Land Cruiser vrs Land Rover

[nick]

Saw this thread on the cruiser club to which I belong.
They go into pretty good detail on page 3.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=21961&page=3
Sorry about the first comment on the page. :)
And I know the 80 series cruiser in the pics is not a fair comparisson. :)

What are you guys thoughts on the Land Cruiser vrs Land rover?
My opinion. Both trucks are good. With each having there pros and cons.

Cheers,
Nick

[nakedbarra]

I like the section where they say that a 90 or 110 is much more reliable and better than a disco? well from what I believe mechanicaly they are almost the same just a different body style ?

[nick]

I like the section where they say that a 90 or 110 is much more reliable and better than a disco? well from what I believe mechanicaly they are almost the same just a different body style ?

While the drivetrain is the same, I was under the impression that the older defender were a lot more basic. No power seats, power windows, electric fuel pump, o2 sensors etc... basically less to go wrong.

Could someone confirm.

Cheers,
Nick

[red90]

Well Discos were like that also just not in North America. The Disco I owned in Australia had no power anything (well steering). Mechanically it was almost identical to the 90 I own now.

[red90]

OK, here we go...........

I lived in Australia for five years. I was in a general club with all makes and models. Cruisers account for around 60% of all 4WDs in Ozzyland. The club had a good mix of Cruisers, Patrols, Discos, Defenders and the odd other things.

Off road capability:
The newer Cruisers (60, 80, 100, not 75) and the long wheelbase Patrols are just too damn big. They need around 7-8" of lift and 35" tires before they are useful. Stock versus stock the Disco/Defenders where normally better due to the smaller size.

Reliability:
I spent a good while chatting on this subject with the local 4WD mechanic. His life was working on all of them. His opinion is they were all the same. They all have stupid designs that never get fixed and just as many things that break down.

Strength:
Stock versus stock, Rovers and Cruisers are about the same, Patrols are a fair bit better on stock driveline strength. For that reason most comp guys have been moving to Patrol drivetrains, although this has been changing somewhat with Chromo CVs being available cheaply.

When I was looking at a 4WD to buy in Australia, it was a toss up between a Disco and a SWB Patrol. The Discos were a better deal at the time. I should have gotten a 110, but didn,t know enough.

The thread referenced above was comaring an 80 series and a Disco?? That is a silly comparison. The 80 series is huge, it is apples and oranges. An 80 series is too big for real trail use, IME.

[nick]

I am going to have to respectfully disagree.
I don't think cruisers need 7-8" of lift and 35 to be usefull.
And I also don't think they are that big is size.
They are a bigger than a Disco (I have an 80) but nnless you are going down a mighty tight trails the extra few inches is not bad.

To me the difference between a disco and an 80 is not huge. I prefer the extra little room (can sleep in it). If wanted something really small I would buy a 70 series cruiser D90 or a suzuki.

As fas as driveline strength I think they are both strong enough.
In my experience Toyotas seem to have less electrical problems then Land Rovers. Both trucks have thier pro's and con's.

To me at the end of the day, pick the truck that will work best for you and maintain it. Any vehicle if poorly maintained will have issues.

Cheers,
Nick

[nakedbarra]

with the same argument, as the earlier ones were more basic well we can say that about all land rovers and cruizers but I am for toyota being more reliable as I also own a corolla but I think land rovers cop a bad wrap as all cars are money pits and thats why we love them

[red90]

I am going to have to respectfully disagree.
I don't think cruisers need 7-8" of lift and 35 to be usefull.
And I also don't think they are that big is size.

This is just my direct experience spending 4 years wheeling all the time with Cruisers. The stock 60/80/100 series would hang-up all the time and I spent my life pulling them off things with my 2" lifted, 31" tired Disco. The ones that had a bunch of lift and tires got to about even in capability. The guys that built them up where going to 7" or so of lift, complete new link systems and 34 or 35" tires. They did nice then, but still were a squeeze down the trails.

Of ocurse, in Australia, most are starting with 75 series or Patrols as it is a lot better base for a trail rig.

[Revor]

For my two bits worth, the lug nuts on a Toyota are too small, especially compaired to a Land Rover. So Obviously the Land Rover is a far superior machine. :-)

Ryan

[Bill E.]

Hi Nick,
I agree with your very fair minded opinion. Personal experience aside the choice of truck is very much subjective preference. There is a whole lot to complain about with the Landrovers I've owned but I love 'em just the same. I try not to brag too much around Toyota, Nissan, Jeep and Suzuki folks because for every good thing that my 90 does there is something to bitch about. Rusty Toyotas and under strength Samurais have come to my rescue many a time, just as I have theirs. What I like best about the utility line of Landrovers over other brands is the heritage of the work truck mentality. Sadly those values are slipping away with the endless concessions to creature comfort. In a strange twist of fate it is the success of fully carpeted air-conditioned, sound-deadened, capable off-road Japanese stuff that is creating the demise of the tractor-like workability of the 90/110. Galvanized trim, birmabright panels, PTO ports, untrimmed interiors, beafy components, heavy duty options are all giving way to wanker options like heated seats, vibration dampened differentials, rubber couplings, off-road by wire technologies, plush interiors and a boatload of undependable electronic gagitry. Bah Humbug :cry:
Bill

[nick]

Greetings Bill,

I agree with you that creature comforts are taking over the utilitarian aspect of most off-road vehicles. In many ways Toyota has been leading the way for North America. There new Land Cruiser (100 series) is still a good offroad truck, but even it no longer has a solid front axle.

I am unsure about Land Rover, but I know that Toyota still sell utilitarian vehicles everywhere else in the world. Still have turbo diesels (gas won't sell), have PTO, had manual windows, factory lockers, etc...

It seems in North american we get the city slicker trucks.
If we want the goods stuff, we have to import it. :(

Cheers,
Nick

[Colin]

A marriage of the landrover body with the Landcruiser drivetrain, would be nice and I have seen it done. The Brits should just buy Toyota's heaters, AC and wiper and forget their own, I always liked the rear heater in the landcruiser stationwagon.

[nick]

A marriage of the landrover body with the Landcruiser drivetrain, would be nice and I have seen it done. The Brits should just buy Toyota's heaters, AC and wiper and forget their own, I always liked the rear heater in the landcruiser stationwagon.

I have thought that myself.
Get something like a Stage one or a Defender 110, and then put in a Toyota diesel. A turbo 3B with H55 would be great. They are reliable, good on fuel and powerful with a turbo. To bad the rovers do not have a divorced transfer case. :( Would have to meet up in the drive shafts, or swap the axles too.

I wish I had more time...

Cheers,
Nick