What's your take on best SUV ever made?
- Thread starter jman11788
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stevesnj
Guest
40 series and 80 series Land Cruiser's
But I do like 4Runners, the mini LC's
But I do like 4Runners, the mini LC's
PitbullRescuer
New member
Land Rover Defender 90 if money were no object. Since it is, best all around IMO is the 3rd Gen 4Runner. Not terribly expensive to buy, parts are cheap, very DIY friendly and don't cost a lot to operate.
Ahhh, icic. Yeah, I don't quite have experience with these vehicles...but I have seen them at off road spots I've been to. Seems like in the US I see more old Chevys/Fords/Dodges with huge V8s and huge tires and the rest of the world likes the smaller SUVs with smaller diesels like the hilux, prado, etc.
OK, my list:
1) FJ80: solid axles, lockers, roomy, proven off road able worldwide
2) Land Rover Defender: same reasons as above
3) Jeep Wrangler TJ (though I love the CJ7 design best): cheap, lots of aftermarket support, solid axles, easy to work on, design hasn't changed much in almost a century..so it must be good!
Of course I love my 3rd gen, but haven't had a chance to take it off road yet. 3rd gen also has ALOT of aftermarket support (at least compared to my previous Nissan Titan), but it's my opinion that anything that comes stock with IFS isn't truly designed for hard off road duty (please don't hang me for saying that!). That being said, I love that the 3rd gen is a great mix of both city driving comfort and off road capability. If I wanted a balance of both worlds (which I do)...my #1 choice would be a 3rd gen (hence, I am now a 3rd gen owner).
zooroadbaja
New member
I have to agree the 80 series is awesome, minus the 10mpg. The whole reason I sold the LX450 and bought a 3rd Gen Runner. But if I could have any it'd be a FJ70 Troopy.
I'm saying 3rd gen 4runner's, as an SUV by deffinition, Sports, and Utility vehicle, i dont think much else comes close. The FJ80 is amazing dont get me wrong, i'd die for one, but i think as a cross between something amazing offroad, amazing on road, handles well, is comfortable, practical, and fun to drive, nothing beats a 3rd gen.
No jokes, i drift my 4runner in rear wheel drive, and can hit roughly 70-80kms going around a few of the corners(guessed by entry and exit speeds), and sustain it all the way through, this is because they are incredibly balanced, and mine is mostly stock(in the snow i almost forgot to mention) Ive also left guys behind whipping through logging mountain roads, because their cars would under steer too much to keep up.
Jeeps, im sorry, are all horrible, and certainly dont handle remotely well, and even the new 2 door wrangler is amazingly cheap, uncomfortable and impracitcal. 90's cherokee's were "good", nothing more, and Jeeps have been kind of a joke for a long time, especially wranglers.
The first SUV classed vehicle if im not mistaken was a Lada Niva, which is actually fantastic if you can get it to work long enough, and i think might deserve a spot on here more than others.
Suzuki Samurai, compared to a bunch of these nominees, the Samy is a real winner. Damn easy to work on, well balanced, small and amazing offroad. You should see the guys in $2000 Samurai's kick the asses of Wrangler rigs costing a good laugh more. Also easily swappable for toyota parts, like axles, a set of T100's goes on one with hardly any modification, newer Sidekick motors go in them incredibly easy as well. In countries like Japan, Samurai's are probably used offroad more than Toyota's, known as the Jimny now though.
Still, hands down winner, is 3rd gen, after market and mod support is incredible, the 3rz especially, LCE really likes this motor, uses a W59, so if find yourself turbo'd stick a w58 in there from a Supra, or if u want smaller ratio's, a w56 from a 1st gen, no modding needed.
No jokes, i drift my 4runner in rear wheel drive, and can hit roughly 70-80kms going around a few of the corners(guessed by entry and exit speeds), and sustain it all the way through, this is because they are incredibly balanced, and mine is mostly stock(in the snow i almost forgot to mention) Ive also left guys behind whipping through logging mountain roads, because their cars would under steer too much to keep up.
Jeeps, im sorry, are all horrible, and certainly dont handle remotely well, and even the new 2 door wrangler is amazingly cheap, uncomfortable and impracitcal. 90's cherokee's were "good", nothing more, and Jeeps have been kind of a joke for a long time, especially wranglers.
The first SUV classed vehicle if im not mistaken was a Lada Niva, which is actually fantastic if you can get it to work long enough, and i think might deserve a spot on here more than others.
Suzuki Samurai, compared to a bunch of these nominees, the Samy is a real winner. Damn easy to work on, well balanced, small and amazing offroad. You should see the guys in $2000 Samurai's kick the asses of Wrangler rigs costing a good laugh more. Also easily swappable for toyota parts, like axles, a set of T100's goes on one with hardly any modification, newer Sidekick motors go in them incredibly easy as well. In countries like Japan, Samurai's are probably used offroad more than Toyota's, known as the Jimny now though.
Still, hands down winner, is 3rd gen, after market and mod support is incredible, the 3rz especially, LCE really likes this motor, uses a W59, so if find yourself turbo'd stick a w58 in there from a Supra, or if u want smaller ratio's, a w56 from a 1st gen, no modding needed.
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JamesDean91
New member
I'm going to say early broncos 66-77 as my all time favorite suv, but as far as a dd luxury suv I love my 3rd Gen runner.
S
stevesnj
Guest
I can drift my 80 in snow even with FT 4Wd
It's a little tougher to do but it's fun. But I can't drive it as a DD just not in my budget and even if I could I dunno if I would. That's where the 3rd Gen beats out the LC. The lockers got me out of a couple of situations wheeling in slick packed snow but it was though. It's about 7k pounds of metal! So a lot of weight getting up slippery snow packed hills.
Money no object, RG33+. I've had a full size Bronco, Jeep Cherokee, and now my 3rd gen T4R and they all work great for what I needed at the time, and had a blast in all of them but haven't been able to wheel the 4R near as much as I did the others except to camping in the Cohutta Wilderness and the service road to Devils Head, CO.
cordrayj1
New member
i rode with my friends dad at Uwharrie earlier this year in his bone stock 2000 landcruiser.
theres many ways to describe, but man that thing walked easily over the same things built jeeps were getting stuck on. and he used 4lo once, for about 15 seconds. the rest of the time it was in HI.
my final favorite, ANY LANDCRUISER, they always have been, and probably will be forever a legend of the offroad community.
theres many ways to describe, but man that thing walked easily over the same things built jeeps were getting stuck on. and he used 4lo once, for about 15 seconds. the rest of the time it was in HI.
my final favorite, ANY LANDCRUISER, they always have been, and probably will be forever a legend of the offroad community.
Hollis
New member
The 90's Full Size 2 Door blazers are great unless you got the one with the digital dash and creaking interior pieces and (included with every model) headliner failure at 100,000 miles.
I personally like the 70-80s K5 Blazers looks and rigidity wise but....
my 15 year old 4runner with 205,000+ miles looks a lot better all around than any of my 7 year old GM products with 80,000 miles.
I personally like the 70-80s K5 Blazers looks and rigidity wise but....
my 15 year old 4runner with 205,000+ miles looks a lot better all around than any of my 7 year old GM products with 80,000 miles.
cordrayj1
New member
I have to agree the 80 series is awesome, minus the 10mpg. The whole reason I sold the LX450 and bought a 3rd Gen Runner. But if I could have any it'd be a FJ70 Troopy.
I think this calls for a DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. haha. by far my favorite vehicle on earth
FancyPantsMcGee
New member
Ford Excursion Powerstroke! BUAHHH HAAHHH HAAHHHHH!!!!
:gun4:
:gun4:
jman11788
Member
Haha really? I wouldn't think many people on here would say that. But i'm sure it's one of the best SUV's for long trips and heavy towing. For off road use? I would have to give that a big NO! Because of the long wheel base and weighing nearly 4 tons also less likely to have lockers. But if i'm not mistaking I think they did make SFA for the 4x4's.
JamesDean91
New member
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