Discussion
The Toyota brand does not send many pulses racing. Back in the 90's I had a succession of Toyotas when working for Inchcape, the UK importer - mostly Previas to get the kids in. Always reliable but dull as ditch water, cars for pensioners. Even the Supra was not super. A brand not on my bucket list.
I have just bought a 2004 Land Cruiser with 220,000 miles on the clock, the cheapest on offer. I'm due to drive it to Ukraine early next year and leave it there as part of an aid convoy. I'm now wishing I could bring it back. Toyota were the driving force behind Just In Time supply chain management and the Ishikawa model of planning what could possibly go wrong. Not very interesting for petrolheads but this vehicle shows why it made sense. Absolutely everything works and, if it doesn't there s a comprehensive hand book that tells the owner what to do. It also has all the electronic gizmos that were available at the time and they work too - range, altitude, direction, speed, time elapsed, mpg, 6 CD disc player plus cassette and a plethora of warning lights - none of which are illuminated.
It has never been undersealed so has surface rust on the chassis but the components have been designed to last a lifetime. Two diff locks - centre and rear - and the choice of high or low ratios means it can go anywhere. Even the seats are in good condition.
So I have changed my mind - this is a brilliant machine and explains why other off-roaders never challenged its supremacy in those part of the world where that is necessary .
I have just bought a 2004 Land Cruiser with 220,000 miles on the clock, the cheapest on offer. I'm due to drive it to Ukraine early next year and leave it there as part of an aid convoy. I'm now wishing I could bring it back. Toyota were the driving force behind Just In Time supply chain management and the Ishikawa model of planning what could possibly go wrong. Not very interesting for petrolheads but this vehicle shows why it made sense. Absolutely everything works and, if it doesn't there s a comprehensive hand book that tells the owner what to do. It also has all the electronic gizmos that were available at the time and they work too - range, altitude, direction, speed, time elapsed, mpg, 6 CD disc player plus cassette and a plethora of warning lights - none of which are illuminated.
It has never been undersealed so has surface rust on the chassis but the components have been designed to last a lifetime. Two diff locks - centre and rear - and the choice of high or low ratios means it can go anywhere. Even the seats are in good condition.
So I have changed my mind - this is a brilliant machine and explains why other off-roaders never challenged its supremacy in those part of the world where that is necessary .
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