considering 2007 LC. insight please.

[_JP_]

hello.

this is my first to the ih8mud forum so please forgive any ignorance on my part.

i'm considering getting one of the new 07 TLC's in the coming months. this vehicle seems to be the perfect marriage of suburban functionality (save for gas mileage) and off road capability, thus my interest. i live in redondo beach california and this vehicle will be used 95% of the time hauling my wife, dogs, and pending son, but i'm an avid hiker and fly fisherman and love to get out explore the sierras when i have the chance. the front wheel drive sedan has served me well in the past out of necessity, but the option of a true 4x4 seems like a dream come true in such a comfortable and appointed vehicle.

all of that said, here are some of my questions:

1. when you take a stock land cruiser off the lot (without modification) and get out in rutted dirt roads, mud, and actually use the ground clearance/4WD, is it common to have alignment issues when returning to pavement? i'm not talking the extreme stuff in some of the photos, just some rough driving that wouldn't suit my current sedan.

2. with the land cruiser's long and storied past, is getting what appears to be the last model year of a body style something to be viewed as favorable or detrimental in terms of continued support and value retention? it may be a wash, i don't know. your opinions would be appreciated.

3. when you speak of NAV generations, is this gen 5 that you speak of the version that's in our 06 prius? if so, is the override i was just reading about still something that can be done in this 5th generation? sounds like an outstanding option.

4. in purchasing a new land cruiser in february (when my current lease expires) have those of you that purchased mid model year new vehicles had better luck ordering or just searching inventory? the scarcity of the LC at local dealerships suggests to me that the purchasing dance b/t dealer and purchaser may be a bit different here. again, any input would be appreciated.

5. are there any low level modifications that are agreed upon to be near essential? i.e. not hindering grocery getter functionality while adding off road capability

i looked around at FAQ pages and what not and didn't see all of this information, thus the post. if this info is covered completely, or in part, on other threads i apologize for the redundance. a simple link would be really appreicated if that's the case.

i thank you in advance for any info or insight.

jp
joelpepper@mac.com

 

[a990dna]

4. in purchasing a new land cruiser in february (when my current lease expires) have those of you that purchased mid model year new vehicles had better luck ordering or just searching inventory? the scarcity of the LC at local dealerships suggests to me that the purchasing dance b/t dealer and purchaser may be a bit different here. again, any input would be appreciated.

Depending on the options you're looking for you may just want to buy a partially loaded 2006 Lexus LX470... there's still a few out there without DVD entertainment system and the funky spoiler sticking out the back---search AutoNation.com. There are several 2006s being discounted right now... take the hit on early lease termination and save $10K.

Moreover if you want AHC on a 2007 Land Cruiser you may have a difficult time finding the right color and option combo... there's no guarantee they'll still be building them into 2007.

 

[e9999]

Welcome!


If you can swing the $$, you're not going to find anything better stock that can handle malls and Sierra.
I can't imagine that going on a dirt road once in a while would affect alignment. That's why these things are overdesigned.

Some folks are talking about the "last" year as a plus as in collectable / nostalgia thing. Not too sure about that. But there isn't going to be that much different that you would be pigeonhold with the 07, I'm sure. These have had a pretty long run actually, 98 to 07, more than the previous series. Plus the new engine is going to be in the Tundra / Sequoia etc for a bit I imagine, so support there too.

You don't need low level mods to make this truck capable out there. It's more so than just about all the other ones out there. Low level mods are lifts and protection, and of course most importantly good tires. But we did some crazy stuff in the desert in Baja with the a pure stock mall cruiser...

 

[gijoebruin]

Depending on the options you're looking for you may just want to buy a partially loaded 2006 Lexus LX450... there's still a few out there without DVD entertainment system and the funky spoiler sticking out the back---search AutoNation.com. There are several 2006s being discounted right now... take the hit on early lease termination and save $10K.

Moreover if you want AHC on a 2007 Land Cruiser you may have a difficult time finding the right color and option combo... there's no guarantee they'll still be building them into 2007.

First...the 06 is the LX470...2nd...all the 06s have Nav.

 

[aedgington]

I think he was talking about the RES DVD

 

[jjbodean1970]

nevermind....

 

[a990dna]

First...the 06 is the LX470...2nd...all the 06s have Nav.

I was referring to the DVD entertainment system, not navigation.

I stand corrected on the LX470 typo.

 

[spressomon]

I can attest to the stoutness of my '99's front end. I had the front end aligned about 18-months ago when I installed the lift and 33"'s. After spending some serious on-trail time and then adding a little more lift this past June along with 35" and a complete new front end (along with even more on-trail use) I had the front end checked again in August just to be sure...and the front end was spot on. AFAIK all the 100's front ends are the same...

 

[gijoebruin]

I was referring to the DVD entertainment system, not navigation.

Oops!

 

[_JP_]

i appreciate the replies. forgive my ignorance, but what is AHC? adjustable height control? isn't that std now?

on the alignment respone: just as i suspected.

on the 'no mods needed for socal and sierras' reply: just as i suspected.

a forum like this offers a ton of info and can make someone a lot more comfortable signing on to owning a 60K+ vehicle as my first SUV. it's the vehicle i've wanted my whole life.... i can't wait to own one.

do any of you guys run a second battery setup to run auxiliary lighting/fridges/etc? i'd definitely get an engel as i really enjoy cold coors out in the woods. would a second batt be needed?

i'll take a peek at autonation to see what's out there. any function to that big spoiler thing? even if it added a couple mpg i don't think i could handle one.....

thanks again guys.

jp

 

[jjbodean1970]

any function to that big spoiler thing? even if it added a couple mpg i don't think i could handle one.....



jp

no, none whatsoever....

 

[Jim_Chow]

The rear spoiler helps keep dust off the rear window. That's about it. They all look lame. The plastic ones ('03-07) are factory while the wing-type ones (98-02), I believe, are non-factory and added at port (none of the JDM LC's I've seen have the wing type).

If you plan on running a fridge, I'd get an aux deep cycle battery. If you get AHC in the LC, the only way to fit a second battery is to either get one of those cyclonic air boxes and relocate the power steering pump forward next to the radiator like Siglo's stock Mid East LC (you have to source the parts overseas, plus all the air filters...inconvenient), or get a custom battery tray made and use two of those Odyssey (pc1200?) batterys side-by-side. Why doesn't Slee or anyone else make this kit yet? I bet a number of people would buy it. I certainly would. How much can it cost to make a larger battery tray for the stock location? Nice thing about this setup is you don't have to string huge cables all the way across the engine bay like w/ the LC non AHC dual battery kit. The cyclonic air box would be the best, as you can run two full-sized batteries.

 

[hoser]

A third method of running 2 batteries in an AHC LC/LX is to run a huge group 31 size battery in the stock location and a smaller battery between the air filter and AHC reservoir.

You can choose to A) run your accessories off your large batteries and use the small one for starting or B) run everything off your large battery and keep the small one to jump start--with a push of a button.

FWIW, Waeco fridges have a voltage cut-off that will shut the fridge down at a selected voltage. Even at the lowest setting, my LX starts up just fine. Haven't tried it in cold weather yet. I've heard of people adding this circuitry to their Engel/Norcold/ARB as well.

 

[a990dna]

i appreciate the replies. forgive my ignorance, but what is AHC? adjustable height control? isn't that std now?

[snip]

i'll take a peek at autonation to see what's out there. any function to that big spoiler thing? even if it added a couple mpg i don't think i could handle one.....

AHC = adjustable height control is an option on Land Cruisers.

The spoiler is also an option but it appears all 2006-07 LCs and 2007 LX 470s are coming with the spoiler as part of the sales order--good luck finding one without it.

Whittier Toyota has a '06 LC in Classic Silver with the AHC and spolier option... drive by sign advertised with $7K off MSRP.

http://www.toyotaofwhittier.com/

Lexus of Cerritos (aka AutoNation) has two '06 LX470s in G-Grey without spoliers! ... MSRP is $69K .. I bet you can get one for $59K. The 2007s currently on their Web site have the spolier option. Yuck.

http://www.autonation.com/

I'd trade mine in right now for the 2006 LX but I'm in the middle of a dispute settlement -- 15-20 days from now I'll know my options.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Virtually none of the '98-06 LX's have the rear spoiler, old or new style.

 

[uHu]

Re batteries:
Another option is a sealed gel battery dedicated for the fridge somewhere at the back, close to the load, or just anywhere. They can take a lot of beating.
For the cyclone filter option: After the mod, getting hold of new filters is not really a problem as they are "lifetime"; blow and wash every 40 k miles. Get the box delivered with two filters and you are ok in any event.

 

[_JP_]

are there any mechanical differences b/t the LC and the LX470 or are they simply cosmetics?

jp

 

[CTapia]

I have sent you a Private Message.

 

[CTapia]

are there any mechanical differences b/t the LC and the LX470 or are they simply cosmetics?

jp

JP,
No mechanical difference. The differences are better leather, some say that the LX has thicker glass, quieter (More insulation), nicer interior (brighter dash), leather on doors looks better, Mark levinsion Audio a few other items that I can't think of now.

 

[_JP_]

guys.

how does the 2 inch lift effect gas mileage?

also how much does one of the full roof racks that the fellow slee sells affect mileage?

since the LC has a central locking diff, how does a rear locker change things? doesn't central locking mean that all four wheels will spin simulaneously?

thanks.

jp