any ideas why the land cruiser costs so much more than the sequoia? folks at the dealer say that it is much more capable off-road, but there has got to be more. plus, the 4runner is much more capable off road than the land cruiser, so why the high price?

I beleive It's still made in Japan. Which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

If it's made it Japan, US charge tariff tax on top of it. That's how they killed all the 2 dr suv imports. Right after the increase back in the early 90's all the 2dr path finder and 4 runner cost more than the 4 dr models.....oops I digress..

As far as I know, the Land Cruiser is the top of the line. It does not come in the SR5 option. You get everything(4wd,leather,climate control,etc.,etc.). I've seen some older fj80's(90-92?) with cloth seats instead of leather though.

I thought the last Japanese assembled/made Land Cruiser was back in 1997. Anything newer was made/assembled in Kentucky. I don't know for sure. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" />

Land Cruisers are still built in Japan.

First off...it's not the same as the Sequoia. The Sequoia is built on the Tundra chassis and it's not as durable off road as the Land Cruiser. The 4runner?? What year?? The new one is good off road and is closer than ever, but it still isn't the Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser is the TOP OF THE LINE TOYOTA 4WD. Yeah it's softer than eariler years but this is North America and that's what people here will buy. The Sequoia is a soccer mom 4x4 just like a Tahoe (but real quality). Land Cruiser is right there with names like Land Rover, Mercedes Gwagen...... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

The Land Cruiser looks overpriced until you look at what it (justifiably) competes with: Range Rover, Escalade, G500. Those are premium SUVs. The Land Cruiser is a terrific vehicle built with absolutely the finest reasonable materials. It is an overengineered masterpiece of an automobile and so much more vehicle than almost anyone needs. Driving a Land Cruiser is more than driving a vehicle.

Not to say that the Sequoia isn't a good SUV. Quite the contrary, it's a nice vehicle. But it competes with Suburbans and Expeditions and has to be priced and built as such. It's not as heavy-duty as a Cruiser because it wasn't intended for use as a UN patrol vehicle in Baghdad.

If you can afford it and you don't need the extra space, go for the Land Cruiser. I truly think it's one of the finest vehicles on the road. Of those I listed, only the Range Rover can compete in on-road and off-road excellence. The G500 is great off road but horrible on-road (again, it was built with a particular purpose in mind).


BTW, you can still get a Land Cruiser with front/rear lockers and SFA in much of Africa and I think even Australia. That's where they really use these vehicles. If I had the cash, a Land Cruiser would be my rainy day/safari vehicle. People who have that kind of cash take safaris. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Like everyone's already said the Land Cruiser is a much more durable chassis than the Sequoia, however, it is also waaaay over priced. The same Land Cruiser overseas sells for as much as a 1/3 or more less than it does here. Some of that is some of the extras that we get here like GPS nav system, but much of it is simply because Toyota "can" charge that much and people will still buy.

And yes, they do still make solid axle Land Cruisers overseas. Of course the 78 series, but they also make a solid axle 100 series like we have here. It's basicly a 100 body put on top of an older 80 series frame and suspension.

Another interesting thing is that manual transmissions can be had in the overseas Land Cruiser and most surprisingly even a manual 5 speed can be had with a 4.7 V-8 IFS Land Cruiser.

Another tidbit is that the Land Cruiser 80 series, including body is still in production and sold...but only in Venezuala.

http://www.brian894x4.com/FOREIGNTOYOTAMAINPAGE.html

Toyota builds some pretty cool, just not for us in the USA.

GREAT website! Major kudos on that one. Those military LC100s are what wet dreams are made of. I'd give my first born for an LC100 5-speed, SFA, locking hubs... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Andrew. I'm usually on the 4 wheeling truck side, but every once and a while I sneak over here.....