Interest in a 80 pricing thread?

[Marc311]

I've been in the market for an 80, mostly online, but now starting to get some test drives done. I've noticed the prices seem to be falling or rigs staying up for sale for extended periods. So I was wondering if people would be interested in a thread listing their vehicle and the price paid (maybe limited to within the last two years). It seems like it would be a better reference than all these "is it worth it" threads with subjective answers. It's got to be a better guage of the market than NADA or KBB! I'm getting ready to start making offers but would like to know if my market valuations are close.

Maybe people could post: Year, miles, date of purchase, location, and the general condition (mint, avg, rough, all records etc). Maybe throw in whether it's locked or modified, although that doesn't seem to effect pricing.

Please post away if you think it's worthy

Or if this is another of my boneheaded ideas ignore me and I'll fade back into newbie obscurity

 

[Beowulf]

Marc,
Your prime concern with buying a used 80 should be in getting the newest year, in the best [documented] condition, with the options that are most important to you, for a price that is in your budget.

Trying to get the "best deal" will usually not be consistent with the above goal.

That's my 2c.

-B-

 

[Marc311]

I generally agree with you Beowulf. But once you find the newest in the best condition, etc. you still don't want to overpay for it. I've seen several prime 80s out there selling for $18K! I would also agree that sometimes going for the best deal means you lose a great car over a couple hundred bucks and I too would rather just have the good car.

But paying 10K for a car that can be had for 8K means losing out on a bumper and winch or lift and tires. Knowing the market also means you get jump on a fair priced 80 rather than having it sold out from under you while you're negotiating.

 

[alaskacruiser]

Marc- best gauge of the market can be found right on http://www.autotrader.com

Just search for the specific year and geographic region of the 80 you are looking for, and it will give you the price range, average, etc. Much more accurate sampling than anything you'll find here, or KBB, etc.

 

[ginericLC]

I agree with B. Cost is really irrelevant. If you find the one you want, buy it. There will be folks who post up smoking deals that seem unbelievable and there will be others that you will think paid way too much.

I paid way too much for my 94 at $8600 3 years ago compared to what folks have paid elsewhere. My rig was mint with a phone books worth of documentation. Two downfalls, no lockers and high miles. I think it had 184k on it when I bought it. Looking at the internet prices today I still paid way more than most do. But even today I'd probably buy it for the same price. We don't have lot to choose from in Idaho and they are usually pretty clean units. And I didn't have to pay for any plane tickets or gas for trip I didn't plan on taking. That should be counted in purchase prices too.

I think it is really hard to buy on an internet deal without having some unforeseen problems. As much as you try something will be forgotten and you'll kick yourself for it. I wouldn't buy a vehicle that I hadn't personally seen or driven.

 

[Beowulf]

But once you find the newest in the best condition, etc. you still don't want to overpay for it.

That's where the "price is in your budget" part comes in. I'm not trying to squash your attempt at getting information. Be aware that the purchase of a good Land Cruiser or LX is an emotional (and typically a long-term) decision and you're trying to make it a cut-and-dried business decision.

If your budget is $18k (your example) and one popped up for sale in your home town with 23,000 miles, locked, pristine condition, all the options you feel are necessary, in just the right colour (hopefully not that gawdawful green) with complete dealer service records then you would probably buy it, ... right? Did you overpay? Not if that was your budget and that was the truck you are looking for. Could you wait another 6 months and find the same truck for $8k (your example) ... probably not.

-B-

 

[Marc311]

While I agree that checking out autotrader and craigslist and the like give a decent idea of when an asking price is out of line, it isn't very accurate of the actual market - which is why market appraisers use both listings and recent sales. Kind of like the real estate market - in a hot market you can get a good guage on values because houses sell quickly for their asking price. But when the market slows, the listing price doesn't reflect that if you list a house at x price it will end up selling for y after sitting for six months.

I bring this up because I am seeing 80's on Ebay selling for less than listed prices on autotrader. And although Ebay is a decent market reference, IMO, it tends to reflect the high side of the market.

Or maybe . . .what you guys are really telling me is to stop overthinking this, shut the F up, and just go buy a cruiser and be happy. I can't much argue with that.

 

[Beowulf]

Or maybe . . .what you guys are really telling me is to stop overthinking this, shut the F up, and just go buy a cruiser and be happy. I can't much argue with that.

Marc, meet Eric. Eric, meet Marc.






(Old joke poking a little fun at e99999999. Eric spent 3 years, 4 months and 27 days looking for an 80. His wife threatened to leave him and several here on 'Mud threatened to kill him if we ever met him. We had 26 polls during that 3 years on things like the optimum A/C vent temperature and the average speed for lowering the power windows, and crap like that. I fear you are following in his footsteps and will join him on my twit filter. Oh yeah... he finally bought one too. And he got a nice colour. )

-B-

 

[RavenTai]

Eric is on your twit filter? B you missed out of some nice over the top maintenance threads.

what anybody paid two or three years ago or even last year is irrelevant today, I just got done paying mine off and got the title, you don't want to know what the original 3 year loan was, prices dropped sharply recently, just about all of them are well over 100K in mileage now and pushing 10 years or well over, also the gas prices have pushed a lot of them onto the market that is not that interested in gas hogs,

back in the summer of 2001 they were pushing 25K$, now is the time to buy

 

[Tool Pusher]

I agree that now is the time to buy. I think we have reached an intersection of price and age/mileage that is favorable. Another consideration is where to buy. I don't think there is a higher concentration of 80s anywhere than in the San Francisco Bay area. The prices might be higher, but good selection might be worth it. I paid $8000 for a 1994 80 with 136,000 miles in the color I wanted with the options I wanted.

 

[LCPilot]

One more vote for get off your but and get serious. It is winter and sales fall off, especially before Christmas when Private Owners need money. You can look forever and not find the "perfect" cruiser. I took mine for a drive at a dealer that didn't know what he had, negotiated for ten minutes, came up $300 in price and walked away happy. Would I want to wait 6 months for a cruiser with lockers --- NO. I would have missed out on too much off-road time.

 

[Lugboot]

Beowulf, I think I'd have to agree with you about the budget bit. I'm another noob searching for a 80 as well (coincidentally about a 100 miles from Marc311) and I definitely have a budget in mind. And I hate, hate, hate shopping. So, as a buyer first and foremost, i plan to pull the trigger as soon as I find the 80 that meets my wants and needs and never look back. I've been seeing trucks that look identical on the web for price variations of several thousand dollars, so what the heck? In general, it seems most 80s are being sold for less than KBB but then there's the freak sales on Ebay or elsewhere for more than KBB and common sense.

Marc311--since we're so close in proximity, perhaps we should swap wishlists and pool resources? If we want the same truck, we can just thumbwrestle for it.

 

[94 Newbie]

Laughing at some of these replies !

I just bought mine in September not knowing a thing about Cruisers than , well, really, the name !

We were actually looking for 4 Runners at the time when we stumbled across the '94.

Clean inside, decent outside - scratches and some faded paint on the center of the hood & roof behind the moonroof. It had the bruch guard & taillight guards that added to the looks.

Everything works, it drives well , although perhaps a bit loose in the steering - perhaps a bearing repack is needed. I was impressed by the full time 4 wheel drive - have not seen that since my RamCharger & Suburban days ( 70's era trucks in the 80's) and the fact that it had a straight 6.

Paid 7900.00 for it - as long as it holds up thru the used car note, I am happy.

Ironically, the 3 rigs that i saw in the Houston area dealers' lots were all green , mine included.

My nephews absolutely love it, and had fun w/ the sliding rear windows.

Now, if only it had lockers ....


My .02 - x 395,000 if my calculator is correct.

Britt

 

[toojayzee]

I just picked up my 91 with 221k for 4,100 a bit much in retrospect but the guy was asking 5,200.
Its been re-clearcoated so there are some minor flaws like clear over rockchips. Overall outside is nice. Inside is what you would expect from a rig with 221k. Im hoping I can keep it thru the winter, get some use out of it and sell it in the spring for the same I paid.

 

[TinStar]

I paid $6800 for my 1995 FZJ80 in April. It has lockers and 180k miles. The outside was clean. It only had a small door ding on one side and a cracked taillight lense. Interior is CLEAN.... just has some cracking in the seat leather on the drivers side.... I've done more damage wheeling it than it has had in its life. Of course when I bought it, it was a hooptie.....

 

[Marc311]

Thanks for all the replies. Now I need to go check to make sure I turned the stove off.

And wash my hands.

And check the stove.

And check Norcal Doug's maintenance regime.

And check the stove . . .



( I apologize to those who truly have OCD. . . .No I don't, anal retentiveness is funny. Did I check the stove?)


And Tinstar, if there was a LC Rescue Kennel they would give you an award for saving that pimp-mobile.

 

[Beowulf]

And check Norcal Doug's maintenance regime.

NorCalDoug drives his like he stole it.

IdahoDoug is the one that is OCD on maintenance but don't forget, Doug has two 80s; one which he bought brand new in 1993.

-B-

 

[GXO]

I need to hire an IdahoDoug and e9999 to hang aorund my 80

 

[Romer]

NorCalDoug drives his like he stole it.

-

He did



But then he bought his wife another one.

 

[Houston FZJ80]

How much?

Interesting thread... i have been thinking about putting my 80 up for sale (various reasons - none compelling)... What does this board think the market is.

Clean interior - perfect manual seats with leather (lots of leg room).
Pretty clean exterior - no major (obvious) damge - but some

170K now- bought it for $11,400 w/136K 4 years ago because it was so clean.

No lockers, but put 4+K into it. Constant Blackstone lab clean oil checks and various other paranoid PM behavior... ROTW write up in sig. Runs like a champ...

6K? 7K? 3K? 8K? Matagorda crew... you saw it... what do you think?