This 1980s Toyota Land Cruiser Has Appreciated by 748 Percent in 15 Years

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As far as off-roading SUVs go, the Toyota Land Cruiser is up there with some of the most iconic models ever produced. However, this SUV is by no means rare, with millions of units produced since its arrival in the early 1950s. Since most of these Land Cruisers are designed to tackle rough terrains, plenty of these initial units have been destroyed by the elements.

In the U.S. market specifically, top-tier examples carry a significant premium. A new study conducted by NetCredit with data from Hagerty’s valuation tool shows just how much these machines have appreciated. The top model has gone up by 748 percent over the last 15 years.

How much did this Toyota Land Cruiser cost when it was new?

Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

The specific Land Cruiser model we’ll be looking at today is the FJ62 which went on sale for the 1988 model year until 1990. Back in the 1980s, a brand-new version of this SUV would’ve cost you $20,708. Adjusted for inflation, we’re looking at around $46,746 in today’s money.

Given how abundant these off-roaders were, the prices on these naturally experienced the normal depreciation rates you’d expect from any normal vehicle. In the 1980s, there was an abundance of body-on-frame off-roaders with ample capabilities. Flash forward to 2021, and these types of SUVs are slightly harder to come by, usually carrying a massive premium.

Factor in the aforementioned corrosion and destruction of many Toyota Land Cruiser examples, and you get a recipe for a thriving collector car market. Since these classic off-roaders have become more of a commodity than a necessity, prices have shot up considerably.

This one appreciated by 748 percent in 15 years

An image of a Toyota Land Cruiser parked outdoors.
Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

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As far as Toyota Land Cruiser models go, the FJ62 is a fairly special one. Under its hood lies a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine pushing out 155 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque. That power went to all four wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.

According to Hagerty via NetCredit, one of these off-roaders would’ve cost you around $6,900 back in 2006. However, as the interest in these models has increased, so has the price. Today, in 2021, you’ll pay around $58,500 for the same SUV. In total, we’re looking at an appreciation rate of 748 percent over the last 15 years or so.

It is worth noting that the Japanese carmaker just discontinued this model line for the U.S. market. As a result, expect prices for classic and even newer models to continue to rise over the next few years.

This isn’t the only Toyota Land Cruiser to shoot up in value

An image of a Toyota Land Cruiser parked outdoors.
Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

If you thought you could get a better deal on a Toyota Land Cruiser by buying an older model, you’d be wrong. In fact, NetCredit also found that the FJ60 generation produced between 1985 to 1987 has also gone up considerably.

In 2006, you could’ve had one of those examples for $7,700. However, in 2021 buying one will cost you around $62,400. In the end, it seems the best time to buy one of these was exactly 15 years ago.

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Do All Luxury Cars Need Premium Gas?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When you fill your car at a gas station, you’ll see various types of fuel, like unleaded and diesel. You’ll also see different octane ratings of the gas at the pumps, such as 87, 89, 91, and 93, indicating whether it’s regular or premium fuel. Nowadays, we try to do whatever we can to get better gas mileage. Should we be using higher-octane fuel to accomplish this?

We’ll explain the differences between octane ratings, how beneficial they are for your car, and whether you could damage your vehicle by using regular instead of premium gas. With many families buying luxury SUVs nowadays, which one should you be using?

Gas octane ratings explained

Gas stations offer various octane levels, but generally, you’ll find 87, 89, 91, and 93 octane gas at pumps. 87 and 89 indicate lower octane ratings or regular gasoline, The Drive reports. The higher numbers, usually 91 and 93, indicate premium fuel. 

However, that doesn’t mean you have to use the highest-octane gas. Some stations don’t offer premium fuel, so it’s best to find one that sells 91- or 93-rated gas. Some areas even offer fuel with a higher octane rating than 93.

If you drive a vehicle that doesn’t require premium gas, you can still fill your tank with a higher-octane fuel. For the most part, it won’t make your car faster or give it better gas mileage. But it will cost more. So you you shouldn’t use premium gas unelss your vehicle requires it. 

Of course, if for some reason you don’t mind paying the extra for premium gas, you can fill up with the higher-octane fuel without fear of ruining your engine. You’d probably be better off using fuel cleaners, though, because they can help keep your engine clear of debris without the cost of the premium fuel every time you pull up to the pump. 

Why do luxury cars and high-performance vehicles require premium fuel?

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You might be wondering why if high-octane fuel costs so much, would a luxury or high-performance vehicle require its use. The major difference between premium and regular gasoline, besides the price, is the fact that the high-octane fuel helps clean out the internal engine parts and reduces carbon buildup. It does not, however, offer you more fuel efficiency. 

There’s less likelihood of rust happening within the fuel system. With luxury cars or high-performance vehicles, nowadays, you’re running on a high-compression engine. That means it needs fuel that will burn hotter and leaner in order to run properly. 

Regular gasoline can’t provide that. It would cause mistimings of combustion or explosions happening in the engine. These motors can handle them, but if the timing is off, the engine will start to make a knocking noise. 

Can regular gas damage an engine that needs high-octane fuel?

Related: Here’s What Actually Happens if You Use the Wrong Fuel in Your Car

So, can regular gas damage an engine that needs high-octane fuel? The answer is yes and no. If you’re out and about and need to fuel up but the nearest gas station offers only regular-octane fuel, you could get by until you found premium gas somewhere else. You shouldn’t do this often, and you should put premium fuel in the tank as soon as possible. 

Lower-octane fuels could cause knocking in your luxury car’s engine. Long-term damage won’t occur with a couple of instances of putting in cheaper fuel, but if you continually use gas that your car shouldn’t take, you’ll wear out the motor quickly. These days, auto manufacturers build engines that can adjust to the lower-grade fuel if necessary, but you shouldn’t rely on it too often.

You could put only a minimal amount of regular gas in the tank to get to the next station if you’re worried about ruining your engine. But, of course, you need to put in enough to get there.

Premium fuel can be expensive, but in some vehicles, higher-octane gas is necessary to run properly. If your vehicle doesn’t call for it, though, there’s no need to spend the extra money at the pump. 

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Is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Better Than the PowerBoost Hybrid?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It feels like the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid just came out, but there’s already a new electric Ford truck in town. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning just made its debut, so we’re wondering if going all-electric has any benefits over going hybrid. 

Is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning better than the Hybrid? 

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning debut | Ford

Maybe. There hasn’t been much time for critics to review the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning yet, so most are currently more familiar with the 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid. The new Ford Lightning begins at about $39,974, while the PowerBoost starts around $41,145. We didn’t expect the Lightning to be cheaper! 

Both the Lightning and Hybrid are available with popular F-150 features such as the lay-flat seats, ProTrailer Backup Assist, and Pro Power Onboard generator. But the Lighting includes a few new features such as a front trunk that can carry 400 lbs and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist. 

How much power does the F-150 Lightning have? 

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The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has a standard range of 230 miles. It pumps out 426 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. The extended range model increases the range to about 300 miles and increases its output to 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. 

With the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid, you get a 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s paired with an electric motor to provide 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. It gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined, but you don’t have to charge it. 

According to Truck Trend, the F-150 Lightning will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds. According to Car and Driver, the Hybrid can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.4 seconds. 

The standard range F-150 Lightning can carry a payload of up to 2,000 lbs, and the extended range variant can carry up to 1,800 lbs. You can tow up to 7,000 lbs with the standard range truck and up to 10,000 lbs with the extended range model. 

With the F-150 Hybrid, you can carry a payload of up to 2,120 lb and tow up to 12,700 lbs. With the gas-powered 2021 Ford F-150, you can tow up to 14,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 2,3238 lbs. 

The Lightning comes with a 240-volt at-home charging cable that provides about 21 miles of range per hour. The optional 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro can be installed at your home to provide 30 miles of range per hour.

The emergency 110-volt charge offers three miles of range per hour. By going to a DC fast charging station, you can increase the battery juice from 15 to 80 percent in about 40 minutes. 

Does the Ford Lightning have more generator power? 

The front end of the 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck on the road
2021 Ford F-150 King Ranch Truck | Nic Antaya/Getty Images

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning can power a home for about three days, and the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid can power a campsite for about 72 hours. The Lightning has four 110-volt outlets in the bed and one 240-volt outlet. Another four 110-volt outlets are in the front trunk (frunk). 

With the Pro Power Onboard Generator, the Hybrid provides an output of 7.2 kW. This is the same amount of power as it exports on the Lightning, but the Lightning also provides an additional 2.4 kW from the frunk. 

Both the Lightning and Hybrid can go off-roading, but the Lightning has a new independent rear suspension and low center of gravity that might make things more comfortable. Plus, the frunk can hold up to 400 lbs of gear, it’s lockable, and it’s weatherproof. 

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a little faster than the Hybrid with more storage space and power. But the Hybrid can tow more and doesn’t come with range anxiety. Both options serve as reliable and capable options. If you don’t want to wait for the Lightning to arrive next summer, check out the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid. 

The post Is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Better Than the PowerBoost Hybrid? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Bajaj Qute: Is This the Tiniest Car Made Today?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Car production around the world can be very different from what is produced here. Take, for instance, the Bajaj Qute, an Indian sedan that is only slightly larger than a Port-a-Potty. Could this be the tiniest car made today? Well, it depends on how you define “car.”

Bajaj is known mostly for producing motorcycles and three-wheelers. At least, that’s what its website says. Apparently, Bajaj needs to update its website because we see four wheels under the Qute.

The Bajaj Cute is a quadricycle, one step up from an autorickshaw

The four-wheeled Qute is called a quadricycle by its maker. It is a rear-engine rear-wheel-drive four-seater sedan. Power comes from a one-cylinder 216 cc engine cranking out 8.08 kW. That computes to 11 hp which is in stomach pump territory. 

This segment we don’t have in the US, but there are a number of players. The Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Renault Kwid, and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso all inhabit the Qute’s quadricycle segment. Advertising goes out of its way to assure you the ride-even for long distances, is as comfortable as a regular-size ride. It emphasizes, “The performance is absolutely better than that of an auto-rickshaw.”

The Qute’s top speed is just under 44 mph on either gas or CNG

2021 Bajaj Qute | Bajaj

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The 882 lbs Qute uses its 13.94 lb-ft to launch itself to a top speed of 43.5 mph. That’s propulsion that uses either gasoline or CNG. But there are more features than just being able to switch off between gas or CNG.

A 12V accessory plug, USB support, FM player with dual speakers, vents (for ventilation), and even a gear indicator to remind you which gear you’re in. Will wonders never cease? There are also four color options for the exterior. Blue, green, red, and yellow are available to help distinguish between your and brother Jerome’s Qute. 

No air conditioning is available, but advertising says that’s OK because this is supposed to be “a better version of an autorickshaw.” And we all know those don’t have air conditioning. So we guess buyers are supposed to consider this an extension of an autorickshaw and not a small car? 

Promotions for the Qute play up the most basic of features

2021 Bajaj Qute on the street
2021 Bajaj Qute | YouTube

It does come with what it calls a “digi-screen” which is a digital instrument cluster to you and me. Advertising also promotes features like grab handles (for both co-drivers!), and “fantastic” seat belts. Do you get the impression they’re trying to proclaim every crumb of a feature while also subtly letting you know this is no Rolls-Royce? 

As to the engineering of the Qute it utilizes a monocoque chassis and “you get a smaller engine than that present in a motorcycle.” Is that a great talking point, or a warning? To allay your concerns it says, “the good thing is that it comes with nice torque and garners momentum without problems.” OK, then!

If nothing else we would like to drive one just to experience it. But we don’t see ourselves experiencing a Qute on the 405 freeway. On second thought, with as slow as the 405 is normally crawling at, this might be the perfect car for it.

2021 Bajaj Qute interior
2021 Bajaj Qute interior | Bajaj

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