Any Land Cruiser experts in Tampa, FL want to help some noobs inspect a truck?

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math

math

10 Year
Joined
Jun 27, 2014
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I know it's sort of short notice, but my girlfriend and I are getting ready to pull the trigger on a '94 Land Cruiser for sale here in Tampa, FL. Here's the issue - I would have simply taken it to a garage, but it's not insured or registered, just sitting in the driveway. So I have no choice but to bring a mechanic to it (around 10AM). It's in good working order, but again, we don't fully know what we're getting into. For example, the vehicle has 199k, should we test the head gasket?

So, tomorrow, Sunday the 29th, are there any friendly Land Cruiser experts who want to meet up with us and help us inspect? The vehicle is in St. Petersburg.

By the way - WE WILL PAY YOU. In cash, in person. We'll also buy you lunch :-)

Please PM me your phone number or email if you're interested. We want to start off on the right foot in the 4x4 community, and ih8mud has already been a great resource. Feel free to give me any pointers here as well.
 
Thanks for your reply. We've already taken a look at Slee's very helpful newbie guide and plan to follow some of the inspection tips, but there are certain things, like checking the steering knuckle, which we would be happy to have someone's help with.

By next weekend we'll already own the car, if we choose to go through with it, but we'd still be happy to meet up and talk with you about it.

Maybe we'll add an entry to the malnourished registry. :)

Anyone interested in meeting us on Sunday the 29th: we still need help!
 
Good luck with your search! Does the truck have any maintenance records? How much is the seller asking?

Keep in mind there's a lot of things a test drive will tell you. Drive it for 15 min or so and put it through its paces and listen for eerie sounds :p
 
Yes, I suppose I should post this around. Thanks!

We haven't found much in the way of maintenance records, but we've asked the seller about maintenance history. The previous owners did work themselves, so the history can be difficult to piece together. We'll definitely take it for a test drive.

The seller is asking for $7000. It comes with a few accessories. It's lifted and has tires, but the roof rack and front bumper aren't anything to write home about.
 
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7k is a little steep for a rig with 199k on the clock and no maintenance records. Just make sure you get it checked out before you take the leap!
 
We'll try to bargain down, but he rejected an offer of $5500. What's your estimate for a fair price?
 
Everyone on this forum will tell you they got their truck for like 2k. Hard to gauge your potential rig without seeing it and driving it and meeting the seller.

I bought my 94 fzj80 with 100k miles fully built with a lift brand new 315 tires an arb roof rack and winch bumper w winch for 9,5. Some would say I overpaid but I think I did OK. But my truck had all service recs and was in impeccable shape inside and out.

Just feel it out when u see and drive it and don't pay more than what you feel is right.
 
How long has it been sitting and why? The front bumper is missing an end cap, dented in the center and that stupid grill guard looks to be very oxidized. It doesn't appear to be well maintained. If the inside is not pristine I wouldn't pay over $2500 unless it has factory lockers then add another $1000. If the interior is good and everything works, no check engine light, engine is semi clean, tires are good and not cracked or dry rotted then add another $1000 which puts you at $4500 max.
 
We've decided to continue looking! The seller was very helpful and understanding about us just having started our search.

The offer to anyone who would like to help us inspect our likely candidates still stands.

By the way - this forum helped us decide to keep looking for a Land Cruiser. Thanks for helping us save money and get started correctly.
 
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Check with your insurance agent about test driving potential purchase cars. You "might" be covered to take a truck to a mechanic for an inspection. It wouldn't cover registration but that is low risk.
 
Your method and technique are spot on. This is the place to come for information, but sorting through it can be a challenge some times. Look at a few more trucks, you'll learn allot, and be better prepared and informed to know the right deal when it appears.
 
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