Hello everyone!
This is going to be a long entry. I apologize in advance.
I have a 1999 LX470 that I purchased last summer to replace a 300k Suburban. The history of the truck is that it was bought new in Naples, FL where it lived most of it’s life,and has done stints in Oklahoma and Kansas. I found it on the local list of Craig a few miles from here and decided to see how much better a Toyota is than a Chevy.
Short answer is, a lot better. Better enough that I bought a one owner fully documented 2009 LX570 yesterday. Since we only have enough room in our lives for one giant truck, the 1999 is being prepared for sale.
The truck has been used as a mall crawler and kid mover since new. There is no evidence that it’s ever been off road. The family I bought it from got it exclusively because it says “Lexus” on the back and it’s big. Seems this is very common. We’ve used it much the same way. Mostly highway mileage. Took on a 3400 mile trip to the Race of Gentlemen in NJ (go if you can) and for bike racing, etc.
When I got the truck it had some needs. Most bothersome was a engine speed vibration that created a drone starting at about 70mph and increasing in volume from there. Since it had been used to haul kids, at some point an aftermarket DVD unit was installed on the celling, and some genius hacked the crap out of the center console to do a permanent install of a Nintendo 64.
Since I’ve had the truck, the following has been done:
- New radiator. The original had a big gob of JB Weld on it.
- New center stop light.
- Added second fully functional key.
- Removed the DVD player and installed a salvage dome light (not having a dome light is maddening).
- Sourced (yet to be installed) salvage center console to replace the butchered one. This will restore cupholders to the rear.
- New CV shafts (both)
- New rear rotors, resurfaced front rotors (more on this later).
- Transmission service with filter and Red Line fluid.
- Red line fluid in both diffs and Xfer case.
- New headlight bulbs.
- Sourced (to be installed) metal coolant ‘Tees.’
- New Toyota rear driveshaft assembly (this was the source of the high speed vibration). Original will be included..it has new U-joints on it, probably good for off road.
- Cabin filters.
- Salvage climate control panel. Some of the buttons on the original were sticky / inop. Original included.
- Road force balance.
- One tie rod end and alignment.
- New fan clutch. Original rebuildable unit included.
- Brake fluid flush.
- AHC fluid flush.
- Sourced (yet to be installed) rear control arms. All four.
- Installed new Curt trailer receiver and wiring.
- Installed new Rhino Rack three bar rack. These are the ‘aero’ crossbars.
Due to the vibration issue that took some time to find, this truck is very sorted. There really isn’t anything that hasn’t been looked at closely.
My plan is to install the control arms, ‘tees’ and center console. I’m waiting on a trim piece to go around the aftermarket radio...the trim was glued to the old climate panel so this will dress that back up.
Current mileage is about 217K. I’ve put on 10K since July.
That leaves two unaddressed items:
- The timing belt job was done at 122K in 2011 by the selling dealer. It was inspected when the radiator went in and looks good, but clearly needs done.
- Some uneven braking in the front is back. We resurfaced the rotors but went back with the same pads. I suspect that was a goof. The PO had the brakes done at a local shop and I’m guessing they used junk parts. My plan was to just replace the rotors and pads with quality parts.
After all that, here’s the ACTUAL question:
I’m seeking opinions on how best to get this sold. It’s a great truck and I would prefer it goes to an enthusiast.
Is it better to do the brakes and TB and sell it turnkey, or better to disclose these items and sell as is? What would you do? How would you prefer to find it if you were in the market for a 100?
I’ll get some photos up after I run it through the car wash.
Finally, if you have read this far thank you for sticking with this. We have a lot of vehicles, but none have as passionate and helpful of a community as the TLC and variants. It’s a pleasure to be able to participate here.
This is going to be a long entry. I apologize in advance.
I have a 1999 LX470 that I purchased last summer to replace a 300k Suburban. The history of the truck is that it was bought new in Naples, FL where it lived most of it’s life,and has done stints in Oklahoma and Kansas. I found it on the local list of Craig a few miles from here and decided to see how much better a Toyota is than a Chevy.
Short answer is, a lot better. Better enough that I bought a one owner fully documented 2009 LX570 yesterday. Since we only have enough room in our lives for one giant truck, the 1999 is being prepared for sale.
The truck has been used as a mall crawler and kid mover since new. There is no evidence that it’s ever been off road. The family I bought it from got it exclusively because it says “Lexus” on the back and it’s big. Seems this is very common. We’ve used it much the same way. Mostly highway mileage. Took on a 3400 mile trip to the Race of Gentlemen in NJ (go if you can) and for bike racing, etc.
When I got the truck it had some needs. Most bothersome was a engine speed vibration that created a drone starting at about 70mph and increasing in volume from there. Since it had been used to haul kids, at some point an aftermarket DVD unit was installed on the celling, and some genius hacked the crap out of the center console to do a permanent install of a Nintendo 64.
Since I’ve had the truck, the following has been done:
- New radiator. The original had a big gob of JB Weld on it.
- New center stop light.
- Added second fully functional key.
- Removed the DVD player and installed a salvage dome light (not having a dome light is maddening).
- Sourced (yet to be installed) salvage center console to replace the butchered one. This will restore cupholders to the rear.
- New CV shafts (both)
- New rear rotors, resurfaced front rotors (more on this later).
- Transmission service with filter and Red Line fluid.
- Red line fluid in both diffs and Xfer case.
- New headlight bulbs.
- Sourced (to be installed) metal coolant ‘Tees.’
- New Toyota rear driveshaft assembly (this was the source of the high speed vibration). Original will be included..it has new U-joints on it, probably good for off road.
- Cabin filters.
- Salvage climate control panel. Some of the buttons on the original were sticky / inop. Original included.
- Road force balance.
- One tie rod end and alignment.
- New fan clutch. Original rebuildable unit included.
- Brake fluid flush.
- AHC fluid flush.
- Sourced (yet to be installed) rear control arms. All four.
- Installed new Curt trailer receiver and wiring.
- Installed new Rhino Rack three bar rack. These are the ‘aero’ crossbars.
Due to the vibration issue that took some time to find, this truck is very sorted. There really isn’t anything that hasn’t been looked at closely.
My plan is to install the control arms, ‘tees’ and center console. I’m waiting on a trim piece to go around the aftermarket radio...the trim was glued to the old climate panel so this will dress that back up.
Current mileage is about 217K. I’ve put on 10K since July.
That leaves two unaddressed items:
- The timing belt job was done at 122K in 2011 by the selling dealer. It was inspected when the radiator went in and looks good, but clearly needs done.
- Some uneven braking in the front is back. We resurfaced the rotors but went back with the same pads. I suspect that was a goof. The PO had the brakes done at a local shop and I’m guessing they used junk parts. My plan was to just replace the rotors and pads with quality parts.
After all that, here’s the ACTUAL question:
I’m seeking opinions on how best to get this sold. It’s a great truck and I would prefer it goes to an enthusiast.
Is it better to do the brakes and TB and sell it turnkey, or better to disclose these items and sell as is? What would you do? How would you prefer to find it if you were in the market for a 100?
I’ll get some photos up after I run it through the car wash.
Finally, if you have read this far thank you for sticking with this. We have a lot of vehicles, but none have as passionate and helpful of a community as the TLC and variants. It’s a pleasure to be able to participate here.
