97 LX 450 or 99 LC/LX 470

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For some reason the price on a clean 99 LX 470s or LCs w/rear locker are equal if not lower than 97 LX 450 with triple lockers in same condition. What would you get if mileage @ 200K and interior, engine/drive train in good condition? which truck is cheaper to lift with new ATs and easy to maintain?
 
Just my opinion but the LX470 is my favourite vehicle to drive. It's so f..ing smooth and has more than enough power. The list is long with the things I love about it.
 
Just my opinion but the LX470 is my favourite vehicle to drive. It's so f..ing smooth and has more than enough power. The list is long with the things I love about it.
I see your driving a 98 LX 470? how many miles when you bought it, and how many more miles did you drive and how $$ did you put on it to maintain it?
 
Prices on 80 series trucks are all over the place. There's a dude asking for $35k on a pretty clean truck that has some modifications. I bought my '96 LC for $3800 with factory locks.

Having both of these trucks I do agree with most 100 owners. The ride quality and comfort on a 100 is amazing.

I like having the 80 as my camping/off-road vehicle. It has locks, but I don't think I would ever venture into crawling on boulders and such. It's just not my thing, but looks cool.

I bought my '98 LX for $10.5k. with 94k miles a year ago. I just went over 100k miles. AHC works awesome. It's amazing that an almost 20 year old truck is as quiet, smooth, and dependable as the one I drive.

First ask yourself: what is the purpose for my truck? Give yourself a budget. Then go find the newest model you can afford of that truck; of course also with the best detailed maintenance history as possible.

Good luck.
 
Prices on 80 series trucks are all over the place. There's a dude asking for $35k on a pretty clean truck that has some modifications. I bought my '96 LC for $3800 with factory locks.

Having both of these trucks I do agree with most 100 owners. The ride quality and comfort on a 100 is amazing.

I like having the 80 as my camping/off-road vehicle. It has locks, but I don't think I would ever venture into crawling on boulders and such. It's just not my thing, but looks cool.

I bought my '98 LX for $10.5k. with 94k miles a year ago. I just went over 100k miles. AHC works awesome. It's amazing that an almost 20 year old truck is as quiet, smooth, and dependable as the one I drive.

First ask yourself: what is the purpose for my truck? Give yourself a budget. Then go find the newest model you can afford of that truck; of course also with the best detailed maintenance history as possible.

Good luck.
The truck will be used on the weekends only for two things: off-roading and occasional errands. That said, I am torn between the following choices:

- 97 LX 450 @ 214K miles all records available on lexus online, in good condition, axels and brakes were serviced at Lexus dealer and was involved in rear-end collision and fixed but no records on the damage fix other than the owner is telling me the front-pumper was replaced (this is a dealer)
- 99 LC w/rear locker @ 212K miles, carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, no 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)
- 99 LX 470 @ 136K carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, looks clean, has 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)

Prices: almost all 3 at under $9K

No you tell me how can I solve this dilemma ;)
 
Like @OG 91 LC said, figure out what the purpose of the truck is and what you will really be doing with it. Both great vehicles but both are also different. If you see yourself using it more as a daily with some off-road here and there then I would say go with the 100 all day, more comfortable, more power, much better road manners. The 100 might have better road manners but it will definitely take you where you want to go offroad and is very capable. If you see yourself doing a lot of off-roading especially where a solid front axle would be beneficial then go with the 80. If you want to lift something a good bit and put 37s on it then you will definitely want the 80. Still a comfortable vehicle to drive daily but the solid axle will negatively impact the handling and ride a bit.

I would go with the 100 all day long but I am biased. 80 prices are all over the place (but then again so are 100s)
 
The truck will be used on the weekends only for two things: off-roading and occasional errands. That said, I am torn between the following choices:

- 97 LX 450 @ 214K miles all records available on lexus online, in good condition, axels and brakes were serviced at Lexus dealer and was involved in rear-end collision and fixed but no records on the damage fix other than the owner is telling me the front-pumper was replaced (this is a dealer)
- 99 LC w/rear locker @ 212K miles, carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, no 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)
- 99 LX 470 @ 136K carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, looks clean, has 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)

Prices: almost all 3 at under $9K

No you tell me how can I solve this dilemma ;)

If primarily weekend off-roading and errands are the duty for it then I would keep looking for a lower priced 80 (especially on the west coast, there are good options out there) and spend the money saved on building it.
 
If primarily weekend off-roading and errands are the duty for it then I would keep looking for a lower priced 80 (especially on the west coast, there are good options out there) and spend the money saved on building it.
the thing with 80s w/3-lockers they are hard to come by.
 
80 LLC vs 100 LLC

I've owned a 94 LC and a 98 LX. In my experience the 100 is a better road/distance vehicle, the 80 is a slightly better extreme offroad vehicle. I miss my old 80 series a bit, but would only own another as a weekend play toy.

When we started looking for a vehicle for my son (about 2 years ago), the original intent was to purchase an 80 series. For the most part, we found that the owners were very proud of their high mileage, beat to crap 80 series. A good condition low mileage 100 series was less than a beat to crap high mileage 80 series.

If you want to lift it more than about 2.5-3" or go larger than 35" tires, please go with the 80 series. We need another "Will 37 inch tires fit with a 2.5 inch sensor/OME lift" like I need another hole in my head.
 
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The truck will be used on the weekends only for two things: off-roading and occasional errands. That said, I am torn between the following choices:

- 97 LX 450 @ 214K miles all records available on lexus online, in good condition, axels and brakes were serviced at Lexus dealer and was involved in rear-end collision and fixed but no records on the damage fix other than the owner is telling me the front-pumper was replaced (this is a dealer)
- 99 LC w/rear locker @ 212K miles, carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, no 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)
- 99 LX 470 @ 136K carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, looks clean, has 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)

Prices: almost all 3 at under $9K

No you tell me how can I solve this dilemma ;)
99 LX!
 
Like @OG 91 LC said, figure out what the purpose of the truck is and what you will really be doing with it. Both great vehicles but both are also different. If you see yourself using it more as a daily with some off-road here and there then I would say go with the 100 all day, more comfortable, more power, much better road manners. The 100 might have better road manners but it will definitely take you where you want to go offroad and is very capable. If you see yourself doing a lot of off-roading especially where a solid front axle would be beneficial then go with the 80. If you want to lift something a good bit and put 37s on it then you will definitely want the 80. Still a comfortable vehicle to drive daily but the solid axle will negatively impact the handling and ride a bit.

I would go with the 100 all day long but I am biased. 80 prices are all over the place (but then again so are 100s)
What's the cost of swapping the 2-pinion axle in the 99 with a 4-pinion? I saw other posts talking about swap job for an 80 front axle and such but not sure what that means in terms of $$ and reliability?
 
I love my 99 LX and living and driving where I do, I really don't need a rear locker but it is something I wish I had and is literally the only thing I would change. It's one of those... "you don't miss it until you need it" types of things. So, if you have the option to buy with or without, I'd buy the rear locked 100.
 
putting bias aside, really? even with the 99 LC w/rear diff locker you would still take the 99 LX?

The truck will be used on the weekends only for two things: off-roading and occasional errands. That said, I am torn between the following choices:

- 97 LX 450 @ 214K miles all records available on lexus online, in good condition, axels and brakes were serviced at Lexus dealer and was involved in rear-end collision and fixed but no records on the damage fix other than the owner is telling me the front-pumper was replaced (this is a dealer)
- 99 LC w/rear locker @ 212K miles, carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, no 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)
- 99 LX 470 @ 136K carfax clean, no accidents, service records available, looks clean, has 3rd-row seat (didn't test drive)

Prices: almost all 3 at under $9K

No you tell me how can I solve this dilemma ;)

Similarly priced 97 with 80K more miles and accident history = out

Similarly priced/record 99LC + locker with 80K more miles = leaning towards out

99 LX clean, low miles = my choice

My 98 with limited slip gets me everywhere I go, albeit no where crazy.

Sounds like you are leaning towards the 99LC, I think you've made your choice. Frankly, you'll be happy in any of them.
 
80 LLC vs 100 LLC

I've owned a 94 LC and a 98 LX. In my experience the 100 is a better road/distance vehicle, the 80 is a slightly better extreme offroad vehicle. I miss my old 80 series a bit, but would only own another as a weekend play toy.

When we started looking for a vehicle for my son (about 2 years ago), the original intent was to purchase an 80 series. For the most part, we found that the owners were very proud of their high mileage, beat to crap 80 series. A good condition low mileage 100 series was less than a beat to crap high mileage 80 series.

If you want to lift it more than about 2.5-3" or go larger than 35" tires, please go with the 80 series. We need another "Will 37 inch tires fit with a 2.5 inch sensor/OME lift" like I need another hole in my head.
Ok. I see where you coming from but, so mudding and light rock crawling the 99 LX should be able to handle it even with the 2-pinion and lack of rear diff locker?
 
Similarly priced 97 with 80K more miles and accident history = out

Similarly priced/record 99LC + locker with 80K more miles = leaning towards out

99 LX clean, low miles = my choice

My 98 with limited slip gets me everywhere I go, albeit no where crazy.

Sounds like you are leaning towards the 99LC, I think you've made your choice. Frankly, you'll be happy in any of them.
Hearing everyone else leaning towards 100, the LX sounds like a better ride all together especially with the low miles. I guess I can always add a e-locker to the rear if need be w/OME 2.5" lift. My question though still unanswered and this goes to everyone here, Does anyone have an idea of under what circumstance/scenario will I need to swap the 2-pinion with a 4-pinion? and what will this cost?
 
Even though I have both of these trucks I rarely get to cruise out much with them, but when I do......I drink Modelo:flipoff2:. I drive my '98 twice a week to work. My '96 sits in my RV space and I drive once or twice a month. My '97 is being saved for my son and sits in my garage:). I greatly enjoy having both at my disposal. Greatly. I would venture to say that a good amount of Mud members mod their truck and rarely use those mods, but they are good to have when you need them. For example 3x locked or rear locked trucks. Most hard core mud members would advise you to learn to drive a truck with open diffs and choose your lines wisely. Then they will tell you that you rarely use the locking feature on a locked vehicle.

It's debated all over the chronicles of Mud. 80 vs 100. Locked vs open diffs.

Score the truck you like the most and be happy you own one.

As far as two pinion vs four. If you decide to go with the 100 series just drive it. If your diff blows somewhere, research Mud, and learn the proper way to get yourself out of that bind. You may never experience your diff blowing. All depends on your application.
 
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Ok. I see where you coming from but, so mudding and light rock crawling the 99 LX should be able to handle it even with the 2-pinion and lack of rear diff locker?

If it doesn't, you can always add a Harrop/ARB locker or 2.
 
So does it matter if it's an e-locker or air locker in the front to solve the 2-pinion concern?
 
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