Landcruise 80 Owners, Help Please.

Hi Jeff:

I have an 80 Series diesel (1991) with 250,000kms on the clock. My beastie averages around 14 litres/100km on a trip, but not towing. On a recent trip to Cameron Corner when I was putting $60 into the tank, and he was doing the same mileage/conditions and was eating up $90. Both vehicles were well loaded up, I had a roof rack. This happened on every refuel stop along the way. Obviously you need to drag those figures down when towing, but with a diesel it may not be as dramatic as you may think. Their low end torque is a dream. Not much at the high end though. Mine loses revs on suspicion of there being a hill within 20kms :)

Known issues ... if it is a manual, the gearbox is a bit "notchy", but it is a truck gearbox, so it does not take long to drive around the notchiness. Double shuffling helps. Headlights are pretty useless, even high beam. You may like to consider putting in a decent wiring loom and fitting some brighter lights (Hella inserts seem to be a popular choice). Pirahna sell a loom that can handle stronger lighting for around $200. I plan on getting one soon if I can't win one through the 4WD magazine I receive every month : )

On the "up" side - I keep an eye on eBay and have kitted mine out for a fraction of the cost of new. 80 Series bits and pieces come up fairly regularly and so far I have not been dudded.

Before you buy run an eye over the body pillars around where the doors fit. There have been a few cases of these cracking. Also a check over underneath for chassis cracks. I am aware of these faults, but in every case, it has been with vehicles that have done a lot of rock hopping and extreme off-road. But given that, it obviously represents a form of weakness, but may not happen in a "normal" driving situation.

80 Series are a great machine and there are plenty of good ones still available. Love mine.

Good luck.

Jack

Hard decision...pick of the bunch would be a turbo diesel 95 or later, auto over manual, but either is ok...turbos will get the best economy towing, with minimal problems in the mean time....cost more, better resale etc etc.
Last option is a gas petrol, good value for money outlayed, but bad economy,power towing etc, will put most off. Gas is not available everywhere, and they run hotter than all the rest/more prone to go out of tune quicker...so in a nutshell...high maintenance.
If u can afford petrol, these will drink 25l-30l/100 maybe more.
Earlier turbo diesels had some problems, but are good value for money now because of this...if u buy one of these, allow $500 per 100k kms for new bigends and everything will be sweet.
Andrew
(94 petrol auto)

Hi Jeff
I recently went through the same process, but found I couldnt afford a turbo diesel with under 200km, under $30K. I was eventually swayed when I picked up a dual fuel manual with about 70km for $27K.
75% of my time is spent towing a horse float weighing about 2200kg, mainly on freeway from NE Vic to Melbourne. It doesnt like hills all that much, or headwind, but if left in 4th gear will generally only drop to about 80km/h, otherwise happily sits on about 100km/h. I have not had any problems with overheating.
Now to fuel economy - or lack of it. I did a test over about 600km last week and averaged about 28L/100km. Average price for LPG in our area is 42c/L so running cost is $11.76/100km. compare to diesel at (say) 15L/100km and price around here is 112c/L therefore (fuel) running cost is $16.80/100km - so I am still in front - just got to stop more often to fuel up.
With the purchase price differential between the petrol (LPG) and diesel I found it a pretty easy to choose the LPG.
Cheers
Pelican

Hi there,

Please take into account the fact that yes lpg does run hotter but it is cleaner for your engine and also the environment and I am not a Greenie (no insult intended to anyone who is).

Regards
Sasha