96 LX450 Reliable Daily Driver?

[LS1FJ40]

I have a 1997 LX450 that I have been driving for a year. It is super reliable. But like all cars they do require maintenance and i would put the Lx450 maintenance on the expensive side when compared to other Suvs.
Its also a good idea to learn some good mechanic skills if you are looking to to buy an 80 in order to save you $$$.

$208/month over the course of 24 years to own my 1992.

80s seem expensive to maintain because most people are buying ones that haven't been maintained in years. So they are stuck doing the past 5-6 years of maintenance. That is the reason a lot of people are selling their 80 in the first place. They took it to the dealer and found out there is $4-5k in maintenance/repairs needed. So they sell it. The demand is high enough for these rigs that people don't use (or can't use) the needed repairs/maintenance to their advantage when negotiating. In reality that $4-5k is only $1000-1500 in parts.

So, pay to play to be patient and hope the "right" deal comes along.

 

[ColoradoFJ40]

I've been daily driving my 97 450 for two years now. jumped in the deep in and haven't looked back. I gave up a cherry 05 silverado to my mother that I bought new and have a 77 fj40 as a backup. the 450 has never let me down. I did a ton of preventive maintenance the first month I owned it and since then I have done very little. other than a knuckle rebuild that didn't need rebuilt after I got in there. I drive 20 miles every day and haul three kids around every where . I could get a new 200 tomorrow but there's something to say for a truck you can still work on yourself and have all the fine people here to help you. my opinion is if you already have gotten to this point with a thread on mud I'd say you know what you want. do it and don't look back.

 

[SCDreamer]

Not to hijack the thread, but when it comes to reliability what would you guys put on your list of things to do before really slapping the approval sticker on it for DD or longer trips? Aside from the basic PMs (fluids, hoses, belts, tune up) and putting some miles on it for a shake down, what would be your big check offs?

 

[lastresort576]

Not to hijack the thread, but when it comes to reliability what would you guys put on your list of things to do before really slapping the approval sticker on it for DD or longer trips? Aside from the basic PMs (fluids, hoses, belts, tune up) and putting some miles on it for a shake down, what would be your big check offs?

a few people, including myself mentioned it earlier in the thread. lots of good info. I'd go back and read it from the beginning.

 

[madisonr34]

Not to hijack the thread, but when it comes to reliability what would you guys put on your list of things to do before really slapping the approval sticker on it for DD or longer trips? Aside from the basic PMs (fluids, hoses, belts, tune up) and putting some miles on it for a shake down, what would be your big check offs?

Cooling system

 

[Heckraiser]

Not to hijack the thread, but when it comes to reliability what would you guys put on your list of things to do before really slapping the approval sticker on it for DD or longer trips? Aside from the basic PMs (fluids, hoses, belts, tune up) and putting some miles on it for a shake down, what would be your big check offs?

That's pretty much it. After that, the truck will tell you what it needs as you put miles on it. Many of them are old enough they need suspension bushings, cats/o2 sensors, brakes, yadda yadda, but it's really case by case at that point.

 

[DSRTRDR]

rust would be my concern with a Virginia truck

and if you don't like it, you can always sell it again

 

[surfpig]

Cooling system

^THIS^

 

[Jungle80farmer]

Compared to my 71 FJ40 sprung under on 35s with a sb 350 & a soft top my dd 97 FJ80 with 235k miles is like driving a camry.