Any buyer's remorse after getting the new 250?

[Specialeyes]

Catching up on this thread has made for great Friday night entertainment. Regarding the topic at hand I got to drive both a loaded 250 and 550 OT+ a little over a week ago and I liked everything about the 250 except for the NVH of the engine. I sincerely wish there was just a bit more refinement in that department. It’s buzzy as hell and I didn’t care for that aspect of it.

The V6 twin turbo in the GX is definitely the more refined engine option here and it’s ever so slightly a cut above it’s Toyota cousin as it should be with the Lexus badge but honestly we are splitting hairs here with regards to things like interior surfaces and touch points.

I’m planning on trading my “real Land Cruiser” in the next few days for a 550 OT+ in Nori Green. Time will tell on whether I have any remorse or not.

 

[185]

This is highlighted well in Tinkerer’s latest video comparing the 4th and 3rd gen Tacoma TRD Off Roads. If you option out things like ventilated seats, fancy cameras, powered tailgates, and Bluetooth speakers you can purchase a substantially cheaper truck that is just as capable. However the luxury bloat thing has become the new standard across the entire automotive landscape. It’s so hard to find a poverty spec, stripper model of anything on a dealer’s lot nowadays.

Luxury bloat is nothing new but post part shortages high margin vehicles are better then low margin vehicles. There are other issues these days like increased msrp, finance rates, incentive pullbacks vs customer wages/purchasing power/average transactional price.

Some mud members are really going to lose their minds when Toyota launches this for real in another 10 to 15 years.

Land Cruiser the model is going to expand even further down market and up market, and basically offer more choice sooner rather then later as the marque. Mud is not their only demographic, but is part of what they are trying to achieve as evident by their customer studies; the next generation land cruiser owner wants to purchase into a lifestyle ecosystem (think porsche), where a product exists for every phase of life for a customer. Land Cruiser doesnt need the constraints of a traditional offroad bruiser, it can be powered by various fuel sources, it can be a urban cruiser or a moab cruiser etc etc.

As i mentioned earlier, Toyota really doesnt owe any traditional owner anything, as they need to survive as a company. They are happy though purists enjoy their products, but there not here to bend over to the whims of a small section of owners who for all intents and purposes will keep the product for 25 years and not invest into their new products

 

[Cabinetman]

This thread got interesting. I do appreciate those of you that gave your first hand impressions of the Land Cruiser (Prado?) 250.

I know this is going to be a different vehicle than the 200 I owned or the full-size trucks and SUVs I've been driving for the last couple of decades. I do wish that Toyota had made the new vehicles feel more substantial, but I can make that argument for most brands these days.

I have test driven a LC First Edition, GX 550 Premium+, and a Defender 110 P400. I prefer the interior of the LC with more physical buttons and surfaces that look easier to clean. On road, the only place I got to test drive, I thought the Defender handled the best while still riding well with the air suspension. The GX power was similar to the Defender, but the ride was felt more like a softer version of my current GMC. The low-end torque delivery of the LC felt a lot like the diesels I've owned, and would definitely be enough for a daily driver. Since I don't keep daily drivers more than 3 years, I am leaning toward the Defender. I have a '95 NAS D90, and I think it would be fun to have a new Defender in the garage alongside it. However, the practical side of me keeps the GX and Land Cruiser firmly in the race. The last option I'm considering is the '25 Tahoe Z71 with 6.2L and air suspension. I'm still about six months from pulling the trigger.

My use for my daily is 90% on-road with 10% on ranch trails and the like. I'm not planning to take a $70k to $85k vehicle with a ton of tech way off the beaten path. I've built serious off-road rigs in the past, and they are a lot of fun off-road while being fairly miserable everywhere else. I like having a rig that I know will get me most places I want to go and still be comfortable for the daily grind of D/FW traffic.

The Honda Pilot Trailsport came up in this tread. My wife drives a '25 Trailsport and it is a really good daily driver. The build quality is better than my $80k truck, and the tech works well. Most everything you touch feels solid. The power from the V6 and 10 speed is good as well. Certainly, it isn't a serious off-roader, but it is a good daily for the price. This is my wife's 4th Pilot, and all have been good vehicles.

 

[185]

This thread got interesting. I do appreciate those of you that gave your first hand impressions of the Land Cruiser (Prado?) 250.

I know this is going to be a different vehicle than the 200 I owned or the full-size trucks and SUVs I've been driving for the last couple of decades. I do wish that Toyota had made the new vehicles feel more substantial, but I can make that argument for most brands these days.

I have test driven a LC First Edition, GX 550 Premium+, and a Defender 110 P400. I prefer the interior of the LC with more physical buttons and surfaces that look easier to clean. On road, the only place I got to test drive, I thought the Defender handled the best while still riding well with the air suspension. The GX power was similar to the Defender, but the ride was felt more like a softer version of my current GMC. The low-end torque delivery of the LC felt a lot like the diesels I've owned, and would definitely be enough for a daily driver. Since I don't keep daily drivers more than 3 years, I am leaning toward the Defender. I have a '95 NAS D90, and I think it would be fun to have a new Defender in the garage alongside it. However, the practical side of me keeps the GX and Land Cruiser firmly in the race. The last option I'm considering is the '25 Tahoe Z71 with 6.2L and air suspension. I'm still about six months from pulling the trigger.

My use for my daily is 90% on-road with 10% on ranch trails and the like. I'm not planning to take a $70k to $85k vehicle with a ton of tech way off the beaten path. I've built serious off-road rigs in the past, and they are a lot of fun off-road while being fairly miserable everywhere else. I like having a rig that I know will get me most places I want to go and still be comfortable for the daily grind of D/FW traffic.

The Honda Pilot Trailsport came up in this tread. My wife drives a '25 Trailsport and it is a really good daily driver. The build quality is better than my $80k truck, and the tech works well. Most everything you touch feels solid. The power from the V6 and 10 speed is good as well. Certainly, it isn't a serious off-roader, but it is a good daily for the price. This is my wife's 4th Pilot, and all have been good vehicles.

Some of the landscape these days. The defenders are great vehicles for those who prefer an overlander you can live with it, would lease them over purchasing. Tempting since I have seen some defenders 90x dynamic se demos, still leaseable discounted 22k.

 

[Rednexus]

I'm seeing a non-insignificant number of Defenders running around here in southern Missouri - hardcore hillbilly and diesel truck country. Gotta say, I'm surprised folks are buying them there. Maybe it's those out-of-state transplants moving in .

I'm sure they are capable but I think they are kind of ugly. Not something I'd drive or want to be seen in. Future reliability and ability to modify them is also questionable due to the IRS. but, that's probably not of concern for someone leasing one.

 

[185]

I'm seeing a non-insignificant number of Defenders running around here in southern Missouri - hardcore hillbilly and diesel truck country. Gotta say, I'm surprised folks are buying them there. Maybe it's those out-of-state transplants moving in .

I'm sure they are capable but I think they are kind of ugly. Not something I'd drive or want to be seen in. Future reliability and ability to modify them is also questionable due to the IRS. but, that's probably not of concern for someone leasing one.

Not everyones cup of tea but options are always better then none. Plus V8 go ROAR.

 

[Ackcruisers]

Not just a real Land Cruiser, but a Heavy Duty Land Cruiser!

Here is my Heavy Duty and my Light Duty Land Cruiser. Love them both.

View attachment 3776227

Pulled trigger and now have a “light duty” and “heavy duty” Landcruiser. No buyers remorse.

 

[Noctilucent]

Pulled trigger and now have a “light duty” and “heavy duty” Landcruiser. No buyers remorse.

View attachment 3780471

Congrats!!!!! Great looking Land Cruisers! I'm picking mine up in 2 weeks from now, excited!

 

[woody]

Thread closed.