Choosing a used SUV is always a compromise between budget and the condition of the car. In our case, the hero of the material settled on a 2010 Lexus LX570, having assessed the options for the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 series and realizing that for 2.5–3 million rubles, a "two hundred" in decent condition is almost unattainable. The LX570, although more expensive at the start (3.5 million rubles), turned out to be white, with a gasoline engine, without rust and with a relatively "alive" engine. Previous operation in the north and subsequent years in the regional center left room for investment, but did not make the car hopeless.
The first thing we did was assess the condition of the frame and underbody: at the time of inspection, rust was noticeable, associated with parking in the grass on the shore of Lake Baikal. Over several months under the new owner, most of the corrosion was sandblasted, and the remaining traces do not require complete disassembly of the body. The body as a whole has been preserved well: sills, arches and joints of the luggage door without corrosion, running board brackets are intact. Despite the specialist's warnings about one painted wing, small dents and rust, the purchase was made, including thanks to the real mileage of 154,000 km and a seller's discount of 200,000 rubles to fix minor problems.
In the technical part, the work concerned the 3UR-FE engine: flushing, oil change to 0W-20, installation of missing clips, replacement of spark plugs (NGK and Denso, 14,000 rubles), flushing of injectors and throttle body, replacement of antifreeze, valve cover gaskets (8,000 rubles), repair of the cooling system fan (11,000 rubles), cleaning and repair of the SAI system, ECU firmware update with a power increase of up to 400 hp. The generator repair cost 17,000 rubles, ATF was replaced in the "automatic", and the gearboxes and transfer case were serviced, cardan crosses. All this took about 25,000 rubles.
The chassis required separate investments: front Dixcel discs (15,000 rubles), rear caliper repair kit (2,500 rubles), hydraulic fluid replacement (11,000 rubles), rear left shock absorber (7,600 rubles), longitudinal link hinges (700 rubles each), steering tips and silent blocks of the lower arms (15,000 rubles), power steering hose (8,000 rubles). In total, the technical work cost approximately 170,000 rubles, which fits into the 200,000 rubles allocated by the seller.
Cosmetics and tuning also required investments: a set of 285/50 R20 tires for 20-inch wheels — 86,000 rubles, AJS exhaust — 50,000 rubles, front and rear bumpers with Khann body kit — 82,000 rubles, pulling out eight dents — 10,000 rubles, replacing the headlight washer — 2,500 rubles, new headlights — 54,000 rubles. The interior was partially restored: painting the handles, reupholstering the box-armrest lids, replacing the pillar trim and possibly the rear parts of the middle row seats is planned.
Electronics and multimedia are fully functional: 8-inch screen, multimedia, additional settings and buttons — all in good working order, without "black screens". The design and materials of the Luxury Sport interior emphasize the status of the car, and the capacity of the cabin and cargo compartment remains balanced.
Dynamics and handling correspond to the off-road character: the 3UR-FE provides acceleration to "hundreds" in 7.5 seconds, fuel consumption in the city reaches 30 l/100 km, on the highway about 13.5 l/100 km. Full time all-wheel drive allows you to effectively manage traction, there is the possibility of forced center locking. The TR-60SN gearbox works smoothly, especially after replacing the ATF.
The LX570 suspension is comfortable on Russian roads, the shock absorbers can be inflated to increase ground clearance. The 250,000 rubles invested only in equipment and tires in four months ensured the SUV's ideal operational readiness. Only gasoline expenses remained — almost 150,000 rubles for the period, but at the same time the car is fully ready for further operation.