Looking for some Advice

[Roosevelt T]

Hey... new to the forum... not new to the internet.


I have been reading the forum for a couple of weeks now, because I want to purchase a LC. I have narrowed it down to a 98-02 LC/LX 470. I am looking for suggestions/advice/opinions.

Currently have a loaded 08 Touareg. Its a very nice vehicle with air suspension, center locker, nav, blah blah, but I want something different for a host of reasons. I always wanted an 80 but some research, the market, the condition of the vehicles, etc has led me to a 100.

Now let me preface my questions with something: I am not going to do rock climbs or anything. I live in AZ but I am not really into hardcore offroading. I hunt, I fish, I want something that isn't so clean I can bring it through some brush and beat it up and I dont care. I want something I can keep. I like LC's because of their quality,their ability offroad even if I wont use most of it, their aftermarket support, and lack of depreciation at this point. Also, Toyotas are super easy to wrench on. Anyway... I wont be living in AZ forever. I've only been here a year and the lack of skiing and green is starting to get to me. My next location will probably Colorado or the Pacific NW. I tell you this because I dont plan on selling this vehicle anytime soon. Any my question also involves the dreaded ATRAC vs Lockers debate.

First thing I will do is pull the running boards off of it. I will probably put a 2/2.5" inch lift on it eventually and some 33's... Is this poseur if I dont go crazy offroading it? I assume it might be . I wrench on my cars so I will keep the maintenance up and do some mods here or there. As I said will take this offroad to fish, hunt, camp, etc.

So, the conversations on ATRAC vs Lockers get super pedantic, and I've read a lot of them. Also the threads almost always (I understand why, please dont take this as a shot at the forum) revolve around hardcore use. Which isn't me. For someone like me and my uses:

A.) Does ATRAC vs Lockers even matter?
B.) What do you recommend?
C.) When does the 2 pinion diff seem to rear its ugly head? In situations such as I described or more harcore offroading?
D.) Are there any variables I am missing?


Some general questions: Are the projectors in the LX 470 HID's? Are they nice? To me thats a big selling point if they are, I cant stand Halogen headlights, its 2014 dammit. Any other random BS you would like to throw at me? I am all ears. Do any of you guys that follow the market want to give me a general idea of what you think a good deal for these model years is?




Sorry for the long post. Figured I'd get it all out there. From what I have read so far, you seem to be a good group of guy that like to help.

 

[options2]

The projectors in the years you referenced do not have HIDs from the factory. Since they are projectors already and should have a nice pattern I would just add them. I added them to my Lexus SC400 with projectors and it has a nice cut off and I don't have any issues with them.

I know that usually starts a debate, or people flaming. But I have been running HIDs in my TLC non projectors for almost 3 years and only gotten flashed maybe once or twice, and they were by small lower cars. I did run them in my FJ Cruiser as well and got flashed all the time, until I replace the factory round lights with projectors. But yeah, I am with ya....I cant stand halogen headlights anymore.

Just my 2 cents

 

[hankinid]

So, the conversations on ATRAC vs Lockers get super pedantic, and I've read a lot of them. Also the threads almost always (I understand why, please dont take this as a shot at the forum) revolve around hardcore use. Which isn't me. For someone like me and my uses:

A.) Does ATRAC vs Lockers even matter?
B.) What do you recommend?
C.) When does the 2 pinion diff seem to rear its ugly head? In situations such as I described or more harcore offroading?
D.) Are there any variables I am missing?


Some general questions: Are the projectors in the LX 470 HID's? Are they nice? To me thats a big selling point if they are, I cant stand Halogen headlights, its 2014 dammit. Any other random BS you would like to throw at me? I am all ears. Do any of you guys that follow the market want to give me a general idea of what you think a good deal for these model years is?

A. I prefer ATRAC.
B. See above.
C. As reported here, usually hardcore off-road.
D. If it were I, I'd look for a 2003...5-speed tranny seems to be advantageous if you can swing a few extra bucks.

A "good deal" is location related and patience pays off. I looked for 6 months prior to buying my '01 LX 5 years ago. Found a one-owner, never off-road with maintenance by the book at a good dealer...It was 400 miles away but well worth the one-way plane ticket.

As to HID's...many threads here. I installed HID's in both low beams and fog lights and have never looked back (nor been flashed). Source was DDM tuning.

hth and welcome.

Steve

 

[Trunk Monkey]

A.) Does ATRAC vs Lockers even matter?
C.) When does the 2 pinion diff seem to rear its ugly head? In situations such as I described or more harcore offroading?
D.) Are there any variables I am missing?

1 - for what you're describing, ATRAC would be ideal
3 - depends on conditions and driving. Some have broken it backing up in snow (spinning, hit pavement, snap). Others have wheeled hardcore trails for years without an issue.
4 - potential AHC issues on an LX, unless you're already planning to replace with aftermarket suspension

 

[paflytyer]

I know how this story goes.....

I purchased my 100 to get to some of the remote fly fishing areas I like. If I showed you the list of mild mods I had planned when I started, and then showed you the truck now...... you'd chuckle. I got the fridge and dual batteries at least. I go to a lot of cool fishing spots too. I'm not even sure how all of this happened anymore.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Any of them will get the job done, a lot comes down to budget. Don't forget the transmission, that's the first real price bump and you may want to decide ahead of time what you need there. The minor engine changes are not super significant. The LX definitly has better lighting but the LC looks so much better Any and all of the lights can be retrofit to HID projectors and mod money there will be well spent both on and off-road... (I have a 99LC so I just don't drive at night unless I'm offroad and can blaze the aux lighting. )

The one thing I wish mine had was less rust and fewer miles, that's where I would focus if were me in AZ needing an all around LC to keep and grow with. I love my old rusted pile just as it is in anycase.

Happy shopping, way to do a bunch of research before asking the Q's!... all to rare these days.

 

[Roosevelt T]

Awesome feedback guys, thanks.

I haven't really been looking at 03's +. I want an older school looking interior because I plan on owning this for a while. Simplicity ages better and I'd rather make it easier on myself to swap the head unit and make any changes.

Regarding the transmission... I haven't really read into the issues yet in the 2000/01's, although I saw it in passing. Is it forum speculation or documented? I like wrenching on cars, but transmission work does scare me a little and it's not something I would tackle myself. I know the 03+ has the 5 speed, but as I mentioned I am leaning heavily toward a 98-02.

If I bought a car with air suspension I would definitely eventually swap it for normal struts. This is another thing I was going to look into, but I assumed (maybe stupidly) that it was a simple process.

Personally I have done projector mods in other cars, and I would not put HIDs in a car without projectors. They aren't made to be used in that fashion. But regardless, you guys make a great point about the availability of aftermarket lights. Can you mount them on the stock bumper easily, or will I need a rack or metal bumper?

Appreciate all the ATRAC vs Lockers feedback. For some reason I am drawn to the 98/99 with lockers but I do feel that the ATRAC and adding lockers if I ever needed them later is probably the smart choice.

Please keep the feedback, opinions and questions coming. There's nothing like banter from people that have been there to help me solidify some of the things I'm not sure about yet.

 

[Sandroad]

I know it's fun to speculate and consider all the angles, but in the end the stock 100 in any year is capable of doing what you are describing (hunting and fishing with no rock-climbing). For my money, I'd be concentrating more on finding a good one that's been well taken care of. After all, you are considering the possibility of buying a 16 year old vehicle with some miles on it and good vehicle history is important at that point.

 

[fireball]

You'll be fine with whatever you choose if you actually adhere to your original plan! Unlike paflytyer and many others, I knew I was going to mod mine up pretty good when I got it I chose the 99 for the classic interior, upgradable stereo and OEM rear locker. Pretty happy with my choice. Right now we are considering getting a teardrop trailer, and if so I might regret not getting the 03 or 06 with 5 spd tranny or slightly upgraded engine.

No running boards, 285/75/16s and a 2.5" medium kit from Slee would be a nice little ride. I think you'll be pretty pumped with that setup. The next step of adding bumpers and other extra weight comes with some pretty big consequences IMHO.

Good luck!

 

[marshotel]

For what you are describing, ATRAC is probably preferable to the lockers. That said, I have a 1998 LC that has neither ATRAC nor lockers on the axles and I am comfortable taking it to remote offroad locations in Alaska, driving in deep snow and ice, etc.

Like sandroad said, the stock configuration is very capable in most situations. Make sure any changes that you make from stock are actually going to be improvements. In my opinion, it's easy to screw up a perfectly good land cruiser with lift kits and big tires and lots of heavy add ons that look cool but never get used. The people who actually do long self supported trips over giant rocks have to balance competing priorities; big tires and heavy bumpers are good for rock crawling, but not so good for high speed driving. The stock configuration is very safe and comfortable up to about 100 mph provided your tires and wheels are well balanced.

I used to have a 2000 model with ATRAC, and it was great on snow and ice, but since I run nokian studded tires in the winter, I have not missed ATRAC on my 1998. I actually prefer the 1998 model because it does not have the VSC skid control nanny.

Unless you are going to climb rocks or ford very deep water, I suggest you skip the lift and big tires. The suspension geometry is very well thought out from the factory, and while lift kits and big tires look cool, and are good for climbing over giant rocks, I think they substantially diminish the handling, ride, and on-road performance of 100 series LCs.