Oakland pre-purchase assistance

[smoothcruiser]

Greetings, any 100 Series afficionados in the Bay area interested and available to help this newbie with a pre-purchase check up on a 2000 Land Cruiser this afternoon near Oakland? It has 107K miles on it. Sounds like there's a chance the timing belt has not been changed. All suggestions for what to inspect will be much appreciated. I'm en route to the vehicle now. Friday the 13th has to be good, right? Thanks for your time!

 

[hankinid]

Read the stuff at sleeoffroad.com as to checking out a used cruiser, as well as the FAQ's in this section of the forum.

Oakland is a bit of a ways from Great Falls, MT...watching your butt in certain areas of Oakland is highly recommended.

Optimally, anybody that volunteers to help you from California will have a concealed carry permit and a mag or 2 of extra ammo.

JK

Stay safe and report back...mileage looks great for that year. Do you have a link to an ad for the truck??

 

[smoothcruiser]

Safe and sound in Oakland. I know my way around urban environments. The deal went south. In a nutshell, unbelievably, the seller tried to jack the price $2000 through two other parties after I landed at the airport, via telephone. She still has not even talked directly to me since yesterday. Her fronts said to me, in so many words, "she made a mistake and agreed to sell too low to you." (This after I had flown to Oakland from GF at the crack of dawn.) It seems the boys talked grandma out of standing by her Craigslist listing price. Ya, Unbelievable! That has to be against the most basic of Craigslist rules; who's to enforce? It was STILL a real good deal at the new price but on principle, I said no thanks with a little extra spice. Chalk one up for live and learn in the Craigslist world, or the world in general I suppose.

So still hunting in the bay area. A world of difference in number of available rigs than around Great Falls. One is a 2003 with 160K, guy's asking $13K+. I think I would enjoy an 03, but that seems high priced to me for that many miles? Another tempter is a 2001 with about same mileage going for $10.5. Also seems a tad high? I'll sleep on these and others. I could really use some sleep.

 

[brosama]

Safe and sound in Oakland.

Be careful out here, especially when dealing with craigslist.

One is a 2003 with 160K, guy's asking $13K+.

If it's in good condition, that's actually a good deal out here.

 

[hankinid]

High prices are definitely the standard in the bay area...hope you find a good one to drive home.

Steve

 

[smoothcruiser]

Thanks. I'm in no big hurry. I talked with some cool owners yesterday. Hope to talk with a few more today.

The 2000 LC I traveled to check out has 106,600, and it was LISTED at $10.5K. Probably needs timing belt and perhaps tires. It turned out to be a mirage. Watch for that one to turn up on Craigslist or elsewhere. The gold-ish color from Alameda. Has a tv screen and pioneer stereo installed. Knowing what I know now, I would not trust the sellers.

 

[Dog]

The deal went south. In a nutshell, unbelievably, the seller tried to jack the price $2000 through two other parties after I landed at the airport, via telephone. She still has not even talked directly to me since yesterday. Her fronts said to me, in so many words, "she made a mistake and agreed to sell too low to you."

Geez bro, that sucks. Some people are just scumbags. I have been really lucky with CL transactions (MANY of them), with few exceptions. Since I tend to default to hoping for the best in people, these examples always disappoint. You were smart to walk away.

Best of luck in your search - the right one will find you.

 

[smoothcruiser]

Thanks for the kind words. I've had nothing but good luck with CL, too, including buying and selling a couple vehicles. This recent gaff is no big loss other than the money to get here, etc. Maybe I should have seen it coming but I don't think so. The experience has not deterred my faith in Craigslist or other people.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
That really does suck. All the same, $12,xxx would remain an excellent price considering how low the miles are. Not a big fan of gold and it often fetches less on the used market.

The pricing on the 2003 is honestly quite good and 160k is actually low mileage for it being 12 years old. Also gain an additional forward gear, but lose the ability to ditch the factory nav setup.
Best,
Jack

 

[stevema1214]

What a bummer. I'm in Burlingame, just across the bay from Oakland. Sorry I didn't see this in time to help. I had a 2000. Now have an '07. Finishing up my slee front bumper install today if u happen to be looking at trucks on the San Mateo side of the bay.

 

[mcgaskins]

Flying in to buy something is tough when you don't have full information and a tentative deal beforehand. It's a long story, but I flew out to Oklahoma City a couple weeks ago to buy a vehicle I had negotiated on for 5 days straight and the dealer changed the deal the second I got there. I left pretty po'd about 10 minutes after I got to the dealer wasting a full day and several hundred bucks. It's hard to trust people when you don't get full information and details which is why I try to list a ridiculous number of pictures and be fully transparent when I sell something - I just wish other people were as straightforward.

 

[smoothcruiser]

Success!! (I think. Time will tell.) Yesterday I looked at and drove a 2001 LX470 w/138K miles in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento. Took it to a dealer for inspection - cracked manifold, cv boots and rear shocks leak. Else-wise reportedly in great condition. The paint and interior are clean, electrical all seems tight. Negotiated to what I thought was a reasonable price all things considered. I'm in Elko now, sitting in a cheap hotel with my "new" LX470 parked right outside, on my way home. That vehicle is driving like a dream on the freeway. Quietly ran over Donner Pass nice and smooth with what felt like hardly an effort. It was beautiful and scary warm outside for mid-February the whole way, had the moon-roof open. I think one of those little door speakers might be blown, other than that the stereo sounds great. I like the relative simplicity of the knobs and controls in the console, I was afraid a Lexus would be overly tricked out. One of the perks of 15 year old technology. I feel like I've been on the trip for a week. I'll be home tomorrow. I think my wife is going to love this 100 series ride, including the color. It's the "vapor blue metallic." I really like the color even if it's not popular. (I don't see many vehicles painted like it.) Reminds me of the sky, especially at dusk. "Oh ya, they call me the breeze . . . " -- J.J. Cale

 

[Toyo72]

Congrats @smoothcruiser !!

 

[Dog]

Awesome, man. Glad the trip worked out afterall.

But, where are the pics?

 

[smoothcruiser]

Flying in to buy something is tough when you don't have full information and a tentative deal beforehand. It's a long story, but I flew out to Oklahoma City a couple weeks ago to buy a vehicle I had negotiated on for 5 days straight and the dealer changed the deal the second I got there. I left pretty po'd about 10 minutes after I got to the dealer wasting a full day and several hundred bucks. It's hard to trust people when you don't get full information and details which is why I try to list a ridiculous number of pictures and be fully transparent when I sell something - I just wish other people were as straightforward.

That's crazy, you recently had a similar experience. What is it with people who make agreements in such context and then change the rules in the middle of the game? Sounds like you dealt with it well. Yes, we can learn a lot about selling used rides through the process of buying them. There are hundreds of aspects to buying and selling a used car or truck. Flying to a place intensifies the buying because time is more limited than at home. Also the community connection is lost when the buyer is on travel. I will try to avoid doing it again unless I know and absolutely trust the seller(s) before traveling.

 

[RND1]

Success!! (I think. Time will tell.) Yesterday I looked at and drove a 2001 LX470 w/138K miles in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento. Took it to a dealer for inspection - cracked manifold, cv boots and rear shocks leak. Else-wise reportedly in great condition. The paint and interior are clean, electrical all seems tight. Negotiated to what I thought was a reasonable price all things considered. I'm in Elko now, sitting in a cheap hotel with my "new" LX470 parked right outside, on my way home. That vehicle is driving like a dream on the freeway. Quietly ran over Donner Pass nice and smooth with what felt like hardly an effort. It was beautiful and scary warm outside for mid-February the whole way, had the moon-roof open. I think one of those little door speakers might be blown, other than that the stereo sounds great. I like the relative simplicity of the knobs and controls in the console, I was afraid a Lexus would be overly tricked out. One of the perks of 15 year old technology. I feel like I've been on the trip for a week. I'll be home tomorrow. I think my wife is going to love this 100 series ride, including the color. It's the "vapor blue metallic." I really like the color even if it's not popular. (I don't see many vehicles painted like it.) Reminds me of the sky, especially at dusk. "Oh ya, they call me the breeze . . . " -- J.J. Cale

Congrats! The cracked manifold and cv boots are pricy repairs - did you have the seller take care of these issues before you drove home? And, of course post some pics!

 

[smoothcruiser]

Congrats! The cracked manifold and cv boots are pricy repairs - did you have the seller take care of these issues before you drove home? And, of course post some pics!

Thank you. The seller took care of these issues by lowering his price to account for predicted costs of the needed work. I didn't bring the camera. Pics to come.

 

[mcgaskins]

That's crazy, you recently had a similar experience. What is it with people who make agreements in such context and then change the rules in the middle of the game? Sounds like you dealt with it well. Yes, we can learn a lot about selling used rides through the process of buying them. There are hundreds of aspects to buying and selling a used car or truck. Flying to a place intensifies the buying because time is more limited than at home. Also the community connection is lost when the buyer is on travel. I will try to avoid doing it again unless I know and absolutely trust the seller(s) before traveling.

Well I'm glad I took my own advice and booked a return flight just in case I needed it, and I flew SW which has a great cancel/change policy. I had a feeling something better would turn up, and literally one week later the perfect truck at an unbelievable deal popped up 8 miles from home. Glad to hear your travels paid off! That blue color is pretty rare and it's super cool!

 

[smoothcruiser]

Here are some pics of the "new" LX470 2001 that I purchased two days ago. It rode so smooth from Sacramento to Great Falls. I swear it seemed to run better with time and distance. Did not drink as much gas as I feared it would given the exhaust manifold issue, I estimate about 15mpg. My wife digs it, too. I stopped in Fernley, NV and picked up three CDs for the ride: The Band's Greatest Hits, Grateful Dead Greatest Hits, and the J.J. Cale collection recently produced by Clapton. The sunset over the Highlands southwest of Whitehall in the Jefferson Valley was amazing. It was great to get home with the rig, and man was I fried. Like a cajun hush puppy.

 

[DFXR]

Sorry I missed this, but then again it sounds like the sellers here were losers, and you scored in Sacto. Congratulations. Probably passed you going the opposite way on I-80 Sunday, coming back from a very summer-like experience in Tahoe.

Oakland is not too bad if you know where not to go... and keep in mind that the losers in this story were actually in Alameda.