Personal opinion here, B... but it's hard to hear praise about this rig from someone who knows full well what Toyota is capable of and provided outside the US. This rig is marketing genius... but I don't think anyone of us can say this is a decent wheeling truck, regardless of how strong our Toyota ties are....
I'm so misunderstood. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" /> I'm not praising this rig as being the ultimate off roader or the best that Toyota could have done. I'm praising the fact that they chose to use the fully boxed 4Runner frame, and 8" front IFS diff, etc. I'm not saying this rig is what I really want. I'm saying, it could have been MUCH worse. They could have used the C-channel Taco frame. They could have used IRS. They have not put any lockers in it. I'm not happy about the end product, but if the price is right and after a closer look over the next year, it might turn out to be a decent vehicle. Certainly a better base for a build up that the Taco or 4Runner or any other modern Toyota.
Oh - and stating that an 80 isn't "capable" because it needs the running boards removed... that's a quick way to get an e-slap... Cause there's no way you can state a fully locked, coil spring truck with HUGE birfs, straight-6, FF rear axle and HP front axle is not light years ahead of this new Cruiser in terms of ruggedness and off-road capability.
The LC80 is an awesome rig, I'm just saying the running boards have go and they need a bit of a lift. No biggie. It's the one rig that I'd replace my truck with in a heartbeat, if I could justify spending the money. I've been looking, so we'll see.
Toyota could have released a Rubicon killer - they chose to release a Honda Element with a Cruiser bezel and name plate. DC is kicking Toyota's butt... If I didn't have my 4Runner, I promise you there'd be an '05 Rubicon Unlimited sitting in my garage awaiting lift and 35's...
DC is kicking Toyota's butt in that very, very small niche' market. But over all, Toyota is kicking everybody's but. They are now the 2nd largest auto maker in the world, and way above Chrysler. From a business stand point, Toyota is making all the right moves. From our stand point, it sucks. Toyota has not yet seen the potential of the personal 4x4 market, like Chrysler has. Almost every capable 4x4 that they've ever built was designed specificly for commerical, government and farm use. But business is all that matters to an automaker and from that stand point they are doing everything exactly right.
