Are they crazy? Price for 1997 Land Cruisder 80

[NXN]

I found this on ebay. Its not mine but I am interested. A stock collectors edition 1997 Land Cruiser in White w lockers and 89,000 miles.

Looks beautiful but does the mileage alone warrant the high price?

Can some of you experts look at this ebay link and chime in with your opinions/observations please?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DIFF-LOCK-/190725722353?forcev4exp=true

Anybody in philly willing to look at it for me?

 

[Douglas S.]

Nice truck, but that's far too much money.

 

[Sempertoy]

18k and no cup holder? The least they could do is put one in.

The engine sure looks dirty for being such a low mileage cruiser, and the interior wood trim on the passenger side vent looks droopy.

All things aside, it is in amazing condition, and the price isn't that far off for having so many options.

 

[mhiscox]

The lower than average miles may make the truck tighter and more pleasant, but 80 Series are known for their outstanding longevity and generally hold together pretty well for more than double that mileage. There is, FWIW, a major and expensive service due at 90,000 miles; if it hasn't had that, figure it into the cost.

I'm not expert enough to know whether they made so few "Collector's Edition" versions that they will ever have any substantial collector premium . . . I'm thinking not ever, but I'm pretty sure it won't for a few decades.

It's double the price of a decent one, and, more important perhaps, it's money enough to get a pretty nice Hundred series, which strikes me as a much better truck to buy for significant long term use.

It's a pretty truck, though. Just really expensive at the asking price.

 

[86tuning]

I picked up a rather clean 97 LX450 with 56,000 miles for a tick over $8k. You can find a nice '80 for less than that too.

 

[Ramjet]

To put it into a bit of perspective, I've seen some 200 series go for double the price with double the mileage. I think it's all relative if you ask me.

 

[RMP&O]

Yes they are crazy, very crazy.

here is why I say that;

I have a friend who about 2yrs ago sold this exact same truck only it was a better color, green. It had 80k original miles, Southern California all it's life and garaged and had a much cleaner engine bay. They sold it for $12k. That to me seemed fair if not a touch high.

What I don't like about the truck from the Ebay ad is;

Engine bay is way to dirty.
color (I hate white)
no undercarriage shots
I see rust on the hardware for the seats.
Florida truck and rust on hardware and no undercarriage shots. Even if it has never seen a beach the salt air effects things many miles inland. I would rather find a desert S.W. truck or one from the South for much less money.

my 2 cents

 

[Ramjet]

Yes they are crazy, very crazy.

here is why I say that;

I have a friend who about 2yrs ago sold this exact same truck only it was a better color, green. It had 80k original miles, Southern California all it's life and garaged and had a much cleaner engine bay. They sold it for $12k. That to me seemed fair if not a touch high.

What I don't like about the truck from the Ebay ad is;

Engine bay is way to dirty.
color (I hate white)
no undercarriage shots
I see rust on the hardware for the seats.
Florida truck and rust on hardware and no undercarriage shots. Even if it has never seen a beach the salt air effects things many miles inland. I would rather find a desert S.W. truck or one from the South for much less money.

my 2 cents

I'm going to have to agree with you, except that it's white. I like white, but you are correct.

 

[NXN]

Thanks for the replies. The engine bay is really dirty. I saw another LC on ebay that had 147,000 miles and you could eat off the motor. I had not thought about the damage that salt air does to inland vehicles around the coast. I should have though. A buddy of mine took his Harley to a rally on a Texas beach and couldn't get it to stop rusting afterwards.

I emailed the dealer bfore you guys started responding and told him I thought the price was high and would he come down. He wrote back and said they had already rejected several 15 and 16k counter offers. They are basing the price on the Collectors Edition, the "low" mileage, the fact that the Lockers were a 3000 dollar option when new and he claims the General Grabber AT2s that he just put on the truck cost him $2500. I told him thanks but no thanks and if he was that set on the price anyone who really new LCs wouldn't be buying it.

I am thinking buyer beware and I'm steering clear. Thanks for your responses.

 

[hoser]

The eBay 80 is this 80.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/549576-97-fzj80-89k-miles-va.html

 

[Mountainhound]

Now thats funny frigging dealers.

The eBay 80 is this 80.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/549576-97-fzj80-89k-miles-va.html

 

[1911]

Yes they are crazy, very crazy.

Agree; way too much for that truck. Anniversary edition not that rare.

The eBay 80 is this 80.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/549576-97-fzj80-89k-miles-va.html

Now thats funny frigging dealers.

That original Mud thread is pretty entertaining too, i.e. the seller calling potential buyers "nimrod" and etc.

 

[NXN]

The ih8mud postings are eyeopeners. It appears from my experience and some of the posts in those threads suggest Europa online is a little Full of $4!T. If I trailed this vehicle value correctly it goes something like this:
Vehicle sold for $10,000 in 2010 and wasn't worth it. Needed lots of repairs due to electrical gremlins and was offered for trade or $9,000 not long after. Ultimately traded to a Toyota dealership with a trade-in value of $2100. Sold at wholesale auction for $??? but most likely in the 15 -2500 range. And now is being offered for 18,950 and the dealer is refusing offers of $15,000 and $16,000 dollars.

Quite a history from asking a simple question on a forum.

This has saved me. I was considering trading my Tundra for this vehicle and some cash. What a mistake that would have been.

I really appreciate what the various forum communities accomplish. The networking for ideas, how-to, problem solving and purchasing to mention a few is an awesome resource.

Thanks again for those who have posted, especially hoser for the link to the ih8mud articles.

 

[Sempertoy]

How did you find that history? Very scary that he is selling it for such an insane price. Crooks!

 

[MarcFJ60]

That explains the current Virginia inspection. Other things I noticed besides the dishonesty of the Ebay seller:

The front seats appear to have new covers. They are WAY too new for 90K, especially compared to the headrests and the rear seats. They also don't look stock, kinda like the ones ATLASS sells over on 'Mud. Not that they are bad, but why did they need replacing?

I'm thinking the wood trim has been replaced. Doesn't the CE have a badge on the center console? Notice the wood is missing from the DS window controls, but it is there on the PS. Plus, the way it is peeling back seems aftermarket to me. It seems the OEM wood trim on LCs yellows as it delaminates. Just a theory.

The tires MAYBE cost $1000, and frankly, I've never heard anything special about General tires.

But more importantly, how much do you want to bet the knuckles have never been rebuilt and the hoses, especially the PHH, have never been replaced.

15 years old is 15 years old. But maintenance and condition is WAY more important. I don't think I'd even spend 10K on it, simply because you can't trust the seller. But somebody will undoubtedly overpay for it because they will assume low miles = good condition. Unfortunately, there is very little correlation in m book.