2006 LX470 vs 99 LC. - LC wins ????

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NCjeff

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Wife's ride has been the 06 Lexus for over a year. Stock, well maintained kid hauler. We love it.

I bought a 99 LC, because I got a good deal and I sold my 97 LX.

Both are 100% stock. LX has 115k, LC has 190k. Both have been very well cared for, lots of maintenance records.

I was way surprised how well the 99 felt in comparison with the 06 LX. Like way surprised. Smiling when driving surprised. Way more peppier and nimble feeling, Dare I say much smoother too, seriously. I didn't mention a thing and just thought it was that new car excitement. Well now the wife has driven the 99 a few times and is saying the same thing.

Do we have some unicorn of a 99 LC???

Does the KSS on the LX weigh that much?
 
Let me first say that all 100 series LC's (and all LC's for that matter) were extremely well built. Like, legendary. But in my opinion, the 98 and 99 LC seem to be special. they're built like a tank. They're so solid! Im not sure what the major difference is starting in 2000 except the dash changes and no more rear factory lockers and ATRAC, but you can certainly feel the difference between early 98/99 models vs. 2000/07.
 
'98-'99 are the years they put in a little extra love.
 
I would agree that coming from a 97 LX that a 99 LC should feel "Peppy, nimble and smooth", but your 06 vs 99 comparison doesn't make sense to me unless:

1) 06 LX has "2nd start" turned on. (5spd 1st gear is much lower than the 4spd)
2) The 06 has its AHC going out (or settings on full sport)
3) Something is wrong with VGRS. (Low speed steering should be much quicker on the 06)
4) You were on some sort of "low traction" surface that the 06 "throttle nanny" would kick in.
5) You've go some sort of "breathing issue" (blocked cat/blocked intake) on the 06
6) You've got something hooked to the trailer hitch of the 06.

​
(I've owned a 98 in the past, and currently have a 00 LC and a 06 LX in the family)
 
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I drove a 2005 LX recently as I've been thinking about getting a second newer 100 series. Frequent shifting of 5sp, feel of the AHC was a bit foreign to me, as was the dash. I was not impressed, chalking it up to what I'm accustom to. Now you've got me thinking!

IMHO; 2000-02 is the sweet spot for reliability and feel, admittedly I'm bias ;).
 
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Sounds like vehicle-to-vehicle variability as opposed to 1999 vs. 2006 variability. If there's an easy way to drive another early and late 100 - that would be an interesting experiment.

There was a production facility change from ARACO to another facility in around 04/05 I believe.
 
RND1 said:
There was a production facility change from ARACO to another facility in around 04/05 I believe.
Click to expand...

It is my understanding that they were all manufactured at the exact same Yoshiwara facility The name changed from "Araco" to "Toyota Auto Body" when the companies "merged". Same equipment. Same workers. Same Takumi.


Toyota group parts makers to merge amid competition

Automotive News
October 3, 2003 - 12:01 am ET
TOKYO (Reuters) -- Three parts makers affiliated with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. have agreed to merge next October to fend off intensifying competition as automakers move production overseas, the companies said Friday.


Toyoda Boshoku Corp., owned 16 percent by Toyota, will absorb unlisted Araco Corp. and TakaNichi Co., both held more than 75 percent by Japan's top automaker.

At the same time, another Toyota group company, Toyota Auto Body Co., which makes and sells vehicles, will take over Araco's vehicle manufacturing and sales operations to eliminate an overlap in Toyota's group businesses.

Toyota Auto Body and Araco both assemble Toyota Motor's minivans and SUVs such as the Land Cruiser.

In the business year that ended in March, Araco had sales of $3.7 billion and net profit of $110 million on a parent-only basis. Toyota Auto Body made $8 billion in sales and $160 million yen in net profit. Toyoda had a net profit of $27 million on revenues of $969 million.​
 
I was also thinking perhaps the difference is the AHC acting a little funny.

When the "What is the best years for the 100 series" question arises on Mud, it seems like I remember seeing that the '99 is not one of the best of the bunch. Is that correct, in general?
 
Funny... my 98 LC I swapped an engine into drives really well I understand the smile... and funny also that my wife likes the way it drives also vs her LX470 she thinks her LX is "softer" but she'll jump into my LC in a heartbeat... except she is 5' and 110lbs and I have 18" wheels and no running boards so she has to jump in...

I got it just to haul the dogs to the lake... but I have driven it everyday... so...
 
So put a stopwatch to it and see if seat of the pants feel is correct ;)
 
It's possible it's all in the stock wheel fitment. Are the tire sizes stock?

The '99 likely has 16" wheels, making for much cushier ride.

The '06 has 18" wheels, transmitting more road texture into the car.

I'd give the AHC a once over as my '06, after AHC fluid flush, and then again after neutral pressure adjustments was that much smoother at each point.
 
TeCKis300 said:
The '99 likely has 16" wheels, making for much cushier ride.

The '06 has 18" wheels, transmitting more road texture into the car.
Click to expand...

Is that really the case with larger wheels? If so, that seems like a big deal and counter productive towards the Lexus smooth ride.
 
We have had the 06 LX for a few years. Driven it all over. Its a great ride.

I guess Im just surprised there is a noticeable difference between the 2. I figured they would be the same.

The 18 vs 16 wheels could be the reason for the less cushy ride. I dont think AHC is failing. It is set in the neutral position and seems to function correctly. Tires on both are stock size and fairly new.

Lexus feels heavier, very slightly.

Its strange, one would think of course I want to drive the 06 Lexus over the 99. In my driveway, its debateable...
 
^That would def account for most of it.

BullElk said:
Is that really the case with larger wheels? If so, that seems like a big deal and counter productive towards the Lexus smooth ride.
Click to expand...

Yes, the car industry has been going the counter productive way for awhile. It's even more extreme on sedans that already have very little sidewall, and they're pushing into 18", 19", 20"+ wheels. Suspensions have had to get way more sophisticated to account for the added impact harshness. Funny thing is you'll see more rubber in the joints of the suspensions. In most luxury cars, those last for all of 100k miles before they really start wearing out making for a sloppy handling car.
 
NCjeff said:
I dont think AHC is failing. It is set in the neutral position and seems to function correctly.
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I wouldn't say it's failing in any way. Just that it does require maintenance and can be made better when calibrated.

If you haven't already, AHC fluid exchange is a 60k service interval.

I have 103k miles on my '06. Re-calibrating the neutral pressures at 90k really dialed in the suspension and ride as they were just outside of spec both front and rear. Needed 3.5x turns on each front torsion bar. I added 30mm spring spaces in the rear to bring it right in the lower limit of spec so it has higher weight carrying capacity before falling out of constant height mode (for towing).
 
Why would you change the AHC fluid? Does it wear?
 
I apologize if we're on a tangent if the OP is not interested...

Just like many other fluids in the car, this one is serviceable, which is a good thing to maintaining the performance of the system. Yes, it does wear with contaminates and use. When I exchanged the fluid at 65k, it was very dark and dirty. The new fluid is a almost clear and a light weight fluid. There's quite a lot of fluid in the system also (much more than fancy aftermarket remote reservoir systems, which means it's even more tolerant to heat soak)

Standard shocks too start degrading the day they are put in service. But because they are not serviceable, and the degradation slow, there's no opportunity to refresh the system until it goes kaput.
 
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