200 Vs. 250 FE - Owners Perspective (10 Viewers)

[M1911]

Hey wait, i thought everyone on this forum wanted a stripped down poverty pack truck? Did something change?

The same way all the forum car guys claim to want a brown, manual transmission, turbo diesel station wagon, but only 12 would actually buy one if available…

 

[TEQLC]

I have some great news.

The fix for the auto start stop system is to put the vehicle in tow/haul mode. When done, that gets rid of the vehicle turning off.

On my drive home today. I averaged 21 mpg in the city while in tow haul mode. The car shutter was gone from taking off at a stop light.

The unfortunate part is the tow haul mode goes away each time you turn off the car. Thankfully, it’s a simple button you press on the right hand side under the steering wheel. So not a huge deal.

That is great news!!! I'm so pumped, thanks for taking the time.

 

[shane0mack]

The same way all the forum car guys claim to want a brown, manual transmission, turbo diesel station wagon, but only 12 would actually buy one if available…

Don't forget that they want to buy it used from the factory.

 

[VamosHugo]

Also, this was great news to me. The car came with a revised smaller tow hitch cover that was sitting in the back of the car, so I immediately took off the hitch cover that sticks out damn near half a mile, and threw the smaller cover on. I have no idea what Toyota was thinking when they threw that ugly full cover piece on the rig in the first place.

Thanks for the really helpful review/first impressions. The part about the alternative hitch cover was the best news I've read all week. I sure hope this isn't just for FE buyers (my 1958 is supposed to arrive this month). If us peasants have to buy the smaller cover I can't imagine it'd be too costly.

 

[Zill]

Thanks for the really helpful review/first impressions. The part about the alternative hitch cover was the best news I've read all week. I sure hope this isn't just for FE buyers (my 1958 is supposed to arrive this month). If us peasants have to buy the smaller cover I can't imagine it'd be too costly.

Very true, and even if you do - it will be up to OEM quality for the fit and finish which is great.

 

[Phillyd2]

Pictures of the 'revised smaller tow hitch cover' would be interesting to see how it compares to what we've seen so far.

 

[Zill]

Pictures of the 'revised smaller tow hitch cover' would be interesting to see how it compares to what we've seen so far.

Here you go! Right above the hitch is that smaller hitch cover (that’s on). It makes it look like a regular hitch without having that saggy diaper look going on.

 

[minium]

lol, I didn't notice the other style until this post.......... AJT Designs gotta be feverishly running through prototype solutions to this as we speak.

 

[Phillyd2]

Here you go! Right above the hitch is that smaller hitch cover (that’s on). It makes it look like a regular hitch without having that saggy diaper look going on.

View attachment 3628770

View attachment 3628771

Thank you! So it's really a trim piece instead of a hitch cover.

And I just not seeing where the safety chain attaches?

 

[Zill]

Thank you! So it's really a trim piece instead of a hitch cover.

Yes sir, but I really don’t mind how that looks. I actually prefer the hitch being out in the open, but then the trim cover at the top hides the ugly bits

 

[Zill]

I took some measurements today for the seat cushions. The optionable extendable seat cushion gives you 2.5 inches more of seat leg room. 21.5” inches vs 19” on the passenger seat (and presumably driver side lower trims as well).

This makes the Land Cruiser seats 1.5 inches longer than even my 2nd gen tundra seats.

Furthermore, most seat “extenders” (found on the GX, LX, and high trim Tundras and Sequoias) just extend out the bottom piece but not the top for where your leg actually rests on. This is something taller people should heavily weight when looking at what trim they want to get (and even GX 550 vs 250 for that matter).

For me, this makes the seat actually comfortable and is the #1 reason why I would opt for the leather seat package instead of the cloth/soft tex. It’s a game changer and sleeper option.

 

[Phillyd2]

Yes sir, but I really don’t mind how that looks. I actually prefer the hitch being out in the open, but then the trim cover at the top hides the ugly bits

I'm in total agreement

 

[Corbet]

It’s just too bad Toyota did not place the 4/7Pin connector up next to the hitch. I’m confident I’m going to break mine in short order

 

[OregonLC]

That's a bummer.

Have the similar thing in the Ram, MDS not stop/start. T/H mode just becomes a button click during startup flow. Plus, if you're running +1 or +2 on the tires, T/H is where you want to be anyway. Yeah it's a button click, but not the end of the world.

Out of curiosity, does moving the shift lever into manual mode also defeat the stop/start?

 

[Teebo]

Thank you! So it's really a trim piece instead of a hitch cover.

And I just not seeing where the safety chain attaches?

The safety chains attach points are on the sides of the receiver. It's just in shadow in the picture.

 

[APIOQM]

Zill, I have another request, if you’d oblige. Would you be able to measure the height to the highest point on the tailgate when open? My understanding is that this cannot be adjusted on the 1958.

 

[jwcrowell]

Zill, tech question: Is the LC250 equipped with brake hold? (At a stoplight, you can take your foot off the brake and it’ll hold) I haven’t seen anyone mention it in any of the driving videos and I’m curious. Thanks

 

[Teebo]

Zill, tech question: Is the LC250 equipped with brake hold? (At a stoplight, you can take your foot off the brake and it’ll hold) I haven’t seen anyone mention it in any of the driving videos and I’m curious. Thanks

Yes it does. I use it all the time. I had it on my highlander as well and love it.

 

[Specialeyes]

Great write up @Zill

I to found the fit and finish of the 250 to be well executed and a noticeable step up from examples such as the Tacoma or Sequoia. In some ways it’s even an improvement over the 200 Series. An aside but I also found the 250 interior to be pretty much on par with the new GX. This could be looked at as either Toyota doing a little extra for the Land Cruiser or doing a little less for the GX. Personally I’m kinda feeling like it’s the latter as the 550 definitely has lost some of the luxury aspects that the previous 460 and 470 had.

I still have yet to drive a 250 but am growing increasingly optimistic by posts like yours and other reviews I have read and heard. It’s sounding like the hybrid 4 may turn out to be a solid little engine! I will always enjoy the warm resonance of a nice, well tuned V8 but I’m comfortable enough in my own skin that I have no problem saying I drive a hybrid.

 

[OregonLC]

Great write up @Zill

I to found the fit and finish of the 250 to be well executed and a noticeable step up from examples such as the Tacoma or Sequoia. In some ways it’s even an improvement over the 200 Series. An aside but I also found the 250 interior to be pretty much on par with the new GX. This could be looked at as either Toyota doing a little extra for the Land Cruiser or doing a little less for the GX. Personally I’m kinda feeling like it’s the latter as the 550 definitely has lost some of the luxury aspects that the previous 460 and 470 had.

A recent comparo by Edmunds said about the same for the interior. Their biggest complaint was that the 250 wasn't as driveable with power as the GX even though they spec closely on output.