Tell Me I'm Wrong

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
05/01/2017 at 16:33 • Filed to: None

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about if I might be better off owning something other than the Land Cruiser. I love the Land Cruiser, but I feel like in the things it excels at, its more than I need and I could get more of the things I need daily elsewhere.

This is what I’ve been thinking about. What I need/want is a large, reliable, 4wd SUV. What I have is a large, reliable, 4wd SUV thats one of the most off-road capable vehicles on the planet. The extent of its capability is lost with me, although it is surprisingly good on road, and I would probably get more value from something more road-focused, like a first gen Sequoia.

Maybe a little bigger, possibly safer, more power, more towing capability. No locking diffs, but like I’ve said, I never use those. It would give me a similar level of snow performance, similar reliability, with better road manners. Seems to make sense for me.

Also, that truck is for sale for $4k, and my Cruiser is worth...well, significantly more than that.

My thought right now is of taking a bunch of pictures of the Cruiser, putting it on eBay with a ‘I’d sell it for that if somebody walked up to me and handed me cash’ reserve, and seeing what happens.

What do you guys think?

DISCUSSION (26)

benjrblant > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:38

If you think an 80 feels big, drive a Sequioa. They’re massive. Expect similar or marginally better mpgs.

Nothing > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:40

But then you lose the carpeted changing table.

Klaus Schmoll > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:40

YOU HAVE A TINTED WINDSHIELD!!!!!! WHY??????

HammerheadFistpunch > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:41

I don’t disagree with that. You are likely to make money on the 80 based on what you’ve done to it. Might as well put it up and see what you can get. If the price is right...why not? Alternatively you could go 100 series.

benjrblant > Klaus Schmoll
05/01/2017 at 16:41

Nighttime driving.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Klaus Schmoll
05/01/2017 at 16:42

That’s the Sequoia, not my truck. I didn’t even notice that though, probably because drug dealer? I also knew somebody who has their windshield tinted for medical reasons...in Rhode Island you need to have a prescription for any window tint.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > benjrblant
05/01/2017 at 16:43

The bigness is a thing I like about it, so more bigness would be a plus. Same mileage is fine, I don’t drive that much.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Nothing
05/01/2017 at 16:43

That would be one of my regrets. I love the changing table tailgate.

JR1 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:44

I think you would probably be better served with the Sequoia if you don’t use the Cruiser for driving off road. That being said, the LC has that intangible X factor a Sequoia likely never will.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > HammerheadFistpunch
05/01/2017 at 16:46

I thought about 100s, thats definitely something I’d look at. I think this weekend I’m going to try to drive a 100 and a Sequoia and see what I like. I expect in five years I’ll feel like a twit when 80s are all $20k, but if I could get close to $10k now I’d be okay with it...I’ve watched some on eBay sell for absolutely stupid money, the $12k you were talking about a while ago is looking reasonable. A ‘97 with 205k, no lockers, and reupholstered seats didn’t make reserve for $13,900 and I felt like I was taking crazy pills.

benjrblant > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:48

Well, if bigly is your jam, go bigly or go home!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > benjrblant
05/01/2017 at 16:49

I’d like a YUGE truck.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > JR1
05/01/2017 at 16:50

This is exactly right. A Sequoia is good, maybe great for what I do, but it isn’t a Land Cruiser. It certainly won’t appreciate like an 80 is doing right now.

vicali > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:50

You’re not wrong Walter.

Try a first gen Sequoia, you can still have lot of fun..

might want to check out an Armada or a second Gen Seq if you want BIG suv..

With our two kids and dog a 4runner would be ideal.. It’s like our Forester with 4x4 gear beneath..

benjrblant > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:55

F+R lockers is a huge deal for the 80. The only reason I could afford ours is because it has open diffs. Retrofitting them would run at least $2500 in parts alone.

Textured Soy Protein > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 16:56

If I were to choose a Sequoia it would be an ’05-’07 since those are the only years of the 1st gen Sequoia that have a proper center limited slip diff for real awd. They also have more power.

The ’01-’02 has an open center diff and in full-time 4wd (awd) mode relies on the traction/stability control to brake individual wheels to send power to other wheels across the open diffs. The center diff only locks in 4 lo. The ’03-’04 can also lock the center diff in 4 hi.

But really the Torsen LSD in the ’05-’07 is much better for on-road foul weather performance.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > benjrblant
05/01/2017 at 16:58

When I bought mine is was a ‘person selling an old SUV’ type of sale, so I got lockers for no markup. Worked for me.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Textured Soy Protein
05/01/2017 at 16:59

This is excellent advice, as I literally know nothing about them. Now I’ll keep my search to 03+ at the least, and 05-07 preferably. I like more power.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 17:05

But put a different way, it sounds like the 80 sufficiently meets all your needs? You have something that is valuable and will continue to go up in value while you continue to get the utility out of it. I’d say keep it – look at what FJ60/62s are going for these days, and sounds like 80s are headed the same direction. If yours is clean, and has desirable characteristics (stock+, clean title, no rust issues, maintenance records, good shape, etc.) hold on to it.

No experience with land cruisers, but speaking from experience with my S2000 – I feel like an idiot for having sold it a few years ago, but it just wasn’t working for what I needed out of a car at the time. Today that car is easily worth $8k over what I sold it for. My E30 I bought for less than $2k about a decade ago, and is probably one of the cleaner more sorted out examples out there today, that I could easily get 3x my purchase price for now.

But understandable if you would rather have the cash now, instead of more cash later. That’s really the decision you need to make. Also – nobody is going to ogle at your Sequoia, but the 80 will continue to increase in coolness while you own it.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 17:05

JR1 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 17:07

Your return on investment for the 80 would indeed likely be better long term

Textured Soy Protein > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 17:18

Honestly the Torsen LSD in the ’05-’07 should be way better in snow.

2003-04 have a t-case shifter and dash buttons

Kinja'd!!!

Press the 4wd button on the dash to put it in 4H which is “awd” with the traction/stability control braking individual wheels (all 3 diffs are open).

Press the diff lock button next to the 4wd button while the t-case shifter is still in H to do locked 4H.

Shift into L4 to do low range which is locked by default.

2005-07 lose the shifter and are all pushbutton:

Kinja'd!!!

Press the 2WD/4HI button to toggle between rwd and real Torsen center LSD awd.

Press the diff lock button to lock in 4H, and press 4LO to go into low range.

There’s no mileage penalty because you can still drive in 2wd for most of the year.

jasmits > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 17:35

I’ve talked to people who did exactly this, gone from a Land Cruiser(one from a 60-series, one from an 80-series). Both were very happy as they used their Cruisers for the general utility as opposed to off-road and the Sequoia is better for that.

That said, if you have any desire to give off-roading a go it’s a lot of fun and the Cruiser is clearly the better off-road platform.

Also, like you said the Sequoia will never have the X-factor the Land Cruiser does. Better road-manners does not mean more fun-to-drive. My dad’s 2004 Acura MDX has much better road-manners than my 2nd-gen 4Runner does but the 4Runner is the more fun drive if you want an involving drive and it’s not like either is going to be a fun canyon carver.

I mean if it were me it’d be the Cruiser hands down but I do spend some time off-road, which I must admit is one of the big reasons I’m content to live with the 4Runner’s many compromises as a daily. I also find something more efficient that’s actually fun to drive on the street(I prefer something involving like an old truck to a stale cracker, but not to something truly engaging).

I guess if you really need the extra space the Sequoia does make sense. If I were you I’d rather find ways to use the Land Cruiser’s capabilities than move to something else, especially if the Cruiser is capable enough because off-roading, even mild stuff, is a blast. If the Sequoia does really fit your needs better and opens up the funding for a truly fun daily, and you really have no desire or intention to give off-roading or overlanding a go, it makes a lot of sense.

Final note, I know it’s never a great idea to keep a car as an investment but I could see FJ80 prices skyrocketing.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jasmits
05/01/2017 at 18:51

That’s basically it in a nutshell. I’d turn the Cruiser into a Sequoia and X, X being a probably kinda fun project toy while the Sequoia is the daily.

FJ/FZJ80 prices are already heading way north. I just watched a ‘97 in a little better shape than mine (not a ton, mine is very nice) with 205k miles (to my 178k) and no locking diffs (mine is triple locked) go for $13,900. That’s crazy money. I mean if I sold mine for $10k I’d basically double my investment, and in a few years maybe it’s worth $15k, but the mileage would keep going up and we salt the roads here in RI, so this is as nice as it’ll ever be to sell.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
05/01/2017 at 18:52

I turn to look at the 80 every time I walk away from it, which I can’t say I would do for the Sequoia.

jasmits > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/01/2017 at 19:07

I can see that logic. I mean any 80 to my knowledge is going to have the center locker whether or not the ad noted it but FR lockers are huge. I sorta considered an 80 when I was buying my 4Runner but a manual is a pretty big requirement for me and most of them really streched my budget of 5k-ish. The FR lockers would’ve been enough to settle for an auto but those were way way out of my price range.

I looked at an FJ60 that a guy was selling because he got a Sequoia. He was a recent grandparent and wanted a third row so he could drive the whole family around and realized it had been so long since his 60 had been down a trail that another Cruiser would be pointless.