Toyota Amazonian uncollected, LC5 collection instead

[gordonbennet]

kinell lads i'm gunna give this up as a bad job, just been looking at another one on Autotrader, all the spiel but two close ups of the tyres show a nearly new Michelin green road tyre on a front axle and on the back axle same side some effin manky thing that looks like it might have been nicked from a scrap 1957 farm trailer with sidewalls so worn the bloody brand name has almost entirely gone and down to about 4mm, WTF is going on who buys this crap.

[gordonbennet]

That was a busy day.

 

Clicked onto the bay this morning and lo and behold a new listing of a LC5 Landcruiser, Diesel which isn't what i really wanted but sensible mileage seemingly cared for, for sale at a motorhome dealer at a reasonable not cheap price.

Mrs talked me into ringing them, bloke sounded half decent, confirmed it was trade in for an expensive camper, so my previous owner with a few bob antenna went up.

They definately weren't short of a few bob cos a new towbar went on couple of years ago at Toyota for a mere £800, and two new batteries last year plus its been serviced annually, so here's hoping.

Mentioned about my previous experience with these things so he got one of the lads there to have a look underneath to see if my trip would be worth it, Wednesbury.

 

Said it was good, so we shot up there straight away in the Scooby complete with dogs, first long trip out for the pup but he was great.

 

pees for everyone at Corley

 

So we got there sharpish, motor looked OK, got me overalls on and has a poke nose, very good condition indeed, only surface rust of the chassis seams and the weak points at the sill ends are lightly rusted through paint abrasion but absolutely solid, all tyres good discs good, wheels in good condition not been refurbed and a new set of Nanking ditchfinders being the only thing i could find wrong...no mitts disappearing into box sections.

Engine sounds good and pulls like hell, autobox smooth, brakes razor sharp, we done a straight purchase deal and drove home.

Drives well, all the toys seem to work and there's lots of 'em, lets hope they stay working.

Sept 05 regd so not the £500 tax jobbie, a mere £295.

Nice people at the motorhome dealer.

 

No pez station shot cos i bloody forgot, but here's some pics on our drive.

 

 

Too late for serious in depth rustproofing this year so  a quick blast over with some oily shite will have to do till the spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rocket88]

That looks..................imposing.....didn't realise that suffered from major tinworm issues.........

[gordonbennet]

Its previous owner neglect thats the problem, its a LC so doesn't need looking after syndrome, so if one comes up that looks like it might have been cared for you have to get there pronto.

 

By the way am i allowed to stay here cos i know its a new car and all moderns are shit.

[DVee8]

Is there a marked difference between the old one and the new one.Looks nice by the way it dosn't look 11 years old.

[gordonbennet]

Is there a marked difference between the old one and the new one.Looks nice by the way it dosn't look 11 years old.

Its an evolution of the same vehicle really.

This ones common rail Diesel where the previous only shifted onto D4D at the very end of production, pre facelift had normal injection same engine as fitted to last 2 year of 70 series sold here, one of which i had some years ago.

 

5 speed auto box instead of 4, hydraulic rear suspension adjustable for comfort or sport (yeah right) settings, some improvements to suspension, i believe this ones got a limited slip rear diff, lots more electronics to go pop, not really a huge difference just the next stage in its progression.

One big improvement is putting the front bottom ball joints on the right way up, on the 90 they are under tension pushing apart continually just like Morris Minor and Marina and when badly worn have been known to spring apart, its something i've been very aware of and the ones on my 90 are showing no wear at all.

Otherwise its still the same ladder chassis old school full time 4WD, with lockable centre diff and high low range box, with indy front suspension with drive via normal shafts and a live rear axle, stronger chassis with each new model., larger wheels and tyres each stage too, 17's now which isn't too bad, 16's on the old one.

 

They drive very differently however, the new one is smoother and quieter so that semi fancy suspension is doing its job (no doubt it'll shit its fancy bits at some point and provide an eye watering bill), the brakes are far sharper a bit overservoed for me but will get used to them.

Didn't want to go for the top of range, by choice i'd have avoided the hydraulic suspension and lower spec models don't have it, but well cared for ones are so soddin rare that when one comes up you can't eff about or they'll be sold like this one was nect day,  up to a point i suppose the more industrial models would see more industrial type work, though i'd have preferred cloth seats of LC2/3 instead of the leather.

 

Early days, in 6 months it will either have endeared itself or emptied me severely dented wallet, hope its the former.