My vehicle is a premium but coming up as a 1958 on the VIN???

[Gen]

I have the land cruiser version with rectangle headlights, java interior, all the extra bells and whistles that were not on the 1958, except that mine has 18" wheels - which I happen to prefer. Unfortunately, even after a ton of research, I didn't know the vehicle required premium fuel until AFTER the purchase. Anyway, I am considering trading the vehicle in on something else that doesn't require premium fuel because I put on a lot of miles, but keep getting some REALLY low ball trade in values. I saw a thread about there being a lot of LCs on carvana so I thought I would see what value they threw on it! It was BAD, but in the process of doing so, the vin brought it up as a 1958 model. I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue?? And if that is why I am getting such low trade in offers - because they are showing it as a lower priced vehicle to begin with??

Also, is there a place on this forum to list it for sale? I know I saw a thread a month or two back about some people trying to find the ones with the 18" wheels and thought someone on here might be interested......... I love driving it - just need to cut my cost driving back and forth to see the new grand. But it worried me that it is showing up as a 1958 when I paid so much more for the vehicle.

Any suggestions appreciated!
Thanks
Gen

 

[zxrider11]

Are you saying that the extra cost of $250 per year for premium fuel versus regular fuel is forcing you to sell your $70,000 Land Cruiser?

 

[D-mac]

That's interesting you have a somewhat rare LC/premium trim with 18" wheels, which is probably why dealers in your area will try to lowball you with non-LC trim level trade in values. Maybe you could swap out your 18s with someone else wanting to get rid of their 20s and cash in. The market may also be softening a bit. Plenty of discussion on this forum from drivers using regular unleaded in their LC250s btw .

 

[ERROR504]

If you do trade it in, might want to look at a Prius. That would be a better vehicle for you.

 

[Cruiser250]

My LC LC came in with 18” as well. I do have the premium package.

 

[LC_DFW]

I also have LC LC with premium package with 18" purchased July 2024.

 

[ryanjl]

Not knowing it takes premium fuel when you bought it.

Trading it in solely because it takes premium fuel.

Not sure which one has me scratching my head more.

 

[Nuke]

Sad, the folks coming down on you for making this a consideration. Ignore them. Many have reported using regular fuel with no issues. The identical power train in the new 4Runner and Tacoma only requires regular. A Toyota insider has reported the requirement for premium was to meet a MPG benchmark.

 

[PDPete]

Unfortunately, even after a ton of research, I didn't know the vehicle required premium fuel until AFTER the purchase. Anyway, I am considering trading the vehicle in on something else that doesn't require premium fuel because I put on a lot of miles

Are you saying that the extra cost of $250 per year for premium fuel versus regular fuel is forcing you to sell your $70,000 Land Cruiser?

it can seem like a lot, but total cost of fueling comes down to a lot more than the grade of fuel you need (i.e. miles driven and the fuel economy of the vehicle)... yeah, having to use premium fuel isn't insignificant, but it also may not be as significant as think...

For example, on average, 93 octane fuel costs $0.60 more than 87 octane where I live... So, if I assume I'm driving about 15,000 miles/yr (or 300 miles/week), and getting ~20 MPG...

That comes out to ~$9/week or $468/year for the difference between regular unleaded and premium. Again, not insignificant, but also shouldn't be breaking the bank of someone that was able to afford and nearly $70K vehicle...and definitely may not be worth more than the value lost if you were to trade in right now. Obviously your numbers may be different depending on how many miles your putting on the LC and whether you're mainly city driving vs highway driving.

Also, there are quite a few threads on this forum on the subject of the premium fuel requirement, and it seems a lot of folks are running regular 87 octane in theirs and it's doing just fine. Personally, I prefer to follow the manufacturer's recommendations (because I paid enough for this vehicle that I don't think it's worth not using premium fuel), but noting that other vehicles with the same powertrain don't have the same requirement certainly makes a strong case for it not being absolutely necessary.

 

[Blue Sky]

Does someone have the toyota customer engagement number? Gas mileage and trade-in decisions aside. There is a pretty big price difference between Gens LC and my 1958. I think they would be the best contact to sort out the VIN. Or go back to the dealer where you bought it and have them handle it?

Seems to have been resolved.

 

[ryanjl]

Does someone have the toyota customer engagement number? Gas mileage and trade-in decisions aside. There is a pretty big price difference between Gens LC and my 1958. I think they would be the best contact to sort out the VIN. Or go back to the dealer where you bought it and have them handle it?

In the spirit of trying to help OP, this appears to be an issue with Carvana.

I just went and grabbed the vins from two random listings for LCLCs I found on cargurus.com and put them each into Carvana's website, and they both returned as 1958s.

To compare, I did the same on Carmax's trade-in portal, and it acts like it cannot tell from the vin alone whether the vehicle is a 1958, LCLC, or FE because that's the next question it asks you.

 

[Gen]

Ok, I wondered if it was on carvana's side, but since I had given the vin to a salesman and he had asked if it was a 1958 it did make me nervous. I can't tell from my insurance policy because it is just listed as a Toyota LC.

As far as the premium gas, it is 90c - $1/gal difference here, although I did buy 93 octane last weekend for less than the 91. I don't understand why the higher octane was less. It was 40 cents higher, but that is not available in my normal fueling area. My LC is 3.5 mos old and I am at slightly over 7200miles. Some of it is mental bc I literally get upset every time I have to put in premium fuel bc after months of research (and considering the LX - but KNOWING it took premium fuel) I had no clue the LC required premium. NO SALESPERSON I talked to regarding LCs mentioned it - and in fact a couple mentioned it as a selling point over the Lexus to avoid the need for premium. I have verified at a dealership by looking at the 4R (which I also considered) that it does NOT require the premium. BUT, no, I do not know for sure that I will be able to trade at this time bc I suspect the hit will be too great. So much for "toyotas holding their value". But, one purpose of buying a new vehicle was to reduce fuel cost. But, it doesn't do any good to lose 4-5K (or more by some offers) all at once, as opposed to just staying steady. Not saving as planned, but definitely not losing. Honestly, what I am trying to decide is whether I would take an even larger hit in a 2-3 yrs because I would have so many miles on it.

And, yes, I did buy a 70K vehicle - the first new vehicle I have owned since 1997. I did a lot of research and comparison, and obviously didn't buy just for mpg ratings, although after coming from Suburbans, the mpg looked a lot better. My previous suburban was consistently getting 21 on the hwy until they had to turn off the fuel management system - then it went to 15. According to my vehicle I am averaging 21.2 in my LC - and that is probably pretty accurate. I calculate mpg with every fuel up and they have ranged anywhere from 17 - 22.9, but most consistently around the 21 range. It steadily improved the first 3-4K miles, but hasn't changed since so I figure that is about max for me.

I bet the issue is the salesman was just trying to verify, and that carvana has an issue with the models on their site. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Gen]

Not knowing it takes premium fuel when you bought it.

Trading it in solely because it takes premium fuel.

Not sure which one has me scratching my head more.

Even AFTER buying it - I have NOT found this info on the toyota website. ALso, the toyota website (unless they have changed it bc I reported the error) also says that neither model has heated mirrors. Not sure where I was supposed to get that info...

 

[Gen]

Sad, the folks coming down on you for making this a consideration. Ignore them. Many have reported using regular fuel with no issues. The identical power train in the new 4Runner and Tacoma only requires regular. A Toyota insider has reported the requirement for premium was to meet a MPG benchmark.

Yes, I saw where a lot of people were using regular - but the manual explicitly says that it voids the warranty. That part makes me pretty nervous - but I was told that the "engine is the same in the LC, Tacoma, and 4R" so the mileage and performance would be the same whichever way I went. Honestly, not even sure the salesman realized it required premium fuel. I have considered mixing them and running one regular tank followed by one premium. Or if I could find a local source of the 93 that costs less that might be a good middle ground. But, so far, I have only found that at one station - but it meets the minimum of 91 and costs less than 91.

Thank you for your response.

 

[Gen]

If you do trade it in, might want to look at a Prius. That would be a better vehicle for you.

Not really - I came from a full size suburban. Big step down to a LC - as I said in another response, obviously mpg was not the only consideration, but it was part of the equation.

 

[Gen]

Are you saying that the extra cost of $250 per year for premium fuel versus regular fuel is forcing you to sell your $70,000 Land Cruiser?

Not forcing, but has me seriously considering it.

Not sure about your math there - I have over 7K miles in 3.5 months. At 90 c /gal more, that is almost 290 in additional fuel cost using 22 mpg avg which is generous. Or around 1100 per year. It isn't about the cost of the gas as much as it will be a continued cost and I assume the vehicle will just keep depreciating more and more as it gets additional miles on it.

 

[NoMe cruiser]

Yes, I saw where a lot of people were using regular - but the manual explicitly says that it voids the warranty.

Please post, I call BS.

 

[Gen]

Geez - I didn't make it up..... Attached is a photo from section 8-1 in my manual on page 639. I literally went to check the manual to see if the sticker inside the tank door was an afterthought on Toyota's part.

"Using unleaded gasoline with an octane number or rating lower than the level previously stated may cause persistent heavy knocking. At worst, this may lead to engine damage and WILL VOID the vehicle warranty "

 

[Gen]

Please post, I call BS.

See pics above.

 

[cvx5832LC]

I won't debate the semantics of that specific text in the manual. I do, however have 34k on the LC and most of it on regular. I do randomly switch back to premium now and then and I can't see any appreciable difference in the mpg (fuelly), nor feel any less torque on the butt dyno. There probably is a difference, but in this sample of one it's too small to notice.

OP: Use regular and keep it!