How many miles are too much...

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BigTiger93

BigTiger93

Joined
Jan 23, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
11
Location
NC
Watching, reading and talking to as many people as I can as I learn more about getting a vehicle I can enjoy both as a daily driver and offroad on weekends. I have decided to try and purchase an LC100 / LX470. While I understand they are tanks, what would be the highest number of miles I should consider? Obviously, there are so many factors that go into the decision. Assuming it is a clean vehicle, is a 2004-06 vehicle with 220k-250k miles crazy to consider? Thanks for any help on this!
 
No that’s no crazy to consider. If it’s in good condition then mileage doesn’t matter. It’s isually better to get one with higher mileage because more expensive maintenance is usually already done, the price gets lower and lower and I think they are more likely to drive and run better if they have been driven a lot. Low mileage LC/LX are expensive and overrated.
 
All depends on your budget. Get the newest and lowest miles you can responsibility afford. When I bought my 100 I wanted to own it for along time (10+ years) so I personally decided how much cash I wanted to spend and then shopped around and figured out that if I waited for a deal that would get me in the sub 140k range.
 
Buy the newest, cleanest truck you can afford. If its clean and service history is there I would not have a problem with anything up to around 275k.
There are trucks out there with 150k that are trashed, and there are 300k mile garage queens... Take your pic. For me condition and service history trumps mileage any day.
 
there are trucks with 200+k miles that saw almost no maintenance, but look great. The owner still wants $12k, and the sucker who buys it will see an avalanche of work that has to be done (and now you have $20k into the truck). Like others have said, maintenance records are key.
 
Thanks for the feedback so far. I am trying to stay sub $9000 on the purchase (hopefully this is realistic). Then spend money for the build. I will focus on the maintenance records for sure.
 
habakkuk007 said:
there are trucks with 200+k miles that saw almost no maintenance, but look great. The owner still wants $12k, and the sucker who buys it will see an avalanche of work that has to be done (and now you have $20k into the truck). Like others have said, maintenance records are key.
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Can confirm, I was that sucker :clap: FWIW I bought a 260k mile 03 LX for $7k. A year later I've put close to $9k into it. Don't be like me!
 
I would shoot for 150k miles and expect to get to 300k without anything substantial (trans replacement, diff gears replacement) but will likely have to do bushings in the front end, rack and pinion, waterpump, tbelt, and coil packs on anything you buy. So, plan accordingly.

Unfortunately, there is no amount of maintenance that will eliminate wearing of gear teeth and rubbing surfaces. I would expect all those items to easily hit 300k mi if they were properly maintained (I've read that toyota engineers designed these rigs with a service life of 300k miles).
 
2002TLCyes said:
You put 9K into it? Are you saying you had to do 9k worth of necessary repairs? What repairs were they if I may ask?
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I would say $5k was necessary - stuff like t-belt, battery, axles, baselining fluids, windshield, fan bracket, AHC globes and pump, replacing a/c compressor and condenser, tires, etc.
 
I bought mine with 215K on the clock a few years back and am approaching 250K now. A new alternator, muffler and thermostat have been the only "required" maintenance items. The sticker in the engine bay showed the timing belt had been done at 180K, but I couldn't be sure. So since I was chasing an 'almost' overheating gremlin I just decided to do the timing belt. I should have used the K.I.S.S. methodology since it turned out to be a 15 year old thermostat that was barely opening. But now I know, for sure, when the timing belt, tensioner, thermostat and waterpump were all replaced. It was clear the tensioner and thermostat were original. Dumb when the whole kit is sub $200.Otherwise everything is working as it should.

Also I do all my own work so costs will be WAAAAAY lower for me. Total spent so far is sub $700 over 30K miles (~3 years).
 
Just a data point. Recently bought a '98 with 94K mi. One owner, older gentlemen always in Alabama, who appears to have changed oil regularly but not a whole lot else unless there was a problem that required attention. Interior and exterior in above average shape for age. Paid $12K which I though was a decent deal if not a bit overpriced considering the amount of work I felt I should sink into it early on. So far, we've done tires, brakes, valve gasket, timing belt, etc., spark plugs and wiring, radiator, every fluid and hose changed/replaced and other misc stuff. Spent $6K on that since I'm neither a mechanic nor have time. So, $18K. Perhaps I'm the sucker, who knows. Hopefully she lasts a long time...
 
Condition trumps all. Inspection is key. Anything can be fixed, to like new condition. The one thing that can't be changed is miles.

Just Don't Buy Rust ;)
 
I bought my '05 LX470 with 220K for $11K with fresh timing belt and new radiator done the day before delivery. Huge stack (54+ records) of dealer maintenance and inspections. Everything worked/works perfectly, even the AHC (until I ripped it out). Truck was incredibly filthy but cleaned up really, really well. The only things I needed to do for 'repairs' were very minor- filters, heater Ts, some blown light bulbs in the dash, etc.

My last one, a 2000 LC, met an early demise at 240K- was in excellent mechanical shape, but I'd put about $6k into maintenance alone and only paid $6K for the truck itself. Would have driven it cross-country in a second and never thought twice.

The one before that, 99 LX, died @ 250K due to major front end trauma. Had just completed a 10 hour road trip with nary a hiccup. I drove that truck all over the south east and mid-atlantic regions with no hesitation.

I intend to have at least one of these in my garage or at my disposal at any point in time. They're work horses and as long as you maintain them, they'll run as long as you want to. This is also coming from an owner of a 345k mile '85 MB 300D- one of the most bulletproof cars of all time. I'd trust my LX over my 300D in a pinch.
 
Maintenance is key. I just recently purchased a 1998 with 342,000 miles for $3000. It has some rust issues but it's not to far gone. The previous owner took it to the dealership for everything to include airing up the tires. Lots of parts have been replaced based off of recommended maintenance. The truck runs super strong and I had my local mechanic look it over for any issues.
 
I bought a 99 LX with 282K. It had an ample amount of service records. I figured being 20 years old with this many miles, almost all of the rubber and mounts on the truck need replacing.

So far I’ve replaced the Front Diff Mounts, the engine mounts, transmission mount, Steering rack bushings, lower ball joints, upper ball joint boots, front hub bearings,
re-booted the cv’s, etc.

I’ve also replaced the power steering pump and plan on doing the timing belt service soon.

Like others have said, maintenance history is key. I would absolutely not be scared of a high mileage cruiser with a good amount of service records.

Of course this is keeping in mind you are mechanically inclined and have a good amount of tools on hand. Labor costs are expensive depending on where you go. Just my two cents.
 
Worth mentioning: The biggest reason I personally would have shopped for a lower mileage truck, is the knowledge from totalling 2 of them that insurance companies will bone you on a payout. They'll look at your 150k+ mileage vehicle and assume it's scrap. It took weeks of fighting and condescending emails to get even remotely close to a payout that would cover the money I had put into the truck that same fiscal quarter.

But having said that, my latest had nearly a quarter million on it at purchase so take that with a grain of salt.
 
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I bought a 2004 LX470 back in Nov 2018 that had 243,000 miles on it (now approaching 247k). One owner with all records. Southern car, rust free, everything works except for AHC; PO disabled and put in standard suspension. Paid $9k and put ~$2k in maintenance and some upgrades on it. The mileage never scared me as PO had all service records. This is my 3rd 100 series and I also have a 2017 LC. I drive this one more than I drive the 2017. As others have mentioned, maintenance is key...
 
Bought 98 LX 470 with 238K miles and a mile long list of service history at the same dealership since new. Had some body rust but frame as clean as a whistle! Paid only $2500 since the front was sitting on the bump stops. Since then I have spent close to $7k on repairs and safety upgrades. The worst one was the brake booster assembly at $2k :eek:
Other fixes were:
Replace ball joints
Replace AHC with conventional suspension
New tires
Rear A/C lines
Rear brake line

With some upgrades and some cosmetic stuff, I am about $11k into the truck. It has been dead reliable, sits outside in sub zero temps, cranks right up and goes through 2 feet deep piles of snow with ease. Despite dismal gas consumption, I drive it way more than my other cars.
 
At your budget of $9k I would ignore mileage entirely. As @2001LC states, condition trumps all. Avoid rust and find something clean. If the motor sounds solid and quiet and it seems to have been cared for, I'd buy a rig with 400k miles.

I bought my 99 about 6 years ago when it had 190k miles with minimal service records. It's been great. 267k miles now and I don't expect it to give up before I'm ready to upgrade to a 200 anyways (4-10 years).
 
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