LC 80 or LC 100 for overland?

[Matt999]

Hi there,

I know this is probably going to open a can of worms but which model is "best" for an extended overland trip, the 80 or 100?

I've got my eye on an 80 4.2 diesel 12v and an 100 4.2 diesel 24v. Both are autos. Both have the same milage. Both are in similar condition.

Please advise!

 

[Chas]

I would go for the 80 but then I am biased.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

Although i've had 80's for the past 19 years and still my DD is a 24V auto, I have a 100 as well. If I was in your position I would buy a 100, bigger better more modern and unless you are planning on 1000's of miles of unmetalled roads just as tough. If you chose a 100, I can't see you would ever say " I wish this was an 80".
Just one qualification, if you choose a 100, really the AHC suspension needs removing and replacing with conventional.
Just my opinion.

 

[GeekOKent]

A similar condition 80 has likely been look after far better than the 100 has been ( or the 100 has been abused loads! ) - I'm currently working through the same issues w.r.t 80/100 and 80 12v Vs 24v auto /manual etc.

With the aim of overlanding trips with the family, and a platform that can leave home + get back without needing too much of bush mechanics on the road. Just for this role, a late model 100 with the ahc swapped out looks to be the sweet spot, if costs / pricing wasent a huge deal. Also, there are far more 100s in a 'workable condition' than 80's these days. But if there was a good 80 that comes up, I'd prefer that over the 100!

 

[karl webster]

I've had both. For me personally it would be the 80.

Depends if you can or will do work yourself. I like the basics of the 80s with limited electrics. With the 100s they have a lot of electric things that can cause issue. Wit the 80 series even with an electric fault the truck can be started and moved.

 

[GeekOKent]

I've had both. For me personally it would be the 80.

Depends if you can or will do work yourself. I like the basics of the 80s with limited electrics. With the 100s they have a lot of electric things that can cause issue. Wit the 80 series even with an electric fault the truck can be started and moved.

yeah, if the call is between an equal condition 80 or a 100, the 80 would win - but they are kinda hard to find these days. ideally a late model 80

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

A similar condition 80 has likely been look after far better than the 100 has been ( or the 100 has been abused loads! ) - I'm currently working through the same issues w.r.t 80/100 and 80 12v Vs 24v auto /manual etc.
!

My friend DK I totally disagree with the above statement. In the period 95-98 an auto version of the 80 wasn't available in the UK. Luxury 4x4 buyers bought Range Rovers, Shoguns, etc, anything that was auto and the manual Cruiser was ignored as an option. This led the majority (not all) to be bought as tools of work and abused as such. It has to be remembered that I was in the market a\t that time and finding a good under 3 year old 80 Cruiser was as difficult as it is now. This is why petrol versions are usually in such better condition, the original owners used them as a luxury vehicles and looked after them as such.
Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and I know of 2 or 3 exceptional 80's which forum members own and pretty much treat as "classic".
When the 100 came out ( with auto box) buyers flocked back to them and the majority were dealer serviced for a good period of their life and are much less likely to have had "enthusiastic amateurs" trying to service themselves ( relative to their value) as a lot of the jobs on a 100 are a little bit more specialised.
There isn't much evidence if the electronics on a 100 being unreliable as well as the engine or drivetrain, no matter what is thrown at them, ask anyone who overlands one on here.

 

[Chris]

Reckon you nailed that Andy. 100s are a bit bigger and more comfy cabin wise and unless your daft enough to try and drive up Boulder strewn river beds the 100 will cope easily with just about anything
Not sure though that the back end is AS usable when it comes to storage etc the tailgate opening is a little narrower isn't it?

 

[GeekOKent]

My friend DK I totally disagree with the above statement. In the period 95-98 an auto version of the 80 wasn't available in the UK. Luxury 4x4 buyers bought Range Rovers, Shoguns, etc, anything that was auto and the manual Cruiser was ignored as an option. This led the majority (not all) to be bought as tools of work and abused as such. It has to be remembered that I was in the market a\t that time and finding a good under 3 year old 80 Cruiser was as difficult as it is now. This is why petrol versions are usually in such better condition, the original owners used them as a luxury vehicles and looked after them as such.
Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and I know of 2 or 3 exceptional 80's which forum members own and pretty much treat as "classic".
When the 100 came out ( with auto box) buyers flocked back to them and the majority were dealer serviced for a good period of their life and are much less likely to have had "enthusiastic amateurs" trying to service themselves ( relative to their value) as a lot of the jobs on a 100 are a little bit more specialised.
There isn't much evidence if the electronics on a 100 being unreliable as well as the engine or drivetrain, no matter what is thrown at them, ask anyone who overlands one on here.

I dont disagree with that at all. Just that if my choice was between 2 trucks. One an 80 auto and a 100 auto both in a similar condition, I would still chose the 80.

Its just that today 100s are easier to find in good condition than the 80s. 120s even more so.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

Reckon you nailed that Andy. 100s are a bit bigger and more comfy cabin wise and unless your daft enough to try and drive up Boulder strewn river beds the 100 will cope easily with just about anything
Not sure though that the back end is AS usable when it comes to storage etc the tailgate opening is a little narrower isn't it?

Only by 1-2 cm Chris

 

[karl webster]

There isn't much evidence if the electronics on a 100 being unreliable as well as the engine or drivetrain, no matter what is thrown at them, ask anyone who overlands one on here.[/QUOTE]

I have come across a fair few who have had electronic issues andy they have those little white wires all over the place,I forget the name of them.Combus or something.

Your right regarding the comfort though. They do feel bigger and it really is effortless driving one. On a super long run or a trip then the 100 would be better. The 80s running the manual fuel pump and a cable down to the pedal just works better in my head than some sensor talking to an Ecu to tell another Ecu to tell the fuel pump that the pedal has been put to the floor.

 

[karl webster]

I just can't see that all the newer stuff is better. JMO

 

[Graham]

Reckon you nailed that Andy. 100s are a bit bigger and more comfy cabin wise and unless your daft enough to try and drive up Boulder strewn river beds the 100 will cope easily with just about anything
Not sure though that the back end is AS usable when it comes to storage etc the tailgate opening is a little narrower isn't it?

Hi Chris,

I would also really only look for a 100 now.

I am still here, and every now and then I put in an Ebay bid on a 100 series 4.2 auto.

Gra

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

I don't find there's much difference cruising long distances in an 80 vs a 100 assuming similar levels of modification/condition of the bits that matter and in just about any given off road situation an 80 will cope better. IMO all the 'cons' of an 80 are age/condition related whereas the 100 has a few design weaknesses thrown in. That said they are both great tough vehicles and either should do a good job.

 

[krusty5210]

T would go with an 80 have had both and the 80 is the better car driveline wise

 

[Bat21]

Never owned a 100 and I have no desire to.

My 80 is one of the early ones (92). This means it is as basic technology wise as they come, no ECU's for the gearbox or anything else for that matter.

The majority on the miles I do in mine are in Morocco, I go there safe in the knowledge that if anything should go wrong, it could be fixed in any of the 1,000's of back street garages that are all over the place there.

I'll fetch mine over the weekend so you can have a look if you want

 

[SteveS]

I have a 100 and it is a great truck for overlanding. There are a lot of pros and cons outlined above for 80s/100s. From my own experience (Hedgehog build) you should consider a few other things, chief among these is available payload. The 100 is a big thing too - so plenty of volume but actually its available payload is not that great. Yes there is increasing complexity particularly electronics but as stated there is little evidence of poor reliability in that respect. Get rid of the AHC (that is a weak point) and the 2 pinion front diff (ARB locker instead?), the steering wheel motors are prone to failure. The earlier 100s do have the less integrated a/c and heating controls: I have the sat-nav option which will be problematic to change out when it eventually fails....and is not a field fix. The later 100s have the 5 speed auto gearbox and the FTE engine is quite lively. True long distance overlanding is mostly a mix of tarmac and washboard: realistically you don't want to be stretching the limits of your truck needlessly....but in any case the 100 is very capable. The 80s I drove (very limited experience to be honest) seemed to be slow and gutless....perhaps I was unlucky. Many 80s for sale have extensive rust and often are over priced for what they are. I started looking for an 80 but quickly moved onto late 100s for the additional power and auto refinement.....important attributes in my view when I will be spending long periods behind the wheel with a truck of over 3000kg GVW. In an overland environment it is worth understanding what key modes of failure can stop a vehicle in its tracks and where practical carry a spare or get out of jail card/work around. While nobody wants to spend their overland journey forever breaking down realistically it will happen to all trucks at some point and no amount of spares or bush fixing is going to fix all those things....therefore Toyota spares back-up is key......whether it is a 100 Series ECU or a 80 series transfer box.....these will stop you (you may want to check whether the 80 is still in formal Toyota support, ditto 100). On balance most would argue that 80s have the reliability edge due to their simplicity but on the flip side most 80s have astronomical mileage and this means that items are further towards the end of life bath tub curve....and therefore reliability. What about the middle ground - a 105?

 

[feisty]

http://expeditionportal.com/top-10-used-overland-vehicles/