An Enduring Favour: The Land Cruiser 100 Series SUV
We are quite proud of the Land Cruiser's illustrious past in our nation. It has been a feature on the Zimbabwean roads for decades and you hardly see a broken down one on our roads. No other vehicle comes close to matching its performance.
In general, the 100 Series Land Cruisers are bigger than their predecessors. Its 2.5-tonne weight makes it ideal for heavy hauling, but it uses a lot of gasoline unless you get a diesel version. In spite of its large size, the Land Cruiser feels cramped inside.
Two petrol engine options were available: a 4.5-litre DOHC 24-valve six with 165kW peak power and a 4.6-litre DOHC 32-valve V8 with 170kW peak power. There was a 96kW 4.2-litre SOHC 12-valve six-cylinder diesel engine available, and from the year 2000, there was a 151kW 4.2-litre DOHC 24-valve turbocharged six.
You could have it with high- or low-range four-wheel drive, high- or low-range two-wheel drive, and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox. The base wagon RV, GXL, and GXV were only a few of the many available models from Toyota. Equipped with split rims, manual front hubs, durable vinyl trim, power steering, and basic two-speaker sound, the entry-level wagon was a six-seater.
If you want stylish wheels, cloth upholstery, central locking, full-time 4WD, power mirrors, carpets, and greater sound, then the eight-seater RV is the way to go.
Front airbags, power windows, cruise control, CD audio, and anti-lock brakes were all standard on the GXL. If you had a V8 engine, automatic gearbox, velour upholstery, cut-pile carpeting, power seat, air conditioning, alloy wheels, and a CD stacker, you would have been driving a GXV.
The GXL came standard with power windows, CD audio, and remote keyless entry. The GXL came standard with power windows, CD audio, and remote keyless entry.
A had working SUV
Look for signs of wear on the inside trim and general signs of lack of care, such as dings and dents on the exterior, when buying a Land Cruiser. Most people buy these cars to work hard. Check the vehicle's undercarriage for signs of off-road damage. Driving on unsealed roads may cause sandblasting of the underbody, which, if severe enough, can cause rust to form on exposed steel parts.
Look for brackets, gasoline tanks, suspension parts, and the undercarriage itself that are battered and bruised. Find any drive-line joints that may have allowed water in by checking for cracked seals. Have a professional look it over and see if there is a service record before you buy.
As much as 20 litres of gas per hundred kilometres driven is not out of the ordinary for gasoline-powered vehicles. Even though many Land Cruiser owners switch to dual-fuel to save costs, you should exercise caution since LPG requires more frequent valve lash adjustments, which may be expensive and wipe out any savings you might have gotten.
While the 100 Series did better than average in protecting its passengers, it did far worse in mitigating the effects of whatever it collided into, according to a recent poll of used cars.
Why we love the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series
• Excellent terrain traction
• Massive toque ability
• It has a lot of pulling power
• Driving position with excellent visibility
• Reliable and tough
Our Judgement:
If you come across a good one, buy it. Its one car that hardly lose value and is in demand
In general, the 100 Series Land Cruisers are bigger than their predecessors. Its 2.5-tonne weight makes it ideal for heavy hauling, but it uses a lot of gasoline unless you get a diesel version. In spite of its large size, the Land Cruiser feels cramped inside.
Two petrol engine options were available: a 4.5-litre DOHC 24-valve six with 165kW peak power and a 4.6-litre DOHC 32-valve V8 with 170kW peak power. There was a 96kW 4.2-litre SOHC 12-valve six-cylinder diesel engine available, and from the year 2000, there was a 151kW 4.2-litre DOHC 24-valve turbocharged six.
You could have it with high- or low-range four-wheel drive, high- or low-range two-wheel drive, and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox. The base wagon RV, GXL, and GXV were only a few of the many available models from Toyota. Equipped with split rims, manual front hubs, durable vinyl trim, power steering, and basic two-speaker sound, the entry-level wagon was a six-seater.
If you want stylish wheels, cloth upholstery, central locking, full-time 4WD, power mirrors, carpets, and greater sound, then the eight-seater RV is the way to go.
Front airbags, power windows, cruise control, CD audio, and anti-lock brakes were all standard on the GXL. If you had a V8 engine, automatic gearbox, velour upholstery, cut-pile carpeting, power seat, air conditioning, alloy wheels, and a CD stacker, you would have been driving a GXV.
The GXL came standard with power windows, CD audio, and remote keyless entry. The GXL came standard with power windows, CD audio, and remote keyless entry.
A had working SUV
Look for signs of wear on the inside trim and general signs of lack of care, such as dings and dents on the exterior, when buying a Land Cruiser. Most people buy these cars to work hard. Check the vehicle's undercarriage for signs of off-road damage. Driving on unsealed roads may cause sandblasting of the underbody, which, if severe enough, can cause rust to form on exposed steel parts.
Look for brackets, gasoline tanks, suspension parts, and the undercarriage itself that are battered and bruised. Find any drive-line joints that may have allowed water in by checking for cracked seals. Have a professional look it over and see if there is a service record before you buy.
As much as 20 litres of gas per hundred kilometres driven is not out of the ordinary for gasoline-powered vehicles. Even though many Land Cruiser owners switch to dual-fuel to save costs, you should exercise caution since LPG requires more frequent valve lash adjustments, which may be expensive and wipe out any savings you might have gotten.
While the 100 Series did better than average in protecting its passengers, it did far worse in mitigating the effects of whatever it collided into, according to a recent poll of used cars.
Why we love the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series
• Excellent terrain traction
• Massive toque ability
• It has a lot of pulling power
• Driving position with excellent visibility
• Reliable and tough
Our Judgement:
If you come across a good one, buy it. Its one car that hardly lose value and is in demand
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