1990 FJ62 - considering buying - any issues??

[jworth94]

A dealer has a 1990 FJ62 for sale. Here are the specs, as I recall.

119,000 miles - new speedometer (old one broke and is in a box inside)
Original paint - pretty good for its age
Original interior - good
Body - looks real good, originally a CA. car - hardly any rust
Radiator - new
Belts - look good
Tires - new
Glass - looks original
has spare, jack, tool kit and orginal owner's manual


problem items;
1. door locks don't work
2. clock is intermittent
3. radio doesn't work

I've heard that some of these FJ62's can have major electrical issues. Any comment on that? Alternator problem maybe?

The dealer won't take a penny less than $9500. Too high?

Thanks,

Jon.

 

[89s rule]

Way too high! Research on here and get familiar with what a FJ62 is and everything. Rust is the killer of most of these and personally it ought to look lik eit rolled off the showroom floor for $9.5K!

Welcome to MUD and feel free to ask any questions. Pics always help as well, but that is just too much period with those issues and "some rust"

 

[jworth94]

Thanks for the advice 89s rule. Unfortunately, I don't have any pics. Next time I look I'll be sure to take some for the forum - great idea. My untrained eye tells me it's clean, but not showroom condition.

 

[zcruiser]

Yikes, $9500? Should have ZERO rust, and everything should work for that price... Still too high even if those things did work...

Electrical problems...
- windows slow up/down due to poor contacts in the driver door main switch panel
- rear door locks may not unlock for same reason
- alternators may fail, but not chronic
- starter contacts may need rebuild if you hear clicking sound under pass floorboard when attempting a start

Water pump may need to be replaced, also need to check condition of front hubs.

Any info on previous owner(s)?

 

[jworth94]

Well, this is from the dealer... Oriental couple bought it new in California and he bought it from them 1 1/2 years ago here in Virginia. It's nearly all orginal as far as I can tell. Apparently this dealer is a FJ60 buff and happened upon this vehicle. (That's his story anyway.)

You probably won't believe this but he was originally asking $10,900. He came down to $9,500 and wouldn't budge a penny below it.

Another thing that has made me scratch my head with this vehicle is the speedometer. He replaced it with a new (zero miles) and the broken original (according to him) is sitting in the vehicle. I don't know. Something seems funny about that. Any thoughts?

 

[Texx]

That's all the money, i know I'd happily sell mine for considerably less. I suppose he's relying on the fact that he's transported a non rusty vehicle into what I can only assume is the rust belt. There's plenty of 62's down here in Tx without rust, tho must will have higher mileage. You can have one shipped for under a grand...I'd say he's asking at least a 2500 dollar premium. The right person on the right day may pay that, I wouldn't.

 

[Texx]

Additionally, I don't know what the race of the previous owner has to do with anything....THAT part of it sounds like a typical car dealer "little old lady" story.

 

[jworth94]

You're right. I had to go home and take a shower after I talked to the guy.

 

[Dynosoar]

Door lock may need a circut breaker reset. However $9,500 is about $5,000 to much for the vehicle. Remember rust NEVER sleeps!

Dynosoar

 

[spelant]

I picked up a 1990 FJ62 this spring from a Dealer in Tacoma,Wa. and from your description, it sounds like our vehicles are/were in about the same condition...right down to the color. The dealer's asking price was $7,500 but I thought that was way over the top. I finally was able to negotiate him down to what I thought was a reasonable $4,100. I would suggest you find out how long he has had the FJ62 on the lot. Many of the dealers finance their purchases so he is probably carrying a note on the vehicle considering the exorbitant price and every day it sits on his lot it costs him interest, which is taken off his bottom line once it is sold. If the FJ62 has been there awhile, you might have some real barganing room. Just my thoughts...

P.S. not to deter you, but I just got mine on the road ~ a month ago after spending an additonal $7,800 on OEM parts & labor. My vehicle looked in great condition when I got it but the reality is that it is 17 yrs old with 236,000 miles and some parts just plumb wear out no matter how well it was maintained. My wife just shakes her head....

 

[AATLAS1X]

P.S. not to deter you, but I just got mine on the road ~ a month ago after spending an additonal $7,800 on OEM parts & labor. My vehicle looked in great condition when I got it but the reality is that it is 17 yrs old with 236,000 miles and some parts just plumb wear out no matter how well it was maintained. My wife just shakes her head....

Thats to bad. I bought a 90 FJ62 with 246,000 miles on the clock and the owners would not budge a dime They had it in there head that it would go another 250k and it was as good as it was in 1990. I had been looking for a 62 for some time and what I wanted was hard to find. I wanted minimal owners, MINT body, MINT interior and 100% stock. This one came with a mint interion and a small dent on the rear quarter panel that she did on her own property.

After days of trying to get him down and then finding it on craigs list for thousands more I just gave in.............It had a slight miss at idle so I sent the injectors in (see thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=118034&highlight=injector+removal ) to have them rebuilt and then sent it to the dealer for a complete UVI and all they could find was a loose bolt at the alt (belt wine) and needed front brakes.

Mind you I have been in the car business for 20 years (started as a lot rat) and I have never had a used car come in for a UVI and not need major work from oil leaks and such.

Granted it had everything replaced over time from normal servicing, alt, brakes, radiator, belts, major tunes and such.

My tech was in pure amasement as I was prepaired to have a list of stuff to pay for and it needed only brakes. Not even the fluids needed changed.................

My thoughts? I am a true FJ62 believer/Toyota like I have never been before. FJ40's just have the look I crave and desire, but I would give this to any family member for a gift to last 10 years with s***ty gas mileage of course I am not looking for a mint 95-97 80 series for the to go to soccer and volley ball games in.

But the reason I wanted one was for the new FJ60-62 leather interiors with heated seats I will be offering on my new FJ web site.I needed to have a rock stock mint before and after pictures for the site and this was it.

So If anyone is interested in a MINT FJ62 with leather, heated seats, keyless entry, privacy glass and new carpet this is the one.


Shane

 

[jworth94]

Dynosoar,

That's a great point about the rust. I looked at a '89 FJ62 a few days ago and the body was in horrid condition. The exterior and interior looked great, but... underneath the surface, this thing was rotten.


Spelant,

Well, I didn't realize guys were putting this much money back into vehicles. I guess it's probably easier to find one that's already been restored (or partially so) and then buy. Although, in your case you know exactly what you have.


Shane,

Unfortunately, you're not that close to me. I'd like to swing by and take a look, but I'm about as far away from you as anyone in the country. If you've got some specs on your vehicle along with some pics I wouldn't mind taking a look. It would certainly help me in determining the fair value of these vehicles.

Thanks for all your help. The search continues...

Jon.

 

[jworth94]

Not that I need any further convincing, but I'm going to run by the dealership today and take some pics and then post them here. It might give you guys a better idea of the vehicle.

 

[kbill45]

I live in Prescott, Az. Last week I posted a 62 with perfect rust free body, new upholstery and new tires. Not my truck but I contacted the owner he seemed up front. said the truck ran and drived good for 180K miles. Asking $4100 I posted this info here on Mud and got one response. If you are still looking I have the info and pictures. Beautiful ride. Bill

 

[jworth94]

Thanks kbill45. I'll send you a pm with my email.

 

[jworth94]

Went back to the dealership today. Actually, I previously posted there was some rust. After looking at it further, I really couldn't find any. It really does look clean to me. Anyhow, I'm trying to post some pictures and couldn't because they weren't 800x800. Anyone know how to fix a picture to match that???

Jon.

 

[jworth94]

new pics

New pics at top.

Jon.

 

[89s rule]

use photobucket.com to load the pics and then link them here. Looks clean, but you can find one alot cheaper than that if you are willing to be patient.

Are you sure you want a Cruiser. A 62? I kinda stumbled upon mine 3 years ago and have been in love ever since! The PO warned my wife when I went to get it that that would happen.

 

[jworth94]

Well, I've always liked them. I don't know a lot about the 60 series (trying to learn as quick and as much as I can). I picked up the paper last week and noticed one for sale. I called the girl, got some info. and went and looked at it. To put it mildly, was a rust bucket. She was asking 9500. Dropped it to 8500, then again to 7100. The rust was so bad on the body, I'm not so sure she could have given me that vehicle. Many moons ago I owned a rusted out Toyota... never again. So I found out about this one through carfax. I went to look at it, found this forum and the rest is history.

I'm not particularly sold on this vehicle, but there a couple things I like and don't like about it.

Here are the likes;

1. Appears clean to me. I'll be happy to email you pics. Photobucket isn't going to work for me.

2. Mileage (I'm told) is 119,000 ish. Seems pretty good for a '90.

3. Front knuckles replaced.

4. New radiator

5. Didn't really find any rust on the second look - I must have had the first FJ on my mind

6. Warranty for 90 days or 3000 miles (drivetrain), whichever comes first (I know it's not much, but it's better than nothing I suppose)

7. Seems to run well, on the road and highway

And of course the dislikes;

1. Price

2. Radio and Clock are intermittent. May be a loose connection. I giggled the fuse box and got them both to come on.

3. Automatic door locks don't work

4. Window tint in the back is starting to peel a bit - didn't catch it the first time

5. Some fading on the roof - not much, but some near the ridges

6. Rear windows are sloooow. - Not a big deal, I rarely lower the rear windows in my current vehicle

 

[Devils Paw 80]

It looks like a nice one. Can you find out about its maintenance history? Do you have cash? A cash offer, even significantly less, might sway them.