Advice - Sell As Is, Fix First, Value?

[NearJetties]

Posting this for a friend since he’s less knowledgeable on car stuff. I’m a Land Cruiser nut so helping him out.

He has a 2004 that has lost compression in at least one cylinder. See diagnostic video. 220k miles

Upgrades:
- arb bumper
- FJ Cruiser 17” steelies and Falken Wildpeak AT3w. Tread on the tires are decent and the spare is unused
- also has a cap with sport rack on it

Needs: new engine, front suspension is tired from the heavy bumper, o2 sensor needs replacement, exhaust needs replacement, the tape deck doesn’t work (CD player and radio are fine).

Professionally serviced on a regular basis. Full synthetic every 3-5k since he’s owned it. Purchased in 2019.

The frame was replaced by Toyota under warranty not long before he purchased it.

He’s in Massachusetts but has been diligent about having it Fluid Filmed and the undercarriage cleaned.

He was already looking at Tundras because his family is growing.

I don’t think the time/cost to fix makes sense but seems like a great start for someone that can do their own work or wants to do an LS swap.

What do you think it’s worth as-is? Open to any and all advice.

 

[TRDdrew]

Id say as it sits its value is fairly low, my guess is 1500 without knowing the mileage? 4x4? and with it being a 4cyl. At that price it would make sense for someone to get a salvage motor to drop in it or swap, id be interested in it but im not driving to Massachusetts to go get it lol

 

[NearJetties]

Id say as it sits its value is fairly low, my guess is 1500 without knowing the mileage? 4x4? and with it being a 4cyl. At that price it would make sense for someone to get a salvage motor to drop in it or swap, id be interested in it but im not driving to Massachusetts to go get it lol

220k, 4x4, auto

 

[TRDdrew]

220k, 4x4, auto

can i contract you to go pick it up lol

 

[cmw]

Where in MA?

 

[TurbodreamZ]

In my opinion your friend is jumping to conclusions. I had an incident where I was trying to sell my NSX and a buyer wanted to have it inspected at a well known NSX tech. The inspection supposedly revealed that Cyl 1 had low compression but I knew better. I did the compression test myself and proved that the compression was good and the tech was wrong.

It's hard to say whether or not the Tech was working with the buyer to get the buyer a better deal or if the tech was incompetent. In my case, it is possible that the inspector forgot to conduct the compression test on cylinders one while holding Wide open throttle.

Your friend should do his own test to see if the mechanic is correct in assuming the compression is low.

If another compression test also shows similar results, find out why cylinder #1 has low compression. It could just be that the valves need adjusting.