LX450; looking at, Should I?

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TrailrunnerLance

TrailrunnerLance

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Feb 21, 2015
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I'm looking at a 97 LX450 with 250K for $5900-5500. It's for sale by the 2nd owner. It's 4 hours away so I haven't looked at but the owner (a lady Doctor) claims to have maintenance records and said there hasn't been much done to it.

It's in almost perfect condition cosmetically. All gauges, locks, windows, seats work and she said nothing doesn't function properly. It hasn't used synthetic motor oil to her knowledge.
That's about all I can offer on the vehicle.Would this scare you guys?
 
What region of the country? How extensive are her records? Work done by toyota/lexus? How well do you know 80s?
 
2MinutesTurkish said:
What region of the country? How extensive are her records? Work done by toyota/lexus? How well do you know 80s?
Click to expand...
She's in a small town so I'm guessing not by a dealer. It's in the Springield, MO Midwest area. I've not owned a Lexus or Toyota before but it couldn't be worse than keeping a Jeep Cherokee running, could it?
 
Sounds like a deal. Really depends what you want to do with a 18 yr old vehicle.
 
I have another one that surfaced, about 8hrs away. 200k instead of 250k. About the same price but it's been using synthetic oil. With these vehicles is there any real differences between 200 vs 250k?
 
Landseer said:
SNIP
My biggest concern would be the head gasket, if it hasn't already been done it will probably need to be replaced in the near future. Also, does it have lockers?
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Unless there's obvious indications of a HG failure, I would not worry about it. It's luck of the draw if it needs replacing. Most do not need it, but there's a lot of worrying about it. It's like anything else in life. You hide under the bed because you're afraid the school bus will run you down...or you just go to school.

A HG with cost you more than $1k, but that depends on a lot of factors. If you do your own wrenching, that will cover a lot of parts and shop work on the head. Pay someone else to do the work and you talking about bigger bucks.

There may be some difference between 200k and 250k. The lady dr. probably did not abuse it much and I'd take repair docs over just synthetic oil...in any case, both trucks have lots of miles still to go on them
 
I'm not that kid to hide under the bed (and like that analogy). All the 98-01 Land Cruisers I've looked have 220K+ on them and are $8500+. The 80-series LC are all rusted and rough. The good ones people hold on to or are $10K. This vehicle will go under $6K so not a huge investment.
 
they are all a huge investment. Even if you find one with 150,000 miles figure all the rubber parts are 20 years old. PM still includes, all coolant line, vacuum lines, belts, many gaskets, brake lines, cap, plug, rotor, all fluids. Brake pads and rotors are well worn by 150,000. So if they have not been done then they could need doing on any of these trucks. Wheel bearings packed or replaced and so on. not to mentions springs, shocks and so on. Sure some things might be better on a 150,000 mile truck over a 250,000. Birfield, tie rods, and interior are are some of the things to me that likely to be better with lower millage. Exterior is a individual truck thing. My truck with 184,xxx had pealing roof paint. I am not looking forward to learning to do paint work. Obviously a engine and transmission with lower mileage SHOULD be better than a high mileage one. But i think that depends on maintenance, PO care and driving habits. My transmission shifts beautifully with 200,000. I figure if i keep it full of god clean oil it should be good for a long time. My engine purs like a kitten but i am using a little oil. I have a few leaks to address but it might need valve seals. Thats just life.

My point is these things are old and since they are so reliable most owners have NOT done PM. Depending on what type of reliability you need will depend on what you do in the way of PM. In one year of ownership i a three page typed list of PM done and a BOOK of receipts of OEM Toyota parts. But i needed my truck to be as reliable as possible. I will be regularly driving from Georgia to Wyoming and in other remote areas.

Back to your question. The mileage you list is a little higher than I WOULD WANT. But that is only because i want to put a lot of mileage on it so i want a lower starting point. But it really matters more on the individual truck. Be prepared to fix or replace LOTS of small and medium ticket items such as suspension, brakes, and rubber parts. What i would not want to fix is transmission, engine internals, leather on seat (just cover seats or live with what you got) and paint. But i am mechanically inclined and can do all my own work. So this affects my decisions. For example rebuilding a front axle/berfields cost me just parts.

but this is all just my opinion. Buy the nicest one you can and be prepared to do a lot of neglected PM. Most PO only replace what brakes!
 
TrailrunnerLance said:
She's in a small town so I'm guessing not by a dealer. It's in the Springield, MO Midwest area. I've not owned a Lexus or Toyota before but it couldn't be worse than keeping a Jeep Cherokee running, could it?
Click to expand...

A Land Cruiser is a lot more work, and significantly more expensive than a Cherokee. In return, you get a hugely better rig.

10984766_10205165921222089_2131689239_n.jpg


To the left is an LCA on a Land Cruiser. To the right, an LCA from a Jeep. The LC LCA is solid forged steel. The Cherokee LCA is stamped sheetmetal. Any questions?

I own one of each; a 95 Cherokee and a 96 Land Cruisers, and both have their advantages and drawbacks.

If you're willing to go "all in" to Land Cruiser maintenance, you'll be happy. If not, you won't.
 
Nice to see a Jeep guy turn Landcruiser! Buy one of them and never look back.
 
Also chasing down fluid and oil leaks can be a bit costly especially if it's rear main seal ....transmission has to come out.. I work at a Lexus dealership and pay $40 per hour for labor which is employee rate vs $130 per hour and it still cost $800..and another $400 at a local Land Cruiser shop fixing leaks in the front. If it has leaks and needs basic PM's you can add another $400 to $3000 to get it right..
 
Here's my opinion:

There's really no such thing as an average price or anything like that with these vehicles. There are not a lot of them that come available. When they do they don't last long. I've seen guys pay $12,000 for a 20 year old without mods. I've seen guys pay $7500 for heavily modded, really nice rigs. I just paid $1200 for a 94 with 255k on and a little bit of surface rust but runs and drives like a top (for my 13 year old to work on and get ready for when he turns 16).I've had my 92 since new, it has 233k and wouldn't dream of selling it for $6000. When I bought it people told me I was paying too much. I've daily driven it for 16 of its 22+ years.

Just the other day a guy posted a similar question about a rig with 179k and the owner wanted $7500. The truck seemed super clean. He thought the price was too high. Offered $6000. Seller basically laughed at him. Truck sold to someone else a few days later.

Pay what you feel comfortable with and can afford. And then forget about it. Honestly, the $1200 was what I could afford for the 94 I just bought. If he had told me he needed $2500 I wouldn't have been able to buy it. It still would've been a steal in my view but not for me because it would've been more than I could afford.

More than likely there is a $2-3k in base lining/maintenance needed over the next 6-12 months. At minimum. If you do it yourself. Make sure you can afford to do this as well.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:
LS1FJ40 said:
Here's my opinion:

There's really no such thing as an average price or anything like that with these vehicles. There are not a lot of them that come available. When they do they don't last long. I've seen guys pay $12,000 for a 20 year old without mods. I've seen guys pay $7500 for heavily modded, really nice rigs. I just paid $1200 for a 94 with 255k on and a little bit of surface rust but runs and drives like a top (for my 13 year old to work on and get ready for when he turns 16).I've had my 92 since new, it has 233k and wouldn't dream of selling it for $6000. When I bought it people told me I was paying too much. I've daily driven it for 16 of its 22+ years.

Just the other day a guy posted a similar question about a rig with 179k and the owner wanted $7500. The truck seemed super clean. He thought the price was too high. Offered $6000. Seller basically laughed at him. Truck sold to someone else a few days later.

Pay what you feel comfortable with and can afford. And then forget about it. Honestly, the $1200 was what I could afford for the 94 I just bought. If he had told me he needed $2500 I wouldn't have been able to buy it. It still would've been a steal in my view but not for me because it would've been more than I could afford.

More than likely there is a $2-3k in base lining/maintenance needed over the next 6-12 months. At minimum. If you do it yourself. Make sure you can afford to do this as well.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
I'm comfortable with sub $6K as every LC 100 series with 220-230k is $8500+ which gives me $2500-3000 in pocket savings for needed maintenance.
 
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