08-09 LX 570’s are 15-20% cheaper than LC’s

[Docboy]

I also had a Macan and people cared about it and asked questions how I paid for it, etc. coz its a Porsche. My LX costs 50% more and no one really cares about it. A neighbor thought it was an Infinity. I really don’t care what random people think about my cars and certainly would not give it a thought when making my car purchases.

Going off topic here, but curious to know of your Macan experience. How was the maintenance and reliability?

I had a 911 Turbo. Super fun to drive, received lots of compliments from many, kids and mid age males, no females though Secretly inside perhaps they thought I was a douchebag, but who cares? Maintenance is a real eye opener, $300 oil changes, $1-2k if anything cracks or breaks, which seems to happen every 6 months.

Back on topic, I agree most of us chose the LC/LX due to its build quality and reliability, and ability to last over 300k miles. Used LX costs less than the equivalent LC makes it a great buy, as the LX is likely more pampered than the "rugged image" of the LC, hence the reason I got my LX instead of 4R that was still ridiculously expensive used.

 

[Andreas P]

Going off topic here, but curious to know of your Macan experience. How was the maintenance and reliability?

The Macan was solid and overall a really good car. I kept it for 2.5 years and sold it because our family was growing and needed a bigger car for our roadtrips, so we got the 16 LX.
The V6 in the Macan S didn’t give me the joy that a V8 would have given. I got an excellent deal about 20% less than what I paid for it. Got the maintenance package which I paid $1300 because I wasn’t sure how much the service would cost. It was a reliable car.

 

[bloc]

It would be really great if someone were able to engineer a solution enabling the AHC system removal. Or have a PNP upgrade solution of springs/shocks to properly dampen a heavy (over GVWR) LX. That would really open up the market for 200s.

Please forgive my ignorance as I'm new to the 200 game.. can we not just bolt up LC springs/shocks to remove AHC?

I assume this would leave us with very compliant swaybars

 

[Mixelplix]

Please forgive my ignorance as I'm new to the 200 game.. can we not just bolt up LC springs/shocks to remove AHC?

I assume this would leave us with very compliant swaybars

I'm new to 200's but I've read that the system is more integrated in the 200's versus the 100's, and nobody has come up with a solution for fitting a traditional suspension to the LX570.

Why exactly? I'm not sure.

 

[LBridges]

I'm new to 200's but I've read that the system is more integrated in the 200's versus the 100's, and nobody has come up with a solution for fitting a traditional suspension to the LX570.

Why exactly? I'm not sure.

I'm thinking it has to do with the amount of stuff one would have to source to move systems. In the 100 you can swap springs and shocks and pretty much be done (excepting cleanup stuff). In the 200 there's the KDSS system to address and I am way out of my league to address how that differs (electronic components on the LX?).

 

[bloc]

After doing a little digging in a parts microfiche system I'm guessing retrofitting KDSS is the hard part. I'd assume shocks and springs themselves will bolt right up.. it makes the most sense for the AHC or KDSS systems to simply add on to the existing 200-series frame, which implies those systems are interchangeable.

I'm also assuming with the AHC system of a LX doing some of the sway control, then allowing the LX to flex a lot when needed, the LX swaybars are extra compliant.

To me it sounds like fitting LC springs/shocks with the LX swaybar would actually bolt up, but likely wallow around on the road and probably be quite dangerous in quick maneuvers. To solve this, you would either have to find a non-USDM 200-series swaybar without KDSS or AHC and probably give up a ton of flex, or fit the whole KDSS system which is most likely possible, if not prohibitively expensive. Knowing very little about KDSS in particular but quite a bit about how toyota likes to construct their vehicles, I could imagine this requiring lifting the body from the frame to run all of the plumbing.. even if not that, dropping the fuel tank or other major work. And that doesn't even touch on whether CAN network coding is required, or even possible.

There are a LOT of assumptions in this post, however.

I guess it comes down to physically ditching the AHC for a traditional spring/damper isn't too difficult.. but having it work right and not be dangerous to drive on road is the hard part.

 

[bloc]

Just had another somewhat unrelated thought.. I wonder how much better a stock LX would flex with swaybar disconnects...

 

[TeCKis300]

Based on tests of stock vehicles, the LC and LX practically RTI identically, 542 to 538 respectively. Reference here -https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lx-570-misconceptions-rti-myths-and-arb-bumpers.611593/#post-7860977

Would the LX flex more with swaybar disconnects? Very possibly. It would likely also flex more with the 18" tires that are fitted the the LC (vs 20").

What I'm interested in is how aftermarket springs on the LC impact RTI scores. I believe that stiffer springs would impact RTI negatively, unless the weight of the rig also increased to match.

 

[18Cruiser]

Based on tests of stock vehicles, the LC and LX practically RTI identically, 542 to 538 respectively. Reference here -https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lx-570-misconceptions-rti-myths-and-arb-bumpers.611593/#post-7860977

Would the LX flex more with swaybar disconnects? Very possibly. It would likely also flex more with the 18" tires that are fitted the the LC (vs 20").

What I'm interested in is how aftermarket springs on the LC impact RTI scores. I believe that stiffer springs would impact RTI negatively, unless the weight of the rig also increased to match.

 

[18Cruiser]

I wasn't avoiding "bling" or what others thought.

As I was purchasing new, I was saving almost $10K on a vehicle I preferred. Everyone has preferences, some prefer blonds, others brunettes and some red heads. To each their own, I don't worry so much as to what others want or think when dropping this much $$$ but I better like it.

I, just my personal preferences, like the looks of the LC better as well as the approach angle, since I actually will use mine as the vehicle is intended. If others prefer the LX, that is their choice and more power to them. Although, it doesn't hurt my feelings that my LC probably will hold its value better than a LX.