5 REASONS NOT TO BUY A CLASSIC LAND CRUISER
As I write this, I am neck-deep in the rebuild of our Land Cruiser's diesel engine and, considering the difficulty of this process, I feel a bit of obligation to explain a few reasons why buying a 30ish-year-old vehicle isn’t a great idea. Under the right circumstances, and with a proper mindset, it is a great experience. However, if you enter with an illusion of the potentialities, it will be demoralizing. These vehicles have earned their reputation, but the truth of ownership isn't always as picturesque as a sunset drive in the Alabama Hills. Maintaining something this old demands both dedication and money. In large quantities. Below are five things to consider if you are interested in buying an older Land Cruiser and looking for real insight from a utilitarian Troopy owner.
1. MONEY
When it comes to purchasing a classic 4x4, your options are fairly limited. Buying it in cash is almost always the best choice because without a top-tier credit score, getting a loan will be quite difficult. Potentially impossible. A 35-year-old import with nearly half a million kilometers doesn't look good on paper. If you do manage to get that vehicle though, you still aren't out of the woods financially because something will undoubtedly break. My conservative advice would be having the ability to comfortably front a $6,000 repair in cash. To prove my point: in March of 2020, we replaced our transmission and transfer case after we broke a gear. The cost without labor was $4,300. The ongoing engine rebuild is hovering around $8,000. Granted, these weren't patch jobs. They have been invasive procedures to replace as much as possible to do the job right.
Land cruisers have a reputation for reliability, but not the kind that saves you money. They will get you there and back again almost regardless of broken components, but the upkeep of decades of disrepair is going to be significant. And, oddly enough, the handier you are, the more you will spend as you "fix" decades of previous tampering.
2. PARTS
Availability of parts varies significantly between models, engines, and markets, but rest assured, you won't find every part you need. Most of the common wear items will be plentiful, so it often won't be until you get into big repairs that you encounter difficulty. Lack of suitable options will then grind your rebuild pace to a halt. Building a DIY brake line shouldn't be much hassle, but sourcing a new or used oil cooler cover for a 12H-T engine will be cause for stress. It sounds cool to have a diesel in your Land Cruiser until you realize the durable straight-six was a little too durable for Toyota to build spares for.
3. COMFORT
The early model Land Cruisers simply can't compare to even the most basic modern vehicle in regards to comfort. Parabolic suspension, sealed beam headlights, excessive noise, and proliferate dust infiltration make for what could easily be termed "an unenjoyable driving experience". Even on the best long days behind the wheel, my arms vibrate after the engine has been turned off. Driver fatigue is nearly always high and becomes a legitimate issue if not properly accounted for.
Obviously, there are products to improve comfort in every area, but at the end of the day, you are driving a utility vehicle (especially so with the 70 Series). Your expectations should be spartan, not the pampered bliss of the modern Cruiser.
4. UTILITY
Does this vehicle fit your needs? Does it enable you to meet your travel/4x4 goals without being excessively overbuilt? This question should be seriously considered as it could lead to tens of thousands of dollars in differing expenses which could be spent traveling.
To use Olivia and me as an example: we started our journey with a lightly modified 1997 4Runner. It was reliable, relatively luxurious, yet remarkably capable off-road. It was perfect for trips a week or two long and not once did we think it would be a limiting factor with the standard American allotment of vacation hours.
But the 4Runner was a gateway to a lifestyle we knew we wanted to sustain long term. We were willing to sacrifice off-road prowess for better living conditions and the Troop carrier was the clear choice for us as we plotted a course for the future. It is simple enough to fix anywhere in the world, big enough to have a kitchen and a bed, yet small enough to slowly go anywhere we want.
It would have been far simpler to buy a full size truck and a Four Wheel Camper, but the living and storage space would have far exceeded our needs; to the point where that extra space became a hindrance, not an asset. This is the balance a vehicle should strike and the Land Cruiser badge isn't going to balance the scales for everyone. But social media will surely try to convince you otherwise.
5. DEDICATION
Assuming the goal is a reliable vehicle without paying other people to fix everything for you, a classic Land Cruiser will demand everything you are willing to give it. The vehicle will never be satisfied and short of a frame-off rebuild, there will always be more to do. Ultimately, this is what any classic is about. With a 4x4 that has been used its whole life though, the stakes are higher. Decades worth of life and modifications add up to the point where it significantly complicates a once simple system. When you intend to take that vehicle to remote locations, understanding your vehicle's inner workings is essential.
This type of vehicle will force you to learn far more than you had imagined and it will be a challenging process of ownership. The result of these challenges though is a vehicular relationship that is tough to come across with modern platforms. Delving into the depths of your engine isn’t filled with computers and high-price-single-purpose tools, it is attainable to those who are patient and willing to risk learning on their own dime. Classics will continue to get more difficult to sustain, but they are a testament to durability. Through time, these vehicles will imbue a bit of that characteristic in you.