Live and Learn Brotha. What you paid for yours even in it's condition sounds like a steal when I look at my bill of sale from a couple years ago.
Help: I paid too much for my cruiser!
- Thread starter Dibsen
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you gotta convince yourself that rehashing the purchase after the fact isn't gonna make it go away or make you feel better about it I guess.
Just force yourself to forget how much you paid about it and look forward to fixing it and enjoying it.
(Just don't forget the lesson for next time...
)
Just force yourself to forget how much you paid about it and look forward to fixing it and enjoying it.
(Just don't forget the lesson for next time...
)
True! I just sold a set of 3rd row seats on Ebay for $400 but they can be had for less. And FWIW, shipping will run you around $100. That's what it cost me to ship from Boston to Atlanta via UPS Ground.
Good luck with the recovery
Run with it... fix the things you hate and learn to live with the others. Front bumpers pop up occasionally, the seatbelt is available new (or find a clean used). Paint can be fixed if your really wanting it fixed.
I too have a set of 3rd road seats available (tan) here in SLC and shipping is a cinch for us. LMK
I too have a set of 3rd road seats available (tan) here in SLC and shipping is a cinch for us. LMK
Life is too short - make your peace with it or trade it in and chalk up the loss of money to a good lesson learned. I have found it best to never buy ANYTHING before waiting at least 24 hours to think it over - an impulse buyer is a salesman's best friend.
Sry to hear about the your LC, but hey, look at the bright side, u are a proud owner of 100 series land cruiser.
If you didn’t like it you shouldn’t have buy it, I waited some time to find the right one. But not to worry,
Buying a car is half of an experience fixing it up and having fun with it is more important. All issues that you
mentioned can be fixed in no time. Drive your LC and never think twice about it (except at the gas station) .
I hope you’ll enjoy your new beauty
If you didn’t like it you shouldn’t have buy it, I waited some time to find the right one. But not to worry,
Buying a car is half of an experience fixing it up and having fun with it is more important. All issues that you
mentioned can be fixed in no time. Drive your LC and never think twice about it (except at the gas station
) . I hope you’ll enjoy your new beauty
BTW - what year is it and what are the miles?
I think most people here could easily say to themselves they "overpaid" for the 100 because when you compare it to other vehicles of the same vintage they are much more expensive. For example, I bought a 2001 BMW X5 off lease 3 years old with 30k on it in 2004. I babied it, took amazing care of it and it literally looked new when I got rid of it this year with only about 100k miles on it. That car new was $62k and I was able to unload it in March for $8.5k and felt I got a good deal selling it for that much compared with what they're worth (after dropping about $3k in repairs in the 4 months prior to selling it).
Then in August I bought a 1998 Land Cruiser that was $44k new according to the registration that had 109k on it and wasn't nearly as clean as my X5 was, and I paid over $11k for it! I could easily think that was overpaying when comparing the two, but I really don't care to be honest because, at least in Denver, I still got a good deal. I think it will still hold it's value better than the BMW, but even if it doesn't it still affords me a lot more pleasure and recreation than the BMW did (although it was very fun to drive).
Besides, you'll lose more money in fuel over the course of ownership than depreciation by a long shot
I think most people here could easily say to themselves they "overpaid" for the 100 because when you compare it to other vehicles of the same vintage they are much more expensive. For example, I bought a 2001 BMW X5 off lease 3 years old with 30k on it in 2004. I babied it, took amazing care of it and it literally looked new when I got rid of it this year with only about 100k miles on it. That car new was $62k and I was able to unload it in March for $8.5k and felt I got a good deal selling it for that much compared with what they're worth (after dropping about $3k in repairs in the 4 months prior to selling it).
Then in August I bought a 1998 Land Cruiser that was $44k new according to the registration that had 109k on it and wasn't nearly as clean as my X5 was, and I paid over $11k for it! I could easily think that was overpaying when comparing the two, but I really don't care to be honest because, at least in Denver, I still got a good deal. I think it will still hold it's value better than the BMW, but even if it doesn't it still affords me a lot more pleasure and recreation than the BMW did (although it was very fun to drive).
Besides, you'll lose more money in fuel over the course of ownership than depreciation by a long shot
I'm putting on a new bumper next week and will have a grey factory bumper for sale/dump/possibly keep...Where are you located? I'm in Southern Cali
My last 2 cars I did just that.. Flew from Minnesota to Florida to buy a Subaru Forester XT off of ebay (dealer) NEVER had one issue with it in almost 3yrs... beat the snot out of it too...
and my current Landcruiser I flew to Texas and bought it knowing it had no stereo (long ride home luckily I took my ipod) and again... Ive put a set of shocks in by choice and a stereo... bought it with 172K and it is about to cross 210K NO ISSUES
and my current Landcruiser I flew to Texas and bought it knowing it had no stereo (long ride home luckily I took my ipod) and again... Ive put a set of shocks in by choice and a stereo... bought it with 172K and it is about to cross 210K NO ISSUES
On a smaller scale, I have the same situation compared to a Saab I had. I figured that if after four years I just set the LC on fire and paid someone to haul away the carcass I would lose less money than I did over the course of four years owning the Saab.
I really did like that car though.
Lol. I laugh with you, not at you when I read this for the first time with your bad list, meh.
I've been on this board for almost ten years as lurker, then registered, then silver star and now a vendor and talk to many on this board daily. I'm not a mud guy, don't belong to any clubs or LCD gangs other than the TLCA but the one thing I have in common with everyone here is my love for the breed. My first car was a '73 FST my bad bought the weekend I found it in the truck trader as I had looked for years, not to buy but it was like the JCPenney catalog and I drooled over the tools. I had just turned 15 and my best friend to this day had his license and drive it home for me. I tossed the canvas top and frame and my first purchase was a black Best top.
I rebuilt the carb in shop class, found out on my own to use a 2x4 across the roll bar to windshield to support the trans when I replaced the clutch before I ever drive it.
I sanded and primed it that summer. I also replaced the rear sill from a section of channel from welding class. Then I did the stupidest mod ever, I cut the fenders along the tub, bolted the hood to the apron and pressed the pins out of the hood hinges and made a tilt front end and every other time I tilted the nose the tow hook blew out a headlight.
Then the day I turned 16 my dad sent me to Millar's tires and I got my mud skinnies and I hit the paper pulp fields by the HS and wheeled the s*** out of it from that day and every day in the mountains camping and fishing nearly every weekend with buddies.
Then HS drags came up and I removed the top, folded down the windshield and hit the strip. In '87 I took 3rd place at Woodburn drags running 18.88's all day long.
Then I sold it two years later as I found speed working for Mazda World and built an '77 RX3SP in '88 and was running 13.30's at 17 years old. No idea how I survived my youth as I was sideways everyplace.
Then I found a guy that loved my car and I loved his '82 FJ40 and traded strait across. It was one of the nicest ones I've owned to this day.
I haven't told that little piece if history in a long time. But my point is for me that I have deep history for LC's and three years ago almost to the day I was looking for a mint 80 and stumbled across my 100. It had 199k and filthy beyond belief. To my amazement the history was baffling as every recommendation that the service writer/tech recommended they bought. I mean everything. Two 90k's, new Toyota CV's, brakes, all services, wipers and a book of receipts.
(I'm a service writer) I made an appointment to make the trek to go see it, I took my master tech and a floor jack and drive to the cascade mountain range in southern Oregon about 4 hours from my office.
We rolled up to their business which was motors, chains and sprockets for lumber mills. It was a large place with highend cars out front. Lexus big body, XLR and two AMG Mercedes amongst trucks. This was odd to me, but after meeting with the owners it was clear. They are company vehicles that were driven by the owners in filthy overalls. All the high end cars, filthy on the inside!
So we jacked it up and went over the truck, it needed nothing (mechanically). In fact he had the oil changed and front brakes a few days prior.
It had all kinds of dents around it (had my paintless dent guy take them all out.
Bumpers were all scratched, I've replaced the front with a Slee.
Windshield was cracked, replaced it and trim.
Tint was trashed, has it all replaced.
Roof was slow, I cleaned and lubed it.
The windows were slow, I tore each one apart and went through them, replaced speakers and every panel clip.
The carpet was beyond cleaning, the seats were gray (I have tan interior) the seat belts dark gray and wouldn't retract. See my thread as they are as new.
Replaced front carpet, steering wheel, shifter, patterned the leather seats and replaced all the seat covers. Removed all the wood trim. Gutted the whole inside besides the headliner and dash. Washed the whole inside, replaced every clip, and cleaned every part till it was as new.
I feel I'm very lucky buying my truck as I was able to refresh it and its been nothing less than the best truck I've ever owned. I have no idea what's its worth, or care as I don't think I'd sell it unless someone gave me stupid cash. I have zero complaints and kicked its dirty ass.
One day ill take some 2500 to the paint and get it polished up to new.
So yes I laugh as you could learn a lot from tackling it as I had mine. Nothing I read is a big issue. I'd strip the paint with dawn and a clay bar and then polish it with a good cleaner wax and orbital buffer.
I had no one that had build thread like mine when I started. I just couldn't handle how fawking dirty it was, but so happy I was driving a 100 series.
I've done a lot to it and continue to this day, not because it needs it, but because I'm making it mine.
Like others have said, look at my build thread and see the task I took on. Also I have 233k and my last oil change was 8k and I had no measurable oil consumption and oil still viable and not dark, simply amazing.
Best,
Shane
Typed on my iPhone so excuse the immured words and misspelling.
I've been on this board for almost ten years as lurker, then registered, then silver star and now a vendor and talk to many on this board daily. I'm not a mud guy, don't belong to any clubs or LCD gangs other than the TLCA but the one thing I have in common with everyone here is my love for the breed. My first car was a '73 FST my bad bought the weekend I found it in the truck trader as I had looked for years, not to buy but it was like the JCPenney catalog and I drooled over the tools. I had just turned 15 and my best friend to this day had his license and drive it home for me. I tossed the canvas top and frame and my first purchase was a black Best top.
I rebuilt the carb in shop class, found out on my own to use a 2x4 across the roll bar to windshield to support the trans when I replaced the clutch before I ever drive it.
I sanded and primed it that summer. I also replaced the rear sill from a section of channel from welding class. Then I did the stupidest mod ever, I cut the fenders along the tub, bolted the hood to the apron and pressed the pins out of the hood hinges and made a tilt front end and every other time I tilted the nose the tow hook blew out a headlight.
Then the day I turned 16 my dad sent me to Millar's tires and I got my mud skinnies and I hit the paper pulp fields by the HS and wheeled the s*** out of it from that day and every day in the mountains camping and fishing nearly every weekend with buddies.
Then HS drags came up and I removed the top, folded down the windshield and hit the strip. In '87 I took 3rd place at Woodburn drags running 18.88's all day long.
Then I sold it two years later as I found speed working for Mazda World and built an '77 RX3SP in '88 and was running 13.30's at 17 years old. No idea how I survived my youth as I was sideways everyplace.
Then I found a guy that loved my car and I loved his '82 FJ40 and traded strait across. It was one of the nicest ones I've owned to this day.
I haven't told that little piece if history in a long time. But my point is for me that I have deep history for LC's and three years ago almost to the day I was looking for a mint 80 and stumbled across my 100. It had 199k and filthy beyond belief. To my amazement the history was baffling as every recommendation that the service writer/tech recommended they bought. I mean everything. Two 90k's, new Toyota CV's, brakes, all services, wipers and a book of receipts.
(I'm a service writer) I made an appointment to make the trek to go see it, I took my master tech and a floor jack and drive to the cascade mountain range in southern Oregon about 4 hours from my office.
We rolled up to their business which was motors, chains and sprockets for lumber mills. It was a large place with highend cars out front. Lexus big body, XLR and two AMG Mercedes amongst trucks. This was odd to me, but after meeting with the owners it was clear. They are company vehicles that were driven by the owners in filthy overalls. All the high end cars, filthy on the inside!
So we jacked it up and went over the truck, it needed nothing (mechanically). In fact he had the oil changed and front brakes a few days prior.
It had all kinds of dents around it (had my paintless dent guy take them all out.
Bumpers were all scratched, I've replaced the front with a Slee.
Windshield was cracked, replaced it and trim.
Tint was trashed, has it all replaced.
Roof was slow, I cleaned and lubed it.
The windows were slow, I tore each one apart and went through them, replaced speakers and every panel clip.
The carpet was beyond cleaning, the seats were gray (I have tan interior) the seat belts dark gray and wouldn't retract. See my thread as they are as new.
Replaced front carpet, steering wheel, shifter, patterned the leather seats and replaced all the seat covers. Removed all the wood trim. Gutted the whole inside besides the headliner and dash. Washed the whole inside, replaced every clip, and cleaned every part till it was as new.
I feel I'm very lucky buying my truck as I was able to refresh it and its been nothing less than the best truck I've ever owned. I have no idea what's its worth, or care as I don't think I'd sell it unless someone gave me stupid cash. I have zero complaints and kicked its dirty ass.
One day ill take some 2500 to the paint and get it polished up to new.
So yes I laugh as you could learn a lot from tackling it as I had mine. Nothing I read is a big issue. I'd strip the paint with dawn and a clay bar and then polish it with a good cleaner wax and orbital buffer.
I had no one that had build thread like mine when I started. I just couldn't handle how fawking dirty it was, but so happy I was driving a 100 series.
I've done a lot to it and continue to this day, not because it needs it, but because I'm making it mine.
Like others have said, look at my build thread and see the task I took on. Also I have 233k and my last oil change was 8k and I had no measurable oil consumption and oil still viable and not dark, simply amazing.
Best,
Shane
Typed on my iPhone so excuse the immured words and misspelling.
What my rambling thread missed to state was, even though it was so ugly my dog wouldn't ride in it. I had a plan of attack by the time I got home and I'm lucky that I was the one to buy it as I have no buyers remorse. No one else thought that.
Also I was the only one to make the trek high into the mountains to look at a filthy 200k 100. And I offered them half of their asking and shook my hand.
Also I was the only one to make the trek high into the mountains to look at a filthy 200k 100. And I offered them half of their asking and shook my hand.
- Thread starter
- #35
Wow, first of all thanks for the kind words. Never thought this would have been such a hot topic.
As for the cruiser she is going to stick around, I've already started the cleaning process and already its looking a lot better.
As far as paying too much, I am more pissed at myself than the jerk salesman, or that crap dealership (Gatorland, FL), or anything else. I had been doing research, it started with 80 series, and I spent months searching ebay and CL. It was tough to find cruisers within 100 miles, let alone a good one. Drove out to one dealer in Pensacola and I get there and the guy is like, "it a piece but I couldn't tell you that over the phone, but it would make a good project." . Found another in Panama City, 100 series, arb frt bumper, AT tires, winch 220k on the clock. Called the seller, was going to meet up but then I got tied up. He was going to drive it out to me the he got tied up. Next time I called him to meet up he stopped answering, found out later it sold. Found another 100 in Atlanta really nice looking, good price, made offer over the phone, and before I could get up there, got a call, "guy is here with more than I am asking, have to sell, sorry." So I was starting to get fed up.
I think I am over it now. Got one, I'm happy, taking a trip next month.
Hopefully the next thred is about how much I love my "hundie" and how much fun we have out on the road with it.
As for the cruiser she is going to stick around, I've already started the cleaning process and already its looking a lot better.
As far as paying too much, I am more pissed at myself than the jerk salesman, or that crap dealership (Gatorland, FL), or anything else. I had been doing research, it started with 80 series, and I spent months searching ebay and CL. It was tough to find cruisers within 100 miles, let alone a good one. Drove out to one dealer in Pensacola and I get there and the guy is like, "it a piece but I couldn't tell you that over the phone, but it would make a good project." . Found another in Panama City, 100 series, arb frt bumper, AT tires, winch 220k on the clock. Called the seller, was going to meet up but then I got tied up. He was going to drive it out to me the he got tied up. Next time I called him to meet up he stopped answering, found out later it sold. Found another 100 in Atlanta really nice looking, good price, made offer over the phone, and before I could get up there, got a call, "guy is here with more than I am asking, have to sell, sorry." So I was starting to get fed up.
I think I am over it now. Got one, I'm happy, taking a trip next month.
Hopefully the next thred is about how much I love my "hundie" and how much fun we have out on the road with it.
That's the spirit... It all works out in the end.
Glad to hear you are turning this into a positive. I b**ch about selling a freaking nice new truck for my 100 all the time, but the truth is I do like her alot. It was just hard for me to go from something newer and very dialed in to a 9 year old vehicle that creaks and rattles like a bag of hammers. But, I've been chipping away at the squeaks and, like you, am learning to love her. Good luck and listen to the wise advice given here.
Dib, I also have a set of 3rd seats that are taking up room in my attic. If your ever up into the OBX gimmee a shout, I will let them go dirt cheap. I bought mine for 13k also, 117000 mile on it and appeared to be well maintained. After buying and driving 3 hrs home I figured it got around 8-9 mpg. No wonder they wanted to sell. After doing a little maintenance all was back to normal and it made one heck of a nice beach truck for us. We put 4800 miles on it this summer doing the northern east coast and next we are heading to the rockies for another month.
Well sounds like you got "educated". What you know now will pay you back years to come on your next cruiser purchase...maybe get that $4k back get wrenching and don't look back!
get wrenching and don't look back!
I had badly soiled seatbelts on a VW. I pulled them them out as far as they would go outside the car, shut the door on them to hold them in place, and used a small electric power washer to clean them. They came out new. I used a shop vac and the sun to dry them.