97 LC vs 97 LX450

[smittycrusher]

Its also fun to trounce a Jeep in a Lexus too....

See my sig . That quote is from a Heep guy in the SoCal desert a few years back.

I have owned both. My first was a 93' LC unlocked. When I decided to get another one, my requirements were: 1997, lockers, best condition/price I could find.

After months I really only had two choices:

97 LX w/ 85k miles, black, lockers, dealer maintained by the book (LX is nice since a dealer can print out service records for work done at any dealership in the US).

97 40th w/ 135k miles, sage (my fav. color on an 80), lockers, very well maintained (as best I could tell)

Both these rigs were the same price. I chose the 85k LX in black over the LC in my preferred color. I could not justify giving up 50k miles for a color preference at the same price.

I do have the pink panty trail team sticker and I do enjoy being different and reading peoples lips on the trail or the road as my built Lexus drives on by. Plus the leather is a lot nicer in my LX than my LC.

Smitty

 

[Kaoscruizer]

OK, so whats the price of a 97 LX450 with 130K miles on the clock with lockers and clean.
Good Price =
OK Price =
Too High =

It's completely a matter of what you are willing to pay. I paid too much for the LX I bought, but if I didn't pay the price the PO wanted, someone else would have.

I couldn't be happier either.

 

[7schulz]

In the end I will, checking all angles, I just didn't know if there was anything to add to the equation. All things being the same if one was always less expensive than the other or if there is a larger stigma attached to either, trying to think outside the lines for the best full experience. I want it to last a very very long time with me.

 

[BrotherRob]

In the end I will, I just didn't know if there was anything to add to the equation. All things being the same if one was always less expensive than the other or if there is a larger stigma attached to either, trying to think outside the lines for the best full experience. I want it to last a very very long time with me.

The most important functional differences I see is the LX has climate control and a cd changer. Both are nice features but the cd changer takes up most of the console. Personally, I like the storage space in the LC's console.

 

[Ebag333]

OK, so whats the price of a 97 LX450 with 130K miles on the clock with lockers and clean.
Good Price =
OK Price =
Too High =

You won't find the same price in the same area for the same rig, let alone different ones.

Out here on the west coast, $10k+ rigs are common. FWIW the insurance valued my '96 LX450 with 150k miles at over $11k. I bought the rig for just over $10,000, and mine for just over $9,000, but that was a while back when prices tended to be higher.

 

[Impreza]

Great, now you went ahead and split up the 80 section! You done well n00b! Can't we just live one happy family?

 

[mwindaji]

I just bought a '97 from an old lady in Arkansas about 3-4 weeks ago. 125K miles, lockers, clean, full history - she had every recommended maintenance done and then some, brand new toyota battery in it, new tires, etc - paid $8k for it. Which was right at Blue Book value. Other than the driver seat starting to crack and the rt rear bumper corner being caved in from the lady backing into a pole - the truck is amazingly clean.
-
I fully agree with - most LX owners are not necessarily in it for the offroading and tend to take better care of them. I was shopping for LC's originally but found the LX's in the area were cheaper and in better condition. looked at 5-6 LC's and all had oil leaks, and poor maintenance done.

Just my .02 - take your time and I think you can find a good LX from a little old lady that never took it off road - just like I did!

 

[PoorHouse]

You won't find the same price in the same area for the same rig, let alone different ones.

Out here on the west coast, $10k+ rigs are common. FWIW the insurance valued my '96 LX450 with 150k miles at over $11k. I bought the rig for just over $10,000, and mine for just over $9,000, but that was a while back when prices tended to be higher.

They are still $10k plus in the Rockies and PNW.

Insurance co. valued my truck at $12k this month.

As previously pointed out different regions, different prices. I went to Texas to get mine and paid less than I would have here. People from the east coast and south east would still think I over paid. It was worth it to me to get something really clean.

 

[ToothDr]

My guess is that 80-90% of the original owners of our trucks(lexus and non lexus versions) never took them off road. These trucks, at the time, had the same lofty pricetag ( for the 90's) as the 200 series seems to have now. Meaning you had to drop some serious cash to get one. Most of the wear and tear I've seen on these rigs has come for the 2nd. 3rd and even 4th owners as they let maintenance slide and perhaps don't have the deep pockets to keep these trucks in top shape. I've seen some trashed LX 450's and some trashed LC's. Just more LC out there.
Buy the lowest mileage, cleanest truck you can, LC or LX450. You'll be very happy with either one.

Pete

 

[BrotherRob]

Your original premise assumes that you will have a choice. When you find the right one, it's unlikely there will be another one available. You either buy it or it will be gone. Worry about getting the right rig, not the label. Good luck.

 

[-Spike-]

...better quality fake wood trim that seems to hold up longer...

FWIW the wood trim on an LC I sold to a friend was real. It has so much poly on there it looks fake. He removed it, and discovered there was actual wood involved. You couldn't convince me until I looked at the back of it.

As far as more people ordering lockers on LX's, I wonder if it was a choice, or if Toyota sent X number of LC's and X number of LX's with lockers, and the purchaser just picked which truck he wanted. If he wanted lockers, the dealer brought one out with lockers. I guess they could have been ordered, but it would take 4 months to get one from the factory... I know the total amount of 80's with lockers was around 7%, according to the board. I've never heard which line got more of them, if either.

As mentioned by Rob, generally you get what you get. Unless you're hung up on climate control or leather lowers, take the best truck that comes along.

 

[7schulz]

Well, I have the option right now $8,500 for an LX with 130K or a LC with 147k both locked both clean both had most maintenance up to date both couple owners deep. The LX is listed. The LC isn't. LX bottom dollar is 8.5k and the LC is 8.5k OBO. I'm not worried about labels just wondering what the consensus is out there.

 

[bpassmore]

too high for today's market.

 

[aclos3]

Those prices would be great for the Northwest market... i would go with the Lexus unless you think you can get $1000 or more off the lc. Bluebook prices have gone up over the last year and a half as gas has dropped about $2 per gallon and cash for clunkers has removed many older, larger vehicles from the market.

 

[desmocruiser]

I am not a big fan of most of the LX differences:

Don't like the body cladding and really don't like the two tone-I had mine painted white to make it a single tone.

Don't like the console config in the LX with the CD changer-Don't think I will go to much trouble to change this.

Don't like the Lexus badging, (petty I know)- I wanted black pearl against the white so a badge change was in the works. I home sprayed some Toyota logos, fit perfect on the back, the front req'd some grille trimming and added the rear logo from a 40th anniversary model. Still working on a few of the rest, I think there are 7 total.

Don't like the woodgrain-Not that bothersome so I guess it will stay

If you are going to add a lift the the springs shouldn't matter.

What I did like was finding a 87,000 mile locked white 80 series, would have been much easier for me if it had been a LandCruiser, but couldn't pass it up!

As far as the prices you have posted, would really come down to overall condition and personal prefence and if the LX features would be desired or not. I personally don't think they are too high. What else can you buy in that price range?

 

[woodsman 44]

I wanted to find one with low miles and factory lockers....the one I found happened to be a LX450, very happy with it.

When I was looking, I found more LX450's with lockers than 80's.....

 

[Pin_Head]

$8,500 isn't bad for a low mileage, locked 96 or 97 in good shape with no significant issues in California. Demand may be stronger here, but I have called too late on a couple in the 8-9K range and they were gone. I have seen more LX 450s with lockers than FZJ80s too and they were only available for 2 years.

 

[7schulz]

In this economy and gas still 2.50+ an old SUV that gets 10-15 mpg isn't on the top of most people’s list. We are the exception on here. The economy is not getting any better any time soon and I don't have to have one right now. "A fool and his money are soon parted" I will wait it out, I have what most people want right now and that is cash to pay off debts.

 

[BrotherRob]

Personally, I'd try to find one outside of the rust belt. When I was looking, Texas was a good market. Lots of selection and good prices. I traveled to San Antonio for mine. It was worth the trip.

 

[7schulz]

The LX is from GA but move to IL in 08. Don't know the LC yet.
I do get around the country for work so if I found one I wanted I could work my schedule to get there or close.