Can't decide if I should keep it, or sell 100 series for 200 series (10 Viewers)

[ayowtf]

Hi everyone I posted this on the 200 forum, just figured I should also ask the 100 series people. As the title says I'm thinking of selling my 100 series to get into a 200 either a lx or lc. I am having a tough time because there is a lot that I like about the 100 series. Mine is a 99, with the rear locker. A lot of the things I like about it are the fact that everything is fairly simple. It doesn't have a proprietary infotainment system that I can't change easily, it has a manual transfer case, and it just feels rugged and strong.

That being said it does have 319k miles, which a lot of people say isn't a lot for these cars but I do worry that overtime things fail especially on an almost 30 year old car, especially since my profession is pretty important that I be where I need to be when I am called. I mean the last time I drove it, the bottom radiator hose went out, and before that both cv axles in the front are going out and I had to replace one of them, as well as recently replacing the abs pump.

I am contemplating the 200 specifically a 2016+ since I personally like the look of it better compared to pre facelift, I am just worried ill regret selling my 100. Has anyone here gone from a 100 to a 200 and regretted it and why? Alternatively, is the general consensus saying its worth it to just do some preliminary maintenance on the 100 and hope for the best?

Side note: I bought the 100 maybe 4 or 5 years ago, since then I have put about 19k miles on it and done just oil changes and basic stuff. More recently I am starting to really fix the thing preparing to drive it a lot more (20-25k miles a year maybe more) and I am wondering if its even worth it or if I just sell it and get the 200 to not have to worry about those things for a while (water pump, timing belt, heater Ts, radiator, cv axles etc).

 

[Manhattan]

I can empathize. Don't tell anyone in the 100 forum, but I recently considered selling my 2006 with 197,000 miles. Oh.. wait. Sorry guys. I'm so ashamed, but I did look at a bunch of replacements for the 100. I drove the various versions of the 250, and two 200s - 2016 and newer LC and LX. I really thought that, after 15 years in my '06, that I was buying my next car. Nope.

For me, the 200 had a few knocks against it, but it really all boiled down to money. The LC feels floaty and disconnected - would need some suspension upgrades, the LX looks like a hovercraft (that giant grille and running boards - would need some spendy parts. But yeah, subjective.

The not so subjective piece is just price. The 200s seem to be holding their value really well (maybe because the 250 is such a departure). The thought of spending $60,000 on a truck with 60,000 miles and not having any warranty was a tough hurdle to get over.

 

[Zuberg]

Have you test driven a 200? I toyed with the idea until I test drove a couple. Don't get wrong, the 200 are great trucks, but I like the 100 better for a variety of reasons, some of which you list. Go test drive a couple if you haven't yet.

What's your car budget? Fixing up your 100 will be WAY cheaper. Even if you pay someone to do the work. Then add in higher insurance and property taxes (if those apply in your area). Costs climb quickly. 2016 cruiser will also be a 10 year old truck which will most likely come with its own needs.

Bird in hand....

 

[ayowtf]

I can empathize. Don't tell anyone in the 100 forum, but I recently considered selling my 2006 with 197,000 miles. Oh.. wait. Sorry guys. I'm so ashamed, but I did look at a bunch of replacements for the 100. I drove the various versions of the 250, and two 200s - 2016 and newer LC and LX. I really thought that, after 15 years in my '06, that I was buying my next car. Nope.

For me, the 200 had a few knocks against it, but it really all boiled down to money. The LC feels floaty and disconnected - would need some suspension upgrades, the LX looks like a hovercraft (that giant grille and running boards - would need some spendy parts. But yeah, subjective.

The not so subjective piece is just price. The 200s seem to be holding their value really well (maybe because the 250 is such a departure). The thought of spending $60,000 on a truck with 60,000 miles and not having any warranty was a tough hurdle to get over.

That is definitely a bonus towards the 200 though, They made very few of them and it is realistically the last land cruiser that is naturally aspirated, and on top of that a V8. I can't imagine they will drop a lot over time, I mean sure they will drop but not harshly. I feel like if I purchase a 200 with reasonable miles, I wont lose too much overtime if and when I go to sell it. When you drove the LC and LX, did you prefer the AHC over the traditional suspension set up in the 200? One of the things I am swaying between the LX and LC is the AHC, my instinct is telling me ill prefer the LC suspension set up.

 

[DanInDenver]

The cost and issues with the 200 keep me away. Radiator and the valley plate leak.
I’m toying with keeping the 100 and getting a newer GX460 for my daily driver.

Upgrade for wireless CarPlay

2008-2015 Toyota Land Cruiser Hamilton Upgrade Kit for CarPlay® and Android Auto™

In stock: if order placed before 2:00 p.m. ET, it will be shipped same-day from our Raleigh, NC facility. Get ready to completely transform the interface of your 2008-2015 Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 with the Hamilton Upgrade Kit for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software features based on an...

www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com

 

[ayowtf]

Have you test driven a 200? I toyed with the idea until I test drove a couple. Don't get wrong, the 200 are great trucks, but I like the 100 better for a variety of reasons, some of which you list. Go test drive a couple if you haven't yet.

What's your car budget? Fixing up your 100 will be WAY cheaper. Even if you pay someone to do the work. Then add in higher insurance and property taxes (if those apply in your area). Costs climb quickly. 2016 cruiser will also be a 10 year old truck which will most likely come with its own needs.

Bird in hand....

I actually havent driven a 200 yet. Currently I am living out of the country and Ill be back in december for good which is essentially when I will need to decide what to do. I go back home late august for a couple weeks so I suppose ill give an lx and an lc a drive to see how I like it and decide from there.

The budget isnt really solidified but probably around 50ish maybe more maybe less. My main thought process is that if it takes about 20 years for things to start going wrong on the 100, Ill at least get 5-6 years with the 200 problem free, as they dont seem to have pressing issues. The other thing I think about is that an LC that works regardless of potential issues it could have vs an LC that works that has the potential issues fixed seems to go for about the same on the used market around me so the sense of me fixing everything that tends to go wrong on these trucks to then sell it for what I paid initially is a bit tough for me unless I keep the vehicle for a very long time.

 

[hoser]

I prefer to wheel the 100, even with the IFS. For 25k most road miles, I would certainly choose the 200. In all cases, 25 year old vehicles require more maintenance unless it has been completely, mechanically "restored" already. The LX570 is a nicer road vehicle than the LC200.

 

[ayowtf]

I prefer to wheel the 100, even with the IFS. For 25k most road miles, I would certainly choose the 200. In all cases, 25 year old vehicles require more maintenance unless it has been completely, mechanically "restored" already. The LX570 is a nicer road vehicle than the LC200.

Fair enough the 100 is great off road even without the working rear diff lock but a majority of the time it will be on the road. I do live on a farm and there is a ton of dirt roads that I drive but im pretty sure a 200 can easily handle that.

 

[MongooseGA]

I'm planning to add a 200 LX within a year. 100 is my spirit animal.

Although sometimes I do consider that I'd get in to a 200 faster if I sold the 100.

 

[Manhattan]

@MongooseGA I tried that strategy - keeping the 100 and adding a GX550. My wife's response: So, you're selling the '84 then? I had to admit that, without a bigger garage and/or more land/houses, it was hard to justify three trucks for me.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

If you like the unique character of the 100, that won’t be in the 200 anymore. The 200 (LC, moreover the LX) is really modern compared to any 100 comfort and tech. If you moderately wheel your 100, the 200 is no different. Few years ago I did this transition (5-speed LC 1HDFTE AHC 2005 100 series for a 2012 1VD 200 series LC). After 10 months of ownership of the 200, I sold it and for the most part of it missed my 100, how cool it looks, how similar it performs when we wheel, speed-wise I just cruise. I am back now to a 100 VVTi with AHC and couldn’t be happier. Tech and comfort/luxury is easily upgradable. 4WD is 95% identical and is within my expectations how I use it. Test drive a 2016 (8-speed) and only you can only tell if the newer tech sings to you. Good luck, either way a cruiser is a cruiser.

 

[riffman12]

I've been in a very similar boat. I can't really afford the 200 series LC that I would like, so I' test drove a couple of LX570s with 100k ish miles on them.

They definitely hide their mileage better. Even one I drove with 140k on the clock didn't have a single rattle or creak which was nice. It felt more solid than any of the 3 100s I've owned.

That being said, it feels A LOT heavier and bigger. It has a lot more power, but it makes the 100 feel like a Rav4 in terms of ho it carries its weight.

The interior on the 200s is nice, but it feels a lot more plasticy.

 

[rexington14]

The budget isnt really solidified but probably around 50ish maybe more maybe less. My main thought process is that if it takes about 20 years for things to start going wrong on the 100, Ill at least get 5-6 years with the 200 problem free, as they dont seem to have pressing issues.

200's are great trucks. But be sure to do your due diligence here. A 5 to 10 year old 200 series is prime time where multiple issues can start popping off. You may be surprised if you think getting into one of these is going to be problem free. I'll also add that in the event of an unlucky worst case scenario (HG / engine blown) a 200 is going to leave you considerably worse off financially than a 100. These are not as cheap to open up, or swap.

 

[Bisho]

Just bought my wife a pristine LX570. It’s much more modern, but I still prefer the 100. I’m sure the 200 would be a much better tow vehicle, though, if that’s your thing.

As much as they went forward, they dropped some of my favorite features: the ball cooler vent, the rear window pop outs, the manual lever for the transfer case. A lot of features I would have thought were standard are actually options on the early trucks - center console cooler, remote start, radar assist cruise control.

 

[Couvi]

I've driven a few 200s, both LXs and LCs – I do like the 2016+ LC updated look, and they're very well appointed. But, every time I climb back in my 2004 LC (even with 275k), I'm reminded how great it is – the seating position and size are just perfect to me.