Clutch’s deep thoughts thread...

[dcg141]

Working on one. Just bought a 06 GX 470 with full service records for 10500 with 116000 miles. Fox 2.5 coilovers with remote reservoirs for 1600. Fox rear shocks 275. Toyotec springs 210. JBA upper control arms 450. Coil conversion kit 230. RRW wheels 750. So $14015 in so far. Still have to buy tires and decide from there. I think I will be in for around $20000. The nice part is that I am still below loan value on that GX.

 

[Clutch]

Working on one. Just bought a 06 GX 470 with full service records for 10500 with 116000 miles. Fox 2.5 coilovers with remote reservoirs for 1600. Fox rear shocks 275. Toyotec springs 210. JBA upper control arms 450. Coil conversion kit 230. RRW wheels 750. So $14015 in so far. Still have to buy tires and decide from there. I think I we be in for around $20000. The nice part is that I am still below loan value on that GX.

Buddy of mine bought a V8 4Runner with a 150K on the clock for something like $6700. No rust, body is in great shape. Tossed in a new timing belt and OME suspension...and still under $10K. He had a 1st Gen Tacoma before that, and says he likes the 4R better.

Do like GX's but not a huge fan of leather and woodgrain accents, but that is just me being anti-lux.

 

[dcg141]

Buddy of mine bought a V8 4Runner with a 150K on the clock for something like $6700. No rust, body is in great shape. Tossed in a new timing belt and OME suspension...and still under $10K. He had a 1st Gen Tacoma before that, and says he likes the 4R better.

Do like GX's but not a huge fan of leather and woodgrain accents, but that is just me being anti-lux.

Yea I totally get that as I'm not a fan of the wood grain myself. That probably will get addressed at some point but its low on the priority list. I thought a lot about this for over a year and several vehicles were considered but as my base I wanted a V8 SUV and that narrows the search considerably. For a minute I considered a LR3 but came to my senses and basically I was down to V8 4 Runners w 4WD (rare and over priced) and domestics (plentiful and way overpriced) and the GX. I really never was in the Land Cruiser market for price alone. My target price was 10ish and in good shape. I just kept coming back to the GX and my search began. Not easy to find these things under 130k with service records for 10 grand so I started expanding my search area and came across Houston TX. For whatever reason there seems to be plentiful amounts of them with low mileage and service records and the pricing is very good. Like NADA trade in pricing. Yes I am aware of Harvey flood vehicles but I have a friend that trades in those units and he assured me that flood vehicles end up on Carfax reports and can never be erased. So I found mine and got on a direct flight from Memphis ($120) and picked up my GX. I have had it 2 weeks now including the 580 mile or so drive back home. Have you driven one? These things are sweet!! Plenty of room, good power and quiet inside. Incredible travel vehicle. Not quite on par with my X5 as a highway traveler but nothing beats those for long trips and lets face it a X5 is no off roader. So far no buyers remorse and for your 20 G target, its a great starting point. BTW your buddy got a killer deal on that 4R at that price.

 

[Clutch]

Yea I totally get that as I'm not a fan of the wood grain myself. That probably will get addressed at some point but its low on the priority list. I thought a lot about this for over a year and several vehicles were considered but as my base I wanted a V8 SUV and that narrows the search considerably. For a minute I considered a LR3 but came to my senses and basically I was down to V8 4 Runners w 4WD (rare and over priced) and domestics (plentiful and way overpriced) and the GX. I really never was in the Land Cruiser market for price alone. My target price was 10ish and in good shape. I just kept coming back to the GX and my search began. Not easy to find these things under 130k with service records for 10 grand so I started expanding my search area and came across Houston TX. For whatever reason there seems to be plentiful amounts of them with low mileage and service records and the pricing is very good. Like NADA trade in pricing. Yes I am aware of Harvey flood vehicles but I have a friend that trades in those units and he assured me that flood vehicles end up on Carfax reports and can never be erased. So I found mine and got on a direct flight from Memphis ($120) and picked up my GX. I have had it 2 weeks now including the 580 mile or so drive back home. Have you driven one? These things are sweet!! Plenty of room, good power and quiet inside. Incredible travel vehicle. Not quite on par with my X5 as a highway traveler but nothing beats those for long trips and lets face it a X5 is no off roader. So far no buyers remorse and for your 20 G target, its a great starting point. BTW your buddy got a killer deal on that 4R at that price.

The wood grain can be addressed with a little elbow grease and paint...not a huge thing. The rest of the vehicle is about spot on...I know I have looked at them over the years as they are not bad looking vehicles. If my Trooper ever dies, it would be on the list.

Yeah he got a great deal, found it in Colorado of all places. Was looking for a 1st gen Tundra, but they were all over priced there, and started looking a 4Runners....got a gonga deal.


That era GX 470's look good.

 

[battleaxe]

Buddy and his wife are migrating to Switzerland for a few years, and they have a decent shape GX that he'd let go for probably 5-6k (higher mileage).

My wife can't stand the looks on them, but I really like them. (not that we need ANOTHER Toy/Lex SUV, but I'd love to have one regardless)

 

[Clutch]

Buddy and his wife are migrating to Switzerland for a few years, and they have a decent shape GX that he'd let go for probably 5-6k (higher mileage).

My wife can't stand the looks on them, but I really like them. (not that we need ANOTHER Toy/Lex SUV, but I'd love to have one regardless)

I don't mind the looks of them....but I also have a Trooper done up in the "old man trim". Didn't care for it at first, but the under the radar looks has grown on me. My wife mainly drives it though.

You probably don't want to know what I paid for it.

 

[battleaxe]

I don't mind the looks of them....but I also have a Trooper done up in the "old man trim". Didn't care for it at first, but the under the radar looks has grown on me. My wife mainly drives it though.

You probably don't want to know what I paid for it.

After a quick CL search in the PNW, I probably don't want to know... LOL!
I think one of those would grow on me as well... Especially considering what they sell for in comparison to a 4runner.

 

[Clutch]

After a quick CL search in the PNW, I probably don't want to know... LOL!
I think one of those would grow on me as well... Especially considering what they sell for in comparison to a 4runner.

The auto tranny sucks...of course it is a GM trans, what do you expect. It will cost me more to fix it, than what the vehicle is worth. I "may" swap in a manual tans if it ever decides to give up the ghost. But we only put 1000 or so miles on it a year. Last year managed to put 3000 on it, only because my truck was down for a couple weeks for repairs.

They feel roomier inside than a 4Runner to me, maybe because it is more square and the seating position is higher. It is super comfortable, rides like a couch. Other than the week trans, the rest of the vehicle is built very well and solid. Good honest SUV.

 

[Todd780]

They feel roomier inside than a 4Runner to me, maybe because it is more square and the seating position is higher. It is super comfortable, rides like a couch.

Liking that higher seating position where you sit like you would in a chair....or couch, hey? Maybe I'm not so weird for raising my seat up all the way after all.....lol

 

[Clutch]

Liking that higher seating position where you sit like you would in a chair....or couch, hey? Maybe I'm not so weird for raising my seat up all the way after all.....lol

It has captains chairs. It is like driving a Lazy-Boy. My buddy's 4Runner...feel like I am "in" it, kinda reclined...where the Trooper feels like you're on "top" of it, more upright postion...if that makes any sense.

She has it today, or I would run out and take a picture. Looks exactly like this. Manual tilt and raise/lower IIRC...I don't drive it very much so not exactly sure. They are heated too, but I never use it.

Rear cargo is good to (again not my picture) The rear seats will flip forward more too. Even has tie down points in the floor from the factory.

 

[Todd780]

It has captains chairs. It is like driving a Lazy-Boy. My buddy's 4Runner...feel like I am "in" it, kinda reclined...where the Trooper feels like you're on "top" of it, more upright postion...if that makes any sense.

Makes total sense. That's kind of what I mean by having my truck seat adjusted so it's like sitting in a chair. Whether I'm driving my truck or sitting at my desk, I'm almost in the same position. Maybe I'm old and just can't do the gangsta lean when I drive, lol

 

[battleaxe]

Yeah, that's a really well thought out interior I think. I'm assuming that the overseas models have diesels in them?

I know lots of people have talked about them in the past, but we never really got Isuzu in Canada that I can remember, so I only ever saw a handful of the Troopers

 

[Todd780]

Yeah, that's a really well thought out interior I think. I'm assuming that the overseas models have diesels in them?

I know lots of people have talked about them in the past, but we never really got Isuzu in Canada that I can remember, so I only ever saw a handful of the Troopers

I used to see tons of the 1/4 ton trucks years ago. I can't recall what they were called though. Oh and Rodeos and Amigos.....

 

[dcg141]

One of the upsides for the GX for me is the growing amount of aftermarket available for them. Not having to go on scavenger hunts for things you want is nice.

 

[Clutch]

Yeah, that's a really well thought out interior I think. I'm assuming that the overseas models have diesels in them?

I know lots of people have talked about them in the past, but we never really got Isuzu in Canada that I can remember, so I only ever saw a handful of the Troopers

The interior is great, big windows, low belt line...lots of visibility. Gives you a commanding view of the road. Where-as many of the vehicles now-a-days feel like your driving a foxhole around. No wonder they have cameras mounted all over them.

Looks like they did get diesel overseas.

They quit selling passenger vehicles here in 2002. So we got one of the last ones. 2nd owners, bought it off my mom who bought it new. She downsized to a Rav4.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_Trooper