Hey folks -- I started my "overland" journey looking for a one-owner, high mileage GX470. And then I drove a Montero and my plans quickly changed
Since then I've been reading and learning about these sweet trucks and been trying to hunt down a nice one or two owner Gen3, with lowish miles and decent service records. Frankly, there aren't too many around these parts (WA/OR, I-5 corridor), and the ones I've found (been looking since late Oct), have been pretty darn trashed. Up until this point I've been only wanting a later Limited, but aside from one that got away in NE Seattle, there just haven't been any worth buying.
So, I'm coming around to looking at earlier Limiteds and the XLS. My most promising option so far is an 130k mi, '02 XLS. It's got leather (heated seats are the only requirement from my wife), the big sunroof,and is in attractive cosmetic shape. Service records via Carfax are a little spotty, but I see enough oil changes that I don't think it's totally been neglected. It's a local vehicle, so rust should be minimal (I need to get it on a lift as part inspection to be sure). No record of a timing belt change. From what I can tell, sunroof means LSD, so that's good, right? Downfall is the 3.5 motor and the 4spd transmission.
My plan is *light* overlanding to get me to good camping and mountain biking locations. Basically, one step beyond logging roads in the summer, and 6-12" snow on those roads during the winter. The Monty will be the means to get to the adventure, not the adventure itself (though if the drive is fun and I don't get stuck or broken down, so much the better). I'm planning to keep it stockish, though I might do a slight lift if the suspension needs work (when), and maybe slightly bigger tires. Oh, and maybe a skid plate or two. But that's it, nothing else (that's what they all say, right? )
Is the 3.5l/ 4spd combo a bad idea? The vehicle will probably get heavier -- I plan on building/installing a drawer system, dual battery, roof rack and maybe a fridge. And will keep it loaded with camping gear and basic recovery gear so it's ready to roll out at moment's notice year round. I'm reasonably mechanical but I'm also old enough that I don't want to be on my back in the driveway every weekend. It's been awhile since I've had an offroad worthy vehicle (previous was a VW Syncro Westfalia I put a Suby engine into), but I know how much weight a full load of camping-at-a-drop-of-a-hat necessities can add to a rig.
So I figured I should ask the folks who've been through all this. What say you? Go for the older, low-mileage 3.5l XLS, or hold out and keep looking for a newer, more powerful (and likely more expensive and more complicated) Limited? Thanks in advance!
Since then I've been reading and learning about these sweet trucks and been trying to hunt down a nice one or two owner Gen3, with lowish miles and decent service records. Frankly, there aren't too many around these parts (WA/OR, I-5 corridor), and the ones I've found (been looking since late Oct), have been pretty darn trashed. Up until this point I've been only wanting a later Limited, but aside from one that got away in NE Seattle, there just haven't been any worth buying.
So, I'm coming around to looking at earlier Limiteds and the XLS. My most promising option so far is an 130k mi, '02 XLS. It's got leather (heated seats are the only requirement from my wife), the big sunroof,and is in attractive cosmetic shape. Service records via Carfax are a little spotty, but I see enough oil changes that I don't think it's totally been neglected. It's a local vehicle, so rust should be minimal (I need to get it on a lift as part inspection to be sure). No record of a timing belt change. From what I can tell, sunroof means LSD, so that's good, right? Downfall is the 3.5 motor and the 4spd transmission.
My plan is *light* overlanding to get me to good camping and mountain biking locations. Basically, one step beyond logging roads in the summer, and 6-12" snow on those roads during the winter. The Monty will be the means to get to the adventure, not the adventure itself (though if the drive is fun and I don't get stuck or broken down, so much the better). I'm planning to keep it stockish, though I might do a slight lift if the suspension needs work (when), and maybe slightly bigger tires. Oh, and maybe a skid plate or two. But that's it, nothing else (that's what they all say, right? )
Is the 3.5l/ 4spd combo a bad idea? The vehicle will probably get heavier -- I plan on building/installing a drawer system, dual battery, roof rack and maybe a fridge. And will keep it loaded with camping gear and basic recovery gear so it's ready to roll out at moment's notice year round. I'm reasonably mechanical but I'm also old enough that I don't want to be on my back in the driveway every weekend. It's been awhile since I've had an offroad worthy vehicle (previous was a VW Syncro Westfalia I put a Suby engine into), but I know how much weight a full load of camping-at-a-drop-of-a-hat necessities can add to a rig.
So I figured I should ask the folks who've been through all this. What say you? Go for the older, low-mileage 3.5l XLS, or hold out and keep looking for a newer, more powerful (and likely more expensive and more complicated) Limited? Thanks in advance!