Decoding the Enigmatic Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series

The strongest things in the world can be boiled down to diamonds, Chuck Norris (is that still a meme?), and a 90s Toyota. OK, we're probably exaggerating (are we?) a little here, but it's hard to deny the endurance and durability of a Toyota born out of the 90s. These things are tanks in every sense of the word and perhaps the tankiest tank of them all, the 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser, is highly revered. Why, you might be asking, is a bubbly Toyota SUV so popular today? So much so that one with only 1,000 miles on the odometer (if you can believe it) sold for $130,000 at auction. Look it up. 

For the 80 Series, popularity is well deserved, but why exactly? Toyota of Orlando is here to decode the finer points of this Cruiser and why it's so sought after in today's market. 

They Don't Make them Like they Used to

Like anything else, the automotive world is full of people who are more purist than others. They appreciate the simplicity and the times of old where features we have today didn't exist (there's even a super old guy who still drives around a Ford Model T. Again, look it up). While even we at Toyota of Orlando can appreciate simplicity and ease of use when it comes to cars, we still enjoy our creature comforts. Very. Very much. Before we crack into the popularity of the 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser, let's get the bad out of the way. This Cruiser wasn't always the obvious choice and had to age into its current role in the world. Here are a few reasons why buying an 80 in the 90s would have been a bad idea:

• The Toyota Land Cruiser of the 90s was an interesting fixture in the automotive world. It was the introduction of a solid new era for the Cruiser and it helped launch Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus into the spotlight. But, it did the latter in quite a half-hearted way. Essentially, the Cruiser was rebadged as the LX 450 and half-hearted it was. The main changes made were a new sound system, a different bumper, a handful of Lexus badges, and some wood trim. All of that brought the sticker price up $7,000 from one that was already steep. 
• Design wise, the Cruiser had some interesting things going for it. The front bumper embodied that 90s bubbliness and the wheel fenders look unfinished to some onlookers. Inside the cabin the emergency brake is so large that it offsets the center console and interferes with the passenger side seating. Plus, in true Orlando Cruiser fashion, the third row seats fold to their respective sides instead of down into the floor. To keep them from falling unexpectedly when you hit a bump in the road, they're hooked onto the hand rails in the headliner. Seriously. 
• The sticker price of the 80 Series ranked in around $50,000. That might seem like quite a far cry from today's almost $90,000 price tag, but you can't forget your microecon lesson about inflation. What carried a price of $50,000 25 years now equates to about $90,000 - $100,000. Everybody pricey, it seems. 
• Granted, it was the 90s, but the 80 Series suffers from offensively low MPG. If you think 17 MPG highway is bad today, try 11 miles or less back then. Gas was cheaper, but jeez. 

So, with all that bad stuff out of the way, why do people want this car so bad? The truth is that the Orlando 80 Series Land Cruiser has become quite the icon amongst off-roaders and over landers. While a lot of those aspects would have deterred buyers in the 90s, today they're seen as vintage novelties on an otherwise superb trail-hungry beast. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you're boggled:

• The Toyota Land Cruiser is, well, a Land Cruiser. This doesn't just say that it's a tough vehicle, it means it. Many 80 Series Cruisers are still around today and can reach into the half a million range on their odometers without needing any major repairs. 
  
• This model year Orlando Cruiser also offered an option that enhances its off-roading cred, but it's exceptionally hard to find. The 80 had an optional locking rear-differential that made it truly capable on trails. But, it's very hard to find one with this feature today. Many families purchased a Cruiser or LX 450 as a family vehicle and didn't opt for the rear differential option. So, good luck finding one cheap. 
• While it might have some interesting design quirks inside, the 80 Series is beloved for its simplicity. Gauges are all analog, the gearbox and shift knob are easy to use, it has off-roading terrain select that's also exceedingly simple to use, and it's frill-less in the best of ways. Plus it has a cool feature where you can lower the radio antennae without having to shut the radio off. Pretty dope. 
• Many 80 Series drivers report little to no fatigue when driving it on trails and rough terrain. In fact, the design cues from this series of Cruiser actually acted as a benchmark for the new J300 Series, due to release soon. 

So, there you have it! The 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser is one bodacious beast of a ride if you're looking to do some off-roading or over landing. 

Now, if you want to buy the modern Land Cruiser, you better swing by Toyota of Orlando at 3575 Vineland Road and see it before it's gone!