Buying advice

[davegonz]

I have found two Cruisers with locking differentials and am in a dilemma..which one is the better deal?

1) 1993 LC with 97k miles on it...factory diffs, dark green, factory alarm etc.. Great shape..Texas truck and 5 new tires. Was asking $11800...lowered to $10500. He said he would think about my final bid of $10k. It is for sale by private individual who is the second owner.

2) 1993 LC with 140k miles on it...factory diffs, aftermarket alarm, built-in Beltronics radar detector, champagne color, tires look recent. Was asking $9800, but willing to sale for $8250 plus TTL. 2 owner Texas truck as well. Needs a radiator flush and belts from what I could find.


My first choice would seem to be the first one soley b/c of the miles, but the second one is in great shape and can be had for $2250 less. Money is tight right now, so that's why I really need some help deciding.

Thanks,

david

 

[NorCalDoug]

If money's tight, go with the 2nd one. one either one, I'd want to do the fluid change and birfields. The savings would go a long way toward paying for getting a good baseline on the new rig.

Money not being an option -- both sound good -- the one with fewer miles a bit more attractive, IMO.

 

[cruiserman]

You have to decide if 43k miles (~3 years worth of driving) is worth $2250. I would go with the fewer miles, but I would try to get the price below $10k if possible.

I notice in your .sig you already have a '93 fzj80. Selling yours for a locked model?

 

[davegonz]

That's right CMAN...I bought my current 93 after having my 96 Isuzu Trooper totalled...I had no LC knowledge and had not been exposed to IH8MUD, but I always wanted a Land Cruiser. So 7 months later...I want a locked one with fewer miles and better condition. My wife wants me to take my time and find one before I sale the current one. She doesn't want me to be forced to buy the first cheap one I find like I did before..

 

[NorCalDoug]

43k miles is more like 2 years of driving in my book.

What do you think you could get for your current 80? What's her condition?

 

[davegonz]

She runs great, but has some body dings and scratches. Has a fender flare that is cracked. Other than that, she's doing well. No rust and has a clean interior. I will advertise for $7500 OBO.

 

[Gauge]

If I had to do it over again, I would have only changed one thing - I would have bought a rig with less miles. I got everything I was looking for, but I wished it had less miles. I bought mine with 104K, but I could kick myself for turning down the few rigs I found with 30,XXX garage kept miles on them because I thought the price was too high. I found a locked 96 in Connecticut with only 28,000 miles on it. If I had to do it over again, I would have shelled out the cash and picked up the low mileage rig.

I keep my vehicles for a LONG time, so finding one with low miles would have been awesome.

Of course, there are benefits to having a rig that you didn't pay much for, like not feeling all that bad when you wheel it and it gets all dirty and bruised.

 

[woody]

If you don't buy #2, let me know.....

 

[semlin]

only thing with #2 is the noteworthy need for a rad flush makes me wary of a gunked up radiator makes me wary of overheating makes me wary of the head gasket. I assume you are aware of the problems that can arise if toyota red coolant mixes with regular green coolant.

on the other hand, I don't like the emerald green much...

 

[lovetoski]

I think the relative condition of each truck should weigh heavily into your decision. Yea, all the fluids need to be changed in either case. But engine condition (HG esp) front axles, brakes, etc can all add up quickly to more than the diff in purchase price. If they are the same condition, then given being short on funds, go with the cheaper one. It'll still last a heck of a long time!

 

[mot]

I'd get the second one.... just so I wouldn't get stuck with GREEN! ;p

 

[cruiserdan]

The gold one will have cloth guts. The green one will almost certainly have leather. I am not saying one is better than the other just letting you know. If the gold one has leather it IS NOT ORIGINAL and I would stay away from it. If it is still cloth and you want cloth over leather buy the gold one.

D-

 

[woody]

gold automatedly has cloth? really....hhhhmmmmm....damn, I like the champagne color too....

 

[davegonz]

They both have the cloth interior. The cloth used in the 93 seems to hold up really well. The seats in my current 1993 look almost new.

 

[Gauge]

I prefer cloth over leather. Warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. More durable too.

 

[cruiserdan]

Green with cloth and locks is damn rare. Have you actually seen this vehicle in person?

Gold with locks is not as odd. Gold only came with a sable interior and leather was available only in grey at that time.

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

Damn C-Dan you are good!

What was the Toyota designer's name who picked the brown leather for the 94s?
















LOL....Taking some getting used to that color on my new 80

 

[davegonz]

CDAN, I have seen both trucks in person. I was suprised to see a green one in a 93 with cloth as well. It also had the Toyota brand keyless entry/remote.

david

 

[cruiserdan]

A rare vehicle indeed.

I'd get the green one then.

 

[e9999]

40K miles is worth more than $2K IMO