Decisions, decisions: '07 FJ Cruiser vs '01 LX 470

[ShottsUZJ100]

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.

Ya, the 4.7 is not free wheeling so you HAVE to do the belt.

That's my point in all of this. If it's a stretch for a buyer to "do it all (90K service)" when they buy the vehicle, then they don't have to. They can do the T-belt and wait on the rest. If they have the dough...they can do it all.

I know this is "rediculous".

 

[Trunk Monkey]

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.

Interesting, because I based my decision to replace not off Mud but off the recommend of the person doing the work, a Toyota Master Tech with 10 years of experience that now works for Toyota Corporate training techs.

 

[pint]

Interesting, because I based my decision to replace not off Mud but off the recommend of the person doing the work, a Toyota Master Tech with 10 years of experience that now works for Toyota Corporate training techs.

X2!..well except for the part about becoming a Toyota Corp training tech.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Interesting, because I based my decision to replace not off Mud but off the recommend of the person doing the work, a Toyota Master Tech with 10 years of experience that now works for Toyota Corporate training techs.

I hear ya. If done again I might just throw the pump in. Depends on what else I blew money on at the time. I'm the do it all at once type of dude...typically.

But on the 100 especially (80's not included) it's amazing how many things you can actually put off without harm or failure.

 

[spressomon]

Interesting, because I based my decision to replace not off Mud but off the recommend of the person doing the work, a Toyota Master Tech with 10 years of experience that now works for Toyota Corporate training techs.

Yeah...but what would a "Toyota Master Tech" know? WAFTABOOG.

 

[willgabriel]

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. YMMV.

Well, I'm all for that!

Otherwise, I appreciate all the solid info (so is the '99 better than the '01 based on TRAC or is it worse?) as well as the witty banter peppered with a little friendly feudin' ...

Here's the latest:

1. The '99 LX470 (champagne; 59k miles): No movement by the dealer from $16.5k. I think that is too high though I like the mileage and color... Why?

2. Because ...

a. I have located a one-owner 2004 V8 SR5 4X4 4Runner (champagne; 63k miles) for $15.9 (and that's the price before I negotiate with the non-Toyota, indy dealer).

b. I have also located a 2006 V8 Limited 4X4 4Runner (tan; 59k miles) loaded (only lacking Nav and third seat) for $20k (and again, that is before I negotiate with the Toyota dealer).

3. The 2001 LX470 (white; 88k miles): The Lexus dealer has met my asking price of $18k. Of course, they will add their $399 doc fees too. With t,t, and l it will be about $19,500 out the door.

Okay, I know this is an opinion board; and everyone has their biases. While option 1. is out right now because it is overpriced, I am having a solid internal debate regarding the 4Runners in 2 and the LX470 in 3.

Thoughts (and monetary donations) appreciated!

 

[4Peanut]

Our '03 100 replaced a '96 4Runner that we had for nearly 10 years and put 200,000 miles on [we bought it with 75,000] before it was totaled by an uninsured driver. We had no plans to replace the 4Runner anytime soon. I loved that truck and thought I wanted another 4Runner...test drove V6's, V8's, third row, no third row, nav, no nav, etc., etc. Once I drove the 100 all thoughts of a 4Runner seemed to disappear. The LC/LX is in a class of its own.

This thread is now three pages long so forgive me if this has already been covered. What have you actually test driven?

Based on my recent and somewhat similar options, go with option 3. You will not be sorry.

 

[willgabriel]

. Once I drove the 100 all thoughts of a 4Runner seemed to disappear. The LC/LX is in a class of its own.

This thread is now three pages long so forgive me if this has already been covered. What have you actually test driven?

Based on my recent and somewhat similar options, go with option 3. You will not be sorry.

Yeah, I am surprised (and thankful for the info contained within) this thread has gone to three pages.

I have not driven a 100 series though I have had two 80 series. I have driven the Lexus version of the 4Runner (GX?). I have not driven the 2003+ 4Runner. I have driven the FJC (nice, but ....). So, the appeal of the 4Runner is without driving it, but riding in several plus the fact I can get a newer vehicle with similar miles and features (not in the same category as a '01 LX of course). The '01 LX at $18k seems like a good deal though, and there is nothing to not like ...

 

[4Peanut]

Am I the only one that is surprised we've travelled this far together and you haven't test driven a 100 Series [or 4Runner]?! I suppose it's only been four days since you started this thread [I can't believe it myself], but you're emailing purchase offers to multiple dealerships. You need to get out there and drive. The test drives will narrow your choices quickly.

 

[Marco7]

Yeah, I am surprised (and thankful for the info contained within) this thread has gone to three pages.

I have not driven a 100 series though I have had two 80 series. I have driven the Lexus version of the 4Runner (GX?). I have not driven the 2003+ 4Runner. I have driven the FJC (nice, but ....). So, the appeal of the 4Runner is without driving it, but riding in several plus the fact I can get a newer vehicle with similar miles and features (not in the same category as a '01 LX of course). The '01 LX at $18k seems like a good deal though, and there is nothing to not like ...

I hope the tranny is solid for you, if you get it.
A $3500 to $4500 repair bill after a large purchase would suck.
What month was it mftr'd? I remember reading here or on club lexus that most of the issues were on vehicles mftr'd up to June of '01, IIRC. Sometime in the '01 model year, they corrected the faulty part with a different mftr. I believe it was a shim or something.

 

[willgabriel]

Am I the only one that is surprised we've travelled this far together and you haven't test driven a 100 Series [or 4Runner]?! I suppose it's only been four days since you started this thread [I can't believe it myself], but you're emailing purchase offers to multiple dealerships. You need to get out there and drive. The test drives will narrow your choices quickly.

Yes, I will be driving both before a final decision is made. Time has been tight with work and rehab from an ankle injury. Right now, I am basing my choice on 1. driving the FJC (I drove it; it was okay). 2. previous ownership of 80 series, and 3. Riding in a 2006 4Runner numerous times with praise given to it by friends who own one, and the Toyota mechanics that see them.

Negotiating with the dealers by email is my starting point strategy as the vehicle are 150 miles away. I want to drive the car, and have money in hand, and then offer a bit less than the email negotiated price. I think a best deal will happen that way.

Now, what of this concern about the 2001 LX axle? Legit or not?

 

[2melow]

My advise? If you are looking at V-8 4-Runners now at $20K - - my suggestion to you is keep looking. It sounds like you may be a impulsive buyer (which is OK) but trust me and take 4Peanuts advice and drive some more stuff.

You sound like me honestly, and my wife is the more patient one. FYI we ended up with a 2003 LC loaded with Nav/DVD for $20,600 only 72K. Drive a loaded 4-Runner then a 2003 there is no comparison. FYI we were looking at 98/99's, then 01/02's like you and settled on a 2003. The deals are very good right now not to jump on it.

Here is some info I posted a few days ago on our 2003 buying experience.
IH8MUD.com - View Single Post - Whats the going rate for a 2003 100?

 

[4Peanut]

Drive a loaded 4-Runner then a 2003 there is no comparison.

AMEN!

Also, even given the excellent condition of our '03 100, we did not leave the dealership [Honda/Nissan] without purchasing a nearly bumper-to-bumper warranty. It gives us peace of mind for the next three years.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Yeah...but what would a "Toyota Master Tech" know? WAFTABOOG.

I know it's hard...but try to be objective? So you think all TMT's will give the same advice to everyone on every vehicle. You live on Mars?

 

[BManning`]

I hope the tranny is solid for you, if you get it.
A $3500 to $4500 repair bill after a large purchase would suck.
What month was it mftr'd? I remember reading here or on club lexus that most of the issues were on vehicles mftr'd up to June of '01, IIRC. Sometime in the '01 model year, they corrected the faulty part with a different mftr. I believe it was a shim or something.

Time for yet another public service announcement that Internet forums are extreme concentrations of information; some (cough, Marco, cough) fall into a belief that if it happened to 8 guys on an internet forum, it's going to happen to every single vehicle of that year range.

Pick a big Toyota dealer, call a service writer and ask how many transmissions they've replaced on Land Cruisers of any year. The answer might surprise you. I not trying to call anyone out but IMO there's no reason to scare someone away from 00-01s over the fact that probably 1.7% of them had trans issues.

 

[spressomon]

Time for yet another public service announcement that Internet forums are extreme concentrations of information; some (cough, Marco, cough) fall into a belief that if it happened to 8 guys on an internet forum, it's going to happen to every single vehicle of that year range.

Pick a big Toyota dealer, call a service writer and ask how many transmissions they've replaced on Land Cruisers of any year. The answer might surprise you. I not trying to call anyone out but IMO there's no reason to scare someone away from 00-01s over the fact that probably 1.7% of them had trans issues.

True. But if I was looking to buy my first Hundy (or any series of any vehicle) and didn't know anything very specific about idiosyncrasies of the production years I would want to hear about it to allow me to weigh it accordingly: Just like John and his fixation on TRAC/VSC. Might be meaningless info to some but to others it might be important; it would be better the inquirer had as much information given so that he/she can filter it to their tastes; not the other way around .

 

[pman]

Time for yet another public service announcement that Internet forums are extreme concentrations of information; some (cough, Marco, cough) fall into a belief that if it happened to 8 guys on an internet forum, it's going to happen to every single vehicle of that year range.

Pick a big Toyota dealer, call a service writer and ask how many transmissions they've replaced on Land Cruisers of any year. The answer might surprise you. I not trying to call anyone out but IMO there's no reason to scare someone away from 00-01s over the fact that probably 1.7% of them had trans issues.

1.7% seems high to me, I think its barely under 1% of the 100s that had the bad trannies......atleast thats what I read on one the threads, I could be wrong though.

Also I thought that the bad trannies were in between 07/00 and 12/00, granted an 01 could have a bad tanny because it may have been built in 11/00 or something.

 

[willgabriel]

My advise? If you are looking at V-8 4-Runners now at $20K - - my suggestion to you is keep looking. It sounds like you may be a impulsive buyer (which is OK) but trust me and take 4Peanuts advice and drive some more stuff.

You sound like me honestly, and my wife is the more patient one. FYI we ended up with a 2003 LC loaded with Nav/DVD for $20,600 only 72K. Drive a loaded 4-Runner then a 2003 there is no comparison. FYI we were looking at 98/99's, then 01/02's like you and settled on a 2003. The deals are very good right now not to jump on it.

Here is some info I posted a few days ago on our 2003 buying experience.
IH8MUD.com - View Single Post - Whats the going rate for a 2003 100?

Solid advice, and much-appreciated. I lean toward a 100 (and the '01 LX470 mentioned in this article). I think my issue is not as much being impulsive, but being absolutely sure (I have been looking and considering for a month though my serious engagement with dealers only began two weeks ago).

I am getting rid of my 2000 540i M Sport/manual as it is not the most practical choice for me considering my needs for space, and on and off road as well as bad weather capabilities. As such, I want to make a choice I won't regret. The 100 seems best for all the reasons given, but I have never owned a 4Runner, and have heard many good things about them too.

So, as it stands, the 2001 LX seems to be the choice, but I need to adequately consider the '05-'06 V8 4Runner at least for comparison' sake that I will have peace of mind when driving the LX for the next several years or more...

Hope that makes sense ... thanks again for all the great info/advice. Oh, as for the TRAC, the 2001 LX470 in question was manufactured in 02/01 ... it doesn't seem to be one of the "bad" 1% ... at least according to the Lexus dealer.

 

[hoser]

There's a nice '03 100 w/ 89k miles in the classifieds section for $18.9k right now. On the west coast though...

 

[BMWSTOY]

Save yourself all the research time and effort and confusion. You can better spend your time focused on one vehicle. I had sold my 2nd Gen 4runner and was looking and driving 3rd and 4th Gen 4runners and evaluating pricing too at one time, then I drove a 100 LC and a 470 and I was then only spening my time on the newest one I could get for my budget.

Advise on here is fantastic if you end up with a hundy, but take opinions for what you pay for them.