Took delivery of a 2024 GX550 Overtrail + in eminent pearl white with black interior on 11 November. There is so much 'propaganda' and comparisons to the 200 Series judgment that I thought I'd share what my specific experience is.
DISCLAIMER:
I'm a passionate Land Cruiser enthusiast, and have been for a long time. I've owned or still own an HJ60, an 80, a 100, 3 200's ('13,'15, and '16) and now a GX550. I've also only taken one of them off road (the 80) and I keep a 200 as my all purpose vehicle so that I don't have to drive my 2023 Rivian R1S Quad and my 2024 Lexus GX550 in the rain or bad weather. I am a bit different than most on here in that I am totally OCD in terms of cleanliness and care with all my cars and limit my 80 and 200 to any 'real use.'
After a month, I have apparently had a very different experience than most of the hand wringing 'it ain't a 200' crowd.
I have had NO hood flutter.
I have had NO rattles.
I have had NO brake noises.
I have had NO issues with paint or fit and finish.
I have had NO issues with the seat massagers working. (although I hate the feeling they provide)
I have had NO issues with the level of heat or cool of the HVAC system.
I have had NO complaints about the infotainment screen size and wish all those YouTube reviewers would realize that little 45 degree double arrow box expands the infotainment screen to the full size. It drives me nuts none of them have figured this out.
Other than the fact every single dealer / service experience over-inflates tires and hurts initial ride, I have had NO issues with the ride and how the vehicle takes bumps, etc.
I HAVE had the infotainment screen struggle to decide whether it's day or night, but have not been too bugged by it, and unless a fix comes from Lexus, will probably just keep it set to daytime at some point, since its not an overly bright screen.
I HAVE had too many warnings from traffic warning ahead, from over there, from behind, and anything else that can set a warning beep off. I think they over did it here, but have turned off all that I can.
I HAVE been terribly annoyed by Lexus and all other makers deciding a high gloss infotainment screen finish that shows every single finger touch as a greasy mess is somehow the preferred approach. I have found a good screen cover with more texture and less fingerprints. Its working perfectly.
I HAVE been terribly annoyed, just as I am by the 200's I've had, with the Cool Box. At the expense of usable storage, especially in the GX550, it's ridiculously unusable. I have bought that 3d printed insert off eBay and although I can't get more than keys and wallet to fit in there, its better than dropping them down into the abyss that the Cool Box is.
Overall, having accepted that this is not the replacement for the 200 Series, but is a replacement for the GX460 / Land Cruiser Prado, I am really pleased with it. It's a good vehicle, and I think the interior fit and finish are actually really where I would want them to be for an Overtrail + trim package. I've always thought the LC and LX were a bit too fancy inside for their rhino proof overbuilt vehicle chops (why I love my 92 80, even though everyone else hates the 91-92 model years) and have always felt real leather was a contradiction and a waste inside of at least the LC200. And don't get me started on the 200's fake wood grain high gloss trim.
So it's a good car. It's fun, it turns head, it's a Lexus and I am guessing all these hand wringers are going to be more wrong than right about how long this thing lasts with proper care and maintenance.
It's priced less than a 300/LX and fits that bill, in my mind, perfectly. Having also had as new purchases the Rivian and a 2019 Range Rover Sport, It doesn't seem off price-wise.
It's 2025. The world is a different place, post Covid, post so many other things, so let's stop pretending its 2013, and that we should compare everything as whether it's a 300 series equivalent and enjoy it, already.
You guys are sucking the fun out of it!
DISCLAIMER:
I'm a passionate Land Cruiser enthusiast, and have been for a long time. I've owned or still own an HJ60, an 80, a 100, 3 200's ('13,'15, and '16) and now a GX550. I've also only taken one of them off road (the 80) and I keep a 200 as my all purpose vehicle so that I don't have to drive my 2023 Rivian R1S Quad and my 2024 Lexus GX550 in the rain or bad weather. I am a bit different than most on here in that I am totally OCD in terms of cleanliness and care with all my cars and limit my 80 and 200 to any 'real use.'
After a month, I have apparently had a very different experience than most of the hand wringing 'it ain't a 200' crowd.
I have had NO hood flutter.
I have had NO rattles.
I have had NO brake noises.
I have had NO issues with paint or fit and finish.
I have had NO issues with the seat massagers working. (although I hate the feeling they provide)
I have had NO issues with the level of heat or cool of the HVAC system.
I have had NO complaints about the infotainment screen size and wish all those YouTube reviewers would realize that little 45 degree double arrow box expands the infotainment screen to the full size. It drives me nuts none of them have figured this out.
Other than the fact every single dealer / service experience over-inflates tires and hurts initial ride, I have had NO issues with the ride and how the vehicle takes bumps, etc.
I HAVE had the infotainment screen struggle to decide whether it's day or night, but have not been too bugged by it, and unless a fix comes from Lexus, will probably just keep it set to daytime at some point, since its not an overly bright screen.
I HAVE had too many warnings from traffic warning ahead, from over there, from behind, and anything else that can set a warning beep off. I think they over did it here, but have turned off all that I can.
I HAVE been terribly annoyed by Lexus and all other makers deciding a high gloss infotainment screen finish that shows every single finger touch as a greasy mess is somehow the preferred approach. I have found a good screen cover with more texture and less fingerprints. Its working perfectly.
I HAVE been terribly annoyed, just as I am by the 200's I've had, with the Cool Box. At the expense of usable storage, especially in the GX550, it's ridiculously unusable. I have bought that 3d printed insert off eBay and although I can't get more than keys and wallet to fit in there, its better than dropping them down into the abyss that the Cool Box is.
Overall, having accepted that this is not the replacement for the 200 Series, but is a replacement for the GX460 / Land Cruiser Prado, I am really pleased with it. It's a good vehicle, and I think the interior fit and finish are actually really where I would want them to be for an Overtrail + trim package. I've always thought the LC and LX were a bit too fancy inside for their rhino proof overbuilt vehicle chops (why I love my 92 80, even though everyone else hates the 91-92 model years) and have always felt real leather was a contradiction and a waste inside of at least the LC200. And don't get me started on the 200's fake wood grain high gloss trim.
So it's a good car. It's fun, it turns head, it's a Lexus and I am guessing all these hand wringers are going to be more wrong than right about how long this thing lasts with proper care and maintenance.
It's priced less than a 300/LX and fits that bill, in my mind, perfectly. Having also had as new purchases the Rivian and a 2019 Range Rover Sport, It doesn't seem off price-wise.
It's 2025. The world is a different place, post Covid, post so many other things, so let's stop pretending its 2013, and that we should compare everything as whether it's a 300 series equivalent and enjoy it, already.
You guys are sucking the fun out of it!
. 
