I can't pick my first Toyota

[drbeau]

Thanks everyone. I think Slee said it all when he mentioned the cost of reliability/maintenance. I’m a young college student paying for my schooling and living on my own. I have a good job that gives me a good income, but I just don’t know if it’s enough. I could do my own wrenching, but I don’t have a ton of experience in it and I live in apartments. I could use my dad’s house, but I still don’t have the equipment to lift and engine or anything (I don’t know what would be involved in replacing the head gasket). And I didn’t realize the Birfs were a big problem. Unfortunately it seems like I’ll have to put money into both once I get them. As for the size problem, I’m 6’2” 230+ and I’m driving and ’86 300zx, so anything is an improvement as far as space goes.

Also, I'm looking to use this for trek-type off-roading in the desert or montaints. This mostly consists of lots of sand, some canyon driving, and a little montain climbing. I not the doing-80-through-the-desert kind of off-roader but I don't know how the LC will be in the sand. Again thanks for the help. Some of this stuff has really helped.

 

[SR.GRINGO]

I just sold my 00 4Runner last of the 5spds with 60k orig. miles to purcahse a 94 cruiser with lockers--the 4Runner was great except I am 6'4" and my head was on the roof. The thing is if you get the 4Runner you are always going to want a Cruiser--you could always hold out for a lower mileage Cruiser--just got a locked 94 from the bay area for $8,600 with 130k--I called over 60 cruisers and offered cash until somebody went for my low ball offer The worst they can do is hang up oh by the way I had the saw/ome lift combo and the saws suck and the company will take like 2 months to send parts..... often times the collars freeze up and you can't adjust them.....Anyhow both are great cars--you can't really go wrong but I would recomend the Cruiser....

 

[GeoRoss]

my head rubs

SR GRINGO,
I have a 2002 4Runner. Actually, my wife has the 4Runner, I have a POS Dodge pickup. My head rubs a bit on the roof. If I recline the seats a bit it is ok, but then the kids in the back kick the seat. We have a moonroof and that cuts down on the clearance. I was in the market for a new vehicle and was just going to get another 4Runner w/out a moonroof until I decided to look at LC's. I really like the 4Runner except the &$%*#@!! head clearance. I am just shy of 6'4". I am not some freaking giant, why didn't Toyota design it so moderately tall people could fit. End of rant and I know compromise is part of the desing process. Besides, I'm fixing the problem by getting a LC.

Ross

 

[FirstToy]

I spoke to that exact LC owner pictured above about 2 months ago. He sent a bunch of pictures and I spoke to him over the phone. At the time he said it needed a new water pump which he was putting in that weekend.
It also had a full repaint (which is why the bumpers are painted) by the previous owner. He didn't know the reason so that was a bit worrysome to me. Bodywork? or?

He said it was the wife's car but she got a VW Passat wagon and they don't need the LC anymore. He wanted to keep the LC but she didn't.

The reasons I didn't buy it:
1. The paintjob issue- very strange it was repainted and no reason?
2. waterpump- I know improper coolant maintence can damage the engine- although this alone wasn't anything that concerned me greatly.
3. It was far away so I didn't have time to go check it out
4. Mileage- it was high for the $ asked and he didn't really seem like he wanted to bargain. For close to the same money I have seen much lower mileage LC's.

Otherwise it was very clean and he seemed like a good guy.
Tell me if you want more pics, I still have them

 

[SR.GRINGO]

SR GRINGO,
I have a 2002 4Runner. Actually, my wife has the 4Runner, I have a POS Dodge pickup. My head rubs a bit on the roof. If I recline the seats a bit it is ok, but then the kids in the back kick the seat. We have a moonroof and that cuts down on the clearance. I was in the market for a new vehicle and was just going to get another 4Runner w/out a moonroof until I decided to look at LC's. I really like the 4Runner except the &$%*#@!! head clearance. I am just shy of 6'4". I am not some freaking giant, why didn't Toyota design it so moderately tall people could fit. End of rant and I know compromise is part of the desing process. Besides, I'm fixing the problem by getting a LC.

Ross

Ross the Cruiser will be a better choice for you but if it helps I cut the feet off of my drivers seat in the 4Runner--gave me an extra inch. I had a sunroof as well--even with no roof you are still going to be looking through the blue sun tint. Get a Cruiser you know you want one

 

[Kaderabek]

Yeah, you know you don't have to get that one.

TJK

 

[psj1945]

Yeah, the LC's price seems a little high. I just bought a 96, perfect body, ome lift, snorkle, bfg's, leather, hella lights, 150000 miles, clean title and full husky liners for $10,000. I found mine on e-bay, then flew down to FL to check it out/drive it home to NY 25,000 miles later I love it and would never get rid of it

 

[GeoRoss]

Ross the Cruiser will be a better choice for you but if it helps I cut the feet off of my drivers seat in the 4Runner--gave me an extra inch. I had a sunroof as well--even with no roof you are still going to be looking through the blue sun tint. Get a Cruiser you know you want one

Unfortunately for the seat modificaiton, if I can't take it out off road (too much brush is bad for the paint in my wife's opinion) I doubt I will get the go ahead for sawing on the seat. My wife is only 5'1" so if I did it she would need a phone book and that would make my life unpleasant.

So, LC is the road I'm taking for lots of other reasons too. It is just a damn long process. I just went to check out a '95 with 120K on it. I try not to ask questions over the phone as to have some bargaining room, the result is some surprises when I get there. This one did not have lockers and had a salvage title (stolen-recovered) and if that wasn't enough, a leaking rear seal. The next one is going to be it though, I just know it! (said with an equal mix of desperation and sarcasm).

Ross

 

[psj1945]

Just keep checking those on-line classifids, I found the one I'm driving at the last minute Florida is a decent place to buy used since there isn't much off roading and people do alot of highway and flat driving yada yada yada.
PS: that grey color is pretty cool, imagine it blacked out ? J*W him down !

 

[roncruiser]

Hey there,

I actually passed up on the grey LC. If you look closely, it's been repainted. Otherwise, it looks great.
Though I was skeptical about the HG. Seems like you took the picture in front of the guys house.
I actually took it on the road around Escondido and it ran good. Was really close to pulling the trigger but found out it was repainted amongst other things. If you do a CARFAX, you'd find and interesting history behind it. This was about 3 months ago too.

 

[drbeau]

Ron, are you the one the guy said "put 2 big black marks" down with the locker? It was kinda funny when he mentioned that.

 

[MoJ]

If I was in college and didn't have a lot of extra cash to spend on maintenance but wanted a Toyota 4X4 I'd be shopping for a 4 cyl Tacoma. For the price range you're talking about you should be able to find one with a lot less miles. Sure LC's are freakin awesome but buying a high mileage gas guzzler vehicle without a lot of cash reserve to maintain it in the event something does happen doesn't seem like a smart financial move. Christ, I sound like my father......

Good Luck,
Jason

 

[roncruiser]

Nah, I didn't say that. What's the story behind that?

 

[drbeau]

Well the owner didn't seem to quite understand how the lockers worked. So one of the people that looked at the thing locked the rear and burned out in the guys driveway. I thought it was kinda funny.

 

[Beowulf]

Well the owner didn't seem to quite understand how the lockers worked. So one of the people that looked at the thing locked the rear and burned out in the guys driveway. I thought it was kinda funny.

Funny and embellished. I don't think you can spin the rear wheels enough to burn out even if the thing had a S/C or turbo.

-B-

 

[drbeau]

Thats what i was thinking. It's a '95, so it doesn't have the Center Diff lock, meaning you couldn't do it in 4L. Who knows, maybe the guy did it on somethign loose and the owner forgot or something.

 

[Dogburn]

If I was in college and didn't have a lot of extra cash to spend on maintenance but wanted a Toyota 4X4 I'd be shopping for a 4 cyl Tacoma. For the price range you're talking about you should be able to find one with a lot less miles. Sure LC's are freakin awesome but buying a high mileage gas guzzler vehicle without a lot of cash reserve to maintain it in the event something does happen doesn't seem like a smart financial move. Christ, I sound like my father......

Good Luck,
Jason

I did something similar to what MoJ suggests. From 16 to 24 (most of high school and all of my four years as an undergrad), I drove a beater '81 long bed. Used to drive from SoCal to Davis to visit my future ex-wife on a monthly basis while she was at UC Davis.

Pluses: straight axle front end with spring over axle and reversed shackles from the factory, lifted 3", 31x10.5x15 BFGs, 25 MPG on the highway with a relatively large fuel tank.

Minuses: a beater; a/c worked well only when the engine was at high rpms, even after recharging (this is a bad thing in the central valley in August); no power steering (my ex-wife wouldn't drive it for this reason).

I also learned to wrench on that truck: repacked wheel bearings, repacked birfs, overhauled brakes, replaced exhaust systems, changed engines, rebuilt two trannies, replaced clutch, replaced the rear diff, replaced the front springs, etc.

Sold/gave the truck to my father when I went to law school. He proceeded to further abuse the truck for another 4 years with no complaints from the truck. I guess you could we got our money's worth out of it. For all I know it is still running around on the road somewhere in SoCal.



-Dog