100 series owners, i need help

[lukeash]

well im looking to buy a new for me but second hand truck, max spending coin is 35k, ive always been a nissan man but yesterday after being beaten to a sweet GU 4.2TD i spotted a very nice looking 01 100 series turbo, it has 111k on it and there asking $33.500. now ive never looked at the landcruisers before but this one is nice. BUT on close inspection the front doors both sides seemed to have a gap that looked, in my eyes, to be to big. when they were closed it would have been just under 1cm gap. didnt look right but me not knowing the first thing about 100series, i was wondering if someone who owns one could fill me in on the gap sizes on there front doors. i think it may have been in an accident. any help advice would be awsome.

[thehanko]

Mate I dont know about that particular model, but the japanese manufacturers work on minimal panel gaps all over the car. before models are released designs are checked and panel gaps are measured. I would think 1cm would not be normal in a big name like toyota. it used to be quite noticable that the korean made cars had larger panel gaps than the japanese and european vehicles but they to now are much better with their attention to detail.

find another 100 series in a parking lot and look at it. if un sure spend $200 on a pre purchase inspection as it is worth the investment when your looking at 35K. also check with revs as it should tell you if the vehicle has ever been written off, (repairable but big accident) a crash would be the most likely cause of this, but that its on both sides makes me think its unlikely as it would need to be a big one to effect both sides of a car than far from the front of the vehicle.

look under the vehicle and look for vice marks where a chassis straightening machine might have been used. not sure with 4wd chassis but on every day cars this is a sure sign its been bent badly.

not wanting to sound dooms day but if unsure get it checked by a pro.

[lukeash]

thanks for the advice mate, been thinking about it and im not in a rush so if in doubt! i wont worry about it, but again thanks for the advice

[dow50r]

doesnt sound right, have heard of lcool.org of a guy who jumped his 100 and it did that....dont know what the oputcome was...

[RichardW]

The gaps around my doors are 0.5cm