Need Help With some 62 Questions Please

[JTG]

Hello,

Looked at an '88 FJ 62 today in So Cal...$6900, 190,000 miles

Good news: looked stock, straight, original, no rust (?)

Bad News: sunroof no workie, back windows slooooow (seems like motors are going out), anntena doesn't raise, radio no go, new paint.

Price: $6900, think he would take about $6,000.

Thinking of this for 16 year old daughter...this thing is a beast!

Questions:
1. Should I be afraid of electrical stuff (makes me want to think of a 60) and new paint?

2. Thoughts on a 62 for first car for daughter...the thing is a bit of a tank! (I love it but drive too much to DD it myself, looking for an excuse to buy one).

Thanks.

Jim

 

[erics_bruisers]

were sunroofs even available factory or port?

don't waste it on a 16YO -- buy her a ricer and keep the 62 for you!

e

 

[erics_bruisers]

not sure if this is "market", but i got this 3 weeks ago for $3700 --

eric

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=27520

 

[mattlock]

If you thinks she might be rusty (the truck, not your daughter), get out a magnet last time I checked magnets don't work on Bondo.

 

[jjbodean1970]

eric stole his for under market....

dont worry about fresh paint, no biggie, make sure to pull complete carfax report, though

sunroof was factory option as far as i know, but fairly rare. make sure no leaky...

 

[Landpimp]

sunroof was NOT a US spec option, nor was it added at the port, it was dealer(sent out) installed. Personaly I would stay away from a 60-2 with an add on sunroof.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

The add on sunroof is a very good reason to be leery of this one. The slow windows probably just need to be cleaned and lubed. It's a little bit of a hassle, but not too bad. Depends on the girl , but a 62 strikes me as kinda big for a first car.

 

[Landpimp]

there are a 1/2 dozen high school girls driving 62 as there 1st cars in town, in all cases the folks bought the 62 new, and in all but one case the father is a Doctor...........

 

[JTG]

OK, thanks for the input. I think I'll pass on this one and keep looking. Need to re-think my plan to buy a truck and have my daughter drive it. She might destroy half the town in that rig...safe for her though!

 

[mattlock]

You might be right about the 62 being too much truck for your daughter. I wouldn't give up on the idea of a truck though. When I was 16 my Dad tried to sell me on the idea of a 4 banger import 2WD pick-up. I told him he was nuts and instead bought a 1972 VW Westfalia Camper. While I had many fun nights camped out in the driveway, the thing was so unreliable that in two years of ownership I was only able to drive it for a total of six months, between regular breakdowns. Ten years later I have to admit my dad was on to something. Besides my 4WD fun trucks I have had a couple of Toyota 2WD pickups. Let me tell you, if you don't want to constantly be dealing with your daughters rig, buy one. Not only do they rarely s*** the bed, they are CHEAP to operate and when she moves to college she can use it to haul kegs to parties and copious amounts of laundry back home when she visits. If you really want to spend that kind of money on her first car you could get a late 90's or early 00's Tacoma with low milage and air bags. I realize it might be a tough sale to your daughter but it may be worth a shot.

 

[Landpimp]

no no.........I think a 62 is a great rig for your daughter, slow, heavy and safe......

OK, thanks for the input. I think I'll pass on this one and keep looking. Need to re-think my plan to buy a truck and have my daughter drive it. She might destroy half the town in that rig...safe for her though!

 

[jjbodean1970]

oooh, yeah, stay away from aftermkt installed sunroofs - very bad, much leaky

62 is perfect for new drivers, big, slow, tank-like, safe

 

[CSA]

Couple of thoughts, actually 3: (1) Like the others, I would stay away from a 62 with an aftermarket sunroof, especially if it no worky. (2) Who's gonna pay for the gas? 62s get about 12 to 14 mpg. (3) Bear in mind that the truck will probably have some deferred maintenance that will need to be attended to. The little (and not so little) stuff adds up. For instance, the front axle will probably need to be rebuilt if the PO has not already done so. If you can do the work yourself, figure about $150 to $200 for parts. If you can't or don't want to do the work yourself, figure about $750 to $1000 for parts and labor to rebuild the front axle. If (2) and (3) don't bother you, and if your daughter will be happy with a 62, by all means get her one. I love mine.

 

[JTG]

CSA,

You make some great points, all of them bother me a little. I just want her in something that will stand up to all the soccer moms in their Suburbans. But what I really want is to buy a Cruiser for my selfish ass. She would probably be happier with a 4 runner or something smaller. Maybe I'll look into an 80 for the wife to replace POS Astro van and save up for a kick ass 60 project down the road (no big hurry because I'll have the 80). Thanks for the help.

Jim