The Return of the Land Cruiser?

You only have to look at my avatar to see which one I'd like to have come back. That one (FJ40) and its bigger brother the FJ55 were the best LC's to hit US shores. I wouldn't mind seeing a FJ45 either, that's the single cab pickup version. The problem with bringing a basic rubber floormat, crank window, no-frills model is that 85% of offroad vehicle buyers never do anything more than climb speed bumps or crawl around the mall parking lot. They want cushy heated seats with fine leather, carpeted floors and electric windows and multifunction dash displays. I would like to see a small V8 but make it a basic pushrod engine and not some DOHC computerized thing that you can't fix out in the backwoods. I bought my '76 new, when I was 22 years old.

 

Love this. Great pics. Thank you for your service, sir.

 

Been a bit since I checked in on this thread...

Back in February, I swapped my 3rd Gen out for a new 2025 LC250. Dealer offered 6% off of MSRP and even did a dealer trade to get the exact color combo I was looking for (Meteor Shower w/ Java). Couple that with a fantastic trade value, and I felt good about pulling the trigger. I've always wanted another LC, and this will allow me to pick up a smaller used truck later on to beat the shit out of.

I've got a little over 5k miles on it since and am really loving it so far; much more comfortable and refined than my Tacoma, which is to be expected. The only thing I really miss about the Taco was the manual transmission and on rare occasions having a truck bed. Haven't had the LC off-road (at least not what I consider off-road) so I can't speak to that just yet, but on-road this is probably the best vehicle I have ever driven. Going to keep it stock for a little while, but I did add my ARB single compressor from my Taco to the engine bay and messed with the badging a bit (edit: also added the OEM steel skids). Pics or it didn't happen:

Trade-in day:






Proper badging for my light duty LC:

 

I’ve tried to like the LC and looked at it several times. Always left disappointed as it never seems to be worth the asking price. I know everything costs more these days, but I still want a premium vehicle when paying a premium price.

Have finally settled on the GX 550 for the V6, larger rear axle, and stronger front CVs. Will get the Overtrail trim with factory lift.

 

Congrats! I hear you on that larger rear axle and the stronger CVs, and I bet that V6 drives and sounds sweet! I didn't care for the Lexus interior or grille. That Nori Green though... At the end of the day, there were just more things that drew me to the LC. Different strokes I guess.

I agree that everything seems to be overpriced these days. That being said, I personally think the LC is worth what I paid and more than enough capability for anything I will ever throw at it. I had a 2016 XC90 R-Design that was the same MSRP new as this LC, and this is hands down the better vehicle. Not only is it the nicest car I've ever driven, it is also by far the nicest interior I have ever owned. It just works for me, but then again it is usually all about personal preference. I just enjoy my ride and am happy that others have the opportunity to own/drive these fine examples of the Prado, both LC and GX.

 

That's the very reason I'd like another FJ40, to have something to beat the shit out of. I'm confident it would take much more abuse doing offroad antics than the new one can without having to take it back to the dealer every few weeks to fix it. Mine took an almost direct hit on a back country gravel road from a guy who came around a blind corner at 40 mph on my side of the road, and it was still drivable (barely) but his car had to be towed off on a dolly. A friend of mine who had a '73 model and who inspired me to buy my LC rolled his twice down a road bank and into a mountain stream that was 4 feet deep and 50 feet across. It lay upside down in the creek for two hours before someone came along and helped winch it upright and out of the creek. The top was bent sort of sideways, the windshield and side windows broken out (no roll bar in the '73). He checked the oil and it was still on the dipstick with no water in the crankcase, pulled the plugs and replaced them, to avoid the chance of a hydrolock from oil in the cylinders, cranked it up and drove 40 miles home. Tell me anything made today could withstand stuff like that, even if it is made by Toyota.

 

Those are great examples of what makes land cruisers the vehicles that get you there and back! Not even close to being the same, but I recently saw a post on FB from CBI Offroad Fab where they broke one of the CV axles on their LC250 and were still able to keep going. Stuff like that will make me feel more comfortable when I eventually venture off the beaten path with mine.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have an FJ40 to enjoy as a trail rig. Someday, I hope... I just know my budget when it comes to weekend toys. Plus, something like a 1st Gen Taco can pull double duty doing minor truck things for me.

 

This was a fun thread to read through, with all the speculation leading up to basically a USA Prado. Trying to convince wife to get one for her next car. She thinks she wants a Bronco...

Another 4x4 they should resurrect is the Xterra...

 

I am debating about getting one too.

 

Any of you LC250 owners on your second windshield yet?

 

The prices you have to pay for restored FJ40's today would make me hesitate to take them very far off-road, it's kind of ridiculous I think. I gave $5700 for mine brand new in 1976 but to find one in average unrestored condition with no major mechanical issues today would cost you $25K at least, and fully restored easily go past $100K. I've had my Taco on a few trails and find it a very capable off-roader, except for the longer wheelbase it can get into spots almost as tight as my FJ40 could. I'm reluctant to push the limits like I used to, though, it's my only form of transportation and I don't want to tear it up. I wasn't quite so responsible in my 20's.

What's the issue? Body twist from a flimsy frame, or a poorly seated window glass?

 

^The LC250 windshield is perfectly flat and upright like the Wrangler and Bronco, both of which are known to consume windshields on a yearly basis. The design invites stone chips.

And flimsy frames don't cause broken windshields. The 3.3 million 2nd- and 3rd gen Tacomas are proof.

 

It'll depend on consumer reaction at SEMA I guess. The regulatory environment is right (CAFE stifled) for it:

 

Is this real? Looks Photoshopped. I had seen some smoke about an electric successor to th Xterra (since it was supposedly EPA regs that killed it the first time). But, said EV wasn't really made for off-road adventures, and wasn't an Xterra, so I don't see a point.

 

Not yet (currently knocking on wood).

The new Prados have quite the vertical/flat windshield as noted...

I wouldn't think any land cruiser has a "flimsy frame". Even the light duty one I am currently driving.

 

Yes it's 3rd gen Frontier body parts and interior bolted to an Xterra for Nissan's SEMA build: https://www.theautopian.com/nissan-isnt-building-a-third-gen-xterra-but-this-superfan-is/

3rd gen Frontier is a reskinned 2nd gen with new engine, and the Xterra is on the same F-Alpha platform, so most parts bolt up.

 

Oh that's a sick project, thanks for the link!

 

I saw a lot of nice Prados in Aruba recently set up for off-roading. Even some being used as taxis. Maybe they are cheaper there than here. They also have the Baic BJ 40 and BJ 80 there. Something lost in translation there with the “BJ” name. I also like the little Jimny they sell there.

 

Not gonna lie, I would love it if the new Jimny was sold here in the States. I’ve seen some of the new ones in the wild during my last trip to Japan…pretty sweet.

 

I drove my FJ40 for 8 years, it had a vertical/flat windshield and never caught a rock or otherwise broke, even when I had it folded flat on the hood in the backwoods. I really didn't expect the frame to be flimsy enough to twist the windshield out of its frame, but nothing today is built as well as it was 30 years ago, not even a Toyota.