Man drove four hours out of his way to pick up Toyota Land Cruiser without knowing whether it would ever run again

This guy in Australia drove four hours to pick up an old 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser he found online.

Toyota Land Cruisers are generally considered reliable, but this guy’s journey was a leap of faith.

Based on what he saw in the ad, there was no guarantee the car would even start.

In the end, the car did start, but there was a still massive collection of challenges to deal with.

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Will this Toyota Land Cruiser start after six years?

Liam Roberts, a YouTuber from Sydney, Australia, drove around 250 miles (400 kilometers) to rescue a 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser that hadn’t moved in years.

Some might say that a four-hour drive in Australia is basically just a trip to the shops, but driving 250 miles with the risk of coming back home empty-handed is no fun.

The SUV was in terrible shape, but let’s start with the good news because there is some.

The Land Cruiser is considered a reliable vehicle, and this was no exception.

After six years, with six-year-old fuel in the tank, the 4.5-liter straight-six started the moment the key was turned in the ignition.

It had 212 horsepower when it was new, and it’s certainly lost a few, but it runs, and that’s what matters the most.

Unfortunately, that’s where the good news ends.

The first problem was that the interior was beyond hope due to the incredibly foul smell it oozed.

Roberts said it might be because of some bacteria that’s been living in the car for years, and a simple wash might not be enough.

The other problem was that just 50 miles after setting off, the Land Cruiser died when the alternator failed.

Roberts did eventually manage to get home with the Toyota running under its own steam, and even though this didn’t feel like a one-off event and a lot more work will be required, he felt optimistic about it.

“To be honest, that was a lot faster and easier than I expected. Obviously we’ve got a bit of work to do, but there’s not much wrong with it,” he said.

The Land Cruiser’s reputation

The Land Cruiser is still known for its incredible towing capabilities, and that goes for both the old models as well as the new one.

It is also known for its ability to climb steep hills, while also being fast enough in a straight line to set records.

But, above all else, the Land Cruiser is known for being impossible to kill.

For the most part, the reputation is well deserved, and this 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser proved it once again.

There aren’t that many vehicles that would start after six years without even needing new fuel.