100 Series Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LX 470 - Legend or Liability?

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100 Series Land Cruisers are the cheapest Land Cruiser available right now. The question is, is it a good deal or is it a liability? 100 Series Land Cruisers and the Lexus LX 470 are on average over 20 years old at this point but we want to explore if they still make great off-road rigs. Follow along in this episode where we buy a 100 series Land Cruiser, take it on a shakedown, do a detailed evaluation of the vehicle and show some of the surprises we found along the way.

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[OutdoorAuto]

Apologies - Youtube had a bug that made us have to re-upload the video. Hopefully the double notifications didn't drive everyone nuts.

[mikegoolsby]

340K on mine. I put 3-5K a month on it…

Just bought another one. Love them.

[hwi]

The 2UZ-FE and 1GR-FE are easily some of the most reliable gas engines ever produced.

[MountaineerLC]

Great video!

The 100 is a fantastic vehicle, but as you pointed out, they’re getting old and are entering the realm of being an enthusiast vehicle. If you don’t enjoy wrenching or have deep enough pockets to pay someone else, something newer is probably a better choice.

Worth nothing and perhaps the #1 thing to check and replace on 100 are the heater T’s between the engine and firewall. They become very brittle with age and a failure can cook the engine and leave you stranded. The good news is they are cheap and easy to replace with OEM parts and are very long lasting.

#2 is checking/ replacing the spark plugs. The plugs have a bit of a reputation for backing out on the 2UZ and if not caught it time can blow out and cause serious damage to the head.

[brkbtjunkie]

My 06 LX has 247k miles. It requires a lot of maintenance but nothing has broke on it except the cv boot on one side, and the driver seat up and down button. It’s such a good vehicle, amazing for long haul trips, and equally amazing for going right up the side of a mountain on a ATV trail.

[mojavedesertsonorandesert]

I have a 2000 LX470- it's been solid, and I live out in the middle of the desert!

[nchounramany]

Great information on the 100 series. Currently have 320k miles on my 04 and it runs like a champ!

[andrewshinabery]

I have had 8 80's and 2 100's Glad to see it getting some love on your channel.
The Electric brake accumulator is one area that can go bad as well, but these seem to stop so much better than the 80's when they are working right.

[KC_Overland]

I would challenge your rating for rock crawling. We took our 100 series through the Rubicon, and Fordyce trails in NorCal last fall, and it did tremendously well.

[ddysmptr]

I have an 04, my alternator went out at roughly 170k miles. Replaced with OEM. I’m currently at 185k miles and that’s the most major failure I’ve had, cost of ownership is cheaper than anything on the road and I drive HARD. It’s my daily, lots of city miles but we off road monthly. Best automobile ever built.

[WidlyWesternCanuck]

Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4. With a focus on mild trail driving/forestry roads. With a strong focus that majority of the overland experience people are dealing with are on standard highway and road conditions.

[dominiccappe]

Thank you Mr. Outdoor Auto for considering my suggestion !... I'm the guy who bought a 1998 JDM LC100... 🙂

[garystockton]

Thank you, keen to see this progress. I’ve a 2005 1HD-FTE 100 series Cruiser slowly being converted 😢to a round-the-world traveller. Fortunately it has more standard capabilities than the US versions (factory rear locker for example) and the turbo diesel mated to the 5spd auto box delivers 22mpg or better, even fully kitted. Joy 😊. It’s a delight on long roads and capable off road, having ditched AHC in favour of a 40mm lift. Following with interest….

[leehall]

I’ve had my 2002 Land Cruiser for 3 years now, it has 245k miles on it. I have to say the biggest thing I hate about this car are how weak the exhaust manifolds are. I bought the car with both manifolds cracked and making terrible noise. Had them both replaced a year ago, already have another one cracked and making popping noise lol, I highly recommend the Doug Thorly headers to anyone reading this lol

[ChaiNinja]

I bought a 2010 4Runner limited this year for 14k and boy am i satisfied with it. Has all the luxury features and it’s full time 4x4

[LandcruiserHusky]

99 LX470 293k miles and no rust and incredible shape. Had 20 years of Lexus records and I learned to work on it myself last year but it is incredible shape. Dealer mechanics and other mechanics who saw it last year were shocked how clean it is. Tested all fluids with a lab and came back in great shape. I will continue to do oil changes myself every 6 months. I still get 20-21mpg on highway it as it is stock! That is 5-6mpg higher than rated. I've measured 3 different ways, via tech stream laptop, obd readers, and hand math and yup I get 20-21mpg and I use 91 or 93 octane and it is still on original fuel injectors because it has remained cleaned inside. Alternator I did replace at 24 year mark, like you! But 24 years?! My radiator changed at 22 year mark. My AHC hydraulic all suspension parts are still the original with date stamped from factory of 12/1998! All original parts still and almost 300k miles? Come on. What other car companies can do that. Just did my coolant change with toyota coolant at 3 year mark. Cost $40 and 45 mins of labour. Will keep maintaining it myself. So much fun! Drives better than my much newer RX350.

[joshe]

I've never understood why folks just don't buy the OEM parts, especially in Japanese cars...yeah they cost more initially, but buy once cry once. I've had 3 Land Cruisers over the years, HDJ81 JDM 80 series and 2 100s. We have a Prius and an 01 Camry, always buy OEM parts folks...even my Ram 2500 gets OEM parts. None of that Rock Auto knock off crap which basically means I'll be replacing the part again soon.

[areebali]

this was such a good video, loved the part where you compiled all the issues. Great value! thanks

[strc]

I’ve had a 2000 for 9 years now. Got it around 167, 000 and it’s got 250k now. Lot of oem replacement parts but its definitely something I can hand down to my kids for when they start driving and know it’ll last.

[rebelpatriot_nc_]

my 3rd gen 4R's alternator died an hour from home. fortunately we made it home, but the battery had to be changed as well. The alternator was surprisingly easy to change tho. I had it swapped in less than 30 minutes.