New Member - thoughts on 2006 GX470 price?

[cfox282]

Greetings all, I've been poking around on here and decided to join.

I've got an opportunity to buy a 2006 GX470 from the second owner for $14k with 150k miles. No accidents. Here's the history.

The first owner owned the car for the first 12 years until the odometer hit 135k miles. He had it serviced at a Lexus dealership exclusively (I was able to confirm), changed oil on regular intervals, changed the transmission fluid, cleaned the fuel system, flushed the brake system, etc. He also had the timing belt and water pump changed at 96.5k miles.

The second owner has owned it for the past 3 years and has averaged 5k miles/yr (extra car) and it now has 150k miles and the following mods:
- put steel wheels and Kumho Venture AT51 tires on it
- deleted the air suspension, and replaced with Bilstein 5100 struts/shocks
- put a rood rack and ladder on it
- new alternator and battery

It does have the nav screen (not ideal), but it is functional.

There is some surface rust and flaking on the frame, but nothing overly concerning (I'd address it this spring).

Thought on the price? What is making me seriously consider it is the impeccable maintenance history.

Thank you!

 

[jiggletits]

My thoughts;

How tasteful the mods are is relative. Bilstein 5100s are a cheap, trashy "lift" kit. It is a $500 lift compared to a real kit like Dobinsons, OME which are closer to $1600-2000. I know, I have had them both. Bilstein 5100 rides like s***. Steel wheels on a GX? Kuhmo tires? More cheap mediocre equipment. Depending what you consider "tasteful", adjust accordingly. Those are not mods I would be interested in.

Any truck in NY is probably going to be less money than out West to begin with simply due to most NY trucks being rust buckets.

Timing belt is at least 2/3s of the way to needing done again, so keep that in mind. If it was 5+ years ago, technically it already needs replaced again. Big maintenance item, find out the date it was done. I have one with 85k miles. Timing belt has been done twice; 40k and 80k. Now that is "impeccable maintenance".

There are still A LOT of well maintained GX470s out there for sale. People who bought these cars new generally aren't the sort of people who skimp on things. Honestly a functioning factory air suspension is superior to any lift kit IMO. They work very well when they work.

I would keep looking for an un-modified, one owner truck with records if it were me.

 

[VSPro9]

Greetings all, I've been poking around on here and decided to join.

I've got an opportunity to buy a 2006 GX470 from the second owner for $14k with 150k miles. No accidents. Here's the history.

The first owner owned the car for the first 12 years until the odometer hit 135k miles. He had it serviced at a Lexus dealership exclusively (I was able to confirm), changed oil on regular intervals, changed the transmission fluid, cleaned the fuel system, flushed the brake system, etc. He also had the timing belt and water pump changed at 96.5k miles.

The second owner has owned it for the past 3 years and has averaged 5k miles/yr (extra car) and it now has 150k miles and the following mods:
- put steel wheels and Kumho Venture AT51 tires on it
- deleted the air suspension, and replaced with Bilstein 5100 struts/shocks
- put a rood rack and ladder on it
- new alternator and battery

It does have the nav screen (not ideal), but it is functional.

There is some surface rust and flaking on the frame, but nothing overly concerning (I'd address it this spring).

Thought on the price? What is making me seriously consider it is the impeccable maintenance history.

Thank you!

thats a pretty fair price and a nice starting point. i wouldnt be upset paying that.

 

[cfox282]

thats a pretty fair price and a nice starting point. i wouldnt be upset paying that.

Thanks - I'm leaning towards pulling the trigger. It has never been off road (the first owner were Ph.D. types from a high net worth town) and the second owner's brother (suspension mechanic) did the air suspension delete and suspension install. The current owner lives in my town and is not an off-roader. Hence, no top of the line suspension when he diid the delete. The mechanic brother also did a new radiator install, as he saw evidence that it was getting close to failure.

So:
- timing/belt and water pump done on time (I know I'll have to do it again in another ~45k miles)
- new radiator ~3 years ago
- new alternator/battery ~6 months ago
- no off-roading
- oil and other fluids changed / serviced regularly
- documented maintenance records
- new rotors/brake pads ~4k miles ago

While the "upgrades" are mediocre, documented maintenance, no accidents, etc. is more important to me.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

Thanks - I'm leaning towards pulling the trigger. It has never been off road (the first owner were Ph.D. types from a high net worth town) and the second owner's brother (suspension mechanic) did the air suspension delete and suspension install. The current owner lives in my town and is not an off-roader. Hence, no top of the line suspension when he diid the delete. The mechanic brother also did a new radiator install, as he saw evidence that it was getting close to failure.

So:
- timing/belt and water pump done on time (I know I'll have to do it again in another ~45k miles)
- new radiator ~3 years ago
- new alternator/battery ~6 months ago
- no off-roading
- oil and other fluids changed / serviced regularly
- documented maintenance records
- new rotors/brake pads ~4k miles ago

While the "upgrades" are mediocre, documented maintenance, no accidents, etc. is more important to me.

My only concern is rust. $14k in today’s market is a good deal provided it isn’t a “rust bucket”. Will they let you get an inspection by a Toyota tech done on it? Might be worth trying. You could always shop around southern states for one with zero rust, it’ll command a little more $$$ but might be worth it.

My 2008 may have a few more miles but it is super clean underneath. I’m about to have my Toyota tech run a full inspection on it and to do the timing/water pump as well before I sell it. When I put it on the market I’ll probably get ~$17k for it since it is a rust free southern/western vehicle in phenomenal mechanical and good cosmetic shape. Hell the factory air suspension is in tip top shape so no need to replace it yet.

 

[cfox282]

My only concern is rust. $14k in today’s market is a good deal provided it isn’t a “rust bucket”. Will they let you get an inspection by a Toyota tech done on it? Might be worth trying. You could always shop around southern states for one with zero rust, it’ll command a little more $$$ but might be worth it.

My 2008 may have a few more miles but it is super clean underneath. I’m about to have my Toyota tech run a full inspection on it and to do the timing/water pump as well before I sell it. When I put it on the market I’ll probably get ~$17k for it since it is a rust free southern/western vehicle in phenomenal mechanical and good cosmetic shape. Hell the factory air suspension is in tip top shape so no need to replace it yet.

It's got surface rust and some flaking here and there on the frame in areas to be expected in the northeast, but nothing compared to what I've seen in the past. And I've restored classic cars, so have a fairly good idea of what I'm looking at. The plan would be -- as I've done with my 4runner -- to wire wheel it and treat it. True steel frames are much easier to address than unibodies (been there).

 

[Jlemmond]

I bought my 2006 with 235k for $11,500. Clean frame, timing belt done, good maint history and a few extra goodies.

However with anything high mileage there will be associated costs even for a toyota/lexus. If you can except that fact you will be ok.

I have no regrets and love it a little more everyday.

 

[cfox282]

I bought my 2006 with 235k for $11,500. Clean frame, timing belt done, good maint history and a few extra goodies.

However with anything high mileage there will be associated costs even for a toyota/lexus. If you can except that fact you will be ok.

I have no regrets and love it a little more everyday.

I hear you and I completely accept that. The way I look at it, I'd be buying something for $14k rather than $20k. So I won't be kicking myself if $2k-$4k worth of issues crop up over the next several years. This would not be a "primary" car, so it would also be ok if off the road for a week here or there. The plan is that it will be shared by my kids (oldest has her permit and will have her license shortly) and will be their gear hauler. They've got lots of gear, which will fund repairs and gas:



I tried to convince them that a mini-van made more sense, but I lost that fight.