Choosing between two 80's...?

[All-Terrain]

Basic rundown on two 80's --- would appreciate any input on making the choice for a camping/hunting/off-road vehicle:

'97 LC with F+R lockers, 165k miles, $8500. Factory stock, original paint, street driven only.

'97 LX450 with F+R lockers, 200k miles, $5500. Factory stock, cheap 10-foot re-paint, street driven only.

Neither truck has service records. Both got a clean bill of health from inspections, with only simple items to address (ie. drive belts). Both are clean underneath, no rust, good solid used condition.

Price and mileage are the biggest differences.

Any thoughts?

 

[4Rescue]

If you can live with the cheap re-spray and the interior's to your liking (I find often the LX's are more "luxo" trimmed inside and I don't like them as much but that's all personal), and they're both essentially the same truck in the same mechanical shape, I'd say that being Toyotas, buy the LX450 for $5500. Unless the LX was coming up against some serious future advised services (t-belt again at 200k? maybe water-pump?, I'd say 3K is worth more the 35K less miles. To me it sounds like the LC owner maybe knows what he has in a 97 dual locked truck while the LX owner maybe doesn't??? I dunno, maybe the prices have come down and I haven't been looking lately but $5500 for a Dual locked 80, even with 200K miles, sounds pretty hard to pass up. Plus maybe the cheap re-spray will just make you less anxious the first time you scratch the crap out of it

YMMV

Cheers

Dave

 

[Sempertoy]

Go with the lower miles. Lots of little stuff needs to be replaced post 200k. See if you can talk them down a bit. 7,500 should be fair for mileage and lockers.

 

[All-Terrain]

Thanks guys. I have been doing some reading and apparently there are some differences in sound deadening, spring rates, leather quality, and a few other things, between the TLC and LX450. I figure I would end up changing out springs and shocks, so not concerned about that. The extra sound deadening might be a benefit on the LX. Anything else that is a difference between the two that I should consider?

 

[Mako1114]

I see you're in Raleigh, NC...please pass on the contact info for which ever LC you don't buy. :sombrero:

Cheers

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'd err on the side of the low miles non-re-paint. You can always add sound deadening, you can't buy back miles

 

[Arktikos]

To me it sounds like the LC owner maybe knows what he has in a 97 dual locked truck while the LX owner maybe doesn't??? I dunno, maybe the prices have come down and I haven't been looking lately but $5500 for a Dual locked 80, even with 200K miles, sounds pretty hard to pass up.
Dave

One of these, a white '96, sold here last weekend for 3500 "firm". Good condition, just a few minor things wrong with it. Woman was going by blue book, maybe. It got snapped up immediately. Some people just can't pass up a bargain, even if it's a gas guzzler with features they probably will never use. Buy the cheaper one.

 

[MarcFJ60]

I usually don't put a big premium on miles relative to condition and maintenance. However, when buying an older ride, I do start thinking about it hitting the end of its service life. My feeling is when you get to about 250K, the 80 has lived its life. It might go another 250, but it might have the engine or tranny fail soon thereafter. So if all else is equal, my thinking is the 165k rig might give you 3 extra years. To me, that's worth $1000 per year.

But if I was thinking I would wheel the crap out of it and it will be dead either way after 5 years, I would buy the cheaper one and use the extra $3K for mods and maintenance. The respray does concern me, however.

 

[All-Terrain]

All good stuff. Thanks for the comments!

I went after the '97 with 165k, but that owner became sketchy as things progressed, so I am now looking at others.

I have learned more about the other truck, a '97 LX450 with 200k. The repaint was a cheap one due to fading clearcoat, as I have seen on a number of others. Not really concerned much with that. The interior is pretty decent, although the driver's seat has the standard tears in the leather, not terrible but not great. The front seats' power forward/backward adjustment does not work, so the seats are stuck where they are until that is rectified. Original head gasket. PHH has been replaced within the last 5k miles. Lots of other records are included, mostly normal stuff, like brakes and oil changes. Runs and drives fine, although there is a Check Engine light on, not sure why. I tried the lockers, the center and rear lockers engaged pretty quickly, the front one did not, but I believe it is just due to total lack of use - this was a street vehicle only.

It is a 100% stock truck, not loved on, just the standard non-enthusiast maintenance performed as things came up that needed to be done. I guess this is what you get for $5500. Any thoughts on this one? I have to make a decision pretty quickly on it, either to buy it or to wait on something else with lower mileage for $3k+ more.

 

[Gone2Baja]

I've also been looking at 80's and 5500 for a locked 80 is a pretty decent deal. You can use your savings to take care of the maintenance issues.

Good luck, I'm a bit jealous that you're ready to buy and I'm still 'just looking'

 

[All-Terrain]

I've also been looking at 80's and 5500 for a locked 80 is a pretty decent deal. You can use your savings to take care of the maintenance issues.

Good luck, I'm a bit jealous that you're ready to buy and I'm still 'just looking'

Even with 200k miles on it?

 

[Gone2Baja]

It seems that people with the locker option know what they have and ask a premium for their rigs. I've seen several without lockers that are appear to be clean and well maintained for 2000 to 4500 LESS and there is more of selection to choose from.

I've mostly looked here in the Phoenix area but lately I've expanded my search to the Southern California area as well. Your side of the country may have a totally different market than here.
The majority of the ones I've seen have been driven on the street for most of their lives as evident from the street tires and low hanging running boards so I'd assume the front axle would be in need of a complete service if not a rebuild.As you said most people only do the minimum service and have other things fixed as needed. I'd also like to add I'm a beginner when it comes to Land Cruisers and my be missing important aspects of what exactly to look for but it seems like you're on the right track with good records being high on your list.

 

[Thebus]

From my experience it's better to spend the money on a already base lined truck. However if I didn't buy mine I would never have tried anything more than regular maintenance. I would find the least rusty truck as number one, then make sure some maintenance has been done to it regular oil changes etc. if I had to do it again I'd of course buy a built rig and been set with it. If not I would buy an unlocked truck and add lockers. The trucks are pretty reliable so far all my problems have been self induced! (Knock on wood)