2000 LC for $5K or 2005 GX470 for $14K

[Macarey]

Hello to All,

I am new to this forum and I am looking for some expert advise. I know you receive these kind of posts all of the time, but I hope you will help me out. I am at the cross roads of making a purchase and would like to get some opinions.

Option 1:
2000 Land Cruiser 100 series with 185K miles on it, no navigation. It has not been inspected by a mechanic yet. It is due for its second timing belt and water pump service. Price is $5K.

Option 2:
2005 GX470 with 115K miles on it, it has Navigation and all options except no KDSS. Radiator has just been done on it and the 90K service is complete. The price is $14K

A little personal back ground. I have two children (4 years old and 14 months old) and my wife. This vehicle would be my wife's daily driver, she only puts about 5K miles per year on a vehicle. Safety and reliability are extremely important, which I think both vehicles would be. It sure would be nice to save a few thousand dollars though. My wife is concerned with the mileage and 5 year age difference on the Land Cruiser

What option would you choose?

 

[Kigiin]

Take some of $9k in savings and bring the LC up to date on maintenance, maybe even doing some preventative care such as radiator, hoses, starter (if it hasn't been replaced), ignition rod (if it hasn't been replaced), tires, brakes, power steering pump, etc.

 

[OregonLC]

Do you live in the land of magical vehicle pricing? Those are both extremely low prices, by like half in the case of the LC. With prices that low I'd be very careful and suspect.

That said, they're two different vehicle. I think you need to figure out which best fits your mission first and then let the pricing decision follow second. I like the GX for a town rig, but my wife has driven them and likes the LC/LX better. With only 5k a year fuel won't be that big of an issue.

 

[Junglejack]

Wow. If the LC is anything approximating decent condition and the pricing is correct, I cannot honnestly fathom why you are even questioning this. I paid $13,500 for my LX with 71,000 miles last April and felt like I got a solid deal, put that price is absurd and suspect.

 

[Macarey]

I know the pricing I have found on both of these vehicles are both great. The LC will definitely require some Work and preventative maintenance. I am leaning toward the LC because of the price and it is a little bigger. My wife likes the GX because of the lower miles, navigation, and because she feels the style looks more modern and it is 5 years newer.

Thanks for all of the responses so far. I know both vehicles are solid and I can't go wrong either way.

 

[re_guderian]

I doubt you're gonna get honest advice without a little more background on why the prices are SO out of whack. Cuz right now, I'd say you're gonna get screwed with either one and she's not going to be happy either way - unless... you're buying from a family member, they're both salvage vehicles, your cousin is fencing them and offered you first dibs, you're a drug dealer looking to collect on unpaid debts and these came up as options, some crazy uncle left the country with the title, serious accidents in the carfax, etc. etc.

 

[Macarey]

I doubt you're gonna get honest advice without a little more background on why the prices are SO out of whack. Cuz right now, I'd say you're gonna get screwed with either one and she's not going to be happy either way - unless... you're buying from a family member, they're both salvage vehicles, your cousin is fencing them and offered you first dibs, you're a drug dealer looking to collect on unpaid debts and these came up as options, some crazy uncle left the country with the title, serious accidents in the carfax, etc. etc.

I have had the inspection and title checked on the GX as well as the CARFAX and everything is clean - two owners, maintenance records check out and no accidents. I have done the CARFAX on the LC and it has one accident reported over $750.00 but that is all is tell me. I still have to have it inspected and nothing will be purchased without this being done. I get where you are coming from on the pricing being out of whack, but for the sake of the advice I am searching for lets assume that both vehicles are in average condition with nothing alarming to kill the deal ( I already know the LC requires the timing belt and water pump).

 

[TXLX100]

Wow. If the LC is anything approximating decent condition and the pricing is correct, I cannot honnestly fathom why you are even questioning this. I paid $13,500 for my LX with 71,000 miles last April and felt like I got a solid deal, put that price is absurd and suspect.

I don't know where you are at, but that is a crazy good deal. I paid $12k for my 1998 with 100k miles and that was with employee pricing at a dealer. I would say the one I bought was in "good" condition and had all of it's maintenance.

 

[Macarey]

Wow. If the LC is anything approximating decent condition and the pricing is correct, I cannot honnestly fathom why you are even questioning this. I paid $13,500 for my LX with 71,000 miles last April and felt like I got a solid deal, put that price is absurd and suspect.

So your vote would be to buy the LC if you were in my shoes, right?

 

[El Cid]

Keep in perspective that this is a biased crowd of LC owners, the majority of us will tell you to buy the LC. Period.

It really comes down to your preferences though, not ours. If your wife likes the size of the GX, that's probably important.

But fundamentally, I agree with OregonLC above, they are two entirely different vehicles, your decision is a question of how much you value specific preferences like size of vehicle and mileage. FTR, I would buy the LC every time..

 

[CappyKD]

Take some of $9k in savings and bring the LC up to date on maintenance, maybe even doing some preventative care such as radiator, hoses, starter (if it hasn't been replaced), ignition rod (if it hasn't been replaced), tires, brakes, power steering pump, etc.

Agree 110%

 

[re_guderian]

I have had the inspection and title checked on the GX as well as the CARFAX and everything is clean - two owners, maintenance records check out and no accidents. I have done the CARFAX on the LC and it has one accident reported over $750.00 but that is all is tell me. I still have to have it inspected and nothing will be purchased without this being done. I get where you are coming from on the pricing being out of whack, but for the sake of the advice I am searching for lets assume that both vehicles are in average condition with nothing alarming to kill the deal ( I already know the LC requires the timing belt and water pump).

Then the best advice I have is to buy them both, drive them for a month, then flip the one you don't like...

If they're as you describe, there's profit sitting in both of them, why not take it?

 

[fireball]

Then the best advice I have is to buy them both, drive them for a month, then flip the one you don't like...

If they're as you describe, there's profit sitting in both of them, why not take it?

There's your answer right there. That LC is a $8-10k truck.

 

[re_guderian]

Yep, you could be driving a free land cruiser or an $11K GX...

 

[OregonLC]

What does the carfax show on ownership location? Any chance they're flood recovery from Sandy that didn't get branded? Are they private party or dealer? What part of the country are you in? Something still isn't making sense. Either you have the deal of the decade or a lemon.

 

[KLF]

My input on this, even though I don't own either:

Don't let the Navigation in the GX even enter into the thought process. I have the same thing in my ES, and it's awful, by today's standards. The interface is terrible, and often won't find addresses that I'm sure existed way before my DVD date. I never use it anymore, especially now that I have the Google Maps lady to do all my navigation for me.

OTOH, don't discount the difference in gas mileage.

 

[CappyKD]

What does the carfax show on ownership location? Any chance they're flood recovery from Sandy that didn't get branded? Are they private party or dealer? What part of the country are you in? Something still isn't making sense. Either you have the deal of the decade or a lemon.

GOOD Point!

 

[TXLX100]

Let me know where you are finding these deals. I want to get an ISF, but I only have $400 to spend.

 

[Zibs Land Cruiser]

IMO, the GX will be nicer if your wife is wanting a luxury ride, but 5k for a LC even with 185k seems really almost too good to be true as everyone else has mentioned. I bought my 99 LC about a year ago for $11,600 with 115k on it. If I were you (and your wife didn't mind not having the slightly more luxury of the GX) I would have a trusted mechanic check out the LC and buy it if it checks out okay.

 

[oftpiste]

I'm finding the LC to be pretty darn luxurious!