1998 LX470 considering purchasing

[Bella1992]

greetings 100 series folks! I've been over on the 80 series for years, but now going up to the mighty 100! I've an opportunity to pick up a 98 LX, very clean, 185K miles, for 7.2k.

Issues? Sure. One of the shocks looks a bit leaky, and the codes had been recently re-set. A friend has a snap on code reader. The results were that all codes were recently re-set. We suspected catalytic converter perhaps.

All electrics work, save the telescope function on the steering wheel.

So, the age old ? is, is this a good buy?

I know the suspension system is hydraulic and expensive right!?!!

 

[HaiiroKuma]

I have a 98 and absolutely love it. From the amazing ride and library quiet cabin to the jaw dropping (no-way-he's-making-it-through-that) way that it just keeps going; you will must likely love it too. I'm a big fan of the nostalgia factor of the 80 series but you can clean up a 98 to look like an 06 pretty easily. That's a lot of truck for the money!

The price sounds amazing if the car is in good shape. If it is rough around the edges it is a decent price. If it has any major issues just keep looking. The suspension can be a butt load but it doesn't have to be. It is absolutely something the average soccer mom will ditch her ride for though. She will stroll into the dealership and they'll quote her 3 grand and voila! You have a great opportunity at your fingertips. It really depends on what you want to do with your rig. If you want to keep the suspension stock, then just find someone that has upgraded willing to part with what you need. If you want to upgrade, a complete OME lift is really reasonable. About $1100 for shocks, springs, torsion bars, and diff drop. No matter what is wrong with your hydraulic system it can be eliminated for that kind of cash. Since the codes have been cleared, ask the seller for a slightly extended test drive and bring you friend along with his scanner. He can watch all of the monitors go through their cycles as you drive. If you do a few little steps you can get all but a couple of them ready in about 20 miles. That should eliminate some of the scarier stuff like tranny codes, certain abs, and srs codes. Cats are expensive but it is usually o2 related even if it is a cat code. O2 sensors are cheap and usually rather easy to replace. Put the truck through some paces and breathe much easier at the end.

Don't be afraid to through up some pics and ask a bunch of questions here and of the seller. I know I love pics and I'm not alone!!!!

 

[Bella1992]

I have a 98 and absolutely love it. From the amazing ride and library quiet cabin to the jaw dropping (no-way-he's-making-it-through-that) way that it just keeps going; you will must likely love it too. I'm a big fan of the nostalgia factor of the 80 series but you can clean up a 98 to look like an 06 pretty easily. That's a lot of truck for the money!

The price sounds amazing if the car is in good shape. If it is rough around the edges it is a decent price. If it has any major issues just keep looking. The suspension can be a butt load but it doesn't have to be. It is absolutely something the average soccer mom will ditch her ride for though. She will stroll into the dealership and they'll quote her 3 grand and voila! You have a great opportunity at your fingertips. It really depends on what you want to do with your rig. If you want to keep the suspension stock, then just find someone that has upgraded willing to part with what you need. If you want to upgrade, a complete OME lift is really reasonable. About $1100 for shocks, springs, torsion bars, and diff drop. No matter what is wrong with your hydraulic system it can be eliminated for that kind of cash. Since the codes have been cleared, ask the seller for a slightly extended test drive and bring you friend along with his scanner. He can watch all of the monitors go through their cycles as you drive. If you do a few little steps you can get all but a couple of them ready in about 20 miles. That should eliminate some of the scarier stuff like tranny codes, certain abs, and srs codes. Cats are expensive but it is usually o2 related even if it is a cat code. O2 sensors are cheap and usually rather easy to replace. Put the truck through some paces and breathe much easier at the end.

Don't be afraid to through up some pics and ask a bunch of questions here and of the seller. I know I love pics and I'm not alone!!!!

Thanks! I'll see if I can take it for another extended test drive. We drove it yesterday but not for 20 minutes. The seller is a dealer, and kind of a sketchy guy.

He really has no idea what he has. The only weird thing is that someone on this car is life someone created the stereo system and there's all kinds of television and satellite stereo equipment.

I can strip out that stuff and sell it and maybe remove the suspension system if and when it fails and switch over to a traditional one ? I'm sure I could sell some of those components which would pay for an old man emu suspension.

I currently have some 33 inch tires for my 80 series. If I use that button that raises the truck how high is it actually go and will my 33's fit comfortably?

 

[dasgeek]

If I use that button that raises the truck how high is it actually go and will my 33's fit comfortably?

The change in hight between low and high is about 3 inches...so from normal setting to high raises the truck about 1.5 inches.

I put 33 inch tires on my LX last May. Plenty of clearance with stock AHC.

 

[HaiiroKuma]

I have 305/65r18's on stock AHC and ride around in neutral all the time (when not on a trail). My tires are 33.6x12 inches and all I had to do is trim a tiny piece off of the inner fender. Keep in mind that I have a +35 (+60 is stock) offset which allows a wider tire.

 

[Bella1992]

The change in hight between low and high is about 3 inches...so from normal setting to high raises the truck about 1.5 inches.

I put 33 inch tires on my LX last May. Plenty of clearance with stock AHC.

Thanks dasgeek! Would you mind hitting the button taking it all the way in the up position, as tall as you can make your truck… And tell me what the measurement is? I'll take a tape measure to the truck I'm looking at to see if it is comparable to you.

 

[medtro]

Thanks! I'll see if I can take it for another extended test drive. We drove it yesterday but not for 20 minutes. The seller is a dealer, and kind of a sketchy guy.

He really has no idea what he has. The only weird thing is that someone on this car is life someone created the stereo system and there's all kinds of television and satellite stereo equipment.

Is this the one with a dent at the back? He has this for almost 2 months now. You may be able to get it for less.

 

[PADDO]

Thanks dasgeek! Would you mind hitting the button taking it all the way in the up position, as tall as you can make your truck… And tell me what the measurement is? I'll take a tape measure to the truck I'm looking at to see if it is comparable to you.

You realize that H is not a normal driving mode and the vehicle will return to N unless you've bypassed the speed inputs to the ECU? Also one persons N height is not necessary the nexts, it all depends on where you've set your N null point.

 

[Bella1992]

You realize that H is not a normal driving mode and the vehicle will return to N unless you've bypassed the speed inputs to the ECU? Also one persons N height is not necessary the nexts, it all depends on where you've set your N null point.

No I've got a lot to learn, I'm just thinking that when I'm Wheeling ill use H, and hopefully it stays there. The reason I want the measurement is to see if mine is up to par.

 

[flintknapper]

No I've got a lot to learn, I'm just thinking that when I'm Wheeling ill use H, and hopefully it stays there. The reason I want the measurement is to see if mine is up to par.

IF working correctly, it will stay in the 'high' position up to a certain speed, after which it will automatically lower itself to the 'N' position. Also, IF you exceed a certain weight limit...it will default to the 'L' position.

 

[PADDO]

It will stay in H if you're under 19mph or go to a semi H if you're in low range and exceed 19 - or extra H if you have wheel spin. There are a couple of iterations depending on speed, high or low range and if you have wheel spin. H,N and L should be considered "preset" heights based on the feedback voltages to the ECU, certainly a vehicle needs to easily change height between L and H as part of your PPI but it will either go to H and the H light will be lite solid or it won't. There isn't a lot to be determined from measuring one vehicles H height to another's as there are set up variables and system tolerances. The low to high graduation count test and stepping between soft and sport 2 and feeling definite changes in the damping will tell you more than measuring the vehicles height.

 

[Bella1992]

It will stay in H if you're under 19mph or go to a semi H if you're in low range and exceed 19 - or extra H if you have wheel spin. There are a couple of iterations depending on speed, high or low range and if you have wheel spin. H,N and L should be considered "preset" heights based on the feedback voltages to the ECU, certainly a vehicle needs to easily change height between L and H as part of your PPI but it will either go to H and the H light will be lite solid or it won't. There isn't a lot to be determined from measuring one vehicles H height to another's as there are set up variables and system tolerances. The low to high graduation count test and stepping between soft and sport 2 and feeling definite changes in the damping will tell you more than measuring the vehicles height.

Excellent point. I look forward to learning more about this totally advanced machine… I'm coming from the 80 series world and it feels like the technology is light years ahead. My current Lexus LX is a 450 and just two years later is 100 series. Huge difference between 1996 and 1998!

 

[Bella1992]

Is this the one with a dent at the back? He has this for almost 2 months now. You may be able to get it for less.

I don't know, it's sold through a dealer, his name is Kenny.

 

[medtro]

I don't know, it's sold through a dealer, his name is Kenny.

Yes, Kenny but mileage is slightly different

 

[SALTY METHODS]

I heard Mr Toyota himself personally blessed the '98 year and said "This year and model is the best vehicle my company has and will ever make. No other year or model will ever achieve this level of greatness!" Then he fell over drunk while grabbing his friend's wife's boobs.

 

[colossus]

lol