Good, hopefully that continues. Will make the 200 series even rarer in the states.
200-series Pinnacle of "Land Cruiser" in the States?
- Thread starter TeCKis300
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Definitely can see and feel that the 200 series is pinnacle Land Cruiser in the US and unless the 300 series can resolve engine issues maybe the GOAT globally, together with the much respected and proven 70, 80 and 100 series. Just the fact it was designed in Japan in the late nineties early two thousands with the goal to build the best makes it clearly stand out and old school Toyota. All round capable, strong and durable. Looks like nothing can beat that going forward.
Then there is the 250 series, follow up to the 120/150 series... Unfortunately, and that is understatement, Toyota did not just market the J250 as the respected Land Cruiser PRADO, as is the case in many parts of the world. Playing naming games with your lines of vehicles seems the certain way to destroy brand building, reputation and eventually brand value. What Toyota did here with the J250 and apparently in Europe is labelling their 3 series as a 5 series or a C-class as an E-class or a 718 series Cayman as a 911 series. Then claiming better MPG and lower sales price, especially when corrected for inflation. What a miracle, really Toyota...
Anyways...Since this happened I noticed Ford has some ugly crossover EV which has the Mustang name on it, so I guess we are not the only one. Mustang owners and enthusiast must be seriously pissed. How is an electric cross over anything Ford Mustang...? Just near term desperation (pushed by the bean counters and the stock market) and lack of imagination. Insult to injury, it is just hilarious how bland it looks like. Reminds me of the low cost economical Honda HRV, itself an ok buy for those who need space and have less deep pockets. Anyways Ford, what the heck were you guys thinking.
Seems whenever a brand does that you know the long term solid goodness is swapped for near term profits and sales. Like Mercedes greatness up to the mid nineties and vehicles like the W124 and subsequently losing it IMO. Now Toyota is clearly too big to fail and other car manufacturers are driven by short term financials and inexperienced Engineering as well, so in the land of the blind one eye tends to be king...
I guess you very much know this already so have to apologize. Still, it helps me to write it down and share the disappointment with the new Toyota approach.
Let me say last but not least, Merry Christmas, Best Wishes for 2026 and hope your GOAT 200 series Land Cruiser will last you decades more. Keeping it maintained and fixing the odd issue looks more attractive than ever. I also expect the exclusive numbers on the US market of the 200 series will make it go up in valuable at some point like the 80 series and now the 100 series. What a blessing to own one!
Then there is the 250 series, follow up to the 120/150 series... Unfortunately, and that is understatement, Toyota did not just market the J250 as the respected Land Cruiser PRADO, as is the case in many parts of the world. Playing naming games with your lines of vehicles seems the certain way to destroy brand building, reputation and eventually brand value. What Toyota did here with the J250 and apparently in Europe is labelling their 3 series as a 5 series or a C-class as an E-class or a 718 series Cayman as a 911 series. Then claiming better MPG and lower sales price, especially when corrected for inflation. What a miracle, really Toyota...
Anyways...Since this happened I noticed Ford has some ugly crossover EV which has the Mustang name on it, so I guess we are not the only one. Mustang owners and enthusiast must be seriously pissed. How is an electric cross over anything Ford Mustang...? Just near term desperation (pushed by the bean counters and the stock market) and lack of imagination. Insult to injury, it is just hilarious how bland it looks like. Reminds me of the low cost economical Honda HRV, itself an ok buy for those who need space and have less deep pockets. Anyways Ford, what the heck were you guys thinking.
Seems whenever a brand does that you know the long term solid goodness is swapped for near term profits and sales. Like Mercedes greatness up to the mid nineties and vehicles like the W124 and subsequently losing it IMO. Now Toyota is clearly too big to fail and other car manufacturers are driven by short term financials and inexperienced Engineering as well, so in the land of the blind one eye tends to be king...
I guess you very much know this already so have to apologize. Still, it helps me to write it down and share the disappointment with the new Toyota approach.
Let me say last but not least, Merry Christmas, Best Wishes for 2026 and hope your GOAT 200 series Land Cruiser will last you decades more. Keeping it maintained and fixing the odd issue looks more attractive than ever. I also expect the exclusive numbers on the US market of the 200 series will make it go up in valuable at some point like the 80 series and now the 100 series. What a blessing to own one!
Last edited:
I rented a diesel 300 series in Australia earlier this year. That powerplant is impressive and it was comfortable both on and off road.
Also rented a diesel 250 on the same trip...got a lot of attention as it was a new arrival to OZ. Can't speak to its offroad manners, but it was perfectly fine on-road. Nice, topical tech features but doesn't quite feel like Land Cruiser quality. Certainly fine as an Avis rental. Hard to get excited about a buzzy droney 4 cylinder at the price they're asking. My Daughter will be in the market for a car in the next few months. Suspect she'll gravitate to the 4-Runner or Land Cruiser (Prado) platform.
Also rented a diesel 250 on the same trip...got a lot of attention as it was a new arrival to OZ. Can't speak to its offroad manners, but it was perfectly fine on-road. Nice, topical tech features but doesn't quite feel like Land Cruiser quality. Certainly fine as an Avis rental. Hard to get excited about a buzzy droney 4 cylinder at the price they're asking. My Daughter will be in the market for a car in the next few months. Suspect she'll gravitate to the 4-Runner or Land Cruiser (Prado) platform.
I completely agree but the fact is there is an idiot out there just waiting to do something stupid and destroy your beloved 200 serious in one fell swoop of criminal ignorance. Then the hunt for a used 200 begins.
I was on the hunt for another 200 series LC for around 6 months and couldn’t find a clean one within the local area that wasn’t roached, smoked in, or rusted out.
Just landed on a mint 2019 LX instead and will post some pics this weekend. We’ll give this AHC suspension a shot.
Of course, I kept the 2016 200 LC and am never getting rid of this marvel of engineering.
The real question is, what is the global market for off pavement use Land Cruisers? Certainly in the states the vast majority of Land cruisers and LX rarely make it off pavement, maybe they'll see some snow in the mountains. I'd venture to say most of those I've seen in the Middle East in the GCC are also mostly pavement pounders. Sure you've got the UN and other NGO's in developing countries, and the hard core Aussie overlanders, but sadly I'd say while there is a market that can use what a 200 series, or similar refined version would offer, but that likely isn't the majority of Toyota's market.
The 90’s were a massive heyday for car culture to me and my generation, class of 1995. All the awesome Japanese sports cars still top the list of baddasery and their 4x4’s really began to mature and take on the domestics during that time. There was still brand loyalty back then and it wasn’t weird to fight about little boys wearing bow ties or Found on Road Dead. If you don’t catch those references then it must be hard to wrap your head around literal blows being thrown from a verbal discussion over whose truck is better based mostly on whose emblem was on the hood. This is definitely not the case today, car culture is no where near the levels it was during the 90’s. Hell, even a lot of chicks were into it and they would throw shade at the lame guys who couldn’t swing the V8 fox body ‘stang or had an automatic tranny.
On a positive note, I am starting to see a resurgence in my area of that high school age range in square body chevys or whatnot. Maybe it will come back around.
Yup. Has to be a 10:1 ratio between 250s and LC 200/100 and LXs here in Phoenix. Even in the relatively short period of time they've been available.
If you like understand and appreciate what the LC nameplate is all about, then pony up and buy a real one.
I paid a lot for mine back in 2019. It was the first real car I ever bought, having driven much cheaper compromise type cars before that while I was in school.
For me it was a no brainer. If you want the real deal, pay real deal prices. Unfortunately most people don't really care. They'll buy the newest hotness even if it's a bastardization of a standard.
This
One could argue that many purchases of specialty vehicles in the states are made that way. Did I buy a Land Cruiser to go offroad, no. But it is good to know it can go offroad. Did I build a 1200hp supra to race, no. But it is good to know it can go fast. Do I want to buy a 997 GT3 RS to drive on track, no. But it is good to know it can beat many others. Call it a poser stance or whatever you will, but many specialty vehicles are bought that way. And Toyota saw that and capitalized on it with the LC nameplate. Dont get me wrong, its great we have another cheaper bof option from Toyota, but it kind of sucks it had to use the nameplate many of us hold so dear.
And spreading awareness of how bad the 250 is compared to the 200 should help fix this problem. People have no idea what they are buying because they THINK it’s the real deal due to Toyota’s shady business practices. Then realize how flawed it really is once the honeymoon phase wears off. The 200 series owners overwhelmingly do not experience any of that regret.
I feel attacked
I recently saw a bunch of videos of folks complaining about having to purchase monthly subscriptions to access basic features in the modern Camry. Pretty shocking to me that Toyota would pull this s*** in 2025, especially considering how poorly BMW fared when they tried this same stunt with heated seats some years back. Toyota doing this has really put a black mark on the whole brand in my eyes.
Was it the remote start services where it’s $15 a month to get access to that? I know pretty much all new Toyota’s have that subscription nowadays.
Have they sunk lower than that?
Exactly.
Is the LC250 over there hybrid as well?
Worse/equivalent/better than the 3.5V6TT engine reliability issue?
This breaks a lot of people's hearts, but Toyota isn't what it used to be. The whole world will change, like it or not. Toyota isn't exempt.
Last edited:
This is such over stated and gross assumption, akin to the common reddit trope "nobody wanted the 200".
The reality is the 4Runner bros drooled but they couldn't ever afford one, even used.Respectfully, it's completely baseless. There is no hard data out there to support it. I think that maybe you could assume this is true about LXs, maybe, but not the Land Cruiser 200. People know what these are and buy them for their capability.
Last edited: