80 Series LandCruiser: Used Review 1990 | Land cruiser 80
TheLandcruiser80Serieswasreleasedin1990,toclaimsthatitwouldbethebenchmark4WDofthe1990s.Certainly,fitandfinishwassuperbandthecoil-sprung,full-time-4WD80SeriesatlastcaughtupwithRoverandovertookNissan’scoil-sprungPatrol,butthefirst80SerieswasaRichardIII:"....sentbeforemytime Intothisbreathingworldscarcehalfmadeup".Atthenationalpresslaunchaprominentjournalist,WillHagon,askedpointedlyifthethennew hadbeen“modelledonaloafofbread”.Newlylaunched80swereknowntolurchsidewayswithoutwarningwhileinmotion....
The Landcruiser 80 Series was released in 1990, to claims that it would be the benchmark 4WD of the 1990s. Certainly, fit and finish was superb and the coil-sprung, full-time-4WD 80 Series at last caught up with Rover and overtook Nissan’s coil-sprung Patrol, but the first 80 Series was a Richard III:
"....sent before my time Into this breathing world scarce half made up".
At the national press launch a prominent journalist, Will Hagon, asked pointedly if the then new had been “modelled on a loaf of bread”.
Newly launched 80s were known to lurch sideways without warning while in motion. (image credit: Toyota Global)
Also obvious was that the spring rates and shock absorber settings were peculiar. The new vehicles wallowed and would occasionally leap sideways in what soon became known as ‘Landcruiser Lurch’.
EngineThis is the 4.2-litre 24-valve 6-cylinder 1HD-FT turbo-diesel of a very well looked after, privately owned 1996 auto GXL 80 Series, which ...