is a 100 series right for me?

[peepers]

I will try to make this a technical question and not chat...

My current situation is that I own an FJ62 with 175k but I am selling it https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=84513.

I am selling it for the following reasons:
-It requires too much work - too much preventative maint.
-I worry about it too much - the miles are adding up and i just dont want to be stranded with a car full of camping gear, bikes, a dog and the girlfriend pissed at me.
-I wheel 4x a year max and I realized that I prefer more adventure/expedition type wheeling rather than the hard core stuff... My 62 is more capable than I need it to be.

Now I am looking at 100s. So, is the 100 the right truck for me? For taking on long trips with some dirt roads involved but doing do with so with confidence? I can only afford one in the 75 - 100k mi range. How many more miles do the more modern 100s have on them before I start worrying about it?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[fyton2v]

From everything I know it sounds like the 100 will work out for you. I use mine for camping in the Sierras in remote places only accessible via 4X4. They're essentially jeep trails. It gets by fine.

My '00 has been very reliable, but I only have 80k on it now. If there is a downside over your 62 it'll be cost of repairs. If something does go wrong (like a cracked manifold) it'll cost ya. All-in-all it's a nice truck. I hope it lasts me another 120k miles.

Good luck.

 

[Jim_Chow]

I doubt you'd get stranded in the FJ62. I have a 86 4runner that until recently (when I bought the 100), I used on all road trips for the same type of purpose (expedition offroad). Now w/ the 100, you won't have to repack birfields and replace those bearings every time. Your FJ has a semi-floater rear axle, right? So no need for any maintenance there (unless your bearings have tons of play...yeah, my original 86 rear bearings have tons of play, but are still holding up at 200K mi). If your front bearings are getting shot, you might have to replace them. The 3F engine will have more maintenance (tune-ups, valve-gap checks, spark plug changes every 15-30K, multiple engine belts to change, t-chain within your next 100K mi unless you've recently done it, etc.). If you get a 100 w/ 100K mi, you'll have to still do maintenance on it (t-belt at 90K, waterpump, a single serpentine belt rather than multiple belts). The new vehicles are only do-nothing if you buy something much newer (new super long life coolants will go like 100K mi w/o a change). You'll have to do front wheel bearing repacks regardless of which 4x4 you drive, but admittingly, you can push them farther than 30K if you don't drive in much rain/water (my 4runner went 100K mi before its first repack, was never wheeled).

The 100 will be a LOT more comfortable on a long road trip...there's no doubt about that.

 

[peepers]

i hear ya... for some reason the FJ62 seems more like a trail truck then a long hauler. I am looking for a reliable long hauler with no car payment. If I could I would buy a slightly used Tahoe or something but those are in the 30k range.

I think the 100 is a good option, I just want to be sure I can rely on it for the next 5 years which would take me to about 200k miles.

 

[Jim_Chow]

100 should be more reliable than a Tahoe, hands down! In a Tahoe, I'd be worried about getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, the pre-80 series LC's/trucks are kind of rough, definitely designed as workhorse vehicles, but not for comfort. 80 series is more of a transition vehicle (but front legroom is seriously lacking). Once you get accustomed to the 100 on long road trips, it's hard to go back. I use my 86 as a DD/grocery/beater vehicle nowdays and when I need to go to not-so-nice areas of town (can jam it into that last tiny space in the parking lot w/o worrying about dings). I commute with both the 86 (22-23mpg) and a honda prelude (ie, 30mpg with sports-car-like performance). 100 is a dedicated R&R vehicle...(rear AC is great, even the dog gets her own AC in the 3rd row!).

 

[peepers]

and a good clean 80 is not that much less that a 100...

 

[89s rule]

Well. I guess I will respond since I have a 62 and we are looking @ a 100 foro the wife.

- Your 62 is far from finished if its been taken care of. (Mine doesnt take tons of repair.) But, it definately does not ride like a 100. (I have only driven a 2K LX470.)

A 100 is too nice of a car for me to use as a DD.
- I havent had a really 100% dependable vehicle for my DD since I got married.(2002)
- Now the wife is a diff story. Current vehicle is a 97 4runner that we bought in 2002 and have had 0 issues. We are on the verge of outgrowing it. Hence the only reason looking @ 100's. (That and prices are dropping like flies on them.)

If you want to have something that you dont mind getting a scratch or small dent on then you better stick with the 62. Repairs will not be as frequent, but when they do come they will not be quite as DIY or as cheap.

Why the jump over the 80? If our next car was for me I would prob be looking at that rather than the 100. And a 80 realistically would work for us. But finding a low mileage one at a decent price is slim to none. And a 100 with similar miles is very close in price. (More but worth it with the extra space.)

 

[peepers]

jumping over the 80 because as you said... 100s are just as close in price and most of the 98 99s i have seen have the rear locker where as most of the 80s that are locked are a fortune.

i also wouldnt mid a few less years in the salt of new england so a 99 seems a bit better for that reason.

99s with 80 - 100k are still getting like $17k on ebay though... some examples
105k mi sold for $18,491
100k mi on a 97 lexus sold for $10,000
80k mi on a 00 highest bid was $15,000

and so on, actually now that i look at them all the highest bids go somewhere around $12 - $15k and they dont reach the reserve... very interesting...

 

[Imola Red]

I know of a beautiful 99' in So Cal that has only been driven by a soccer mom that has lockers for cheap. I think it has around 90k miles. Blue exterior and totally stock.

They want $16k for it. Great deal. I almost bought it but we ended up trading in another vehicle instead for our 2000.

I am absolutely in love with my 100. We traded in a Yukon XL for it and I would NEVER go the GMC route again. It was fairly reliable but it started to scare me once it got up to the 80k mile range. They are also worthless off road unless you do some major upgrades if you ask me.

 

[peepers]

I know of a beautiful 99' in So Cal that has only been driven by a soccer mom that has lockers for cheap. I think it has around 90k miles. Blue exterior and totally stock.

They want $16k for it. Great deal. I almost bought it but we ended up trading in another vehicle instead for our 2000.

I am absolutely in love with my 100. We traded in a Yukon XL for it and I would NEVER go the GMC route again. It was fairly reliable but it started to scare me once it got up to the 80k mile range. They are also worthless off road unless you do some major upgrades if you ask me.

sent you a PM

 

[tabraha]

peepers, it does sound like a 100 is a good fit for you. But dude, that's a nice 62!!!!

I think you've got a hard decision on your hands. I'd wait and see how much of a ding the 100's take if gas goes up in a couple months. Could buy you a 100 with 20,000 less miles or so; it's hard to predict though. I guarantee the prices on used 100's won't go up though.

 

[Pskhaat]

peepers, I'm not straying you from the 100, but I gotta say I wouldn't look to a 100 to out-do what your 62 could do. It's just me, but personally I'd take the 62 over a 100 on any long trail. I'd drive Alaska and Mexico in the 62 way before a 100 at this point.

Not that it's a ``bad thing'' to get a better ride, and yeah the hundy is way comfy, but...

May I ask why in the heck you'd be worried about the mighty 3F-E getting broken down? In my experience, the 2F/3F-E take far less in in total cost and are dead reliable (okay, minus the cheap engine relay; just buy 3). I dropped a pretty penny on my 1FZ-FE HG issue and tore up my hands on the PHH. On the 2UZ-FE I'm dreading when I have to remove the intake manifold to get at the starter contacts.

 

[peepers]

yeah... i bet they will go up... it will just be hard to sell the 62 then be cruiserless while i wait for prices to drop, which they will. i work by a toyota dealership can can see the prius getting test driven all day.

 

[subspd]

I got my 99' with 80k miles for $16k with tax. There is no better toyota 4x4 out there right now for the money and yeah it has the locker! Plus for long hauls the 100 is a huge step forward even over the 80 you will be spoiled but it is still a very capable rig. I bet the next cruiser has either a diesel option or a hybrid option when it comes. just my 0.02

 

[subspd]

Oh yeah the 100 can be had for less than book but the 4runner you will pay AT LEAST book??? Go figure...

 

[LXPearl]

The 100 sounds like a good fit for your needs and expectations. They are remarkably reliable and a pleasure to drive. They get about 15 mpg, a little better if you drive under 70 mph.

The biggest issue with used ones is the past history. It is good to drive several to get a sense of what a good one is like. I found quite a few that were not up to par, but price was in the same league as the really good ones.

If you have a Lexus dealer nearby, don't ignore them. Their vehicles are usually in better condition for about the same pricing.

 

[peepers]

pskaat... its an overall sense of something just faling at the wrong time and for the amount that i am on the highway vs. trails... it seems to make more sense to me. i am not big at working on them myself... no driveway... no air... i have to do my work in the street and i would rather drive it than work on it... i feel there is always work to be done on the 62...

 

[89s rule]

Peepers looks like we have both been watching Ebay.

Seems like all the cheaper ones are up North. (Seen a 99 with 57K miles for $17.3K but its in MI) Which sucks. Even with no rust I am scared of what all the salt has done to electricals especially 470's with the AHC.

I am waiting on one around $15K with under 100K miles. Bu tprefer one with under 75K and a little higher price.
- History seems to be the worrysome part. And makes me lean to the lx470 b/c of the ability to check service records.

As far as prices droping they are somewhat. I have seen them go as low as $9.5K and a few others go for 12.5K and 13.5K. Each had about 130K miles. (More than I want to go for.)

 

[Jim_Chow]

Peepers looks like we have both been watching Ebay.

Seems like all the cheaper ones are up North. (Seen a 99 with 57K miles for $17.3K but its in MI) Which sucks. Even with no rust I am scared of what all the salt has done to electricals especially 470's with the AHC.

I am waiting on one around $15K with under 100K miles. Bu tprefer one with under 75K and a little higher price.
- History seems to be the worrysome part. And makes me lean to the lx470 b/c of the ability to check service records.

As far as prices droping they are somewhat. I have seen them go as low as $9.5K and a few others go for 12.5K and 13.5K. Each had about 130K miles. (More than I want to go for.)

I limited my search to the Southwestern states...LA, AZ, Vegas. Best selection is in LA, hands down. Keep in mind that Carfax isn't very good at reporting accidents, but it does tell you where the vehicle was registered, and if it was smogged, it'll tell you at what mileage (that's how it checks for mileage inconsistencies). So between the carfax and checking lexus dealer service records, you can get a good idea of the history. Also, I think it's better to get a newer, high mileage vehicle than an older, low mileage one. With the former, it was likely driven a lot on the highway. Every once in a while, you'll see a vehicle w/ near 100K mi that's only a few years old. Some owners practically live in their cars. ..saw one local 06 LX on I-10 with a bar across the rear full of suits.

 

[rockclmbr]

100 Series Cruisers are popping up all over in the Bay Area on CL. There seems to be a load of them hitting the 90k mark that owners don't want to pay for the 90k maintenance work. I've talked to a few whe were upgrading to the 06 model.