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In these ecologically friendly times, the Toyota Landcruiser Amazon is a refreshingly unabashed 4x4 throwback. Big when it's trendy to be small, unfashionably square, unashamedly thirsty and hugely expensive, the Amazon and its elder incarnation, the Landcruiser VX, are firmly from the old school and all the better for it. Sometimes it has to be said, size matters, and judged by that criterion the Landcruiser is certainly significant. More often seen climbing a kerb in the high street than corralling livestock, the British interpretation of the Landcruiser's function has often missed the mark. Nonetheless, as a used buy it has a certain charm, and in those rare instances where its size and ruggedness are actually put to the test, it's guaranteed to come up trumps every time.
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Detailed ratings
Large-Sized Family Hatch-Based SUVs
What you get
The Landcruiser Amazon and VX ranges are both enormous, rugged and reasonably expensive on the used market. The VX and early Amazon models are good if you need a spacious, go-anywhere vehicle, but it really is worth stretching the finances that bit further and opting for the 'Series 100' Amazon. This is a far more accomplished car on tarmac, and interior sophistication was also radically improved over the early Amazons. One way to imagine this car is to visualise a Lexus with high ground clearance and three rows of seats.
With 65% of buyers opting for the turbo diesel model thanks to the lower asking price, the manual transmission option and the 25mpg capability. Most come fitted with air conditioning, cruise control, ABS, remote central locking, twin airbags, a CD system with autochanger, alloy wheels and side steps. Plus of course those two extra (removable) foldaway seats in the rear. The detailed touches are especially impressive. The heated rear side windows, the power-operated rear quarter vents and the way the air conditioning splits the climate front and rear. Plus of course, there are a huge number of cup holders; this, after all, is a car you can stretch out and relax in. If, in this eco-friendly world, you question a car like the Landcruiser Amazon, then you're not alone. Even Toyota's Chief Engineer Takeo Kondo "regrets" that its sheer bulk couldn't have somehow been reduced.
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What to look for
The Landcruiser VX and Amazon models are largely reliable, as would be expected from any Toyota product. The only problem with claiming to be the biggest and toughest is that, just occasionally, some people will attempt to find out just how tough it is. Therefore, check the underside of the car for damage to the exhaust, steering and suspension. Transmissions can become worn on older vehicles or those which have done a lot of towing, and some of the early turbodiesel engines may now be getting a little smoky. Buy the latest of these that you can afford and always look for a decent service history. Otherwise, the Landcruiser is one of the hardiest examples of its ilk.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 1998 Amazon 4.2 TD) Landcruiser parts aren't cheap, nor do they tip over into exorbitance. A new clutch assembly kit retails at around £360, whilst a new radiator will be £411.Exhaust prices depend on whether the car is fitted with a double catalyst twin front pipe. These parts are £1,576 a throw, although the unit for single-pipe equipped cars is just over £400. A new alternator works out at around £325, whilst a new starter motor requires the thick end of £375. A replacement headlamp unit is £150, so go easy in the rough stuff.
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On the road
On the road, the Landcruiser Amazon trades punches with its British and German rivals. On one hand, it's quieter; on the move, even the turbo diesel is near silent, while the V8 is hardly audible at all. On the other however, it's more susceptible to body roll, something you can limit by paying extra for the Active Height Control system.
This is basically similar to the air suspension system pioneered by the Range Rover and is said to provide better steering stability and ride comfort. It allows you to raise the car by 50mm for heavy off road work or lower it by the same amount to aid entry and exit. This was originally developed to aid oil sheikhs who kept tripping over their robes getting in and out...
Those for whom off road capability is a greater priority will be pleased to find that the ladder chassis is even tougher and the body now 50% more rigid. There are also adjustable dampers and lockable centre and rear differentials. In other words, what you can't drive through in this car, you can't drive through - period.
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Overall
If you're not after the most trendy four-wheel drive, but instead put a premium on size and capability, the Landcruiser VX and Amazon J80 and J100 series models are probably the best choice available. Whilst they're not cheap to buy, and will never be cheap to run, the big Toyota remains one of the best tools for tackling the seriously rough stuff. The Landcruiser brand has become a cult, standing for bulletproof reliability and commonsense engineering. A used 'cruiser is the best way to offset those high new prices.
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