Anyone go from a 200 back to a 100? (1 Viewer)

[electro992]

I've had both and prefer the 100. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is reliability. My 200 has required much more work than my 100 did. Common problems on the 200 include cracked radiator, failed starter, valley plate leak, failed secondary air injection system. Other smaller issues I've experienced with the 200 are failure of the radio headunit, cracked interior trim, squeaking seat rails, squeaking steering wheel tilt/retract mechanism, failure of the cooling fans on the Mark Levinson amplifier. The 200 has more power but the 4.7 is noticeably smoother than the 5.7. The 200 has less wind noise, but harder seats and a rougher ride.

The 200 is technologically superior but the quality and comfort is a step down. It was the same experience between our LS430 and LS460. Don't get me wrong, the 200s are fantastic vehicles, but if I could still buy a factory fresh 07 LX I would pick that over my LX570 without a second thought.

 

[NE Snowman]

You nailed most of the reasons I picked the 4.7 over the 5.7

I've had both and prefer the 100. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is reliability. My 200 has required much more work than my 100 did. Common problems on the 200 include cracked radiator, failed starter, valley plate leak, failed secondary air injection system. Other smaller issues I've experienced with the 200 are failure of the radio headunit, cracked interior trim, squeaking seat rails, squeaking steering wheel tilt/retract mechanism, failure of the cooling fans on the Mark Levinson amplifier. The 200 has more power but the 4.7 is noticeably smoother than the 5.7. The 200 has less wind noise, but harder seats and a rougher ride.

The 200 is technologically superior but the quality and comfort is a step down. It was the same experience between our LS430 and LS460. Don't get me wrong, the 200s are fantastic vehicles, but if I could still buy a factory fresh 07 LX I would pick that over my LX570 without a second thought.

 

[MongooseGA]

I've had both and prefer the 100. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is reliability. My 200 has required much more work than my 100 did. Common problems on the 200 include cracked radiator, failed starter, valley plate leak, failed secondary air injection system. Other smaller issues I've experienced with the 200 are failure of the radio headunit, cracked interior trim, squeaking seat rails, squeaking steering wheel tilt/retract mechanism, failure of the cooling fans on the Mark Levinson amplifier. The 200 has more power but the 4.7 is noticeably smoother than the 5.7. The 200 has less wind noise, but harder seats and a rougher ride.

The 200 is technologically superior but the quality and comfort is a step down. It was the same experience between our LS430 and LS460. Don't get me wrong, the 200s are fantastic vehicles, but if I could still buy a factory fresh 07 LX I would pick that over my LX570 without a second thought.

IMHO, the 430 vs 460 analogy tells me what I would need to know. One is one of the best cars ever built, the other exists.

Toyota was best with any model that was in production or development by 2001. After that, there is a noticeable drop in 'feelable' quality in the later generation. Sticky dash, anyone?

 

[Kabanstva]

IMHO, the 430 vs 460 analogy tells me what I would need to know. One is one of the best cars ever built, the other exists.

Toyota was best with any model that was in production or development by 2001. After that, there is a noticeable drop in 'feelable' quality in the later generation. Sticky dash, anyone?

Yeah my 04 LS is one of the most solid feeling Toyota’s I’ve ever owned. Definitely in a class of its own. My only complaint is it eats through brakes rather quickly.

On a side note, which 200 series did/didn’t have AHC? Did all Lexus have them snd the Toyota’s didn’t have them? I hate that system. It’s nothing but trouble up north, doesn’t hold up to salt use at all.

 

[Kabanstva]

IMHO, the 430 vs 460 analogy tells me what I would need to know. One is one of the best cars ever built, the other exists.

Toyota was best with any model that was in production or development by 2001. After that, there is a noticeable drop in 'feelable' quality in the later generation. Sticky dash, anyone?

I’m dealing with a sticky/cracked dash on my 06 Sienna. It was a Texas car until 2020 when I bought it. You can wipe the dash clean and it looks like greasy armorall after a few months of not wiping it down. It’s so nasty. I just let it go as is. My brothers 09 GX and later model ISF also have this problem. He got lucky and the GX had a recall so he got a new dash pad and the isf stays indoors most of the year so it doesn’t get worse.

 

[jLB]

I’m dealing with a sticky/cracked dash on my 06 Sienna. It was a Texas car until 2020 when I bought it. You can wipe the dash clean and it looks like greasy armorall after a few months of not wiping it down. It’s so nasty. I just let it go as is. My brothers 09 GX and later model ISF also have this problem. He got lucky and the GX had a recall so he got a new dash pad and the isf stays indoors most of the year so it doesn’t get worse.

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Same on my 03 GX, and 04 T4R, then came the spiderweb cracks.

 

[LTSR]

As a 200 owner, I agree with a lot of the comments about the 200s drivability. In my opinion it’s not great for everyday commuting. To me it shines on long highway drives and comfort off road. I have a more nimble commuter so i’m happy to keep the 200 for specific duties.

100s are great vehicles but they’re old now and that’s the reality. They’re going to come with old car problems. A lot of people here aren’t going to like this but the 250 is probably a good replacement for the 100 if you want to stick with the Land Cruiser nameplate.

 

[Kabanstva]

As a 200 owner, I agree with a lot of the comments about the 200s drivability. In my opinion it’s not great for everyday commuting. To me it shines on long highway drives and comfort off road. I have a more nimble commuter so i’m happy to keep the 200 for specific duties.

100s are great vehicles but they’re old now and that’s the reality. They’re going to come with old car problems. A lot of people here aren’t going to like this but the 250 is probably a good replacement for the 100 if you want to stick with the Land Cruiser nameplate.

Nah that’s a GX platform. Smaller and drives completely different than a 100/80/200. I actually love all the generations GX but I wouldn’t call it a 100 replacement. Just very different.

 

[MongooseGA]

I’m dealing with a sticky/cracked dash on my 06 Sienna. It was a Texas car until 2020 when I bought it. You can wipe the dash clean and it looks like greasy armorall after a few months of not wiping it down. It’s so nasty. I just let it go as is. My brothers 09 GX and later model ISF also have this problem. He got lucky and the GX had a recall so he got a new dash pad and the isf stays indoors most of the year so it doesn’t get worse.

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Definitely a generational thing. My fiancee's previous 2g IS had the same issue. IIRC Toyota sourced materials from some new vendors for this Era and it didn't turn out well.

A lot of people here aren’t going to like this but the 250 is probably a good replacement for the 100 if you want to stick with the Land Cruiser nameplate.

Lol

 

[Kabanstva]

Definitely a generational thing. My fiancee's previous 2g IS had the same issue. IIRC Toyota sourced materials from some new vendors for this Era and it didn't turn out well.



Lol

Yeah. I agree with what others said, the newer Toyota’s maybe drive smoother in some cases, better geared transmissions, etc. but the feel of them is not as special. I had a 97 Avalon and that interior felt tank like. It didn’t even have a cassette player, the cheapest mode you can find but didn’t have a single rattle in it. All these new Lexus and Toyota models feel super cheap in comparison. Everything you touch creaks and squeaks. My 01 ES is also built tank like. I’d argued the interior is better assembled and more solid feeling than my LS430 even though the ES has almost double the mileage.

 

[MongooseGA]

Yeah. I agree with what others said, the newer Toyota’s maybe drive smoother in some cases, better geared transmissions, etc. but the feel of them is not as special. I had a 97 Avalon and that interior felt tank like. It didn’t even have a cassette player, the cheapest mode you can find but didn’t have a single rattle in it. All these new Lexus and Toyota models feel super cheap in comparison. Everything you touch creaks and squeaks. My 01 ES is also built tank like. I’d argued the interior is better assembled and more solid feeling than my LS430 even though the ES has almost double the mileage.

If it wasn't in design or production by 2001, IMHO, it's an inferior Toyota.

Likewise for Mercedes, but instead of 2001 it's 1994.

 

[newbielx470]

The Youtuber Dirt Lifestyle had a good point in a new vid: with the 4Low shifter in old Toyota trucks, you're giving the truck the order to go 4Low. With the 4Low button on new trucks, you're asking permission from the truck to go to 4Low, and if the computer is not 100% happy, it won't let you I had several situations with 200 series when it just kept beeping and refused to go 4Low.

 

[SaturnAscends]

Just found this thread while searching, and it was a good read. I have to say the 100 series appeals to me a lot more than the 200. The latter appears to be a lot more complex in regards to common repairs - if any of those common issues mentioned above happen to your 200, you better have deep pockets. I really think part of the reason they have a reputation for being so reliable is that the well-heeled owners don't mind dumping thousands into them to make them reliable. This is true to a certain extent of the older generations, but at least they were still simple enough mechanically and electronically to make DIY repairs still-feasible. For me, 95-99 was the sweet spot. give me a 98-99 locked 100 for 10k over a 200 series for the frankly absurd prices they go for.

And is a 200 series front-end really that much stronger than a 100? I see the 200s on 4wd 24/7 breaking A LOT of CVs on the trails they run.

 

[Skruf]

Just found this thread while searching, and it was a good read. I have to say the 100 series appeals to me a lot more than the 200. The latter appears to be a lot more complex in regards to common repairs - if any of those common issues mentioned above happen to your 200, you better have deep pockets. I really think part of the reason they have a reputation for being so reliable is that the well-heeled owners don't mind dumping thousands into them to make them reliable. This is true to a certain extent of the older generations, but at least they were still simple enough mechanically and electronically to make DIY repairs still-feasible. For me, 95-99 was the sweet spot. give me a 98-99 locked 100 for 10k over a 200 series for the frankly absurd prices they go for.

And is a 200 series front-end really that much stronger than a 100? I see the 200s on 4wd 24/7 breaking A LOT of CVs on the trails they run.

I've got a 99, I think I'd really like a later model so as to get the side airbags and stability control as I've got kids. Otherwise I'm happy with my 100

 

[katit]

The latter appears to be a lot more complex in regards to common repairs - if any of those common issues mentioned above happen to your 200, you better have deep pockets.

Can you elaborate? What common issues 200 have and what is more complex about 200 vs 100?

 

[Zjohnsonua]

The Youtuber Dirt Lifestyle had a good point in a new vid: with the 4Low shifter in old Toyota trucks, you're giving the truck the order to go 4Low. With the 4Low button on new trucks, you're asking permission from the truck to go to 4Low, and if the computer is not 100% happy, it won't let you I had several situations with 200 series when it just kept beeping and refused to go 4Low.

Unless you're in a 100 whose t-case shifter has fused to its pivot locking you in whatever position it was left in. I've seen this more than a handful of times. They changed a material in that mechanism somewhere...never seen or heard of an 80 doing this.

 

[SaturnAscends]

Can you elaborate? What common issues 200 have and what is more complex about 200 vs 100?

Ths issues described above - KDSS, cam tower and coolant valley leaks, radiators, etc. Everything seems to be more expensive on the 200. Just the radiator alone can cost over a grand to replace.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I still don't miss my 100

 

[hoser]

Ths issues described above - KDSS, cam tower and coolant valley leaks, radiators, etc. Everything seems to be more expensive on the 200. Just the radiator alone can cost over a grand to replace.

The updated 200 series radiator is actually like $100-150 cheaper than the '03+ 100 series radiator. If you concerned with costs and are paying somebody to make repairs, I don't think I'd recommend a 25 year old vehicle. I'd say the sweet spot for most Japanese vehicles is 100-200k miles and 5-15 years old. Maintenance costs and frequency of repair go up after 15 yrs and 200k. It's when all the bushings, bearings, hoses, little motors and plastic bits go out. The parts aren't expensive but the labor is.

 

[katit]

Ths issues described above - KDSS, cam tower and coolant valley leaks, radiators, etc. Everything seems to be more expensive on the 200. Just the radiator alone can cost over a grand to replace.

KDSS is not on LX and it's only in rusty climate? From all that I read in 200 forum there is no real issues. Of course mine is only 33k miles so far, but I am looking for another 100k (at least) with no actual repairs.