Our round-up of 4x4s prepared for whatever winter can throw at them kicks off with this leggy Toyota Land Cruiser. The 2004-reg motor has done 203,000 miles but it comes direct from its first owner and has a full service history. The timing belts were replaced at 119,000 miles (the official interval is 100,000) and the turbocharger three years ago. It got a new alternator last year.
So it’s worth a look, along with the other five or so 4x4s that experts say you should also check out. The thing is they know an old ’cruiser can be trouble, but to misty-eyed enthusiasts, the model can do no wrong.
If only that were true. For example, we’ve deliberately sought out a 2004-reg because this and earlier J120s – Toyota’s codename for this generation of 2003-09 Landcruiser – avoided the copper injector seal problems that blighted later models.
Corrosion can be an issue at all ages. The sills and floorpan fare worst but even brake lines can rust through. It’s a heavy vehicle so expect the suspension and steering bushes to be showing signs of strain.
Then there’s the combined engine and gearbox radiators, which can break down, allowing their fluids to mix, and on top-spec LC5 models, the possibility of the high-tech heater controls failing. Go for an LC4: it’s much more straightforward.
It all makes pretty grim reading but it’s best you know so you can avoid the worst and buy the best. Do that and you’ll be very pleased with your big ’cruiser. A cavernous cabin, tough ladder-frame chassis, diffs galore (the LC4 has hill-start assist control at the rear instead) and even air suspension on the LC5: it’s all here.
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VAG 3.2 v6 has timing chains
Alfa vs Ford
The Ford might sound better, but who over the age of 9 wants to be seen in a modified Focus ST?
Needs to go back to where it belongs, the car park of a McDonalds at 1am.
The Brera will be unreliable as hell but it's achingly cool to look at.
thesockpuppet wrote:
The Brera has several faults, some of which I ve outlined above, unreliablity however, is not one of them.
thesockpuppet wrote:
I was ignoring the modified bit and just thinking about the 5pot
Alfa v ford, whilst I don't
si73 wrote:
Sadly, there is no "Alfa V6" in the Brera, its simply a midly modified GM V6. Indeed, the Brera isnt really an Alfa either, sitting as it does, on a Saab engineered GM platform. The most Italian of the Breras were the 2 diesel models with their Italian JTD engines, the 5 cylinder 2.4 being particularly tuneful, almost petrol like in its timbre.