Opinion
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When it comes to the Toyota stable, I try to look at engines. While pretty much every other Toyota steed has gone with the underwhelming 2.8L four-banger, thank the Pagan gods that the 300 has the 3.3L twin-turbo V6 diesel (which is an outrage and a shame, but there it is).
It’s not the only reason to think about an LC300, but it’s a damn good one. Plus, the three-hundo is a beautiful rig, inside and out and a pleasure to drive. Yes, justifying the six-figure price tag for an interior that reminds me of a 2016 RAV4 is not easy. That and the fact that it’s a “wedding car.” You know how if a baker or photographer hears you’re buying their product for a wedding the price automatically goes up? Apparently, the aftermarket applies the same logic to the big Cruiser.
However, those things are offset by a couple of huge ticks in the double-yew column. First, it’s a Cruiser, so you already know the off-road ability is right up there. And I’m not just saying that as a guy with a LandCruiser tattoo on his arm. I’ve taken an LC300 through a bunch of different terrains over the past few years and it handled all of them effortlessly. It has power, it has torque and it has enough suspension to tackle most obstacles from stock. Second, this is a vehicle that can do anything you want it to, no matter what your needs. The only limiting factor is your budget.
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Want to tow your 4T boat over the Pilbara to tackle some fishing off Exmouth? You’ll need a pre-rego GCM upgrade and a few other mods, but it’ll do it no probs. Want to lug your 18-foot van along the Limestone coast, up the beach and visit a few camping spots? You can make your Cruiser do that too. Want a hardcore tourer that can conquer A-grade tracks on the weekend then blow through the worst tracks the Cape has to offer on your annual trip and get you home again in comfort and style? Guess what, that’s not a drama, Captain.
For me, I’d want my three-hunjy to be a sweet-as daily driver (no mods needed there), a weekend wheeler so I can keep up with mates on the tracks (some mods needed), and a long-distance hardcore tourer (many, many more mods). Here’s how I’d get it done.
I’d start with the lowest cost (relative term, none are cheap) GX. The only other model I’d consider is the off-road oriented GR Sport, which has twin-lockers, but it’s like $45,000 more expensive, and I don’t really need leather adjustable seats, bi-LED lights and surround view cameras. You may, which is cool, but I don’t and would rather spend that money saved on additions I do want. The GX is also the only model to come with a snorkel, which is not a snorkel, more a raised air intake, but it can become a snorkel with a Saturday arvo spent with a tube of silicone.
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Bull bar, winch and sliders are the first big ticket items to get knocked over. A Raid bar from Ironman 4×4 for $2800 would be bolted up along with a set of rock sliders from Legendex for $1500. While the bar is going on a Warn VR Evo 12K electric winder would get the nod for a touch over $1500. Oh, and some Baja Designs LP9 LEDs would get bolted up front for a bit of extra after-dark visibility. That’s body protection, lights and recovery sussed, let’s move on.
I want to do the occasional hardcore run, so a Superior Engineering Remote Reservoir 2.0 four-inch lift kit that includes everything from rear control arms, shocks, springs, front struts, front diff drop, UCAs, literally everything, so it’s $7600 well spent. This would enable rub-free fitment of some 35×12.5×17 Yokohama Geolander X-AT tyres for around $2700. From there it’s on to ARB where a pair of Air Lockers would be thrown into the front and rear diff housings for around $5000, which would take care of any capability question marks.
After that, a 240Ah lithium battery system using a combo of Redarc and Victron BMS parts would be installed for around $5000, which is enough to run my fridge, induction cooker and camp lighting for days (with help from my Redarc 240W solar blanket).
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An exhaust and tune would be next, which would net around 290hp at the treads and enough torque to change the rotational axis of the Earth. Well worth it for around $5K I think. To keep my gear organised, a set of RV Storage drawers with integrated upright Bushmans 85L fridge ($1485) partition, lightening the old credit card by $3500 or so. Finally, an alloy Yakima flat rack ($1450) would go on so I could mount up an Outback Tourer Z Rooftop Tent ($4490) and Outback Tourer 270º awning with D-zipper ($1390) to enable access to the tent.
That’s a bit over $35,000 on top of my initial outlay, making my LC300 significantly cheaper than a GR Sport, more capable, faster, more off-road ready and way cooler. The only problem with this plan is a loss of vision – I’m struggling to see the downside.
