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The Toyota Land Cruiser is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable and longest-running off-road machines of all time. With the early models' introduction in the 1950s, Toyota has blessed the world with a rugged four-wheeling beast for nearly seven decades. Although the Land Cruiser badge never gave in to the growing trend of insipidity, it slowly switched its focus from sheer functionality to luxury.
However, this does not necessarily mean that the latest series of the SUV is any less capable than its predecessors. Yet, certain qualities potentially translate into the older models of the Land Cruiser, such as the 80 Series, being the superior option for someone looking for a trustworthy vehicle to take to rough terrain compared to the 200 or even the 300 Series. Keep in mind that, as expected, the latest models will provide you with a lot more comfort and safety, and they are easier to drive and operate, although these aren't the factors that automatically make an SUV a better off-roading option.
Land Cruisers: Simplicity At Its Finest
Sure, the latest 200 Series Land Cruiser models have features such as off-road turn assist, crawl control, and a kinetic dynamic suspension system. Still, more complicated parts (as a search on Toyota's website reveals) could mean more potential for parts and systems to break or malfunction. Such systems do improve off-road capabilities, and the new Land Cruisers are as reliable as ever. However, one might feel more comfortable knowing that if something stops working or breaks entirely, they can change or repair it out there in the woods or the desert with minimum mechanical knowledge. After all, the FJ80 Land Cruiser utilized as much simplicity as possible to preserve functionality.
The first few years into its production, the 80 Series did not even feature airbags, ABS, and no factory locking differentials. They came with a not-so-exciting 150-hp 4.0-liter inline-six engine. These are some of the reasons we recommend you lean towards the later models of the FJ80 rather than anything older than that, as the Land Cruisers produced after 1995 offered airbags and ABS. A heftier 4.5-liter 24-valve six-cylinder engine making 212 HP and 275 ft-lb of torque and either a limited-slip differential system (LSD) or locking diffs were also available, which drastically improved the overlanding abilities of the Toyota SUV.
The utilitarian spirit of the Land Cruiser did not mean that the FJ80 was as uncomfortable as the typical workhorses of the 1990s, as it provided relatively impressive handling and driving stability on the road. The 80 Series existed in an era in which Toyota had been already leaning towards luxury and comfort. However, some find the 1990s Land Cruiser to be the sweet spot between a smooth experience and an unstoppable overlander.
FJ80 Land Cruiser Guarantees Reliability And Parts Availability
Reliability in the 80 Series not only means that the parts will rarely give you any problems but also that in the case they do, they will be quite simple to repair or change. The FJ80 will give you the ease of mind as you will be sure there are spare parts for it everywhere, and they install painlessly.
One of the significant advantages of an older Land Cruiser is the fact that there are countless modification options available, a quality that off-road enthusiasts greatly value. From suspension systems and different differential lockers to a colorful number of engine modifications, you will be able to suit your FJ80 to your needs on different budget levels.
While it is true that the new models of the Land Cruiser also have modification capability, the options available are not nearly as plentiful and straightforward as ones for an 80 Series.
80 Series Land Cruisers Are Relatively Cheap
It has been a while since the FJ80 Land Cruiser has gained classic status, which causes its price tag on the market to be quite high for a 25-year-old SUV. And the durability of them means that Land Cruisers hardly lose any value as they get older. The 80 Series averages a price of $28,000 as of today, and they seem to be increasing in value. However, as usual, the price depends entirely on the condition and whether or not it is stock. You might be able to find a running stock FJ80 for as cheap as $10,000. It would not be anywhere near a modern SUV, but with a bit of time, a few thousand bucks, and enough passion, these unstoppable classics will allow you to go anywhere and have fun doing so.
On the other hand, you are more likely to be hesitant to take a $100,000 brand-new Land Cruiser to rugged terrain and potentially damage it.