Are Land Cruisers all they are cracked up to be?

[otherclive]

My son who clearly has too much time, and cash plans to buy a 2000-2004 3 ltre TD Land Cruiser for green laning and trips abroad to Pyranees, Greece and Morocco. I know they have a good reputation but cf to Land Rovers their cost of off road kit seems expensive and not so available or easy to fit.
Any members experience with LC as far as reliability and cost to maintain would be welcome. Certainly on YouTube the LC is a very competent machine.

 

[Raywood]

The fact that the Land Cruiser is a favourite in Africa speaks volumes for its rugged reliability. However given its age and the way many are treated I would look very carefully at the history and servicing record as even they can only stand so much abuse.

 

[otherclive]

Ray
thanks for the response and I know what you mean as every news shot in Africa, Asia or wherever show Land Cruisers or Hilux. So that must say a lot for their ruggedness and reliability. Looking on the net there are quite a goodly number with mileages below 80k two or less owners and full TSH, so they look to have been well cared for. The insides look pristine too good for what my son plans to use it for.

 

[Surfer]

You can get a lot of info off this site. See http://www.landcruiserclub.net/forums/forum.php My choice would be a LC over a Jeep, but for the same money you get a LC that is 5 years older and higher mileage and invariably no service history.

 

[VIP640]

I have used Land Cruisers for the past 15 years, in Africa, the Middle East and here in Blighty. I have had the 80 series, the 90 series and now onto the 120 series. Can't fault them for reliability or towing. I always have mine serviced at the main Toyota dealers and the cost is not too bad, major service one year is about £400.00 and the minor service the following year is about £200.00. Our current LC is up to 85K and it costs nothing from service to service. There are 5 x in our family and we travel down to Spain or Southern France every year towing our 2 x ton van without any problem. Can't recommend them highly enough. They may not have as many toys as some of the other big 4 x 4's but to me that's just something else to go wrong....