2021 LX 570 vs new 250

[joelp]

Last used car I bought was 20+ years ago, but I feel like I may have to do it now. The 250 at 70k+ seems nuts. I'd rather spend 80k on a low mile 21 LX.... weird hybrid crap. heating up transmissions. 8.5" clearance.... pretty sure I had a 16 (maybe 17) 200 series LC and it was a solid rig, but I was in love with the diesel power to tow back then and the ram cummins pulled me away in 19. now I never tow, don't need the cummins, and all of the SUVs suck for what I want. Even the new lex LX is hybrid with some high back area to kill my storage (not to mention 120k plus tax). no thanks. I'm literally leaning toward a high priced but low mileage 20-21 LX to be my next decade road trip and back roads for fly fishing car. the back roads are sometimes awful, but it's not rock crawler stuff. I dont call it overlanding, but I have inverters, lithium batteries, fridge, solar, DC/DC, etc running because I go out into the woods for 14 days at a time and don't hit civilization. I rely on my rig and solar for power. may sleep in it or in a tent going forward, but its just to get me to fish with all my stuff. I don't really trust the 250 somehow

I see people passionate on both sides of this argument, but I have a really hard time getting my head around the 'a new 250 at 72k makes more sense than a 21 LX with 30k miles on it for 75 or 80k' argument. owners of 20/21s are you having issues? am I off base?

if this should have been posted under 'stupid question of the day' feel free to move it mods.

 

[MRego]

You are NOT off base, and you are on the RIGHT track.

250 is not necessarily junk (like a Jeep or Bronco), but it IS overpriced for lots of flimsy plastics.

If you care for more modern, the LX700hOT has a 2row option with similar cargo to a 3row 20/21 LX. It is on another level, expensive but NOT overpriced for what you get (if you appreciate Land Cruisers.) Also, if you need power out there, it has a built-in inverter that can outputs 2400watts.

That said, you can't go wrong with a low mileage 20/21 LX. It IS the best bang for your buck in today's "LC World."

Good luck.

 

[Heckraiser]

Opinions vary on this topic. Here in the 200 forum, opinions are less varied A lot depends on your intended usage and your preferences. No doubt the 200 is much more heavy duty and robustly (over)built. That translates to weight and poor mpg, a tradeoff many are willing to make. The 250 is comparably lighter, compromised by the raised cargo deck (battery) and built for normal SUV stuff, not drag it over rocks, run it into trees type stuff (I'm thinking about that early 200 series test/development video floating around out there). If such a video exists for the 250 platform, I'd love to watch it!

In terms of price, the new LC250s are pretty expensive, but still only around 2/3 or 3/4 what a new 200 was on the dealer lot. I can see the value in that. The GX550, by comparison, costs nearly equal to what a new 200 was back in the day and the 300-series LX is right up there, if not more. The comparison between any new car and any used car is inherently going to lead to a lopsided value proposition.

Anyway, this topic has been beaten to death over the course of the last two years. Get whatever floats your boat!

 

[Artie]

I feel like you want the LX but don’t like the thought of buying used. Just look at it as someone else ate the depreciation and you get the benefits of the more robust 200 series. It also sounds like storage is a big enough deal that losing some to the hybrid battery should make this decision a no brainer.

I’d also add that the 200 series has a much more developed market for modifications that may be of interest to you and your hobbies. For one, I’d be eying an auxiliary gas tank.

I do agree that the SUV market is moving toward lighter weight everything and that does have some downstream effects. My dad is in the market for a SUV as well and for all the wants of something new he keeps coming over to poke around our LC and LX… his main complaint is “Everything now seems so flimsy and fragile now”. He’s mid 70’s and I’m approaching 50 and tend to agree.

If you find a clean 200 series with the mileage you want, get it and focus on your fishing… it sounds like you have some hard to get to spots and they need your attention soon.

 

[Supra Turbo]

I would go with a 200 series LC/LX or the new GX550 personally.

 

[bloc]

LX570 = split tailgate

For someone doing what it sounds like you do, case closed.

 

[doru]

^LX all the way: road trip plush and quiet supper comfort even towing if you want better sleeping quarters, push the button to raise it up and even crawl your back roads.

 

[GreatBenzini]

Here's a 2020 LX with just over 26k miles (think the dark grey is one of the best colors for this car) that falls in the middle of your budget range.

As to the current-gen LX700h, it's probably a little early in its life cycle but has no one hacked the factory software so you could take the electronic front & rear diffs and then retrofit them onto a LX600 (just so you could avoid the hybrid)?

 

[joelp]

^LX all the way: road trip plush and quiet supper comfort even towing if you want better sleeping quarters, push the button to raise it up and even crawl your back roads.

I've been on some rock gardens called roads that used every bit of clearance my leveled ram 2500 has. I'm not doing breakover angle type stuff as a general rule, just awful roads. that ability to raise up is appealing for sure.

To the gentleman that suggested the GX550, I’m really concerned about the engine issues. Chances of an issue are remote, but dropping 80k+ and worrying about an engine issues something I just can’t do.

To the gentleman that brought up the fuel issue, I generally fish with a guy on my off the beaten path trips that runs a 10 year old taco that gets awful mileage and he somehow gets everywhere I get and we generally do fuel stops on similar intervals. His are more needed, but I’m happy to never see the gauge approach 1/4 or below so it’s functionally no real change on that front. To run my fridge and inverter for starlink, I’m currently using a 50A dc/dc converter and sporadic solar to keep a 200Ah lithium battery charged up, and the more traditional battery/starter/alternator set up seems more safe than trying to use a battery charger plugged into that 2400 watt outlet in the 250 somehow.

I think I know what I'm going to do. appreciate the input guys.

 

[joelp]

Here's a 2020 LX with just over 26k miles (think the dark grey is one of the best colors for this car) that falls in the middle of your budget range.

As to the current-gen LX700h, it's probably a little early in its life cycle but has no one hacked the factory software so you could take the electronic front & rear diffs and then retrofit them onto a LX600 (just so you could avoid the hybrid)?

Was looking at that one yday online!

 

[Supra Turbo]

To the gentleman that suggested the GX550, I’m really concerned about the engine issues. Chances of an issue are remote, but dropping 80k+ and worrying about an engine issues something I just can’t do.

Makes total sense. Those that I personally know have not had that issue with their GX550, but a big price to pay to find out if it does. Figuratively and literally speaking.

 

[Zill]

Bought a 250 LC first edition, had it 4-5 months until the honeymoon phase wore off, and decided it’s nothing special and quite disgusted with what Toyota has done to the Land Cruiser in the States. It’s really a 4Runner (which we already get), and if you owned a 2016 LC 200 in the past, then the 250 won’t scratch that Land Cruiser itch.

Why did you buy a 2016 LC 200 and not a 2016 4Runner back then? That answers your question.

250 (prado) should not be here since we already have a 4runner which has more beefy suspension components, as crazy as that sounds.

2016-2021 LX 570/LC200 with low miles and no rust is the sweet spot right now.

GX 550 and LX600/700h is also a no go right now with the V35A engine issues. They need to go back to the drawing board and perhaps drop the twin turbo V8 that’s in the new GR to make it a suitable successor to the LX 570/LC 200 platform.

What’s funny is even used LX 570/LC 200’s will likely outlive any of the new stuff that Toyota is making right now, so don’t be too worried about it being used.

 

[FredLX]

I bought a certified 2019 LX with 26000 on the clock four years ago, now I’ve got 82k on it. It’s the best truck…or car for that matter I’ve ever owned. Great choice !

 

[joelp]

Makes total sense. Those that I personally know have not had that issue with their GX550, but a big price to pay to find out if it does. Figuratively and literally speaking.

Same. Everyone I know or have talked to with one likes/loves it, but my risk averse brain just won't allow me to risk the self loathing that would come if I happened to be the guy stranded by the 1:10k chance that I was the statistic.

Bought a 250 LC first edition, had it 4-5 months until the honeymoon phase wore off, and decided it’s nothing special and quite disgusted with what Toyota has done to the Land Cruiser in the States. It’s really a 4Runner (which we already get), and if you owned a 2016 LC 200 in the past, then the 250 won’t scratch that Land Cruiser itch.

Why did you buy a 2016 LC 200 and not a 2016 4Runner back then? That answers your question.

250 (prado) should not be here since we already have a 4runner which has more beefy suspension components, as crazy as that sounds.

2016-2021 LX 570/LC200 with low miles and no rust is the sweet spot right now.

GX 550 and LX600/700h is also a no go right now with the V35A engine issues. They need to go back to the drawing board and perhaps drop the twin turbo V8 that’s in the new GR to make it a suitable successor to the LX 570/LC 200 platform.

What’s funny is even used LX 570/LC 200’s will likely outlive any of the new stuff that Toyota is making right now, so don’t be too worried about it being used.

I had a 100 series LX back in the day, wasn't good for 3 car seats so went to a suburban, then a tundra (never had owned a pickup), then a gmc diesel pickup, then the 200 (awesome car) but the pickup towed so much better, went to the 2500 ram. no more towing and wanted the new LC so badly, but the 4 banger + hybrid plus weird cold weather issues and weird transmission heats up issues have me disgusted. then the GX engine might blow up....

used LX. it's the play. tailgate. TAILGATE!