Another episode of "Should I!?!?"....

[2 E L O]

So....if you were in my shoes....what would you do?

1995 Toyota Land Cruiser
127k miles
No lockers (bummer, but I don't really need them...)
No maintenance records (dealer trade-in)
Tires look good (Bridgestone Dueler Revo's)
All stock...but maybe an aftermarket head unit? Hard to see...
It's located about 3 hours away from me...

I'm waiting to hear back more from the dealer if there are any known mechanical/electrical issues, but I'm sure there will be none.... Dealerships....meh. In the photos I've noticed the DS of the rear bumper is caved in a little, a small ding on the front PS door, and a ding on the DS D-pillar. It doesn't appear to have any rust, but I'll check the tailgate and the firewall/floorboard joint area. Any other key areas to check?

On the dealer's website it is listed for $7,995, but on another vendor site they have it listed for $5,950. Obviously, I'll take the printout with the lower price with me.

I currently have a 2007 Chevy Tahoe with 78k miles, but I still have two years left of $500/month payments and no warranty at this point. It's been an awesome truck for me so far and I absolutely love it (leveling kit, 285/70-17 Duratracs, 320hp, etc.)...but the payments are annoying and at 80k miles, I'm just waiting for my transmission or rear-end to go kaboom.

My Tahoe:

I'm fairly capable at wrenching...I have fully restored two 1969 Mustangs and have done a moderate amount of modifications to my Tahoe to make it more capable offroad. I hope to get at least $19k for a trade in... I still owe about $10,500 so that leaves me with $8,500. With $6000 or so for the purchase price of the LC (but I'll shoot for $5,500 of course) means I'll have around $2,500 left over for baseline PM and maybe a couple inexpensive mods.

For PM I figure that I would need to set aside $1,500 to $2,000 to complete tasks during the first couple months of ownership (I would perform all labor). Rebuild axles/birfs, complete engine tune up (plugs wires, etc. etc.), all new hoses (including PHH and FHH), flush cooling system, brake rotors/pads, trans/TC flush, diff oil, u-joints, etc. And I'll make sure I have $500 allotted for the potential HG replacement and $150 for a ScanGuageII to monitor everything. Any other big ticket items I should think about?

The LC would be my daily driver but it would also serve duty as occasional road tripping truck for camping, hauling around my diva of a vizsla, the fiance, and maybe a kid in the next 2-3 years (and by 2-3 I hope to hell 4-5!!!! ) and it would need to last for another 100k miles or so (7-8+ years). And it may have to do a little bit of towing with my Mustang on a trailer (close to 5000 lbs total). The towing would be limited to maybe once a year and on flat ground for fairly short distances...

So....what are all your thoughts? Not enough info? Am I missing anything? Let's hear it! Thanks so much for listening!

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Taking a critical look at the photos, I wonder if the driver's front fender matches the rest of the paint. Might just be the light, but be sure to look at that if you see it in person. Lots of rust on the running boards, so I would guess it has a lot of surface corrosion underneath. Look hard for signs of rust on the body or any that has been painted over.

IMO any car dealer that has lowriders on the lot is, by definition, shady.

 

[adventr]

The check engine light is on, so I would make them find out what's causing it (most likely 02 sensors or EGR), OR take a code reader with you and try to talk them down based on what code it's showing.

Do the usual checks for HG failure (search on here) and if all that checks out, and you could get it for $4500 to $5000, I'd probably jump on it.


Sucks it doesn't have the lockers, but if you don't need them it's not as bad.


Good luck! That's a fairly low-mileage cruiser that looks to be pretty darn clean.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

In that picture of the dash and the truck running I see a check engine light on.

Looks nice on the outside.

 

[adventr]

Taking a critical look at the photos, I wonder if the driver's front fender matches the rest of the paint. Might just be the light, but be sure to look at that if you see it in person. Lots of rust on the running boards, so I would guess it has a lot of surface corrosion underneath. Look hard for signs of rust on the body or any that has been painted over.

IMO any car dealer that has lowriders on the lot is, by definition, shady.

That color is tricky to photograph. Mine is similar and sometimes it looks bluish, and sometimes it looks charcoal, and sometimes it looks black...
But most of the time it just looks dirty.



Make sure you get a carfax on that, and if you can call and get the VIN from the dealer, you can check the Toyota Service History webpage and see what all it shows.


https://auth2.toyota.com/owners/apps/mytoyota/auth/ssl/OwnersLogin.do

 

[firetruck41]

That's my favorite color!

 

[Kernal]

Nice Tahoe. IME and others; dealerships don't know anything about Landcruisers; you can use that to your advantage. The front axle service alone without hard parts costs $1200 at a Toyota dealer, with hard parts up to $3000. The EGR system, maybe $1000 dealer price to have everything replaced. Headgasket around $2000. Ask about the EGR (P401 is common), O2 sensors, front axle service, headgasket been done yet? Engine oil leaks? MPG will probably be lower with the 80.

 

[gtfour43]

Not a great price for a unlocked 95. Having no records also makes it less attractive. Make sure they send pics of the undercarriage. Any rust there may be the deal breaker.
There are better deals out there and I'd also be concerned about driving 3 hours and its a waste of time.

 

[Tyler93]

It seems as though they always deliberately exclude the front seat in 80 series pictures. Count on a torn seat, it is common. Also, those nasty center caps with worn paint need paint or tossed (ideal).

 

[2 E L O]

Thanks for all the help, gents!!!

By chance, is anyone from the Kansas City area that would be willing to go take an hour to go look at this thing for me? I would be more than happy to compensate you for your time, or if it works out and I come down there to get it I could pay you in food and beer.

Anyway, to address a few of the items...

I checked the Toyota Owners' website with the VIN....no service records are on file for this LC. Bummer.

I will have the dealer address the CEL. I didn't catch that in the photos...thanks!!! I would prefer to know what code it is throwing before I take the time to go down there.

The front driver's seat was cracked, but they have taken the truck to an upholstery shop to have it repaired. I'm sure it won't look great, but I'm not too worried about it. Almost every single '95-'97 80 series I've seen has had a lot of wear and tear on the DS seat. My Tahoe even shows a little wear there and it's only 4-5 years old...

I will request pictures of the undercarriage, close-up photos of the likely rust spots, and the front knuckles.

I feel like $5-6k is a pretty good price for this LC, at least from what I've been seeing when searching all over the "Great" Plains states (I'm not so sure that they're "great") the last few weeks. I also have been in contact with a seller that has a '97 LX450 with 137k miles and no lockers and no service history. It appears to be in very good shape, but the front and rear bumpers look pretty rough. They want $8500.

Thoughts? Thanks again, fellas!!!

 

[Jrob80]

I know which LX your talking about in Lincoln correct? I think that is a pretty good rig but I am not 100% sure on the price myself. If you haven't all ready you should talk to corn man I know he helped the lady out that was selling it.

Also you could post in here: KS/MO- Tornado Alley Cruisers to have someone check the Kansas City one out for you.

I did find this one on CL: 1996 Lexus LX450 (Land Cruiser) or Toyota 1996 landcruiser in Des Moines.

Where are you from in Nebraska? Once you get settled you should post up in NE- Flat Land Cruisers and say Hi these guys migh know of a few for sale.

Good luck always good to see more NE people on here!

 

[2 E L O]

Thanks, Jrob. It is the one in Lincoln and I have been talking with corn man quite a bit about the LX he is helping to sell. It looks great, but I find myself second guessing a Lexus and the price doesn't help. I'm not saying that the owner is asking too much, but it might just be more than I want to pay for a truck like this...

I did see those two on CL, as well. The one in Des Moines is much higher mileage than I'm interested in... Maybe I'll check out the one in GI a bit closer....

I'll post in the KS/MO section to see if someone would be willing to help and check out the one in KC. Thanks!

I live and work in Omaha...but I'm originally from Sidney.

 

[IrishLX450]

Another place to check for potential rust : rear driver side quarter panel, open the panel where the jack is stored, when you open the tailgate just inside on the left, then stick your hand down inside there and feel around. Its quite common but often overlooked as a bad rust spot due to leaking gasket of rear windows, just my .02, looks like a nice clean rig.

 

[2 E L O]

I just received the Experian AutoCheck from the dealer. It was clean. Obviously, it doesn't eliminate the possibility of any problems but it doesn't have any accidents or anything bad reported.

 

[robertaleon]

That's a lot of tire gloss but it's the nicest vehicle on that lot!

I'd start at $4500 cash. The CEL is certainly something to check out. The deck is aftermarket plus all the items everyone has mentioned. The mileage is nice (can't buy miles) but PM is more important than miles and there are no service records. $2000 will go real fast as you take care of your new baby, especially once you start taking possible new radiator and hoses to get the cooling system up to date, birf service, HG (don't ask - that can suck your money away). The vendors here will hook you up with discounts for OEM but it's still a hobby or a boat - I can't remember which one costs more!?!?!?! But I've had more fun in my 80 than my boat.

 

[Nay]

If I had your usage description, I would be keeping my Tahoe and finishing the payments. GM trannies and rearends are dime a dozen if you need one.

Seriously, you are going way back in time for:

-Comfort
-Safety and other features
-Interior space
-Power
-Towing
-Fuel economy

You are also going back in time for serious offroad capability (the only real reason to do it) even without the lockers, but you don't seem to need it.

Don't get me wrong. I love my 80. But I would hate to drive one of these things as my only vehicle every day, even stock, over a modern vehicle like a Tahoe.

You should start looking at 100 series over 80 series, IMO. That way you retain all the creature comforts but take a major nod to camping/offroad are compared to the Tahoe, which is way too nice looking to scratch up even for a basic camping trip.

One more year of payments on the Tahoe and a bit more depreciation on a 100 and you probably come out square to the deal you are contemplating now while picking up a far more practical Cruiser for your intended usage.

 

[jfz80]

RE: CEL light

it may not be throwing codes.
That light will be illuminated if the key is in the on position and truck is not running.

worth asking but just saying dont jump to conclusions based on the light in the photo.
It is the best color though

 

[thelast13]

That is a pretty truck!

 

[kidglove13]

Regardless of maintenance records you will still probably at least drop a $1000 right off the bat with various baseline items becuase of the lack of maintenance records
Even if it had records you would still probably have to drop some coin regardless, I know I would just for piece of mind, screw the records
These are awesome trucks but expensive to maintain
When I bought mine way back when it had no leaks ran like a champ and had some records for the last 5 years or so
Not even a year after I bought it I had 2 oil leaks and a host of other small issues
It is a 16 year old vehicle it comes with the territory
Do what you feel comfortable with and go in knowing you will be spending additional money on top of what you paid regardless, that is just how it is.

 

[Schwein]

really clean looking truck, i am reasonably sure that the lights on the dash are probably from not having the trucks engine on and rather just having the key in the ignition as mentioned before. no lockers is not the be all end all as many here preach (even though its a pretty awesome factory option) the paint looks really good as do the tires, interior looks in good nick as well. i would say if the mechanics check out it looks like a good deal for around 6k. i cant imagine that the dealer will take much less than 7 for it though judging by how clean the exterior and interior are unless there are some major problems mechanically.