears in the Sequoia to help compensate for the extra weight and wind resistance of the larger vehicle. When we tow with the Sequoia it is constantly wandering thru gears even with the over drive off. When it does hold 4th gear we are turning 3100 rpm at 70 mph. Our Sequoia is rated to tow 6500 (not sure about the 100) and I would never pull that much with it. The T4R is rated to tow 7000lbs and 4th gear at 70 mph I'm turning 2700 rpm due to the fact that I have 3.73 gears and slightly oversized tires.
We live on 3 miles of gravel and washboard before hitting pavement. The T4R has the XREAS suspension and sucks up the bumps much better than the Sequoia. I think the Sequoia suspension is worn out though, it's coming up on 200k and we will trade it off before the timing belt is due. I looked at a 100 series efore picking up T4R but decided on the runner after towing with the Sequoia. Smaller lighter vehicle with the same engine made a huge difference for us. That's my 2 cents. Good luck with your search!!

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[ARunner]

Both are great. Obvious downsides to the Landcruiser are size/weight and therefore fuel mileage. Other than the cost of fuel, I'd rather be driving a LC. It should tow better than the 4Runner with the longer wheelbase. It's gong to be wider as well. There's no debating the LC is the higher end vehicle and so anything the 4Runner has, you can be sure the LC has equal or better accommodations.

The reality is you can buy a newer 4Runner with fewer miles for the same money compared to a land cruiser.

 

[flipflopnfly]

100 Series Land Cruiser has 9.8 inches ground clearance and a 25.4 gallon fuel tank. 31/24/24 approach/breakover/departure. 4runner has 9.1, 23 gallon tank, and 26/24/24. LC can tow 6500 with the 4.7l, so can the 4Runner.

Advantage, Land Cruiser. The trouble is finding a Land Cruiser.

I looked for 100 and 80 series Land Cruisers, couldn't find one that wasn't used up, they were all beat to hell .

Land Cruiser and 4Runner 4.7's are somewhat similar in specs and I had to buy what is available. 4Runner is fine with me, I know the 4.7 well since I have a 2005 Tundra 4.7. I would have liked a Land Cruiser, but there was no hope of finding one with 100k miles on it like the 4Runner I bought. The extra .7 inches ground clearance and the extra 2.4 gallons gas tank I won't lament about too much.

 

[alpinhi]

Valid points, I like both vehicles and I kinda wish I had a 100 series to build up. They are cool trucks for sure.
Yes the longer wheelbase does provide a more stable towing platform. I have a
3/4 ton diesel so it was tough for me to say any SUV towed well. I just think the T4R pulls better than the Sequoia. I also forgot to mention we use a load equalizer and anti-sway hitch when we pull the camper. I pulled the camper with out it once and it did move around too much for my liking. I don't know much a boats but I highly doubt you will use/need it while pulling yous. I'm sure would pull just fine you, I just wanted to throw my experiences with 4R vs. Sequoia, I thought they might be somewhat comparable. If you like the 100 then I say go for it. I about threw up after I traded my Rubicon for the T4R but we really wanted an offroad and tow vehicle. The T4R has really grown on me.


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[Frontline]

Looks at the Lexus version of the 100. You can find a lot of them very lightly used. They don't wear out with soccer moms driving them but they become no longer fashionable as they don't have the newest body style. I was going heavy down that track before finding the deal I did on my 4Runner.


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[07V8]

100 series is in a different league. My family has had two, they are the most over built trucks on the planet. Far exceed the 4R from a quality and durability standpoint. I do love my 4R though. Exact same drivetrain

There is a reason you can buy 2 4Runners for the price of a land cruiser. There is also a reason one weighs 1300lbs more than the other with nearly identical dimensions. Look underneath.

 

[94toy22re]

Same motor but the either model 05+ will have VVT-I which adds a few extra HP. Same transmission and transfer case only difference is the 4runner uses a electric actuator to engage low while the landcruiser is manual engaged, Landcruiser has a beefier rear axle and has a locking rear end (not sure if the front diff is bigger), 4runner uses coil springs in the front while landcruiser uses torsion bars.

4runner should average 2-3 mpg better then the landcruiser in the same conditions. Don't forget to checkout the Lexus GX470!

 

[flipflopnfly]

I'm danged, Toyota tuned the 4.7l VVT-i V8 different ways.

2006 Land Cruiser - 275hp @ 4800rpm, 332 ft-lbs @3400rpm

2006 Tundra - 271hp @ 5200rpm, 315 ft-lbs @3400rpm

2006 4Runner - 260hp @ 5400rpm, 306 ft-lbs @3400rpm

Look at those numbers and the Land Cruiser comes out on top. Find one for cheap and you're ahead of the numbers game.

 

[sambishop]

I drive an 05 v8 4runner and my mom drives an 03 Land Cruiser. Everyone above me just told you spec wise why the Land Cruiser might be the better option but I can tell as someone who drives it and my 4runner regularly, the LC is the better choice. As someone else stated though, they are so incredibly hard to find. I read something that said Toyota sells only 3,000 LC a year or something along those lines.

 

[duffdog]

I'm danged, Toyota tuned the 4.7l VVT-i V8 different ways.

2006 Land Cruiser - 275hp @ 4800rpm, 332 ft-lbs @3400rpm

2006 Tundra - 271hp @ 5200rpm, 315 ft-lbs @3400rpm

2006 4Runner - 260hp @ 5400rpm, 306 ft-lbs @3400rpm

Look at those numbers and the Land Cruiser comes out on top. Find one for cheap and you're ahead of the numbers game.

I highly doubt there is any type of "tuning" difference. There is simply more room on a bigger car for larger diameter exhaust manifolds on the v8 and differences in the emissions systems which would account for the differences. For instance, why is it that the 2005 v8 4runner the most powerful 270hp 320tq while all subsequent years happen to have less power? Typically this is because of emissions equipment changes.

 

[flipflopnfly]

I highly doubt there is any type of "tuning" difference. There is simply more room on a bigger car for larger diameter exhaust manifolds on the v8 and differences in the emissions systems which would account for the differences. For instance, why is it that the 2005 v8 4runner the most powerful 270hp 320tq while all subsequent years happen to have less power? Typically this is because of emissions equipment changes.

I'm not an automotive engineer to know about all the various ways the same engine can have the differences I noted above. I do know the '05 Tundra accelerates more easily than this '07 4Runner with the same 4.7l V8. Sported around in the '05 this morning, driving the two back to back the difference was noticeable on the same roads.

Of course the '05 was in 2WD, the '07 4Runner fulltime 4WD. The '05 weighs 4920lbs, I know that for sure, I had to weigh it to register it. The '07 is supposedly 4530 lbs curb weight, but from past experience I think manufacturers published curb weights are low. I bet the 4Runner as is today is at least 4800lbs.

I'm just putting out some numbers for people to look at, and by the way after 2005 the SAE testing standards changed for engine output, HP and torque numbers. I think across the board numbers dropped in 2006+ with the same engine.

The '07 4Runner doesn't have a stuck caliper, I thought that may be something to look at, but I'm averaging about 19mpg over six fillups so far and touching the wheels after driving I'm not feeling any heat difference between the four wheels.

 

[flipflopnfly]

I have never driven a 100 series before however my wife drives a Sequoia. The Sequoia and my T4R both have the 4.7L V8. I would think the 100 and the Sequoia would be comparable in size, weight, and wind resistance.
That said the T4R pulls our camper much better that the Sequoia. The Sequoia has the same engine but weighs 1500 lbs more. Toyota put 4.11 gears in the Sequoia to help compensate for the extra weight and wind resistance of the larger vehicle. When we tow with the Sequoia it is constantly wandering thru gears even with the over drive off. When it does hold 4th gear we are turning 3100 rpm at 70 mph. Our Sequoia is rated to tow 6500 (not sure about the 100) and I would never pull that much with it. The T4R is rated to tow 7000lbs and 4th gear at 70 mph I'm turning 2700 rpm due to the fact that I have 3.73 gears and slightly oversized tires.
We live on 3 miles of gravel and washboard before hitting pavement. The T4R has the XREAS suspension and sucks up the bumps much better than the Sequoia. I think the Sequoia suspension is worn out though, it's coming up on 200k and we will trade it off before the timing belt is due. I looked at a 100 series efore picking up T4R but decided on the runner after towing with the Sequoia. Smaller lighter vehicle with the same engine made a huge difference for us. That's my 2 cents. Good luck with your search!!

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I looked at some used Sequoias also before I bought the 4Runner, there was some very nice ones with low miles, much better price point than the 4Runner but we were looking to downsize from the Tundra. Well, I was looking to downsize anyway, that Tundra takes up too much room in the garage and the Sequoia is 14 inches longer than the 4Runner. A good thing about the Sequoia is the 10.5 inches ground clearance.

 

[S Brake]

I just went through this same decision process. Eventually I settled on a 4th gen. If money were no issue, I would have gone with a nice low mileage 100 series. I'll most likely be buying a house in the next three to four months so I had to make the frugal decision rather than the fun decision. All the 100's in the price range of the 4th gens I looked at had well over 300,000 miles. I also liked the (marginally) better gas mileage of the 4Runner since it will be my DD.
I'll probably get a cruiser at some point in the future, but for me the V8 4Runner was a good compromise.
Another thing that kept me from getting a 100 series is that I'd be too tempted to mod the crap out of it, the 4Runner will be a much more mild list of mods.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Looks at the Lexus version of the 100. You can find a lot of them very lightly used. They don't wear out with soccer moms driving them but they become no longer fashionable as they don't have the newest body style. I was going heavy down that track before finding the deal I did on my 4Runner.


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I'd actually be cautious on those, you're looking at expensive repairs for stuff. My stepdad's LX470 needed $2500 (my cost in parts, no labor) of suspension parts to fix the "ride height/adjustable dampening system" accumulators (x4) and like 2 liters of super secret Toyota/Lexus Suspension Fluid. There's a reason the GX470's and LX470's are cheaper than their Toyota counter parts. Part of the reason is that the Lexus stuff on them goes bad and it's ridiculously expensive to fix...

 

[grave]

I just went through this same decision process. Eventually I settled on a 4th gen. If money were no issue, I would have gone with a nice low mileage 100 series. I'll most likely be buying a house in the next three to four months so I had to make the frugal decision rather than the fun decision. All the 100's in the price range of the 4th gens I looked at had well over 300,000 miles. I also liked the (marginally) better gas mileage of the 4Runner since it will be my DD.
I'll probably get a cruiser at some point in the future, but for me the V8 4Runner was a good compromise.
Another thing that kept me from getting a 100 series is that I'd be too tempted to mod the crap out of it, the 4Runner will be a much more mild list of mods.

i'm in this same boat. i want something 4WD that will last forever, but i just can't justify a LC without having a family and while saving for a house. the gas mileage is terrible and they are more expensive to buy used than a 4th gen. i don't NEED anything right now and my wife is quite the roadblock for this reason. she's quite frugal. "your truck is fine," she says. "it's in good shape and treats us very well" she says. "you don't need a new truck" she says, but i'm like, "WE NEED 4WD AND A TOYOTA." she said the only way i can get something new (old) is if i can sell my truck and get something for the same price, so i spent five hours detailing it last weekend and bought for sale signs on monday.

if money and worrying about MPG weren't really an issue, i'd be in an '05/06 UZJ100 right now. but i have come to love 4th gen T4rs. we're trying to start a family and a 4r will last us until we outgrow it, which is when we'll buy that LC.

good luck with your decision, OP! i'm sure you won't be disappointed either way. if you haven't already, you should head over to ih8mud and join.

 

[Donoharm]

i'm in this same boat. i want something 4WD that will last forever, but i just can't justify a LC without having a family and while saving for a house. the gas mileage is terrible and they are more expensive to buy used than a 4th gen. i don't NEED anything right now and my wife is quite the roadblock for this reason. she's quite frugal. "your truck is fine," she says. "it's in good shape and treats us very well" she says. "you don't need a new truck" she says, but i'm like, "WE NEED 4WD AND A TOYOTA." she said the only way i can get something new (old) is if i can sell my truck and get something for the same price, so i spent five hours detailing it last weekend and bought for sale signs on monday.

if money and worrying about MPG weren't really an issue, i'd be in an '05/06 UZJ100 right now. but i have come to love 4th gen T4rs. we're trying to start a family and a 4r will last us until we outgrow it, which is when we'll buy that LC.

good luck with your decision, OP! i'm sure you won't be disappointed either way. if you haven't already, you should head over to ih8mud and join.

Thanks. yeah I'm actually also super frugal and have been driving a perfectly amazing honda civic that will probably last however long I want it to... However, I work in the medical field and recently moved to the rural Northeast where there seem to be waaay more trucks and SUV's than CA and I see too many people being hit in smaller cars. Even brand new ones with great safety features have a difficult time dealing with F=mass*velocity^2 when T-boned from a truck weighing 2-3 times as much as itself.