re: Land Cruiser...would you buy it?

quote:

---

Now, a 5.7-liter, 381-horsepower V-8, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission is standard in the Land Cruiser and optional for Sequoia.

A major difference between these two big Toyota SUVs is their suspensions. Land Cruiser is focused on being off-road tough with its rigid rear axle and four-link coil spring rear suspension. Sequoia is more about ride comfort and has independent double-wishbone, coil-spring suspension all around.

An available air-suspension package and Active Variable Suspension, with settings for comfort, normal and sport, improves the ride comfort and augments the Sequoia's ability to tow and haul heavy loads while maintaining an appropriate ride height and chassis attitude.

To enhance off-road performance, Land Cruiser's suspension is augmented with a relatively simple roll control system that varies roll resistance while accommodating uneven road surfaces.

A very clever feature that sets the Land Cruiser apart from Sequoia — and all other SUVs — is a new electro-mechanical system called "crawl control." Crawl Control takes care of the chore of keeping a steady pace over rough terrain through the use of electronic throttle control and a combination of stability control and antilock braking. In operation, all the driver has to do is make sure the transfer case is in 4L, activate the system with a center console switch, and select one of three crawl speeds. The driver just needs to steer while modern technology takes care of the rest. It's like a very capable low-speed cruise control.

Land Cruiser and Sequoia share the same basic four-wheel-drive system — one that can be shifted on the fly between 2WD and 4WD at speeds up to 62 mph, or left in 4WD full-time, even on dry pavement. The Torson limited-slip center differential provides a normal 40/60 front-to-rear torque split, but can vary from 50/50 to 30/70 depending on traction conditions. When the center differential is locked, the torque split is fixed at 50/50.

The Land Cruiser, with its well-known reliability and capability, is the iconic vehicle that helped Toyota gain its first foothold in the world automobile market. Over the years, it has evolved from a basic four-wheel drive utility vehicle into an upscale vehicle with the capability of the original Land Cruiser and the comfort and convenience of a luxury sedan. Much of Land Cruiser's iconic status has rubbed off on Sequoia buyers.

Toyota's two-vehicle, large-SUV strategy focuses on two very different buyers. Land Cruiser buyers are college-educated males and middle-aged, with a household income of $237,000. Almost half of them are married with children and use their SUV as a family hauler or for vacations.

Since its introduction, Sequoia had maintained one of the youngest buyers in the large-SUV segment with an average age of 40. It is a family hauler, since nearly 60 percent of Sequoia owners are married with children. They have an average household income of $106,000.

So, simple logic would lead the buyer to the Sequoia with its long list of comfort and convenience features. But emotion and status are powerful factors for many buyers, and owning a vehicle with a "King of Off-Road" reputation could be more important than comfort or convenience. You decide.

---

quote:

---

Those ARB and Slee bumpers look really sharp.

---

quote:

---

'77 FJ40 for $24,900 in Tallahassee.

---

quote:

---

From 1999 to 2007 it was. In 2008, with the new body style, it became the LX 570. (4.7L to 5.7L eng

---

quote:

---

I have a 2007 GX

---

quote:

---

What do you think, is a used LC with 100k on the odometer a pretty fair purchase for 20-25k?

---