My $0.02 based on first hand experience.
Having dealt with them, they aren't Mushro VOR type scammers, they are just flippers. They are there to turn a profit on flipping classic and luxury cars for a profit and IMHO, are not always 100% honest with the condition of the vehicles either through the crime of omission or just plain laziness in an effort to turn a quick buck. They get the cars, fix any glaringly obvious mechanical issues, give them a very good detail job, maybe add on some aftermarket accessories, and turn around and sell them at a premium.
When I got mine, I wan initially impressed by the truck, but within the first couple months, I had to put in a new battery, new CV boots, new radiator, new transmission cooler lines with an R&R of the tranny fluid, and I am in the process of replacing the exhaust manifolds that, at least the DS, had an exhaust leak from day 1. When I started to address one of the more serious problems I found on the truck with KC, they were initially very receptive, but eventually they went silent on the net and stopped replying to my emails when it looked like the truck had its issues. I understand the trucks are sold as is, but to try and sell off a truck as having a “fresh build” that had some mechanical problems that were easily identified, then having them just stop replying to my inquires, was just disappointing to say the least.
BLUF, they are not “landcruiser” people and they are not very familiar with the nuances of the trucks, and I guess the same may go for some of their other offerings. Even with not being 100% saavy on Landcruisers, I guarantee they likely knew about the bad battery, and the CV boots, and exhaust leak as they should have been recognized almost immediately by a half way decent mechanic. The other big issue I had was in the vehicle history and was something that they should have checked into before selling the truck. I’m no master mechanic, but most of that was pretty easy to spot and diagnose.
They do a decent job shining them up, they take pictures that show the best of the truck. However, all it takes is a cursory inspection of the truck by somebody who knows what they are looking for and their “premium” pricing suddenly becomes not justified. I understand these are 10, 15, 20 year old trucks at the end of the day and will not be without issues. However, for the “premium” price that they ask for some of them, the expectation should be higher for overall mechanical condition.
I’m not saying not to buy from them, they do have have some decent vehicles for sale but I would treat them with a “buyer beware” label. I would definitely not consider buying anything from them sight unseen like I had. And the fact that they would tell somebody there with cash in hand that they cannot poke around for rust and rot before they buy definitely raises some red flags.
. Most of what they deal with are people out of state who can't be there to see the cars. They also said they did all the modifications in house but when I got there they didn't have a single lift, they buy cars off ebay and craigslist, do some modifications using not the highest quality parts and then slam a gaint markup on them.
