A few observations on my 200...and are there any Pacific NW folks here?

[RustySeattleCruiser]

Hello all - any Pac NW 200 owners on this forum? It would be great to meet. Alright, I'll get to the heart of the matter. I had my 2011 200 delivered a few weeks ago and I'm effing love it!!! I did have a few observations and I wanted to get a pulse check with folks to see if my observations are accurate, or if this is par for the course.

While this may be a little vague, when I'm braking, I've noticed it takes a bit more stepping on the brake pedal than my 2016 Range Rover Sport. Both are 4 wheel disc, but the 200 is about 850 lbs more than my Sport, so is this a typical 200 thing? Also, when I brake, I'm hearing a slight hydraulic sound more so than any other car I've owned. Is this just the brake assist?

Off Road
Holy hell, I practically climbed straight up a hill in 4WH without locking the differential this weekend. This is polar opposite of the Rover. In all seriousness, has anyone really noticed a difference between the 6 and 8 speed trans?

 

[NC237]

Braking impression is accurate. It's hydraulic and you do hear a whoosh like noise when pressing the pedal. Also yes you have to press harder than others. Sometimes it feels like the big pig won't stop - mash the pedal - it will stop. Not sure why but it's how it's designed. Not the best on the human interaction side but it does work. Short answer - yes it's typical.

I have a 15 so I can't speak personally on the 8 speed trans. Feedback on here has been mixed. Fuel economy is the same between the two. Some love it, others hate it as it hunts too much for gears. Being a new trans some have had reliability issues with the 8 speed.

But on the brakes - I do wish the brakes grabbed sooner and required less pressure. This is how most other cars are already and we've been conditioned to it.

Hello all - any Pac NW 200 owners on this forum? It would be great to meet. Alright, I'll get to the heart of the matter. I had my 2011 200 delivered a few weeks ago and I'm effing love it!!! I did have a few observations and I wanted to get a pulse check with folks to see if my observations are accurate, or if this is par for the course.

While this may be a little vague, when I'm braking, I've noticed it takes a bit more stepping on the brake pedal than my 2016 Range Rover Sport. Both are 4 wheel disc, but the 200 is about 850 lbs more than my Sport, so is this a typical 200 thing? Also, when I brake, I'm hearing a slight hydraulic sound more so than any other car I've owned. Is this just the brake assist?

Off Road
Holy hell, I practically climbed straight up a hill in 4WH without locking the differential this weekend. This is polar opposite of the Rover. In all seriousness, has anyone really noticed a difference between the 6 and 8 speed trans?

 

[Willy beamin]

Pads make a big noticeable difference. Many on here have their go to's...i went with TRD on both front and rear and they are great. You can also switch out your rubber brake lines for the braided stainless steel lines for more improvement. Theres two options for you to explore. @kreiten the official landcruiser photog lives up that-a-way. Id buddy up to him and see if you could go wheeling with him. Good guy.
Good luck man...congrats on the 200


One last note: master the skill of coasting to a stop. Stop giving it gas and she slows down quickly.

 

[txtortoise]

Just wait for your first panic stop, where the speed of input implements what I gather a landing hook on an aircraft carrier feels like.

You'll refine your touch and be fine, though bouncing between my 100 and 20 can be exciting.

 

[Ali M]

I went thru that learning curve to adjust to the spongy braking feel coming to my 2016 from 550hp X5 M. Let me tell you a huge difference. It's like the difference between stopping a cheetah vs grizzly. But once you go on sand, snow or rock crawling it is a different beast all together.

As for the comment about pre-collision braking. Wholly cow it can apply some serious braking power to stop this grizzly from smashing into the car on front of you.

 

[BennyGP]

As for the comment about pre-collision braking. Wholly cow it can apply some serious braking power to stop this grizzly from smashing into the car on front of you.

I always want to test see ifmit works, never have a ball running my 2017 into another car or the wall. Hopefully it works when I need it to be.

 

[BennyGP]

I am here in Southern Oregon...consider PNW.

 

[Ali M]

I had a thread while back where we plan to do a meet up in Seattle around September. I will add you to it.

 

[tabraha]

Definitely a big difference in braking feel on our '08 vs our '16. The '08 is softer but is more linear and thus predictable. The '16 is not linear in response at all; seems a little soft at first and then over compensates thereafter. And yes both can really clamp the shoes down when they need to! Couldn't believe what the '16 could do on an interstate panic stop. I hate that '16 pedal if I haven't driven it in awhile and then I get back acclimated to it. The main thing is I know it will get me stopped when I need it to; that much is certain.

Just looked up the '16 stopping distance and it tested at 121 feet which is right on the heels of the much lighter and smaller Audi Q7 (119'). Compared to the standard RR sport which is closer in size but still lighter at 138' that is very good clamping power on the 200. You just don't feel it's there until you really need it. Looks like RR added brembo's in the SVR packaged and that brings the RR down to 120'; and that's with Brembo's!!!!


Don't worry about the 6 vs 8 sp. It's not a big deal in my opinion. I've got both and I wouldn't trade one over another. The 6sp has proven to be trouble free while the 8sp hasn't been around long enough to be proven but I completely expect it to be in line with other Land Cruiser automatics in longevity. The 8sp is faster to shift in manual mode which makes it a smidge handier when towing so you can lock out higher gears or give them back as desired but other than that it's not a big deal.

 

[Ali M]

If I had it to do it again, I would buy a 6spd between 2010-2015 or wait until they fix the shifting issue I am seeing with the 8spd, mainly it feels confused about which gear to shift from time to time.

 

[tabraha]

Supposed to be a TSB out for that I believe but I haven't had that issue so haven't bothered checking on it.

 

[KLF]

Like @Willy beamin said, pads can really help. Some have gone to the $$$ TRD pads, I swapped mine to Hawk "Super Duty" series pads, and it really made a difference. Next will be braided stainless lines.

 

[TeCKis300]

There's a number of brake threads on these boards. As evidenced by the pre-collison and the stopping numbers, the capability is more than there when we need to drop anchor.

The brakes are electro-hydraulic, and therefore the brake feel is completely a calibration thing. Toyota/Lexus specifically tailored the feel this way. If you consider the Land Cruiser intent, it is to tackle mixed terrain driving, often on loose and low grip surfaces. In these environments, the ability to gently and tactically brake, without breaking traction is an important characteristic. Uneven surfaces will also jostle the driver, making their brake inputs less than optimal. An overly sensitive brake pedal is not what you want. I've noticed the brake pedal action is more travel based than pressure based like performance oriented cars. While asphalt oriented cars can benefit from huge initial bite with aggressive pads.

I trust Toyota to have made the right calibration here on their flagship offroad vehicle.

 

[LALC]

If I had it to do it again, I would buy a 6spd between 2010-2015 or wait until they fix the shifting issue I am seeing with the 8spd, mainly it feels confused about which gear to shift from time to time.

As mentioned, there was a TSB for low-speed gear hunting. I got it and it got rid of it for me. The only time I find gear-hunting is when I'm in cruise and I lower the speed 3-5mph. 1-2 mph and it coasts to the new speed. 3-5 and it hunts, shifts like 4 times before it settles. 6+ and it brakes.

 

[John E Davies]

I'm in Spokane and I have loved Land Cruisers all my life. I had a tricked out LX450 that my son wrecked on ice on I90 last New Years Day. He was unhurt but the truck, though repairable, was totalled and we took the cash. I now have a pristene 2013 200 and I am absolutely head over heels in love.... what a great truck, and a great tow vehicle.

I like the brakes, don't overthink things, the designers took their time, tested and restested, did everything for solid engineering reasons.

Last weekend, we camped out (for the afternoon) directly under the approach to Fairchild AFB, with the Thunderbirds going over at 500 feet AGL and up to 720 mph...

If you aren't a member yet, join this group....

Forums | Northwest Overland

Where do you live? My son is in Redmond and works in downtown Seattle. What a nasty commute, even by bus...

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[John E Davies]

Duplicate sorry

 

[Ali M]

As mentioned, there was a TSB for low-speed gear hunting. I got it and it got rid of it for me. The only time I find gear-hunting is when I'm in cruise and I lower the speed 3-5mph. 1-2 mph and it coasts to the new speed. 3-5 and it hunts, shifts like 4 times before it settles. 6+ and it brakes.

Yes. I did get the TSB update but still experiencing same issues as you stated. I drive my family's 2014 LC in dubai whenever I am visiting and the 6spd auto doesn't have this issue, which, what you would expect from a truck as expensive as mine. Again, not ranting but just stating the obvious.

 

[kreiten]

Hello all - any Pac NW 200 owners on this forum? It would be great to meet. Alright, I'll get to the heart of the matter. I had my 2011 200 delivered a few weeks ago and I'm effing love it!!! I did have a few observations and I wanted to get a pulse check with folks to see if my observations are accurate, or if this is par for the course.

While this may be a little vague, when I'm braking, I've noticed it takes a bit more stepping on the brake pedal than my 2016 Range Rover Sport. Both are 4 wheel disc, but the 200 is about 850 lbs more than my Sport, so is this a typical 200 thing? Also, when I brake, I'm hearing a slight hydraulic sound more so than any other car I've owned. Is this just the brake assist?

Off Road
Holy hell, I practically climbed straight up a hill in 4WH without locking the differential this weekend. This is polar opposite of the Rover. In all seriousness, has anyone really noticed a difference between the 6 and 8 speed trans?

I live just West of Tacoma down by the Narrows bridge, hit me up some time if ya wanna grab a beer or do some wheelin! Cheers

 

[TonyP]

Hawk Super Duty made a decent difference in braking. They started out squeaky but have gotten better and only make noise occasionally. Next round, I'll buy them again with some new OEM rotors.

 

[9780LC]

I'm in Beaverton, Oregon.