Toyota: The 12 Models Of 1991, Their Peak Year?

Toyota Land Cruiser

Back when my parents were shopping for a Toyota 4Runner, I tried to push them into a Land Cruiser.  Why?  The answer is simple.  It had more power.  More importantly, my dad was planning on buying his first sport utility vehicle and he simply wanted more room.  The Land Cruiser had a third-row optional seat.  It is quite a large vehicle, grossly underpowered at just 155 horsepower and 220-lb.ft. of torque.  At the very least, the torque peaked at 3,000 rpm.  The 4.0-liter V6 engine simply drank through fuel.  The EPA rating gas mileage back then was 13 city, 16 highway.  With the new EPA standards, the gas mileage rating dropped to 11 city, 13 highway.

No, it’s not fast.  It may barely outrun a Hummer H2.  But it has the classic looks and the name synonymous with dependability, reliability, and off-road use, Land Cruiser.  Some may even consider this the halo car for Toyota, and deservedly so.  After all, it was the symbol of what Toyota was all about to the mainstream market.

Obviously, my family chose the 4Runner.  But, after all this time, this particular Land Cruiser hasn’t seemed to depreciate much.  It was nearly a $40,000 vehicle back in 1991.  Almost 25 years later to the date, it’s tough to find one on craigslist with over 200,000 miles, still going for roughly $10,000.

Maybe the fuel expense is worth it after all.