So much want!!!

[hrothgar02]

How come we never get the cool overseas versions here in the US?! Toyota, you had me at twin turbo diesel V8.

Toyota releases extra tough Land Cruiser GX for Australia

There are many reasons to love Australia. Beautiful beaches, fantastic surfing, miles of unspoiled countryside and balmy winters all do much to stoke our appreciation of the country. We can now add the bare-bones Toyota Land Cruiser GX to that list. Toyota says that it created this particular vehicle for those customers who "tend to abuse, not just drive" their vehicles. That certainly sounds like our kind of people.

The Land Cruiser GX features vinyl floor mats, vertically-hinged rear barn doors, 17-inch steel wheels and, best of all, a snorkel. Yes, this Land Cruiser comes from the factory with not only the ability to ford deep water, but the intent, as well.

In addition to the aquatic equipment, the Land Cruiser GX is packed with an auxiliary fuel tank for traversing the open wastes, plenty of under-body protection and an honest-to-goodness metal key. A 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 diesel engine sits at the heart of this beast of burden coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with full-time four-wheel drive courtesy of a Torsen differential. We're in love. Follow the jump for the full press release.

 

[ClockWork]

Hands down one of, if not the most over-engineered and over-built vehicle on the planet. FWIW Toyota rates the LC's (100 & 200) has their Heavy Duty trucks and the Prado(over the pond)/4R (120 series) as Light Duty. It was designed for over 5 years by a team of over 1500 engineers. There simply is no other truck like this. Toyota spared no expense in the research, design, or testing. It also receives the most through quality inspections before leaving the factory in Japan.

It went on a 100,000km durability test throughout the US for highway performance and deep snow, the Saudi Arabian desert to test the AC and cooling systems, and all throughout Australia.

Some of the 100's and 105's came from the factory with a winch and 2 spare tires, I'm sure there are similar offerings for the 200.

My 100 and the current LC are my favorite cars - by far.

 

[KCcarguy]

I want one, damn it. I still like the 100's better.

 

[KCcarguy]

Hands down one of, if not the most over-engineered and over-built vehicle on the planet. FWIW Toyota rates the LC's (100 & 200) has their Heavy Duty trucks and the Prado(over the pond)/4R (120 series) as Light Duty.

I wonder how much of an improvement the 150 really is over the 120? Do you think it's approaching the strength of the LC frame? I know the prado/ 4runner are supposedly light-duty, but I like to think there are plenty of them out there (especially prados) being used/ abused and holding up just fine. And what about the legendary Hilux? Aren't those a 120/ 150 platform also?

 

[ClockWork]

I wonder how much of an improvement the 150 really is over the 120? Do you think it's approaching the strength of the LC frame? I know the prado/ 4runner are supposedly light-duty, but I like to think there are plenty of them out there (especially prados) being used/ abused and holding up just fine. And what about the legendary Hilux? Aren't those a 120/ 150 platform also?

Honestly, I have looked under the 4th and 5th Generation 4Runners. I have a Mech-E background and was intrigued by the differences. The frames are identical aside from some slight additional bracing to help prevent the front fender rippling. They are two ridiculously puny cross braces under the front-diff support. Watching both off-road (4th and 5th) the amount of front frame flex is scary when the suspension is loaded on opposing ends. The only point Toyota noted increasing strength in on the 5th gen was the front LCAs as they are prone to complete failure on the 4th Gen even with no off-road history.

Everything is double the size on the LC - at least. It has nearly the same wheelbase(.5") and weighs ~1200lbs more. Decked out and loaded, there are some 100s that weight nearly 8k pounds. 200s will obviously weigh slightly more.

To put it in perspective. The front diff on the 100 and 200 is larger than the rear of the 4R.

Now, I'm not saying the 4th/5th are weak in anyway - as you've stated they're abused daily - especially the Prado's in Australia where it has won #1 mid-size off road vehicle for numerous consecutive years now. The Cruiser is in a different league and it is evident when driving it - even on road.

 

[ClockWork]

This is what you're paying for:







The 100 series frame was already the strongest on the road. Toyota improved the design by increasing torsional rigidity by 40% and flexural amount by 20% with new hydro-forming techniques.

Put some front and rear armor on this thing and you've literally got a tank.

Yes, I'm obsessed with this truck.

 

[offroadingatc]

Thats upsettingly awesome.

 

[Batang.Gapo]

I've used this vehicle back in the 90's when I used to work in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Hands down to LC... :cheers:

I wish Toyota Canada offers this marvelous vehicle up here.

 

[hrothgar02]

Is it weird that I got a tingely sensation in my pants after viewing those pictures?

 

[KCcarguy]

I have considered trading my bimmer and 4runner on a LC 200. My main concern is the thing is so damn big I'm not sure it would fit a lot of trails. I also think I might regret selling my sportscar when the 4runner is probably all I would ever need. I also thought about a LC 100.

My issue with the LC vs 4runner is long-term durability. I think you could probably buy a LC and it would be the last SUV you'd ever need to purchase. A lot of guys around here spend big $$$ on heavy-duty pickups for the same reason. You buy it and keep it. The 4runner....not so sure.

This is a concern for me because I think the off-road capable SUV might be a thing of the past in the next 10 years or so. I want something I can use years down the road. I'm hoping the 4runner will hold up, but I do worry.....probably just being paranoid.

 

[Jtraskell]

I have considered trading my bimmer and 4runner on a LC 200. My main concern is the thing is so damn big I'm not sure it would fit a lot of trails. I also think I might regret selling my sportscar when the 4runner is probably all I would ever need. I also thought about a LC 100.

My issue with the LC vs 4runner is long-term durability. I think you could probably buy a LC and it would be the last SUV you'd ever need to purchase. A lot of guys around here spend big $$$ on heavy-duty pickups for the same reason. You buy it and keep it. The 4runner....not so sure.

This is a concern for me because I think the off-road capable SUV might be a thing of the past in the next 10 years or so. I want something I can use years down the road. I'm hoping the 4runner will hold up, but I do worry.....probably just being paranoid.

I feel your quandary. Anybody buying just about any vehicle today runs the risk of all of us driving electric smart cars 10 years from now! But really, you got to go with what you know. If you love the LC, get it now or risk never having the ownership experience. And assuming we are not all driving electric smart cars 10 years from now, how good is the LC resell value? If good, then I suspect your ownership experience will not be all that expensive over time....just a thought.

 

[ClockWork]

I have considered trading my bimmer and 4runner on a LC 200. My main concern is the thing is so damn big I'm not sure it would fit a lot of trails. I also think I might regret selling my sportscar when the 4runner is probably all I would ever need. I also thought about a LC 100.

My issue with the LC vs 4runner is long-term durability. I think you could probably buy a LC and it would be the last SUV you'd ever need to purchase. A lot of guys around here spend big $$$ on heavy-duty pickups for the same reason. You buy it and keep it. The 4runner....not so sure.

This is a concern for me because I think the off-road capable SUV might be a thing of the past in the next 10 years or so. I want something I can use years down the road. I'm hoping the 4runner will hold up, but I do worry.....probably just being paranoid.

Cruisers are designed to have 25 year duty cycles in the worlds harshest climates. They are the UN's go to vehicles for hauling people in and out of the the most remote places on the planet. It was the first production car to cross Antarctica and the only choice among rich Oil Sheikhs to go blast about in the desert. On road, a well maintained LC will run forever - it is a car passed down through generations. In fact, Toyota engineers actually stated that the 80 series LC was easily a 1 million mile vehicle. There hundreds of people who beat the **** out of 80s with 250k+ on the trail and wouldn't think twice about driving them across the country with their family. The 100 series has proven to be just as, if not more reliable as there are multiple daily drivers nearing 200k that drive like new. My first 99 Cruiser was sold with 100k on it and had no issues, we've put 125k on our 2004 since new and the thing hasn't even needed a light bulb.

Regarding durability of the 4R. In what sense? Drive train or general robustness and construction. This is why the 4th gen V8 was such a unique car - it has the exact same transmission and V8 as the 100 series cruiser and the newer 200's VF-4 Torsen center differential. As seen on here, there are numerous 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation 4Rs that are still out and about. Driven under the same conditions as the LC; however, the 4R would not last as long. I've said it before, everything is at least twice as big. The sheet metal is far thicker on the body and driving it feels more sure-footed and planted. Nothing phases the LC.

Lastly, not everyone can appreciate the safety aspects that these vehicles provide. It's sold in over 45 countries and the Cruiser had to meet all the requirements of each country.

-US Side Impact
-Japanese OSA
-German offset and rollover tests

These include fuel line protection, high strength steel in the roof, seat framing and countless other necessities that domestically mass produced junk just doesn't offer. There is a user on another forum who had 4 adults in his 100 and hit a Subaru Forester at approximately 70mph. The cruiser proceeded to break the back half of the Subaru off essentially cutting it in half. The cruiser sustained ~18k in damage. They drove it 200 miles home after the accident and it is their current daily driver. There simply is NO vehicle on the road like the Land Cruiser. As Toyota says, it is the "Ultimate King of All Roads".

I should sell these things part time. Most of the ret@rds at the dealer know nothing about them.

 

[kmiller8821]

I should sell these things part time. Most of the ret@rds at the dealer know nothing about them.

I sold my 98 LC with around 130k and it, too, had 0 issues at all. The only reason I sold it is because the 98 didn't have rear A/C, and it was getting a bit hot on the 3rd row. I later ended up getting a 4runner because the full time 4wd/v8 in my crusier was just sucking gas up. Loved the truck tho, the 98 was the first year the DOHC v8 was introduced in the cruiser. I miss that "air tight" like cabin, I could always feel the pressure on those vents directly behind my 3rd row windows. (That I had to open from the dash because there was no control in the actual 3rd row seat. lol) Anyway, it was a great truck. The new crusiers are just WAYYYY to expensive compared to where they were back when I got mine in 98.

 

[ClockWork]

I sold my 98 LC with around 130k and it, too, had 0 issues at all. The only reason I sold it is because the 98 didn't have rear A/C, and it was getting a bit hot on the 3rd row. I later ended up getting a 4runner because the full time 4wd/v8 in my crusier was just sucking gas up. Loved the truck tho, the 98 was the first year the DOHC v8 was introduced in the cruiser. I miss that "air tight" like cabin, I could always feel the pressure on those vents directly behind my 3rd row windows. (That I had to open from the dash because there was no control in the actual 3rd row seat. lol) Anyway, it was a great truck. The new crusiers are just WAYYYY to expensive compared to where they were back when I got mine in 98.

Yea those vents actually are functional. It's pretty neat to feel the rush of air out of them when the AC is full blast when hot out.

 

[Qroll]

All I can say is... Holy **** I want one!!!

 

[KCcarguy]

Wikipedia says the 200 series in based on the 2nd gen Tundra frame. So what are tue differences between a sequoia frame/ chassis and a LC200.?

 

[ClockWork]

That is 100% wrong. The Tundra frame is not even fully boxed - it is weaker than the 120, 150 and 200 series' frames.

The Sequoia is the Camry of Toyota's SUVs and is made in Indiana. There is no comparison.

 

[KCcarguy]

OK. Just playing devil's advocate here because I'm a huge LC fan. A new LC costs more than twice what a 4runner does, so I don't think it's a fair comparison.....though a used LC is more appropriate. This was my thought process when I bought my 4runner:

A brand new 4runner is about the same price as a 6-8 year-old LC 100 with 60-80k miles. I've heard a LC can be reasonably expected to go 300k mies. There are a ton of 4runners out there with 200k miles. So, aren't you going to get about the same length of service out of each vehicle? You have no idea where the LC has been and how it has been treated. Which is a better purchase for a long-term workhorse/ family hauler?

I know LC's are built for the harshest environments, etc. But anyone who watches the news knows there are lots of toyota pickups in the developing world getting the hell beat out of them on a daily basis. And, since the 4runner is essentially a toyota pickup, shouldn't it hold up pretty well too?

Does anyone know if the J150 shares any components/ construction with the pickups I mentioned above (hilux)?

Finally, stock-for-stock, I'd bet a 4runner TE would be superior off-road to a US spec LC 200 or later model LC 100 (without locker).

 

[ClockWork]

It's all subjective about which vehicle to own. 80k on an LC is nothing and the majority of them are driven by soccer moms.

It's a better family hauler for the size and safety IMO.

Off road is different things. The LC and 4R were never meant to be rock crawlers. The advantage that the 4R has over the LC is size.

I'd take the LC any day over the 4R and I have both.

 

[KCcarguy]

It's all subjective about which vehicle to own. 80k on an LC is nothing and the majority of them are driven by soccer moms.

It's a better family hauler for the size and safety IMO.

Off road is different things. The LC and 4R were never meant to be rock crawlers. The advantage that the 4R has over the LC is size.

I'd take the LC any day over the 4R and I have both.

The soccer mom thing is a good point. However, soccer moms are the ones likely to forget about changing their oil, etc.

After looking seriously at both I'll agree with you on about everything except the size. If by size, you mean mass; and mass=safety, you're correct. However, the interior dimensions of the 5th gen are very close to the LC 100. I used a tape measure and found the cargo area of each vehicle is within an inch in each direction. The only advantage the LC has is shoulder/ head room. The second row legroom in the LC is pretty poor (seems less than the 4runner) and the third-row is a joke (so is the 4runner's). Those seats in the LC are like butta though, lol.

....I still want one, damn it. :redbrick: