LX initial review: (this was a writeup that I previously posted but has my initial thoughts and review after buying the truck)
My 100 series, a 99' LX470, was starting to show its age. I actually think it is a great vehicle and has a lot of life left, but when I started driving my wife new car more I really started to want some of the modern upgrades new cars provide. So I started looking at 200 series. The first thing I noticed is how outdated these vehicles are in comparison to other cars/trucks available for the same year. I wanted things like AC seats, radar cruise control, decent infotainment, ext. Once I started test driving and looking closely I realized that the upgrades in the 16+ LC and LX were what I wanted. Plus these things are so expensive I fell into the trap of, "Well for only $$$ more I get this much more" and before I knew it I was way over my intended spending. But that being said I have always bought my cruisers with 90K-120K miles on them and I really wanted this truck to be nicer for longer and avoid a lot of that 100K+ maintenance that gets expensive and time consuming.
The real decision was choosing an LC or an LX. I went back and forth on this forever. I really like the look of the 16 LC and do not care for the styling of the LX. But the LX's interior is incomparable, its so damn nice, like really really nice. My wife thought the LX was too flashy and wanted the cruiser. I liked the idea of getting the cruiser so I could immediately start throwing on aftermarket parts (bumpers, lift, ext). However in reality my vehicles mostly get used for pulling my rafting trailer up to rivers in the summer and skiing in the winter. My offloading consist of Colorado mountain passes when I happen to already be driving through the areas while on a climbing/camping trip. I do drive a ton on dirt mountain roads, and I usually have the truck full of gear and people and a dog.
After driving the LC and LX many times, sometimes back to back I could not get over how much nicer the LX was to drive. Remember that these two vehicles are close in cost, but when you get inside the LX you fell like its worth the price. When you get inside the LC it feels like a nice Toyota, its nice but not special by any means. So eventually I got a great deal on a 16' LX 570 with 30K miles. I bought it for 62,500. Now for my review:
The LX so far is awesome. I did the sensor lift gaining 1.5" in ride height, and I put on Rock Warrior wheels with ~33" Goodyear Duratrac Wranglers. This immediately changed the look of the vehicle and made it look way nicer to me. (Who in the world actually likes 21" wheels? Also, I have a set of 21" wheels for sale!). The suspension is way better than the AHC in the 100. It rides very nice on pavement but also seems to control body roll and nose drop under braking better than any suspension Ive put in my other LC's. It's amazing how good it can handle a curved road at high speeds. I actually appreciate the ability to lower the vehicle bc I can actually fit in the parking garage at the hospital I work at, which is a first. Sure, I like the look of a bigger truck, but really I am enjoying being able to get in and out of the truck more easily and its still high enough for me.
The interior is unbelievable. I have spent time in a new range rover, a G63 AMG and a escalade and I can say that I prefer this interior to all of them (although the Range Rover is hard to beat, but its a Range Rover). The stereo is really really good. The seats are not as comfortable as my wife Volvo, or that Range Rover but they are good enough.
The Radar Cruise control is immediately a feature that you will want forever. I70 traffic just became less annoying. The headlights are amazing, the brights are on auto and I can say that I already had a close call at 70mph with an elk in Wyoming 5 days after buying the truck. I believe I would have hot the elk if I didn't have such bright lights to give me early warning.
The infotainment center was something that I was nervous about. I like touch screens and hate the stupid Lexus mouse pads and joysticks but I can tell you now that it is not a big deal at all and I think I'm starting to prefer this system over the one in the LC. For one the screen is big and looks great. The joystick was a pain in the ass for the first few days but I have gotten use to it and it is easy to use now. Plus, no one ever made it clear just how little you actually need to use it. There are buttons for all stereo controls and HVAC. There are scrolling buttons, a map button, ext. You don't have to use the joystick that much. If you are afraid of this system I would say that you should not let it be a factor in you r decision. Plus, by using a joystick instead of touch screen, the screen is now completely clear of fingerprints and smudges.
I have also put on a Yakima ski rack (I have a roof box I use sometimes). I prefer the yakima style racks over the cargo roof racks bc Im usually needing it for skis, paddles, ext. I added the Lexus rubber floor mats. I do not care for the weather tech's anymore bc they are hard plastic and they always look dirty. Plus they are $200 and the Lexus mats were $90.
I was expecting a more dramatic difference in power between the 100 series and the 200. The truck does not feel much faster driving around town, but when you want to pass someone on I-80 going 80 mph it takes off and makes the pass seem easy, which my 100 could not do. I ordered the Pedal Commander and it arrives today. My buddies 4 runner was massively improved by this device so I will let y'all know if it makes a difference here.
Finally, the LX's looks are growing on me. The headlights look sharp and I'm getting use to that big grill. Still like the LC better but hell, Im always on the inside anyway. I am planning on putting on sliders and loosing the running boards. And I will be lined up to buy bumpers when I can find out they fit on the LX. Overall Im extremely happy with the vehicle and have no doubt I made the right choice for my needs.
