Don't let them have your 200 (5 Viewers)

[skrypj]

I disagree. This is touted as the TOYOTA LAND CRUISER, and not the TLC PRADO (caps aren't yelling at you). If they stated they were introducing the new for America TLCP, then I would agree with you. Instead, they bamboozled and hoodwinked the public. Now we get to listen to people saying their LC is the same as our and just newer. I don't really care what other people think, but it shows the bait and switch which was used regarding the name plate.

If nothing else, when was the last time you read either bamboozled or hoodwinked?

But what did you expect? 10 years of inflation and still having a $35000 lower price tag was gunna end up being a similar vehicle?

I understand they tried to play it off as a Land Cruiser.

 

[Stickgunner]

I understand they tried to play it off as a Land Cruiser.

Sounds like we are in agreement.

 

[rexington14]

If I ever get a 250 the first thing I’m doing is de-badging the Land Cruiser emblem from the back. I don't want to throw the wrong gang sign in the wrong neighborhood. God forbid someone driving a 200 spots me when I'm out there on the trails.

 

[gasman4u]

If I ever get a 250 the first thing I’m doing is de-badging the Land Cruiser emblem from the back. I don't want to throw the wrong gang sign in the wrong neighborhood. God forbid someone driving a 200 spots me when I'm out there on the trails.

know you've been warned...

another meaning of the whole "tread lightly" concept

 

[thegreenthief]

If I ever get a 250 the first thing I’m doing is de-badging the Land Cruiser emblem from the back. I don't want to throw the wrong gang sign in the wrong neighborhood. God forbid someone driving a 200 spots me when I'm out there on the trails.

You know, the responsible thing to do would be to add a Prado badge if you buy a 250. XD

 

[eatSleepWoof]

You know, the responsible thing to do would be to add a Prado badge if you buy a 250. XD

At that point, might as well add "Prius," "Hemi," and "///M3" to upset everyone equally.

 

[OregonLC]

Sport. It's a Land Cruiser Sport.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

This is a repost from one of the similar forum threads on the subject but it applies here as good as anywhere

While a seasoned Land Cruiser enthusiast may know the LC250 as a Prado in some other markets, 99.9% of NA new car buyers will not have any clue what a Prado is. Given the name 'Prado' has never been used on a model in the US/Canada, they are understandably not about to start. As such, it's real name in the US is Land Cruiser, whether you, I, or anyone else likes it. I'll repeat myself, Toyota calls it a Land Cruiser. I don't know that we have the right or hubris to decide what it is or isn't. Turns out they created the name and get a put it on whatever they want, whether we love it or hate it. Early light duty models were called just Land Cruiser in many markets, history repeats itself.

 

[MRego]

So, if you get bumped in the rear corner, the computer immobilizes the vehicle.

The Land Cruiser got him there, but won't be getting him home after a bonk to the rear end, apparently.

EDIT: Coupled with the post above, I don't think this vehicle would come close to being tough or reliable enough to finish a race like Baja.


View attachment 3851909

Oh men... Land Rover vibes waiting for that tow truck, I am sure.

 

[happy4runner]

What I find interesting about the 250 and all the TNGA-F variants, is how much suspension/chassis designs they share with the 200. I realize it is evolved in some ways but not much given the timespan. I think we could look at it in 2 different ways:

1. The TNGA-F vehicles have a proven suspension/chassis architecture that is mostly possible because of the development of the 200.
2. The TNGA-F adoption of the 200 series suspension/chassis architecture proves that it works for Toyota and there is nothing better at this time.

What astounds me is after 17 years the underpinnings of the 200 are still relevant and will be for some time! I venture to say the tech of the 250 will be outdated before the original suspension/chassis of the 200 will be replaced by something better. Which leads me to agree that the 250 is a rolling disappointment. Land Cruiser enthusiast have a right to expect the next generation to be something significant. Instead we get more of the same with some prius parts bolted on. It's an insult! Even the 300 has failed to be significantly better the 200. Yes, the GR Sport is triple-locked as is the LX700H Overtrail. They both have more HP/Torque and fancier screens. But to me that doesn't make them better. My thoughts are; Will they get you further? Are they built better? Can they do it all, for the years to come, with more class?

In my opinion the 250 looks good. But there is no way I would replace my 200 or my 5G4R with one. The 200 is still relevant and the 5G4R is still a great value.

 

[2021 LC200]

This is a repost from one of the similar forum threads on the subject but it applies here as good as anywhere

While a seasoned Land Cruiser enthusiast may know the LC250 as a Prado in some other markets, 99.9% of NA new car buyers will not have any clue what a Prado is. Given the name 'Prado' has never been used on a model in the US/Canada, they are understandably not about to start. As such, it's real name in the US is Land Cruiser, whether you, I, or anyone else likes it. I'll repeat myself, Toyota calls it a Land Cruiser. I don't know that we have the right or hubris to decide what it is or isn't. Turns out they created the name and get a put it on whatever they want, whether we love it or hate it. Early light duty models were called just Land Cruiser in many markets, history repeats itself.

It has been marketed in the U.S. as “The return of the Legendary Land Cruiser”.

That is in my book dishonest marketing,

As indicated, it’s like selling a C class as an E class or a 3 series as a 5 series. I guess the public at large is dumb enough to eat it.

 

[Girl Dad of 3]

The problem isn’t with the 250 itself. The 250 is a fine capable truck and can be a lot of fun to drive and to own.

The problem is the lack of differentiation in the current Toyota lineup in the United States (GX550, LC 250, 4 Runner, Sequoia). There are basically four different versions of the same truck, none of which are the “real” Land Cruiser. All are decent, though.

To the extent there is differentiation between the four, the one that Toyota anointed with the hallowed name “Land Cruiser” is arguably the weakest or second weakest of the four. Which doesn’t seem like the right way to honor a marquee nameplate.

Problem could be solved if they just called the LC 250 the “LC Prado” and sold the LC 300 in the US. Until then, purists/traditionalists will continue to be upset at the way toyota has decided to market its current set of offerings and its inherent devaluation of the “LC” brand compared with other Toyota products.

 

[MRego]

Don't let these opinions here spill to the 250 forum. That would be fun to watch. Those guys there are so deep into their purchases that anything bad (read it: reality) someone says about the Prado, they all throw a temper tantrum.

That is in my book dishonest marketing,

Yep. This is the perfect description to how the Toyota marketing team behaved with this whole new Land Cruiser debacle.

 

[77pantera]

except, maybe, the straight 6 that came in a pre-smog real LandCruiser?

The only straight 6's I currently own are a lowly M54 and a poverty RB25DET.

FACTS


whatever you do, DO NOT buy an UGLY 08

I know, that's why I put down a deposit on a 2017 LC today. Couldn't have people thinking I'm so poor I could only afford a pre facelift.

This is a repost from one of the similar forum threads on the subject but it applies here as good as anywhere

While a seasoned Land Cruiser enthusiast may know the LC250 as a Prado in some other markets, 99.9% of NA new car buyers will not have any clue what a Prado is. Given the name 'Prado' has never been used on a model in the US/Canada, they are understandably not about to start. As such, it's real name in the US is Land Cruiser, whether you, I, or anyone else likes it. I'll repeat myself, Toyota calls it a Land Cruiser. I don't know that we have the right or hubris to decide what it is or isn't. Turns out they created the name and get a put it on whatever they want, whether we love it or hate it. Early light duty models were called just Land Cruiser in many markets, history repeats itself.

I 100% give Toyota credit, they knew what they were doing, and did it well. The sales chart alone tells the story.
As someone who was very, very interested in a 250, I decided I didn't want the watered down, built to a price point vehicle. I wanted the real McCoy. So I'm buying a late model 200 instead.

 

[Girl Dad of 3]

The only straight 6's I currently own are a lowly M54 and a poverty RB25DET. Neither are known for being good.

I know, that's why I put down a deposit on a 2017 LC today. Couldn't have people thinking I'm so poor I could only afford a pre facelift.

I 100% give Toyota credit, they knew what they were doing, and did it well. The sales chart alone tells the story.
As someone who was very, very interested in a 250, I decided I didn't want the watered down, built to a price point vehicle. I wanted the real McCoy. So I'm buying a late model 200 instead.

View attachment 3852287

Question is, are those sales just cannibalizing sales of other trucks, especially 4 Runners?

 

[77pantera]

Question is, are those sales just cannibalizing sales of other trucks, especially 4 Runners?

I've spent a lot of time on the Landcruiser forum trying to learn as much as I could about the 250. The majority of the buyers were coming out of 5th gen 4runners. Now that the 6th gen is out, I'd ASSume, the sales will drop off of the the 250 LC. 1958's where staring to stack up months ago. The GX will probably hold strong. Just purely guessing.

 

[OregonLC]

I'd worry less about the 250's shortcomings if there was a non-hybrid lifted Trailhunter trim Sequoia with a center diff that I could buy.

 

[happy4runner]

Time will tell... If Toyota cared they would have done things differently. It looks to me that Toyota wanted to gain market share without making a removable top vehicle like the Bronco or Wrangler. By adding the LC250 it gives them a chance grab sales from the competition without engineering something from scratch.

 

[stonepa]

200? 250? Land Cruiser? Prado? Who cares? Does anybody just get out there and go? Never understood these arguments unless they take place over scotch in a bar.

 

[2021 LC200]

I own a N57 inline 6 turbo diesel and it is awesome.

Inline sixes are naturally balanced. Next naturally balanced is a V12 which is 2 inline sixes, which is indeed excessive for most use cases. It is not surprising that Toyota started the Land Cruiser line with an I-6. I wish they would have gone that route again in the latest models including the 300 series.