Plumber on V8: How an old Toyota Land Cruiser 100 became the perfect work tool

The story of this Toyota Land Cruiser 100 did not begin as is usually the case with the purchase of legendary SUVs. The owner was looking for a practical RAV4 that was newer, had already looked at options, and was not thinking about a large frame with a V8 at all. But a friend led him to the "hundredth" standing on the market - and the car unexpectedly caught on. Skepticism vanished after the first inspection: the 2004 SUV was in surprisingly good condition, despite its age and mileage of 207 thousand. For 1,250,000 rubles, the buyer received not a tired "road train from the metropolis", but an honest, well-groomed copy with a clean frame and minimal traces of time.

Rust on this car is more of an exception than the norm. During the eight years of operation by the new owner, the body has retained its integrity: the arches have not rotted, the sills are not crumbling, and the frame looks as if the SUV lived in a warm climate. Annual anti-corrosion treatment in Siberia had an effect - even the suspension fasteners are unscrewed without a fight, which is a rare success for the "hundreds". Paint blistering was found only on one wing, the sill is slightly rusty only on the outside, and characteristic weak spots such as the lower door of the luggage compartment remained untouched. For a 21-year-old SUV, this condition can be considered almost perfect.

Interestingly, the Land Cruiser does not work for its intended purpose. Its owner is a plumber who uses a huge frame SUV as a special vehicle. The car carries tools around the city every day, but the mileage is ridiculous - only 100–150 km per week. Therefore, the fear of a gluttonous engine quickly disappeared. On 92nd gasoline, expenses are surprisingly comfortable: about a thousand rubles a week, and a trip to Baikal costs 1,500 rubles. With this scheme, the real consumption stays within 12–16 liters, and the readings of the on-board computer are perceived as a guide, but not a verdict.

Technically, the car also turned out to be unusually docile. After the purchase, the owner immediately updated all fluids, without saving on quality, and entrusted the maintenance to a familiar service station. Oil is changed every 7,000–10,000 km, which is only beneficial for the 2UZ-FE. Antifreeze, attachment belt, filters - everything was updated in a timely manner. The engine does not consume oil, the pump does not leak, even with cold starts at minus 40 °C, the engine confidently came to life, and the only consumable was a new battery. This is exactly the case when a simple and honest atmospheric V8 works as reliably as the legend promises.

The chassis for eight years required serious intervention only once. In the summer, the struts and stabilizer bushings, silent blocks of the levers and the front hub bearing were replaced. The work cost almost 68 thousand rubles - a more than modest amount for a frame SUV, which has long been required to make capital investments. Before that, only the steering rack was repaired and the brake pads were replaced. Even the factory shock absorbers are still alive, although the mileage has exceeded 230 thousand. Again, the cleanliness of the bolts and the absence of fastener sticking indicates a prosperous, non-aggressive operation.

The interior after two decades looks unexpectedly fresh. Electric drives for seats and steering wheel, cruise control, climate control for the third row - everything works. Only the driver's seat memory and the recently failed rear-view camera do not work. Dry cleaning was not even needed after the purchase: the owner carefully handles the car, and the frame construction and high seating position add a feeling of massiveness and tranquility. Passengers in the second and third rows receive their privileges - from cup holders to air conditioning.

On the go, the "hundred" remains exactly the Land Cruiser that has long been considered the standard. The atmospheric V8 does not amaze with speed on paper, but it pulls from the bottom so that 430 N·m are felt immediately after a light touch on the gas pedal. The sound of the engine makes acceleration more lively than the dry 11 seconds to 100 km/h. The five-speed A750F automatic works smoothly and confidently, quickly selecting the desired gear. The suspension without AHC still provides a high level of comfort, smoothing out bumps and creating that very feeling of isolation from the road, for which the "hundred" is loved to this day.

The result is an SUV that, instead of long expeditions and off-road driving, has become a reliable partner in everyday work. It does not waste the owner's money, does not require constant repairs, does not scare with consumption and continues to serve as honestly as in the early years.