I am looking to replace my 2003 chevy suburban, I have been a chevy driver my whole life, but the reliability of this vehicle has me looking elsewhere. I was wonder if anyone has switch from a suburban to a LC and if they are happy with the land cruiser. I am an auto mechanic, so I know how to maintain a vehicle, I have gotten 205,000 mile out of this suburban, but have had to replace the whole drive train except the engine. The only thing I think I would miss is the size, the land cruiser is much smaller. I would just like to know if anyone had switch from a suburban to a land cruiser and wish the would have kept a suburban. Thank you. FYI I have been looking for the right LC for 4 years and think I my have found what I am looking for, a 2011 with 80,000 mile for 33,000 dollars. Sound right for the price?
Any former Chevy suburban owners?
- Thread starter leepster01
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Ya had GMT900 with a 6.2L. It was a pile. Ya sure, bullet proof drivetrain so they said. But what good is a good drivetrain when the rest of it is paper machet. The entire LC200 is bulletproof. But at that mileage, you're looking at new radiator, water bump and maybe a leak on the cam tower.
In the Toyota lineup, a Sequoia would be more similar to the Suburban. Still smaller, but functionally closer, with good storage behind the 3rd row. As a Toyota, it'll be just as durable and reliable vehicle as the LC. In some ways perhaps better for on-road use on account of its independent rear suspension and switchable 2WD, AWD, 4WD-hi (center diff locked), 4WD-low.
If you must have the cream of the crop, with more depth in abilities and competencies especially off-orad, the LC's the way to go. A 2011 for 33k, you'll be sitting pretty as it's untouchable in value for that price, still easily rivaling many new luxury SUV's at twice the price and more.
If you must have the cream of the crop, with more depth in abilities and competencies especially off-orad, the LC's the way to go. A 2011 for 33k, you'll be sitting pretty as it's untouchable in value for that price, still easily rivaling many new luxury SUV's at twice the price and more.
We rented one for 4 weeks while a car was getting fixed from an accident.... yeah land cruiser all the way... the only drawback I saw less cargo space and worse gas mileage... in the 4 weeks that I had the suburban we had a lot of minor things breaking, defroster, power seats, a seat spring was starting to poke out of the seat.... I would never buy a suburban ever!!?
I went from a 2007 Tahoe (shorter Suburban) to a 2016 Land Cruiserabout a year ago. The Tahoe motor was fine if you don’t mind burning oil, but the rest of the vehicle was falling apart at @150k miles. Meanwhile our 2011 Lexus ES and our 2002 Highlander are solid as a rock with no repairs ever. I needed an SUV that could tow my boat and am sold on Toyota reliability.
Considered Sequoia and LC. The Sequoia is much bigger and more similar to the Suburban. The LC has much less interior space. The LC has a shorter wheelbase, but in spite of that it tows much better than the Tahoe did.
If you don’t need the interior space, the LC is awesome and will last forever. If you need more space the Sequoia is a great vehicle, although the interior is dated.
Considered Sequoia and LC. The Sequoia is much bigger and more similar to the Suburban. The LC has much less interior space. The LC has a shorter wheelbase, but in spite of that it tows much better than the Tahoe did.
If you don’t need the interior space, the LC is awesome and will last forever. If you need more space the Sequoia is a great vehicle, although the interior is dated.
I came from a 2004 Suburban Z71. I miss the cargo room but not the wheelbase. Also the 31 gallon tank was nice.
My 4l60 gave up the ghost and I sold it as is and got a 570. More here:
Builds - Travis’s PNW LX570
That pricing is right for a 2011. You will be happy. I pulled out the third row and got some room that I lost back. I went from a newer Honda van to a LC. This was a huge move in the right direction. The van could tow nothing and always required us to use my truck.
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I had 2001 and 2007 Suburbans. The ‘07 burned oil, but I got 250k+ out of both of them. I gave the ‘01 to an employee and he drove it to almost 400k. The ‘07 lives at my vacation house and still runs great (and still burns oil!).
I always loved Land Cruisers. I am happy I finally got one but I am glad I waited until my kids were out of the house because the Suburban carried everything we needed to carry including the Bird Dog. The LC is much more limited in that regard.
Like mentioned above: I also miss the larger tank and better gas mileage of the Suburban. I do really like my LC though - It makes me happy just to drive it
I always loved Land Cruisers. I am happy I finally got one but I am glad I waited until my kids were out of the house because the Suburban carried everything we needed to carry including the Bird Dog. The LC is much more limited in that regard.
Like mentioned above: I also miss the larger tank and better gas mileage of the Suburban. I do really like my LC though - It makes me happy just to drive it
Try to find a '13. It will be radar cruise, HIDs, and a few other goodies. I paid 44,000 for a 14 with 55k. You might pay a bit more if that's ok. However, 33,000 sounds like a pretty good price for the mileage. Mine is at 60,000 now, and still feels like a new car.
I had an 02 2500 Suburban 4x4 , it was a dream on the highway and could tow 14K lbs or something like that. Also had an 05 Tahoe. Both where decent, but did start to fall apart after about 100K . The Suburban had a piston slap from hell that worried me and a rear main seal leak that drove the OCD in me mad with the drops on the driveway. I had to replace the ABS modules on both and the entire gauge cluster on the Tahoe at 50K miles...$$$. I went to a 2000 100 series LC in 2007, then bought 2 more (one for my wife and newer one for me ) I bought by 2008 200 in 2014 , now has 170K miles and I love it and drives like its new... BUT... it did get a new radiator (due to poor design crack) , alternator, starter and fuel sending unit all around 115K miles (these are somewhat common issues, but more so on the 2008, from what I understand) I also have a BJ73 and previously owned an FJ60, I will never go back to Chevy or -cough- Ford.
My family has owned Suburbans and Tahoe’s for years. 89 93 95 99 2000 2002 2004 2005 2007. We stopped buying them after 2007.
I will never go back to a Suburban or Tahoe. We owned 9 of them over 18 years! If I had taken the same approach as I do now with maintenance, we would have gone through 4-5 land cruisers.
I will never go back to a Suburban or Tahoe. We owned 9 of them over 18 years! If I had taken the same approach as I do now with maintenance, we would have gone through 4-5 land cruisers.
One Tahoe and two suburbans, never again.
Hate to bump an old thread, but what next? I sold the land cruiser because I need just a little bit more room. Is the Sequoia the replacement?
Prior gen Sequoia is a great alternative to Tahoe or Suburban…smaller than the latter but roomier than the former. Great third row, lots of room and storage. The brand new Sequoia, on the other hand, has an awkward third row that can’t be removed…I’m not sure it’s any bigger inside than a 200 Land Cruiser.
