Toyota Amazonian uncollected, LC5 collection instead

[gordonbennet]

As usual i can't get a bloody ebay link to copy and paste, so punch in 262670615816 if yer fancy giving yer much valued opinions please.

 

I wasn't looking for another car to replace the current Landcruiser Colorado i bought last January, but sods law had a look yesterday and lo and behold a well cared for one, we hope, has cropped up at what might appear scandalous money but is a fair price for a good one, plus its got a good LPG system that was fitted in 2013 40k miles ago.

 

Be honest lads, talk me out of it sensibly or equally sensibly i'd like honest opinions why it should be bought.

 

Train not bad price if its a straight buy, but he might be interested in my old one which will make a simple deal all round.

[garbaldy]

Those 100 cruisers don't appear to be as hardy as the 80s I've seen a few peppered with rusty panels and serious chassis rust, if it was my money I would keep the colly or find a very good 80.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262670615816?clk_rvr_id=1113367380070&rmvSB=true&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-53481-19255-0%252F1%253Ficep_ff3%253D2%2526pub%253D5574735181%2526toolid%253D10001%2526campid%253D5336086427%2526icep_item%253D262670615816%2526ipn%253Dpsmain%2526icep_vectorid%253D229508%2526kwid%253D902099%2526mtid%253D824%2526kw%253Dlg%2526srcrot%253D710-53481-19255-0%2526rvr_id%253D1113367380070&ul_noapp=true

Sorry can only post tiny eBay pictures for some reason !

 

I love these, but know nothing about them.

 

I drove a couple of Lexus ones in Kuwait last year and can confirm they're great in the desert- always a useful attribute in Northamptonshire.

[gordonbennet]

Fair comment Garbaldy and something i have thought about, this one apparently has seen waxoyling (could be any product) during its life so might be at a point i can keep it from going beyond, i know the chassis on the 80 is heavier gauge and even the 90 series (collie) seems to be better at rust resistance than the 120 which replaced it.

My ideal motor would have been a 120 series (90 replacement), but direct from Japan Prado which has seen no salt and fitted with the 4.0 litre V6 or the 3.4 V6 as fitted to my collie and not available here in 120 chassis, but short of importing my own and now with the £ falling getting less attractive a proposition by the day.

 

I'm in two minds about the 100's, that hydraulic suspension can cause problems its true, but its no longer a bank breaker if the spheres need replacing cos Pleiades at Sawtry fit modified C5 spheres and have many recommendations on the LC forums.

In practice apart from replacing a few bulbs, and servicing it well, the Collie hasn't missed a beat.

 

Thanks for the thoughts.

[gordonbennet]

Thanks Norfolk, i'm too bloody thick to be able to manage posting a proper ebay link, thats probably why i'd get stuck in the wastelands of Northants without a bloody great 4x4 transmission to get me out.

 

I've always loved Landcruisers and Hiluxes, would have another Hilux but the pick up bed is too high for the Cockers and now most of the insurers will only offer expensive commercial insurance on pick ups so you lose the driving other cars cover as well, plus again to get a petrol its a case of the 2.7 litre 4 pot in a grey, or go up to a Tundra which is LHD only and the size of the Titanic.

Other makes 4x4's just don't do it for me, apart from Subaru, its the reliability/durability bit innit.

[Rod/b]

They're the car of choice in my neck of the woods. Healthy appetite for for brakes and fuel but otherwise they just keep going.

[gordonbennet]

Funny you should say that Rod, pads getting thin features a few times in the MOT history of this one, yet the ones on my Collie have barely worn, and i don't go especially gentle on them but them its possible that the Collie brakes are just as large as the 100 series but the vehicle around 750kg lighter.

Luckily i do all that sort of work mesen.

 

Fuel wise don't suppose it'll much cheaper to run on LPG than the Collie is on petrol, i average 18 commuting and dodging about on the Collie driven quite rapidly, if the Amazon does 13 which is probably about right but on LPG that might equate to just slightly lower fuel costs.

These things are never cheap on fuel, i've heard people telling me before about how they get 40mpg from 2+ ton brick shaped 4x4s with all wheels driven, its utter bollocks.

[Faker]

Great wagons. Used for towing is hard on brakes ect. Be warned though... they are one of the most stolen vehicles in the UK! Not by hoods or joyriders. Pros! Broken and exported. Fit really good security, or even a tracker (not that expensive now). Just for info. Not meaning to burst your bubble.

[Rod/b]

Aye, our Nissan Armada does about 12-13 mpg average, that's bigger than the Land Cruiser and has a 5.6 V8 so you should do better than that. The Land Cruiser (Amazon) is a lot larger than your Prado though.

 

 

GET IT BOUGHT.

[gordonbennet]

Aye, our Nissan Armada does about 12-13 mpg average, that's bigger than the Land Cruiser and has a 5.6 V8 so you should do better than that. The Land Cruiser (Amazon) is a lot larger than your Prado though.

 

 

GET IT BOUGHT.

 

13 is about right, i used to transport a lot of RR's for shows/events and average on the display of petrols was usually around the 13mpg mark.

 

I'd have preferred a 120 series cos its narrower than the Amazon but they rot like buggery in the chassis (not Landrover standard but worse than the old stuff), not helped by twat new car owners who think cos its got a bloody Landcruiser badge it can be neglected and never dream of getting the immigrant car wash lads to hose the sod off underneath every now and again but especially after the salt has gone, these new car twats who have more money than sense piss me off, not cos i'm envious but they can't look after anything.

 

 

Attn Faker, good point that about theft being a problem, not something i've worried about with the Collie cos its an old bugger so not worth the same sort of dosh for breaking.

I'll look into tracking should i buy it.

[Rod/b]

Rots not much of an issue here unless you drive it on the beach or launch boats with it, to he honest.

[gordonbennet]

Well i've slept on it, we've talked about it, and i'm buggered if i know what to do.

Normally i'd be looking forward to going and viewing it, but for some reason thats not the case this time.

Is it a bit too ''posh'' for me, i dunno, its going to be here at least till i retire in 5 years if i buy it and it won't look like that any more thats for sure.

Is it the mileage i wonder, when you look at it in the cold light of dawn, £11,000 for a 14 year old 132k vehicle sounds bloody ridiculous, but these things hold their money amazingly well...whether good 100 series Amazons will be as valuable as 80 series when they are 20 years old is debatable, but one thing is for sure it won't be as trouble free as an 80, or 90 or 70 series come to that.

 

If i go and see it and it is really rust free underneath and there's no signs of impending doom then its almost certain i'll come away with it, so why arn't i now on the train?

[BavarianRetro]

I'd be wary of anything that had done 40000 miles on LPG.

 

Do your homework to check that the engine likes LPG, and if it doesn't, check that it's had upper cylinder lubricant used throughout.

[gordonbennet]

Thats something i've already discussed with the seller, obviously a trader, when i spoke to him he didn't know if the vehicle had flashlube fitted, he was going to have a look see.

 

Most Japanese engines suffer VSR under LPG use to some extent so Flashlube or its equivalent is a must, especially where 24 exhaust valves and their seats might be suffering, serious wonga to put that right if they burn out, had it been LPG'd any longer i wouldn't be considering it at all.

I'm hoping the Prinz fitter put FL on when the conversion was done, but at under £2k for the conversion either it was a bargain price or FL was left off.

 

No FL i'll be giving this one a miss.

 

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Honey Badger]

Thought of trying a Lexus RX, 350 is the better engine over the 300 but both are a decent size inside with the usual Toyota reliability. They seem to be a lot cheaper for a newer car as well.

 

Ours has consumed brake discs and pads with a regular appetite, apart from that it's cost us nothing extra in 3 years apart from service items (Cambelt, water pump, gearbox service).

 

There is a blue RX350 SE-L in Wellingborough with 62k on it, its from what used to be Summerfields, which never had a great name but they always seem to be busy, might be worth a drive.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201610048407211?model=RX%20350&postcode=nn84sa&sort=distance&advertising-location=at_cars&make=LEXUS&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&page=1

 

 

 

RX350 in northampton, SE spec so no shatnav

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-Lexus-RX-350-3-5-SE-5dr-/331993083237?hash=item4d4c546d65:g:oVIAAOSw8w1X93wI

 

 

RX300 SE-L in Bedford, needs a little bit of bodywork.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-RX-300-SE-L-/172374608141?hash=item282253c90d:g:1tIAAOSwbsBXkKHF

 

 

[Rod/b]

Even if it has flashlube fitted there's no telling it's been kept topped up. I'd have thought a compression test would give a good indication of the state of the valve seats though? Worth doing anyway, if the seller will let you. FL can always be retrofitted if you like.

 

Our old Sportage was on LPG and it was not recommended for FL at the time it was converted. 35000 miles later and it needed a new head (

[Rod/b]

Those Lexus RXs - not sure if its particularly common but I know of a couple in the UK and over here too which have lunched the autoboxes. I'd not have one.

[gordonbennet]

Thanks Honey Badger, whilst i like those Rx's, if i was going to get one i'd plump for a 400h instead, whilst the 350 is a nice motor its £515 VED and i cannot pay that to the traitors who mismanage our country to piss up the wall.

If i was going for that size meself i'd probably go for another Outback like the goodly lady has, but prefer the van and box like load area of the LC's.

 

Rod i can't see someone who's paid out out £2k on a conversion neglecting topping up the Flashlube though obviously its possible people are idiots, but then in the back of me mind why shift the thing on just when you've got yourself nicely into ''profit'' with the conversion, i've had VSR before on a Mitsi Outlander, luckily the Outy engine has adjustable valve clearance like a Honda VTEC so was an easy fix, i also had flashlube fitted, that motor had done about 80,000 before the tell take signs of low compression when cold revealed themselves, the car whilst perfectly good never endeared itself.

Somehow i can't see matey letting me dismantle half the motor to do a compression test.

 

Thanks for the continued thoughts lads.

[gordonbennet]

Well its got Flashlube fitted, and we've pencilled in a deal which suits us both subject to what we think of each vehicle, so unless it gets sold today or i take a sensible pill we're off tomorrow to check it out.

 

It won't be a collection thread of much interest here, its hardly in shite territory and nearly at my limit of newness i won't go beyond (some makes wouldn't entertain in the noughties), but we'll hopefully take a few pics anyway and post em up.

 

edit, first hurdle, it aint on the UKLPG register so insurance will be a problem till it is (as it stands it £100 a year more than the Collie), seller checking paperworknow  to see if another certificate of installation can be issued which can then be forwarded on to the UKLPG admin for free registration, no certificate means it will have to be recertified at an approved centre and i'm none too keen to buy the sod before that gets done.

 

further edit, it is on the register but under its previous private registration number, just got off phone with Cornmarket and as usual they are good as gold about it, so long it gets changed over in a reasonable time they're quite happy.

Why can't all call centres be like Cornmarket's In Belfast, bloody good as gold, so they are....oh and i can say that cos i is half Irish anyway.

[Junkman]

Buy British.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-LAND-ROVER-RANGE-ROVER-4-6-HSE-5D-222-BHP-/182302902062

[lisbon_road]

Not all insurance companies need them to be on the UKLPG register.  Not arguing with you - probably very wise at that sort of price, as you want everything to be in order.  Just a point to make.  My Polish conversion isn't, and I've intended to get it on at some point but I know a few things will need work - daft things mind.

[gordonbennet]

Not all insurance companies need them to be on the UKLPG register.  Not arguing with you - probably very wise at that sort of price, as you want everything to be in order.  Just a point to make.  My Polish conversion isn't, and I've intended to get it on at some point but I know a few things will need work - daft things mind.

Thing is cos i is a lorry driver of sorts i get stupidly cheap insurance from Cornmarket, who do want them on the register, so did Saga as i recall who insures the car of the woman of the house.

[Rod/b]

Buy British.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-LAND-ROVER-RANGE-ROVER-4-6-HSE-5D-222-BHP-/182302902062

LOL

[gordonbennet]

Done 276000 miles too that Ranger, looks half bloody decent for it too, nah sod the Landcruiser i'm going straight past the Harrogate road and onto sunny Durham.

[gordonbennet]

Short collection post, well it would be if i bought the sod, and half me bleedin pics didn't come out.

 

Leave house just after 7am, nice steady run up, one pic of breakfast at the Subway near Tuxford.

 

glad the diff locks work cos the gradient there is serious

 

 

thats better the world is flat

 

Got there at 10 am on the dot as arranged, bloke turns up at 10.05, i'm on me way home at 10.10.

Had a quick look round, several deep scratches which don't worry me cos its a working vehicle, plus i know its completely rust free underneath cos it says so in the ad.

So got me torch and me glasses on and slung meself under the arse end, chassis looks a bit crusty, but whats that, either side of the boot floor is a box section, i know the one on the offside isn't in danger of holding any water cos i could get me hand in the bugger.

Course the bloody pic didn't work.

Inspection over, not interested mate, but the chassis is solid, which is completely true and if i wanted to buy a chassis this one seems good, unfortunately i'm buying a complete Landcruiser and the last time i looked at one the body came with it.

My buggers more solid.

 

During our phone conversation the seller mentioned it had been waxoyled, er yes that appears to be the case, someone has crouched down under the front bumper and given the front cross member a quick blast and the two lower wishbones  a quick blast as well, from the front.

 

Then he suggested maybe he could get it in somewhere for a full waxoyling, so don't mess about with all that welding new metal in lads just slop waxoyl in for that back to new metal strength, Jesus wept.

 

On the plus side my old girl never missed a beat and cruising at a pratnav 70 returned 25mpg.

She can stay until i do find a good one, if i can't find one she'll stay permanently.

 

2nd pic was slash stop, you might be glad the zoom lens doesn't zoom enough.

 

 

 

[DodgeRover]

Modern land cruisers 100% need flashlube

[Rocket88]

Structural Waxoyl............that's a new one..............

[mercrocker]

Well, I have a metal can full in the shed still, and it hasn't deformed yet!

[drum]

Well dodged GB. Did the seller play dumb about the rot or just deny it was a problem?

 

I've been working on my sister's R reg Colorado, welding the sills etc. What series would it be?

[gordonbennet]

Well dodged GB. Did the seller play dumb about the rot or just deny it was a problem?

 

I've been working on my sister's R reg Colorado, welding the sills etc. What series would it be?

 

Bit of both really, oh hadn't seen that then went on about how good the chassis was, which is true from what bit i could see of it cos i was by then disinterested, told me how many he'd had and never had an MOT failure on the chassis.

Tried to say it wasn't structural blah blah.

My problem is that i went to view a vehicle with no rust above or below and the first thing i find is a firkin great elongated hole which me hand went straight into and with a couple of punches i could have put a football sized hole in.

 

Colorado would be known as the 90 series, but 90 is really the 3 door version, officially a 5 door is a 95...all known as Prado for most of rest of world, but some markets have different kit and engines and some axle differences.

 

 

The square model that came before Collie was the 70 series, i had one of the last of those with the 3 litre Collie Diesel, bombproof with live axles front and rear like the renowned 80 series Amazon which is the toughest of the lot, the model that comes after 90/95 is the 120 series, which got replaced by the stunningly ugly 150 series which is now the only Landcruiser sold new in Britain.

 

When i rustproofed mine last year the sills and same box sections as the rotted ones on the 100 viewed today were still absolutely solid, so they have been coated several times outside with Bilt Hambers finest and i've copiously sprayed into all the cavities, so those sills and sections should last many years yet.

 

On a personal rant front, people who can afford expensive vehicles like this new piss me off in so many ways, they can afford £50k for the vehicle, this particular one was under Toyota extended warranty till 2013, and i know thats a bleedin lot of money each year (this one supposedly £27000 on servicing since new) cos they were going to charge me £750 for one extra year on my 2007 Hilux (didn't buy that warranty), yet for all that money they haven't the nous to get some fucker to steam clean the underside (if they're too precious to DIY) for a few quid after the winter salt has gone.

 

I suppose they treat things as throwaway (maybe that includes people) it just pisses me off thats all, but i daresay lots of us here feel like this because these proper motors won't ever be made again and the new shit being sold now i can't see still running at the age of some of the cars we here run reliably.

 

Rant over.