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2001 LX470 vs 2008 Civic ?
February 27, 2017, 09:32 AM
stickman4282001 LX470 vs 2008 Civic ?
I've been trying to talk my wife into getting a Land Cruiser for a few years now. Today she told me about a Lexus LX470 for sale locally so I checked it out. $10,000 with 134,000 miles is quite tempting especially since my wife shocked me with her interest in this vehicle. Yeah, its priced at the top of the blue book range but there is probably wiggle room.
She drives a 2008 Civic with low miles 80,000 or so IIRC. Her Civic is not exactly the best product Honda has ever made...am I crazy in trying to talk her into this SUV?
It is pretty damn easy on the eyes.
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
February 27, 2017, 10:22 AM
AeteoclesAside from the terrible gas mileage, the LX is a fantastic car.
Sit inside of it. It may be 16 years old, but you'll notice immediately that it was Lexus' range topping $90k vehicle. Everything is covered in wood and leather, pneumatic ride leveling air suspension, Mark Levinson sound, etc etc etc. It is both plush and very solid feeling.
It's also still a beautiful car, way better looking than the current LX570.
February 27, 2017, 10:42 AM
PASigAs far as the total cost of ownership, you cant go wrong with a Civic. They are the Glock of cars. That 16 year old Lexus on the other hand may cost you a WHOLE LOT more to maintain than you realize.
February 27, 2017, 11:04 AM
arfmelI'd buy the Lexus and keep the Civic for her daily driver. That Lexus is a dandy.
February 27, 2017, 11:31 AM
ASKSmithUnless it was a "fun" car or bike, I'd have a hard time talking myself into buying something with a For Sale sign sitting in someone's yard.
How long has it been sitting there?
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I apologize now...
February 27, 2017, 11:33 AM
MikeGLIquote:
Originally posted by ASKSmith:
Unless it was a "fun" car or bike, I'd have a hard time talking myself into buying something with a For Sale sign sitting in someone's yard.
How long has it been sitting there?
For that vehicle, with that mileage, at that price point, probably not long.
Wasn't Black just looking for this same vehicle at a higher price point?
NRA Life Member
Steak: Rare. Coffee: Black. Bourbon: Neat. February 27, 2017, 12:24 PM
jcat10k with that low of mileage is a deal. That vehicle has a lot of life left in it.
It probably gets less than half the fuel mileage of the civic, but reliability is likely equal. Those were the simple but luxurious days of lexus where the damn things just ran. I don't necessarily agree with PASig. Those LXs and Land Cruisers routinely go 3-400k miles with standard maintenance, and my god do they hold value.
If you can swing keeping both, that's a pretty good combo to save gas on the city trips and use the LX a little more sparingly.
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February 27, 2017, 12:30 PM
MattWIf the timing belt and water pump have been done (90K interval I believe) it would be worth a serious look. I have a '97 80 Series as a weekend toy/dog hauler. If the 100 Series had a solid front axle I would have probably gone that route instead of the 80. They're all over engineered/built. Keep the routine maintenance in check and that thing will go another 150k+ with little issue. If you can turn your own wrenches the parts are not terribly expensive which will keep costs down. Take it to a Lexus dealership and prepare to see 4 figures on some routine stuff. Dealership costs to rebuild my front axle are in the $1k-1,500 range. I knocked it out slowly over two days as time permitted with about $300 in factory parts.
February 27, 2017, 12:31 PM
unarmedOnly going by the pics, it looks like it was taken care of.
February 27, 2017, 12:34 PM
jcatquote:
Originally posted by MattW:
If the timing chain and water pump have been done (90K interval I believe) it would be worth a serious look. I have a '97 80 Series as a weekend toy/dog hauler. If the 100 Series had a solid front axle I would have probably gone that route instead of the 80. They're all over engineered/built. Keep the routine maintenance in check and that thing will go another 100k+ with little issue.
the 2UZ is a belt, not a chain but it is a 90k interval. Being an interference engine, you don't want to push it.
That said, 134k doesn't guarantee the prior owner had the service done. Ask for receipts, don't take their word. If they can't produce paperwork, knock at least a grand off right away to cover the service. Timing belt, tensioner, and water pump should all be done at once, with a full coolant exchange.
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February 27, 2017, 12:37 PM
MattWquote:
Originally posted by jcat:
quote:
Originally posted by MattW:
If the timing chain and water pump have been done (90K interval I believe) it would be worth a serious look. I have a '97 80 Series as a weekend toy/dog hauler. If the 100 Series had a solid front axle I would have probably gone that route instead of the 80. They're all over engineered/built. Keep the routine maintenance in check and that thing will go another 100k+ with little issue.
the 2UZ is a belt, not a chain but it is a 90k interval. Being an interference engine, you don't want to push it.
That said, 134k doesn't guarantee the prior owner had the service done. Ask for receipts, don't take their word. If they can't produce paperwork, knock at least a grand off right away to cover the service. Timing belt, tensioner, and water pump should all be done at once, with a full coolant exchange.
Thank you, was thinking chain as it's what is on the 1FZFE. Far from an expert on the 80's, even less knowledge on the 100's
February 27, 2017, 01:32 PM
AeteoclesThe Automatic Height Control can be problematic, and expensive to fix
However, if I found one that had a bad AHC, I would use that as a haggling point and then replace it with an Old Man Emu suspension.
February 27, 2017, 01:43 PM
henryazquote:
Originally posted by MattW:
Thank you, was thinking chain as it's what is on the 1FZFE. Far from an expert on the 80's, even less knowledge on the 100's
Go back further to the 40's and 60's and it gets even better. The F/2F engines used timing gears.
February 27, 2017, 01:45 PM
slyguyThat's a peach of a ride by the pictures.
I concur with jcat on the chain inspection. You should have receipts to back the work. A quick look under the hood may give you a sticker to show when/who did the work if it was a reputable shop, but the receipt is proof.
I had an '03 LS until it was totaled last summer. Insurance let me get an '04 with 30k less miles. They have both been good solid cars that aren't too bad to wrench on and hold value.
Best of luck~
February 27, 2017, 04:41 PM
Black92LXquote:
Originally posted by MikeGLI:
quote:
Originally posted by ASKSmith:
Unless it was a "fun" car or bike, I'd have a hard time talking myself into buying something with a For Sale sign sitting in someone's yard.
How long has it been sitting there?
For that vehicle, with that mileage, at that price point, probably not long.
Wasn't Black just looking for this same vehicle at a higher price point?
Yup and MattW found me a freaking pristine 2007 with 110k miles in absolutely perfect condition with all the maintenance records. Needed nothing according to the Lexus specialist I had go over it.
In the way of practicality for my kids I walked and bought a 2014 Sienna.
BUY IT!!! Without a doubt between that and a Civic there is no other choice but the LX.
I would pay to have it inspected by a Lexus Specialist just to be sure it has been taken care of.
Get an account here and plug in the VIN you will get all Lexus service records for it.
http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/
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The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
February 27, 2017, 07:12 PM
MattWquote:
Originally posted by henryaz:
quote:
Originally posted by MattW:
Thank you, was thinking chain as it's what is on the 1FZFE. Far from an expert on the 80's, even less knowledge on the 100's
Go back further to the 40's and 60's and it gets even better. The F/2F engines used timing gears.
Yep, a 40 is on the list for when I have money to spend on stuff I don't really need. Hopefully that's any day now
I do think the 40's are a great looking vehicle. I've casually glanced at them over the years, but they aren't practical for me right now. When in Costa Rica last year, I couldn't throw a rock without hitting one. They looked so at home down there on the "primitive" roads. Most were beat up, but they showed no signs of quiting. Maybe one day...
February 27, 2017, 07:39 PM
ch23701I've owned an FJ40, an 80 and now a 100. You just can't go wrong they are fantastic automobiles.
February 27, 2017, 09:21 PM
jimmy123xquote:
Originally posted by PASig:
As far as the total cost of ownership, you cant go wrong with a Civic. They are the Glock of cars. That 16 year old Lexus on the other hand may cost you a WHOLE LOT more to maintain than you realize.
THIS, especially with 134k miles. You know the civics maintenance and care history.
February 28, 2017, 05:08 AM
Black92LXquote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
As far as the total cost of ownership, you cant go wrong with a Civic. They are the Glock of cars. That 16 year old Lexus on the other hand may cost you a WHOLE LOT more to maintain than you realize.
THIS, especially with 134k miles. You know the civics maintenance and care history.
Any other Lexus you may be correct.
But the LX470 is a handbuilt Japanese masterpiece. With some of the most meticulous building requirements possible along with arguably the most bullet proof motor ever made.
I would put even a poorly maintained LX up against a Civic any day.
The only real issue with the LX470 is the Automatic Ride Height that may have only been an option on that early of a vehicle. But in the end if it goes bad you can swap to the standard Land Cruiser suspension for about $1,000 and have a huge upgrade.
The materials used in these beasts is on a whole different level than a Honda or even the rest of the Toyota/Lexus line.
They are built for at least a 25 year service life. These things are beat to death overseas in the desert, Australia, Africa, and so on.
I wish they would bring the stripped down models here not the states and not the fully loaded editions. You see these everywhere here now at $90k imagine if they brought over the stripped down model costing under $50k.
————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
February 28, 2017, 09:18 PM
jimmy123xquote:
Originally posted by Black92LX:
quote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
As far as the total cost of ownership, you cant go wrong with a Civic. They are the Glock of cars. That 16 year old Lexus on the other hand may cost you a WHOLE LOT more to maintain than you realize.
THIS, especially with 134k miles. You know the civics maintenance and care history.
Any other Lexus you may be correct.
But the LX470 is a handbuilt Japanese masterpiece. With some of the most meticulous building requirements possible along with arguably the most bullet proof motor ever made.
I would put even a poorly maintained LX up against a Civic any day.
The only real issue with the LX470 is the Automatic Ride Height that may have only been an option on that early of a vehicle. But in the end if it goes bad you can swap to the standard Land Cruiser suspension for about $1,000 and have a huge upgrade.
The materials used in these beasts is on a whole different level than a Honda or even the rest of the Toyota/Lexus line.
They are built for at least a 25 year service life. These things are beat to death overseas in the desert, Australia, Africa, and so on.
I wish they would bring the stripped down models here not the states and not the fully loaded editions. You see these everywhere here now at $90k imagine if they brought over the stripped down model costing under $50k.
Perhaps, but it's still 17 years old versus 9 years old and still has 134k miles on it. The Lexus parts are 3x what civic parts go for, so when it breaks it's still expensive to fix that "Japanese masterpiece".
