Lexus LX450 in our Very Near Future

[zonker]

Our neighbor is selling his 1997 Lexus LX450. We have been thinking about something like this for awhile. It is bone stock.. he has owned it since new and it was only used for winter trips to ski. Consequently no off road. He didn't even know that it had front and rear lockers.. or what they were for! It is in good shape to look at it. Service work has been average.. with oil changes and what was needed.. but no more. It has 180k on it.

Currently we have a 2001 4Runner Limited w/60k.. a 2002 Mitsu Montero Sport XLS w/97k and a 2006 Dodge 2500 CTD w/Four Wheel Camper and 75k. All of our vehicles are in excellent condition.. tho' having been used. Our neighbor is interested in trading for our Montero and about $1500 cash. This would put the price of the LX450 at $6500.

I am a little skeptical of the mileage.. so I am asking what the consensus is regarding a 1997 LX450 for $6500? I realize I will have to do some reconditioning and maintenance catchup.. and that is okay. I just don't want to give up a great vehicle such as the Montero that has NO issues.. to get a vehicle that at 225k is about done. We have not outfitted either of our SUVs.. only our truck.. but if we do get it.. we would transform into an overland vehicle over the next year.

Would love to hear the groups thoughts.

 

[Box Rocket]

225K will not be the end of the LX450. There are LOTS of 80 series cruisers and LX450s with more miles than that and still going strong. My '93 has over 300K on it. I recently bought a '95 with 187K on it for less than the price you mentioned. The price of $6500 isn't grossly unreasonable but a bit on the high side IMO. If you're saying that your Montero has a value of ~$5K you could almost trade straight across, or at most trade plus $1000, but personally I wouldn't do more than that. And that's assuming there are not any large maintenance issues that need attention.

 

[MTSN]

He must have gone skiing a lot or driven pretty far for 180k! My 98 100 only has 136k on it, and it was used a ski rig for a long time before I bought it too. I won't comment on the Montero and trade since I know nothing about the value of Monteros, but my thought is your better bet would be to sell it and make a strong cash offer. That many miles on the 80 and being completely stock with probably a couple grand in necessary maintenance (do the lockers even work after never being engaged??) makes his price seem high. $6500 plus say $2000 in maintenance plus a few grand in mods...you may be better off buying a nice one that's built already with lower miles. Just my opinion.

 

[zonker]

Thanks a lot for the info!! I am on the fence about this.. so the words I am reading are a huge help. I am going to have a talk with the guy tonight so that I can determine what deferred maintenance needs to be done.. take it for a drive and try out the lockers on our local dirt road. I agree that selling the Montero outright is the best way to go.. and may very well be the answer. I got the Montero from my sister.. who bought it from us in 2004. So I know exactly how it has been maintained. The great news.. she gave it to me with no money changing hands. I now use it for my daily driver instead of my Sprinter. So of course that is on the table as well.. as I don't think I would want to use the Lexus as a DD. Our truck is for adventures only and the would be the case with the LX.

Thanks again guys for chiming in with words of wisdom.. definitely they are a factor.

 

[calicamper]

Our neighbor is selling his 1997 Lexus LX450. We have been thinking about something like this for awhile. It is bone stock.. he has owned it since new and it was only used for winter trips to ski. Consequently no off road. He didn't even know that it had front and rear lockers.. or what they were for! It is in good shape to look at it. Service work has been average.. with oil changes and what was needed.. but no more. It has 180k on it.

Currently we have a 2001 4Runner Limited w/60k.. a 2002 Mitsu Montero Sport XLS w/97k and a 2006 Dodge 2500 CTD w/Four Wheel Camper and 75k. All of our vehicles are in excellent condition.. tho' having been used. Our neighbor is interested in trading for our Montero and about $1500 cash. This would put the price of the LX450 at $6500.

I am a little skeptical of the mileage.. so I am asking what the consensus is regarding a 1997 LX450 for $6500? I realize I will have to do some reconditioning and maintenance catchup.. and that is okay. I just don't want to give up a great vehicle such as the Montero that has NO issues.. to get a vehicle that at 225k is about done. We have not outfitted either of our SUVs.. only our truck.. but if we do get it.. we would transform into an overland vehicle over the next year.

Would love to hear the groups thoughts.

Sold my 93 LC in 2012 with 154,000 miles on it all stock except tires and in exellent condition for $7000 had people tripping over them selves to get it. That was a custom ordered leather factory leather and tint without the stupid running boards LC with no front or rear lockers. I'd say as long as the front inner axle seals are not leaking and he's had the outers greased and the Valve cover is not leaking down the back side of the block that his price is pretty fair.

 

[theside00]

If it the exterior is in good condition, no rust, dents, missing parts, or paint blemishes and the interior is in good condition with the factory lockers that is about the average price for them. I wouldn't be scared with that many miles, compared to what we see on a normal basis that is on the low side. Just be ware that is seems like around 200K-250K miles depending on maintenance the head gaskets have a tendency of letting go.

 

[zonker]

Once again thanks for all the info from everyone! Actually ran across another one locally that only has 105k on it and combined with a pile of receipts. May need to switch gears and spend a little more money!

 

[redthies]

I just don't want to give up a great vehicle such as the Montero that has NO issues.. to get a vehicle that at 225k is about done.

If the Montero is "great", I can't wait to hear what you're going to call a one owner factory locked 80 series once you own one! The 80 series trucks can go to +/- 500k without much more than just regular maintenance (and your neighbours has 180k, not 225, right?). Aside from the odd rare head gasket issue (this is not as common a problem as many believe), and a front axle service there is a "pesky heater hose" (search "phh" on ih8mud) and not a whole lot else to worry about. Your neighbours rig might be priced a little bit high, but not way out of line. I'd say look around and drive a few different 80s and you'll quickly figure out what you like.

 

[JLee]

Once again thanks for all the info from everyone! Actually ran across another one locally that only has 105k on it and combined with a pile of receipts. May need to switch gears and spend a little more money!

If you want one with more miles that needs some TLC but has almost every mod you would likely want (except gears), I'll sell you mine

105k would be really nice, though!

 

[JohnnyS]

I'd buy your neighbor's in a heartbeat, providing it has never been wrecked. A clean one owner (that you know) 80 with less than 200K is something you don't see very often.

 

[SWITAWI]

A couple years ago one of my friends found a '97 LX450 with 150k-160k on it and it had obviously led the life of a pavement-only people-mover.

The front seats had some wear, but the truck was cherry with a complete Lexus service history.

It really opened my eyes up to the potential of all those used LX trucks out there that have never been abused.

Now it has an entirely new outlook on life.