wanta100
GOLD Star
Back in a 200-series. Part Two, but this time with a bit more leather.
Planning to use this thread to document my chapter with a 2015 LX570.
First, some background. I made this account "wanta100" more than six years ago. After reading about the legendary Land Cruiser reliability and understated capability, I figured I needed to get my fix. The 100-series felt like a good balance: capable, common, and cheap. Kept my eyes peeled to the 100-series classifieds for quite some time. I was picky - waiting for the right year, color, options, etc. Naturally, as I was looking for usability, practicality, and an "under the radar" 4x4, I went out and bought a G-Wagen. A 2003 G500 popped up local to me, sold by a dealer who happened to be a friend. Took off the chrome, lifted, stacked on 35s, but couldn't shake the stigma for a few years. Certainly didn't want to keep paying the mechanic's kids through college.
Chapter one in a Land Cruiser came following the sale of that G500. With a few more years and a bit more reflection, I realized a 200-series was what I was after. I began looking for a clean 13-15 LC, and again glued myself to the classifieds. Naturally, I wandered.
A few months later, I found myself flying to North Dakota to meet @CarcaineProblems and pick up his cherry 2019 LC. Sold new in Chicago and built by the Ed Martin Toyota team, it was a reach but worth every penny. Magnetic Grey, blacked out trim, BP-51, Slee sliders, Prinsu rack, Baja Designs LEDs, and 34" KO2s. I went right off the deep end. The big, grey, indestructable LC quickly earned the name "Battleship". The Battleship traveled ~30k trouble-free miles through NH, VT, CO, UT, CA, etc. before posting it again for sale here. Over the course of my ownership, I covered nearly 30 states, a handful of national parks, and made some great memories. Regretfully, I did not document any of it - besides my camera roll.
The 2019 "Battleship" was sold to fund a fun car purchase... a 2006 997 C4 that was the subject of a two month, 20,000 mile road trip looking for the best backroads in the lower 48. With a bit of skiing, and a lot of great time with friends, on the way. That's a whole different story...
Recently, I found myself making a move to Kansas City, Missouri after a big career change. I needed something practical, safe, reliable, and ... not too expensive. The 997 is staying in the picture (and may forever). Another G-Wagen? No. Another Cayenne? No way. A sedan? Probably not for me. Enter stage left.. the 200-series Land Cruiser. The search began. This time, a bit frantically, I scanned every Land Cruiser and LX I could find within reasonable range and budget. I needed something quickly. I began to think -- this would be a daily -- it would be nice to try the Lexus this time. It would be even nicer to find a stock one.
I searched coast to coast, and was hoping to find an early LX in the mid-20s. After two weeks of frantic searching, I was close to giving up. Opened AutoTrader to do one last nationwide search ... a 2015 LX 570 posted for sale in my neighborhood within the last 20 minutes. Price, mileage, color were all right. It had to be a joke. Immediately got in touch with the seller and made arrangements to see it the next day. Agreed to buy it, wrote a check, and signed the title on the spot. That was quick.
Now - for what we're all waiting for - some more information on the truck. 2015 LX 570, Silver Lining Metallic. 134k miles. Owned new by Cuonzo Martin during his time as Cal head coach. Traded in at the BMW dealership in Columbia, Missouri following his appointment as Mizzou coach in 2017 with 22,000 miles. Purchased from the BMW dealer by the PO, an older couple who owned four Lexus trucks and needed a safe, reliable rig to transport them from their home in Kansas City, Missouri to their home in Taos, New Mexico. This LX was used along that route for the past six years and over 100,000 miles. When in KCMO, it was parked in the garage next to a white 2017 LX. The more the merrier, I guess.
This will be a daily driver, but as a Land Cruiser its capable of a lot more. I plan to keep the look OEM+, but build out the functionality of the truck as a road trip and exploration vehicle. I was a pro-category mountain biker in a past life (college), and plan to use this rig to help support my exploration of the midwest and mountain west. I also anticipate plenty of trips between KCMO, Telluride, Colorado, and New York City - two places I was lucky to call home prior to Kansas City. Expect a build focused on functionality rather than looks - but as I've mentioned above, I'm not so good at following the rules I set for myself.
Thanks for reading -- watch this thread as a living document of the journey of the big Silver LX.
Planning to use this thread to document my chapter with a 2015 LX570.
First, some background. I made this account "wanta100" more than six years ago. After reading about the legendary Land Cruiser reliability and understated capability, I figured I needed to get my fix. The 100-series felt like a good balance: capable, common, and cheap. Kept my eyes peeled to the 100-series classifieds for quite some time. I was picky - waiting for the right year, color, options, etc. Naturally, as I was looking for usability, practicality, and an "under the radar" 4x4, I went out and bought a G-Wagen. A 2003 G500 popped up local to me, sold by a dealer who happened to be a friend. Took off the chrome, lifted, stacked on 35s, but couldn't shake the stigma for a few years. Certainly didn't want to keep paying the mechanic's kids through college.
Chapter one in a Land Cruiser came following the sale of that G500. With a few more years and a bit more reflection, I realized a 200-series was what I was after. I began looking for a clean 13-15 LC, and again glued myself to the classifieds. Naturally, I wandered.
A few months later, I found myself flying to North Dakota to meet @CarcaineProblems and pick up his cherry 2019 LC. Sold new in Chicago and built by the Ed Martin Toyota team, it was a reach but worth every penny. Magnetic Grey, blacked out trim, BP-51, Slee sliders, Prinsu rack, Baja Designs LEDs, and 34" KO2s. I went right off the deep end. The big, grey, indestructable LC quickly earned the name "Battleship". The Battleship traveled ~30k trouble-free miles through NH, VT, CO, UT, CA, etc. before posting it again for sale here. Over the course of my ownership, I covered nearly 30 states, a handful of national parks, and made some great memories. Regretfully, I did not document any of it - besides my camera roll.
The 2019 "Battleship" was sold to fund a fun car purchase... a 2006 997 C4 that was the subject of a two month, 20,000 mile road trip looking for the best backroads in the lower 48. With a bit of skiing, and a lot of great time with friends, on the way. That's a whole different story...
Recently, I found myself making a move to Kansas City, Missouri after a big career change. I needed something practical, safe, reliable, and ... not too expensive. The 997 is staying in the picture (and may forever). Another G-Wagen? No. Another Cayenne? No way. A sedan? Probably not for me. Enter stage left.. the 200-series Land Cruiser. The search began. This time, a bit frantically, I scanned every Land Cruiser and LX I could find within reasonable range and budget. I needed something quickly. I began to think -- this would be a daily -- it would be nice to try the Lexus this time. It would be even nicer to find a stock one.
I searched coast to coast, and was hoping to find an early LX in the mid-20s. After two weeks of frantic searching, I was close to giving up. Opened AutoTrader to do one last nationwide search ... a 2015 LX 570 posted for sale in my neighborhood within the last 20 minutes. Price, mileage, color were all right. It had to be a joke. Immediately got in touch with the seller and made arrangements to see it the next day. Agreed to buy it, wrote a check, and signed the title on the spot. That was quick.
Now - for what we're all waiting for - some more information on the truck. 2015 LX 570, Silver Lining Metallic. 134k miles. Owned new by Cuonzo Martin during his time as Cal head coach. Traded in at the BMW dealership in Columbia, Missouri following his appointment as Mizzou coach in 2017 with 22,000 miles. Purchased from the BMW dealer by the PO, an older couple who owned four Lexus trucks and needed a safe, reliable rig to transport them from their home in Kansas City, Missouri to their home in Taos, New Mexico. This LX was used along that route for the past six years and over 100,000 miles. When in KCMO, it was parked in the garage next to a white 2017 LX. The more the merrier, I guess.
This will be a daily driver, but as a Land Cruiser its capable of a lot more. I plan to keep the look OEM+, but build out the functionality of the truck as a road trip and exploration vehicle. I was a pro-category mountain biker in a past life (college), and plan to use this rig to help support my exploration of the midwest and mountain west. I also anticipate plenty of trips between KCMO, Telluride, Colorado, and New York City - two places I was lucky to call home prior to Kansas City. Expect a build focused on functionality rather than looks - but as I've mentioned above, I'm not so good at following the rules I set for myself.
Thanks for reading -- watch this thread as a living document of the journey of the big Silver LX.
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