1999 Lexus LX470

[nc-grayson]

Greetings All,

In the every-day quest to find a deal on a replacement for my current DD, I came across a 1999 LX470 semi-locally to me. It appears to be MINT. One owner, it's been in NC it's entire life, so rust should be minimal if apparent at all.

It's been on a dealer's website for one day. I'm in communication with the sales manager back and forth in emails and he's very cooperative. The only thing I'm waiting on are some actual pictures of said vehicle. The carfax checks out. Details of the deal itself are irrelevant to the purpose of this thread, so i'll keep the fine points out to keep bias out.

I dont know anything about these vehicles. I know this thread is in a GX forum, but I love the 3rd gen community here so i thought this would be a great place to ask.

Does anybody have any experience with the LX? I'm having a hard time finding exact differences betwen the LX and GX. Most of what I'm finding online is forum based, word of mouth type differences. I guess I'm looking for a side by side comparison of the LX/GX, or some ideas of stuff I should be looking for when I go to look at the LX in question.

My goals for a DD are simple: I'm tired of making a car payment on a car I know I wont keep until the wheels fall off. I have NO problem making a car payment, but I've learned the hard way that you only really "win" when making car payments on a vehicle you will drive into the ground. My goal is to get a LC/Lexus as my DD, drive it until it's paid off, and then convert it to my weekend warrior.

I initially started out looking at LC's, but I can't not look at comparable lexus at the same time.

Any Good/Bad vibes from any LX owners?

I currently drive a 2010 VW CC as my DD that i'm trying to get out of, for information.

Thanks to all.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

The LX470 is the Lexus equivalent of the LC100. it's REAL Land Cruiser.

Greetings All,

In the every-day quest to find a deal on a replacement for my current DD, I came across a 1999 LX470 semi-locally to me. It appears to be MINT. One owner, it's been in NC it's entire life, so rust should be minimal if apparent at all.

It's been on a dealer's website for one day. I'm in communication with the sales manager back and forth in emails and he's very cooperative. The only thing I'm waiting on are some actual pictures of said vehicle. The carfax checks out. Details of the deal itself are irrelevant to the purpose of this thread, so i'll keep the fine points out to keep bias out.

I dont know anything about these vehicles. I know this thread is in a GX forum, but I love the 3rd gen community here so i thought this would be a great place to ask.

Does anybody have any experience with the LX? I'm having a hard time finding exact differences betwen the LX and GX. Most of what I'm finding online is forum based, word of mouth type differences. I guess I'm looking for a side by side comparison of the LX/GX, or some ideas of stuff I should be looking for when I go to look at the LX in question.

My goals for a DD are simple: I'm tired of making a car payment on a car I know I wont keep until the wheels fall off. I have NO problem making a car payment, but I've learned the hard way that you only really "win" when making car payments on a vehicle you will drive into the ground. My goal is to get a LC/Lexus as my DD, drive it until it's paid off, and then convert it to my weekend warrior.

I initially started out looking at LC's, but I can't not look at comparable lexus at the same time.

Any Good/Bad vibes from any LX owners?

I currently drive a 2010 VW CC as my DD that i'm trying to get out of, for information.

Thanks to all.

 

[nc-grayson]

The LX470 is the Lexus equivalent of the LC100. it's REAL Land Cruiser.

so you're basically saying, that if the deal gets worked out the right way, and if I've always wanted a Land Cruiser, then go for it?

Obviously many variables apply here....but assuming all the fine details are out of the way and it comes down to a Yes or No decision......go Yes?

 

[nc-grayson]

The LX470 is the Lexus equivalent of the LC100. it's REAL Land Cruiser.

so you're basically saying, that if the deal gets worked out the right way, and if I've always wanted a Land Cruiser, then go for it?

Obviously many variables apply here....but assuming all the fine details are out of the way and it comes down to a Yes or No decision......go Yes?

 

[st8rocks]

A well maintained LC100 should easily stay on the road for 300k. Check for maintance records ei timing belt. Don't expect much as far as mpg...

For a added bonus the 98-99s had an optional rear locker. Check for the turn switch by your left knee.

Buy it then take her out to Uwharrie!! PM me if you want to meet up out there.

 

[nc-grayson]

A well maintained LC100 should easily stay on the road for 300k. Check for maintance records ei timing belt. Don't expect much as far as mpg...

For a added bonus the 98-99s had an optional rear locker. Check for the turn switch by your left knee.

Buy it then take her out to Uwharrie!! PM me if you want to meet up out there.

when I finish my lift on my 3rd gen I'm planning on it. slowly piecing parts....should be complete in a month or so. expect a PM!

 

[chiz45]

I'm pretty sure all LX models came with AHC (auto height control). I had an accumulator fail, costing me a lot of $$. You might consider doing the standard suspension swap so it mirrors the LC100 suspension.

98 LX470 AHC to OME Suspension Swap by Mudrak | IH8MUD Forum

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

YES, go for it!!

so you're basically saying, that if the deal gets worked out the right way, and if I've always wanted a Land Cruiser, then go for it?

Obviously many variables apply here....but assuming all the fine details are out of the way and it comes down to a Yes or No decision......go Yes?

 

[nc-grayson]

Semi pissed this afternoon. Spoke all day yesterday with selling dealership, (it's 3.5 hours away). It was pretty new to their lot, they didn't have pictures on their website yet so I followed up to inquire.

So yesterday, sales manager was supposed to run out and take some pictures yesterday to email to me. Never got the pictures as promised. Called back and I was told the vehicle was in the repair shop getting prep'd for sale. Manager said it looked like it was going to run up about $3500 in repairs, from the conversation it sounded like the "big" service I've seen on the interwebs (TB/WP/Idler/etc.). I was told that if I could pay the repair bill, they would work with me on the price to get the deal done.

Fast forward to this afternoon, I called dealership back, still waiting on pictures from yesterday. Sales Manager tells me he's decided the LX needs too much service, so it's been picked up to go to auction. Already. Like it was on the lot yesterday when we were talking, it's on the truck and gone to auction somewhere this afternoon. So it's gone.

I'm not too upset, considering it must have been a pretty pricy "service" that was needed for them to decide it was a better $$ decision to let it go to auction than to repair. In a parallel universe, I'm happy because I didn't potentially open a can of worms...

On the other hand from a business perspective, I thought it would make much more sense to try to hash out a deal with me as opposed to letting it go to auction, but apparently the dealer didn't think so.

Next.

 

[IanB]

Semi pissed this afternoon. Spoke all day yesterday with selling dealership, (it's 3.5 hours away). It was pretty new to their lot, they didn't have pictures on their website yet so I followed up to inquire.

So yesterday, sales manager was supposed to run out and take some pictures yesterday to email to me. Never got the pictures as promised. Called back and I was told the vehicle was in the repair shop getting prep'd for sale. Manager said it looked like it was going to run up about $3500 in repairs, from the conversation it sounded like the "big" service I've seen on the interwebs (TB/WP/Idler/etc.). I was told that if I could pay the repair bill, they would work with me on the price to get the deal done.

Fast forward to this afternoon, I called dealership back, still waiting on pictures from yesterday. Sales Manager tells me he's decided the LX needs too much service, so it's been picked up to go to auction. Already. Like it was on the lot yesterday when we were talking, it's on the truck and gone to auction somewhere this afternoon. So it's gone.

I'm not too upset, considering it must have been a pretty pricy "service" that was needed for them to decide it was a better $$ decision to let it go to auction than to repair. In a parallel universe, I'm happy because I didn't potentially open a can of worms...

On the other hand from a business perspective, I thought it would make much more sense to try to hash out a deal with me as opposed to letting it go to auction, but apparently the dealer didn't think so.

Next.

They must have found some stuff they weren't comfortable selling through the dealership, once it's gone to auction it won't ever be coming back with issues and angry customers. Take it as as sign that it wasn't the right one. Or track down the auction and buy it for cheaper!