Should I Buy 95 LC?

[bluto]

Just registered today. I have been a frequent visitor for since Jan 05 - learning as much as I could. I will be test driving an 95 LC with 154K miles on it tomorrow. Saw the car today as they were safety inspecting and smog testing. Spoke with tech and he kind of nodded that the truck was in good cond engine wise. Passed smog (California) test. Exterior wise - 5x2 dent near L taillight, parking misshap with red object (car?rubbed off on truck) resulting in rear fender flare halfway detached, and rear lens grill loose but intact. Salesman called this evening and told me this is what the tech checklist contain: shimmy with steering, pulls to left, front brake pads need replacing, and oil leak from power steering pump. This is a Toyota dealership and the LC is stock and OEM front and rear lockers (294). Should I buy this truck and if I do is the leak something I should be wary about? Mech skills very limited but willing. Thanks. btw - basically a fresh trade yesterday that is why they were still inspecting it either for their lot or wholesale for auction (manager said this is possible wholesale if I did not show up b/c of mileage.) Whew what a post.

 

[tarbe]

Really all depends on the price. Have you shopped around enough in your market to know what a fair price is for a given condition/age/mileage cruiser?

I'd be more worried about the cause of the shimmy/pull than a ps pump leak. But that's just me

 

[bluto]

Initially the internet sales guy quoted $10600 - but I plan on lowering that tomorrow if I can - maybe to high 8K or mid 9k. Is it a good buy for that price? I am sick of looking around a 50 mile radius of where I live. LA is full of non locked LC (LX450) and most of them are in small corner used car lots. For the shimmy and pull, is that a balance and alignment fix?

 

[OZCAL]

Initially the internet sales guy quoted $10600 - but I plan on lowering that tomorrow if I can - maybe to high 8K or mid 9k. Is it a good buy for that price? I am sick of looking around a 50 mile radius of where I live. LA is full of non locked LC (LX450) and most of them are in small corner used car lots. For the shimmy and pull, is that a balance and alignment fix?

Hey TX it sounds like you are familiar with Lincoln Blvd's row of cars...

Echoing what you read above, the front end pulling sounds like a problem if the Toyota dealer can't fix it super fast. No matter how hard I hit stuff, my front end and steering wheel remain straight.

My gut reaction is that if these details weren't fixed by the previous owner, he probably wasn't springing for the regular service either, which could be problematic at 150K miles.

I think you can ask a US Toyota dealer to print up service records from the VIN.

Good luck and welcome

David

 

[cmtierney]

I too am new to the LC scene...

I've been watching the LA market for a couple of years and most of what I've found advertised is rough to say the best. The approach I took was a bit agressive but worked nicely.

I found a Manhattan Beach soccer mom and asked if she wanted to sell. It turned out she was looking to get a new LX470 and didn't want to deal with anything more than a trade in on her 95 LC with 90k miles. Absolutely clean. No lockers but also no deferred maintenance other than tires in 6-12 months.

Best of luck!!!!!

-mt

 

[OZCAL]

I too am new to the LC scene...

I've been watching the LA market for a couple of years and most of what I've found advertised is rough to say the best. The approach I took was a bit agressive but worked nicely.

I found a Manhattan Beach soccer mom and asked if she wanted to sell. It turned out she was looking to get a new LX470 and didn't want to deal with anything more than a trade in on her 95 LC with 90k miles. Absolutely clean. No lockers but also no deferred maintenance other than tires in 6-12 months.

Best of luck!!!!!

-mt

Good move!

 

[Romer]

I would ask them to diagnose the problem. Being a dealership they should be able to tell you. If its the front axle, they would probably charge you $1400 or you could do it yourself for $240. You can take your choise, have them take off the price THEY would charge or have them throw in the Front Axle rebuild in the price along with new rotors and brake pads.

This is the type of service you would probably need to do anyways after you buy it.

If you have them do it, then you can make sure they fix the problem before you take delivery.

 

[bluto]

Thanks. If it was not for the f/r lockers, I would'nt be looking at this truck. Been looking since Jan and most of available CA LC overpriced and no f/r lockers. This is a CA truck and no previous recorded accidents according to carfax. The manager I spoke with told me that the vehicle just came in yesterday and they just started to do inspection on it today. Because of the high mileage they don't usually keep it unless it is perfect in/out based on the inspection. No tears on seat like others I saw. If I was not interested it would be wholesaled. Will sell though "As Is" to me with the norm of prep it for buyer and detail if I decide to buy. If I don't buy from them, the truck will end up somewhere I might end up looking at anyway. Thanks for the info - will find out how bad the shimmy and pull tomorrow when I test drive it.

 

[bluto]

I also have been doing this - imagine a guy doing a u turn and trying to catch up to a lady going in or out of an LC/LX in the mall park lot. Most say they need it b/c of kids(7seat) and not selling in the near future. If it does'nt go well tomorrow, I will persevere til then. Thanks everybody - hopefully the next post I will have one too.

 

[ranma21]

I think you shouldn't pay more than $8k for it. I got mine for $8200 with 127k miles a week ago, is a 95 as well. Good luck!!

 

[Jim_Chow]

How about hanging out at the South Coast Plaza and trying to spot a mall cruiser? Once I was driving on the 405 around Westminster and saw this older man driving a pristine white LX450 at like 50mph on the freeway. The way he was driving, that rig probably never saw anything over 60mph in it's life! I have seen a gray 80 here in Tucson on a couple of occasions that was absolutely immaculate (must have garaged all the time).

 

[lahar50]

I am new here to.There is not a lot of L.C. here in Indiana.I went to Fl. to get mine with lockers.found it on Ebay I am happy with it.

 

[ultimauk]

Just registered today. I have been a frequent visitor for since Jan 05 - learning as much as I could. I will be test driving an 95 LC with 154K miles on it tomorrow. Saw the car today as they were safety inspecting and smog testing. Spoke with tech and he kind of nodded that the truck was in good cond engine wise. Passed smog (California) test. Exterior wise - 5x2 dent near L taillight, parking misshap with red object (car?rubbed off on truck) resulting in rear fender flare halfway detached, and rear lens grill loose but intact. Salesman called this evening and told me this is what the tech checklist contain: shimmy with steering, pulls to left, front brake pads need replacing, and oil leak from power steering pump. This is a Toyota dealership and the LC is stock and OEM front and rear lockers (294). Should I buy this truck and if I do is the leak something I should be wary about? Mech skills very limited but willing. Thanks. btw - basically a fresh trade yesterday that is why they were still inspecting it either for their lot or wholesale for auction (manager said this is possible wholesale if I did not show up b/c of mileage.) Whew what a post.

OK I can't tell you whats wrong with that vehicle but I just fixed the exact same problems on mine.

Shimmy was a lose wheel bearing, and the pull was a combo of sticking caliper piston and pads.

As for the price well, not in a milion years. I always take the price of 80 LC and add $3000 for repairs on top of that, for starters.

I hate to say it but 80's and 100's are just starting to converge in price with the above forumla.

 

[tarbe]

I hate to say it but 80's and 100's are just starting to converge in price with the above forumla.

This could be the start of another 80 vs 100 fight! hehe

txkndu

Do your best to resist getting frustrated. Be patient...it will pay off handsomely when you do get one...not saying this one won't work out...you just have to get the price to match the condition.

If they are going to wholesale this vehicle, I can't imagine they will be getting much over $7K or so, just based on what I'm hearing in this thread. Anything over that (taking into account any cost they have selling it to you vs wholesale) will be gravy for them.

Play hardball on the price. What is the worst that can happen? They counter you.

You'll be glad you did after you spend the money on the knuckle, bearing and brake re-build.

 

[whodat]

Do your best to resist getting frustrated. Be patient...it will pay off handsomely

Are you the guy who puts those little white paper messages in the cookies at the Chinese restaurants?

 

[SR.GRINGO]

I think you should wait for a lower mileage cruiser/LX with no problems. The PO could have hit something hard to make it pull to the left like that. Wait for one with lockers--most people have no idea what they are so it shouldn't affect the price. Keep in mind when I was looking I checked out the whole U.S. and turned out buying one from the bay area. You should look a little further away it is cheap to use DAS auto shippers--prices have fallen a ton recently look harder amigo One in nice cond is more likely to have been taken care of in my opinion......

 

[tarbe]

Are you the guy who puts those little white paper messages in the cookies at the Chinese restaurants?

Good one! It does kinda read like one of those "fortune cookies", doesn't it?

 

[OZCAL]

Are you the guy who puts those little white paper messages in the cookies at the Chinese restaurants?

They are called "fortunes"

David