Buying A Used Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series Sight Unseen: Pros And Cons

Buying a used car is always like playing the lottery. This is especially true if you buy a car sight unseen. Not being able to see the vehicle in person, means you are effectively walking in blind, into a potential money pit. While the risks are great, YouTube channel, The Fast Lane, recently acquired a high-mileage Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series, and this reveals a few important things, some of which we already suspected. 

The article serves both to look at the potential risks of buying a vehicle sight unseen, as well as to look into how a 20-plus-year-old Toyota SUV has held up. Not all Toyotas are built equal, and not all vehicles are maintained equally well. Let’s dig in and see what is happening with an extensively used example of one of the most iconic Japanese SUVs ever made, and what you are getting into when buying a car sight unseen.

A great example of old-school Toyota quality

The vehicle in question is a 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser. In fact, it is a very well-equipped model, featuring a rearview camera, cruise control, electric sunroof, and much more. After 241,000 miles, the 2UZ-FE engine still pulls strong. 

The low-revving, 4.7-liter, normally aspirated V-8 is simple and durable. Its 235 horsepower and 320 pound-feet may not sound like a lot given the 5,390-pound curb weight, but the SUV advances with confidence when pushed. The five-speed automatic and four-wheel-drive with central locking differential also work as intended.

The timing has been last done at 216,000 miles, and judging by the stickers on the engine cover, strict maintenance records have been kept. The exterior shows some wear and tear, including scratches and a missing antenna, but nothing serious. 

The interior is even better, with the generously-padded leather seats showing minimum wear. Everything in the interior works just like the day the SUV left the factory. Having driven high-mileage Land Cruisers in the past (primarily 150 and 200 Series), I can personally vouch for the build quality of these trucks. 

The biggest issue with these SUVs is frame rust. The guys at TFL did not show the undercarriage, but since they didn’t mention any issue there, we can assume it’s fine. They would have made a pretty good point of showing it to us if it wasn’t. 

Pros of buying a car sight unseen

• Price - sight-unseen auctions are a great way to buy a vehicle for less than the average market value. Not being able to see the car in person is a big risk, but what makes such auctions extremely alluring is that you can potentially save a lot of money on your purchase. In some cases, you can acquire a vehicle for less than half the market value. In the case of this Land Cruiser, that sounds like the deal of the century as Classic.com currently shows average prices for the 100 Series of over $17,000, with pristine examples fetching upwards of $30,000. 

• Virtually unlimited choice - like any auction, you are not limited to the inventory of nearby car lots. This means a much wider selection and better chance at finding a desired spec of the car you are after.

• Not dealing with dealers - while not all dealers are equal, such auctions spare you from dealership hopping, pressure tactics, and dealer markups.

• Convenience - sight-unseen auctions are typically online. This makes purchasing vehicles extremely quick - click, sign, done. 

• Online tools at your disposal - vehicle history checks, high-resolution images, and walkaround videos provide better transparency. 

Cons of buying a sight-unseen vehicle

• You can’t inspect the car personally - photos and videos don’t convey how the car feels, whether it vibrates, or how deformed the seats are.

• Hidden issues - some issues may not manifest themselves until the car has been in operation for a set period of time. The infotainment system might freeze after 10 minutes, unwanted smells might appear, the flywheel might start chattering after a certain amount of city driving, etc.

• Quality of inspection varies - while you can spend $100-$200 on an inspection, it may not be thorough enough to discover issues with the car. There are no guarantees.

• Returns can be a pain - return windows are short, paperwork can be annoying, and shipping fees may be non-refundable.

• Shipping risks - while cargo insurance exists, there are risks of damage during transit or even during loading. Delays in shipping are also a frequent occurrence. 

At the end of the day, every used-vehicle purchase is risky, sight-unseen or not. If there is any vehicle that is worth the risk, I’d say a 100 Series Toyota Land Cruiser is definitely one. Have you had any experience with sight-unseen auctions? If so, I am curious to learn about your experience. Feel free to hit the comment section and share any insight you may have, so it might help prospective buyers in the future.

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.