Swap 4Runner for LC

[DCOURTS1984]

Curious to hear everyone's thoughts here. I have a 2015 Trail Premium 4Runner with 50k miles on it. Stock except new Cooper Discoverer AT3's. What I'm thinking of doing it selling the 4Runner and buying a 1997 Land Cruise in mint condition with 100k miles.

I will not be using either for daily driving. More for the weekends and mountain house. Good idea or bad?

Ps - I would net approx $15k in cash on the move

 

[Cymon]

If it’s not a daily and your going to net cash...f-ing go for it! 5th gens are a dime a dozen. Low mileage 80’s series in good condition = Unicorn.

 

[tristero]

100k FZJ80 in mint condition is a unicorn. I'd buy it now and worry about what I'd do with the 4Runner later.

 

[shrub1]

Agree with the others.
If that LC is an honest truck, I'd do it too.
The word mint is thrown around a lot these days. Be certain it really is and your not buying a polished turd.

 

[2012sr5]

Was the LC totally restored, or just in really great original condition? How's the frame? Is there rust? How are the seals? I'd get it inspected by a trusted independent mechanic.

 

[p0pe]

Trade it if it checks out!

 

[Vinsil]

I’ve owned two 80’s. They have theirs own and quirks and awesome in their own respect. Do you plan to lift, armor and USE it? If not, the 5th gen covers everything but having a solid front axle better. My last one had a 6” Slee lift and 37’s. Rocked Offroad. 9 mpg average with 5.29 gears and sucked to drive on road. I look at 80’s like the wagon that CAN Offroad well but you gotta dump cash into them to do that with armor. And deal with birfields and maintenance in the front end. If your not handy, don’t.

 

[TexasTEQFan]

Depends on the plans and whether the 80 is locked (if you want to wheel it)

Love both my LCs, neither is an 80 and I don’t know if I’d have an 80 that needs to serve both as the DD and adventure rig. If you don’t do a lot of driving, can wrench a little and want something that will take you anywhere then go for it.

 

[Jetboy]

Another person who's spent a lot of time in both and wheeled them side by side - IMO a 4runner is a better swiss army knife. If a lot of highway time is in your future - keep the 4runner. That's where the compromises are made and it shows. The 4runner is just a lot better highway cruiser. It's a lot more fuel efficient both on and off the road. Probably double the range on the stock fuel tank off road in the 4runner. The 4runner has a really good underbelly as far as keeping everything high, tight, and protected. And honestly the 4runner in stock vs stock form would be very similar to an FJ80. IMO it is a modern 80 moreso than the LC200. I've been around with a lot of 80's. The 4runner is always a surprise in ability. For an easy example I drove 700 miles from northern utah to California, did the trail over 5 days (mostly camping time) and drove home. With 34" tires I still recorded a net MPG including all the trail miles of 14.8 on the dash. Correcting for tire size that's about 16mpg loaded with campign gear, fridge, solar, awning, and jack on top. I couldn't come close to that in my FJ40 - or towing the FJ40. I don't think you'd get even 10mpg in a FJ80 that's ready for the trails. So the trip costs $150-200 less just for fuel difference. If I build another trail rig - it'll probably be an 80. But I wouldn't choose it as my only vehicle because I spend the vast majority of my miles on the highway.

Where the FJ80 really shines is build potential. For cost of built 4runner you could very easily do an LSx swap with a 6L80 transmission and run 40's in your FJ80. For just a few dollars (relatively) you can have the 80 on 35s and run a lot of pretty hardcore trails with a family. The 80 also carries weight better IMO.

 

[mnofpeace]

i vote to keep the T4R...that LC is just a little old for me...but i get the debate.

I found an '09 LC on cars.com the other day, with 90K on the clocks, for $28k in the DC area...if i had found that when i was searching for my '14 Rnnr, that wouldnt have been a tough call to make...id be the owner of a very nice black LC today...i can tell you that much...

i already feel some kind of way when my wife takes the Rnnr "i love you, but no-its not OURS, its minez-my daily driver, just like that convertible out there is YOURZ...but i guess ill share"...i cant imagine how id feel if i had that LC in the driveway...with the luxury it adds to the equation, she'd be in that thing every chance she'd get. :frusty:

 

[TexasTEQFan]

Yeah the Wifey and carz conundrum, she won't drive the 40 but love's the 100. I cant' imagine having a 2 Hundy

 

[wfo9]

The 80 may require a lot of tinkering to keep it running. As great as they are.. they have plenty of problems for the non-mechanically inclined. I would not hesitate to own one, but I would not recommend it to someone who can't fix their own stuff. For the enthusiast.. they are great. Just under powered for what people expect today.

Basically a big tank that can take lots of abuse. With proper upgrades they can run 40" tires and hold together. Too big to be a super hard core rig though. Still can't keep up with jeeps.... but rock solid in open terrain.

 

[Jetboy]

Someone brought a hundy on the Rubicon this year. He made it through with some body damage and no breakage. - more than I could say for quite a few FJ40's, 60's and 80's. He's a very good driver. But the 100 is a big girl if you want to hit the trails in it. You can see that it hit the front ARB hard enough to bend the outer end 3 inches up into the fender. The rear bumper got crinkled pretty good too. Can't remember what brand it was. If you're okay with making it a trail rig - it's a great option for do-it-all use.


Those are 35's on the hundy BTW. They don't look that big.

Edit: added another pic to give an idea of what he was going through in that beast. The new LC's look soft - but they're a wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

[jrandom]

I tend to agree what what others are saying too, buy the LC if you plan to be away from services (ie off-road), are mechanically inclined, and if it is solid.

the 2 cents, if you have an issue on the trail, you are more likely to be able to completely fix an issue (particularly electrical) in the '97 LC than a '15 4runner (of course baring a complete failure)

 

[LTDBLKTRD]

I’ve been contemplating the later ‘13+ lc lately, but I’ve done things with my 4runner to make it more of what I am into/using it for and I like the fuel mileage I’ve been getting out of it vs what I would get from the 5.7 v8. I’ve got a 5.7 on deck when the v6 decides to go, just need to get the right bell housing

 

[JSparky]

Good comments so far. This is not a simple comparison for me.

First off, have you spent much time behind the wheel of the 80? I own both and drive my 80 more, but it’s personal preference and keeps miles down on my 4R. LC has full time 4wd which is great in the snow, but the brakes on the 4Runner are superior, especially if you’ll be towing and/or in the hills a lot. 4Runner also gets you VSC and downhill assist, if that makes any difference. And then there’s the whole solid front axle vs IFS aspect, each has their pros/cons that are situationally dependent on where and what you’re using the vehicle for.

Big advantage of the 80 from a performance aspect is the build potential, like others have said. I’m on Slee’s 4” and 37’s and feel it handles great.. for what it is. At those lifts you’re looking at new drivelines and part time 4wd conversions, chromoly axles if you’re wheeling hard, etc. 2” coils gets you on 35’s without as many issues, arguably a more “logical” approach. It’s also 20 years old and frankly just don’t have to worry about damaging it as much.

Another aspect would be the fact that good condition 80’s are holding value, if not increasing, whereas the 6th gen 4R is around the corner. If I was getting out of a 5th gen now would be a good time. You could always sell the 80 at near no loss in a year or two to get into something else if you wanted.

A 100 would be a more direct comparison imo. I love those as well; v8, better seats, same great visibility, smoother ride, massive ifs components (sans the early model diffs), similar timeless aesthetic.

Hope that helps. I wouldn’t hesitate if your hearts in it, 80’s are a pretty fluid market and like someone else said, 4Runners are everywhere.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D-z2HMnJp30