Are the new gizmos worth not having locking diffs in the 200?

[Hovawart]

I drive a 40th anniversary 97 80 series. It's great, but I want to push my wife's car off a cliff and replace it with a 200.

I love the 200's, but I'm wondering if not offering locking or limited slip diffs is a significant disadvantage. If anyone has owned an older cruiser with locking diffs and now owns a 200, what kind of difference do you notice off road? Does the 380 hp make up for the lack of lockers?

Are there any serious flaws in the reliability of of the systems on the 200. I've never driven one, but some of the new gizmos sound great. I'm just wondering if the new gizmos carry the same reliability as I have in my Abrams tank, oops I mean 80 series.

 

[OGBeno]

I drive a 40th anniversary 97 80 series. It's great, but I want to push my wife's car off a cliff and replace it with a 200.

I love the 200's, but I'm wondering if not offering locking or limited slip diffs is a significant disadvantage. If anyone has owned an older cruiser with locking diffs and now owns a 200, what kind of difference do you notice off road? Does the 380 hp make up for the lack of lockers?

Are there any serious flaws in the reliability of of the systems on the 200. I've never driven one, but some of the new gizmos sound great. I'm just wondering if the new gizmos carry the same reliability as I have in my Abrams tank, oops I mean 80 series.

The center differential on the 200 is a Torsen LSD. The front and rear are open but the technological advances supposedly make, to quote G. Bateson, "the difference that makes a difference." [insert all of your new Toyota acronyms]

You are going to have to spend time on Australian and other market forums to really get a good understanding of how the 200 series performs in "real" locations where they are used to their limits and are used hard. You are not going to see the type of performance ratings in the States that you are going to get from other market forums where the 200 is used and abused.

I saw them made at the plants and that was cool. But I also saw them made next to the 7x series cruisers and I will tell you that I will definitely hold out until I can get my hands on one of those as opposed to spending $75k on a 200/570 series.

 

[phatairman]

I saw them made at the plants and that was cool. But I also saw them made next to the 7x series cruisers and I will tell you that I will definitely hold out until I can get my hands on one of those as opposed to spending $75k on a 200/570 series.

How will you procure a 2010 7X series? Details please.

 

[OGBeno]

How will you procure a 2010 7X series? Details please.

In 25 years.

 

[pman]

How will you procure a 2010 7X series? Details please.

In 25 years.

lol

Im hoping to procure a 96 or 97 HDJ80 in 11 to 12 years.....and if that fails.....Im with Beno lol

 

[jdayment]

A lot of the drivers at my work complain about the 200 series here in Africa I've seen quite a few get stuck and have had to use my NA Spec 80 to get them unstuck most would prefer a 70 series or 80 series for off road use but the 200 is comfy.

 

[pman]

You cant beat real locking diffs, but for most situations ATRAC works ok. However, ill take the electronic gizmos over nothing.........with good mud tires ATRAC can get you through alot.

But like he said, when all else fails, lockers usually do the trick.

 

[Tapage]

not aware.. but if not reay they will pop soon some ARB lockers to add ..

 

[Fitzer]

Perhaps the market for the 200 series is different that what the 80 was even in the states. It has become a 'Luxury' SUV competing against the Mercedes 450, Escalade, and Navigator. While still quite capable, the design and marketing isnt aimed at rock crawlers. Not that the 80 was either in the States, but believe it started as such for some markets when being designed but quickly got consumed into the luxury market with the states leading the way.

 

[JBHorne]

The 200 is quite capable when built up. I would say that it's less capable offroad than an 80-series, but for me it makes up for that by being a very good SUV onroad. How many vehicles can run the Broken Arrow Trail in Sedona and then barrel down the highway afterwards at uo to 130+ mph? Not saying that I would -- but the hybrid utility is there.

Also, it's a great family offroading vehicle where you are taking known trails and want the security of having a safe vehicle as well as the convince of the amenities such as air conditioning, the cooler and DVD player.

It's a sacrifice is what I'm saying. I've yet to go on a trail the LC couldn't handle, but I've also spent a ton building it for that.

As for the lockers, I know for a fact that the rear and center are both LSD's, but I am unsure of the front. When I drive through parking garages, my front tires chirp which leads me to believe there is an LSD up there as well.

I have replaced the rear with an ARB air locker and will eventually replace the front as well, but frankly I have not found I needed it. Out in Sedona this past weekend there were a few areas I engaged the rear locker for some slick rock climbs, but the LC probably would have made it without it.

As for the computer gizmos, I personally hate the crawl control mode and have never used it. Coming down The Steps at Broken Arrow I tried it again, but immediately turned it off after the first step and drove down myself. The noises it makes are not very comforting.

I'd say to get a 200 if you can 1) afford it, 2) want a great highway vehicle that can also get you off the beaten path, 3) not your main wheeler to take on 8+ trails (Broken Arrow is rated as a 7 and I never touched once. Chiva Falls in Tucson is rated 8-9 and I can make it. If the trail doesn't have a rating then you need an 80-series )

 

[96r50]

As for the lockers, I know for a fact that the rear and center are both LSD's, but I am unsure of the front. When I drive through parking garages, my front tires chirp which leads me to believe there is an LSD up there as well.

The centre differential is a lockable Torsen limited slip, but the front and rear differentials are regular open diffs according to everything I've read.

 

[Carl L]

A lot of the drivers at my work complain about the 200 series here in Africa I've seen quite a few get stuck and have had to use my NA Spec 80 to get them unstuck most would prefer a 70 series or 80 series for off road use but the 200 is comfy.

Oh dear, green eyed monster appears. The 200 is a serious piece of kit, with a great RTI score. Stock-stock or mod-mod it'll go where your 80 can go. Your post sounds like some sour grapes.

 

[OGBeno]

Stock-stock or mod-mod it'll go where your 80 can go.

Uh....negative Ghost Rider. Pattern is full.

There is no comparison between these two vehicles.

 

[2000UZJ]

Uh....negative Ghost Rider. Pattern is full.

There is no comparison between these two vehicles.

One has more cupholders.....




And I find the 100 lacking.... Toyota put a measly 7 cupholders on the 100 and it's still not enough sometimes...

How many in the 200? Plus the cooler for beer upfront.

 

[JBHorne]

One has more cupholders.....




And I find the 100 lacking.... Toyota put a measly 7 cupholders on the 100 and it's still not enough sometimes...

How many in the 200? Plus the cooler for beer upfront.

There's only 6. Two in the front, two in the middle row's fold-down arm rest, and two in the rear.

 

[pman]

The centre differential is a lockable Torsen limited slip, but the front and rear differentials are regular open diffs according to everything I've read.

X2 front and rear diffs are normal

Oh dear, green eyed monster appears. The 200 is a serious piece of kit, with a great RTI score. Stock-stock or mod-mod it'll go where your 80 can go. Your post sounds like some sour grapes.

The 200 is great and very capable, but the 80 was the peak of Landcruiser offroad capability.....80>200 when it comes to cruisers

One has more cupholders.....




And I find the 100 lacking.... Toyota put a measly 7 cupholders on the 100 and it's still not enough sometimes...

SO thats why your selling it

 

[atlas78]

X2 front and rear diffs are normal



The 200 is great and very capable, but the 80 was the peak of Landcruiser offroad capability.....80>200 when it comes to cruisers



SO thats why your selling it

Yes, that's a fact.

But when it comes to off road, I'm just amazed by the "Def" land rover defender 90 is King... I just wish for you, off road enthusiasts in the US, to be able to have the acquire a rig like that.

 

[r3run33]

beno why did you make your first coment about the build of the 200 and the 70 is it the simplicity of the 70? give more details please? also my $.02 is that these electronic gizmo's tend to fail in harsh enviorments. I have not had personal experinece with the 200 outside of the usa but 100 and 80 series yes and with these units being kept simple will work and keep working for a long time with little service requirements. as for the range rover defender; we dont get the same models as europe and africa.

 

[OGBeno]

beno why did you make your first coment about the build of the 200 and the 70 is it the simplicity of the 70? give more details please?

My knowledge and my comments were based solely on what I saw at the two Japanese plants that manufacture the LC200.

The Tahara Toyota plant manufactures the LC200 for the American market.

In contrast, the Toyota Auto Body plant manufactures LC200's/LX570's/7X series cruisers at the Yoshiwara Plant in Toyota City.

The processes were completely different as were the experiences of visiting both plants.

The LC's built at Toyota Auto Body were seemingly hand made whereas the ones at Tahara were very strictly process-manufactured....i.e., you would see the same processes at the San Antonio Tundra/Tacoma plant as you would at Tahara.

Toyota Auto Body is the old Araco. The Yoshiwara Plant is the exact same plant they have been making LC's since 1957.

 

[r3run33]

beno thanks for the info I wunder if this is the problem I had experienced back in 05/06 when I purchased my lx470. Not sure what plant it was made at but in the 1st 6 months I had a headache every day and cursed my new purchase and wanted my 99 lx back. Simple quality control problems (ex mirrors did not operate, sunroof mechanicals, leaky tail gate, AHC problems etc) once those were fixed I have been problems free for 60,000 miles. It may have just been the new plant opening up?? not sure. I know lexus took a big hit and is not number one in the reviews for initial quality at new purchase and maybe thats why they are being made at 2nd plant.