Give me ONE Reason NOT to buy an FZJ80...

So....I've always liked the 80s...ever since they first debuted. I've always wanted a Land Cruiser. I am simply obsessed with them.

However, I also love my Pathy. I simply do not want to get rid of it.

In order to get an 80, I'd have to get rid of the Pathy.

Other than that...give me one good reason (other than getting rid of the Pathy, or gas mileage - Pathy already gets crappy mileage), why I should NOT get one...please.

Please talk me out of this...

If you can find one with reasonable mileage you will own one of the greatest expedition vehicles ever brought into the US.

Gee, thanks...LOL.

Also, for these, what is the expected longevity, and what qualifies as "reasonable miles"? I know that Toyotas have legendary reliability and longevity (I have a friend who has a Cressida w/ a 6-digit odometer that's rolled over TWICE...that's over 2,000,000 miles.)

If I were to buy one, I'd be looking for a Southwestern truck (no rust).

I can't give you a reason...I got a 1997 owned by older snow birds. It has under 50K on the clock. I'm selling my Taco and building on the 80. It will be a devoted trail/expo rig...I'll sell it...if I get a new unimog...

Wow, under 50k! I like my 4Runner lots but maybe I should have thought more and looked harder for one of these?

I didn't want to start with a used 100k rig for my current build. Not that 100k is a lot for one of these great rigs, but it depends on the first caretaker. I have 120k on my old F350 but I know its entire history (with me) and know it will go as long as I want to drive it. I would buy a high milage vehicle from a guy like me, but I tend to do more maintenance than many.

Nobody can tell you not to buy an FZJ80, only good things... is this an omen?

brittan said:

I can't give you a reason...I got a 1997 owned by older snow birds. It has under 50K on the clock. I'm selling my Taco and building on the 80. It will be a devoted trail/expo rig...I'll sell it...if I get a new unimog...

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OK, you want a reason not to buy an 80 series Cruiser? They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain. At least compared to a Hilux or 4Runner. They are excellent trucks, however I don't miss my Cruiser much at all though. I like buying bikes and skis and beer and stuff too much.

I had one and it was one of the greatest truck I ever owned.

What else came with both front and rear e-lockers from the factory?

But I will probably never have another one, unless it's diesel. The gas mileage is horrible. Worst than you can imagine. With accessories and large tires, you will need the long range fuel tank...


:truck:

Christian

DaveInDenver said:

OK, you want a reason not to buy an 80 series Cruiser? They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain.

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Purchase is no problem (Already have the funds stashed away). Maintenance is probably going to be a non-issue, though it will certainly be, at least slightly, more expensive than the Pathy. I'm already dumping about $1500-1800/year in maintenance into the Pathy, between air filters, oil changes/filter, grease, the incessant exhaust system repairs after I trash it off-road, Heli-Coiling every freakin bolt that I need to put in...

And the rust...UGH!

How much can one of these things tow (on pavement)? I've got a VW Rabbit race car that I occasionaly tow to races, but the Pathy just can't handle it with the bigger tires and extra weight of tools and what not.

vengeful said:

So....I've always liked the 80s...ever since they first debuted...give me one good reason (other than getting rid of the Pathy, or gas mileage - Pathy already gets crappy mileage), why I should NOT get one...please.

Please talk me out of this...

Click to expand...

CEL

Mike

What about the CEL? If the emissions systems are in proper working order, it shouldn't be an issue.

CEL...Check Engine Light?


Like others have said...
1. Expensive to buy
2. Expensive to maintain
3. Check engine light malodies (EGR, O2 sensors...)
4. Gas mileage sucks (12-14 tops, maybe single digits with a RTT)
5. Cracked leather seats
6. Headgasket issues
7. Slow
8. Comfy
9. Too much stuff available to buy and add on
10. Cheap lift kit
11. Heavy pig @ 6500 lbs



Oh, towing is rated at 5,000 lbs.

But, I won't sell you mine

Dont forget the headgasket issue on some and the oil pump and rear arch leak (again on some). But I figured once you fix these issues its probably good for another +100,000 miles.

One thing for sure its getting harder to find good specimens of FZJ80s - thats why Ill be keeping mine until its illegal to own one in CA.

blupaddler said:

CEL...Check Engine Light?


Like others have said...
1. Expensive to buy
2. Expensive to maintain
3. Check engine light malodies (EGR, O2 sensors...)
4. Gas mileage sucks (12-14 tops, maybe single digits with a RTT)
5. Cracked leather seats
6. Headgasket issues
7. Slow
8. Comfy
9. Too much stuff available to buy and add on
10. Cheap lift kit
11. Heavy pig @ 6500 lbs



Oh, towing is rated at 5,000 lbs.

But, I won't sell you mine

Click to expand...

Responses to these:

1) Already handled.
2) Like I said, and I read on Mud, it's not going to be all that much more than my Pathy...
3) I'm used to CEL maladies with the Pathy...was fighting EVAP isseus for 3 years...just ask Mike H!
4) I'm lucky to get 12-14 as it is, so that's no big loss there.
5) Neoprene seat covers fix that!
6) Now this one might actually be worth thinking about...but it seems fairly common for mid-90s Yotas to have HG issues. My friend had a 94 4Runner that popped them like JiffyPop.
7) Please...like the VG powered Pathfinders are fast? Besides...I've got the Guzzi and the Rabbit if I wanna go fast.
8) Nothing wrong with being comfortable.
9) Nothing wrong with having a good selection of quality parts.
10) Nothing wrong with inexpensive, good quality parts.
11) Weight is a mild concern, although 6,500lbs is a bit on the high side (max GVW, not unladen curb weight). Curb weight for the later FZJ80s (through the Standard Truck & 4WD Guide) is 4760lbs with a GVW of 6520lbs.

Am I just trying to justify this? Or is there really NO GOOD REASON to not own one? LOL

Bluto said:

Dont forget the headgasket issue on some and the oil pump and rear arch leak (again on some). But I figured once you fix these issues its probably good for another +100,000 miles.

One thing for sure its getting harder to find good specimens of FZJ80s - thats why Ill be keeping mine until its illegal to own one in CA.

Click to expand...

Speaking of good specimens...this GEM just sold off-eBay, but WOW!

eBay Link

vengeful said:

Responses to these:

2) Like I said, and I read on Mud, it's not going to be all that much more than my Pathy...

Am I just trying to justify this? Or is there really NO GOOD REASON to not own one? LOL

Click to expand...

Sorry, I must have missed somewhere...it sounds like you have been reading up on mud. Spend time there reading and asking questions (just make sure you search first).
Here is a link to start off with:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=1012335&postcount=3
http://sleeoffroad.com/newbie/newbie100.htm
I apologize if you have already seen these.






And, if you are looking for a reason not to buy one...Probably the biggest reason of all...You'll have to sell your Pathfinder.

:safari-rig: (that's an 80 btw)

:sombrero: