anyone gone from landcruiser to hilux

I was going to buy my work hilux when it came up for sale but after spending many hours in it I went and bought another cruiser. Much more comfy and better off road, better Air con, stronger panels and more fuel capacity.
The ute is quicker and generally uses less fuel but for me the cruiser wagon is better and if I want another dual cab I'll chop it down.Image Could Not Be Found

Cheers
Dave

I have an 05 TD Hilux and just had to replace 4 injectors, there goes the economy, a petrol model would be way ahead in terms of cost now, given it is cheaper and doesn't need injectors replacing. This was after 90,000kms. My mate was whinging to me about having to buy a new engine for his Commodore VZ wagon, it cost him $1600 fitted from a wrecker. 4 Injectors for a Hilux will cost you between $3000-3200...! For anyone buying a Nissan or Toyota Common Rail Diesel using Denso injectors beware, it's only a matter of time. I believe a Melbourne company Westend Diesel are investing $500k in equipment to give then the ability to remanufacturer second hand Denso Common Rail injectors, until then cross your fingers. I love my Hilux but I think the cost of these injectors is robbery. For anyone in the same boat you can buy a Denso direct replacement rather than the actual Toyota model and save some money, my Toyota dealer was kind enough to do these and save me some money.

I'm in the same situation qubert, do I buy another 'cruiser (trayback) or go for a diesel 4x4 HiLux. My son says buy the diesel V8 'cruiser you'll never regret it, I just hate spending them big $$$$s.

Rob.

I went from a 99 petrol 2.7 Extra cab Lux to a 98 LC 1hz so I guess i'm kind of in the ball park to comment.

Reason for changing was to increase tow capacity(3.5t).

As for 4wd capabilities we stuck a lokka in the front of the Lux and it made a huge difference. As others have said without it it can be a bit "squirrelly" finding traction as it is so light in the rear. We compensated with a bit more speed which comes with it's own risks ; ) By putting a lokka in the front, where the weight is, it transformed it into being able to easily just idle up obstacles like a real 4wd. Best mod we ever did.

As for fuel economy the Hilux used more but services etc were cheaper and don't forget most of the time diesel is 10c more anyway.

I am forced into being a safer driver now as I take it a lot easier with the tractorish 1hz.

We lost a lot of load carrying capacity with the Lux. Yeah we have roofbasket with the LC but it's all out in the weather whereas we had a huge canopy on the Lux.

In the end they are both good cars but which do I prefer? too hard a question as they are both compromises.

As for the new toyota's I get to drive them all thru work so in my opinion - the later Hilux's I don't like the low body styling, the V8 - it's an absolute balltearer (5th gear at 90k's drop the right foot and it takes off!) I'd love one but for those $'s I'd wait until the excessive oil use etc is addressed.

BTW as others have alluded to I wouldn't buy the series one 2nd hand as lots of owners have been caught out with low oil..... Mechanics are loving them and not forgetting their bread and butter 3L Patrols.

I went from a hilux (4runner) backwards to a 60 series LC. One of my better decisions. It has saved me heaps. things just kept breaking on the hi lux.

thanks folks, good food for thought.....

Here is a females perspective.
We have had various Cruisers, first Hubby's 75 Series Ute, then we went to a Troopie, then and 80 Series, then he brought a ex enviro 75 Series ute which drove really well but had a bleep ty chassis, and finally he has his beaut '05 79 Series Turbo Diesel which after the loan is paid out will probably have ended up costing us close to umm two arms and two legs!

Anyway living rural after a while I didn't find the Subaru Forrester all that suitable, it was too big for a normal car but didn't really have many benefits of a 4x4. So we decided on a straight trade in for a '04 TD Hilux Dual Cab. I thought it was a great car, more nimble on the road compared to his cruiser, quicker steering, didn't feel sluggish when accelerating at all (thanks to the Turbo) and it was more fuel efficient than the Cruizer albeit not a huge amount.
Handling on the gravel was "exciting" if you like drifting around corners. Nah not that bad but due to the lightness of it (alloy tray) you definitely felt that it wanted to slide when cornering, and even going up our gravel driveway was fun.

But partly due to finances we ended up selling it to buy just a normal cheap car (97 Daihatsu Applause) which in comparison is a pleasure to drive and gets two time the economy that the Hilux did!!!

But to sum it up in some ways the Hilux was better on the road compared to the cruiser, but really when it came to bumps both on road an off road, the IFS Hilux was absolutely no comparison to the ride / comfort / performance that you get out of the Cruiser, and that was even considering that we had replaced the suspension on the Lux all round. Granted if the Lux had a steel tray or generally a bit more weight to it, then it would have been better, but I imagine your fuel economy would have gone out the window. The TD Crusier really shows it up if you're say going up a longish hill or overtaking, when you get around the 100k mark I think the power of the lux leaves something to be desired where the 79 series in comparison has ample in reserve.

My Father in Law recently got a Petrol Hilux Ute. I have only sat in it, but it feels / looks a lot lower to the ground compared to ours, I know I wouldn't be buying one.

So much for my summary above ( gee I can ramble on), but anyway in my opinion if you're after "4wdiness" then stick with your cruiser. If your looking for something more nimble on the road and I suppose "fun to throw around" then maybe go for the lux, or then again why not keep the cruiser and get some sporty non 4x4 car for on the road??? That sort of set up works well for us except for the fact that Hubby plus me and two kids don't all fit in the cruiser :(