Have you purchased a vehicle from an importer - if so how was your experience?

[skinny]

Hey Guys,

Has any one on the list purchased a vehicle from one of these importers bring in cruisers form Japan? What was your experience like? Would you buy another one of these vehicles again form the same importer? I would like to here both good and bad experiences.

I have finally convinced the wife to let me get a new cruiser. I am tired of dealing with rust and high KMs so I am looking at the Importers for my next cruiser.

I am pretty sure I know who I am going with but I just want to get some comments from you guys before I do.

Thanks,
Todd

[Stickboy]

I bought an 86 BJ74 from Wayne at crushersrule.com and have nothing but good to say about the experience. Very honest individual, knows his stuff, and isn't out to make a fast buck from you....

I've purchased stuff from Greg and Sheldon at G&S and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. Fantastic guys, extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help you out.

there are some quality operations up north....

-mike

[Island Moose]

You'd be crazy not to...zero rust, low km's. It's tough trying to stay ahead of rust, and I think in most cases it eventually wins, unless drastic steps are taken (hot dip the truck?). Starting with a clean slate means that if it rusts, it's your fault and shame on you.

I'd stay away from ex-mine trucks, and deal with someone who is a Landcruiser fanatic. Get something unique and interesting, it'll draw crowds in parking lots and get people wondering why automaker's don't bring diesels to North America.

[Radd Cruisers]

I am currently working with Marko at Outback Imports on 4 JDMs, if everyone comes up with a deposit they should be here in a couple of months.

Great guy to work with, heard nothing but good things about him.

www.outbackimports.ca

[tlcruiserman]

I have bought several Cruisers from Wayne Smith of Luxury Imports, he is awesome, Cruisers are in great shape, customer service is the best and Wayne is a hell of a guy.
I can say with all honesty I have the nicest BJ74 in North America . I will only buy imports from Wayne. Feel free to ask me anything you like off-line @ tlcruiserman@westcoastcruisers.org.

Good Luck,

Michael

[masteryota]

what are all the options when it comes to ordering a land-cruiser in Canada?
Any websites?
Any price range?
Are they all the same price or does it differ a lot from a company to another?

[HZJ60 Guy]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

I have bought several Cruisers from Wayne Smith of Luxury Imports, he is awesome, Cruisers are in great shape, customer service is the best and Wayne is a hell of a guy.
I can say with all honesty I have the nicest BJ74 in North America . I will only buy imports from Wayne. Feel free to ask me anything you like off-line @ tlcruiserman@westcoastcruisers.org.

Good Luck,

Michael

I bet my man Stoney would have something to say about that!

His 74 is as sweet as they come.

When are all you Japanese righty tighty drivers going to have a get together sos I can come up there with the camera and DROOL?


Think about it.

Tom

[HZJ60 Guy]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

I have bought several Cruisers from Wayne Smith of Luxury Imports, he is awesome, Cruisers are in great shape, customer service is the best and Wayne is a hell of a guy.
I can say with all honesty I have the nicest BJ74 in North America . I will only buy imports from Wayne. Feel free to ask me anything you like off-line @ tlcruiserman@westcoastcruisers.org.

Good Luck,

Michael

Oh brother:

http://gscruiserparts.com/index.html
http://www.luxuryimports.ca/forsale.html
http://www.outbackimports.ca/sale.html
http://www.mustang.bc.ca/lc.htm
http://www.risingsunimports.ca/

Now Im partial to G&S because ole Sheldon and Greg-man are top shelf all the way (and Ive bought from them) but as I understand it SO IS ole Wayne-O at Luxury.

I dont think you could go wrong with either.

TB

[skinny]

Thanks guys for all of your comments. Looks like I am going to custom order a BJ-74. I am still struggling as to who to purchase from, mainly due to price. There seems to be a price range of $14,000 to $18,000 CDN for similarlarly quoted vehicles depending on the importers. All Importers claim the truck will be~130K kms and no rust??? I can do a lot of mods for $4000. I am a firm beleiver in you get what you pay for but still, there is a significant swing in price here. I guess I just need to go with the Importer I am most comfortable with. decisions decisions

[crushers]

Originally Posted by HZJ60 Guy

I bet my man Stoney would have something to say about that!

His 74 is as sweet as they come.

When are all you Japanese righty tighty drivers going to have a get together sos I can come up there with the camera and DROOL?


Think about it.

Tom

well now, Stoney's is a very nice unit, i have to agree and so is Greg's personal bush rig. the nicest in North America will depend upon "nice". nice looking? nicely tricked? nicely modified?
Darren Bierman (sp?) from Lost Guide brought in a beautiful BJ74 with 30,000km, semi floater no power options but it still had the shipping plastic on the door panels.
i brought in a full loaded absolutely mint 89 BJ74 with only 27,000 km and full load except cable lockers. full load meaning every toy that Toyota sold was on this unit right down to the 2 guide bars that happen to be an option from Toyota over in Japanl.
Micheals truck is one of the nicest BJ74 auto cable locked i have set eyes on.
Peter's BJ74 is nice if you like SOA.
Stoney's is really nice and clean.
Greg's is nicely tricked and quite clean also.
My "ol Smokey" is "nice" if you like rugged banged up abused but still running functional bush buggy.
so "nicest" is all in definition.
cheers

[Greg_B]

Originally Posted by crushers

Darren Bierman (sp?) from Lost Guide brought in a beautiful BJ74 with 30,000km, semi floater no power options but it still had the shipping plastic on the door panels.
i brought in a full loaded absolutely mint 89 BJ74 with only 27,000 km and full load except cable lockers. full load meaning every toy that Toyota sold was on this unit right down to the 2 guide bars that happen to be an option from Toyota over in Japanl.
Micheals truck is one of the nicest BJ74 auto cable locked i have set eyes on.
Peter's BJ74 is nice if you like SOA.
Stoney's is really nice and clean.
Greg's is nicely tricked and quite clean also.
My "ol Smokey" is "nice" if you like rugged banged up abused but still running functional bush buggy.
so "nicest" is all in definition.
cheers

"Nice" clarification...



gb

[Stone]

Originally Posted by HZJ60 Guy

I bet my man Stoney would have something to say about that!

His 74 is as sweet as they come.

When are all you Japanese righty tighty drivers going to have a get together sos I can come up there with the camera and DROOL?


Think about it.

Tom

Hey Tom:

Wayne's pretty much taken the words right out of my mouth. How do you define "nicest"? And I definitely wouldn't have the gall to call my BJ74 the nicest in North America, but I do really like it. The drivetrain is really tight and there's no oil consumption or very much blow-by. And I like the lockers and the rest of the options that it came with, not to mention 72k on the clock.

The one tlcruiserman bought from Wayne looks like a very mint unit with super low kms. The only things that I don't like about it are the auto tranny and power windows. I might live with an auto behind a 12H-T or 1HD-T, but for a 13B-T I definitely like my H55F.

As far as you coming up here...you know you have an open invitation anytime. You let me know, there's a comfortable sofabed in the livingroom and beer in the fridge.

Cheers.

Stone

[HZJ60 Guy]

Originally Posted by Stone

Hey Tom:

Wayne's pretty much taken the words right out of my mouth. How do you define "nicest"? And I definitely wouldn't have the gall to call my BJ74 the nicest in North America, but I do really like it. The drivetrain is really tight and there's no oil consumption or very much blow-by. And I like the lockers and the rest of the options that it came with, not to mention 72k on the clock.

The one tlcruiserman bought from Wayne looks like a very mint unit with super low kms. The only things that I don't like about it are the auto tranny and power windows. I might live with an auto behind a 12H-T or 1HD-T, but for a 13B-T I definitely like my H55F.

As far as you coming up here...you know you have an open invitation anytime. You let me know, there's a comfortable sofabed in the livingroom and beer in the fridge.

Cheers.

Stone

Thanks Stone. I appreciate it. I agree with nicest. I was just playin with people. Id say nicest to me would be a combination of condition and trickness. I like the auto meself for four wheeling. I like the cables. I wouldnt get one without those lockers. But I want a spring over and 38's and other stuff.

Tom

[crushers]

Originally Posted by Stone

Hey Tom:


The one tlcruiserman bought from Wayne looks like a very mint unit with super low kms. The only things that I don't like about it are the auto tranny and power windows.
Stone

weeellll, Stoney, i have not been a big fan of the auto behind the 13BT but Micheal "the crazy one" climbed a hill i have been trying to climb for 23 years on his first try. he locked it down and up he went. (of course not to be out done, i promptly went up the same hill in my Mitsubishi with open difs right behind him, i guess i just needed someone to show mo how it was done). the auto performs exceptional both on the highway and in the bush.
as for the power windows, i like them but then i am getting old...
just thought i would share.
cheers

[Stone]

For sure, Wayne...it's all about personal preference.

[Landpimp]

did you pick up Drexx's HDJ80?

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

I have bought several Cruisers from Wayne Smith of Luxury Imports, he is awesome, Cruisers are in great shape, customer service is the best and Wayne is a hell of a guy.
I can say with all honesty I have the nicest BJ74 in North America . I will only buy imports from Wayne. Feel free to ask me anything you like off-line @ tlcruiserman@westcoastcruisers.org.

Good Luck,

Michael

[tlcruiserman]

Yep that was me, and it is awesome

[tlcruiserman]

Ok, I must apologize to all the other owners of BJ74. I did not mean in anyway to say mine is better, that was really not my intent. So if anyone took it that way you have my most humble apologies. What I should have said is it is very low mileage, and is fully loaded, not rust, dents or scratches, and is very stock….right now . Oh wait with the exception of the one dent on the passenger side step, that darn rocky mountain ice.

Now about the auto transmission, I know what you are all thinking, I have been there myself. However this is the same tranny that was put in the FJ62 series, the 440, with the second gear start. I had this tranny in my 90' fj62 and it impressed me so much for an auto. To be honest once I got my first 80 series (93' that did not have second gear start) I was really missing my 62 tranny. So now I have the tranny back on a BJ74 and it performed great when I took it wheeling. Don't get me wrong I love my H55 as well as my H151, but I cannot live with manual alone, especially with RHD I needed a little help

G'day,

Michael

[HZJ60 Guy]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

Ok, I must apologize to all the other owners of BJ74. I did not mean in anyway to say mine is better, that was really not my intent. So if anyone took it that way you have my most humble apologies. What I should have said is it is very low mileage, and is fully loaded, not rust, dents or scratches, and is very stock….right now . Oh wait with the exception of the one dent on the passenger side step, that darn rocky mountain ice.

Now about the auto transmission, I know what you are all thinking, I have been there myself. However this is the same tranny that was put in the FJ62 series, the 440, with the second gear start. I had this tranny in my 90' fj62 and it impressed me so much for an auto. To be honest once I got my first 80 series (93' that did not have second gear start) I was really missing my 62 tranny. So now I have the tranny back on a BJ74 and it performed great when I took it wheeling. Don't get me wrong I love my H55 as well as my H151, but I cannot live with manual alone, especially with RHD I needed a little help

G'day,

Michael

Alright Mr., give it up. The real question is HOW you're driving a BJ74 IN SAN DIEGO?

Hmm.


TB

[beanz2]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

there is no snow in San Diego as far as I know.

[Island Moose]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

Ok, I must apologize to all the other owners of BJ74. I did not mean in anyway to say mine is better, that was really not my intent. So if anyone took it that way you have my most humble apologies.

Michael

Hey, no apology needed!...I think it's refreshing to think that I'm not the only one here who thinks their LC is the best!

[HZJ60 Guy]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

Driving a BJ74 in San Diego? I never said I was driving a BJ74 in San Diego. You must have me confused with someone else. You see snow in the pictures right, there is no snow in San Diego as far as I know.

G'day,

Michael

WHY then do you say location San Diego?

FIBBER!



TB

[beanz2]

Originally Posted by HZJ60 Guy

WHY then do you say location San Diego?

FIBBER!



TB

One may have several places of residence.

Location is just a state of mind anyway

Dave

[HZJ60 Guy]

Originally Posted by beanz2

One may have several places of residence.

Location is just a state of mind anyway

Dave

Democrat gobledeegook!

SURE BUDDY!



TB

[Stone]

Quote: