I still love my '16 4Runner so...

[Swampmonger]

About the 4R V6 vs the LC V8...my test drive only consisted of a five mile loop with a quick jaunt on the highway. I drove it like I drive my T4R--like a granny with the Eco light on. The acceleration felt almost exactly the same. I'm assuming the extra power of the V8 you all talk about is when its really needed like driving in the mountains, off-road, or towing?

 

[Markuson]

About the 4R V6 vs the LC V8...my test drive only consisted of a five mile loop with a quick jaunt on the highway. I drove it like I drive my T4R--like a granny with the Eco light on. The acceleration felt almost exactly the same. I'm assuming the extra power of the V8 you all talk about is when its really needed like driving in the mountains, off-road, or towing?

Pull over on the highway...then floor it from 0-60. It's a beast for its size/weight.

Or...floor it at 55 in PWR mode to let it down-shift a couple gears. Passing power is wildly better, considering it's a 3 ton truck.

 

[Swampmonger]

Pull over on the highway...then floor it from 0-60. It's a beast for its size/weight.

Or...floor it at 55 in PWR mode to let it down-shift a couple gears. Passing power is wildly better, considering it's a 3 ton truck.

That makes sense. I'm generally happy with my 4Runner's power, but trying to pass uphill sucks.

 

[allan man]

 

[Swampmonger]

Oh...and for the record folks...you're doing a horrible job pulling me back from the ledge.

 

[Markuson]

Oh...and for the record folks...you're doing a horrible job pulling me back from the ledge.

We don't believe in "PULLING BACK FROM THE LEDGE" around here...

 

[EPUro2019]

Pull over on the highway...then floor it from 0-60. It's a beast for its size/weight.

Or...floor it at 55 in PWR mode to let it down-shift a couple gears. Passing power is wildly better, considering it's a 3 ton truck.

Totally agree. The 4r feels like it never wants to get going, the 200 is remarkably quick.

 

[M1911]

The one of the only things I don't like about GXs is that awful barn door. The split gate on the LC is sooo much better. Otherwise the GX is a decent vehicle, like a 200's adorable little sister

I test drove the GX460 three times. But I found it had several drawbacks for me.

1) As you said, the barn door sucks.
2) Thick D-pillar results in a big blind spot.
3) It has a relatively low roof and high beltline, making it seem somewhat cave-like inside.
4) It had poor visibility for overhead traffic lights.
5) I found the driver's seat to be uncomfortable. The edge of the seat cushion seemed to dig into my legs.
6) The fold-flat rear seats really cut down on cargo space. With the 2nd and 3rd rows down, the GX460 only has 60 cu ft. Both the LC 200 and 5th Gen 4Runner (without third row seats) have 80 cu ft.
7) The base GX460 is really decontented. To get the options I wanted I would have been up around $65k. I found a 2-year-old CPO LC 200 for about the same price, and I liked it a lot more than the GX.
8) The 4.6 V8 was smooth, but didn't seem to have that much power.

 

[M1911]

Totally agree. The 4r feels like it never wants to get going, the 200 is remarkably quick.

The 4Runner's V6 doesn't have much torque down low, and it needs at least a couple more gears -- it still has an ancient 5-speed transmission. It is probably as fast 0-60 as my old '03 V8 4Runner (mid 7-second), but I found it to be unpleasant. The V6 is rather loud and coarse when pushed, and you really have to wind it to high revs to get the truck to move.

The LC has a bunch more torque at low RPMs, so you can squirt away from a stop quickly without using a lot of revs. And if you do use more revs, the 5.7 V8 is still a lot more refined the 4Runner's V6, IMO.

I test drove the 2015/2016 4Runner three times. I wanted to like it, but I just didn't like that drivetrain.

 

[mcgaskins]

About the 4R V6 vs the LC V8...my test drive only consisted of a five mile loop with a quick jaunt on the highway. I drove it like I drive my T4R--like a granny with the Eco light on. The acceleration felt almost exactly the same. I'm assuming the extra power of the V8 you all talk about is when its really needed like driving in the mountains, off-road, or towing?

So you drove it slow and in eco mode and it felt slow? Huh imagine that! Any car you drive slowly/casually in eco mode will feel pretty different than when you're really driving it. There is absolutely no comparison between the 4Runner and 200.

 

[Markuson]

So you drove it slow and in eco mode and it felt slow? Huh imagine that! Any car you drive slowly/casually in eco mode will feel pretty different than when you're really driving it. There is absolutely no comparison between the 4Runner and 200.

Heehee... I was thinking same.

 

[Swampmonger]

So you drove it slow and in eco mode and it felt slow? Huh imagine that! Any car you drive slowly/casually in eco mode will feel pretty different than when you're really driving it. There is absolutely no comparison between the 4Runner and 200.

Heehee... I was thinking same.

"Really driving it", for me, is exactly how I described: right lane, speed limit, Eco light. Believe it or not I do get everywhere I need to go when I need to be there driving that way.

 

[Markuson]

"Really driving it", for me, is exactly how I described: right lane, speed limit, Eco light. Believe it or not I do get everywhere I need to go when I need to be there driving that way.

Nothing wrong with driving that way. It's just that it's not going to help you compare power between the two vehicles.

 

[mcgaskins]

"Really driving it", for me, is exactly how I described: right lane, speed limit, Eco light. Believe it or not I do get everywhere I need to go when I need to be there driving that way.

Ok...so if that's what works for you in your 4runner why are you interested in changing? One of the biggest advantages of a 200 is the power - acceleration, passing, towing, torque off the line - so it honestly doesn't sound like the upgrade is worth the big cost increase for you.

 

[TeCKis300]

The net difference in speed between the 4runner and LC is not that dramatic. They both are low to mid 7 second vehicles, and roughly low 15 seconds 1/4 times. Neither is going to take a Honda Accord for example.

Though the Land Cruiser does have the straightline edge, low end grunt for day to day driving, and is smoother by nature of it being a V8. When loaded, the LC will again have more power and reserve.

Honestly, I can't knock the 4Runner. If that's the money you want to spend, it's arguably the best in it's class in my mind. Same for the GX.

If you have money to burn, need space, or really admire the heavy duty nature of the LC, that's where it's at.

Though I will say my 2005 VVTi V8 4Runner was by far the fastest of the bunch back in they day they offered the V8 motor, which only the GX has now.

On another note, I think the GX barn door get a bad rap. It's super easy to use and glides open/closed. There's no supporting or pulling effort to open or close as there is on a hatch or clamshell, and only one door/latch to bother with. I've used all 3 door configs between the 4runner/GX/LX. They all have their pros for various reasons.

EDIT: Can't take credit for this GX...just found on web:
Featured Vehicle: Adventure Driven’s Lexus GX 470

 

[ga12r1]

Ok...so if that's what works for you in your 4runner why are you interested in changing? One of the biggest advantages of a 200 is the power - acceleration, passing, towing, torque off the line - so it honestly doesn't sound like the upgrade is worth the big cost increase for you.

Coming from a 5th gen 4Runner to 100 series and now in the market for a 200 I can say that for me power doesn't have a lot to do with it. It helps ,but it's more a combination of things. Reliability, build quality, capability, history, and dare I say... a certain mistique

 

[Markuson]

Regarding power...I think the biggest jump in my experience lies between the 100 series' smaller V8 at 230hp and the 5.7 V8 of the 200 381hp. I drove my 100 until it was 16 years old...and the difference in power between the US version of the 100 and the US version of the 200 was/is yuuuge....as in, grab-your-attention yuuuge.

 

[mark71]

The net difference in speed between the 4runner and LC is not that dramatic. They both are low to mid 7 second vehicles, and roughly low 15 seconds 1/4 times. Neither is going to take a Honda Accord for example.

Though the Land Cruiser does have the straightline edge, low end grunt for day to day driving, and is smoother by nature of it being a V8. When loaded, the LC will again have more power and reserve.

Honestly, I can't knock the 4Runner. If that's the money you want to spend, it's arguably the best in it's class in my mind. Same for the GX.

If you have money to burn, need space, or really admire the heavy duty nature of the LC, that's where it's at.

Though I will say my 2005 VVTi V8 4Runner was by far the fastest of the bunch back in they day they offered the V8 motor, which only the GX has now.

On another note, I think the GX barn door get a bad rap. It's super easy to use and glides open/closed. There's no supporting or pulling effort to open or close as there is on a hatch or clamshell, and only one door/latch to bother with. I've used all 3 door configs between the 4runner/GX/LX. They all have their pros for various reasons.

Featured Vehicle: Adventure Driven’s Lexus GX 470
View attachment 1449328

Nice set up.

What I love the most with the LC rear, and the reason I kept shopping after seeing the GX doors, is that I can stand back there going through my drawers and not get rained on. A HUGE plus here in Washington.

 

[Swampmonger]

Ok...so if that's what works for you in your 4runner why are you interested in changing? One of the biggest advantages of a 200 is the power - acceleration, passing, towing, torque off the line - so it honestly doesn't sound like the upgrade is worth the big cost increase for you.

Believe me, I know I don't need an LC, but, then again, I don't even need a 4Runner. Hell, my girlfriend's Tacoma 4x4 4cyl/5mt goes everywhere we really want to go...for now.

 

[ga12r1]

Believe me, I know I don't need an LC, but, then again, I don't even need a 4Runner. Hell, my girlfriend's Tacoma 4x4 4cyl/5mt goes everywhere we really want to go...for now.

I may have missed it, but what trim is your 4runner? SR5, trail, trail premium, trd pro, limited?