How to Find A Cruiser in Another State?

[CatchMoTrout]

Hi all,

I’m brand new to this forum but need some solid advice.

Been expanding my search for a 100 series cruiser, and have been widening my search away from Colorado into the west and am willing to travel for the right vehicle. I’m settled on a 100 series generally for the creature comforts and overlanding capabilities. I also have a GX already, and it would be so easy to just have two 2uzfe’s in the garage.

Does anyone have experience with the following:
- How do you coordinate a PPI from out of state?
- What would make you pull the trigger and buy that plane ticket with only one way back?
- Is 16 - 20k reasonable for for an out of state cruiser in the west? (200k ish miles)
- Is it reasonable to have 2 or 3 cruisers ready to be lined up to see? Unfortunately don’t have infinite time or money.

I probably have WAY more questions, but any tips from those who have done it before would be awesome. I know I need to be able to walk away from any vehicle and not get attached. But there’s so many unknowns here.

 

[aging fleet]

I've done the fly and drive thing a handful of times, my 40 came from Seattle and my 100 was at a dealer in Wichita Kansas. I get pretty specific about what I want and don't want with used cars so my searches often need to stretch out of state.

I've never done a PPI, always just looked them over myself in-person. If I were to, there are lots of places that will inspect used cars on-site or you can ask the owner to take the car to a mechanic in their area to have the PPI done (on your dime). I think $16-$20k is a great budget, there should be a lot of good 100s in that price range.

Learn as much as you can about the common problems, where they rust, and the maintenance schedules. I've had my 100 for about 12 years and it's been fantastic, but they do require maintenance and some of it is expensive even if you're doing the work yourself. Don't get left holding the bag for someone else's deferred maintenance. Only other piece of advice is always be willing to fly back home if it's not the right one.

 

[x8o8drifter]

Does anyone have experience with the following:
- How do you coordinate a PPI from out of state? (no idea, friend is a mechanic and did this for me)

- What would make you pull the trigger and buy that plane ticket with only one way back? Price/Condition

- Is 16 - 20k reasonable for for an out of state cruiser in the west? (200k ish miles) I picked up my 2000 LX for 6500 last year. No rust only real problem was the sunroof is stuck. 323k miles. And my friend just bought another one from TX in JAN for like 7-8k. 290k miles. So yes.

- Is it reasonable to have 2 or 3 cruisers ready to be lined up to see? Unfortunately don’t have infinite time or money. I'd think so depending on things like location.

 

[Trapper50cal]

One invaluable resource here on Mud is the Regional Clubhouses (Drop down menu at the top of the forum pages) If you become interested in an out-of-state Cruiser, post up in that area's corresponding Regional Clubhouse to see if a member here is willing to get "boots on the ground" to see the truck in person. Compensation can range from a case of beer to some folding cash via a paypal deposit. It helps to have a Cruiser enthusiast familiar with these rigs to be your eyes and ears to confirm or dispel claims made by the seller and look over documentation (title, service records, seller's ID, etc) Members in Regional Clubhouses can also recommend trusted, local-to-them shops for PPI so it's not just the yellow pages search (google) and crossing your fingers.

 

[Deflagrate]

Been expanding my search for a 100 series cruiser, and have been widening my search away from Colorado into the west and am willing to travel for the right vehicle.

You can expand that into Texas as well. Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, DFW are all within a days drive back to COS (though if you fly out the same day, it might be a really long day). Cars here generally have little rust. Also a lot of cars don't see much offroad, cause we ain't got much offroad here.

 

[Zuberg]

I'll just add that another option is to fly out to check it out in person and load it on a transport, then fly back. May cost you $1k more but when you add in time and gas costs it can even out pretty quick. This allows you possibly expand the search even further.

I did this flying to Texas from VA when I finally found the truck i wanted after a year long search. Loaded it on the transport truck and flew home same day. Was a crazy long day but I couldn't afford the 2 days of driving it home with kids and job.

 

[shane431]

You can expand that into Texas as well. Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, DFW are all within a days drive back to COS (though if you fly out the same day, it might be a really long day). Cars here generally have little rust. Also a lot of cars don't see much offroad, cause we ain't got much offroad here.

Agree. Texas has a lot of clean examples. I see some often if be interested in “if” I already didn’t have one. If you find one around DFW, let me know and I’ll have a look for some BBQ lunch as compensation!

 

[Trapper50cal]

You can expand that into Texas as well. Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, DFW are all within a days drive back to COS (though if you fly out the same day, it might be a really long day). Cars here generally have little rust. Also a lot of cars don't see much offroad, cause we ain't got much offroad here.

I remember driving from Durango to Sweetwater for some turkey hunting and we felt pretty good finally crossing into Texas...we weren't even halfway there. Texas is huge.

 

[Deflagrate]

I remember driving from Durango to Sweetwater for some turkey hunting and we felt pretty good finally crossing into Texas...we weren't even halfway there. Texas is huge.

I was following the convoy to Solid Axle Summit last year and we couldn't even make it out of Texas the first day.

Also took that same drive (Sweetwater to Durango) on our way to Ouray. That stretch of Texas is easily the worst part of Texas I've driven through (though I'm sure staying on I20 to Midland/Odessa isn't any better).

 

[GTV]

I get pretty specific about what I want and don't want with used cars so my searches often need to stretch out of state.

This.

Both of my vehicles were bought out of state and sight unseen. Flew out and drove home. It's a great way to get to know each other.

 

[CatchMoTrout]

Agree. Texas has a lot of clean examples. I see some often if be interested in “if” I already didn’t have one. If you find one around DFW, let me know and I’ll have a look for some BBQ lunch as compensation!

Thanks Shane! Appreciate your recommendations. This is solid advice. If I do come to Tx for a cruiser, I will definitely hit you up for some help!

I've done the fly and drive thing a handful of times, my 40 came from Seattle and my 100 was at a dealer in Wichita Kansas. I get pretty specific about what I want and don't want with used cars so my searches often need to stretch out of state.

I've never done a PPI, always just looked them over myself in-person. If I were to, there are lots of places that will inspect used cars on-site or you can ask the owner to take the car to a mechanic in their area to have the PPI done (on your dime). I think $16-$20k is a great budget, there should be a lot of good 100s in that price range.

Learn as much as you can about the common problems, where they rust, and the maintenance schedules. I've had my 100 for about 12 years and it's been fantastic, but they do require maintenance and some of it is expensive even if you're doing the work yourself. Don't get left holding the bag for someone else's deferred maintenance. Only other piece of advice is always be willing to fly back home if it's not the right one.

Thanks for the lengthy reply. This is super helpful. Love how helpful the members here are.

This.

Both of my vehicles were bought out of state and sight unseen. Flew out and drove home. It's a great way to get to know each other.

Enough said. Lol. Glad I’m thinking the same way.