100 vs 200?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

lexi4darin

lexi4darin

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Threads
46
Messages
860
Location
Bay Area, CA
Hey guys,

I wonder what you guys recommend. As current 100 owner, I'd like to upgrade my truck (I have a 2000 with the dated interior) and have been contrasting the 200's to the newer 100's ('03-'07 LC/LX).

Problems with the 2000's that I'd like to rectify with a new purchase...

-dated interior
-slow as molasses
-braking is ok but overall maneuverability and nimbleness is slightly below average by today's standard for daily driving (not the turn radius but the lack of fleet of foot; sloppy steering at 180k; body roll, etc)
-needs updated electronics


When the time comes (end of summer or so) I should have plenty to purchase a used '08-'10 200 model and leave it as is. Or I could have enough to add a SC, BBK, and some other goodies to a 100 from
'03-'07.

This is mainly a daily driver but I do plenty skiing trips in the snow and plenty summer trips to with moderate 4x4'ing. There are no bumpers, mega-lifts, or 35" tires in my future. More like ... lockers and maybe sliders ...

From where I'm standing ... one beef with 200 model line is the blue gauge cluster lights. Can these be swapped relatively easily? Also ... the 200's look huge even on 32-33" tires ... thoughts?

What tire, wheels, spacers are best?
 
Last edited:
the 5.7 is pretty hard to beat, even when you add SC to 4.7 (if you can find one).
 
Definitely go for the 200 series.
The 100 is a great vehicle, but the 200 is even better. The 5.7 3UR-FE is a huge upgrade compared to the 4.7 2UZ-FE.
 
I have a 2013 LC with about 32,000 miles on it. Here's my take:


  • 5.7 is awesome. Very smooth and very strong.
  • Interior? I didn't like the styling at first, but it grows on you. The biggest thing here is that I didn't buy the LC for how the interior looks or to compare it to some friend's QX, Range Rover.
  • No rattles, shakes, or any other nuisances at all.
  • Probably my only complaint is that the rear suspension is not enough if you have the LC loaded with people and gear.
Jon
 
I have also been considering a 200 but mostly for the safety and the larger interior. oh the 4wd upgrades are better also
 
As a daily driver is the 200 too big? I know the motor is nicer and that's a huge benefit but honestly the 200 looks enormous. the 100 is slower than slow yet drives like a smaller vehicle in tighter spaces like parking lots, residential streets, garage, etc. that's crucial for me as I find the interior of the 100 to be plenty and I do log about 20k miles a year with mostly urban city driving. I'm afraid the 200 motor solves the 100's weakness but creats a new problem by its enormous size.

Also, someone said the 200 4x4 parts and ability is greater. Really? How so? I thought 100's were better? Just like the 80's were better before it. Typically all that size and comfort comes at a cost... Both with money, agility, and etc.
 
I drive my 200 each and every day. I'm not sure where you live, but it's a great daily driver for me in the D.C. area. It's smooth and comfortable, and it's surprising nimble and maneuverable in tight places. It really doesn't feel that large to me.
 
Outside of a 4,000 mile road trip to Yellowstone and into South Dakota, most of my miles were of the daily driver variety. I don't find it too large at all for that role.
 
Actually the 200 series has alot of improvements in the offroading department , when you compare it to the 100 series. ( It has a tougher frame, bigger diffs and a stronger front end ) The 200 series with KDSS has the best stock articulation out of all the Cruisers ever produced, if i'm not mistaken. You get alot of off road gadgets with the 200 as well.
The only downside is you wouldn't want to off road a new expensive vehicle and it is slightly bigger than the 100 so it would be difficult to fit in some tight trails. It also has less ground clearance and arrival/departure angles are worse. Of course nothing a little after market mods can't fix. The 200 is pretty nimble for its size, you would be surprised how it handles with KDSS. If you can afford a 200 series, go for the 200 simple as that.
 
Last edited:
Last fall, I made the switch from a 100 to a 200. My use will be heavily tilted to daily driver for the next several years and the switch to a 200 reflects that bias. The 200 is much more civilized as a daily driver. I really liked the 100's performance off road, but it lacked a bit in the daily driver creature comforts, IMHO.

If your usage is like mine (95% or more on road and moderate off road use), the 200 will work nicely.

my $0.02
 
lexi4darin, I see you're a California city dweller as well. I hope to eventually migrate to the 200 and am concerned with the size as well. It seems in Los Angeles almost every spot I try to park in is labeled "compact". This city is designed these days for the Prius and not the LC. I can imagine that San Fran has the same issue.

There are so many times that I barely fit into a spot, one of these days I'm going to have to climb out the rear hatch to get out. I'm also starting to notice door dings on my vehicle from people opening their doors into my truck. My fear is that this is even worse for a 200 owner in an overly congested city. Anyone have this issue?

Is a Lexus GX on your shopping list?
 
I'm also considering a move to the 200 in the next couple of years. That or a late model 100. My current 98 is just about the perfect dual role truck, great off road, decent daily driver, and reliable as a vehicle can be. Going the 100 route and I could move all of my "stuff" over, but I do wonder if I'd be longing for the 200 a few years down the road. Only real concern I have on the 200 is just pure off road ability with the difficulty in getting it modded to compete with the hundy... But, I've never driven or seen a 200 off road other than a few videos. They just seem so dam big.

Solution just might be a 240 (200 and a 40). :)
 
I like the '240' solution, but agree that the 200 is not significantly bigger than the 100.
 
One big difference, the 100 series is 10 times better looking then the 200 series. :). I wish this was not true. The 2013 LX looks better then all the previous 200 LC and LX's. I am hoping that when I am ready for the 200 series in like 4 years that they will look better. I could live with a used 2013 LX in 4 years if that ends up being as good as the get. Sorry 200 series owners I know it's like telling you your kid is ugly, but when it's true it's true.
 
SWUtah said:
One big difference, the 100 series is 10 times better looking then the 200 series. :). I wish this was not true. The 2013 LX looks better then all the previous 200 LC and LX's. I am hoping that when I am ready for the 200 series in like 4 years that they will look better. I could live with a used 2013 LX in 4 years if that ends up being as good as the get. Sorry 200 series owners I know it's like telling you your kid is ugly, but when it's true it's true.
Click to expand...

As with most things ... beauty is in the eye of the beholder:

ToyotaLC200_2_19JAN13_zps219185e3.jpg


:cheers:
 
the safety features (more airbags the radar crash thing plus stronger body) as for the off road the hill decent and the crawl control is really impressive. severe youtube vids show a lx really sunk into sand some where in the middle east and with the crawl control was able to get out on its own.
 
Yes, the radar crash sensor is pretty cool. I had some idiot pull in front of me then slam on the brakes. I thought my reaction was quick, but the radar sensor caused the seatbelts to cinch down, applied more force to the brakes, and I'd swear the seat moved down and back a little. Weird at first, but pretty cool in a way.

The GF was not impressed, however ... but she's not an LC fan :-(
 
and those silly OEM side steps removed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom