1958 Edition

[Jstawgn]

From what I learn this is the first year Land Cruiser was sold in US. Means nothing to the rest of the world. Is this trim level available anywhere else in the world? Would it be called poverty pack/UN/NGO edition anywhere else?

Same as 1794 edition Tundra which means nothing to anybody outside of Texas .

 

[Phillyd2]

The UN, NGOs, etc. have much better and more realistic Toyota options that I doubt you will see many used for that purpose.

 

[M1911]

From what I learn this is the first year Land Cruiser was sold in US.

No. The Land Cruiser has been sold in the US since 1958.

Means nothing to the rest of the world. Is this trim level available anywhere else in the world?

The Land Cruiser Prado is sold elsewhere in the world, in a number of trim levels.

Would it be called poverty pack/UN/NGO edition anywhere else?

Unlikely. This trim level is probably fancier than what the UN/NGO would order.

Same as 1794 edition Tundra which means nothing to anybody outside of Texas .

So what?

 

[APIOQM]

The UN spec 250 might lose things like the aluminum wheels, hybrid powertrain & inverter, leather & heated steering wheel, folding & auto-dimming mirrors, TSS 3.0, parking sensors, locking differential, crawl control, digital cluster, heated wind screen, infotainment, etc.

 

[Jstawgn]

No. The Land Cruiser has been sold in the US since 1958

Exactly what I am trying to say. Not many people know that and first time it was mentioned the rest of the world just don't get it. Even most people in US don't get it.

So what?

Just questioning the logic of this marketing ploy. What is the relation of lowest grade of 250 series in US to the first year of land cruiser export to US? I like the simpleness of it but they got to offer all the off road tech on it.

Same as 1794 as highest trim level of Tundra back then. Capstone makes more sense to me.

 

[Cold Iron]

I went around the World for the first time in 83 when I took the USS Coral Sea from home port in Alameda, Ca. to new home port Norfolk, Va. Personally I could care less what anyone else in the World thinks.

Couple of years ago ruff grouse hunting on the Canadian border a guy had gotten his Polaris Ranger stuck 2.5 miles from the nearest "road" and I happened to go by as he popped out on the 2 track. Went in and pulled him out with my Ranger. Ran into him last year at the bar in a lodge and he was happy as hell to see me and bought my friend and I drinks. Turned out he owns the largest Toyota dealership in Northern Mn.

He had just come back from a Toyota Country Wide dealer meeting in Az. and said they were coming out with the Land Cruiser again for the US market. But it would be a stripped down version to keep cost lower. Asked me not to say anything because of NDA but to keep an eye out for it. So I did and am #2 on the list for one in town, I got on it in August because I was watching for it.

My first 4x4 was a 77 FJ55 Iron Pig bought in 79 in Wa. State.

Big fan ever since then.

IIRC there are at least 3 Regional markets Toyota uses for building the LC. When I was in the Gulf in 91 took a full page add back to the States for the Mid East market LC. We used to call them Sand Cadillac's they even had a built in fridge, which is a big deal in the desert.

Couple of weeks ago the dealer in town had a 22 4Runner TRD Pro for sale so made the mistake of going down to test drive it. Wasn't impressed not much different from my 13 Taco Baja as far as comfort and get up and go. They also had a 76 Iron Pig sitting on display.

A flood of memories went through me when I sat in it. But my biggest take away was just how primitive it was compared to vehicles now. As I was sitting in it the salesman said he had a 19 GX460 with 40K that I should take for a spin. He had to talk me into it. By the time I got back to the dealership I knew it was going to be my next vehicle and it is sitting in my driveway today.

I was born in 1958 so the moniker 1958 has some meaning to me. But after driving the GX460 no way in hell I'm going backwards with a striped down version of a Land Cruiser. I didn't work this hard for this long to go backwards. Suspect that many my age feel the same way. And I believe that is the target market Toyota is aiming at. However if I hadn't driven the GX I would still be fat, dumb and happy if I ended up with the new LC. But pissed if I later drive a GX. Trying not to put too much money into modifying it so that I can look at the GX550 in 4-5 years when they start to come in off leases. But that isn't going so well LOL.

 

[onemanarmy]

The UN spec 250 might lose things like the aluminum wheels, hybrid powertrain & inverter, leather & heated steering wheel, folding & auto-dimming mirrors, TSS 3.0, parking sensors, locking differential, crawl control, digital cluster, heated wind screen, infotainment, etc.

how do i buy?!!!

take my money!1!!!

 

[Navyator]

I was born in 1958 so the moniker 1958 has some meaning to me. But after driving the GX460 no way in hell I'm going backwards with a striped down version of a Land Cruiser. I didn't work this hard for this long to go backwards. Suspect that many my age feel the same way. And I believe that is the target market Toyota is aiming at. However if I hadn't driven the GX I would still be fat, dumb and happy if I ended up with the new LC. But pissed if I later drive a GX. Trying not to put too much money into modifying it so that I can look at the GX550 in 4-5 years when they start to come in off leases. But that isn't going so well LOL.

See, I drove a 23 GX460 and wasn't impressed personally. It felt very bland, and a 2019's interior would feel even more dated comparatively. I'll be interested to see what the 250 has to offer when I test drive it.

Are you specifically talking about creature comforts of the 1958 version? Would a loaded version of the Land Cruiser trim still be a step back from a 460 in your eyes?

 

[stonepa]

how do i buy?!!!

take my money!1!!!

I get it but even people in countries where they sell low feature 70s and 200s don’t want them. Everyone seems to like their toys these days.

As for NGO spec Land Cruisers, I have driven a few in KSA and Kuwait. It seems unique at first and annoying the rest of the time. At least they all come with air conditioning.

Most NGOs (and oil field services companies) want something with no features so they can add their own. They don’t build them to be fun or comfortable.

 

[M1911]

See, I drove a 23 GX460 and wasn't impressed personally. It felt very bland, and a 2019's interior would feel even more dated comparatively.

I test drove the GX 460 3 times in 2016. I hated the barn door. I thought visibility was terrible -- the rear window is small, the side windows at the back are small due to the "kick up" in the belt line. The high belt line reduces the daylight opening, making the interior feel a little dark and cramped to me. The third rear seat folds into the floor, but to do so it raises the floor about 4" above the bottom of the barn door. As a result, it has very little cargo room, with only 60 cu ft with the 2nd and 3rd row folded, compared to 80 cu ft in a two row 4Runner with the 2nd row folded.

The 4.6 V8 is smooth, but doesn't have much torque off the line. In addition, I found the bottom seat cushion to be uncomfortable. It felt like there was a hard rim at the front of the bottom seat cushion that dug into my thighs.

I then test drove a 2013 Land Cruiser and decided it was a way better vehicle for me than the GX 460. I prefer the narrower size of the GX 460 over the 200, but that was about the only thing I liked about it. YMMV.

I'm much more interested in the GX 550, though I wish it was a bit narrower and got better fuel economy.

 

[gomiami]

.

 

[M1911]

Does the new GX550/LC 250 have Auto-Start/Stop? I'm not sure I could ever get used to that feature in any vehicle unless it is non-intrusive.

I don't understand why people get so worked up over start-stop. My wife's C300 has it. It works fine. It's unobtrusive. It gives a mild improvement to fuel economy. And if you don't like it, push a button to turn it off.

Yes, the GX/250 will have it. And, yes, you will be able to turn it off.

 

[Phillyd2]

Does the new GX550/LC 250 have Auto-Start/Stop? I'm not sure I could ever get used to that feature in any vehicle unless it is non-intrusive.

From what I understand it's mandated for all new vehicles with the default being On.

Cue the gang to tell you that's a good thing

 

[Navyator]

I don't understand why people get so worked up over start-stop. My wife's C300 has it. It works fine. It's unobtrusive. It gives a mild improvement to fuel economy. And if you don't like it, push a button to turn it off.

Yes, the GX/250 will have it. And, yes, you will be able to turn it off.

I actually don't like the start-stop at all, though I've only ever had it on rentals. I notice the lag at every light. If there is an option in the vehicle settings to default the vehicle to "off" I wouldn't care, but if it always defaults to on and I have to press the button every time I drive I wouldn't buy that vehicle.

 

[cruisergreen]

I actually don't like the start-stop at all, though I've only ever had it on rentals. I notice the lag at every light. If there is an option in the vehicle settings to default the vehicle to "off" I wouldn't care, but if it always defaults to on and I have to press the button every time I drive I wouldn't buy that vehicle.

It will default to on and will need a button press to turn it off every time the vehicle starts. As far as I know that's how they all work.
There will be aftermarket and DIY methods to default it to off though.

I would also expect it to be much more smooth and less annoying in a hybrid. I've only driven ICE-only vehicles with start-stop.

 

[Navyator]

It will default to on and will need a button press to turn it off every time the vehicle starts. As far as I know that's how they all work.
There will be aftermarket and DIY methods to default it to off though.

I would also expect it to be much more smooth and less annoying in a hybrid. I've only driven ICE-only vehicles with start-stop.

Very good point about the hybrid. If the EM can begin the acceleration while the ICE fires up there should hypothetically be no detectable lag if the software is on point. I'd be fine with that.

 

[joseywales]

But after driving the GX460 no way in hell I'm going backwards with a striped down version of a Land Cruiser. I didn't work this hard for this long to go backwards. Suspect that many my age feel the same way.

Well, my 2019 Platinum has more gadgets, but is FAR less comfortable or fun to drive than my ‘03 Sequoia SR5. On long trips, the Platinum stays home. Maybe I’M the target market?

 

[M1911]

I actually don't like the start-stop at all, though I've only ever had it on rentals. I notice the lag at every light. If there is an option in the vehicle settings to default the vehicle to "off" I wouldn't care, but if it always defaults to on and I have to press the button every time I drive I wouldn't buy that vehicle.

Oh for goodness sakes.

 

[M1911]

I was born in 1958 so the moniker 1958 has some meaning to me. But after driving the GX460 no way in hell I'm going backwards with a striped down version of a Land Cruiser. I didn't work this hard for this long to go backwards. Suspect that many my age feel the same way.

So go buy a GX550 or an LX600. What's the big deal?

 

[Phillyd2]

I actually don't like the start-stop at all, though I've only ever had it on rentals. I notice the lag at every light. If there is an option in the vehicle settings to default the vehicle to "off" I wouldn't care, but if it always defaults to on and I have to press the button every time I drive I wouldn't buy that vehicle.

Unfortunately then you're not going to buy another new vehicle.

I doubt it can be defaulted to OFF or even to remember its last setting so we may need to wait for the aftermarket for a solution.