'95 FJZ80 98K (no elockers) $11K vs. '96 LX450 129K (elockers) $12K: opinions please!

[gnx7]

I'm looking at 2 trucks tonight and hopefully buying one:

#1
'95 FZJ80 with 98K miles. Originally from Georgia and bought off of eBay with 84K, 2nd owner, fully loaded from the ad. NO elocking differentials with towing package. Aftermarket Alpine stereo, front/rear grille guards. Black with tan leather interior (leather looks worn... normal for age). $10950 obo

#2
'96 LX450 129K miles. 1 owner California truck, fully loaded with elockers; however no towing package. Champagne ext with tan leather interior. Said he used it to drive approx 125 miles each way from the SF Bay Area up to Sacramento. 100% stock $11850 obo

I'm favoring #2 simply because of the elockers and 1 owner plus it is a lighter color which is dirt friendly. In addition not having a towing package means less wear and tear on the truck.

I'm offering #2 guy $10,500 which is kelly blue book good condition value after checking it out.

What do you guys think?

I plan to tow my RX-7 maybe a few times per year (will add a towing setup), mainly use it to hit the mountain to ski and during summer to camp and do some mild 4x4ing. This truck will see at most 15K miles/year on the weekends and a few times during the week. I drive my LS1/RX-7 mainly which gets about 20mpg.

I'll like some feedback if you guys could provide some.

-Mark

 

[e9999]

well, ARB lockers are, what, 2K or so installed (not sure)?
so you'd pay 1K more for the 95 outfitted with lockers but with 30k less mile than the 96. $1K for 30K less miles seems good to me, that 2 years worth, and you have a choice as to install lockers or not (and regear).

"towing package" difference as you say is probably just the hitch receiver on, maybe a connector. Doesn't mean that much. Many come with a hitch and didn't see any towing. Or v.v.

1 owner doesn't mean much either unless you get all impressive records.

 

[Junk]

Buy whichever is in better shape.

truck with lockers means nothing if it wasn't taken care of.

 

[Romer]

I would get one with Lockers.

I would also make sure its in great shape or pass. 129K miles if treated well, could be better than 90K miles.

The Grill gaurds are damage multipliers and you would want to get rid of them anyways.

 

[svensett]

I just went through this process. First off, are the lockers important to you? If not, go with the one in the best shape for the best $$.

I looked at an unlocked LC w/ 25k less miles than the locked LX I bought. It was in pretty rough shape. Looked like it spent most of its life in front of the garage instead of in it. The interior was rough the engine was rough, and they wanted more than I paid for the LX.

Pretty much what everyone else has said, buy the one that's in the best shape. If they are neck and neck and you want lockers, it's a no brainer.

Something else to consider is the LX may cost less insurance wise (std alarm). You can also take the VIN to a Lexus dealer and have them run a search to see what service has been done by a Lexus dealer.

 

[89s rule]

Prices seem high to me. I have seen no lockers with 130K miles go for $7K or so. But didnt get tons of details on them.

 

[gnx7]

Just got back and looked at both tonight. Lower mileage black LandCruiser I checked out at 6:30pm and was not as clean exterior wise, the interior headliner was filthy, the front seats are worn but not that cracked as they were conditioned a few times at least..... and the back seats were a bit worn.

The LX450 I looked at first at about 5:30pm was owned by a rich cat in his 60's, the driver seat is heavily cracked and probably needs to be redone as should the passenger seat, the rear seats look like they have never been sat in, and the carpet and headliner are immaculate. The front driver fender flare has some brush/snow scrapings (not noticeable from afar) and the right rear flare and bumper have some white paint transferred on them from what looks like a minor meeting with a garage upright. Also just below the doors on the passenger/driver side the paint is chipped quite a bit from who knows what....

*one bad thing about the LX450 was on the rear window on the lower right was a small rust spot starting by the window seal. It looks like something was thrown at the truck in that area, made a small 1" crease about 1/4" deep, pierced the rear window seal, and created a rust spot. Otherwise it has 6 disk CD player, premium sound, everything works, and had all the brakes done 9 months ago.

Aside from that the truck is in excellent condition and looks like it has been garaged its entire life. We haggled and I have him at $11.2K. Need to call him back within the hour to tell him what I want to do.

I'm pretty much buying the LX450... but would like some last minute thoughts.

-M

 

[Romer]

Not having seen it and crawled all over it, hard to give you that last minute advice. Is there rust? Did you take a flashlight up from the bottom side to see if there looks to be antifreeze near the #6 cyl, did you take a look at the grease in the birf to see what condtion it is in?

If he has really taken care of it and nothing is wrong, thats not a bad price, not a great deal either. Whats more important is if its in good condition and its the one you want.

 

[gnx7]

I looked underneath and it is clean. Kept in Northern California inland where rust isn't a problem and we don't salt our roads. The exhaust could probably use redoing in the next 5-10K miles.

These trucks on the West Coast are higher priced than other areas of the country. I've been looking and checked out quite a few. This is about the cleanest I've seen for the price. Dealers are asking $15K for ones with similar mileage. I'm sure I could talk them down to $13K... but I hate buying anything from a dealer.

 

[RavenTai]

rust arround the liftgate window is a common norther 80 series problem, have you carfaxed the 96 to make sure that it was ful time California? never trust a stranger selling you a car.

If you remove the seal you will problay find the rust you can see is the tip of the iceberg.

I guess it could just be a local spot form local damage like you say but I would look into it.

 

[rgsiii]

never trust a stranger selling you a car.

Possibly the best bit of advice you will be given.

 

[Romer]

So did you buy the Lexus?

 

[NorCalDoug]

given the 2 options, I'd pick the Lexus.
sounds like it's in better condition than the other one. you can always take it to any lexus dealership and they'll pull the service records (as long as the servicing was done at a Lexus dealership) for you.


the rust you describe could be just a paint chip with surface rust or it could beginnings the dreaded rear window rot...is it a rust bubble or just a spot in the paint?

 

[gnx7]

It is a rust bubble from what appears to be something sharp penetrating the rear window seal and a small 1" long dent about 1/4" deep that has a ridge. Like the right angle of a ladder or something fell on the truck at an angle. Maybe a pair of skiis.

I'm going today at 4:30pm to do a final review of the truck (highway test, ABS test, 4WD LO, eLockers) and crawl under it to make sure there are no leaks.

If everything checks out I'm buying the LX450.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I know it isn't a smokin deal, but the interior is excellent aside from the cracked driver bottom seat cushion, and 2 small blemishes in the paint. Everything works and there are no drips/leaks that I could see. There are absolutely no dents of any kind in it aside from the rear hatch where the rust bubble is. It doesn't have a tow package so it has never towed either which is a bonus.

I'll post some pics after picking it up if everything goes well.

 

[gnx7]

I want to thank Gifu (Brian) for looking over the truck tonight and giving it the nod before slapping down the greenbacks. I maybe paid more than others... but here in the SF Bay Area these things get snapped up fast. I paid $11K, 1 owner, 65 year old guy, never went off road, everything works, could use a tune up and driver seat cushion redone. I would give it a good to excellent condition review.

In the next 30 days it gets an OME 2.5" lift, 33's, and ARB front bumper. Burly Lexus in progress.

Happy to be lock'd and fully loaded (less towing package) .

FJ60 goes up for sale in the next month. $4K paint job, 134K miles, good interior, 2.5" OME lift, 33x12.5's, and otherwise 100% stock. Moved up to the FZJ80 world.

I pick it up tomorrow and yes.... pics will be posted. Installing a 632ci 14-71 blown/4L80E combo next week.... j/k on the motor swap.

-Mark

 

[CJF]

j/k on the motor swap.

Cute...

Congrat's!!

Curtis

 

[jditom]

Pick the 96 if it looks good. The advantage of a single owner west coast truck with no salt road exposure is hugh. I just finished 4 tie rod ends and 5 shocks which if you read posts can be a bear do to rust. My rig was a west coast only and everthing came out easy with no rust in sight. Except for my roof rack

 

[RavenTai]

congrats,

I would not worry to much about the price, you are in the right range and if it is the right truck then you did good.




P.S. did you find the factory pink panties? or did the PO keep them?

 

[re_guderian]

FJ60 goes up for sale in the next month. $4K paint job, 134K miles, good interior, 2.5" OME lift, 33x12.5's, and otherwise 100% stock. Moved up to the FZJ80 world.

Very cool. I did the same thing last year, sold the FJ60 and got a '95. You won't believe the difference! Congratulations.

 

[Romer]

Congrats. I agree with Raventai, I wouldn't worry about the price if it checked out and is in the condition you statedm, it was a fair deal. Congrats.