Just traded my forester for LC-100 2003

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C

cwylie72

10 Year
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Threads
1
Messages
5
Location
Seattle, WA
I'm new here, decided the 2010 forester was too small for the family and dog. was able to talk my wifey into a landcruiser even though it had double the miles. From what I can tell, with maintenance, this thing will last me long enough that my wife will forget about our conversations of "you sure about this, it has 117k miles and ours only has 52k miles"

So hopefully I'm right.

Anyway, I'm excited to get this thing changed to my satisfaction.

Anyone just take off the emblems and keep them off? I see everyone seems to put them back on.... would love to see some pics if someone has done that.

would like to put the spare on a rear gate.

whats with the curtain airbags? Should I just turn those off when 4wheeling? or all the time.
Thanks,
cw

Cruiser Frnt.webp


Cruiser Rear.webp
 
Congrats on the new cruiser. I almost bought that 2003 LC from evergreen ford, but I couldn't get down there to look at it; and could not pull the trigger without seeing it in person...

Looks like it is in great shape and all of the maintenance is up to date. That truck will last you another 10 years at least.

Re: the spare tire, there are some companies that make bumpers for the Land Cruiser with a swing-out mount for the spare tire

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/bumpers/rear_bumpers_100series.htm

Please post pics and let us know how you like the new LC.
I think I missed a good deal on this one!
 
Thanks Marshotel,

Sorry to scoop it up from under you. When were signing paperwork another couple came in to see it but we had already started the process. Looks nice and seems to be in good shape. Can't figure out the DVD player. The Navi is from another digital age - 2003 doesn't seem that long ago but in technology terms it's very noticeable. thanks for the link. I need to save my money for the bumper... ain't cheap..

They have a nice Subaru for sale.... :) Hope you can get back in to a LC.

If anyone owned this vehicle would love to hear if you did anything to it? changed the Timing belt? etc...
 
Welcome to the forum.

I have a 2003 LX 470, 2nd owner. It has done 60k. I am thinking of changing the timing belt and water pump in next 2 months (it will cost $1000.00 parts and labor) and the 4 Michelin latitude tour hp (Discount tires at $1143.00).
 
The irony is that you went from a little Forrester to a big...Forrester. I always thought my stock Hundy looked like a fat Forrester. I guess I just need to get rid of those dinky wheels and silly running boards.

I have a 2004. It's awesome. 81K miles when I picked it up two weeks back. I was coming from a Jeep Cherokee, so it's a perfect replacement. Same milage, twice the space, all the capability and magnitudes more luxury.

What's the going rate for an '03 with 117K?
 
that's pretty much it - just an upgrade in size but wanted all the same features.

this one was $21,900. not a great price but not bad either. They paid off my Subaru and kept my payment the same...

I would love to get rid of these running boards but my wife is standing her ground on that one. Helps her get in.
 
Welcome to the Cruiser Club and to iH8MUD! My wife and I probably would be exactly in your shoes had we bought a new Forester in 2010 instead of our Hundy :cheers:

MUD is a great resource - search up and you'll find all kinds of goodies to make you happy, yet broke :) Sounds like you're ready to drop some more coin on step sliders and a rear swingout bumper. There are about half a dozen companies out there now making armor for the Hundy, read up and figure out which suites your needs/wallet best.

For the t-belt, check under the hood either on hood, fan shroud, or engine cover areas - if it was repaired at a dealership there should be a sticker indicating if/when it was performed. There's also history reports that might say too.

For the DVD player to play DVDs, it only works in park -- until you snip the p-brake wire and make it work whenever you want :) Search for the how-to. It's the first thing I did to my rig.
 
welcome!

subarus are great cars. But yes, this is a different category altogether. Our 03 has been great. And yes, they will last forever with basic care.

There might well be rocks sliders with a step feature that your wife might approve of. best of both worlds.

why would you turn off the airbags on the road?
 
When I was looking at buying that truck I ran the VIN through mytoyota.com.
It says that all of the maintenance is up to date.
The timing belt, water pump and brakes have all been replaced recently.

You appear to be the second owner.
Toyota of Renton should have all of the records.

cwylie72 said:
Thanks Marshotel,

If anyone owned this vehicle would love to hear if you did anything to it? changed the Timing belt? etc...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the update on the maintenance,
the subaru was a great suv for skiing and all around... there are a lot more aftermarket setups for these though. most mod's won't happen overnight, just eventually what I'd like to do,

the tire under or in back, I just like the look in back. also under seems like I could, in the wrong incline could damage it.

the airbags just kind of freak me out because every other warning is they will likely kill you or your children if you are not in just the right spot when they go off. I'm sure it takes a good bump to get them to go off but I gotta say it made me a little uncomfortable. Just don't want to forget to turn em off if I go off road.

I would like to take off the wind pretector on the hood as I think it makes noise on the freeway. anyone have an issue with noise from those things? sounds like a leak in the windshield.

thanks everyone, appreciate the feedback!
cw
 
The 100 Series doesn't use a tradition air bag sensor, there is a de-acceleration center in the middle of the vehicle. You would have to hit something hard and have the vehicle slow down at the rate to which the airbags would deploy. When you go into low range I believe it shuts off the side air bags. The sound coming from the bug deflector is probably a windshield leak. There should be a Toyota stamp and or VIN number on the windshield. Every body panel and piece of glass has the VIN engraved on it. Just remember you are in a Land Cruiser, which is top heavy and overweight from the factory, you will be the first vehicle on its side in a accident. Keep the side air bags, have the proper restraints and car seats installed. You are the heaviest vehicle, you will travel the furthest after impact. I know I wish I had side air bags. I am not trying to be rude, but disabling air bags seems pretty ridiculous (coming from the guy who took his sway bars off...lol)

Oh, Welcome to MUD :flipoff2: , and nice looking 100!
 
hks3sgte said:
Those rear carriers will be a pain when you have to move the tire ever time you want to open the back.
Click to expand...

x2

In my case, I severely underestimated how much this would reduce my trunk use in practice. Now, with the tire carrier on (~3 years and counting), about 90% of the time the stuff that went in the trunk now ends up in the back seat.

I find myself only using the trunk when I absolutely need to (i.e., it won't fit in the back seat with the kids...)

Based on my own day-to-day experience (which is sadly much more mall crawling than moab crawling), I would highly suggest folks reconsider how much they really need the tire carrier in the back. Perhaps just get the bumper, and keep the tire right where it is. I've been thinking of going in that direction myself. Taking the carrier off, putting spare back in original spot for every day living, and then adding the carrier back on for those few precious days in the year that truck actually gets to live off the beaten path...

Just my 2 cents...
 
Reading the manual, it only advocates switching off the RSCA (side airbags) when in technical off road conditions. I guess the factory engineers actually respected how "real" Land Cruiser owners drive these things. It also says that, even with the RSCA off, a substantial hit will trigger them. In other words, Toyota is only going to give you the feeling of being in control. If it really matters, the system will make the decision for you.
 
midfat said:
The irony is that you went from a little Forrester to a big...Forrester. I always thought my stock Hundy looked like a fat Forrester. I guess I just need to get rid of those dinky wheels and silly running boards.

I have a 2004. It's awesome. 81K miles when I picked it up two weeks back. I was coming from a Jeep Cherokee, so it's a perfect replacement. Same milage, twice the space, all the capability and magnitudes more luxury.

What's the going rate for an '03 with 117K?
Click to expand...

I was at a stealership recently getting an oil change (hey - they have wifi and free coffee), and was talking with the sales guy about the new Scion(?) that has a Subaru cousin? Anyway, he told me that Toyota owns a significant interest in Subaru, so I don't think the LC/Forrester similarity is a coincidence. I've noticed it myself before even learning that fact - and no, I never searched the web to learn if the info is accurate, so feel free to prove me wrong!
 
Yes, airbags can cause harm, but mostly they save lives. Keep them on unless slow offroad. Most of those warnings are from stupid people who do things like ride around with their feet up on the dash. Also, learn to drive with your hands on the bottom half of the steering wheel. You'll prevent a broken forearm to the head. Nice looking 100!
 
Congrats on the 100!

I'm in Washington as well where are you located? I'm in lynnwood good group of guys up here who love wheeling.

Joel
 
Very nice rig. I looked at it a couple of weeks ago before I bought my 99. Didn't buy cause it was out of my price range...and it wasn't white ;)
 
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