Would you buy a Landcruiser?

Not a Prado, a proper one? (I think they’re Landcruiser Amazon in UK?)

A little context – we live in Aus. Can afford the fuel, size of the vehicle not an issue.

We’ve been looking at a trailer to take the bikes for us and the kids. We only have a Focus so limited towing capacity.

A colleague of my wife has been talking to her about a camper trailer his old man’s selling. Looks great, rooftop tent, fridge, cooking etc etc. Bought with his retirement fund and had plans to tour Aus but never happened. Turns out, he’s selling his Landcruiser too and it’s only done 150,000kms (they still sell here with 500,000+ on and still hold value).

Now all I know is the car is manual and it’s a 100 series. No idea what engine but could well be the V8. Apparently, he wants $30k for the car and the trailer, and I’m very tempted once I know a bit more and have seen it in t’flesh.

So assuming fuel wasn’t an issue and you had the space to drive one…. Would you? I can picture the bikes on the back and me and the kids heading out or more camping trips without everything wedged in the car and trailer! We’d keep the Focus as the daily and Landy for weekend warrioring (remember the 4×4 guys on the Fast Show?)

Personally no.

I get that they’re the Australian standard issue for adventure but I think they’re overkill for the use you’ve outlined. There’s better options and ones that are more economical.

As long as you are ok doing walkies a few times every day, aren’t away from home too long daytimes and can get back to let it out, and can provide balanced meals then yes.

No

Mate had one. Ex UN vehicle made for Africa. No fancy stuff. Simple electronics. Really basic inside. Had extra fuel tanks in the front fenders.

He built it into a camper with a pop top roof.

Travelled with his missus and two kids from Germany through Europe, Africa and then shipped it to Canada and travelled the length of the Americas.

No, I already have a dog.

You might need to explain that a bit.

If I lived in Oz I’d have a 70’s series Troopy. Failing that a 100 series – they are fantastic vehicles if you have the requirements for one.

kayak23Full Member
As long as you are ok doing walkies a few times every day, aren’t away from home too long daytimes and can get back to let it out, and can provide balanced meals then yes.

Err… what?

RustyNissanPrairieFull Member
If I lived in Oz I’d have a 70’s series Troopy. Failing that a 100 series – they are fantastic vehicles if you have the requirements for one.

Well that’s potentially what I could get, 100 series. I’m not planning on crawling up verticle inclines but by nature of living in Aus it would be used off road. (Which I think a few have assumed a Landy is a bit much for the odd family bike ride, I wasn’t expecting to have to write a list of what I might do with it, but it’s an off roader so… youknow)

70s are a hefty price and not even a consideration.

My brother lives in Tempe Sydney but visits the his wife’s family farm that run a fleet of older 70’s and 100’s.

The good thing being in Oz is rust doesn’t kill older 100’s like it does in the UK, it’s usually mileage that wears them out.

I have my eyes on a project one here in the UK that in my dreams I’m going to rebuild ship to Oz and do the Canning Stock route and Frazer island.

Personally, yes, I would. They genuinely are a bulletproof wehicle to last a very, very long time – they are very sought after here in the UK, and even absolute dogs fetch a premium. Good condition equivalent mileage (100k miles) 2005 one for sale here for £23k – same age, double the mileage and a bit tatty, still £17k. But as a few have mentioned – seems very overkill for just towing a trailer with bikes… unless you do think you’ll be heading into the bush with the camper? Plated at 3.5 tonne capacity in the UK, but will absolutely and happily tow significantly more. It is cheap mind, especially when the camper trailer is factored in, but maybe that’s just the market rate for them in Aus. Parts can be difficult and expensive to get here – but I know that they’re way better supported in Aus.

Personally I’d rather have a 70 series – which I think you can still buy new in Aus?

@aphex_2k – it relates to this-

Put a roof rack on your Focus. No one needs an SUV just to move bikes and people.

Mrs S had the 4.2L Diesel for horse trailer towing duties and it still rates as the most comfortable car either of us has ever owned. And you can usually fix it with spanners instead of a laptop.

A friend has just bought a nearly new one, retired and moved to rural Ireland. He says it’s great and manages fine round the tight lanes and parking. He also says it would have been a liability to have back in Stockport.

I want an FJ Cruiser when the S-Max dies, but haven’t convinced the financial director who thinks they look awful and that it doesn’t have enough seats.

100 series on 150k miles AND a camping trailer for $30k?

Unless there’s a huge catch and it’s all home made from string and vinegar that’s a hell of a deal.

I would, hell yes I would.

Yes, absolutely

Yup, awesome vehicles – even better with a V8 or a 2jz swap.

Yeah 30k plus a camper trailer is 15 grand gbp. 150,000km is what, 94,000 miles?

I’ve not seen it. But it would get off road use, just that’s never even been a consideration with a Focus.

Will have a nose and see what it’s like. Already got a dog. 😏

Personally I’d rather have a 70 series – which I think you can still buy new in Aus?

40-50k +++ and no free camper trailer tho

I’ve seen some 100s with 750k on them!

Yes, definitely. Was taken through an off-road experience in a beat up early landcruiser, that cruised the run, while feeling like a family car.

If you want to go into the outback, take a landrover, if you want to come back take a land cruiser.

lol yeah I’ve heard that many a time.

We went in Landcruisers when we went to the Sahara about 10 years ago, but I don’t recall looking at the car much!

Seems to be the vehicle of choice for ex-pats in Gulf states – justified by dreams of off-road trips into the desert; actually used to drive to the mall. My experience was that they are awesome for sailing over wadis full of boulders, but I was surprised that the interiors aren’t as big as I’d imagined.

If I was going to go off-road in Australia, certainly. If I didn’t need the heavy-duty off-road performance, I’d think about something like a Subaru Outback that can handle dirt roads but would be much better around town and cheaper to run.

I rented one for a couple of weeks on a trip to Oman. It was slow, noisy, big, fairly low-rent inside, good on sand dunes, but not quite as engaging as I’d hoped.

I wouldn’t if you don’t need the off-road capabilities – I think something more road focussed would make a much better vehicle

Get one if you want something to last.
1994 Hilux still going strong, mates 1998 Landcruiser still working hard. Over 500,000 miles between them.
When Putin eventually decides to nuke us all, the few things that will be left will be Toyota Landcruisers/ Hilux, Shimano XT spds and insects. And crocks. ( not the crap shoes). 😎

Yes, absolutely. I’m thinking about forever cars at the moment and my current thinking is a sympathetically restored and upgraded Classic Range Rover. If I lived in Aus and was offered that Land Cruiser, it’d be on my driveway already. And I’d be down the local Toyota dealers ordering Euro-spec column stalks.

Just checking the dog jokes are done.

I remember someone saying if you wanted to drive into the depths of uncharted hostile terrain,  get a Landrover.  If you want to get back again, get a Landcruiser.

As I only need to drive on (increasingly shoddy) UK roads, I wouldn’t buy a Landcruiser

I’ve seen some 100s with 750k on them!

Which just tells you they’re not used for their design brief.  That’s 8 hours a day, for 4 working years on the motorways, a fairly dull adventure.

If you want to go into Peterbrough*, take a landrover, if you want to come back take the train.

FTFY

*other suburban sprawls that you’ve heard of and seen on a map but never visited and may well be part of some flat earth conspiracy where the edge of the world is actually somewhere east of the A1 in Lincolnshire may exist, the value of your 2nd hand car may go down and you may not get back in your initial investment, YMMMV, always read the label, keep out of reach of kids, a gasoline diet is not suitable for everyone, consult your physician before following any of the advice given.

thisisnotaspoonFree Member
I’ve seen some 100s with 750k on them!
Which just tells you they’re not used for their design brief.

The design brief of a solid car that’s built like a tank that lasts for ages? Big fail there, right?

Which just tells you they’re not used for their design brief.  That’s 8 hours a day, for 4 working years on the motorways, a fairly dull adventure.

Sure, but this is what an Aussie motorway looks like.

If you want to go into Peterbrough*, take a landrover, if you want to come back take the train

The reason that’s true is because the LandRover will get nicked.

Nieces husband has one & is all set for selling up in Brisbane & taking a year to travel around Oz with wife & kid. All I know is that it’s a 4.5l beast that was great fun to drive on Bribie Island the other week & the main reason he got it was because parts are so freely available if anything breaks* & he knows his 4×4 onions. So in answer to your question yes buy it 👍

*I also drove one across Zambia many years ago that my brother in law hadn’t been able to get quite the right brake seal for, so pared it down with a knife to fit – it worked to a degree 🫣

A def’ yes from me.

Cracking utilitarian vehicles that were designed for what you haven in mind. Robust too. Solid choice, esp’ with the low Km’s… The only downside is they are thirsty, but you have already answered that.

The design brief of a solid car that’s built like a tank that lasts for ages? Big fail there, right?

It’d be a short list of new-ish cars that I didn’t think would do that mileage (anything with a wet belt or a Subaru badge ruled out for a start) in a dry climate.  Past a quarter of a million miles it’s more down to that dry climate making the chassis worth keeping working parts bolted to, and the limiting factor in modern engines is things like Nikasil coated alloy blocks rather than pressed in iron liners (at 750k I’m guessing it’s been re-lined).

Guess I need to go look at it and have a chat, take some pics, at least find out what engine it has… I do know it’s a manual. Majority of people buy autos here but for a 4×4 I’d much prefer manual.

Obvs I’ll have a drive and take some pics.

Appreciate the responses, thank you.

A friend in Sidney just bought a 4×4. A huge chunk of the road network in Australia is unsealed. Even basic holiday planning for us showed up places can only be reached with a 4×4. But I’d be wary if that v8 is petrol

The dog thing isn’t true because it made incorrect assumptions about what dogs eat

Petrol is $1.79 a litre (93p)

LPG is 12.5c per litre (7p)

Plus I salary sacrifice so I have a fuel card too.

The V8 is thirsty, but diesel is more expensive (and I think the diesel also has a turbo) so swings n roundabouts. But financially not a problem.

Have taken the Focus on corrugated roads. You need to go over 40 or its bumpy as hell… But risky as you don’t have grip. And the orange dust gets EVERYWHERE. It’s also awful if you’re following someone as you need to hold back or you just can’t see.

Yeah, that’s what I remember from driving on unsealed and corrugated roads, there is a minimum speed you need to hit, but it gets all a bit exciting. Most cars are fine though, although my mate’s Lancer was a handful, sliding everywhere. But then I swapped to a hire Camry and it was soft and wallowy, but felt planted on the dirt. The other car in our party was a hire Falcon and that similarly was soft and wallowy, but stuck to the dirt ok.

I imagine a Legacy or Outback would be a good choice if not towing a massive trailer tent. But with the trailer then, yeah the Landcruiser seems a good plan.