Things that make you go huh... (1 Viewer)

[Daisy 53]

So im surfing Craigslist at work, its one of those sites that isnt blocked by the firewall, and I come across this. 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 4X4 - 189K miles - original owner

I say to myself, that a pretty nice rig. I wonder if it has lockers? So i shoot the guy an email, here it is:

When you say that it has a locking transfer case, are you talking
about the center diff lock switch or are you talking about the front
and rear diff lock switch to the left of the steering wheel?

This morning I get this as his response:

I mean the the center diff lock switch. And that is good news because it means my transmission hasn't had the s*** kicked out of it. Use your common sense. Do you really want a Landcruiser that has been off roading for 12 years? This is a gently used vehicle and will last another 300,000 miles of ride in it.

My first thought on this is that hes really a d*&k! How does he know what I, or any other potential buyer, wants?

Am I off base here? Am I being too sensitive?
Sheesh i thought i was grumpy at times...
Thanks all
Daisy

 

[pappy]

Buy the truck ... then exercise that center diff lock switch as much as you can. What good is it if you don't use it.

 

[Beowulf]

My STRONG advice is to never discuss technical details with a prospective seller unless you know the guy or know of him (e.g, an HDC member or a 'Mud member). You can find out what you want to know by asking other questions like "what are the codes on the sticker inside the driver door." This tells you the precise exterior color, the interior color, and whether it has the diff locks. (Yes, I know the caveats)

You can say something like... "I am interested if yours has a specific option. Could you please tell me if there is a round dial to the left of the steering column and tell me how that switch is labeled." These types of questions get you your answers.

You should also know that NO US FZJ80s were equipped with a CDL switch. A switch was standard on the FJ80s but discontinued as a stock switch in 1993 when the center diff was wired to engage when the vehicle is put into low range. Any FZJ80 you see with a CDL switch was retrofitted and that tells you that it was an off-roading enthusiast which begs the question of why your seller says his has a CDL switch. God forbid if someone were to take one off pavement and immediately turn it into an abused POS.

One more detail... Land Cruisers did not come with a multi-CD player; only a single CD. The LX450 has a different head unit with a multi-CD unit in the center console. Therefore that one is likely to have an aftermarket head unit. No big deal but something you may want to know.

-Mike-

 

[Daisy 53]

It just makes me wonder, why would sellers react that way to a buyer? Guess my dad raised me a little different!
Thanks for the info, as usual its good and informative.
Daisy

 

[Beowulf]

The seller has probably had 50 'Mudders calling and asking him if it has "lockers" and then treating him like an idiot because he has/had no clue what "lockers" are. Then someone tried to explain why the option is important and the seller now thinks anybody wanting that specific option (instead of the complete vehicle) is stupid. He might be right.

The seller does come off as a jerk though. Even in the ad with the embellished wording at the end. Move on to another.

FYI, I found mine on Autotrader. It was at a small used car dealer in Tucson. When I ran the VIN it came out as a Corralles owner and an original NM truck delivered and serviced by American. It was high mileage at the time and a lease return so Toyota sent it to auction in Phoenix and the Tucson dealer bought it and put it in Autotrader. The ad stated it had "locking hubs" . Got all the questions answered and the deal done over the phone, booked a cheap SWA flight to Tucson and the guy picked me up at the airport around 6m, closed the deal by 8pm, and drove it back to ABQ that night.

-Mike-

 

[Daisy 53]

I'm still in the want stage, wish i could afford it right now! Need to figure out some job stuff at work, like whether or not i have a job after the 1st of December. Once that is ironed out, things will look better for me to get a rig.
As far as that dude goes, dont think that I would deal with him, you have to be able to handle a few questions from a prospective buyer without being an ass!
That might be a harsh response on my part, but it is who I am
Daisy

 

[Ruadhrigh]

Daisy you're an ass. Why would bother the poor guy like that. All he wants is for you to show up with more money than he is asking and to drive it away with no conversation. Are you new to the car buying scene? shesh!












when I was searching for 80's they all had lockers, but I guess that's my luck

 

[Daisy 53]

Im sorry, not sure what i was thinking!!
Guess I'll go and get a check for him.
Lol
Thanks for the laugh Rudy
Daisy

 

[Ruadhrigh]

Thanks for the laugh Rudy
Daisy

Rudy?


Rudical = Rudy
Ruadhrigh = Rory

 

[Daisy 53]

Oh s***, my bad
I'm an idiot, just ignore me!!

Daisy

Rudy?


Rudical = Rudy
Ruadhrigh = Rory

 

[Ruadhrigh]

no worries, at least you didn't call me Mike

 

[SteveLCetc]

Another thing about long distance purchases - if you go south you don't get as much rust. I flew to Austin, bought one, and drove it back that night too.

 

[slimbuddha]

I bought mine off of ebay in Phoenix. Same as Mike.. booked a cheap SW flight, owner picked me up, drove to his house, signed the papers, then drove back home to Abq.

 

[alia176]

There are some brave souls here! I will never buy a car sight unseen, undriven and uninspected by me and ONLY ME. Oh yeah, I've lost my fair share of nice cars and I know I'm way too conservative but I just hate surprises.

Daisy,
Feel free to use the resources on this board as much as possible for your ride. It's always fun to shop with someone else's money!

 

[pappy]

There are some brave souls here! I will never buy a car sight unseen, undriven and uninspected by me and ONLY ME.

Chicken. I bought my 1985 xcab Hilux sight unseen. Not even pictures. Nylia and I flew out to Simi Valley, paid the guy, and drove it home. As Mike, and others who saw it, will tell you ... it was a very nice truck.

Should not have sold it, but I've said that about every Toyota I've owned and later sold.

 

[Beowulf]

There are some brave souls here! I will never buy a car sight unseen, undriven and uninspected by me and ONLY ME. Oh yeah, I've lost my fair share of nice cars and I know I'm way too conservative but I just hate surprises.

I wouldn't recommend for money to change hands before I would personally inspect and drive the vehicle. When I bought mine, the deal was made but it was contingent on me signing the papers after the inspection. I bought a 1-way ticket but I was also prepared to hop back on the next SWA flight to ABQ if the truck was misrepresented.

-Mike-

 

[slimbuddha]

With mine... ebay has a $20k guarantee for vehicles, that if anything major happens, it would be covered, for fraud, or gross mis-representations, or undisclosed problems. I put a down payment on it, and as Mike, I inspected it in person before handing over the rest, and signing anything. If there was anything different than what was represented, I would have backed out, and found a flight back home. I also checked carfax, which isn't perfect, but also gives you another source of data to compare to the seller's story.

 

[Daisy 53]

I too have bought sight unseen. Never, never pay for a car without seeing it though, that would be too risky for me. I'm sure that when the time is right, I will find the right truck at the right price! Who knows, maybe someone will want to go with me to inspect and drive it home.
Daisy

 

[SteveLCetc]

For mine, I had two in Austin and one in San Antonio I was going to check out when I flew down there on *my* cheap SWA ticket. I started with the highest probability one, which I bought after checking it out. I definitely wouldn't have bought without seeing and driving it myself first. The guy who bought it came down from Denver. It's a national market.

I just need to keep saving my pennies for a BJ73/4...