Full size truck to 200 questions

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mooneywa

mooneywa

10 Year
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Threads
21
Messages
261
Location
Kingwood, TX
Long time lurker, first time poster - trying to make a decision on a potential move into a 200.

I am currently in a 2013 F-150. It's decked out, and frankly I love(d) it. It's your standard Texas truck - lots of Ranch Hand, leveled, Fox struts/shocks on the corners, etc etc. It's great to take to Wyoming and Big Bend. All the space you could want for overpacking and a dog. The downside? At 60,000 miles I'm starting to get a bunch of little nit-noied problems. Rattles here and there, a window regulator that is starting to sound like it's about to fail, a transmission that I don't know if it just has learned poor habits over time programming-wise or if it too is starting down a poor path. I could go on.

At 60k miles, I feel like I'm at the intersection of value for resale and usage. I don't know if keeping it anywhere from a year to forever is wise with upcoming costs for tires, mx, patching up the things that are bugging me etc. I do love the F-150 and the space, but I'm not wild about spending $50k on another truck that in 60k miles will leave me a little annoyed with problems. $50k+ gets one in a newer low miles 200.

I've always wanted a 200 - and it would really be the only other option besides either keeping what I have or getting a new F-150, but I have some hesitations.

Here are my questions:
First, have any of you transitioned from a full size truck to a 200? Did you miss the space, especially in the back seat area? Is the loss of a bed an issue?

I get that a 200 is going to be better built than an F-150, and standard US-spec interior quality aside, what exactly about the 200 makes it go to 250k+ miles? I prowled around one at the dealer today and my mostly untrained eye didn't notice anything notably more robust.

I know that no vehicle is perfect, but what is the expectation for build quality at 80, 120, 160k miles?

I've done quite a bit of searching (in my lurking) and obviously everyone here loves their 200s and mx issues seem few and far between; I'm mostly looking for folks that can put it in context of 200 vs. Full Size US Truck.

Any other questions I should be asking?

Thanks all!
 
Build quality is unmatched compared to any domestic vehicle I've ever driven.. I've driven all big three 1/2 ton trucks for work over the past 10yrs. Toyota 5.7 has been proven to exceed 250k in both Tundra form (US built) and LC (Japan built). I could go on and on about various things but nothing will prove the difference more than driving a 200. Find several trucks and just drive them. You'll notice the difference. Good luck man.
 
Unparalleled. I guess it depends on what you want it for. I did go through a withdrawl of sorts not having a bed, but in reality, I never used the bed enough to justify the loss of the enclosed trunk area. It just suits me better. Quality wise, the LC 200 beats it for sure.

My work trucks are all Dodge, Chevy, and Ford pickups. I hate driving them. So I usually just drive my Land Cruiser :)
 
That is some good reading. Most of the threads I've seen revolve around cost. That's actually a part that I can visualize: if an LC lasts for 200k no problems, it's worth 1 1/2 to 2 US 1/2 tons. It's more of a fit question.

Most threads of this ilk also seem to have an air of "please justify/confirm my already existing decision to buy or want to buy a 200." I'd be lying to everyone if that wasn't the case here.

The Tundra thread is the most apples to apples comparison. Everything I've read about the Tundra is that "the bones" are much better than any domestic 1/2 ton, I just am not wild about the styling - and the uber plastic interior. None of the pickups really blow my skirt up these days anyways.

Alright, additional follow up: Right now it's my wife, myself, and our 65lb dog. Dog will get the back or part of the back, luggage will get up front. When a couple kids are added to the mix has anyone found themselves needing more room? Better way of putting it: is there anyone on here willing to say they're considering a Suburban or something even larger and the LC isn't cutting it?

...Continued thanks for the help
 
I have to say the LC looks bigger on the outside than it seems on the inside and there are definitely larger SUVs (Sequoia, Excursion, Suburban). I've driven the Sequoia and the Excursion; as compared to my 4R and LC, there's just so much more acreage (and the Sequoia has more family friendly storage and design features). The Sequoia seems like it will outlive the Excursion by far and if I needed it I'd think it would do 200k, but there's no comparison between the Sequoia and the LC. The LC should go for 300k and feel like the bank vault it is for all of that time.
 
I bought my 80 series with 98K miles on it and drove it 7 years to 170K miles. Sold it 5 years ago and still going strong for the new owner. Only reason I sold it I wanted a V8 to better tow my camper up the mtn passes

I bought my 100 series with 125K miles on it and sold it after 5 years only because I needed the bigger V8 to tow my new much heavier trailer up the Mtn passes.

Have had the 200 6 months and it has a lot of power and capability. I don't plan on buying bigger trailers and if I did, the 200 could handle it. Plan on having this vehicle a long time. I really enjoy the 200, although I did like the look of the 100 better.

What really sold me on the 200 is I heard a lot people talking about how it had the best matched and most reliable drive train. Then I saw Cangaroo racing races with a 200 series with a mostly stock drive train, look at the thread titled Monica on here. They beat the crap out of that thing and it keeps on rolling

Finally, Land Cruisers are used all over the world in every kind of environment imaginable.

My personal history, the history of members of this forum, the Heritage of the vehicle sets this vehicle apart
 
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I have had a 2500 and traded in my ram crew cab 1500 for a 2016 lc. Must say the room is basically the same. Only thing is the bed but I use the space inside more than the pickup bed. I did also buy a trailer from tractor supply few years ago so if I need a bed I have that option. So do I miss anything about a pickup truck? I guess I miss seeing the service shop to make repairs and the noise squeaks but the actual truck no way.

Plenty of space you won't be disappointed and get a trailer. I think mine was like 700 bucks or something.




mooneywa said:
Long time lurker, first time poster - trying to make a decision on a potential move into a 200.

I am currently in a 2013 F-150. It's decked out, and frankly I love(d) it. It's your standard Texas truck - lots of Ranch Hand, leveled, Fox struts/shocks on the corners, etc etc. It's great to take to Wyoming and Big Bend. All the space you could want for overpacking and a dog. The downside? At 60,000 miles I'm starting to get a bunch of little nit-noied problems. Rattles here and there, a window regulator that is starting to sound like it's about to fail, a transmission that I don't know if it just has learned poor habits over time programming-wise or if it too is starting down a poor path. I could go on.

At 60k miles, I feel like I'm at the intersection of value for resale and usage. I don't know if keeping it anywhere from a year to forever is wise with upcoming costs for tires, mx, patching up the things that are bugging me etc. I do love the F-150 and the space, but I'm not wild about spending $50k on another truck that in 60k miles will leave me a little annoyed with problems. $50k+ gets one in a newer low miles 200.

I've always wanted a 200 - and it would really be the only other option besides either keeping what I have or getting a new F-150, but I have some hesitations.

Here are my questions:
First, have any of you transitioned from a full size truck to a 200? Did you miss the space, especially in the back seat area? Is the loss of a bed an issue?

I get that a 200 is going to be better built than an F-150, and standard US-spec interior quality aside, what exactly about the 200 makes it go to 250k+ miles? I prowled around one at the dealer today and my mostly untrained eye didn't notice anything notably more robust.

I know that no vehicle is perfect, but what is the expectation for build quality at 80, 120, 160k miles?

I've done quite a bit of searching (in my lurking) and obviously everyone here loves their 200s and mx issues seem few and far between; I'm mostly looking for folks that can put it in context of 200 vs. Full Size US Truck.

Any other questions I should be asking?

Thanks all!
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Mooney,

I have owned land cruisers forever... I actually bought a 2016 platinum Ford F-150 to own along side my 2013 200. have had the f-150 for about 2 months.... Wow the build quality of my 2016 Ford F-150 is so sub par compared to the land cruiser... Fit, finish the way things work... Radar doesn't work as good, auto climate control sucks compared to LC, camera's aren't as accurate, parking sensors are not great, visibility not as good, seats not as good... Man I can keep going.... Actually I will computer on the ford is glitchy, the Windows wouldn't roll down the other day, the engine with 4000 miles squeaks when it turns off and on and on and on... Don't get me wrong the truck is nice, big back seat is nice, truck bed is nice, features and looks in my opinion is nicer than tundra's. But oh hell I actually do like my platinum... But will sell once the warranty runs out and maybe will get an updated tundra. That being said we are going on a 1500 mile trip and yes we will be taking the land cruiser over the Ford F-150... My 2 cents, Toyota is just built better!!!!!!!!!

Space on the truck is nicer but land cruiser gives us plenty of room
 
As has been mentioned, if you need the bed space get a trailer (you don't want to go putting messy crap in the back of your cruiser afterall).

Apart from the extreme capability of a cruiser not found in an F150 I think you have identified most of the reasons why Cruisers make such a compelling choice, at least for the discerning and knowledgeable :) Its a whole lot of little annoying things that in aggregate make you want to upgrade your 150 that you just wont find with a cruiser. Rattles and squeaks, trims falling off, window actuators sticking and failing, door hinges dropping, and rust will be a thing of the past. And if you treat it right and service it regularly the engine will outlive you. They just make them to last, every little detail is tougher and better designed. If and/or when you do come to sell it, chances are good it will pass to another 'smarter than your average bear' kind of guy who will appreciate its undying class and who will pay you a premium for the privilege. I am reminded of the anecdotal evidence of cruiser value retention compared even to other apparently top class 4x4s. Buy a new Range Rover and pay a 50 % premium over a new cruiser. - After 5 years and similar miles the cruiser is worth 50% more than the range rover. If you decide you do really need a full size pickup perhaps look at a Tundra.
 
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Billfish said:
As has been mentioned, if you need the bed space get a trailer (you don't want to go putting messy crap in the back of your cruiser afterall).

Apart from the extreme capability of a cruiser not found in an F150 I think you have identified most of the reasons why Cruisers make such a compelling choice, at least for the discerning and knowledgeable :) Its a whole lot of little annoying things that in aggregate make you want to upgrade your 150 that you just wont find with a cruiser. Rattles and squeaks, trims falling off, window actuators sticking and failing, door hinges dropping, and rust will be a thing of the past. And if you treat it right and service it regularly the engine will outlive you. They just make them to last, every little detail is tougher and better designed. If and/or when you do come to sell it, chances are good it will pass to another 'smarter than your average bear' kind of guy who will appreciate its undying class and who will pay you a premium for the privilege. I am reminded of the anecdotal evidence of cruiser value retention compared even to other apparently top class 4x4s. Buy a new Range Rover and pay a 50 % premium over a new cruiser. - After 5 years and similar miles the cruiser is worth 50% more than the range rover. If you decide you do really need a full size pickup perhaps look at a Tundra.
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Or buy a second hand pickup to go along with the LC for hauling stuff. I use my mother-in-law's 25+ year old Toyota that runs like a top. Sitting outside all of its life it doesn't look great but it runs well and they are a dime a dozen.
 
Great call on the trailer. I was driving by a few trailer dealers(?) on my way home from downtown today and that thought occurred to me.

I went to a dealer that was selling a 2015 today and sat in it - and really gave it a good sit. My biggest concern is the backseat room. I never really considered that the reclining of the back seats almost makes up for the loss of leg room. I commute to Washington DC for work and I'm on a plane at least 5 times each way a month - and the back seats, when appropriately reclined are on par with a domestic mainline first class seat in terms of space and legroom. The LC is more comfortable too, and less sat in... I hope! The rest of the vehicle seemed like a 4WD version of an LS460 - or whatever Lexus is calling their version of the S-Class these days.

A big thanks for all the current and past 1/2 ton owners chiming in. Just what I was looking for.
 
Rando Kuruza said:
Fit, finish the way things work... Radar doesn't work as good, auto climate control sucks compared to LC, camera's aren't as accurate, parking sensors are not great, visibility not as good, seats not as good... Man I can keep going.... Actually I will computer on the ford is glitchy, the Windows wouldn't roll down the other day, the engine with 4000 miles squeaks when it turns off and on and on and on...
Click to expand...

Then why oh why do people actually give over their money to have one. I have to know.
 
mooneywa said:
Great call on the trailer. I was driving by a few trailer dealers(?) on my way home from downtown today and that thought occurred to me.

I went to a dealer that was selling a 2015 today and sat in it - and really gave it a good sit. My biggest concern is the backseat room. I never really considered that the reclining of the back seats almost makes up for the loss of leg room. I commute to Washington DC for work and I'm on a plane at least 5 times each way a month - and the back seats, when appropriately reclined are on par with a domestic mainline first class seat in terms of space and legroom. The LC is more comfortable too, and less sat in... I hope! The rest of the vehicle seemed like a 4WD version of an LS460 - or whatever Lexus is calling their version of the S-Class these days.

A big thanks for all the current and past 1/2 ton owners chiming in. Just what I was looking for.
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About rear legroom...
Some people don't realize the second row seats in the LC can be moved forward and backward. You pull up in front of the seats while seated, and they slide. Also, don't forget they recline quite nicely too. Are you sure they weren't just pushed forward? It makes a huge difference.
 
I don't have much to add to this other than to say that I, too, came from a 2013 Tundra crewmax limited over to a 2015 LC.

There were some downsides in my opinion.

The Tundra felt bigger inside. The center console was huge, and now I only have a cooler for a center console. Interior storage/cubbies, etc. are basically non-existent in the LC.

The Tundra felt a lot more powerful for some reason. Less weight over the tires? Less weight overall, 2wd vs. full time 4wd? Whatever the reason, my LC doesn't feel like it has the power I know it has. Maybe I just don't push it like I pushed the truck, I don't know.

The Land Cruiser headliner drives me nuts- at least mine. It's this light gray material that I swear is designed only to absorb and show off dirt. Pretty disappointed with that material choice by Toyota.

There are other minor gripes that you might share coming from a fully loaded truck. But they are minor.

As others have said, it's a bank vault with wheels. The experience of owning and driving it is serene and stress-free. You also won't see many on the road-especially if you do any mods.

It feels like a truck (and has a reputation to back this up) that was built with the idea "how can we build the best and toughest land cruiser" vs. "how cheaply can we build this and still sell X units per year?"

Did I mention it does pretty well off road?
 
Interesting note about the power. I do appreciate the power of the EcoBoost that I have. I towed 7000lbs worth of household goods when moving and it was no fuss. What don't I appreciate? Turbo lag, valve coking, concern about sucking water into the intake from the intercooler. It appears that the HP is a little higher on the 5.7, the torque a little lower than the 3.5, and the curb weight of the LC about 300 lbs higher. That's not going to be a crazy difference. I also have a catch can on the EcoBoost. Every 500 miles - roughly every tank - I empty 3/4 of a solo cup of the nastiest fluid (some combo of gasoline, engine oil, and sulfuric acid) that has just been circulating around the PVC system.

I wonder how much of the perceived loss of power is the full time 4WD system?

When I look again, I'll have to adjust the rear seats fore and aft. I only noticed a recline function. Great to know.
 
Canyonero said:
The Tundra felt bigger inside.

The Tundra felt a lot more powerful for some reason. Less weight over the tires? Less weight overall, 2wd vs. full time 4wd? Whatever the reason, my LC doesn't feel like it has the power I know it has. Maybe I just don't push it like I pushed the truck, I don't know.
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The Sequoia feels bigger inside as well. Cavernous. My wife and I actually disliked it. No surprise that the Tundra would feel the same since I believe they're built on the same platform.

My LC will stuff you into the back seat if I mash the gas at a light, and it's stock. Make sure you have "ECT Power" on. Seriously my wife complains that she has to baby the gas pedal if I forget to turn it off when I get out of the truck. If yours still feels like a dog, you might start by disconnecting the battery to reset the ECU, and then driving it like it's stolen for a few miles. 2WD vs 4WD will make a difference in perceived power (my old Acura would go into FWD-only mode if a sensor went bad and while I couldn't spin the tires when it was operating normally in AWD mode if it was in FWD I'd easily spin them and the power delivery felt different)
 
For those days when I need to haul something large, like this morning. Son's girlfriend having to move some sofas into storage.

If I had to choose between a pick up and my LC, I'd go with the LC.

2075 (Large).webp
 
mooneywa said:
Interesting note about the power. I do appreciate the power of the EcoBoost that I have. I towed 7000lbs worth of household goods when moving and it was no fuss. What don't I appreciate? Turbo lag, valve coking, concern about sucking water into the intake from the intercooler. It appears that the HP is a little higher on the 5.7, the torque a little lower than the 3.5, and the curb weight of the LC about 300 lbs higher. That's not going to be a crazy difference. I also have a catch can on the EcoBoost. Every 500 miles - roughly every tank - I empty 3/4 of a solo cup of the nastiest fluid (some combo of gasoline, engine oil, and sulfuric acid) that has just been circulating around the PVC system.

I wonder how much of the perceived loss of power is the full time 4WD system?

When I look again, I'll have to adjust the rear seats fore and aft. I only noticed a recline function. Great to know.
Click to expand...

Re power... The flip side to that is... Compared to the Land Cruiser 100 series?
-The 200 feels like a rocket. WAY more power!
 
Well I pulled the trigger: Picked up a 2015 200 on Saturday and drove it home. Found it in northern Ohio and got to know it pretty well driving back to Texas. I wanted something less than 20K miles and while I would have been pretty happy with black or silver, I really wanted grey. For the amount these things cost, I didn't want to settle and thus the drive. At the time, there was only one other grey one for sale and it was all the way in Oregon. YES YES I know... picture. I will get to it. A couple thoughts and questions:

1) The doors close with Authority.

2) Hand calculated driving back using gal at the pump and gps: 19.9 MPG with cruise set at 75mph. This is astonishing to me. I was happy to get 16 on my F-150 at the same speed. I figured I'd be happy to get 16 as well. I will admit there was no headwind, but there wasn't much of a tailwind to speak of either. Flags weren't flapping either way.

3) Ok so I've read some posts about the absolutely ludicrous fuel guage. It showed me on the edge of empty and I only filled up 17.x gallons. I drove 18 miles with the fuel light on and still filled up just under 20 gallons. Is there anything that can be adjusted? Did we find a fix?

4) The only other complaint is the lack of OTTS turn signals. AKA - one touch, 3 blink. I saw briefly some mods to the relay that can be done. Has anyone actually done this? I know this is seriously a first world problem, but man you really get used to them on the highway.

5) The ride is incredible. The stability over bumps and uneven terrain is just drastically better than my Fox 2.0 equipped F-150

6) Plans: not really much I want to do in the near term besides weather tech mats - when it comes time for new tires I'll look at the BFG A/T KOs and a level. Oh and most importantly drive it, enjoy it, and forget about the sting of cutting the check!

7) Last but not least, I've seen some Houstonians around here. Best dealer in the area to work on LCs?

Thanks for the help all.
 
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