If they give you nothing.
Decisions, decisions: '07 FJ Cruiser vs '01 LX 470
- Thread starter willgabriel
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If they give you nothing.
- Thread starter
- #42
Well, Schotts, from what little I have read, you know your LX/LC's. You would take the deal at $18k whether they did the 90k service or not then? After t,t,l and their (absurd Lexus dealer) $399 doc fees, the OTD (out the door) price is closer to $20k (that's why I want them to throw in the 90k mile service) ...
It's your call regarding timing of the buy, more shopping and the like. If I found one in the condition I'd like (as you have) then my answer is YES.
Remember one thing here...this is forum crap. There's good and bad in forums. We all learn from others and we all decide what conclusions we draw. One big falacy in my opinion is the 90K service. Let's for a minite forget the forum BS and face the facts?
At 90K you NEED ONE thing...a timing belt. I got mine done at 85K for about $300. I did NOT change the water pump then. So you get the 2001, you ask them for a timing belt swap (NOT a 90K service) and while they're in there you offer to buy the water pump and they slap it in for 30-minutes labor cost). If they say no to both you only need to spend $300 at that time. You can spread out other "upgrades" when possible or where needed. Rarely does anything just quit in these trucks. You DON'T need to a 100-piece checklist at 90K and spend $1-2K.
What works for me? I now have 145K or well under the 175K point I'll need another T-belt swap. Before my next big trip I plan on swapping the water pumps just because it "might go". At that time I'll pop in a new T-belt. All's well. Maybe at some point I'll buy a new starter and heve it at home IN CASE the old one goes. OK, I might put it in before that new super-long trip.
Pace out your cash on maintenance. Don't get stuck into doing it "the forum way". Buy that '01 if you like it. Spend $300 on it then, and drive it. Learn it. See what might need to be done "next". Get new hoses in 3 months. A new drive belt next time. 120K you get iridium plugs. ENJOY IT. You'll knw WHEN it needs TLC.
Remember one thing here...this is forum crap. There's good and bad in forums. We all learn from others and we all decide what conclusions we draw. One big falacy in my opinion is the 90K service. Let's for a minite forget the forum BS and face the facts?
At 90K you NEED ONE thing...a timing belt. I got mine done at 85K for about $300. I did NOT change the water pump then. So you get the 2001, you ask them for a timing belt swap (NOT a 90K service) and while they're in there you offer to buy the water pump and they slap it in for 30-minutes labor cost). If they say no to both you only need to spend $300 at that time. You can spread out other "upgrades" when possible or where needed. Rarely does anything just quit in these trucks. You DON'T need to a 100-piece checklist at 90K and spend $1-2K.
What works for me? I now have 145K or well under the 175K point I'll need another T-belt swap. Before my next big trip I plan on swapping the water pumps just because it "might go". At that time I'll pop in a new T-belt. All's well. Maybe at some point I'll buy a new starter and heve it at home IN CASE the old one goes. OK, I might put it in before that new super-long trip.
Pace out your cash on maintenance. Don't get stuck into doing it "the forum way". Buy that '01 if you like it. Spend $300 on it then, and drive it. Learn it. See what might need to be done "next". Get new hoses in 3 months. A new drive belt next time. 120K you get iridium plugs. ENJOY IT. You'll knw WHEN it needs TLC.
- Thread starter
- #44
Yes, your reasonable method of replacing parts is the same one I have used in dealing with my 2000 BMW 540i. I have submitted a "I will come and give you money" offer to the Lexus dealer for the 2001 LX: $18k plus fees, t,t, and l. I also asked for the timing belt. If they will do the $18k (they had come down to $18.5), I will buy it. My indy BMW guy can do the timing belt for $250 if they won't throw that in ...
Like Shotts said, there is a lot of forum crap out there. He only did the timing belt at 90k. Toyota calls for more. Many people have had water pumps beginning to seep at 90k...mine was. Why not replace it when everything is torn open. At least check it out. It is less costly to do numerous small items once the engine is torn open, than to go back and do this here, and that there. I would rather do a more major PM once, and feel confident I can roll for another 90K. If you have an independent machanic you trust, you are way ahead of the game. I would negotiate the lowest price as is from Lexus, and let your guy see what needs done. Just my $.02...
Yeah...and the pesky tranny issues that have and continue to crop up with some '00 and '01's. What's TRAC worth to ya?
Hey John: When did you sell your 80?
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When did these things fly up in value? Literally 3 months ago, Lexus of Las Vegas had a 2001 LX470 (white) with 71k on it. They were asking $14,495. I looked at it. Came close to pulling the trigger, and didn't only because my LX470 is running fine (and won't die... which is getting to be a bad thing 
)
I think if you are patient, you can find better deals.
) I think if you are patient, you can find better deals.
- Thread starter
- #48
Good point, Roverrad. I have found an '01 LC in OKC for 16k. It has 106k miles and is being sold by an individual. As you said, the prices are all over the place ... patience is a buyer's best friend. I have also found a few '05 Limited (V8) 4Runners with 50k miles in the $19-20k price range. They would not be a bad option either (and the FJC is definitely out; LC/LX with some V8 4Runner closing fast ...).
When did these things fly up in value? Literally 3 months ago, Lexus of Las Vegas had a 2001 LX470 (white) with 71k on it. They were asking $14,495. I looked at it. Came close to pulling the trigger, and didn't only because my LX470 is running fine (and won't die... which is getting to be a bad thing
I think if you are patient, you can find better deals.
The lowest timeframe for LC values, especially later model 100 series, was November '08 to February '09. They seem to have crept up some since then although still quite a bit lower than pre-$4.50/gallon gas a year ago.
Exactly! I don't even look at 00 and 01 models because of that. Too much expense to take on after purchase, and there's usually no warning. Not a gambler, so I restrict my searches to 98/99 and 02+. Not to mention the paint issues with smoky topaz, and lately I've seen the same with some champagne colored models but to a lesser degree of severity.
True...and I share your "maintenance position" as well. When I bought each of my 80's I spent a boat load from the get-go (because I wanted to and could). Hell, over $10K went into my 97 in just a few months.
For some folks, spacing repairs out is not only necessary but could also be smart. For every mile we make our old parts stretch we save. The key is to get things done before failure or when it's bad for the vehicle.
Another forum scare. You know how few a failures have been reported in the US?
TRAC? On a dedicated trail rig like my 80's (that see literally no around town miles)...a few thousand in used condition. Upwards of $10K if you could buy one new. The gains of VSC and TRAC are immense in my book as I've experienced them first hand for 8+ years.
3-years ago and bought another one. Will have it forever. I have too much in it now to dump it for another 100. It hasn't been driven for about 6-weeks. I should rent it out.
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I, for one, believe in doing what's called for at the 90k and any PM you can do "while you're in there". It doesn't make any sense to replace the timing belt (on schedule) and not do the water pump while you've got the front end open. It would be dumb to pay to have only the timing belt done and risk the water pump going a short time later. Then you get to pay all the labor again, in addition to the parts you would have bought in the first place. Mine was seeping at 105k, glad I did it.
It's a personal preference on how you treat your vehicles and peace of mind. And it's a great negotiating piece for the purchase of a vehicle. I got $500 knocked off the price of my 100 because the tires needed to be replaced. Now, I was planning to put on 285's anyway, but I used it to my advantage. And a dealership maintenance item is perfcet, they can eat the markup in their labor and parts.
It's a personal preference on how you treat your vehicles and peace of mind. And it's a great negotiating piece for the purchase of a vehicle. I got $500 knocked off the price of my 100 because the tires needed to be replaced. Now, I was planning to put on 285's anyway, but I used it to my advantage. And a dealership maintenance item is perfcet, they can eat the markup in their labor and parts.
Not neccessarily true. It depends on the average life expectancy of the parts you're deciding to replace early (like the water pump).
So, with numerous reports of seeping/leaking water pumps from here, knowing it's a "leave you stranded" item, and the risk of having to pay for identical labor at a later date, you'd choose not to. That's fine - again - personal preference. There's no "not necessarily true" about it, it's opinion.
You can't (well you can if you want) take IH8MUD forum posts as gospel. I also seek advice from Parts Mgrs, Master Techs, and Shop Mngrs before I draw these unique decisions. In the water pump case I waited. And that's unique for me as I'm normally a "do it all guy". My pump still works.
So let's see....TPS is know to just quit all of a sudden. Should we all replace these every 60K or 90K miles JUST IN CASE? Rediculous! How about Brake Boosters? Every 90K JUST IN CASE? Rediculous. Check forum info, do other homework, make a decision.
IH8MUD sure ain't gospel except for the reality of one's posting and personal experience.
For informational purposes, here is what I paid about 3 weeks ago for my 90k "service", done at 99,450 miles. I had this done at a very trusted independent shop. Total parts cost: $641, total labor cost: $651. Inlcuded: timing belt, tensioner, tensioner roller, idler roller, water pump, thermostat, serpentine belt, seals, o rings. This was a "do it while you are in there" approach. I'm happy its done. Parts revealed they were in good shape and should have gone several thousand more miles, but like I said, its done.
Great buy! Can't beat it!
I can't believe "we" are talking about when parts should be replaced. It's common knowledge.
I'm not going to have my axle seals done because there is minor seepage (which is normal on a car at 10 years old).
If it goes, it goes. That's when you replace it. If the timing belt is getting bad, and you have a bug trip, then you replace it.
And John - "Ridiculous"
I'm not going to have my axle seals done because there is minor seepage (which is normal on a car at 10 years old).
If it goes, it goes. That's when you replace it. If the timing belt is getting bad, and you have a bug trip, then you replace it.
And John - "Ridiculous"
Yes...because you disagree. Impressive.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the LC/LX is like many/most other vehicles in that the condition of the timing belt cannot be checked visually—unlike a serpentine belt—without some disassembly of the engine. And then, you may as well replace it.
At this point, I feel like we should take up a collection for willgabriel and help him pull the trigger. I bought my '03 in May, and not a day has gone by that I didn't question if I could have paid less. But, I feel I paid a fair price, and I have been able to enjoy it—even when it's parked in the garage—every day since. YMMV.