From Bro Truck To No Truck

"Curbsenthusiasms" (curbsenthusiasms)
03/10/2015 at 10:20 • Filed to: None

Not every day do I see my fellow Jalop's commend a nice diesel truck but I suspect hugely lifted trucks blowing soot all over have killed your taste for big diesel trucks in general. I have to say though that I love purpose built vehicles and nothing beats a big diesel truck.

It was January 2014 and I was getting the itch to sell my 1 yr old 2013 Audi Q5 lease to Carmax because I just couldn't stand having to make a payment month in and month out and my craze for all things cars just couldn't justify having the same car for 3 yrs, new or not. I ritually cleaned the Q5 (as I do all cars before taking them to Carmax)and even though it didn't really need it being only 1 model year I always tend to clean the car better the day I sell it then when I've owned it.

The 30 minute wait ensued, I browsed the lot disappointed as usual, and then the offer came. $32,400, off from the exact pay off value by only $68. It was a done deal, I vowed once again to never own a new car again.

What should I buy? Just prior to the Q5 I was driving a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited. I was on an SUV binge the last 2 years to say the least. I also have a C5 Corvette that pretty much only stays in the garage as I only drive it a handful of times per year. How about an NA Miata? Not now, too impractical with another 2 seater in the garage. How about a W140 S class? Thats the one! I've always wanted the over engineered behemoth. The search went on and on and on.

Living in South Florida you see a flux of very low mileage cars but most owners want an arm and a leg for their "GEM" or its a middle mile-aged (60-90k) that needs a lot of little things here and there from lack of long term care. After going back and forth on a lot of W140's I realized that I wasn't ready for a German project at this point of getting out of a brand new in warranty vehicle.

Then it hit me. I want...no...NEED a Ford 7.3 Powerstroke diesel. Just out of the frustration of looking at one car I some how completely changed my mood and choice. I mindlessly searched local listings as I typically do and found a pretty decent candidate but the pictures were terrible to say the least. I'd decided I would take a look at the truck. It was a 2002 Ford F250 Lariat 4x4 FX4...woieee. 167,000. The Carfax verified numerous records including 3 transmission flushes, 2 coolant flushes and many other items.

Seeing the truck in person and it was an instant sell. It was stupid to say "I'll take it!" so fast while it was raining out and not fully inspecting the truck but at $10,400 I would be stupid to say "no" compared to every other beat up truck I sat in. Everyone praises the 7.3 for lasting 500k+ miles so 167,000 should just be breaking it in!

I took the truck home, washed it and took these pictures the next day.

I was stoked!! This truck was great! The ride height (small block lift), the TORQUE!! And the ability to get everyones attention around you allowed me to cruise around with no issues. I immediately got to doing home projects, all my friends wanted me to move furniture and I could bring the dog to the dog park no problem! This truck single handedly made me a better, less lazy man! I did a few simple mods including the air intake, TS chip and the TorqueApp and bluetooth OBDII Reader.

1 year later and I have the same itch to test the market. Dec 27th, 2014 I list the truck for $12,600 and the next day I sell it for $12,300 to someone as stoked as I was when I saw the truck for the first time. And yet I'm in the same dilemma, what should I buy?

This time I didn't know what I wanted, I just knew it needed to be slightly less costly to run then a 7.3L Diesel and not leak oil all over my driveway.

The Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470 both came to my attention and the search ensued. Fairly quickly I found one I was very interested in (122,000) and it was only in the 9k price range. The dealer lot was locked down (Gone for Christmas) and I was without a daily driver! Work was starting in a few days, I needed something quick!

The browsing ensued once again and I landed on a vehicle I would have never thought I'd purchase. A 2001 Lexus LS430 with only 49,900 miles. The VIN check verified 6 pages of records including the timing chain, valve cover gaskets, water pump, transmission flushes, coolant flushes etc etc etc...it was maintained exactly how every Jalop could only dream of a car being maintained. Everything was taken care of based on age and not mileage. I swooped it up for the sum of $9400 and do believe that I could easily sell it for more. Immediately I purchased replica wheels to replace the stock 2001 wheels and update the look.

I absolutely LOVE this car. It's a boring flagship Toyota product but it is amazing. Ridiculously comfortable, quick when needed and at all speeds its dead silent...the complete opposite of my F250.

With that said, I'm at a loss. Do I keep the Lexus?? Do I quickly move on? I've had some sort of utility vehicle for 3 years now and I feel like I can't do any projects on my home with this car.

The LX470 might just be my next focus...again...oh and I did buy a 1990 Miata in that 1 year I had the truck too but it is just sitting waiting for some love.

Did I mention I miss the truck... :(

DISCUSSION (14)

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 10:28

First post? Welcome! it was a good read. I'm still flabbergasted you were able to get out of the lease for $68 bucks. It seems you have made some very wise buying decisions and are actually making money rather than loosing.

I tend to do it the other way around and loose money on just about every car. C'est la vie I guess.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 10:34

A friend of mine has a shortcab '01 Powerstroke F250 that we just did glow plugs on - and is now refusing to start, probably due to one of the gang plugs not being right. Good truck, though - just way too many miles.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 10:34

Woo! 3UZ!!! haha

There's just something about Japanese V8s that I love.

I think you could easily flip the Lexus for quite a bit more, especially with such low miles. If you do want to jump back into an SUV, I say search for an FJ60. My best friend's family has one and I absolutely love those things. They are absolute beasts off road and look simple but fantastic. Not to mention Toyota reliability.

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 10:40

Sounds like you should take your spare 3k from the sale of the Super Duty and buy an old beater truck or long SUV like an old Burban

computiNATEor > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 10:53

Does this LS have the amber & red taillights? If so, you might see if you can retrofit the newer LED red and clear taillights; those look nicer and give a more modern feel. A lot of cars from this time frame made the transition; just off the top of my head, there was the e39 and e46 that swapped from amber to clear lenses.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 10:58

I love an honest, functional truck. There aren't many of them left. I want one some day, but I just wouldn't use one enough to justify it at the moment and don't convince myself that I "need" it like half of the people on the road with shiny trucks that have clearly never been used to haul more than a few bags of groceries, raise them, then make them roll coal. I kind of wish that they were classified as commercial vehicles and required a separate license, but that's just me. It could be because of just how many of them are on the road in Florida. For example, I would never have called yours a bro-truck. It's just a big truck.

WiscoProud > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 11:21

I have an LC 100, and its a great vehicle. Lots of room, good power, legendary reliability. The stock tires look too small to me, so I threw on some 33" which easily fit with no rubbing and don't have a noticeable effect on power. The AHC system in the LX470 is very nice until it breaks, but if you're looking at vehicles with under 150k on the odometer, you should be fine.

Curbsenthusiasms > computiNATEor
03/10/2015 at 11:30

I believe the lights and the bumper assembly have to be changed out to properly fit. Too many cheap Chinese ones out there too. I'm getting quite used to the amber now, its not too bad.

Curbsenthusiasms > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/10/2015 at 11:34

Thanks for the welcome! And yes first post. I avoid anything social network related and I've been an avid reader of Jalopnik for years but I just couldn't hold myself back from writing something!

I've had my fair share of losses as well. I always try to break even if possible. The lease just worked out, Costco pricing and almost nothing down payments were $550 a month and by the year end Q5's were selling like hotcakes here in South Florida...the payment and the lack of emotion killed it for me but it was a great utility vehicle.

Curbsenthusiasms > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2015 at 11:35

I found a 92' Isuzu truck with only 50k miles! But I think thats too basic.

computiNATEor > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 11:39

Bummer. On the e39 it's plug-and-play with ballasts for the LEDs.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 11:42

Maybe. What region are you in, maybe I can hunt.

Check out an S10 Chevy or a S15 GMC. Older the better, rock that 4.3L TBI

Curbsenthusiasms > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2015 at 11:49

Kinja'd!!!

Oh believe me the hunt is always on! I'm in South Florida Broward/Miami-Dade. I'm trying to do the timing belt/water pump etc on a 90' Miata and sell it before I get the next vehicle.

I would have thought a 1990 Miata with 67k would have been great but I have so much maintenance to complete on it and so little space to do the work and who thought 24hrs would be enough in a day?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Curbsenthusiasms
03/10/2015 at 12:04

I'm not sure on the 24 hour part, really not.

1990- doesnt matter mileage, it's got age on it, and a serious lack of use during some years. I've run into some of that on my 68 Montego, 60k original miles. Some stuff is just worn out.