RE: 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser: Driven
Discussion
Smint said:
Still have the previous model, 120 series, 18 years old now and as reliable as when it was new.
Keep being pestered to sell it, mostly because its in good nick because it sees rustproofing top up every year and i service it properly, servicing is simple which it should be with the vehicle type, ie cambelt change 1 hour DIY with basic tools.
Does it have the image of a Disco 3/4, no, does it impress with its looks, apparently no and if that's important then it won't be of interest anyway.
Its the 4th large Toyota 4x4 we've bought (all but one used) since the mid 90's, not one breakdown, the only failure from any one of them was the alternator stopped charging on the present one which cost me just over £100 for a recon unit and a couple of hours to fit.
150 series is barely changed underneath the body from the 120 series, it wasn't broke so they didn't fix it, see no reason to upgrade to the 150 Prado as the present one shows every sign of going on for another 18 years which is more than can be said for me.
And that’s the massive draw to them. I managed 4 months with a 2023 MY RRS and had it booked in for various items that shouldn’t have been wrong. And I did feel awkward about driving it, being seen in it and finally leaving it anywhere. My hang ups as it was stunning to be in and to drive. I just want the thing to arrive and work and not be a trinket.Keep being pestered to sell it, mostly because its in good nick because it sees rustproofing top up every year and i service it properly, servicing is simple which it should be with the vehicle type, ie cambelt change 1 hour DIY with basic tools.
Does it have the image of a Disco 3/4, no, does it impress with its looks, apparently no and if that's important then it won't be of interest anyway.
Its the 4th large Toyota 4x4 we've bought (all but one used) since the mid 90's, not one breakdown, the only failure from any one of them was the alternator stopped charging on the present one which cost me just over £100 for a recon unit and a couple of hours to fit.
150 series is barely changed underneath the body from the 120 series, it wasn't broke so they didn't fix it, see no reason to upgrade to the 150 Prado as the present one shows every sign of going on for another 18 years which is more than can be said for me.
Familymad said:
And that’s the massive draw to them. I managed 4 months with a 2023 MY RRS and had it booked in for various items that shouldn’t have been wrong. And I did feel awkward about driving it, being seen in it and finally leaving it anywhere. My hang ups as it was stunning to be in and to drive. I just want the thing to arrive and work and not be a trinket.
There is something really special about RR's, especially the V8 models, i used to transport truckloads of them out of Solihull and drove all the versions, my favourite one from a practicle view being the ones that went to China in high numbers via Felixstowe, Disco 3/4 sat on steel springs smaller wheels with high profile tyres (lovely soft ride) with the NA 4.4 V8 petrol under the bonnet, simple as they come yet does everything you'd want.The throbbing sound and sensation of a RR V8 (Diesel V8 especially on overrun is addictive) has to be realised, we test drove a 3 year old full size LC 100 series back in 2006, that had a muted petrol V8, a more gentle experience, it was badly prepped and had obviously had a kerb strike or similar as there was one odd tyre and the steering wheel was at 10 o'clock when straight ahead, this on an approved used, we walked away.
Mechanically Toyotas take some beating, its chassis and underbody rust that does for Toyota 4x4's, if they'd only galvanised the chassis and live axle casings at the factories for those models destined for countries that use road salt they'd be worth even more money used than they already are, sadly their reputation can also be their undoing because too many users think they don't need to take care of them nor wash the salt off the undersides.
If you get one first thing to do is get the underbody treated at Krown or a similar product of your choice, keep it serviced wash the salt off the undersides and that Krown coating topped up every few years that vehicle will see you out.
Edited by Smint on Monday 15th May 07:53
Familymad said:
Funny, but we are buying as a keeper and just toying with invincible spec vs Active. The Active is basically the Utility spec plus 18” alloys. Same velour inside. Price difference from carwow is £13500… you do get more spec and I like heated and cooled seats!
Looking at the longer term values, a 3 year old Invincible is circa £48k and Active £36k retail. So they keep the spread of price from new.
I hadn't really looked properly at Actives or residual values but that is good to know. My thinking is that if I'm keeping it for 15 years then if it's missing anything (like heated/cooled seats), I'll be missing it for a long time, and over that sort of time frame even if it's worth zero at the end then I won't feel it owes me anything. I'd probably ask if I could have it with the 18" Active-spec wheels though - the more sidewall the better with this sort of thing IMO.Looking at the longer term values, a 3 year old Invincible is circa £48k and Active £36k retail. So they keep the spread of price from new.
As an aside - I do do quite a lot of 'Active' stuff like biking, hiking and fell-running that involves driving out to somewhere, getting all sweaty and mucky, and then driving back. Probably the most useful thing you can have in a car used for such activities is leather seats (or at least something wipe-clean), yet that's one thing the 'Active' spec doesn't have!
When choosing specs the older used market for 120s at least prefers the one lower than top spec, ie 4 instead of 5.
This is mainly to do with the suspension on LC5 having air bags at the rear (only) and electrically adjustable dampers all round, the air suspension has been known to give issues, you might get an air bag leak or the height sensors can corrode up, OE are the only direct replacement to keep adjustable dampers but at high cost.
Also on top spec 120 the audio/heater/climate is all on a touch screen, they fail very rarely but used buyers again prefer the spec one down because it keeps manual heater/aircon controls so if the audio fails one can fit any standard audio unit in its stead, again mine shows no sign of failing but if its does an android unit can now be purchased but requires some clever bods than i to wire it in and make it all work.
The 150 will probably be a much more integrated system anyway so the difference in dash controls may not apply between the different specs.
I have the 120 LC 5 and none of these issues has effected me.
Airbags are simpler to change than a spring if and when one fails, none have, height sensors if you get the underbody treated won't corrode up, airpump can be rebuilt if needed and complete pattern parts are available, also one can fit standard shocks from the lower spec models to the vehicle with little to no change in the ride quality, my dampers are all original and still no leakes or deterioration, conversion kits are available at reasonable cost to fit standard steel springs to an air suspension equipped model if you should decide to go that route if the air suspension plays up.
Its a funny thing about Toyota 4x4's once you get one they sort of get under your skin, and that 10 year warranty given Toyota fair servicing costs isn't to be sneezed at.
This is mainly to do with the suspension on LC5 having air bags at the rear (only) and electrically adjustable dampers all round, the air suspension has been known to give issues, you might get an air bag leak or the height sensors can corrode up, OE are the only direct replacement to keep adjustable dampers but at high cost.
Also on top spec 120 the audio/heater/climate is all on a touch screen, they fail very rarely but used buyers again prefer the spec one down because it keeps manual heater/aircon controls so if the audio fails one can fit any standard audio unit in its stead, again mine shows no sign of failing but if its does an android unit can now be purchased but requires some clever bods than i to wire it in and make it all work.
The 150 will probably be a much more integrated system anyway so the difference in dash controls may not apply between the different specs.
I have the 120 LC 5 and none of these issues has effected me.
Airbags are simpler to change than a spring if and when one fails, none have, height sensors if you get the underbody treated won't corrode up, airpump can be rebuilt if needed and complete pattern parts are available, also one can fit standard shocks from the lower spec models to the vehicle with little to no change in the ride quality, my dampers are all original and still no leakes or deterioration, conversion kits are available at reasonable cost to fit standard steel springs to an air suspension equipped model if you should decide to go that route if the air suspension plays up.
Its a funny thing about Toyota 4x4's once you get one they sort of get under your skin, and that 10 year warranty given Toyota fair servicing costs isn't to be sneezed at.
Edited by Smint on Monday 15th May 08:41
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