200 Series Quality/Reliability and Next Vehicle

[slipkid13]

I totally agree.

I sat in a brand new Land Cruiser a few weeks ago and it made me sad. I was looking at Tacomas last summer, I could have bought a brand new one but... No thanks to all that crap. A good friend has a new 2025 TRD and it's already been to the dealer several times for recalls and repairs. I looked at a lot of 3rd gens and it was shocking at how rusty they were. I ended up with a 2015 2nd gen and I love it.

Fwiw I'm at about 130K miles on my '15 LC and I have not had one single problem, nothing. I do put a lot into maintenance though, I tend to replace stuff before it fails.

The most shocking issue with the new Tundra is the price. I can't believe how much they are. But then again the Sienna's are in the 50s to low 60s so I guess Toyota has gone "Apple" as long as it has the badge on it, charge whatever the 'eff you want, the people will wait in line and pay.

But maybe the Tundras not so much, I looked at one local dealer here, they have 35 on the lot. 4 Sieenas and 35 Tunndras.

I have a '13 LX that I bout 7 years ago with 63K mile, it now has 150K. I did get an extended warranty because a used vihicle is a used vehicle and sh!t goes wrong no matter how it was maintained. I had some issues covered under warranty (AC compressor, parking sensors, infamous radiator crack right ar 100K and one leaky AHC line) only one issue post warranty (by 4 months, ouch) but a big one, my AHC pump failed. Very rare and in my case unusual because I did the flush and bleed at 60K miles with good fluid (not the recalled stuff) I guess bad luck. I would still buy another LX because I think AHC is awesome and aside from rare failure super easy to maintain.

I hav not see the other know issues, I do a lot of regular maint, 5k oil changes, 30-45K diff/xfer case fluid, 3 years coolant flush, 60K/6 years trans drain/refill etc. Exercise the xfer case/center lock every 4-6 weeks or so. I don't do any heavy off roading or towing.

The interior has held up incedibly well, no squeks or rattles, leather looks amazing with the normal wear on the driver's seat. Paint looks great with some chips. No plans to sell or upgrage anytime soon. I'll give it my son in a few years and look for a 19-21 5 seat 'LX. No interest in a 250 or 300 series, seem way overpriced ($116K or a 700H, come on) and not as nice. A coworker has a new GX 550. I sat in it, seems cheap and plasticy, the screen dominates the interior. Stupid camera follws your face and yells at you for looking at the giant screen they force you to use for everything. Nothing "luxury" about it. 22 inch rims on ANY vehicle are stupid. The tow hitch coer is a total after thought...

I don't see the value there and no split tailgate, no thanks. Plus, the naming is all wrong, should be the LX/GX 340

 

[Supra Turbo]

What I miss about my old trucks is I rarely had to think about them. With the 200 it feels like it is always something.

They were also simpler trucks. And its only going to get "worse" with new gens.

 

[ttrmike]

I agree with a lot of the sentiments in this thread. I think the Land Cruiser as a line, and Toyota as a brand, have cultivated an unrealistic expectation for reliability given the breadth of LC capabilities. Especially in the wagon line. I also think that more often than not we attribute reliability to a lack of required maintenance.

The 200 will get you home with a valley plate leak, cam tower leak, weeping shocks, noisy cam chain tensioner, a faulty stereo, ect. Itll likely get you home on a blown head gasket too if you fight through limp mode. At least until it seizes.

It’s the upkeep on vehicle systems that are a collection that is mentally draining for me. IF the starter fails, it’s an all day job to replace, and depending on your removal method, requires a stack of non starter related gaskets ect. Cam tower, chain tensioners, radiator, and valley plate are also time consuming. The increased number of subsystems in the LC undoublty leads to more maintenance and more things to fail over time. Needless to say I miss inline engines, and space in engine bays. 90-00 was peak Toyota. We also had less features, less capabilities, and likely lower expectations.

Going through this mental game before though, has never lead me to any suitable replacement for the 200 series. The 5th gen 4Runner is a standout candidate but you’re going to sacrifice features and capabilities you’ve come to expect in the 200 series. So fix and maintain what you have, lower expectations for what is available new, or build your own car I guess?