What's the value of my 1997 Lexus LX450?

[BBLX450]

Hey y'all! I'm new here, but trying to figure the as-is value of my Lexus LX450 (not triple locked). Any and all input is appreciated but I'd especially love to hear from you more seasoned MUD folks who have been around this community for a bit and have a good grasp on the market. Just ran out during my lunch break to take a few quick pictures (sorry, they're not great angles, bad lighting). But here's the quick, run down of where I'm at with it...

1997 Lexus LX450
252,143 miles
Third owner, bought it from a friend in August 2022 who did regular oil changes himself.
Maintenance and Mechanical Work I've had done:
- Full Synthetic Oil Changes
- New Battery
- New Spark Plugs, New Thermostat, and Distributor
- New Denso Alternator & Belt
- New Denso Radiator
- New Front Brake Pads & Rotors
- New Rear Brake Light Socket Assemblies
- Brand New BFG All Terrain K02 Tires 275/70/16

Flaws:
- Possible head gasket problem. Losing coolant. Pressure test detected no leaks.
- Needs a new after-market radio installed. The one it had was wired wrong, and drawing on the battery (hence the new battery and alternator.)
- Leather is Sub Par Condition (Front Seats, Steering Wheel, Middle Console need to be recovered/replaced, back seats are passable, but not great)
- Automatic windows work but slow down, sometimes to a stop, occasionally, and you have to wait til they wake up.
- Needs new, OEM style hood support struts.
- Exterior Body (a little paint damage on front hood, I don't mind it though)

How much do you think it is it worth? Would love to know your thoughts!

 

[cruzinfj1]

Came across this gem yesterday. He responded with "12,500", followed by two walk around videos today, and they are MUCH worse than what you would even expect...... Interior was hard enough to look at, but when he opened the hood...... I offered him $1250. He blocked me.

 

[ajax1]

I rest my case... for sale in CA for the "discounted" price of $57,900

That dude flips a lot of cruisers, I believe he buys um lower, paints the bumpers, cleans them real good, then re lists them. Oh and adds a set of max tracks. I’m sure he is a nice person, just something I have noticed over the years

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I just found this one locally listed. Claims to be 3X locked, asking $6K. 120K miles. One rear corner dinged up a bit. I suspect undercarriage is a bit rusty. At least they’re not after a ridiculous sum. Log into Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/adtfZoV1buTRwCiC/?mibextid=79PoIi

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

Came across this gem yesterday. He responded with "12,500", followed by two walk around videos today, and they are MUCH worse than what you would even expect...... Interior was hard enough to look at, but when he opened the hood...... I offered him $1250. He blocked me.

Post the ad so others can make reasonable offers so he can figure it out..

 

[cruzinfj1]

Post the ad so others can make reasonable offers so he can figure it out..

its embedded. Click on the higlighted gem in my post.

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[DIRTBIKEUSA]

its embedded. Click on the higlighted gem in my post.

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I like how he advertises offers like it means anything.

It’s his stuff, he rightfully can ask for the moon. But I can also smear poop on a wall and scream at the floor so, whatever.

Is see he’s out of WI. So rust all over.

Why were they parked? Cause they didn’t run good enough to sell in the first place.

He’s not a serous seller. NEXT!

 

[cruzinfj1]

I like how he advertises offers like it means anything.

It’s his stuff, he rightfully can ask for the moon. But I can also smear poop on a wall and scream at the floor so, whatever.

Is see he’s out of WI. So rust all over.

Why were they parked? Cause they didn’t run good enough to sell in the first place.

He’s not a serous seller. NEXT!

I cant figure out how to post the vids, but yes, COMPLETE rot box. The engine is stripped down for what looks like probably an attempt at a head gasket job. The interior is TRASHED, there is a cheap swap meet gauge of some sort zip screwed into the center console and some sort of control box laying on the pass seat with what looks like a yellow extension cord running up under the dash..... those are just the highlights I remember. Wish I could figure out how to get the vids on here.... lol

and IF he in fact had offers like that on the Coupe and the Cobra, they wouldn't be sitting there!!! lol

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

I cant figure out how to post the vids, but yes, COMPLETE rot box. The engine is stripped down for what looks like probably an attempt at a head gasket job. The interior is TRASHED, there is a cheap swap meet gauge of some sort zip screwed into the center console and some sort of control box laying on the pass seat with what looks like a yellow extension cord running up under the dash..... those are just the highlights I remember. Wish I could figure out how to get the vids on here.... lol

and IF he in fact had offers like that on the Coupe and the Cobra, they wouldn't be sitting there!!! lol

Yup he’s FOS. Livin at mama’s house, eating week old spaghetti.

Please post the vids somehow. I want a good laugh.

 

[cruzinfj1]

Yup he’s FOS. Livin at mama’s house, eating week old spaghetti.

Please post the vids somehow. I want a good laugh.

I cant even send them via PM...... Anyone know how to post MP4 on here??

 

[cruzinfj1]

Yup he’s FOS. Livin at mama’s house, eating week old spaghetti.

Please post the vids somehow. I want a good laugh.

I cant even send them via PM...... Anyone know how to post MP4 on here?

 

[tmxmotorsports]

I cant even send them via PM...... Anyone know how to post MP4 on here?

Probably a reason for not being able to.... it's called pay to be here can't spam people that way.

 

[Irish Reiver]

I cant even send them via PM...... Anyone know how to post MP4 on here?

Drop the video on a YouTube channel then post the link to it.

 

[calokie]

That dude flips a lot of cruisers, I believe he buys um lower, paints the bumpers, cleans them real good, then re lists them. Oh and adds a set of max tracks. I’m sure he is a nice person, just something I have noticed over the years

Hes doing this as a unselfish act, for the sake of "The Landcruiser Community"

 

[COYS]

Hes doing this as a unselfish act, for the sake of "The Landcruiser Community"

I came across this channel years ago based on algorithm I guess. Haven’t checked out his content since because he comes across as a barely dangerous enough to sound legit guy. I mean the dude highlights nibs on tires from go and confuses what is clearly an ARB bumper for a Dobinson brand. lol Then he talks about how no expenses were spared yet on a supposed 4” lift it runs caster plates which are woefully out of spec (check out the Napa blue plug wires).

It’s clear as day this thing is totally non CA legal with the cheap arse aftermarket exhaust, but then he lives in SoCal eliminating a buyer market in a state that nearly matches the GDP of Deutschland . Lol flipper type indeed.

I’m all for 80s fetching top dollar including his. If a new GX 550 costs $85K, is it possible that you can get similarly priced value and feels out of a vintage 80? Heck muthaflippin yea! Would I rather have this YouTuber 80 than a 5th gen 4Runner? Is a 993 Carrera S possibly more lust worthy than a 992 GTS? No question!

It’s just ridiculously rare to find a properly cared for 80. But when they do pop up for sale private or online, nab it. They seem to come into view as often as Halley’s Comet. They’re worth exactly what someone is willing to pay.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I came across this channel years ago based on algorithm I guess. Haven’t checked out his content since because he comes across as a barely dangerous enough to sound legit guy. I mean the dude highlights nibs on tires from go and confuses what is clearly an ARB bumper for a Dobinson brand. lol Then he talks about how no expenses were spared yet on a supposed 4” lift it runs caster plates which are woefully out of spec (check out the Napa blue plug wires)...

How can you tell the caster plates are out of spec?

I skipped ahead on that video, searching for the info on how much he had into it. On top of a purchase price of $30K for a stock 80, which is obviously top dollar, I believe the claim was he sunk another $35K into it. My question would be why? If it was worth $30K initially, it must have been in very good shape to start with. Sorry but a lift, bumpers, giant tires and aftermarket exhaust aren't worth it.

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

If he didn’t do any of the work himself. IE suspension work, maintenance, ect.. those labor hours at 100-160 an hour flat rate adds up quick. I doubt it was 35gs in labor hours by the book tho. Everyone embellishes money spent..

 

[stevenmichael]

I've been watching the sold price of them for a while. The lowest was around 5 ,000 with around 250,000 and the highest was 19,000 in Seattle Washington 2 year ago and it had 195,000 miles on it . Go on market place and see what you can find . Here are a few listings . If it was me I would list it on market place at 10,000 or better offer and just see what happens . Log into Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/108364785855057/search?query=lx450

 

[cruzinfj1]

This one is local to me. Ill let the pics do the pics speak for themselves......

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[SpenserAK]

I just found this one locally listed. Claims to be 3X locked, asking $6K. 120K miles. One rear corner dinged up a bit. I suspect undercarriage is a bit rusty. At least they’re not after a ridiculous sum. Log into Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/adtfZoV1buTRwCiC/?mibextid=79PoIi

This was down the road from me & I checked it out a month ago with a friend who was interested (he recently sold his bronze 100 in town - daily is a maroon FJ cruiser). Skipping to the end - he offered to take 5k and throw in two parts 80s that are currently at the back of the bus barn lot (where he works IIRC?)

It runs, drives & stops well, lockers work well (tested in the big dirt lot by don abel), etc. It didn't have rust "issues" that I spotted, but wasn't as clean underneath as I'd typically prefer - admittedly I was a bit spoiled by mine. Actual mileage is 201k - he said 120 was listed by mistake (I think it's his wife that posted it?)

Driver door handle is broken (but has an easy work-around), driver window regulator seemed loose, the rear dent, interior was just okay, and a few other little things. Beyond that, it *appeared* to just need a standard baseline & some TLC without anything pressing that I noticed, but I didn't do a truly thorough inspection. Personally, considering our limited local market, I thought it was a good truck for someone who already knows what they're looking at, with the ability and desire to work on it - also considering the two included parts trucks. If I were trying to get into another 80, I'd have considered it, and swapped in a lot of the parts from mine. Except I don't like the green. But I love my green '98 4Runner

My friend passed on it. Not sure who snagged it..

 

[Devils Paw 80]

This was down the road from me & I checked it out a month ago with a friend who was interested (he recently sold his bronze 100 in town - daily is a maroon FJ cruiser). Skipping to the end - he offered to take 5k and throw in two parts 80s that are currently at the back of the bus barn lot (where he works IIRC?)

It runs, drives & stops well, lockers work well (tested in the big dirt lot by don abel), etc. It didn't have rust "issues" that I spotted, but wasn't as clean underneath as I'd typically prefer - admittedly I was a bit spoiled by mine. Actual mileage is 201k - he said 120 was listed by mistake (I think it's his wife that posted it?)

Driver door handle is broken (but has an easy work-around), driver window regulator seemed loose, the rear dent, interior was just okay, and a few other little things. Beyond that, it *appeared* to just need a standard baseline & some TLC without anything pressing that I noticed, but I didn't do a truly thorough inspection. Personally, considering our limited local market, I thought it was a good truck for someone who already knows what they're looking at, with the ability and desire to work on it - also considering the two included parts trucks. If I were trying to get into another 80, I'd have considered it, and swapped in a lot of the parts from mine. Except I don't like the green. But I love my green '98 4Runner

My friend passed on it. Not sure who snagged it..

Thanks for the news. Sounds like someone got a good deal. I'm not a big fan of the green either.

That bronze 100 belonged to a teacher at JDHS a few years ago. She sold to buy a new Bronco. The person who bought the 100 from your friend probably lives downtown because I've seen it parked next to the governor's mansion and also at Mar y Sol on a few occasions.