I apologize for the delay with the arbitration paperwork, it will be posted in full very soon.

 

I think I finally decided on what I am going to buy instead of 4Runner now. My first choice is 1998-99 LX470, or same years Land Cruiser as a runner up. I think I can safely fit within $25K for extra clean one with ~50-60K miles. I drove 1999 LX470 with 71K the other day and it is a lot nicer than my brand new 4Runner.
One thing for sure no more new cars, only expensive used from now on!

 

Great choice for a replacement rig, Mish. Like I've posted before, those years of FJ-100's were the last with mechanical driveline controls and optional rear locker. IIRC, the LX didn't offer a rear locker, but instead had standard LSD. Whichever you choose, be sure the timing belt was done @ 60K. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

I am not afraid of the timing belt, Toyota does not bend valves.
I know that LX470 is much nicer, however Toyotas attempt to make it into exotic luxury vehicle is laughable. It is nothing more than slightly better equiped Land Cruiser. You have to see these wood trimmed panels, they look like aftermarket glue on kit right around farting Nakamichi radio
LX470 has variable rack and pinion ratio and Cruiser does not, which makes tons of difference in the ride quality.

 

Alright Mish! We are going to keep you around after all!

 

Well, if Cruiser idea fails during the dealer's auction on Tuesday my backup plan is this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2446692880
Those damn Land Cruisers and LX470s are so much in demand at local auctions, our only 2 Lexus dealerships keep fishing those out as well as every exporting dealer who tries to ship one to Europe.

I have these two marked on the coming up dealers auction:
1999 LEXUS LX470 4WD 4D 8G/A 52,118 PEWTER
1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 4WD V8 4D 8G/A 65,328 BURGANDY
I will go up to $24K on either one, but chances are I will end up with buttkiss

I just noticed one 2003 4Runner sold at the last auction:

2003 4RUNNER SR5 6G 4SUV A PS PB AC 4X4 21,570 BLACK
$23,000

 

The FJ-80 is one of my all time favorite vehicles. Hope you get the LC.
Not into the Benzos myself. Looks ok I guess.

Check out realcruiser.com for LC's in off road action.

Good luck with the auctions Mish

 

So the 2UZ is a non-interference engine? I didn't know for sure, but FireFighter in another thread said it's interference.

Yeah, so true about the factory "wood". I learned from the my overpriced '98 accessory experience and got the 28 piece Classic Soft Trim California burled walnut package for $100 less that the 14 piece factory burled ? kit on my '99 and '00 FJ's. It's the feature that wound up reselling the truck...they didn't care or even know about the locker.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mish
[B]I will post entire thing shortly.

Mish not rushing you but will we be getting the posting soon???
I am curious to hear what they said..

 

I am supposed to drop 4Runner off and get my check within 2 weeks now, let me finish that step first.
Since I did not sign any contract with Toyota I have no confidentiality disclosure, so I will go ahead, scan all papers and post them for future reference. Maybe it will help someone else who is driving V6 with "normal" engine sound as we speak

 

I was unable to grab any of the 2 Land Cruisers at the auction.
One had 65K and has leather on seats all worn out (very cheap quality leather I tell you) and the other one had entire side and back repainted with paint starting to peel off. One way or the other both brought $22K+ and were not worth it to me. This behemoth is waaay too heavy and I can almost hear this gas running out of exhaust pipe gallon every 8 miles.

I drove few different cars last few days and here is what I have:

1999 Mercedes E55 - insane machine, Corvette killer + little bit more however very unplactical against my trailer
2000-01 Mercedes ML430 - nice, solid, vell equipped, not cheap however I did not find those 8 cylinders in it on the take off. Probably number 2 contender.
2004 Honda Pilot - very well put together piece of crap, body roll out of wazoo and good 80 out of those 240 horses were definitely on vacation at the time.
2001 Acura MDX - Much nicer suspension, very high quality interior and the entire car, however I think if I drive it long enough I will start growing boobs, re-discover my inner self and will no longer be afraid to cry
2001 BMW X5 3.0 - Nice inside, funny look on the outside, waay overprised and not a real 4x4 thing for the money.

2003 Infiniti FX35 - BAM! She is the one! I never liked Nissan, but this one has it all, but the "low range". I do not even know why they make FX45, 35 will run circles around any AWD vehicle out there, inclusing stupid things like Dodge Hemi and will probably come close after E55. Very nice interior, handling better than turbo Eclipse and I can get one of the last 2003 for ~$32K. It is however is by far inferior to 4Runner's off road capabilities, therefore no more dreams of going through the swamp for me.

Any feedback on the FX35 guys?

 

Mish,

If you settle on the FX35, DO NOT let them talk you into the FX45 - ride quality is terrible with the bigger tire/wheel combination and suspension changes. And remember, first year vehicle, haven't you had enough of that?

Have you look at/considered the Nissan Pathfinder (not the Armada Pathfinder, the original). It was my other choice when looking at the 4Runner. Very impressive, good offroad capability, strong and proven motor. On road ride quality not quite up to the 4Runner but not far off. The only thing that turned me to the 4Runner was user reports of gas mileage on the Pathfinder from the various forums. 15/16MPG versus the Runners 19/20. They were/are almost giving them away - when I was looking the dealer started out negotiations at cost and less a $2000 rebate for 2K under cost and I think they would have negotiated further than that (the Pilot and 4Runner have hurt their sales a lot).

As for the Honda Pilot, my neighbor has owned one since they were introduced and is now going through the same arbitration process you did. It intermittently just dies - all electrical, everything as if the battery had been disconnected. They've replaced almost every electrical component in the vehicle and it still does it. He's given up being stranded twice away from home and several times in his driveway (thank god it doesn't do it when running, only upon attempted startup). He probably now hates Honda more than you do Toyota. When it was running, he tried to retrive his 4000 boat on my boat ramp - no go so we used my 4Runner and it snatched it right out of there in 4W Hi so don't know what's up with that.

Have you at least considered a V8 4Runner - I know, seems like sacrilege but I really do think your experience with the V6 was "unique". Mine has quieted down considerably and has now become the workhorse of our family fleet. The V8 feels like velvet compared to the 6 and from everyone I talk to, the gas mileage difference is negligible because of the 5speed auto and better torque. Something to consider.

 

FX35 forum

Is the 1 you look at coming with 20's or 18's

 

There is one coming up at the auction on Tuesday and I am not sure of the package. I drove both and have to say that 20" one hugs the road insanely. It handled much better than my old Eclipse and those are known to handle well.
I liked the backup camera and navigation, but I can not afford that, so cloth interior and no sunroof, here I come!

 

They come with cloth, being that they sticker close to 40k I thought leather was standard

 

**********
If you settle on the FX35, DO NOT let them talk you into the FX45 - ride quality is terrible with the bigger tire/wheel combination and suspension changes. And remember, first year vehicle, haven't you had enough of that?
**********
I will not afford FX45, so no danger there
I would prefer to get navigation if I could, so still working on that one. Nissan 3.5 is well put together motor that is out for many years now and all I find in Infiniti message bords about FX35 are stupid things, like spoilers bending up and denting roofs....


*********
Have you look at/considered the Nissan Pathfinder (not the Armada Pathfinder, the original).
*********
Yes, I am actually waiting on one this Tuesday at the auction, 2001, 4X4, 5sp, 3.5l, 31K miles. I will get it for $15K if I want to, but I will do my best to get that FX35.
Poopfinder is very well put together truck, specially last 5 years.

*********
Have you at least considered a V8 4Runner - I know, seems like sacrilege but I really do think your experience with the V6 was "unique".
*********
I was offered 04 V8 as replacement when Toyota rep realized that they do have a problem with me. I do not want to have AWD all the time and V8 to feed only because Toyota refuses to recall those noisy engines.

I do not hate Toyota cars, or trucks (except for 1992-96 Camry 4cyl), I do hate Toyota Corporation though for their attitude and for sweeping dirt under the carpet like they do right now.

I am sure my noise is not unique, we have many memers here noticing this rattle, but some of us simply do not mind some clicking for $30K+.

 

Not to be a pill Mish, but your getting your $$ back, they offered you a 'better' , I am assuming at the same price, vehicle. How did they sweep it under the rug? Did you want a public tv advertisement, full page Road & Track ad? Written apology for your time and inconvenience from Mr. Toy?

I can understand your bitterness and frustration. And I am sure your complaint was noted at Toyota. And if enough complaints are filed, a change WILL be made to the design. But not knowing all the facts, contexts and scenario, I think Toyota came clean with you.

Check out the CR review of the FX 35, they found the steering assist to suddenly die out on certain turning manuevers. It garnered an 'un-acceptable' rating(for what its worth) for this failure. And, its a first year design as noted earlier.

 

Toyota did not want to do anything in regards to my noisy motor and bastard is noisy as hell. They wasted tons of my time, tried to make idiot out of me number of times and the only reason why my truck is being bought back is because NCDS is making Toyota to. The only reason why Toyota rep was trying to replace truck was also because he knew that he will loose and had no other choice. Months ago when I asked to replace my noisy truck, or its motor I was offered to go and stick my nuts in the in the bee hive (not literally).

From now on, only used Toyotas, if any. I hear it, I like it, I pay half of the original price for it and no more political games if it breaks down.

 

most likely, it's the injectors...been doing that since the early 3.0's. Same-o, same-o with the 3.4L 24v DOHC cast iron block with aluminum heads.

Geez, are all you guys first-time owners of Toys or what? ;-)

Arnie

ps Or, I'm wrong and you're about to lose your head gasket(s); you'll know when that cute little temp gauge goes all the way to the passenger seat. Then again, it's the metalic in the drive belts "tinking" against the pulleys (next to injectors, that's the most likely scenario). True story. Man, if only Toyota could put its chassis and drive line behind a Honda power plant...think of the possilbities.

 

If you read the whole post Mish had an O3 V6 that sounded like a diesel, and he wanted to exchange it for a new silent one,

Every car has fuel injectors, thats normal.

If Toyota put Honda engines in our vehicles their would be no torque, I don't understand your theory behind that but it's yours