Toyota Land Cruiser 80 is a real SUV, a jeep that is not afraid of forest roads and mountain rivers. The model was created in the 90s. But among modern cars of a similar class, it is difficult to find a car with similar characteristics. Comfort, reliability, cross-country ability - this is what distinguishes the Land Cruiser 80 series.
In the 80s, engineers at the Toyota plant set out to develop a jeep that could drive equally well in all weather conditions and on various road surfaces (or not). In 1986, a military conflict occurred between Chad and Libya.
And then Japanese engineers saw their products in conditions that could not be called harsh. Anti-aircraft guns were installed on Toyotas, large loads were transported across the desert, and the cars withstood any load.
Taking into account all the developments, the engineers created a car that was not inferior to the Hilux. And no matter how they tried to “kill” this model in the famous TV program Top Gear, they drowned it, threw it off the house, and set it on fire.
Pre-styling versions of the 80th Land Cruiser (model production began in 1989) are distinguished by the fact that there is a large Toyota inscription on the radiator grille. Starting in 1995, the plant installed a logo instead.
But the Land Cruiser 80 may still have “sores” that a potential buyer should be aware of. You can buy them only on the secondary market, they have a lot of mileage, and some, perhaps, once rode through the deserts with anti-aircraft guns.
Minor problems, causes and solutions
Small problems still do not escape SUV owners. On the Land Cruiser 80 STD or GX, the seal of the rubber bands on the rear door and windshield may be compromised. But usually this is not a defect of the manufacturer, but the result of insufficient qualifications of the technician who replaced the glass.
They forget about the sealant, as a result of which the windows leak water when it rains. This not only causes discomfort during the trip, but also may damage the electrical system.
Sometimes you can observe souring of the antenna on the Toyota Land Cruiser 80. Prevention is powerless; you will have to disassemble the unit and clean it thoroughly. Sometimes the radiator in the interior heater gets clogged. At the same time, the stove begins to work very weakly. Also, the duralumin and copper tubes that connect the units of the stove and air conditioner can collapse when exposed to moisture. And if there is a hatch, it is sometimes necessary to clean the drain channels, which can also become clogged.
What year was it produced?
Car production began in 1988. Then the land cruiser 80 SUV appeared on the market. It was no accident that the car was called Land Cruiser. Toyota wanted to hint at rivalry with the famous Land Rover brand. In addition, the prototype of the Cruiser 80 is the Toyota BJ military jeep, which at one time successfully competed with the British brand.
The model was in excellent demand, and in 1995 a global restyling was carried out, affecting all parts of the car. In parallel with this, the Lexus LX450 was released onto the North American market, which is a rich variation of the car in the 80 body. They took the VX package as a base, adding luxurious trim and a lot of additional options.
The car was supplied to the markets of Europe, Asia and America. Depending on the place of sale, the car had different letter designations. On the Russian market you can most often find the GX configuration or the STD configuration intended for foreign markets. The 80 was produced from the assembly line for almost 20 years, giving way to the no less famous Land cruiser 105.
Which finishing option is better?
Most of the basic cars have velor interior trim. You can't call it bad, but it's not perfect. Some motorists say that the best finishing option is leather. Yes, it's beautiful, but it's far from practical. The problem is the age of the car - after all, the newest one is almost 30 years old. And the skin needs care, otherwise it will dry out and become cracked.
The comfort of the skin is also debatable - in the summer it heats up in the sun, in the winter it freezes terribly. Sitting on such seats is problematic. Leather interior can be found on Land Cruisers 80 VX. It is rare on other modifications. The best finishing option is velor. Soft, warm, and if handled carefully, durable.
Transmission types and their features
The SUV can be equipped with plug-in and permanent all-wheel drive. In the Land Cruiser 80, the front axle is a problem area. For prevention, it is necessary to replace drives and related elements every 120-150 thousand km. The cost of such repairs is high, so many owners get away with only replacing grenades, anthers and support bearings.
This option is suitable if you plan to sell your car soon. But if you want to drive it for several more years without problems, then you need to repair the entire drive, including the gearbox.
This node doesn't really like high speed. Yes, you can accelerate to 150 km/h and the ride will be comfortable. But the car was designed for other purposes; its element is off-road, on which you cannot travel quickly.
Traveling at low speeds can significantly increase the life of the axle gearbox. As for the suspension springs, they can sag. If they are in good condition, then you can install 32” wheels without a lift.
The gearbox on the 80 series is mechanical, the reliability of the rear axle and transfer case is high. But automatic transmissions sometimes frighten drivers with shocks when moving from 3rd to 4th speed. Typically, such a breakdown is solved by replacing the lubricant on the crosspieces and cardan shafts.
Read: Toyota Land Cruiser J100 review, specifications
Transmission
The Land Cruiser was equipped with two types of transmission: a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission. For the Russian market, the latter was supplied with a winter mode option. The machine was installed on cars with a gasoline engine. The boxes have an unlimited service life. Drive on the eightieth Cruiser:
- Permanent full - with Full time 4WD transmission type.
- Plug-in full – Part time 4WD.
- Constant - with locked front and rear differentials.
When connecting all-wheel drive with the Part time 4WD type, it is not recommended to always use the option: this may damage the mechanism.
Engines Toyota Land Cruiser 80
The Land Cruiser 80 was equipped with 6-cylinder engines that ran on gasoline or diesel. On some modifications you can find a turbodiesel. Here are the engines that were installed on the 80 series Kruzaks:
- Carburetor with a volume of 4 liters and a power of 155 hp. With.
- Carburetor with a volume of 4.5 liters and a power of 190 hp. With.
- Injection volume 4.5 liters and power. 205…215 l. With.
- Diesel engines with a volume of 4.2 liters and a power of 120-135 hp. With. (depending on modification).
- Turbodiesel engines with 24 valves and a power of 165 and 170 hp. With.
All the disadvantages of the Toyota Land Cruiser 80
In general, the Toyota Land Cruiser 80 is reliable and durable; reviews from owners show that the shortcomings are largely due to careless operation. It’s quite difficult to find a well-maintained example now, because most car enthusiasts use the Kruzak as a “workhorse” off-road and in camping conditions. Therefore, TLC 80 is an excellent option for those who are not afraid of possible expenses.
The most recent examples are over 20 years old, so a worn-out interior with unpresentable, cracked leather upholstery is not uncommon. Some people renovate the interior after the purchase, while others pay attention only to the driving characteristics.
The disadvantages include high gas consumption, so the TLC can hardly be recommended as a city car for daily driving.
Another disadvantage of the Land Cruiser 80 is its high cost. Although you will not find copies on the market that do not require material and physical investments, the price for them still remains at a decent level. Reduced cost of less than 400 thousand rubles. indicates that the car has problems with documents. The reliability of the design, the performance characteristics of the motor, the appearance of the TLK 80, and reviews from the owners do not allow the cost to drop below 600 - 800 thousand rubles.
Specifications
As an example, consider the Land Cruiser 80 with a turbodiesel and a 4.2-liter engine with a power of 135 hp. With. and all-wheel drive. The body of the five-door SUV has a length of 4.97 m, a width of 1.83 m, and a height of 1.96 m. The ground clearance is 22 cm, thanks to this clearance the vehicle's maneuverability improves.
The trunk volume is 832 liters, which is quite a lot. Enough for trips on hunting, fishing or with the family to the sea. And if the rear row of seats is folded, the luggage compartment volume increases to 1368 liters. The total vehicle weight is 3006 kg, curb weight is 2220 kg. Gearbox is either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. With proper and careful use, these boxes are almost eternal.
Disc brake system, front ventilated. Timely replacement of pads and maintenance of the system is the key to its uninterrupted operation. Diesel engines are not demanding on fuel - even if it contains a lot of impurities, no problems will arise. The main thing is to carry out timely maintenance. Then the engine will work perfectly.
How to choose Land Cruiser 80
In any case, buying an old car is playing the lottery. Often you come across cars that have only been cleaned up externally before being sold - tinted, washed, oil leaks removed, etc.
And upon inspection, you may not see that the suspension is falling apart before your eyes or that the engine has traveled more than two million kilometers off-road. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to use one of two options:
- Try to find a Toyota Land Cruiser 80 with low mileage. Often in the 90s people bought such cars “to show off.” Consequently, we rode them around the city and nothing more. The car has not experienced off-road or aggressive use, so the engine and suspension will be in good condition.
- Hire a specialist who will conduct a complete diagnosis and inspection of the car.
Do body and frame elements rust?
The frame is the strong point of the SUV. Even land cruiser 100 models cannot boast of such durability. She doesn’t care about chemical reagents and de-icing agents. Corrosion is also not particularly severe. The main areas of concern are the frames of the rear side windows and the air intake panels. Among other problems, the headlight glasses become cloudy and the hinges of the fifth door sag.
What will have to be changed
Maintenance must be carried out in a timely manner, otherwise various breakdowns may gradually appear. It is recommended to replace silent suspension blocks every 150 thousand km. It is advisable to make repairs when purchasing a car. You can also install new rods and shock absorbers. In this case, you can completely forget about the suspension for the next at least 5 years.
The steering gear may become unusable. Repairs are expensive, it’s easier to buy a new one or a used one from disassembly. As practice shows, even a high-quality gearbox repair will last for a maximum of 10 thousand km. mileage
After this the problem appears again. Sometimes the hydraulic power steering pump breaks. To increase the resource of this unit, you need to remember two rules - change the fluid in a timely manner and do not overextend the steering wheel in extreme positions.
Age and mileage of Toyota Land Cruiser 80
Production of the model started in 1989. If you happen to find a car from the first production, its condition is unlikely to be good. How to choose a car that can drive for several years without repair?
Look at the story, you often come across Toyotas that have had only one owner. Usually people take good care of their cars. And if maintenance was carried out in a timely manner, this will be visible in the appearance of the machine.
During operation, most car owners change silent blocks, shock absorbers, and repair the front axle. Rarely, but you have to sort out the steering. If the car has not been looked after, you will have to invest a tidy sum, a very large one.
If the mileage exceeds 350 thousand km, then it is difficult to find defects with the naked eye. Spend some money and hire someone who will thoroughly inspect the car and give it a test drive. And special attention should be paid to machines on which gas equipment is installed.
According to the law, you can register a car if all the equipment has documents and a technical inspection has been carried out. A note in the vehicle's passport indicating that LPG is installed will be a plus. Gas-powered cars are common, since the cost of fuel is low and the consumption is approximately the same as when driving on gasoline.
Behavior on the road
On the road the car behaves quite predictably. It walks steadily, not particularly paying attention to tram tracks, curbs, or the quality of the asphalt surface. Capable of accelerating to 160-170 km/h, but it is better to keep it at 110-120 km/h.
At a speed of 50-60 km/h, you feel some imposingness in motion, which disappears when accelerating to 90 km/h. The gas pedal is sensitive, the response is without delay.
Many owners especially appreciate the high seating position and good visibility, which make it easy to maneuver on city roads.
The trump card of the TLC 80 is off-road driving. The car practically does not notice small pebbles and bumpy country roads. Strong traction at low speeds and large mass allow you to pass difficult areas.
