I've had my 09 LX570 for about 2 years now, and have to say the 200 series is probably the best vehicle I've ever owned. Aside from the atrocious city mpg, it really is the last vehicle one needs. Good combo of comfort, passenger hauling, build quality, reliability, tow capability, and off road prowess. Hard to imagine going to another SUV.
2017 value vs. 2015; value of changes with MY16
- Thread starter mooneywa
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I've had my 09 LX570 for about 2 years now, and have to say the 200 series is probably the best vehicle I've ever owned. Aside from the atrocious city mpg, it really is the last vehicle one needs. Good combo of comfort, passenger hauling, build quality, reliability, tow capability, and off road prowess. Hard to imagine going to another SUV.
It makes me laugh when people say the back seat screens are a deal breaker. No offense, but that’s one of the weakest rationales I’ve ever heard for a $60-80k purchase decision. They are easily removed in minutes, and you can reinstall them down the road when it’s time to sell. Makes absolutely no sense to me why someone would use that as a reason.
If we’re being honest, 99% of the reason why most chose a pre 16 is money. They’re a lot more expensive period, and that is the determining factor for most.
If we’re being honest, 99% of the reason why most chose a pre 16 is money. They’re a lot more expensive period, and that is the determining factor for most.
Folks have removed them.
A fundamental factor to this whole discussion is that different features and capabilities matter more or less to different people - the same reason some people choose a Mercedes or BMW or Hummer or Corolla. 
The 2016+ models are different than the earlier models. Those differences, coupled with mileage driven (to the degree that matters with an LC/LX) either add value or not for each individual buyer. It doesn't make one vehicle better or worse in a general sense - only better or worse for each unique individual. It is good to ask others what factors mattered in there decision as it may cause us to consider things we hadn't. But it is not smarter or better or whatever for one person to buy an '09 or a '15 or a '18. And even whether it is a good price or not depends very much on the unique needs, preferences and priorities of each individual buyer.
I chose a '16 for my own reasons (and quickly removed the 3rd row and increased the tires, eventually removed the RES screens, put on sliders and strengthened the suspension) and those things that I liked (8-speed with the lower low-end gearing, BSM, auto high beams, adaptive cruise, larger Info/Nav screen, wireless phone charging) may be of zero value to someone else or even be negatives in someone else's mind. Cool! Its great we have options. And all of us seem to place consider value on the engine power, frame strength and overall longevity of the platform. (And I don't think anyone purchased it so that they could enjoy bad gas mileage.)
I love mine and continue tweaking it to "make it mine". Like @Bendcruiser, I plan to have it for a long time. (Hopefully with a lot of miles in and around Bend!
)
BTW, @Bendcruiser, I'll be up in Bend tomorrow afternoon and Tuesday morning if you'd like to get together for a beer (afternoon) or coffee (morning). PM me if you are interested.
The 2016+ models are different than the earlier models. Those differences, coupled with mileage driven (to the degree that matters with an LC/LX) either add value or not for each individual buyer. It doesn't make one vehicle better or worse in a general sense - only better or worse for each unique individual. It is good to ask others what factors mattered in there decision as it may cause us to consider things we hadn't. But it is not smarter or better or whatever for one person to buy an '09 or a '15 or a '18. And even whether it is a good price or not depends very much on the unique needs, preferences and priorities of each individual buyer.I chose a '16 for my own reasons (and quickly removed the 3rd row and increased the tires, eventually removed the RES screens, put on sliders and strengthened the suspension) and those things that I liked (8-speed with the lower low-end gearing, BSM, auto high beams, adaptive cruise, larger Info/Nav screen, wireless phone charging) may be of zero value to someone else or even be negatives in someone else's mind. Cool! Its great we have options. And all of us seem to place consider value on the engine power, frame strength and overall longevity of the platform. (And I don't think anyone purchased it so that they could enjoy bad gas mileage.)
I love mine and continue tweaking it to "make it mine". Like @Bendcruiser, I plan to have it for a long time. (Hopefully with a lot of miles in and around Bend!
)BTW, @Bendcruiser, I'll be up in Bend tomorrow afternoon and Tuesday morning if you'd like to get together for a beer (afternoon) or coffee (morning). PM me if you are interested.
Truth.
Simple really. Buy the newest, lowest miles 200 you can afford (accident free of course).
I personally love the refreshed 80 series look, black headliner, LED headlights, etc. I wonder if Toyota will even bring a 300 series to NA given crazy slow sales.
I personally love the refreshed 80 series look, black headliner, LED headlights, etc. I wonder if Toyota will even bring a 300 series to NA given crazy slow sales.
This is the only reason I bought a 14 instead of a 16 in Jan 2016. I liked the interior updates of the 16, but for the same price I bought my 14 with 25K miles and still under warranty and spent 20K in modifications to build it.
Someone said the upgrades can never end. If you chase the newer updates all the time, you will pay a hefty price
My 200 is built just the way I like it and am very happy with it. Would I like some of the features of the 16+, sure. It doesn't fit my balance of financial vs technical vs the "I want" and that balance is different for everyone.
Rather than spending the $$ to upgrade an awesome Land cruiser to a more updated one, I bought a BMW Z4 and am building an additional 2 car garage to house more toys in. It's all about that balance.
I may drive my 200 forever or upgrade one more time before I retire. That decision point is 5-8 years off.
I think we would all agree the 200 (all years) is the best version of the Land Cruiser to date. The changes in years are minor compared to the overall architecture of the vehicle. If I want to know how much, I just drive my 40 on the highway
I havent owned 50 vehicles like Matt, but I have owned 7 Land Cruisers
This is the only reason I bought a 14 instead of a 16 in Jan 2016. I liked the interior updates of the 16, but for the same price I bought my 14 with 25K miles and still under warranty and spent 20K in modifications to build it.
Someone said the upgrades can never end. If you chase the newer updates all the time, you will pay a hefty price
My 200 is built just the way I like it and am very happy with it. Would I like some of the features of the 16+, sure. It doesn't fit my balance of financial vs technical vs the "I want" and that balance is different for everyone.
Rather than spending the $$ to upgrade an awesome Land cruiser to a more updated one, I bought a BMW Z4 and am building an additional 2 car garage to house more toys in. It's all about that balance.
I may drive my 200 forever or upgrade one more time before I retire. That decision point is 5-8 years off.
I think we would all agree the 200 (all years) is the best version of the Land Cruiser to date. The changes in years are minor compared to the overall architecture of the vehicle. If I want to know how much, I just drive my 40 on the highway
I havent owned 50 vehicles like Matt, but I have owned 7 Land Cruisers
You have an incredibly drool worthy (what is it now six car??) garage!
I remember when you got your salsa 200, and it was a great deal then especially compared with a 16 which was still super expensive and functionally not much different. I waited to grab a 16 until good deals were starting to pop up here and there. I’m very curious to see how the 300 will affect the 200 market when it is eventually released. I could see it going either way depending on a bunch of factors, but for now I agree we can all say we drive one of the best vehicles on the planet!
Yes
This thread, and similar ones, led the wife & I to "order" a 2019 Blue Onyx Pearl/Black 200 today, expected delivery 18 Oct. My preferred color, & no 2018 in that hue in this region for several months. The salesman says Dealer invoice, $78,604, + $499 dealer fee + TTL. ~ $1,300 over another dealer's offer to "import" a 2018 out of region.
The advanced "tech" features of 2016 met our perceived needs for improvements over our 2009 Xterra. Will have no need for the Rear Seat Entertainment & 3rd row seats (have asked salesman to remove those).
Prices within 250 miles of here seemed to range from $78K-88K for a new 2018, $66K for a 2017 <30K miles, $62K for a similar 2016. Only slightly less for LX570s, but only a mother could love that grill.
I was really going for $75,000 for a new 200, as I paid $7,500 (MSRP) for a new 1977 FJ55 in Jan. '78. A year later, the FJ55 had new taillights & a MSRP ~ $14K. So I was envisioning a Toyota Trails Forty Years Later . . . Ten Times The Price, Ten Time The Fun feature article.
The advanced "tech" features of 2016 met our perceived needs for improvements over our 2009 Xterra. Will have no need for the Rear Seat Entertainment & 3rd row seats (have asked salesman to remove those).
Prices within 250 miles of here seemed to range from $78K-88K for a new 2018, $66K for a 2017 <30K miles, $62K for a similar 2016. Only slightly less for LX570s, but only a mother could love that grill.
I was really going for $75,000 for a new 200, as I paid $7,500 (MSRP) for a new 1977 FJ55 in Jan. '78. A year later, the FJ55 had new taillights & a MSRP ~ $14K. So I was envisioning a Toyota Trails Forty Years Later . . . Ten Times The Price, Ten Time The Fun feature article.