Adventures in buying a 100 with a safety recall from a Toyota dealer

[Colinmcnamara]

This past week has been a bit of an adventure. I've been looking at picking up a 100 LC/LX for a bit now, and thought I came across my target - low mileage 2006 LX that came into a dealer via a trade in for another luxury vehicle.

After almost a week of back and forth with the salesperson, which started with me informing him about the safety recall I was finally informed that the dealership couldn't sell the vehicle with an active safety recall.

This recall is supposed to have a fix in September, and has been in effect since February. I guess I'll have to wait for the recall fix to be complete to get started on my build.

Guess I'll continue lurking until then, and hope that 6 months used inventory on the market will press prices down a bit.

 

[SALTY METHODS]

Not to put any more pressure on you but from what I'm seeing is that the value of LCs are actually going up ever so slightly.

 

[El Cid]

Not to put any more pressure on you but from what I'm seeing is that the value of LCs are actually going up ever so slightly.

Youv'e got to commend the boy for avoiding the poser Rover crowd so present in Austin, but that's the truth. Insurance man just broke me the news.

 

[Colinmcnamara]

It would make sense that values would go up in the short term due to diminishing supply (any trade in supply at a Toyota dealer would get stuck on the back lot)

My hypothesis looking at time on market for a large number of LX's that are exceeding 100 days is that there is a bit of supply withheld from the market.

The first way I can think to test the hypothesis is to wait for the fix to come out.

Did your insurance friend have any data prior to February this year?

 

[Colinmcnamara]

Youv'e got to commend the boy for avoiding the poser Rover crowd so present in Austin, but that's the truth. Insurance man just broke me the news.

I did take a look at importing a defender 110 and doing a restoration and an engine swap. Then I figured that I could get a much better quality vehicle for much less headache and just focus on having fun with my son on it.

After all the research so far, even with that recall I'm glad I chose to go down the 100 route.

 

[e9999]

Not to mention that it's less likely that the Feds would swoop down and impound your 100 than a Defender...

what recall is that?

 

[bamabrock]

I just bought a '04 LX with that same outstanding recall.

 

[therealdutch]

Not to mention that it's less likely that the Feds would swoop down and impound your 100 than a Defender...

what recall is that?

side curtain airbags. there's a thread on the forum somewhere. affected a number of toyota/lexus. something along the lines of vehicles that were parked at an angle, when restarted the rollover sensors think the car is about to flip and deploy the curtains

 

[Colinmcnamara]

Not to mention that it's less likely that the Feds would swoop down and impound your 100 than a Defender...

what recall is that?

It's for the side curtain airbag. I think it affects 2003-2006.

 

[crimsonaudio]

https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInf...n/techinfo/html/prelogin/docs/cp/g1ctofaq.pdf

 

[El Cid]

Colin, To be honest, I think you'd find 80-90% of the users here would take the risk of that product recall and buy an LC. For two reasons:

1. It's fixable
2. The vehicle is still quality and that isn't engine related.

And those users are current and former LC owners. We know how and what to fix. And most of us are confident that a fix is truly effective, whatever it may be.

I'm toying with a few vehicle renos so I u nderstand the project aspect you speak of, but finding Rover parts in the US is more challenging than finding Toyota parts.

 

[cwmoser]

This past week has been a bit of an adventure. I've been looking at picking up a 100 LC/LX for a bit now, and thought I came across my target - low mileage 2006 LX that came into a dealer via a trade in for another luxury vehicle.

After almost a week of back and forth with the salesperson, which started with me informing him about the safety recall I was finally informed that the dealership couldn't sell the vehicle with an active safety recall.

This recall is supposed to have a fix in September, and has been in effect since February. I guess I'll have to wait for the recall fix to be complete to get started on my build.

Guess I'll continue lurking until then, and hope that 6 months used inventory on the market will press prices down a bit.

Ran into the same problem as you. Lexus dealership in Charlotte, NC had a 2006 with 91K miles but
would not sell it because of a recall issue. But, they did let me take it for a test drive that further
convinced me that I wanted an LX

 

[Battleship]

If it's really nice and you want it, give them a deposit. You are only waiting a few weeks.

I bought my 2006 from a dealer in April. Who knows?

 

[ton504]

If it's really nice and you want it, give them a deposit. You are only waiting a few weeks.

I bought my 2006 from a dealer in April. Who knows?

A Toyota/Lexus dealership? And yes they can't sell it if theres a campaign/recall active until its been performed.

 

[BullElk]

I assume getting the air bag fix applys to whomever owns the LX at the time the fix is available. Would I just show up and request the repair?

 

[Colinmcnamara]

El Cid - I had the same thought. That issue only occurs in the first 6 seconds of tur I g the vehicle on. If you don't move then the sensor is less likely to see the tilt and not deploy early.

buckeyefan - I am thinking about putting a deposit down, though I think I want to speak to the GM and do and in person inspection / test drive first.

 

[Battleship]

A Toyota/Lexus dealership?

Arlington Toyota in Jacksonville. Maybe they had a loophole. Maybe they ignored the rule. I've seen other affected 100's leave dealer lots around here.

 

[Spike555]

Colin, To be honest, I think you'd find 80-90% of the users here would take the risk of that product recall and buy an LC. For two reasons:

1. It's fixable
2. The vehicle is still quality and that isn't engine related.

And those users are current and former LC owners. We know how and what to fix. And most of us are confident that a fix is truly effective, whatever it may be.

I'm toying with a few vehicle renos so I u nderstand the project aspect you speak of, but finding Rover parts in the US is more challenging than finding Toyota parts.

Finding Rover parts in the US is actually super easy if you know where to look. And cheap if you know the cross reference to American cars.

 

[El Cid]

Finding Rover parts in the US is actually super easy if you know where to look. And cheap if you know the cross reference to American cars.

That's great. Because in my neighborhood you'll see at least one rover vehicle on the side of the road about every two weeks.

Throttle issues, steering column motors, transmission problems., you will need all the parts help you can get..

 

[Colinmcnamara]

Colin, To be honest, I think you'd find 80-90% of the users here would take the risk of that product recall and buy an LC. For two reasons:

1. It's fixable
2. The vehicle is still quality and that isn't engine related.

And those users are current and former LC owners. We know how and what to fix. And most of us are confident that a fix is truly effective, whatever it may be.

I'm toying with a few vehicle renos so I u nderstand the project aspect you speak of, but finding Rover parts in the US is more challenging than finding Toyota parts.

I work for a company

Arlington Toyota in Jacksonville. Maybe they had a loophole. Maybe they ignored the rule. I've seen other affected 100's leave dealer lots around here.

Thanks for the info. I was assuming I would have to be patient.