It's obvious a few 200 series owners bought a 200 series for the "Social Dominance"
They seen a few Third World leaders in a 200 series and wanted to emulate the hierarchy .
First Land Cruiser After Four 4Runners — Here’s What I Think
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They seen a few Third World leaders in a 200 series and wanted to emulate the hierarchy .
I ran straight 6s and solid axles in my TLCs for 30 years. I was sceptical about the IFS/V8 100 series right up until I drove one. Then I bought one. I suppose it’s human nature to fear change and the unknown.Another reoccurring complaint was that "real" LCs have inline six engines. Granted, the straight 6 and solid axles were common features for 40 years.
I remember one guy wrote a scathing screed about the 100 series and its V8 right after this model was released, calling it nothing more than a Sequoia and that any guy who would buy one (to paraphrase) must be a homosexual. Alas, now there are many Cruiser heads bemoaning the loss of said V8.
Such a new rig, I'd hope there aren't any "issues" coming up so soon! Windshields split up the middle?
The brake issue (mine has it) is that they sometimes squeal while in reverse. Changing the pads solves it from what I’ve heard.
Somehow I doubt it. Dare to dream though…
I’ve seen a couple of 6th Gen ‘Frunners on the road here lately. None up close and personal, but as they have driven past, my initial impression is that they are low and long compared to the LC. I haven’t looked up the dimensions (and won’t) but that’s how they look at a glance.
They are exactly that. I had family visit who rented one. 2025 Limited 4Runner. So I had a good chance to drive it. I would not be interested in buying one as someone how loved my 5th gen 4R and would buy one again.
There's a lot of good - power is better than the v6 as is the engine noise. Transmission is also significantly better. The 0-60 felt pretty comparable though. But the normal daily driver power is great. I'd take the turbo 4 over the 1GR if given the option. Steering is a million times better. The electric power steering is just night an day improvement combined with the much improved front end geometry. Ride quality was good - the adjustable suspension works well.
Downside was the interior. It's just like the old tundra vs new. Old was tall greenhouse, big windows, good outward visibility and roomy cabin. New 4R feels much more compact inside. High belt lines, low roof, virtually zero rearward visibility. And the hood next to my Tundra is about 4-6 inches longer than the Tundra. In person it's crazy how long that hood is and it makes forward visibility poor at best. It also makes the cabin noticeably shorter inside -you can really feel it in the back seats.
The LC250 is the visual and functional successor of the 5th gen 4Runner. The two are much more similar than the 5th gen 4Runner is to the 6th gen. The 6th gen 4Runner is good underneath, but the body is not great. The middle row is also much less roomy. I'd give the CALTY team an A grade on the LC250 (talking body only, C- on powertrain for not having the 9.5/TTv6 option) and D grade on the 4Runner body and interior.
Confirmed: the 4Runner is about an inch wider and longer, and a few inches shorter.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Been dreaming about that as long as I have been wheeling, to be honest. What kept me off mud back in the day.
Never underestimate peoples stupidity and closed mindedness, then you will never be disappointed,
Any opinion you adhere to vehemently without question is the very one that deserves re-examination...
And thats the great thing about being human, we all get to believe what we want.... even if we are dead wrong...
that is the very process of learning
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Other than Toyota > Datsun...
"learning"Other than Toyota > Datsun...
What's kinda interesting is it wasn't really that way if you go a little further back. Mid 90's and prior the Land Cruiser wasn't really a symbol of wealth or luxury. No one I knew back then who was driving a FJ62 or a FJ80 were considered wealthy or elite by any metric. They were basically an alternative to Tahoe or Wagoneer. No pretense. My friend's single mom was a secretary at a travel agency who drove one. I drove my 1975 FJ40 home for $500 in about 2002. Bought the 78 for $800 a year or so later because it had AC, power steering and OME suspension.
I’m actually coming around on the 6th Gen and could make a strong case for one over the 250 due to being a better value for the money, hybrid engine feels great and more fitting in the 4R/Tacoma, and also felt like the 4R had less wind noise going down the highway. Probably due to the lower height, increased windshield rake, and smaller side mirrors. Views/site lines felt fine to me but I prefer sitting “in” a vehicle vs “on top” of one.
I think the 4Runner is definitely a better value on paper. Significantly more suspension options that are almost all better, except Toyota for whatever stupid reason withholds the SDM from almost all of them. Aftermarket will solve that PDQ I would imagine. Even the TRD OR trims have a pretty big suspension improvement over the LC250. If you could get the 4Runner specs and price in the LC body - easy choice for me. It's the body/interior that kills it for me. Especially if you want to put people in the middle row. I'm not sure how many inches it lost in leg room, but probably around 4 inches is my guess. I'm 6'3" and I could sit in the back comfortably in the 5th gen 2 row version. Can't really even fit in the 6th gen 2nd row. maybe it's an apples to oranges because I had a 2 row and the 6th gen was a 3 row. All I can say for sure is that the 6th gen 3 row is not child seat compatible in the middle with a taller person in front.
It depends a lot on what you want to do. If you're spending a lot of time in scenic places and off road - outward visibility matters a lot to me. I want to be as close to the doors off, top off, windshield down experience of my FJ40 or side by side as I can be on the trails. For a daily commuter - the 4Runner is fine. Just need to rely a lot on the front sensors and/or camera because you can't see anything in front. I just really hate driving in big mountains and not being able to see them because the roof is too low. Or the obstacles because the hood is in the way.
For all of its faults, the Tundra with the panoramic roof does a pretty good job of seeing the big stuff. Not so much the trail. GX pano roof as well. LC needs that as an option. In a perfect world - make it removeable as a two piece panel and re-engineer the rear gate to roll down. With those two changes you'd get damn close to a Wrangler experience that can still seal up tight for nice highway cruising comfort.
Edit: just checking pricing to compare. Market price seems to be about $55-56k for a 1958 trim LC250 and $63k for a LC trim. Hard to make a direct comparison, but closest is probably a Limited 4Runner at $57 but non-hybrid. There are still no hybrids for sale, so no market price on em. A TRD OR 4Runner seems to settle about $53k with cloth and $58k with softex. It's subjective, but seems like the market pricing is a mixed bag. In the current pricing world - a $42k SR5 4R plus $10k in lockers, suspension, and tires is hard to beat on value.
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In the end nothing is perfect and it comes down to what you want and are willing to compromise on. I too am big on visibility but the way trucks and SUV's are built nowadays with high belt lines, huge front ends, long hoods, and tractor style seating position you don't really get optimal visibility in anything. Cars, wagons, and some cross overs offer superior visibility immediately in front of you but then they suffer on long range sight lines due to all the towering trucks and SUV's around them. When you're in one of those big rigs you may feel like you can see more and it's true when it comes to whatever is 10-12 car lengths ahead of you but you lose all sight of any objects that are immediately in front of or beside you, like 4 to 6 ft.
@Jetboy Also it sounds like you already have the perfect trail vehicles (a FJ40 and a side by side) not going to find a better tool for trail duty than either of those. 
What I loved about my 5th gen 4R and would also fit the 6th and LC250 is the range of functions. It's something you can jump in and do 1,000 mile highway trip to some cool place and still tackle 90% of the offroad range of the side by side or LC40, with heated seats, confidence going out alone, and ability to have a conversation with your passengers. And can haul enough gear to camp a few days. None of my other toys I've had can do that. My Tundra can't really either because it's not so great on the trails.@Jetboy Also it sounds like you already have the perfect trail vehicles (a FJ40 and a side by side) not going to find a better tool for trail duty than either of those.
The side by side is fun in its own way, but it's small, has short range, isn't really for camping. It's just a day trip toy. Fun for sure and really is remarkably agile and capable in certain terrain like soft bottomless mud and going fast over bowling ball size boulders. But it also is just not a very fun place to spend a lot of time. I have tried to fix it, but can't seem to ever make a real dent in the overall interior noise levels regardless of how much dynamat and foam I add. Its not comfortable in winter. I have full cab enclosure with doors, but it's still worse than even my old CJ5 was in winter. It's also full of dust in the summer. Nothing seals up, so the dust permeates everything in summer. It doesn't do great on big stuff - big rocks, big rivers, etc. Being so close to the ground makes everything feel huge.
The FJ40 has it's own set of downsides. It's old, needs a trailer to go very far from home, probably less reliable with the old carb engine and basic ignition. Mine still has a 2F and hasn't been super reliable. Needs a re-power. And a diet.
I looked up pricing in my area, and a 6G 4R is only $2,000 less than what I paid for my 1958 in comparable trim. I would pay $10k more for the LC to not have to look at the ugly 4R. This is my opinion on the styling of course. I also hind ALL Lexus vehicles ugly, much like I do Nissans. It’s just their basic style that they base all models off that doesn’t appeal to me.
That’s fair. I too found the 4Runner and Tacoma to be unsightly at first both inside and out. But like many other times before I’ve warmed up to the styling. Now I think the 6th Gen just looks like a modern take on the classic 4Runner. Oddly enough while the 550 is an improvement in regards to Lexus styling I’ve grown cold on the front and rear end. 250 with round headlights is the quintessential retro/modern look which I think will age well. I think the 4R will continue to “grow” into its own as well. The GX? Well I’m not so sure it will be considered all that attractive 10 years from now.
Yes and no. Used cruisers could be found for cheap, but a new wagon was expensive. I remember seeing a new 60 series at the JNU airport in the early 80's. After checking the dealer price for one of these, it wasn't surprising to learn that the new owner was a pilot for Alaska airlines. 20+ grand? None of us peons could afford this.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
I dont know about 60s but 62s and 80s were yuppie-mobiles in the midwest.