200 Series LC..."Dislikes" vs 100 Series LC?

[TomR]

Looking at moving up to a new 200 LC from my current 2004 LC. This would be my fourth LC...'91/'94/2004 with just about 500K cumulative miles.

Curious what previous 100 series LC owners have found they "dislike" with the "new" 200 series??

Couple I can mention...

1) The seats that do not "come out" w/o some level of taking things apart. I do not need or want the third row seat and have had my current set double bagged in my attic since the day I brought it home.

2) I like the LC size and ride and am a bit concerned that the 200 series is a bit larger. Any observations from those of you who moved from a 100 series to a 200 series?

3) I am hoping the running boards are as easy to take off as on the 100 series and that I can also upsize the tire diameter about one inch...which is what I did on my 2004?

Other than that I primarily use my LC as a personal vehicle with moderate weight trailering and some moderate off road use...mostly vehicle size roads/trails where you really just need a little clearance and maybe occasionally limited slip or AWD may be handy. My wife claims I only use the AWD when she has to pull my garden tractor out on one of our fields or trails

Is the new size a noticeable change? Negative? Also, BTW...I like the look of the 100 series but that his just me...I also liked the look of the 80 series better than the 100

Thanks guys...I appreciate your input...TomR

 

[steenh]

I had a built 100 for 6 years and loved it. Now that I'm in the 200 for the last almost 5 years, I'd never go back but I had some of the same concerns as you specifically on size. What I found very quickly is that the size is almost not noticeable. The 200 has a fantastic turning radius and just doesn't drive as big as you'd think. If I was to put a list of things I liked about the 100 better, it's a short list but there are a couple of things.
1. The side and rear visibility in the 100 is just tremendous... and a little bit better than the 200.
2. I miss the back windows being able to open.
3. On the 100, the rear window stayed clean even in dusty nasty conditions. The rear spoiler just worked for that purpose. On the 200, the spoiler might work better for drag and fuel economy, but the rear window is always a mess.

Not much of a list, but that's really all I can think of where the 100 beats the 200. The list going to other way is too long to list.

 

[ryanCA]

1) design - personal opinion - I really like the distinctive 100 and 60 series. My 200 and my old 80 are bloated blobs and are ugly. 2017+ LX is fantastic and we swapped the wife in one when it came out. 2017 LC that I have I think is the best iteration of the new tail lights. My 08 LC was the ugliest one

2) back windows not opening

 

[TomR]

I had a built 100 for 6 years and loved it. Now that I'm in the 200 for the last almost 5 years, I'd never go back but I had some of the same concerns as you specifically on size. What I found very quickly is that the size is almost not noticeable. The 200 has a fantastic turning radius and just doesn't drive as big as you'd think. If I was to put a list of things I liked about the 100 better, it's a short list but there are a couple of things.
1. The side and rear visibility in the 100 is just tremendous... and a little bit better than the 200.
2. I miss the back windows being able to open.
3. On the 100, the rear window stayed clean even in dusty nasty conditions. The rear spoiler just worked for that purpose. On the 200, the spoiler might work better for drag and fuel economy, but the rear window is always a mess.

Not much of a list, but that's really all I can think of where the 100 beats the 200. The list going to other way is too long to list.

Thanks for the input...

Did you remove the rear seats? Not sure why rear visibility changed?

I was not aware that the rear side windows do not open on the 200 LC?

Glad to hear that the larger size is not much of an issue. I like that much of the ergonomics are "familiar"...after driving one since 1991.

Thanks...TomR

 

[TomR]

1) design - personal opinion - I really like the distinctive 100 and 60 series. My 200 and my old 80 are bloated blobs and are ugly. 2017+ LX is fantastic and we swapped the wife in one when it came out. 2017 LC that I have I think is the best iteration of the new tail lights. My 08 LC was the ugliest one

2) back windows not opening

Thanks ryanCA...curious why you really like the '17+LX? I pretty much ignore the Lexus (LX) as I really don't think I want the air suspension, kind of like the looks of the LC better and of course there is the extra $10K plus Wife drives a '16 300h and we frequently take our LC to Lexus for service. Since you have both I am curious...would be easy to have one dealer...TomR

 

[gaijin]

1) The seats that do not "come out" w/o some level of taking things apart. I do not need or want the third row seat and have had my current set double bagged in my attic since the day I brought it home.

3) I am hoping the running boards are as easy to take off as on the 100 series and that I can also upsize the tire diameter about one inch...which is what I did on my 2004?

1) I took my third row seats out and it was a job - very easy. If you are only taking the seats out once and either never using them or installing drawers, then it really isn't an issue.

3) The running boards are even easier to remove on the 200 because the front mud guard is still in place on the 200 after removing the running board - unlike on the 100 where one either lost the front mud guard because it was part of the running board assembly, or had to source a separate front mud guard which was used on 100's without running boards from the factory. Toyota recommend 2 tire sizes for the 200 series LC with stock suspension: stock is P285/60R18 which is approximately 31.5" in diameter, and for use with the TRD wheels LT285/70R17 which is approximately 32.7" in diameter - a 1.2" increase over stock. Many report success with LT285/65R17 tires which are approximately 32.6" in diameter with the stock suspension.

HTH

 

[gaijin]

Oh yeah, I also miss the fact the rear side windows cannot be opened

 

[TomR]

Oh yeah, I also miss the fact the rear side windows cannot be opened

Really surprises me...when I had a dog I frequently opened the rear windows. I still open to move air through the vehicle. Curious why they would remove them?...couldn't have saved them much $$$$s??? TomR

 

[ryanCA]

Thanks ryanCA...curious why you really like the '17+LX? I pretty much ignore the Lexus (LX) as I really don't think I want the air suspension, kind of like the looks of the LC better and of course there is the extra $10K plus Wife drives a '16 300h and we frequently take our LC to Lexus for service. Since you have both I am curious...would be easy to have one dealer...TomR

We have had a LX in the family of every generation for the wife since the lx450 came out

Since unlike most SUV owner who think they over landing 24 hours a day with their poseur trucks, I live in the real world and need a mall crawler. Our LX has had no issues including the AHC

Both of dual LC/LX since 1996 have always been serviced at my local toyota dealer no issues

I like the red interior in our 17 LX and love the aggressive front end update. Additionally the fact that on the school run daily, we are surrounded by Bentayga, Range Rover, AmG G wagen, Tesla X and we are the poor people with the lone LX stands out in the crowd

 

[TonyP]

Do the rear windows defrost in the 100? If not, that might be why they don't open in the 200.

 

[Oakleyguy]

I prefer the turning circle of my 100 to my 200.

 

[steenh]

I prefer the turning circle of my 100 to my 200.

200 = 38.7
100 = 39.7
80 = 40.4

Not me

 

[gaijin]

Do the rear windows defrost in the 100? If not, that might be why they don't open in the 200.

They don't defrost in the 200, either We're talking about the rearmost SIDE windows, not the rear window.

 

[gaijin]

I prefer the turning circle of my 100 to my 200.

The very first thing I noticed about my 200 was how tight the turning circle was. With all that's going on under there, it still amazes me how many times I get away without having to do a 3-point turn.

 

[Romer]

I have had a few Land Cruisers

3 40's, an 80, a 100 and a 200. Actually two 80's and 100's if you count the ones I built for my daughters. Since I built them I guess I can count them

I loved my 80. Thought I would never move to a 100, 2004 like yours. Yet the engine would overheat in the mountains when towing a trailer. I use to scoff at the IFS and seat heaters. Except my oldest had a 3rd gen 4runner on IFS and she went everywhere I went with my 80 on 35's. I decided to go with the 100 and the V8 power. Awesome vehicle and I could tow my Kamper trailer up the mtn passes as 64 MPH. Plus I really liked the seat heaters. The only place I haven't been that I took my 80 on was the Rubicon and had no issues offroading

Then I got a bigger Kimberley Karavan. Probably about 4500lbs loaded and I was back to doing 40-45 up the Mtn Passes. Really not that big a deal, but I guess it was an excuse to upgrade to a 200 series I said I wouldn't buy. I started researching 200's and saw that "Monica" was built for the baja racing (Search for the thread on here) Roll bars and such, but the exact same drive train. I talked to them and others I respect and they told me the 200 series engine Tranny etc drive train is the best matched and well built system Toyota has come up with. Looked at the Monica thread some more and saw what that truck can do and decided to go for the upgrade

I don't notice the extra width. I do notice the improved handling with KDSS. Plus the front diff isnt weak like the 100 series. You HAVE to put a front locker in the front diff of a 100 series or you risk breaking due to the weak front pinion. You don't on a 200

The power difference is HUGE. Back to 65MPH on the MTN passes again and the pickup around town is faster than I imagined a 4wd to be able to do stock. It has awesome acceleration

I pit Slee sliders on mine and dont recall any issues with the running board

My rear seats came right out. Its the seat belts that are an issue. I could have taken a panel off and unbolted it, but since I was putting drawers back there permanently, I just cut the seat belts

I have zero regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[SQRRRL]

My 2013 has defrost on rear windows. The rig worked extremely well in the Sierra this winter and she was bone stock.

 

[TonyP]

They don't defrost in the 200, either We're talking about the rearmost SIDE windows, not the rear window.

Yes.... they do. Hence the filaments.

 

[Markuson]

13 years in a fully built 100.

Only thing I preferred were the front seats. They wrapped a bit more, and had an adjustable armrest.

Other than that? -Everything else (& I mean...EVERYTHING) on the 200 crushes my 100 series.
Power...handling...front suspension (no more torsion bars)...KDSS...interior......power...power...and POWER.

3rd row and running board removal are both easy. Mine have been in the garage since I bought mine.

OK... PS- Thought of one more thing: I think the paint on my 100 was more durable.

 

[slowride]

Yes.... they do. Hence the filaments.

Not that I'm an expert, but I think those "filaments" are actually antennas....

 

[TonyP]

Hmm.. Maybe... I could have sworn they defrosted the windows last winter. Either way there's something in the windows