200-series Pinnacle of "Land Cruiser" in the States?

[Artie]

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.

This is disgraceful to sell the service and require the subscription. I’m surprised there hasn’t been a work around for this yet.

We purchased a Sienna in 2023 and the remote start will only work with the Toyota app and that requires the subscription to all the SOS stuff. Hard pass. Yeah, I know everything already tracks me but I guess I reached my limits.

 

[Boston Mangler]

This is disgraceful to sell the service and require the subscription. I’m surprised there hasn’t been a work around for this yet.

Not sure with Toyota, but I have a Ram truck as well. There is a work around for this with the Rams

Alpha ODB2. Basically a Ram version of Techstream

Compared apples to bananas I know, but….

 

[ElJayBird]

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.

Aggressively asserted equally baseless assumption.

Redditor confirmed.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

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?

I can't recall 100%, but I believe it was more than just the remote start. CarPlay might be have been one of the options? Not sure.

Worse/equivalent/better than the 3.5V6TT engine reliability issue?

The engine issues are a bigger deal IMO, but this subscription business is just a cherry on top. Little by little, the brand is becoming something I don't want it to be.

 

[tbisaacs]

Enjoy your 200 series and let it go. It’s a good thing if 250 series owners get that same feeling you do in your rig.

Everyone is looking at the next generation the wrong way.

They dropped the v8 and the tailgate but:

• The taco, 4Runner, 250 LC, GX, tundra and Sequoia all got rear lockers
• The taco and 250 LC got disconnecting sway bars
• The GX got e-KDSS
• We got a triple locked LX, last one was the LX450
• The lx got bigger badder better AHC
• All platforms are basically plug and play for 35s

I don’t have the same rose colored glasses for the 3UR. Mine has had literally every single 3UR issue and I still look back at it every time I get out.

I love y’all but these threads are crazy.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Enjoy your 200 series and let it go. It’s a good thing if 250 series owners get that same feeling you do in your rig.

Everyone is looking at the next generation the wrong way.

They dropped the v8 and the tailgate but:

• The taco, 4Runner, 250 LC, GX, tundra and Sequoia all got rear lockers
• The taco and 250 LC got disconnecting sway bars
• The GX got e-KDSS
• We got a triple locked LX, last one was the LX450
• The lx got bigger badder better AHC
• All platforms are basically plug and play for 35s

I don’t have the same rose colored glasses for the 3UR. Mine has had literally every single 3UR issue and I still look back at it every time I get out.

I love y’all but these threads are crazy.

This! 100% This!

 

[ElJayBird]

I love y’all but these threads are crazy.

We’re on an enthusiasts sub - this should kinda be a given. I’m admittedly an irrational 200 series fanboy - I won’t apologize for it.

 

[Taco Supremo]

Call it whatever, but a Toyota shorter wheel base 4wd with removable doors and top to compete with the Bronco and the Heep would be a game changer

They completely missed the mark with the FJC

Maybe now is the time

What the 6th gen 4runner should have been!

 

[Supra Turbo]

Enjoy your 200 series and let it go. It’s a good thing if 250 series owners get that same feeling you do in your rig.

Everyone is looking at the next generation the wrong way.

They dropped the v8 and the tailgate but:

• The taco, 4Runner, 250 LC, GX, tundra and Sequoia all got rear lockers
• The taco and 250 LC got disconnecting sway bars
• The GX got e-KDSS
• We got a triple locked LX, last one was the LX450
• The lx got bigger badder better AHC
• All platforms are basically plug and play for 35s

I don’t have the same rose colored glasses for the 3UR. Mine has had literally every single 3UR issue and I still look back at it every time I get out.

I love y’all but these threads are crazy.

Many of the features you mentioned apply only to offroaders, but there's another side of the 200 series as an upper class luxury vehicle, particularly in LXs case.

A 250/Prado, Taco, 4Runner, GX, etc are not in the same luxury class no matter what offroad options they have. Personally, I would not consider those from this standpoint alone. Let alone one with a buzzy 4cyl.

I don't think its looking through "rose glasses" or "everyone is looking at the next generation the wrong way", its a global vehicle and some of us are simply looking at it from multiple perspectives/sides.

 

[tbisaacs]

but there's another side of the 200 series as an upper class luxury vehicle, particularly in LXs case.

Sure but those people arent enthusiasts and dont spend 100s of pages complaining on an enthusiast forum.

 

[dudemancool1904]

Eh I love my 200 and I consider it’s interior a great place but I’ll take the wife’s amg massaging air scarf seats any day of the week.

 

[ElJayBird]

Eh I love my 200 and I consider it’s interior a great place but I’ll take the wife’s amg massaging air scarf seats any day of the week.

To each their own, I guess. I sold the Merc when I got the 200 and haven’t had an itch to drive anything else since. I’m sure that’ll change at some point, but no clue when that’ll be (keep it together, Ineos!)

 

[Supra Turbo]

Sure but those people arent enthusiasts and dont spend 100s of pages complaining on an enthusiast forum.

Im an enthusiast and part of the reason we wanted a 200 is for its blend of luxury and offroad tech.

 

[Supra Turbo]

Eh I love my 200 and I consider it’s interior a great place but I’ll take the wife’s amg massaging air scarf seats any day of the week.

Ditto. Really miss the massagers in my Mercs, wish the 200 had them.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Eh I love my 200 and I consider it’s interior a great place but I’ll take the wife’s amg massaging air scarf seats any day of the week.

As much as I love my Non HE, dated 200 relic, I would pretty much take ANY seats over them

My only real complaint on the entire vehicle

 

[HighRanch]

As much as I love my Non HE, dated 200 relic, I would pretty much take ANY seats over them

My only real complaint on the entire vehicle

Explain why? ...I am 6'2" and 190lbs and find them very comfortable.

 

[2021 LC200]

Enjoy your 200 series and let it go. It’s a good thing if 250 series owners get that same feeling you do in your rig.

Everyone is looking at the next generation the wrong way.

They dropped the v8 and the tailgate but:

• The taco, 4Runner, 250 LC, GX, tundra and Sequoia all got rear lockers
• The taco and 250 LC got disconnecting sway bars
• The GX got e-KDSS
• We got a triple locked LX, last one was the LX450
• The lx got bigger badder better AHC
• All platforms are basically plug and play for 35s

I don’t have the same rose colored glasses for the 3UR. Mine has had literally every single 3UR issue and I still look back at it every time I get out.

I love y’all but these threads are crazy.

Well, for my use case the 200 remains perfect:
- Mostly drive on road. For the bit of over landing and Offroad most of us do ATRAC is perfect. Also puts less shock load on the drive train when wheels slip compared to diff lockers.
- LC200 KDSS is hydraulic only and provides anti roll for corners and sway disconnect for slow offroad articulation.
- Unless your 3UR-FE has been abused (to few oil changes) or has suffered an overheating event (the pre 2018 radiator is not perfect), it’s been great in my case and so for many Sequoia, Tubra, LX and LC users

 

[Boston Mangler]

Explain why? ...I am 6'2" and 190lbs and find them very comfortable.

I’m 6’4” 300lbs

I’ve owned every NA model LC made other than a 55

Second to the 80, the 200 has the worst seats out of all of them.

Any long distances over 100 miles or so and I get achy butt and need to shift around

For comparison, I have a 2020 Ram, one trim level above poverty and have driven that at 12 hour stints with no issues at all and they’re uber comfy

 

[Boston Mangler]

Sure but those people arent enthusiasts and dont spend 100s of pages complaining on an enthusiast forum.

I’m on a lot of different forums for enthusiast things and this one brings a whole nother level of comedy gold over the battles of minutia. It’s extremely entertaining

 

[gasman4u]

I’m 6’4” 300lbs

I’ve owned every NA model LC made other than a 55

Second to the 80, the 200 has the worst seats out of all of them.

Any long distances over 100 miles or so and I get achy butt and need to shift around

For comparison, I have a 2020 Ram, one trim level above poverty and have driven that at 12 hour stints with no issues at all and they’re uber comfy

I am similar height and think it may be a "domestic" OEM full size truck vs Toyota thing. My fOrD f150 seats were amazing comparatively. Unfortunately, they remain attached to the fOrd. I do marvel at my lack of headroom in the LC comparatively too. Maybe my seat is too high...