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Car Forum / UK Car Forums / 4x4 Cars (UK group) / October 2005Landcruiser Queries
Hi all Looking at my hubbies message about Big 4x4's....can anybody advise on reliability, running costs etc, etc, etc of either a LWB Landcruiser (say 97-98 onwards upto the last face change - 52 reg or thereabouts) or the Amazon. Again, we'd be interested to know about towing with one Cheers Jo > Hi all > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Cheers > Jo I have experience of [what was the prado/90/colorado] the small one with3.0l D4D engine. It goes well and even very well after being chipped. Almost totally reliable. Tows well. I own and run a '98 Amazon, the 100series or just about the latest model if you like, with 4.2diesel and auto. This one compares well with my year old Range Rover, being quieter and more refined. My four speed automatic is very good and controllable but the latest five speeder makes for better performance. Speaking of my big one, in 90,000 miles it has only blown two bulbs and had the air-con belt changed apart from routine fluid services. Oh, and the CD multiplayer has recently given up. It is halfway through its third set of tyres and also the third set of front brake pads. Fuel consumption is not fantastic but 22-24mpg is not bad either. This compares with 25-27 from my chipped RR. My Toyota is not chipped. I would buy either Land Cruiser again, but then again I would also buy the Range Rover again as that has also been faultless over a year and 18000 miles. Perhaps I should say that if it was a choice between the Colorado type and a new Discovery, I would certainly choose the Disco but if it was a choice between the Range Rover diesel and the Amazon then the Amazon would probably get my cash. Huw "Huw" wrote> > I have experience of [what was the prado/90/colorado] the small one > with3.0l D4D engine. It goes well and even very well after being chipped. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Huw Thanks for that reply - we are probably looking at the Colorado as opposed to the Amazon based on size and overall economy etc (esp when towing)... am I right in saying that the Colorado was the "UK version" whilst the Prado was technically the imported version, thus, we should be looking at the Colorado ? If we were to see the right baby (but doubt we will - reasons to follow..) I would love to opt for an LC5 model but............ as I understand it, the "newer" LC4/5 etc are available from 2003 model upwards (or therabouts)? In terms of spec, we're looking to the VX model Colorado, so we can retain leather etc, etc, etc, and we're looking to buy used so that somebody else can have the depreciation (!) and I'm prepared to spend upto say £25K as a limit. We've seen a few 52 reg Colorado models for c.£18-19K with 30-50K miles. I understand from the bit of reading I've done that these things are effectively bomb-proof, so mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue...do we need to look out for anything particular with these babies ? Finally, to save me boring you all with my niaive questions, is there a website that I can refer to to get all my answers in one go ! Cheers for all the help and comments - really appreciated. Steve > Thanks for that reply - we are probably looking at the Colorado as opposed > to the Amazon based on size and overall economy etc (esp when towing)... > am I right in saying that the Colorado was the "UK version" whilst the > Prado was technically the imported version, thus, we should be looking at > the Colorado ? In a nutshell, yes. They use different names in different countries. > If we were to see the right baby (but doubt we will - reasons to follow..) > I would love to opt for an LC5 model but............ [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > to spend upto say £25K as a limit. We've seen a few 52 reg Colorado > models for c.£18-19K with 30-50K miles. Be careful that the very latest model was available as a 2004 model from late 2003 on IIRC. The perfectly good older model was available from its launch some 10 years or so back. It was fitted with the less efficient 3.0 indirect injection diesel until about four years ago and that version drank more fuel than the Amazon 4.2. So at your budget you should be looking at examples with the newer D4D engine exclusively. > I understand from the bit of reading I've done that these things are > effectively bomb-proof, so mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue...do > we need to look out for anything particular with these babies ? Just the general mechanical condition and some evidence of regular oil changes. > Finally, to save me boring you all with my niaive questions, is there a > website that I can refer to to get all my answers in one go ! Not that I know of. There are some discussion groups on the like of Yahoo Groups but they are mainly populated by Aussies comparing roo bars and short wave radios and, believe it or not, the relitive merit of rival hot shower units. The Colorado [the name has now been dropped] is indeed pretty bomb proof and drives nicely even though it rolls a bit. It is full time four wheel drive with live rear axle and independant McPherson strut front end. The engines on the latest ones are more subdued than earlier versions and the latest five speed automatic is superb. Tows three tons with ease. My friends one tows a 16ft twin axle Ifor Williams dropside with regular loads above two tons and my Amazon tows a 16' triple axle livestock box with regular loads of 3.5 tons and occasionally a bit more. Mind you, even my old ['93] Isuzu Trooper has absolutely no problem with 3.0 tons. These kind of vehicles are built to take it. My friends Shogun 3 door has just hit 160,000 miles and the original clutch has only now started to slip. Both his newer Toyota and the Shogun tow an improbable amount and are not serviced spot on while operating in probably the most testing of hilly Welsh conditions, yet they are incredibly durable and reliable so you have no need to worry towing only a 1.5 ton caravan. It just will not test the towing vehicle at all. > Cheers for all the help and comments - really appreciated. No problem. Huw "Huw" wrote a really great reply to my message which I've snipped totally to save on screen space ! Huw - just like to say a really big cheers for your help. We seem to have ruled out all of the other options, and are (relatively) settled on the LC in whatever guise. In summary we need to look for the D4D engine whether we go for the "older" colorado or the newer "LC3/4/5" etc. Once again - many many thanks ! Steve > Finally, to save me boring you all with my niaive questions, is there a > website that I can refer to to get all my answers in one go ! The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club site is quite good with a reasonably active forum - but it does cover all models including the Amazon. http://www.tlocuk.co.uk/ Bob > The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club site is quite good with a reasonably > active forum - but it does cover all models including the Amazon. > > http://www.tlocuk.co.uk/ > > Bob Great - I'll have a looksee thankyou !!!!!!!!! > Hi all > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Cheers > Jo There's a website for further inqueries: http://www.tlocuk.co.uk/forums/ Happy reading, Frank |
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