Newbie Member and Confirmation of LC Choice

[UpNorthMN]

I have been searching nation-wide for about a month for a Land Cruiser to replace my 4runner. The road of life has taken me through '83 and '89 Cruisers, then 4runners– 2000, 2005 and then the 2013 I am turning in. I do not like the 2013 at all.

My quest has been for a 2006 - 2007 cruiser to get the bigger HP. Yesterday I ran into a 2004 model (over the phone) with 30,000 one owner miles at a Toyota dealer. They had just taken it in on trade from an executive.

I put a deposit on the rig, it sounds like an executive-driven one in outstanding condition.

My question is this– for all of you in the know, would you make the same call? Go for the super low-mileage one, even though it has lower HP?

Will fly out in a week to pick it up!

 

[arcteryx]

yes the power difference is mute. 03+ is ideal because of the tranny. get it and enjoy

 

[jLB]

As an 06 owner. The VVTI is nice to have, but the gearing of the 5spd is a more significant improvement (over the 4spd), than the difference between the non-VVTI 5spd and the VVTI 5spd. I'd be just fine with a low milage 03+.

 

[sseaman]

04 with low miles would be a great buy, may need some maintenance based on age versus miles

 

[UpNorthMN]

So here is a maintenance question. Is the timing belt on these engines a miles thing only, or should the age of the belt be concerning?

 

[arcteryx]

So here is a maintenance question. Is the timing belt on these engines a miles thing only, or should the age of the belt be concerning?

Yes, IIRC it's 7 years, so you should plan on changing it.

 

[Sandroad]

A 30,000 mile '04? What a find! That's only an average of 2500 miles per year (depending on when it was built). Does the Carfax check out ok?

 

[UpNorthMN]

Yes it checks out. The dealer knew the owner as well. Traded it for a new one.

It was kept in underground parking at the airport for the executive so when he flew into town he could drive it to a mountain place, then back to airport. Must be rough.

 

[dnp]

Prolly not bad due to lack of use, but due to the inexpensive nature of them, I would CHANGE YOUR HEATER Ts when you do your timing belt!

 

[arcteryx]

Yes it checks out. The dealer knew the owner as well. Traded it for a new one.

It was kept in underground parking at the airport for the executive so when he flew into town he could drive it to a mountain place, then back to airport. Must be rough.

Huh? Mountains in MN? Ive been there and it's pretty flat from what I have seen. There are some hills but no mountains. Unless I am missing something, it sounds like the dealer may be pulling a fast one.

 

[Kofoed]

Huh? Mountains in MN? Ive been there and it's pretty flat from what I have seen.

He is from Louisiana, j/k


What is the selling price?

 

[UpNorthMN]

Not from here, rig is out West. I too will believe it when I see it next weekend.

 

[arcteryx]

Ah, that makes more sense. Keep us posted

 

[UpNorthMN]

Outside

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

Outside

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

Outside

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

Inside

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

Inside

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

Miles

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

Miles

• UpNorthMN
• Dec 11, 2015

 

[UpNorthMN]

OK, I am not new to forums, 500+ posts on other ones. But I am a newbie at these controls! Sorry about the double images. Can't font the edit button.

This is the best rig I've ever owned!

 

[Traskew3]

Amazing!!!!

 

[aging fleet]

Congrats, where were all these crazy low mileage Cruisers when I was searching??

Enjoy the new ride.

 

[PabloCruise]

Congratulations!

 

[SmoothLC]

That looks like a very nice find UpNorth. Hope everything works out.

 

[UpNorthMN]

Thank you. We drove it to Winter Park for Nordic skiing and it was quite the drive over a snow packed pass.

I had a great buying experience with a guy named Nelson Im, the internet sales manager at Stevinson Toyota in Denver. He picked me up at the airport and was a super person to deal with. He said they get a lot of Land Cruisers in at their dealership.