Are they crazy? Price for 1997 Land Cruisder 80

[NXN]

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

Sempertoy, I clicked on the thread on ih8mud that hoser posted earlier in this thread. The ih8mud thread had an additional link to a thread from 2010 that was started by the previous owner of this vehicle. He was mad because he had just paid 10,000 for the vehicle and was repairing alot of stuff because he did not check the vehicle out thoroughly enough. Reading through the whole thread, another poster provided some additional information.

So here is something else interesting. I wrote Europa Auto in Philly and told them that in doing research on the vehicle I found out all this info. Told the guy based on what I discovered that it wasn't even worth book and that he is over valuating the tires etc. I told him I believed he got the vehicle it auction for under $2000 grand and that he was misrepresenting the quality of the vehicle. He got mad and sent and email back that said he actually got it free and even though he got it free he wasn' just going to give it away.

I have taken several things away from this experience and the information here on the forums. First off don't believe that a CARFAX report tells the whole story. It is a good reference but don't let your guard down because of a good CARFAX.

Don't make the assumption that a used car dealer is honest because of the lack of poor reviews or a positive BBB report. They still may be sheisters. (Before any dealers get butt hurt over this statement, I do not mean to insinuate that ALL dealers are sheisters)

Use the forums to help you research vehicles for sale. You may be surprised at what you learn.

 

[RMP&O]

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.

This is why you should buy from somebody on a forum or a friend of theirs or a friend of a friend. Be willing to travel, feel comfortable with who you buy from. Honesty is not hard to get from the right people. Get in and under the truck. Look for known issues and or problem areas.

If you can't pull all that off, my best advice is simply to buy from a private party and inspect the truck yourself. If you can't inspect it pay a 3rd party to inspect it for you. Never commit to buy until it is viewed by you or the 3rd party. Be willing to lose out on your deposit. In all honesty, your best bet is to just buy from a forum member be it here, on Mud or on Pirate or any other of a dozen forums. And I am not just talking about joe blow like in the Mud threads, rather a guy/gal who is active in the community. You will get the best truck this way and know exactly what you are getting.

I seen $18k 80-series right here on Expo from active forum members. IMHO that is still to much but the trucks were clean low mileage trucks that were decked out with overland gear, lift, ect ect. So if you were going to spend $18k on an 80-series that is what I would be shopping for.

cheers

 

[REDROVER]

guys whats the MPG on those 80 series trucks? is it around 12 mpg? and when was the last year before they started front independent suspension ?

tnx

 

[Mountainhound]

I Get about 14. 97 was last year of solid front.

guys whats the MPG on those 80 series trucks? is it around 12 mpg? and when was the last year before they started front independent suspension ?

tnx

 

[BLKNBLU]

...I Get about 14. 97 (mpg)...

Sorry, but that just hit my funny bone. "About" 14.97 give or take what 45-50 thousandths of an mpg?

 

[Mountainhound]

No about 14mpg and stoped making solid front axel in 97.

Sorry, but that just hit my funny bone. "About" 14.97 give or take what 45-50 thousandths of an mpg?

 

[BLKNBLU]

Ha! I totally misread that. Still gave me a chuckle though...

 

[REDROVER]

Are the independent front suspensions good on later models? Or its better to find low mileage pre 97 truck?

 

[Mountainhound]

There are alot of guys using the crap out of the independant ones. Theres a few threads in this section.

Are the independent front suspensions good on later models? Or its better to find low mileage pre 97 truck?

 

[Mountainhound]

You know after I typed it and looked I thought it might looked weird but posted anyway.

Ha! I totally misread that. Still gave me a chuckle though...