Opinions on 1993 Landcruiser

[phoolio]

Hello all! I recently moved from Raleigh, NC to Corona, CA. All my stuff and vehicles are still in NC while I fix up the foreclosed home i purchased in CA. We are staying at my sister-in-law's house while i get the house fixed up. I will not be retrieving our vehicles from NC until late Feb. Until then, I need something to haul supplies and my family. I found a 1993 Landcruiser on Craigslist here that has over 250k miles and the seller is asking $3500 for it. He says it needs new brakes and tires and other than that it runs great. I am going to try to take a look at it tomorrow, but I am hoping some of you can give me some insight as to what I should be looking out for in a Landcruiser of this age and mileage. Thanks!


edit: This is going to be a very short term daily driver for me. I intend to only use this vehicle until i get my FJ here from NC, after which i plan to sell it.

 

[jfz80]

its got the 1fzfe so the bubble test revealing the headgaskets integrity would be a good one.
Check the obvious like undercarriage for leaks and knuckles for indication of necessity for a rebuild.
Two were just bought here with less miles and for less money, but its not the california market.

Id offer 2800 if it was nice and go get you some tires and brakes and enjoy.

 

[addicted56]

I'll help you even more.

Forget the 80 all together and get yourself something that is really going to help. You need a truck...stop kidding yourself and go find an old ford for a couple thousand bucks. It will haul twice as much cost half as much and probably give you half the hassle.

For instance...my 1997 ford window motors go up super quick..my LX450...barely work...my front end I just rebuilt for the first time at 220K...my 220K LandCruiser has been done3-4 by this point. My Brake Pads...30 bucks...my LX450...NOT, my sun visors work..my LX450 don't...my speakers are still good in my ford...my LX450 NOT.

If you are really only going to keep this for a few months and you are renovating a house (no matter how much needs to be done)...you are better served by a truck..heck it would probably be cheaper to insure and get better fuel mileage.

The Land cruiser is only good for two things....going around the world and hitting the trails.

 

[jfz80]

someones on the soapbox again

I was going to recommend a truck as well. One in particular to my 92 2wd that for sale until I noticed the remark "and carry my family" and the inner cruiser nut in me agreed with your decision.

I see both sides but comparing Addicted's 80 to an unlifted, unmolested, unflopped, unragged rig is not fair.

 

[addicted56]

someones on the soapbox again

I was going to recommend a truck as well. One in particular to my 92 2wd that for sale until I noticed the remark "and carry my family" and the inner cruiser nut in me agreed with your decision.

I see both sides but comparing Addicted's 80 to an unlifted, unmolested, unflopped, unragged rig is not fair.

I know I'm on my soapbox often but I just can't help it. Byproduct of my job. I'm comparing my wife's babies LX450. I can fit 6 in my CrewCab Ford. Unless you are under 4' I can only fit 5 in the Land Cruiser and then nowwhere to store anything. Not to mention I get about 50% better fuel mileage to boot, can tow a house, and insurance is cheaper and I don't even have airbags.

I love the cruisers for many reasons. Daily driving or work vehicle is not one of them. But for 3K you can't go to wrong on the thing.

 

[lt1fire]

I know I'm on my soapbox often but I just can't help it. Byproduct of my job. I'm comparing my wife's babies LX450. I can fit 6 in my CrewCab Ford. Unless you are under 4' I can only fit 5 in the Land Cruiser and then nowwhere to store anything. Not to mention I get about 50% better fuel mileage to boot, can tow a house, and insurance is cheaper and I don't even have airbags.

I love the cruisers for many reasons. Daily driving or work vehicle is not one of them. But for 3K you can't go to wrong on the thing.

100% agree and correct. If you need something to haul stuff there isn't a toyota available (exept the new tundra) that will come close to or hold a candle to a big domestic truck. Especially if you need to haul people in it.

No substitute for it.

 

[lt1fire]

The Land cruiser is only good for two things....going around the world and hitting the trails.

looking good, making people go broke and pull their hair out