4 sp vs 5 sp

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Alex1118 said:
Thanks for the replies!

News on the front.

Drove a 2004 LX470 today. 131k. 4 owner (sucks). Decent Carfax history and a 108k timing belt sticker.

I was impressed w/ how well it drove.

I'm not so sure about the refreshed 03+ dash. Doesn't really add a whole lot of value for me?

Okay...5 speed impressions. With the 4 speed I'm sitting at ~2400 at 70. With the 5 speed I was at ~2300. Not that big of a different at all! I was surprised about that! I will admit 1st gear allows it to be a little snappier but I'm not buying this thing to drag race. Both had the same tires by the way.

So, 1998 w/ 76k w/ factory lockers. White on tan. COMPLETELY baselined. It needs nothing.

2004 Black on Tan w/ 131k for 17k. It shows a good Carfax w/ comprehensive service records but does not mention timing belt or water pump.

(LX 470 was to see how I liked the "step up")

I know for a fact the 1998 has had all this done and the mechanic is very good.

I'm thinking 1998. I actually like the old school dash.The mileage is phenomenal. At 70 MPH, I show a 100 RPM difference between the two transmissions which seems negligible to me.

What do you guys think at this point? I'm at 13k w/ the 98 and am DONE. The other LC would be 17 and I'm thinking I would want to throw at least a grand in there for piece of mind. The Carfax records are a little ambiguous.
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I'm biased, but the 98 sounds great. If I had to purchase another 100, I'd choose the 98 or an 07, but an 07 in this case would be double or more what the 98 is priced at and it definitely isn't double the rig. One other thing that's a huge plus depending on where you live is registration costs - I think mine is around $80 a year because the 98 is so "old".
 
OregonLC said:
...I Have not experienced this myself, but anecdotal I hear that re-gearing a 4 spd with 33"+ tires will improve fuel econ slightly even though the cruising RPMs are higher...
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TTO5 said:
Taller tires will reduce rpm not increase it
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I think OregonLC is trying to say that putting lower (numerically higher) gears in a 4-spd with will have a higher cruising RPM than a 4-spd, 33's, & stock gears. That being said, you are correct, stock gears and a taller tire will lower cruising RPM.
 
Alex1118 said:
Thanks for the replies!

News on the front.

Drove a 2004 LX470 today. 131k. 4 owner (sucks). Decent Carfax history and a 108k timing belt sticker.

I was impressed w/ how well it drove.

I'm not so sure about the refreshed 03+ dash. Doesn't really add a whole lot of value for me?

Okay...5 speed impressions. With the 4 speed I'm sitting at ~2400 at 70. With the 5 speed I was at ~2300. Not that big of a different at all! I was surprised about that! I will admit 1st gear allows it to be a little snappier but I'm not buying this thing to drag race. Both had the same tires by the way.

So, 1998 w/ 76k w/ factory lockers. White on tan. COMPLETELY baselined. It needs nothing.

2004 Black on Tan w/ 131k for 17k. It shows a good Carfax w/ comprehensive service records but does not mention timing belt or water pump.

(LX 470 was to see how I liked the "step up")

I know for a fact the 1998 has had all this done and the mechanic is very good.

I'm thinking 1998. I actually like the old school dash.The mileage is phenomenal. At 70 MPH, I show a 100 RPM difference between the two transmissions which seems negligible to me.

What do you guys think at this point? I'm at 13k w/ the 98 and am DONE. The other LC would be 17 and I'm thinking I would want to throw at least a grand in there for piece of mind. The Carfax records are a little ambiguous.
Click to expand...

I had a 99 LC back in 2006 that had 58k miles on it AZ. Vehicle no rust some sun damage on trim. Loved it. Since then i'ved owned 2 - 2004 LX470's and a 2005 LX 470 current vehicle. Get the nicest, lowest mileage one you can't go wrong with anyone of them.
 
re_guderian said:
You'll be tearing that dash apart to remove the D light in no time.
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Sorry...what does this mean?

re_guderian said:
Why does four owners scare you?
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It doesn't scare me because I believe this particular LX 470 had been maintained well. However, it would hurt me resell wise:

1. Dealers or private parties would beat me up over it

2. I've found a lot of 1 owner and 2 owner LC's. I believe it is a testament to these trucks reliability. I don't want to buy a 4 owner when there's a plethora of 1-2 owner vehicles out there.
 
Regardless of 4 speed or 5 speed - it does not matter. The differences to me are minor. Buy the newest one in the best shape at a price you are willing to pay.

If a locker is a requirement, you are getting a 98-99 or be prepared to spend $1,475 to put one in the rear. ($1k locker, $275 compressor, $200 labor). Those prices are with you installing the compressor and taking your 3rd member to the local expert to install in your 3rd member with your stock gearing.

I wanted a wheeling machine, so I bought a White one at the lowest price I could find since I knew I'd be ruining the paint with trail pinstriping and bumper scratches.
 
Alex1118 said:
Sorry...what does this mean?
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It means that you'll probably want to replace the head unit in the dash because the head unit in a '98 or '99 is so old.

That is unless you have some old cassettes and CDs you want to play.
 
d light = radio? Must have missed that in the FAQ :)

Call me crazy but I am a big fan of stock radios and the way they look. Would probably snag a JBL MS8 and put it "behind" the factory radio to clean up the signal.
 
SmoothLC said:
It means that you'll probably want to replace the head unit in the dash because the head unit in a '98 or '99 is so old.

That is unless you have some old cassettes and CDs you want to play.
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My 2005 is rocking a cassette tape player.
Without a doubt, the biggest interior feature fail is the integrated nav/climate control on the late models. I agree the original poster that the factory radio looks great, but it's a dead-end feature that is near impossible (at least very very very difficult) to modify or upgrade. BUT, it's not that bad, there are workarounds for iPod/aux/usb inputs, and there are more important considerations in my opinion.
 
I think the 03-05 Cruisers (or LXs without AHC if you like the way they look) are the best of all the 100 series.
 
Just a data point, but I set the cruise on my '03 5sp to 65 mph whenever I'm traveling on the highway. At that speed, it purrs along at 2100 rpm. If the final drive of the two tranny's are the same, the 4sp should be turning about the same RPM.
 
Alex1118 said:
Sorry...what does this mean?



It doesn't scare me because I believe this particular LX 470 had been maintained well. However, it would hurt me resell wise:

1. Dealers or private parties would beat me up over it

2. I've found a lot of 1 owner and 2 owner LC's. I believe it is a testament to these trucks reliability. I don't want to buy a 4 owner when there's a plethora of 1-2 owner vehicles out there.
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Sometimes it only takes one owner to beat the crap out of a truck!!
 
I would be more concerned with VVTI than 5sp vs 4 spd. If you can afford 06+, it's worth the upgrade
 
My cruising speed is 75 mph at 2400 rpm on 33s, which is perfect. I have power button selected fulltime, plus rev each gear above 2k rpm city driving. Stock used to short shift (non-power mode) by 1800 rpm around town. I'm no means a fast driver, but a 99 is a ton faster than my old 80. It depends on what your used to driving to determine quickness on the 4 vs 5 speed.
 
aljollano said:
Sometimes it only takes one owner to beat the crap out of a truck!!
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Like all of us? :-) I say that in fun, but really these things are designed to have the crap beaten out of them.

I wouldn't let the number of owners bug me as much as the reason why they sold. It's not uncommon for people to dump these rigs due to fuel econ when prices climb. I'm either owner 3 or 4. Spent some time going over the history with the PO (owners before him were all friends). Also reviewed maintenance history and had a pre-purchase done at the dealer (was bought out of town).

It's not too hard to determine whether a truck is solid. Clean carfax, reasonable maintenance, good interior/exterior condition, color and quantity of fluids, and how she drives tells a great story of what you can expect.
 
I'm third owner. Was a family truck for both previous owners. I bought her with cockroaches and stains included at a fair price. A good baseline and detail job and I feel I came out with a great deal.

04' with 86,xxx miles with bald stock tires for $18,000 back in 2011. Didn't even know I wanted a land cruiser back then, but the price was too good to pass up.


...via IH8MUD app
 
Cockroaches? Now that's the first time I've ever heard of that! Lol

But to the OP's original question I don't think you will go wrong with an older 98-99 version. We have owned ours for 12 years and still love it. We have bought MANY other cars in this time, and they have all been sold off already-including a BMW X5 and a 03 Range Rover. The Rover was the only vehicle that was in the same league as our Cruiser. The ride was neck and neck. But the reliability even at 15 years of our cruiser is what has kept it in our stable so long.

Good luck!
 
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