Selling Tips or Diesel

[landtoy80]

Wife went and filled the tank $48 and its only going to get worse
If gas gets any worser (and it will) it will cost $100+++ for a weeking of wheeling, just for the gas.
I can afford the extra $$$ but it will take $$$ away from my other addictions

We have been thinking of replacing the 80 with a more gasonomical vehicle BUT the $48 to fill the tank was the last straw.
If we sell the 80, what is the best way to go:
1) Sell it as is.
2) Remove the ARB, Slee running board sliders/t-case saver.
3) Remove the Xterrains with stock used tires.

Are you better off with option 2 and/or 3 and sell them out right?
As BlueBook gives you $0 for your bolt on options, unless you sell it to someone that knows what they are, you end up giving them away, right?

OR

If Christo (or someone else) would import some Toyota diesel motors (that bolt in with minor fabing) (and improve MPG's) I would be able to keep the 80.
With the price of rebuilding the 1FZ and the price gas, Diesel may pay for its self.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

You are looking at 15K Canadian for a proper install, price does vary a little on the engine.

The boys at G&S have I think two 1HD-Ts, they are claimed to get around 22MPG, the fabled 1HD-FT should get you 28MPG(none available at this time).

15K(12.5US?) can buy a lot of gas, so I guess you could look at it as a long term investment.

 

[Junk]

Not to mention price. I could be wrong, but hasn't diesel spiked a lot in price lately?

 

[Junk]

Kurt, I'd pull everything you can, sell the pieces then toss it up on ebay

 

[Kalawang]

Hang loose for a while. You're just feeling bad and need time to settle in and rethink. Gas cost is truly shocking but it's never a good idea to make plans while you are in shell shock.

When your mind is steady, do the pencil and paper thing and compare the costs of your alternatives. Frankly, I think looking for an income improvement will be more productive in the long run.

Kalawang

 

[IdahoDoug]

I suspect the money you'll get for it will also be adjusted down for the current state of gas prices. In other words, just as you're wanting to sell the 80 to save gas money, its value has gone down and the value of more economical vehicles has gone up. Today's markets are becoming more and more efficient, so you may end up with very little money saved in the end. Watch eBay prices over the next month or so and you'll see what I mean. There will be lots of gas guzzlers for sale at fire sale prices. Don't be a lemming - stay where you are.

I paid an astounding $79 to fill the 80 in Vancouver, BC Monday. That was about $65 US and it's because I chose the 94 octane at a Chevron station just for fun. Yeah, that was pricey, but it didn't make me want to run out and sell the 80 and walk away from all the good aspects of owning it (safety, capability, economical maintenance, reliability).

DougM

 

[landtoy80]

I haven't 4wheeled the 80 on over a year, its a W-mart wife Cruiser for now. And now that I have the 62, it will be a very long time till it 4wheels again.
I have done the math. The $$$ saved on gas will make the payment on the newer vehicle.
Then there is the 255,000 mi. The cost of a rebuild/shortblock and head rebuild is $$$$$$$$$$$.

KBB.com says the trade in is $5600. Book price $8000. Retail price $11,000
Me thinks these prices are high but I haven't been following the price of them.
With the gas high, the price should be dropping.

I don't want to sell it BUT unless I sell the 62 and buy HER a $1500 car (not a good idea) the 80 will have to go.

 

[CharlieS]

The best bet, if you're going to sell, is to ship all of your aftermarket bits to me.

Seriously, though, you are looking for fuel economy this is the wrong vehicle. Check out a VW golf 4 cyl, civic or something similar. My wife's old jetta got 30 mpg pretty much all the time.

The land cruiser is a gas hog. However, for me it is an improvement, I came from a V10 gas Ford F250 (10 mpg) the land cruiser seems economical

The new 4 runnners get decent mileage for a 6 cyl and they have about the space of an 80. Not sure the economics would work out, since the purchase price is so high.

I've found that engine conversions (I've done 3) always cost more to do than they save you even when you consider the fuel savings of a diesel swap, it takes a long time to recoup $10K when you are talking about saving pennies per mile.

Good luck.

Charlie

 

[e9999]

it so happens that I just looked at the numbers I had worked out for cost of ownership.
Having the 80 on top of a DD costs very little more than just the LC alone.
Of course, having both is quite a bit more than just having a DD.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I penciled out buying my 2nd 80 vs keeping the Subaru wagon I sold. My monthly expenses went up about $130 including gas, larger tires, more oil, etc.

DougM

 

[Jim_Chow]

I'd garage the 80 as a weekend rec/road trip vehicle, and buy a honda civic for daily commuting. These days, I feel fortunate that my lifted 1st gen 4-cyl 4runner w/ ARB /Kaymar bumpers/sliders still gets 23.5 mpg at 180K mi (running chevron 91 and synthetic everything else). Still, I drive the honda prelude to work 'cause it gets 31mpg and still puts out 200 horses, and I have to drive 40-45 mi/day. It adds up. If I drove a LC, it would more than double my fuel costs (3.5 gal/day vs. 1.5 gal/day). For me, paying $7+/day just to get to work and back is ludicrous! But you shouldn't feel guilty paying $50 for gas on the weekends since you're having fun! (and fun costs money, right?) How much fun is driving to work? And that's 5 days/week rather than 2 days.

 

[arcteryx]

IdahoDoug stated an important fact aout the 80, safety. Being that I drive the Honda as my DD, I am able to lower my trips to the gas station. The wife drives the 80 during the week, mainly to WMart, or taking the kids to activities. But on the weekend, we take family trips to various locations. I knew the 80 was safe before I bought it, but after reading the thread by loquito where his truck was totaled, I will not sell it. The comfort I have driving it with my family far outweighs the cost of gas.

However, I too have considered an alternative. But for the same reason as I stated, the thought dissipates very fast.

Good luck with whatever you do. And, if you want to sell some aftermarket items, PM me please!!

 

[Exiled]

For those of you considering a diesel conversion, take into account that the price of oil will likely continue to rise (whether steeply or slowly remains to be seen) throughout the rest of the year and probably do the same next year. Rising Chinese and Indian demand, instability in Venezuela, and no short-term production expansion foreseen, not to mention the rampant speculation and the near-rape margins of the oil companies are all to blame. The fact of the matter is, if $48 is a lot for a tank, wait until it's $55, $65 or $80 to fill up. By then, a lot more of us will be justfying the diesel conversion and competition for available engines is going to get fierce.

I'm not going to give up my Land Cruiser, but I do daily-drive a diesel TDI Jetta that gets about 40 MPG (more when my wife drives it), I put $25 worth of diesel in it every five weeks.

I almost bought a '97 80 series last year for my wife, but the mileage it got killed the deal. I bought her an '04 4x2 4Runner with the I-Force and it gets a consistent 20 MPG (she drives it exclusively). Since the 80 series wasn't going to get wheeled at all, I couldn't justify the fuel consumption, I need to offset the outrageous fuel mileage of my SOA FJ62.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

I hear your pain, we filled up here in Canuck land for a mear 78$.

Been thinking of downsizing, thankfully my BJ42 is such a great run around town vehicle which gets 30MPG.


Thinking my next project is a real cheap 80 with a blown engine or really high milage, that would make the diesel swap doable for me.

One local is making bio and reaping the benifits.

 

[Junk]

Buy a BJ42, 45, 70 etc

 

[aamiggia]

I just went through the same thing after my work transfered me to a city 100 km away. The 80 had to go since it was costing over $90/week in gas (~1.5 tanks). I convinced my wife that it was a good idea to keep the Cruiser and buy a cheap DD.

If you have more money than I do I would suggest any VW with the 1.9 TDi (49+ mpg w/ 5 spd) not just the regular turbo diesel. The TDi is a leap of engineering marvel in diesel technology compared to the indirect inject turbo diesel. They became available in the US in the 1997 Passat and all of the VW's from '99. The best bang for the buck is a 1997 Passat TDi. They were still made in Germany, they have piss poor resale in the US, and they are built like tanks.

If you really want a '83 BJ42 I have a line on one that is in good shape but rusty. I think 30 mpg for a 3B is a little high.

Oh, and a newer FZJ80 and good driving habits will net you 17-18 mpg which is not too far off the 1HDT-F @ 22, especially when diesel is more expensive.

 

[brownbear]

also make sure that you have done your part to get the best mileage out of your vehicle. tires are at the correct pressure, air filter, fuel, spark plugs. get all the crap you don't need out of it. weigh less. as well if you don't need giant fn tires, take them off, go stock size. drive like a normal person, not some demon in a hurry. ya like we need to rush to walmart????

Diesel is nice if you plan on making your own fuel or running veg oil. then you will make back the difference in conversion price. otherwise diesel is the same price.

 

[Critter]

A diesel conversion would be cool but not the way to go. The price of diesel is as high as super (high grade) around here.

Factor that in with the price of the conversion and you'd never break even on the diesel, not anytime soon atleast.

I think your best bet would be to hit the autotrader and look for a civic that you can drive around till it dies. Low maintaince, high gas mileage, and usually cheap used.