Need help. How to buy rust free LC100 at fair price from the north east.

[Redbarn]

Had you considered a Lexus GX470 pre the model change in 2010 ?
The GX series are sold in the rest of the world, especially Australia, as the Land Cruiser Prado.
They are essentially smaller Land Cruisers & are built like one.
I have both a LC 100 & a GX460. Both are built like tanks.

The GX470s do not fetch a premium like a LC but have a 4.7 liter V8.
The problem of buying trucks from the North East still applies but there will be less competition for a good GX470 than a good LC 100.

 

[katit]

With all due respect to Katit, I dont think you're finding clean vehicles for 7-8k all over the place. I think your price target should be 10-11k and you should try to find it from a trust worthly private seller, and be willing to have it shipped.

I haven't seen "clean" one and if I did I would say 10-11k is very reasonable. I've seen ones sold by dealer for 10-11k or even 15k and I wouldn't touch those myself. Not "all over the place" but they are out there. On 2nd page of this very topic there was a link to one. I've seen them looking good on pics locally and I've seen those listed in CA for those prices. They are out there. But they all will need some kind of work.

NY: I wouldn't buy anything from there for multiple reasons. Bad roads, salt, etc. Many cars with bad history, fake mileage, and so on.

 

[dmac95]

I wouldnt buy a used vehicle from a shady LI dealer either dude. IMO when buying a used vehicle, you buy the seller, not the car.

To get back on track. I think prices have slowly creeped up over the past 2-3 yrs on the clean older 100 series. Another way to look at this is the market is compressing... clean 100 series are becoming clean 100 series, regardless of the year. That makes sense, the depreciation curve has flattened on the early model years.

With all due respect to Katit, I dont think you're finding clean vehicles for 7-8k all over the place. I think your price target should be 10-11k and you should try to find it from a trust worthly private seller, and be willing to have it shipped.

However - I honestly can't tell if this is a vehicle you want to keep, or just somethign thats seems cool right now. I could have a 200 series and mod that instead of my 100 - not a subtle brag, just the facts. I dont want one, I really love my 100. If you just want a vehicle for a couple yrs while you're at this point in your life and then you want to offload it, save yourself the headache and get something thats easier for you to find.

I have a 4runner with crawl control. I've been to the beach a few times here in LI - got stuck/ got out- of course at 40 psi. Anyway, I'm not looking to go off roading. This will be a mall crawler and I'd want to feel good in it. I feel good in the 4runner but I dont like how its getting new addons that Im paying for. Bought it for 37k and it's not 37k of "love".

I want a car that I can look out the window. My 4runner is the opposite - it rides very well - much better than a BMW sedan I had before - and Im stuck between spending 10k on a V8 4runner or 15k on a LC100 taken care of rust free.

To me, it will likely be my car for 3 years + and Im thinking it needs to be sizable, so LC100 it is. i will NOT be doing any mods - that i know of - as I rather spend that extra money on a 3rd fishing motor , and I need this next "lovable" car to get me there. Only thing up from a 4runner seems to be a LC, and 100 series looks to be the most affordable one. So now I am stuck because there are too many rusted out ones in NE and I cant leave my office mid day only to see some dude in AZ tell me the truck has been sold during my plane ticket there. Also, ive called a few dealerships already that hold LC100's and they all seem to bought it at aucito to flip. At that point - id rather go on Copart and do that myself except not to flip - but to keep.

It's taking a lot of day time to do this because 75% of people I call/ask about their cruiser are dumbfounded when I ask for undercarriage photos. They all reply "same rust as any other vehicle". No - its rusted because you didnt protect/coat it from when you bought and now you think Im going to give in to buying that rotting can of steel. No - I wont buyt it and I want to avoid the "Oh would you look at that, sh*t, i could have sworn this was a clean title! darn it how come it says salvage right here! but i swear, it runs!' moment.

When boat buying locally in LI, I went through 30+ boats only to find 1 that is you wont sink in. It's amazing how sellers can be - hence why I despise them. I can only imagine this situation with buying from across USA is going to be even worse.

 

[Roosevelt T]

I haven't seen "clean" one and if I did I would say 10-11k is very reasonable. I've seen ones sold by dealer for 10-11k or even 15k and I wouldn't touch those myself. Not "all over the place" but they are out there. On 2nd page of this very topic there was a link to one. I've seen them looking good on pics locally and I've seen those listed in CA for those prices. They are out there. But they all will need some kind of work.

NY: I wouldn't buy anything from there for multiple reasons. Bad roads, salt, etc. Many cars with bad history, fake mileage, and so on.

While they are out there I think they are the exception, rather than the rule. That being said, thanks for clarifying your post I understand better now.

 

[katit]

Had you considered a Lexus GX470 pre the model change in 2010 ?
The GX series are sold in the rest of the world, especially Australia, as the Land Cruiser Prado.
They are essentially smaller Land Cruisers & are built like one.
I have both a LC 100 & a GX460. Both are built like tanks.

The GX470s do not fetch a premium like a LC but have a 4.7 liter V8.
The problem of buying trucks from the North East still applies but there will be less competition for a good GX470 than a good LC 100.

Taking it waaay off-topic. But I am currently lazily looking for RAV/RX for my daughter. I was thinking GX as I like those a lot. It feels like they are as much or more expensive than LX, maybe because slightly newer.

 

[dmac95]

Had you considered a Lexus GX470 pre the model change in 2010 ?
The GX series are sold in the rest of the world, especially Australia, as the Land Cruiser Prado.
They are essentially smaller Land Cruisers & are built like one.
I have both a LC 100 & a GX460. Both are built like tanks.

The GX470s do not fetch a premium like a LC but have a 4.7 liter V8.
The problem of buying trucks from the North East still applies but there will be less competition for a good GX470 than a good LC 100.

Trunk.

 

[dmac95]

I haven't seen "clean" one and if I did I would say 10-11k is very reasonable. I've seen ones sold by dealer for 10-11k or even 15k and I wouldn't touch those myself. Not "all over the place" but they are out there. On 2nd page of this very topic there was a link to one. I've seen them looking good on pics locally and I've seen those listed in CA for those prices. They are out there. But they all will need some kind of work.

NY: I wouldn't buy anything from there for multiple reasons. Bad roads, salt, etc. Many cars with bad history, fake mileage, and so on.

If I could pick a state(s) where if our enemies across seas (wherever it may be) came to and could destroy, it would be the NY, NJ, CT trio. Take the rust underneath the car as a symbol of the quality of life there. Abysmal, but that is another topic for another thread. I only wish I can leave this place. In mean time- absolutely not buying any car from there not even for free.

 

[medtro]

if they want to wave the flag and ask for 5k more than "worth" by looking at neighboor next door, then ill wait for all of them to go down together.

tide goes in, tide goes out. there is no insult, just reality.

The emails I received from a gentleman in NY with initial DM are very insulting.

 

[dmac95]

The emails I received from a gentleman in NY with initial DM are very insulting.

It amazes me how the people in the 21st century expect the world to be net positive in their favor regardless of their efforts. Tell me something critical, insult or not, unmasked without the bs. I'd take that as a potential learning opportunity instead of crying about it online.

I'm curious, what is worse. Being honest and upfront or concealing things for the sake of calamity? If anyone ever wants to have a philosophical debate, lets have it. I think chaos is reality and calamity is where people want to be because chaos is not desired or too difficult to accept- myself included - so feel free to let me know that I'm an a******. I already know that. Believe it or not - this a* hole dmac thinks some people are idiots, and some people are super helpful and generous.

There's about ~6+ people in this thread that helped me out insanely - and I am in gratitude, but then there are those on opposite spectrum, instead of helping or doing nothing, they leech away at every opportunity - those - I will lash out day or night on - and if I could relive every moment and or mistake - i would do it again.

Examples Include:
1. Boat dealer tried to sell me boat that had painted over rusted bottom with flex in transom.
2. Shady car dealer ( actually 2) tried to hide the fact that they bought their LC salvaged at auction only to add 2k to it and flip for ~6k in profit.
3. "This is cleanest one. A few rust spots" -> orange marmalade underneath.
4. One of our car mechanics can inspect the car for you. No need to send it to another dealer.
5. I swear this engine has 120 PSI when you take it on the water. No way it is showing 75.
6. Ah darn it, I could have sworn that title did not have a lien on it. Tell you what Ill drop the price by 200.

And so they introduce stupidity into this world and I am sending it right back at them.

 

[Hokie LX]

I admit, I didn't read all 5 pages of this thread and don't care to comment on whatever internet drama is ongoing but here's my input on your original question...

The odds of finding a well cared for, rust free truck for a good price that waits around for you to get your due diligence done are not in your favor. Whoever made the comment on Pg 1 about these trucks slowly following the enthusiast collectability status of the 60 and 80 series is correct. They are heading that way and finding good examples is becoming harder and harder. As someone who has bought and sold way too many cars for only having had a license for a decade, and searches nationwide for vehicles on a daily basis, the good deals require immediate action or else they'll be snatched up. Money talks. Deposits go a long way to hold vehicles while you commute but just be sure to sign the appropriate paperwork when giving a deposit.

When I found my truck, I was in Buffalo and the truck was in Atlanta. I caught the ad right after it was posted on CL and told the seller I'd be there the next day after he sent me a couple of pics. Had maintenance records since new, no rust, any little issue was fixed every 5k miles by the dealer during it's normal check-up and it was the color combo I wanted. Sent the owner a deposit, bought a plane ticket and was on the ground in less than 36 hours. By the time I got to his house, he said he had 4 other cash offers for the truck. I drove it home 1000 miles.

The best bet for having someone check out a truck for your without having to "trust" some random shop would be to post a thread in the clubhouse section of this forum that is local to the truck FS and ask someone to please go check it out and report back. I've done this for multiple random people I've never met on the internet before and had a few of them do it for me. You'll find that a lot of folks are willing to help out a stranger when approached correctly.

Another option is to obviously find a Toyota specialist or cruiser shop to have a PPI done.

Best of luck finding your truck. If you wait a little longer, mine may be for sale.

 

[medtro]

It amazes me how the people in the 21st century expect the world to be net positive in their favor regardless of their efforts. Tell me something critical, insult or not, unmasked without the bs. I'd take that as a potential learning opportunity instead of crying about it online.

I'm curious, what is worse. Being honest and upfront or concealing things for the sake of calamity? If anyone ever wants to have a philosophical debate, lets have it. I think chaos is reality and calamity is where people want to be because chaos is not desired or too difficult to accept- myself included - so feel free to let me know that I'm an a******. I already know that. Believe it or not - this a* hole dmac thinks some people are idiots, and some people are super helpful and generous.

Let the unmask begins. I see you are very positive in your emails.

I have more money that you can think of. If you know the value of it - you'd know not to send it to basement dwellers like yourself who ask double the price.

I got money. I can buy it. But then I'd be paying for your food. We need smart people in this world - not idiots who just want to mooch. Get to work. Get a real job. Lay off the french fries because I'm not paying for them.

KBB shows half value.... At this point I know Im not going to buy this from you. We both know you'd need to be an idiot to buy this and that aint me.

I think if you wait long enough though, an idiot will fall into line and hopefully you can sell it.

Best of luck.

 

[jlm43]

Sir, that is you, because only you have a copy of my emails. If your truck is not for sale - then I dont know what to tell you. a 1999 LC is listed on cars.com and thought it was yours.

Nope. Look at my signature. I have a 2005.

 

[dmac95]

Nope. Look at my signature. I have a 2005.

I give up. This week has been... something. One day I will honk at you from my LC