What am I missing about this 2004 Cruiser that is listed at a price that appears to good to be true?

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T

Tummler

10 Year
Joined
Feb 8, 2016
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Location
Kansas City, Mo
2004 LC with 124k miles listed at $16.5k:

Check out this 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser on Autotrader

I started out my search thinking I wanted a 60 series, but after monitoring prices of decent, rust free 60s and comparing them to 100s, I am having a hard time justifying the expense of the 60 when I could get into a decent 100 with relatively little extra pain to my pocket book.

As such, I have been scoping out 100s for the last couple days, and I feel I am getting a handle on the market. This particular Cruiser seems to be priced well below the market. Am I missing something, or do I need to hurry up and call the dealer before one of you beats me to it?
 
I just checked NADA (should have done that before I posted this thread), and it looks like the price is right in line with the book price. I guess my perception probably was thrown off by dealers posting wishful thinking internet prices.
 
Yea price looks fine. But if you look at the carfax, it's lived it's life in Ohio, which uses salt. I have seen some very rusty vehicles from there. It all depends on how the PO kept and used it. I'd need pics of the undercarriage before I went further.
 
I paid more for my 2004 in Chicago in 2014, but it had 12k fewer miles and a timing belt and waterpump thrown in as part of the deal. I agree on checking the undercarriage. Even if it was garaged, I would bet the front and gas tank skids are rusty, although they are easy to swap.
 
Looks to be in decent shape. Some rust on tailgate which is common. Big question is how does it look underneath. Might be a total waste or you could get lucky and find only light rust in places.
 
That price is a plain market price - certainly not too good to be true. Sounds like you are early in your search, so I'd keep looking for one that lived its life in a less rust prone area. I know of a local 06 two owner history extremely clean with 151k on it (but brand new timing belt, tires and service) that sold for $16k, and it took him almost a month to sell it.
 
Nice to be shopping, did you drive a 60 to experience what you will be missing? :D :steer::wrench::wrench:
This is the 60 maintenance manual, all diy: 1986 Maintenance 26 pag.pdf

I have two other cars so the HJ is for fun only: tomorrow to Berlin, next month to Morocco.
 
mcgaskins said:
That price is a plain market price - certainly not too good to be true. Sounds like you are early in your search, so I'd keep looking for one that lived its life in a less rust prone area. I know of a local 06 two owner history extremely clean with 151k on it (but brand new timing belt, tires and service) that sold for $16k, and it took him almost a month to sell it.
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That's what I am finding out. Damn it feels good to be in the market for a new toy. I will stretch this process out for as long as possible.

As I am learning more and more about the 100 series, I am beginning to strongly think I should focus my search to a 2002 without the s*** pure s*** touch screen. I was playing around with my buddy's new Pioneer 2-DIN head unit, and it was awesome. It's Bluetooth connectivity worked flawlessly with my Android phone on the first attempt.
 
The vast majority of 2002 models have the integrated NAV/climate control screen. Search 2001 and before if you don't want that. Also read through many of the old posts on this forum so you can answer a lot of your own questions that are sure to come up.
 
lhommec13 said:
The vast majority of 2002 models have the integrated NAV/climate control screen. Search 2001 and before if you don't want that. Also read through many of the old posts on this forum so you can answer a lot of your own questions that are sure to come up.
Click to expand...

I have been searching like mad for all of my standard questions. This place is great resource.
 
arcteryx said:
You didn't reference this, so maybe you need to search more :) www.sleeoffroad.com/newbie/newbieUZJ100.htm Seriously read that, lots of good info there.
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That very page was what persuaded me to change course and pursue a 100. It presented so much information in a clear and concise manner that 100s were no longer such a daunting subject to take on.
 
cool. I would look south or west, not east or north. Colorado isnt too far from you, plenty of trucks there and they have surface rust from the sand pelting them, I would and have bought a colorado truck before.
 
hj 60 said:
Nice to be shopping, did you drive a 60 to experience what you will be missing? :D :steer::wrench::wrench:
This is the 60 maintenance manual, all diy: 1986 Maintenance 26 pag.pdf
Click to expand...
Love. Can't remember how many times I worked on the side of a dusty road in some forgotten south american town doing some sort of maintenance from this very book. And, after almost 30 years, I still own and (occasionally) drive that same 1987 FJ60.
 
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