I just drove the GX 550 and left disappointed.

[joseywales]

I finally got to see a 1958 in person in Idaho yesterday. Was to be the wife’s new ride. Her (and my) reaction to the 250?

Meh.

We left the dealer incredibly underwhelmed and discussing a used 200. We will wait and see what the new 4Runner brings.

 

[stonepa]

I just don’t understand Toyota / Lexus lack of color choices. Recently bought a new BMW X5M for my wife. We also looked at Range Rover and the LX/GX. She rightly pointed out that BMW and RR come in a wide range of colors. The LX and GX come in 2 shades of white, 2 shades of black, and 2 shades of silver. And Niori Green. Why no blue, red, cement, etc? While I would be fine with a green LX, the lack of colors definitely lost them a sale to my wife.

 

[M1911]

I just don’t understand Toyota / Lexus lack of color choices. Recently bought a new BMW X5M for my wife. We also looked at Range Rover and the LX/GX. She rightly pointed out that BMW and RR come in a wide range of colors. The LX and GX come in 2 shades of white, 2 shades of black, and 2 shades of silver. And Niori Green. Why no blue, red, cement, etc? While I would be fine with a green LX, the lack of colors definitely lost them a sale to my wife.

I’m also not a big fan of the color choices for the OT trim. I like the Nebula Gray, but that’s not available on the OT. I don’t care for the non-metallic gray — Incognito. A number of manufacturers are selling cars with that color, like BMW, but I just don’t care for it. I prefer metallic colors.

Black is right out for me — too hot and too hard to keep clean.

Oh well. As soon as I’m in charge I will fix it.

 

[SilverKast]

I enjoyed my test drive in the GX550 and had a deposit down since the day they were announced. They offered me one in a color I didn't want, so one of my family members took it and I picked it up for her. Really nice but lacks the excitement or "it" factor in a vehicle that makes me love it. If it was just for me and my wife to drive around and go places it would be ideal - nice and roomy, comfortable and quiet, nice driving experience. But it doesn't get me excited to go drive it in the least.

On top of that I'm tired of all the Toyota and Lexus sales staff acting like they're gate keeping the greatest thing since sliced bread (plus Toyota interest rates suck). It's like buying a Rolex where the dealer only wants to sell if you're some VIP customer and better than everyone else. Instead I cancelled my deposit and decided I'd wait a year or two. These things are mass produced and once the hype and low availability passes it will be much easier to deal with the purchase process.

My family has a fleet of Toyotas but I think maybe I'll try a Wrangler 392 for some fun, I've always had either Jeeps or Landcruisers, so maybe I'll just play around with one of those for a bit.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...On top of that I'm tired of all the Toyota and Lexus sales staff acting like they're gate keeping the greatest thing since sliced bread (plus Toyota interest rates suck). It's like buying a Rolex where the dealer only wants to sell if you're some VIP customer and better than everyone else. Instead I cancelled my deposit and decided I'd wait a year or two. These things are mass produced and once the hype and low availability passes it will be much easier to deal with the purchase process...

It will absolutely get back to the days of availability and dealers and sales reps will have to change their SOP. I've heard a few youtubers commenting how bad auto sales are because dealers have 5 or 10 of a popular model on their lots... imo they are finally getting past the supply<demand vs production conundrum and lots will fill back up. Our local dealers lot has been a ghost town for new 4x4 models the last few years, Lexus too. I look forward to the day we can go to a dealer and see a few different trims of a model and all the different colors at the same time. I believe it will come.

 

[ikarus]

I enjoyed my test drive in the GX550 and had a deposit down since the day they were announced. They offered me one in a color I didn't want, so one of my family members took it and I picked it up for her. Really nice but lacks the excitement or "it" factor in a vehicle that makes me love it. If it was just for me and my wife to drive around and go places it would be ideal - nice and roomy, comfortable and quiet, nice driving experience. But it doesn't get me excited to go drive it in the least.

On top of that I'm tired of all the Toyota and Lexus sales staff acting like they're gate keeping the greatest thing since sliced bread (plus Toyota interest rates suck). It's like buying a Rolex where the dealer only wants to sell if you're some VIP customer and better than everyone else. Instead I cancelled my deposit and decided I'd wait a year or two. These things are mass produced and once the hype and low availability passes it will be much easier to deal with the purchase process.

My family has a fleet of Toyotas but I think maybe I'll try a Wrangler 392 for some fun, I've always had either Jeeps or Landcruisers, so maybe I'll just play around with one of those for a bit.

It's almost comical how differently I get treated when I roll up to the dealership in my 200 HE vs my 80. I usually take the 80 now when I want salespeople to leave me alone. 200 if I want to test drive something

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It's almost comical how differently I get treated when I roll up to the dealership in my 200 HE vs my 80. I usually take the 80 now when I want salespeople to leave me alone. 200 if I want to test drive something

Sooooooooooo true.

 

[tincan45]

It's almost comical how differently I get treated when I roll up to the dealership in my 200 HE vs my 80. I usually take the 80 now when I want salespeople to leave me alone. 200 if I want to test drive something

This is real! I took the old 100 to pick up parts for the 200 last summer and stopped to check out a LX600. They never said a word to me. Totally different experience if I'm the GX or the LX. They are practically opening the door for me when I pull up.

 

[Knowbuddy]

It's almost comical how differently I get treated when I roll up to the dealership in my 200 HE vs my 80. I usually take the 80 now when I want salespeople to leave me alone. 200 if I want to test drive something

I think you need to make your 80 louder then. I always get salesmen coming out to ask me if I want to sell the 60. But maybe that's because they can hear it and see the sooty cloud from a mile away

 

[ikarus]

I think you need to make your 80 louder then. I always get salesmen coming out to ask me if I want to sell the 60. But maybe that's because they can hear it and see the sooty cloud from a mile away

It’s already got a 3” straight pipe I don’t know if I can go much louder!

Sometimes techs want to check it out though

 

[TheHighlander]

My LR4 has been the best vehicle I've ever owned, and that includes the FZJ80 that I had when it was only a few years old and daily drove for nearly a decade. I've had my LR4 now for almost 9 years and am just ready for something different. Thought about a Defender, but giving the 250 a shot instead.

That said, I'd stay away from the Ford/Rover 5.0 V8. It's what's in my LR4 and essentially the same engine that's in the Defender. It's been a great engine power-wise, but it still has the same plastic timing-chain guide issues that so many newer V8 engines have. Even further (and as I think you alluded to), Land Rover is switching the Defender V8 to the turbo BMW V8 that's currently in the newest Range Rover, and I'd stay real far away from that engine.

People I know who offroad the v8 Defender have said the engine is almost too powerful off road and hard to modulate. People think the P400 is really the best engine in the Defender.

You beat me to it RE the JLR V8 5.0. I have the SC variant in the Range Rover (L322), but the essentially used the same engine from 2010+ up until just recently -- when as you noted they are switching to the BMW Twin Turbo V8 (had it in the M6, M8, long term nightmare to maintain but very powerful when working). If you do the timing chain guides and replace the plastic coolant pipes with aftermarket aluminum ones they are actually pretty robustly built -- but if not addressed those two issues can kill the motor. Tons of character and fun in SC guise though...

From an LR4 though, if you are actually using all its storage abilities, I think you'd need to look at a Defender 130, TRD Pro Sequoia, or LC200 variant .... LC250/GX550 will be too small... LR4's space efficiency remains top class --- I sometimes ponder getting a low mile 2013 LR4 (before the switch to the SCV6 versus the 5.0 V8).

On the LC side, my plan for now is to replace the LX470 with a late model LX570 once they drop a little more in price..

 

[ryanjl]

From an LR4 though, if you are actually using all its storage abilities, I think you'd need to look at a Defender 130, TRD Pro Sequoia, or LC200 variant .... LC250/GX550 will be too small... LR4's space efficiency remains top class --- I sometimes ponder getting a low mile 2013 LR4 (before the switch to the SCV6 versus the 5.0 V8).

I have yet to see a 250 in person but have a deposit on one. We will see. Reports are they are bigger than they look in pictures. They look about the same size as an 80 series, which is fine with me. It's just me, my wife, my dog, and a whole bunch of mountain biking/hiking stuff whenever we go to Colorado, so that's all I really need space for.

I don't aesthetically care for the 130, and the 130 robs the Defender of one of its key design advantages - rear departure angle. If I went Defender, it would be the 110.

 

[TheHighlander]

I have yet to see a 250 in person but have a deposit on one. We will see. Reports are they are bigger than they look in pictures. They look about the same size as an 80 series, which is fine with me. It's just me, my wife, my dog, and a whole bunch of mountain biking/hiking stuff whenever we go to Colorado, so that's all I really need space for.

I don't aesthetically care for the 130, and the 130 robs the Defender of one of its key design advantages - rear departure angle. If I went Defender, it would be the 110.

Got it! I have dogs too, but Mastiffs -- so I need at least one vehicle with the expansive cargo volume
Very interested to hear your eventual take on the L250, coming from the modern Defender 110.

 

[M1911]

Got it! I have dogs too, but Mastiffs -- so I need at least one vehicle with the expansive cargo volume
Very interested to hear your eventual take on the L250, coming from the modern Defender 110.

Now those are real dogs.

 

[AndrewTK]

Got it! I have dogs too, but Mastiffs -- so I need at least one vehicle with the expansive cargo volume
Very interested to hear your eventual take on the L250, coming from the modern Defender 110.

We also have Mastiffs (2 of them). I have been in a 5th gen 4Runner for 9 years and am shopping for a replacement now. I think the cargo area in the 250 is similar in size to the 4Runner but looses a bit of volume due to the battery. I looked a one 2 weeks ago, I have concerns with how flimsy the storage covers are on the areas around the battery when I factor a 200lb dog stepping on it. We have been seriously looking at a Defender 110 as well but it has a smaller cargo footprint than the 4Runner so it may not work. I think the 130 has the space we would want but I don’t care for the proportions, I think the 110 looks better.

 

[ryanjl]

We used to have a 185lb European great dane. He lived until just a few days short of his 10th birthday. Now we have an 85lb rescue. It's easier to have him ride in the middle row and use the back for packing. My LR4 has the OE cargo/dog guard that separates the back from the front so I can pile things high in the back without any fear. There's also a shelf up high that I use for lighter things, first aid kits, mountain biking gloves, flashlights, etc. I can also hang my mountain biking helmets from it to let them air out after a ride before I pack them away.

I have a set of drawers that I was using in my LR4 (the picture was right after I got them and before I secured them). I just took them out prior to me listing it for sale. I believe they will fit in the 250, but I am not sure.

 

[rexington14]

On the LC side, my plan for now is to replace the LX470 with a late model LX570 once they drop a little more in price..

I have a 100 as well, and I couldn't see myself replacing it with a late model 200, now that LC250s and GX550s are available.

It's quite a unique point in time as Toyota's BOF 4x4's all get redesigns within a very short period. This is Toyota's move to TNGA paying off, big time. IMO later model 200 values are going to drop like a stone over the next few years as 250s, GX550s (even 4R's? - lol) proliferate the market. Hard to think of a worse time to get into a later year 200 than right now.

Beyond that, IMO going from a 100 to a recent year 200 and particularly one gasser 4.7 V8 to another gasser 5.7 V8 - there's just really not enough reasons for me to do it considering the new alternatives now available. The biggest reasons I can think of are: "lower miles, newer rubber, some more power". Between the 2 legacy vehicles, the 100 drives better, the 4.7 is a more reliable drivetrain (not that the 5.7 isn't reliable), and the 100 is easier to work on over long term ownership.

However, to instead jump directly to a 250 or a 550 seems way more compelling: far superior performance (particulary the V6 TT), way better tech, better or equivalent ride & build quality, size / nimbleness is ideal, they will be mass produced (parts availability, long term support), warranty, etc.

A used 100 was our first LC. A new, maybe slightly used LC250 or a GX550 will be our next one. As great as the LC200 is, we'll be skipping over it.

 

[WkndProject]

IMO later model 200 values are going to drop like a stone over the next few years as 250s, GX550s (even 4R's? - lol)

This is why I’m currently at the dealer trading mine for an LX. It held value remarkably well, but has dropped $8k in 6 months (yes, last year it was worth more than I paid). It was time to move on while the value was near what I paid 3.5 years ago.

 

[1NTRANSIT]

I have a 100 as well, and I couldn't see myself replacing it with a late model 200, now that LC250s and GX550s are available.

It's quite a unique point in time as Toyota's BOF 4x4's all get redesigns within a very short period. This is Toyota's move to TNGA paying off, big time. IMO later model 200 values are going to drop like a stone over the next few years as 250s, GX550s (even 4R's? - lol) proliferate the market. Hard to think of a worse time to get into a later year 200 than right now.

Beyond that, IMO going from a 100 to a recent year 200 and particularly one gasser 4.7 V8 to another gasser 5.7 V8 - there's just really not enough reasons for me to do it considering the new alternatives now available. The biggest reasons I can think of are: "lower miles, newer rubber, some more power". Between the 2 legacy vehicles, the 100 drives better, the 4.7 is a more reliable drivetrain (not that the 5.7 isn't reliable), and the 100 is easier to work on over long term ownership.

However, to instead jump directly to a 250 or a 550 seems way more compelling: far superior performance (particulary the V6 TT), way better tech, better or equivalent ride & build quality, size / nimbleness is ideal, they will be mass produced (parts availability, long term support), warranty, etc.

A used 100 was our first LC. A new, maybe slightly used LC250 or a GX550 will be our next one. As great as the LC200 is, we'll be skipping over it.

Man I’m in the exact same boat.

 

[Specialeyes]

I just don’t understand Toyota / Lexus lack of color choices. Recently bought a new BMW X5M for my wife. We also looked at Range Rover and the LX/GX. She rightly pointed out that BMW and RR come in a wide range of colors. The LX and GX come in 2 shades of white, 2 shades of black, and 2 shades of silver. And Niori Green. Why no blue, red, cement, etc? While I would be fine with a green LX, the lack of colors definitely lost them a sale to my wife.

Where'd The Fun Colors Go? 80% Of New Cars Now Grayscale | Carscoops

New car buyers are showing very little interest in ordering vehicles with colorful paint schemes

www.carscoops.com