Advice on 99 LC or LX470 (1 Viewer)

[gsxranger]

I currently have a LX450 that has been a great reliable truck (aside from the HG!)
I am considering going to a 98-99 LX or LC for the following reasons:

1) The 450 is pretty gutless, and struggles to pull our 17 foot camper over 60 MPH

2) My 450 doesn't have lockers, we elk hunt late in the season with all 4 chained up, more capability equals more elk!

3) Stability control seems like a good safety upgrade for my family.

I don't do any summer wheeling, just winter in deep snow on nasty roads. How much better is an LC with a locking rear end vs. the LX with limited slip in these conditions? There is a nice LX for sale here with low miles at a good price.

Any knowledgeable advice is appreciated!
Thanks

 

[hankinid]

I currently have a LX450 that has been a great reliable truck (aside from the HG!)
I am considering going to a 98-99 LX or LC for the following reasons:

1) The 450 is pretty gutless, and struggles to pull our 17 foot camper over 60 MPH

2) My 450 doesn't have lockers, we elk hunt late in the season with all 4 chained up, more capability equals more elk!

3) Stability control seems like a good safety upgrade for my family.

I don't do any summer wheeling, just winter in deep snow on nasty roads. How much better is an LC with a locking rear end vs. the LX with limited slip in these conditions? There is a nice LX for sale here with low miles at a good price.

Any knowledgeable advice is appreciated!
Thanks

I've driven both, and prefer (and bought) the LX.

No issues in deep snotty snow after 4.5 Idaho winters.

You'll get the "AHC is a ticking time bomb" responses, but knock wood no issues with mine at just past 150K.

Steve

 

[Bomar]

It your situation I would lean towards LC for the rear locker...

If you want stability control go 2000 and newer.

 

[hoser]

For your usage, I'd say:

LSD<Rear Locker<ATRAC

which means:

98-99LX < 98-99LC < 2000+LC/LX

But there are many creature comfort differences in the 98-02 LX470 vs LC100... many more differences than there were with the LX450 vs LC80. May or may not matter to you but used pricing is about the same for the two... so why not? More complicated? More expensive to fix? Stigma associated with driving a "Lexus"

Just some of the differences with the LX:

Projector headlights
All auto windows
Memory seats
Homelink
All LX's have cabin air filters, rear AC, telescoping steering wheel, auto dim rear view and side mirrors.... the retracting mirrors actually are useful.

 

[gsxranger]

Hoser, as in lx450>LSD>LC locking diff>ATRAC?

 

[hoser]

Let me rephrase?

The 98-99 LX470's are the only 100's in the US that have the LSD. I'd say a rear locker is more useful than a worn out LSD unit. And I'd say ATRAC/VSC would be more valuable in the ice/snow.

 

[gsxranger]

whoops! I had my greater thans and less thans confused. So much for all that math, chemistry and physics I took in college! I meant to ask if the LX470's LSD would be a step up from a lockerless LX450 in deep snow. The LX470 also has VSC (stability control) right and a good deal more horsepower?
Thanks
Jim

 

[hoser]

I don't think the LSD should even be a consideration. Most, if not all are worn already. Maybe if it was re-shimmed tighter?

Only the '00+ come with VSC. More hp? Yes compared to the 80, there is definitely more power throughout the entire usable RPM range.

 

[TXLX100]

No VSC/trac on my 98 LX, the only thing I think I "need." Go for a 2000+

 

[gsxranger]

would the deep snow 4wd-ability be better on the 2000+? Also was stability control available on the lexus in 98-99?

Thanks
Jim

 

[3rd100]

I formerly owned a 2002 LC100 with ATRAC and I was extremely impressed with how it dealt with my (now former) BIL's long, treacherous driveway in Heron, Montana. It was a rutted, long, curvy, uneven, nasty climb and I did it in significant snow many times when visiting...I'd see the green ATRAC light flicker, hear the click-click-click from underneath, and it just walked right up!

I wish my current LC had ATRAC (not available 'til 2000) but my consolation prize is the fact that the 99 I recently bought has the selectable rear locker.

 

[yotasavg]

I formerly owned a 2002 LC100 with ATRAC and I was extremely impressed with how it dealt with my (now former) BIL's long, treacherous driveway in Heron, Montana. It was a rutted, long, curvy, uneven, nasty climb and I did it in significant snow many times when visiting...I'd see the green ATRAC light flicker, hear the click-click-click from underneath, and it just walked right up!

I wish my current LC had ATRAC (not available 'til 2000) but my consolation prize is the fact that the 99 I recently bought has the selectable rear locker.

Personally I love my rear locker, but how would you say it would compare to ATRAC on that same road?

 

[3rd100]

Personally I love my rear locker, but how would you say it would compare to ATRAC on that same road?

My guess is that the rear locker would be slightly less effective in the same conditions- it's hard to compete with electronic nannies- but I think I'd have still made it up the driveway, likely with just a bit more drama.

Unfortunately he's now an ex-BIL so there will be no real world test to report, LOL.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

For $1500, I added an ARB air locker to my 2000. Best of all worlds until the front diff blows. I'd definitely lean 2000+. 2001-2002 would be ideal to avoid potential transmission problems. The pricing of all the years is pretty similar now. I'd rather have more miles and an 02 than low miled 99 in the snow.