Starting Point - Looking for First Land Cruiser

[conventharvest]

I hope this is the right place to post this thread, apologies if not!

I'm currently looking at purchasing a vehicle, upgrading from an ’03 Camry.
I have a pretty low budget, capped at about $6-7k, but I love Land Cruisers.

IH8MUD has been indispensable in getting some footing, but I have some questions. I’ve found some GX470’s around that fit my budget and I love their design. Is there anything I should be wary of in an early 2000’s GX470’s (common problems, tricky model years, etc.)? Is there any other cruiser I should look at with my small budget? I’ll be using the vehicle around town 90% of the time, but will take it camping, won’t be doing much off-roading though. I don’t have much experience with cars and I know finding something that fits what I can spend is going to require some maintenance upfront and a lot of upkeep and learning on my feet. Looking forward to all the learning and giving a vehicle some TLC and eventual upgrades, but don’t want an unreliable money-pit. Any words of advice or direction would help and maybe I need a reality check on how much I’ll be able to accomplish with my budget. Thanks!

 

[IwantPrado]

Alright my man,

Let me be honest with you. You have a fairly low budget to get a daily driver that is in good shape and will not cost you another $1-2K in repairs/maintenance. I am not saying it cannot be done, but expect to get a 2003-2005 with 200-300+k miles. The truck you will get will likely require some money dumped in it right away (tires, brakes, filters, fluids, and other essentials).
Since you have been browsing these forums, you have likely seen the common higher-end maintenance expenses, such as timing belt, radiator, rear suspension replacement (new bags and struts vs coil spring conversion) and secondary air pump. So if you buy the cheapest truck in the nation, a 2003-2004 GX with 250+k miles for $5,000, be prepared to spend enough to nearly exceed your budget. If you buy a solid $7,000 truck, still expect to spend $800-$1,000 (even if it is on new tires) in the first 6-12 months.
Now onto the common issues. 2003s have an advantage of having a regular transmission oil dipstick. 2005s and newer have VTTi, which gives you extra 45+ horsepower. To save money in the future, get a non-navi truck, so you can easier upgrade to a newer headhunt and still retain your HVAC controls in case if factory unit dies (there are many more options for affordable double-din replacements vs single din or tesla-style units). Absolutely avoid trucks from the rust belt! I won't elaborate on that, I hope you know what I mean....
Also, look at FJ Cruisers and 4Runners. The only way to get a V8 is a 4th gen 4Runner (2003-2009).
Anyway, I do not want to discourage you from looking for and buying one, just be patient and save some money to buy the newest truck you can find with the lowest mileage you can afford.
Good luck sir! Looking forward to welcoming you to the community. Please post photos and share your story once you acquire a truck you desire.

 

[landwagon]

03 to 09 are 4th gen 4Runners.
But that’s where its at to get in the cheapest.
Fj cruiser are higher then gx470s.

 

[IwantPrado]

@ landwagon: "FJ cruiser are higher quality then gx470s" - how do you gauge that? They both are are on the same platform and are assembled in the same plant in Japan. If anything, I sure would expect the opposite, but I'm not sure where you're getting at. FJ>GX>4Runner? Please elaborate

 

[landwagon]

I changed I didn’t see it till after, there not.
Had both there about the same to me.
It was a mistake.

 

[Diff Kraken]

I hope this is the right place to post this thread, apologies if not!

I'm currently looking at purchasing a vehicle, upgrading from an ’03 Camry.
I have a pretty low budget, capped at about $6-7k, but I love Land Cruisers.

IH8MUD has been indispensable in getting some footing, but I have some questions. I’ve found some GX470’s around that fit my budget and I love their design. Is there anything I should be wary of in an early 2000’s GX470’s (common problems, tricky model years, etc.)? Is there any other cruiser I should look at with my small budget? I’ll be using the vehicle around town 90% of the time, but will take it camping, won’t be doing much off-roading though. I don’t have much experience with cars and I know finding something that fits what I can spend is going to require some maintenance upfront and a lot of upkeep and learning on my feet. Looking forward to all the learning and giving a vehicle some TLC and eventual upgrades, but don’t want an unreliable money-pit. Any words of advice or direction would help and maybe I need a reality check on how much I’ll be able to accomplish with my budget. Thanks!

I feel like the 100 series land cruiser/ LX470 are good candidates too and you can likely get a good deal on one. I test drove a 100 series and the gx back to back and chose the gx because it was easier to drive in heavy traffic, easier to park and the front seats are a bit closer so I can squeeze my wives hoohaws more easily. Finally, while the GX is a land cruiser- most US land cruiser folks dont really consider it as such. I spend a lot of time with my local land cruiser club and they still make sure I dont call it a land cruiser. Some folks in the club have 4runners and tacomas though so you can hang with a gx but dont try to call it a land cruiser for some reason. I think theyre just jealous.
As far as dependability, the 100 series and the gx / 120 have the same legendary 4.7 motor. Incredibly reliable. It should go 500,000+ with timing belt, water pump and radiator changed out every 100k. The airbag suspension in the back are a known failure point but I think can be fixed fairly inexpensively if you order the parts online and it is really nice to have if you ever tow and the 2” lift button is awesome off-road. You also may need to get the brakes done and swap out all fluids in the car when you get it. I bet you could get it all done within your budget- especially with the current economy. Personally I think these trucks are pretty darn good- even off road- totally stock with slightly bigger tires (265/70r17 is the sweet spot) and remove the running boards for ultimate awesomeness.

 

[Diff Kraken]

Alright my man,

Let me be honest with you. You have a fairly low budget to get a daily driver that is in good shape and will not cost you another $1-2K in repairs/maintenance. I am not saying it cannot be done, but expect to get a 2003-2005 with 200-300+k miles. The truck you will get will likely require some money dumped in it right away (tires, brakes, filters, fluids, and other essentials).
Since you have been browsing these forums, you have likely seen the common higher-end maintenance expenses, such as timing belt, radiator, rear suspension replacement (new bags and struts vs coil spring conversion) and secondary air pump. So if you buy the cheapest truck in the nation, a 2003-2004 GX with 250+k miles for $5,000, be prepared to spend enough to nearly exceed your budget. If you buy a solid $7,000 truck, still expect to spend $800-$1,000 (even if it is on new tires) in the first 6-12 months.
Now onto the common issues. 2003s have an advantage of having a regular transmission oil dipstick. 2005s and newer have VTTi, which gives you extra 45+ horsepower. To save money in the future, get a non-navi truck, so you can easier upgrade to a newer headhunt and still retain your HVAC controls in case if factory unit dies (there are many more options for affordable double-din replacements vs single din or tesla-style units). Absolutely avoid trucks from the rust belt! I won't elaborate on that, I hope you know what I mean....
Also, look at FJ Cruisers and 4Runners. The only way to get a V8 is a 4th gen 4Runner (2003-2009).
Anyway, I do not want to discourage you from looking for and buying one, just be patient and save some money to buy the newest truck you can find with the lowest mileage you can afford.
Good luck sir! Looking forward to welcoming you to the community. Please post photos and share your story once you acquire a truck you desire.

I agree with just about everything you said here- except- if I had a limited budget I would try to buy the oldest GX I could find. I think the motor is simpler, it doesnt have tire monitoring sensors to worry about, it doesnt have a rear wing (i actually like that), and the price will be lower.

A couple other items to think about with these trucks:
- headlights may need replacement or restoration from being cloudy
- keys are annoying/expensive to replace (my truck only came with one somehow)
- valve covers can drip oil and make it look like the truck has a main seal leak when it doesnt and is fine
- windshields are expensive to replace with OEM so try to find one with good original windshield
- finally- dashboards on these were recalled because they crack badly due to bad plastic recipe. So check the status on the dashboard

 

[landwagon]

If you look long enough you’ll find what your looking for.
Plus get whatever makes you happy.

 

[Diff Kraken]

I hope this is the right place to post this thread, apologies if not!

I'm currently looking at purchasing a vehicle, upgrading from an ’03 Camry.
I have a pretty low budget, capped at about $6-7k, but I love Land Cruisers.

IH8MUD has been indispensable in getting some footing, but I have some questions. I’ve found some GX470’s around that fit my budget and I love their design. Is there anything I should be wary of in an early 2000’s GX470’s (common problems, tricky model years, etc.)? Is there any other cruiser I should look at with my small budget? I’ll be using the vehicle around town 90% of the time, but will take it camping, won’t be doing much off-roading though. I don’t have much experience with cars and I know finding something that fits what I can spend is going to require some maintenance upfront and a lot of upkeep and learning on my feet. Looking forward to all the learning and giving a vehicle some TLC and eventual upgrades, but don’t want an unreliable money-pit. Any words of advice or direction would help and maybe I need a reality check on how much I’ll be able to accomplish with my budget. Thanks!

Go buy this one its perfect. Make sure its not rusty and any issues you find try to negotiate it out of the price. (Notice they say it has a new dash- this is good and means they took care of it at the dealer) and its got black leather which I think looks way better and is rarer than tan. It also doesn't have the nav system. Most folks look for this because the nav isnt that great and this has a better interface

Lexus GX470 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

Garage Kept. Leather interior, heated seats, deluxe sound system, moonroof, 7 passenger capacity,...

nashville.craigslist.org

 

[IwantPrado]

I changed I didn’t see it till after, there not.
Had both there about the same to me.
It was a mistake.

No worries, bud! Thank you for clarifying. I thought maybe you know something I don't. I love learning something every day.
Stay well!

 

[IwantPrado]

Go buy this one its perfect. Make sure its not rusty and any issues you find try to negotiate it out of the price. (Notice they say it has a new dash- this is good and means they took care of it at the dealer) and its got black leather which I think looks way better and is rarer than tan. It also doesn't have the nav system. Most folks look for this because the nav isnt that great and this has a better interface

Lexus GX470 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

Garage Kept. Leather interior, heated seats, deluxe sound system, moonroof, 7 passenger capacity,...

nashville.craigslist.org

This is a decent one too, a southern truck and a rare color! 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser - cars & trucks - by dealer - vehicle...

 

[Jc Cruiser99]

I agree with just about everything you said here- except- if I had a limited budget I would try to buy the oldest GX I could find. I think the motor is simpler, it doesnt have tire monitoring sensors to worry about, it doesnt have a rear wing (i actually like that), and the price will be lower.

A couple other items to think about with these trucks:
- headlights may need replacement or restoration from being cloudy
- keys are annoying/expensive to replace (my truck only came with one somehow)
- valve covers can drip oil and make it look like the truck has a main seal leak when it doesnt and is fine
- windshields are expensive to replace with OEM so try to find one with good original windshield
- finally- dashboards on these were recalled because they crack badly due to bad plastic recipe. So check the status on the dashboard

Is there any kind of aftermarket fix for the dashboard?

Thanks

 

[Diff Kraken]

Is there any kind of aftermarket fix for the dashboard?

Thanks

Nope. Other than a dash cover. Lexus did a recall though and I called them to ask about my truck. They were super helpful and really took their time to make sure my truck was going to be good to go. Luckily mine was a 2009 so they said I didnt need to change it because they had worked out the issue with the plastic recipe in the 2009 truck. If the truck is older they will likely put a new one in with the new recipe- or it has already been done. You can search the vin number on the lexus site and it will show what repairs were done at the dealer network.

 

[MH89]

I hope this is the right place to post this thread, apologies if not!

I'm currently looking at purchasing a vehicle, upgrading from an ’03 Camry.
I have a pretty low budget, capped at about $6-7k, but I love Land Cruisers.

IH8MUD has been indispensable in getting some footing, but I have some questions. I’ve found some GX470’s around that fit my budget and I love their design. Is there anything I should be wary of in an early 2000’s GX470’s (common problems, tricky model years, etc.)? Is there any other cruiser I should look at with my small budget? I’ll be using the vehicle around town 90% of the time, but will take it camping, won’t be doing much off-roading though. I don’t have much experience with cars and I know finding something that fits what I can spend is going to require some maintenance upfront and a lot of upkeep and learning on my feet. Looking forward to all the learning and giving a vehicle some TLC and eventual upgrades, but don’t want an unreliable money-pit. Any words of advice or direction would help and maybe I need a reality check on how much I’ll be able to accomplish with my budget. Thanks!

There's a lot of factors to consider when buying a used car. Your budget will plant you towards a GX w/ 200k+ mile, which is nothing if the truck was maintained properly. Try to find one with service records and maintenance of major components like the timing belt and water pump. No used car is perfect especially higher mileage ones, so be prepared to budget for replacement parts (axles, CV boots, shocks, radiator, brakes, tires, suspension parts, airbag failure, secondary pump, sensors, etc). If you can do the work yourself, you will save a ton of money.

Some of these models have the driveline "bump or thud," so make sure to grease the fittings. A lot of these GXs were driven by soccer moms who probably never serviced the driveshafts via grease fittings. When I first got my GX, the previous owner never greased it so I have the worse bump sensation after releasing the brake pedal. Now after greasing w/ every oil change, it's a lot smoother.

Another thing to look out for is mild steering wheel vibration at highway speeds, which can be minimized by a good road force tire balance. At least for my GX it corrected it.

I have navigation and it is terrible, but tolerable. It's not really ergonomically friendly, but don't be discouraged if you find a well maintained GX that has navigation. I run a GROM Vline system adapter w/ my nav to have AUX and USB charging.

 

[Jc Cruiser99]

Nope. Other than a dash cover. Lexus did a recall though and I called them to ask about my truck. They were super helpful and really took their time to make sure my truck was going to be good to go. Luckily mine was a 2009 so they said I didnt need to change it because they had worked out the issue with the plastic recipe in the 2009 truck. If the truck is older they will likely put a new one in with the new recipe- or it has already been done. You can search the vin number on the lexus site and it will show what repairs were done at the dealer network.

Like a coverlay maybe? Anyone used one with success?

 

[half k cruiser]

They are actually selling pretty steadily for $6-7k here in the midwest. You can find some pretty nice examples. A friend from work recently bought a non nav with less than 200k for right around $6k. A simple trick, if the interior and exterior look taken care of, then it probably was. You can probably buy it and drive it as is until you have the funds to put some decent tires on it. The GX makes a great around town rig.