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  #1  
Old 19 Jul 2008
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Japanese import 80 series?
After a few trips in my car and self drive tours in various Southern African countries and South America, and recently Morocco in their Rav4 my parents have decided (almost, I think!) to buy an 80 series and drive down for a visit - ideal chance to get Haggis and 78 series parts delivered! Anyway, it looks like he is thinking of getting a Jap import 80 series, a friend of his in Scotland got what sounds like a very clean one for three and a half grand. They say they want to do it while retired but still fit. Good on 'em. It seems that you can get a lot of car for your money and apart from all the chrome bits, it seems that low mileages and prices can be achieved with not too many drawbacks. Anyone got any advice or tips on going down this route? I think he intends using a broker or dealer or whatever rather than going it alone.
A bit of time on google netted this:
TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 80 Japan car import and Japanese used cars exports [ tradecarview ]
Who on earth puts a huge front air dam on a LC???
Anyway, I do hope he doesn't pop up on HUBB and realise how much time I waste here
G
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Old 19 Jul 2008
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80 series
Hey Gilghana1

We have a japanese import Toyota Landcruiser 80 series - the big advantage for us is that it is the GX model which was built to UN spec without the fancy electrics you get in the others.

However it had already been imported when we brought it so not so sure about how to go about it. I have heard that Frogs Island 4x4 import vehicles so they may be able to give you some pointers.

Becky
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Old 20 Jul 2008
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The biggest problem with the imports is that most of them won't have diff locks on the axles - some do, but they are very rare - get your parents to ask the owner/broker to check for the rotary dial just to the left of the steering wheel.

Apart from that most will have a few extra bells and whistles like retracting door mirrors, etc, but this is Toyota electronics so nothing really to worry about.

Finally, avoid 1990-1992 models that have the smaller brakes - once loaded up for a trip you will soon realise that they aren't up to the job.

If you need help find one, PM me.
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Old 23 Jul 2008
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I have a '93...
... Japanese import which had done 93 thousand kilometers when I got it and it was described by a friend who checked it over with me as the cleanest 80 series he'd seen. I still have it, have been thinking about selling it (not for 3 grand I'm afraid) but will probably hang onto it for a bit.

Mine is a VX Limited, auto 12 valve, no abs, all 3 diff locks, front centre and rear ( I haven't done the mod for the low range/centre diff) and other than that, it has a/c (rarely used) and the centre console contains a rather handy fridge/ice box which obviously gets stuffed with . I've done other bits to it but it is a great car.

I spent an age looking for a good car (had to be auto) and saw a lot of junk 80 series but by paying a little more I got a good car. The engine in particular seems to be very sweet.

I grew up with TLCs in Kenya (swb petrol jobbies) and when it came to getting an overlander it was a bit of a no brainer.

'Nuff said, I'm rambling. Fab that your parents are going for it.
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