LC "Cool Box" Useful or Gimmick?

[slowride]

The LX 570 does not have this "feature" instead it has a HUGE

useful area under its armrest...

[slowride]

sorry for the short post, but I was having trouble posting.


I have now driven both the LX570 and the LC and like both just

fine. I'm finding myself liking the LC more for about 15,000 reason$.

Additionally, most co-workers will not have clue as to how much the

big Higlander co$t$ , but would wonder about the BIG LEXUS!!! sad.


I know in theory you can get the LC without the cool box, but that is

only in theory. All the LC's are loaded up right now with the fancy

package with the USELESS EXPENSIVE STOAGE STEALING cool box.


I don't think it's big enough to cool drinks for 8 people on safari,

I'll use a real cooler and take the useful LEXUS armrest storage.

what say you?

[lexusrottie]

If I need a cooler I use my Igloo, having the storage is a lot better for me.

That is, when the 200 series LC/LX becomes affordable.

[twstrchasr]

I actually found a LC without the "upgrade" pkg that includes the silly cooler box...If I want to chill some beverages I'll get a proper cooler to do the job. I have a plethora of things that don't require cooling that I would use the center console for. I think I have said this before but these option packages that include things like the cooler box really piss me off. The mfg force these pkgs on the buyer and further jack up the price of the vehicle. I'm curious as to how much center console space is lost to the cooler box compaired to one without it....?? I highlighted the things in the Upgrade pkg that I would not pick as stand alone options. As far as the vehicle shield pkg goes...What a bunch of total crap !!





Upgrade Package: Dvd Based Navigation----$7,245.00

• System Includes: 8" 5th Generation Touch Screen
• Integrated JBL Audio With On Screen Display
• 6 Disc Cd/Dvd Player
• Intergrated Hvac Controls And On Screen Display
• Gps Coordinate Capability
• Back-Up Camera And Monitor
• Bluetooth Application For The Cellular Phone (Must Be Bluetooth Capable Phone)
• Rear Seat Entertainment: ( Lcd Dvd Screen
• 2- Wireless Headphones)
• Rear Spoiler
• Front Headlight Washer
• Cool Box
• 2nd Row Seat Heaters
• Wood Grain-Style And Leather Steering Wheel W/Audio And Voice Controls And Wood Grain-Style And Leather Shift Knob

Vehicle Shied Package----$349.00

• Lusterizing Sealant
• Sound Shield
• Sealant Cleaner
• Rental Car Assistance

[Greg E]

Looks like it will fit 3-4 tall boys.

[e9999]

this kind of thing has been available and/or popular in LCs overseas for many years.

[twstrchasr]

I have no problem if they offer it as a stand alone option. When they start including things like it and a RES that I have no use for in an option pkg that costs nearly $8,000.00 I thinks it's a real rip off to the potential buyer.

[chimyz]

My box hardly cools anything. This is total gimmick. My wife's LR3 has a cooler box, and it works great. I would have prefered the storage space, but with the one package, no deal.

[fcfred]

i keep the box full of cans and after i drive for about 20-30 minutes they are nice and cold. maybe a gimick, but mine works great and i like it.

[chimyz]

^^That's interesting. I had a cold bottle of water, turned on the box, drove with the water in it for 1-1/2 hrs, and pulled it out for a sip. It was warm, from the warm air blowing into the box. That was the first and only time I ever used it. Maybe it needed to break in or something, but warm water is disappointing when you put it in a cooler to keep it cool.

[flyfish4life]

Originally Posted by chimyz

^^That's interesting. I had a cold bottle of water, turned on the box, drove with the water in it for 1-1/2 hrs, and pulled it out for a sip. It was warm, from the warm air blowing into the box. That was the first and only time I ever used it. Maybe it needed to break in or something, but warm water is disappointing when you put it in a cooler to keep it cool.

Thought it only worked when the A/C is on. Were you running A/C?

[chimyz]

Ah, that may explain a few things. It was the middle of January, and I'm north of the 49th parallel...gets cold, so the heat was on.

What a dummy I am, never even read the owner's manual to know that.

[BDL_URJ200]

Originally Posted by chimyz

Ah, that may explain a few things. It was the middle of January, and I'm north of the 49th parallel...gets cold, so the heat was on.

What a dummy I am, never even read the owner's manual to know that.

In Texas, it blows cold in February. Whereabouts in Canada are you?

[chimyz]

I know we were warmer than Dallas today. I am in Calgary, Alberta. We were 50 degrees this afternoon, with sunshine. Talking with some associates located in Dallas, I heard you were in the 40's and rain.

Note...we have hit -47 deg F this year, and up in the Northern part of Alberta, that is a common occurance.

[BDL_URJ200]

Originally Posted by chimyz

Note...we have hit -47 deg F this year, and up in the Northern part of Alberta, that is a common occurance.

Holy smokes - at -47 you'd do better having a firepit for a console box.

[chimyz]

At -47, you pretty much don't go outside. Tires are hockey pucks, and even 5w30 oil is like molasses.

[fcfred]

uhm dumb question but did you push the button under the lid to turn it on? i don't think it requires the AC to be on, but I do think it uses the ac to help cool it.

it's no arb fridge, but it seems to work good, my girlfriend and mom drank all my sodas the other day so I guess it works too good

[flyfish4life]

Originally Posted by fcfred

uhm dumb question but did you push the button under the lid to turn it on? i don't think it requires the AC to be on, but I do think it uses the ac to help cool it.

it's no arb fridge, but it seems to work good, my girlfriend and mom drank all my sodas the other day so I guess it works too good

So I guess it can be used for storage otherwise (i.e., when the button isn't pushed)? Just seems that there are several complaining about lack of storage because of the cool box.

[chimyz]

Originally Posted by fcfred

uhm dumb question but did you push the button under the lid to turn it on? i don't think it requires the AC to be on, but I do think it uses the ac to help cool it.

it's no arb fridge, but it seems to work good, my girlfriend and mom drank all my sodas the other day so I guess it works too good

Did turn it on...in fact, I tried it with the A/C on, and off, it does seem to work when the A/C is on and not when it's off.

[dtt255]

The a/c being on doesn't make a difference....it is the little on button that turns it on.

Mine has already broken Need to take it in...

[chimyz]

I'm not an idiot, and I didn't miss the big ON/OFF button starring right at me.

[dtt255]

Originally Posted by chimyz

I'm not an idiot, and I didn't miss the big ON/OFF button starring right at me.

I don't think anyone called you an idiot. We were just trying to help you.....sorry we were trying to do that

[expeditionswest]

I used the cool box for the entire length of the Mojave Road. It worked great and kept snacks and drinks quite cold and convenient. I also mounted an ARB fridge in the back for bulk food/drink storage.

Certainly not a gimmick from my perspective.

Note: I have a long-term test 200...

[slowride]

well if they are giving them away for free, I'll take one too...

I think the fact fact you needed a real ARB fridge shows this

"cool box" is a gimmick more worthy of a Dodge mini-van.

I'll get a nice cooler and save a couple of Grand$$$.

Additionally, I don't need a DVD for the rear seats that are empty

95%+ of the time.

However, I would be very interested in a diesel...

Please pass this along to the smart managers and marketing

folk that are giving you a free long term loaner.

A Mercedes GL 320CDI for $53,000+ is looking better all the time.

Slowride

[expeditionswest]

If the cool box is $1000, then the decision is easy...

This thing has two remotes and two headsets and a screen that flips down and won't go back up without getting out of the car, into the back seats and grabbing the remote and hitting the "close" button. And that is without getting started on the myriad of bells and buzzers that protest nearly everything a professional driver would try to do with a vehicle on a closed course.... Oh well.

The motor is sweet

[dtt255]

Originally Posted by expeditionswest

If the cool box is $1000, then the decision is easy...

This thing has two remotes and two headsets and a screen that flips down and won't go back up without getting out of the car, into the back seats and grabbing the remote and hitting the "close" button. And that is without getting started on the myriad of bells and buzzers that protest nearly everything a professional driver would try to do with a vehicle on a closed course.... Oh well.

The motor is sweet

Ummm you are wrong. All you need to do is go to display on the dash and hit the REAR button and the screen will go up and down.

Then just choose the input you want (dvd,am,fm, etc)

[expeditionswest]

Originally Posted by dtt255

Ummm you are wrong.

Wrong? The remote works too. Of course the display method is much easier, which I found out after a few minutes with the owners manual.