What do I want in a 100? (1 Viewer)

[VtaTom]

Quite a few errors in that.

Why would CDL disengage ATRAC?
2003 has the 5 speed
All LX470 (I believe) have AHC, optional (basically standard) on 2006+ LC

Sdnative thanks for the corrections. That's part of why I recommended FAQ.

Only VSC is disengaged with CDL. I thought it was both and Lexus has more goodies sooner. I was thinking LC but should have mentioned Lexus since he's got an LX 450.

 

[bhicks]

Don't count on fuel costs to be any less with a 100 series especially if you start lifting and upgrading tire size. I get 12.5 MPG (average) from my 98 LC with 2.5" suspension lift, 1.75" body lift and BFG 35" MT's.

I had no intention of getting better fuel economy out of a 100 compared to my 80. Right now I have to daily drive my 80 because it's too tall (4" lift on 35s) so my wife can't get our two youngest into their car seats. She just can't reach that midlde child in the middle row. So she drives my Suzuki sx4 (29 mpg). I drive a long commute everyday and she is a stay at home mom. Usually our 80 gets very little miles. Only driven when she does her once a week grocery run. The stockish 100 is a lot lower then my built 80. I'm thinking a 2" lift on 285s should lower a 100 down to a more manageable height for my wife. Fingers crossed.

 

[bhicks]

So the local stock 2003 LX470 I was looking out turned out to be pile of lies. The seller told me it was a 2 owner 100 and in fact it was a 4 owner 100. He said it had a clean title and it had a salavage title. Had been wrecked twice. Last smog check showed 187k on odometer and suddely it's now at 105k. I was told it was dealer maintained (which would show up on the carfax) and in fact the vin shows it has never seen a dealer in it's life. Also hasn't been smogged or registered in over 5 years. What a joke!! I emailed craigslist last night to the fraudulant add and this morning I found that is has been removed.

 

[joseywales]

My wife is driving my '99 100 on OME and 285s. She has no complaints. I think fuel economy is ever so slightly better than my past LX450 on OME and 315s with f&r bumpers. The drive and ride of the 100 is far superior. As mentioned, the Slee buyers guide is great, but coming from a LX450, you already know how to shop for a LC. The best maintained rig with complete service history trumps lower miles and no history. Your big questions are "do I want a 5 speed auto?" and "do I want AHC?" The answer to these will tell you LX vs LC, and pre '03 or post. I bought my '99 because I didn't care about the 5 speed, it has the rear locker and OME with all PM done (timing belt due in 10k or so), and mainly because of who I bought it from.

Good luck in your search. You're going to love the 100 series for your uses.

 

[bhicks]

I have been reading through some FAQ's and old threads and still have a couple questions. When was the ATRAC offered and was it standard on ALL LX470's. Is the AHC and good thing or bad thing and if it IS faulty, how can I tell?

 

[Ole Colony]

Atrac is standard equipment on LC and LX starting in 2000.

 

[bhicks]

Atrac is standard equipment on LC and LX starting in 2000.

So does that mean a 98-99 without a rear locker is open front and rear? Also, IF it has a rear locker, does it then have an open front?

 

[70 FJ40]

Yes 98-99 without a locker would have both front and rear open diffs. That goes For LC and LX.

 

[yotasavg]

And to answer the last part, yes, with a rear locker you're open in the front in stock form.

 

[r2m]

The 98 and 99 had the option of an electronic rear locker, which both my wife and I have on each of our 98 LC's.
It works great! I've since added a TJM front air locker my LC and used the factory 80 series rotary switch to be able to lock both axles.
I still need to get a front locker on my wife's rig.

 

[bhicks]

Thanks for the info guys. That tells me that I want to avoid the 98-99 100's without rear lockers. Open diffs wont work for me and I wont have the funds for front and rear lockers for quite some time. if the price is low enough that I can still install lockers then I'm interested in a 98-99 but if the price is already at my high end then I will have to pass. I feel much more confident in what to look for and what the prices should be at. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[r2m]

Find a soccer mom selling their 98 or 99 full equipped, but doesn't realize the whole rear locker thing!
If a person who wheels their rig has the locker, they will surely charge more. I know I would for mine!

 

[bhicks]

So I found a 99 with 138k with factory rear locker and a few other nice features. Clean title and good maintenance documentation. Asking $9500. I have a question. I don't like the idea of a front open diff. I don't want a front locker either. This will be my wife's dd and she gets crazy spastic when I have both lockers activated on my LX450. No more front locker for her. Is there an aftermarket limited slip available for the front diff of the 100s? Does Detroit make a tru trac for the 100 front? If there are any other limited slip options, what are they and what should I avoid?

 

[yotasavg]

I don't think I'd want a limited slip or auto locker of any kind on my front diff in a full time 4wd... am I missing something? My fiance DD's our 98 100 series. What's wrong with an open front diff?

 

[r2m]

What's wrong with an open front diff?

All depends on where you're going and what you want to do. 80% of the time, an open diff with rear locker will get you out of most trouble especially if you are not lifted and are just running slightly over size all terrain type tires.
The only reason may be for the fact that 98 and 99 LC's have a weaker front pumpkin. But again, I don't think that should be much of an issue with mild trail riding, snow, etc.

 

[sdnative]

Why not consider a 02+ with the added safety features? It would also have the atrac, vsc, etc which is nice for a family hauler.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Wait? Why does your wife freak out when you engage the front locker? The best reason in the world to get an ARB aftermarket air locker on. 98-99 LC is that the carrier on the two pinion diff flexes and can cause the diff to grenade under relatively innocuous circumstances. I know this...because mine did just that in my driveway. So, I'm now triple locked. Rear electric locker, center of course, and instead of just repairing my stock front diff after it grenaded, I took it to SLEE and had him install an ARB air locker and compressor. The ARB carrier supposedly doesn't flex as much, and if I'm doing any kind of wheeling that I think may stress the front diff, I lock it immediately to help protect it.

 

[ChuckB]

I have 3 kids in car seats and my wife DD's our LX. My wife is 5'8". Even at stock height and now on 33" tires it is not exactly easy to get the 3rd kid into the middle seat. I would guess that a 2" lift and 285s would make it hard for your wife to get the kids in without some sort of step. I just installed Slee Step Sliders and I'm completely satisfied with them. Both the wife and the 2.5 yo twins love using them.

 

[yotasavg]

All depends on where you're going and what you want to do. 80% of the time, an open diff with rear locker will get you out of most trouble especially if you are not lifted and are just running slightly over size all terrain type tires.
The only reason my be for the fact that 98 and 99 LC's have a weaker front pumpkin. But again, I don't think that should be much of an issue with mild trail riding, snow, etc.

I meant my question to be directed a the OP, as he stated his wife would be DD'ing the 100, and they'd do some wheeling. I'm sure there's lots of folks that have that situation, as I do myself. I'm really just wondering why an open front diff is out of the question for a DD weekend worrior. The part that really stuck out to me was the question about an autolocker or limited slip in the front diff.... Nonetheless, great honest reply.