Keep Your 200 (2 Viewers)

[Zill]

This past weekend, we decided to sell our 2024 heritage blue 250 FE and will continue enjoying our 2016 200 series. We put 9k miles on the 250, and thankfully didn’t lose our shirt on the deal. The First Edition held its value very well and we lost around 3k once all was said and done.

The 250 is by no means a bad car, but on a whole (and this goes for really any new modern car, not just Toyota) they ripped much of the soul and character out of these new cars. With the incessant driving nannies driven by insurance lobbyists (especially when a single snow flake blocks a sensor and the car constantly dings at you), cheapening of materials (the 250 looks great, but when you dig under the skin, you realize much of it is fake and built like a tin can to save weight), and overall synthetic driving experience. You really start to realize that modern day cars are not an upgrade. In fact, they’re a downgrade in many ways because they’re full of inherent compromises and half baked ideas.

The 200 series is really the last of its kind, and nothing will ever be built like these brutes in the future. I intend to hold on to the 200 LC and will likely add a newer/low mileage LX 570 to the fleet down the road.

If any of you are considering moving from a 200 series into the new generation, I would highly recommend you take a step back and do your homework on if these compromises can be tolerated. Once you’re spoiled by driving the 200, it’s hard to give it up.

 

[coleAK]

This past weekend, we decided to sell our 2024 heritage blue 250 FE and will continue enjoying our 2016 200 series. We put 9k miles on the 250, and thankfully didn’t lose our shirt on the deal. The First Edition held its value very well and we lost around 3k once all was said and done.

The 250 is by no means a bad car, but on a whole (and this goes for really any new modern car, not just Toyota) they ripped much of the soul and character out of these new cars. With the incessant driving nannies driven by insurance lobbyists (especially when a single snow flake blocks a sensor and the car constantly dings at you), cheapening of materials (the 250 looks great, but when you dig under the skin, you realize much of it is fake and built like a tin can to save weight), and overall synthetic driving experience. You really start to realize that modern day cars are not an upgrade. In fact, they’re a downgrade in many ways because they’re full of inherent compromises and half baked ideas.

The 200 series is really the last of its kind, and nothing will ever be built like these brutes in the future. I intend to hold on to the 200 LC and will likely add a newer/low mileage LX 570 to the fleet down the road.

If any of you are considering moving from a 200 series into the new generation, I would highly recommend you take a step back and do your homework on if these compromises can be tolerated. Once you’re spoiled by driving the 200, it’s hard to give it up.

I work with a guy that got one of the first GX550s up here. He had an 80 and 100 prior. Already got rid of it for some of the same reasons you mention.

 

[manofthewoods]

This past weekend, we decided to sell our 2024 heritage blue 250 FE and will continue enjoying our 2016 200 series. We put 9k miles on the 250, and thankfully didn’t lose our shirt on the deal. The First Edition held its value very well and we lost around 3k once all was said and done.

The 250 is by no means a bad car, but on a whole (and this goes for really any new modern car, not just Toyota) they ripped much of the soul and character out of these new cars. With the incessant driving nannies driven by insurance lobbyists (especially when a single snow flake blocks a sensor and the car constantly dings at you), cheapening of materials (the 250 looks great, but when you dig under the skin, you realize much of it is fake and built like a tin can to save weight), and overall synthetic driving experience. You really start to realize that modern day cars are not an upgrade. In fact, they’re a downgrade in many ways because they’re full of inherent compromises and half baked ideas.

The 200 series is really the last of its kind, and nothing will ever be built like these brutes in the future. I intend to hold on to the 200 LC and will likely add a newer/low mileage LX 570 to the fleet down the road.

If any of you are considering moving from a 200 series into the new generation, I would highly recommend you take a step back and do your homework on if these compromises can be tolerated. Once you’re spoiled by driving the 200, it’s hard to give it up.

I bought my 200 brand new.
Loved it so much I bought a 80 series with only 372k miles.
Both love gas stations, but, drink the cheap stuff.
Since I completely rebuilt the 80 (LX). I trust it in the boondocks more than I would a hybrid Prado.

 

[Zill]

I work with a guy that got one of the first GX550s up here. He had an 80 and 100 prior. Already got rid of it for some of the same reasons you mention.

I’m not surprised by that.

At first, most of these issues didn’t bother me much, but the more time you spend with the vehicle, the more glaring the issues become.

The 250 is a 40k base vehicle with 25-35k worth of gimmicky features added on that are not well executed.

The LC 200 is based on a much more expensive base platform, and the added luxury creature comforts are well executed and not over the top and intrusive. It’s really the pinnacle of automotive engineering.

 

[Zill]

I bought my 200 brand new.
Loved it so much I bought a 80 series with only 372k miles.
Both love gas stations, but, drink the cheap stuff.
Since I completely rebuilt the 80 (LX). I trust it in the boondocks more than I would a hybrid Prado.

Very true. I have to laugh at the “only” 372k miles.

And here’s some other harsh truths of the 250.

It requires premium fuel when the Tacoma doesn’t, but then it produces the exact same power rating?

And then in the winter, the 250 averages 18-19 mpg. By the way, it takes 10-15 minutes of driving until the cabin warms up due to the small displacement engine. In the 200, it takes a couple of minutes…

At 18-19 mpg, once you factor in the premium fuel surcharge, it’s a slight savings in fuel costs compared to the V8.

Don’t get me started on the small 17.9 gallon fuel tank in the 250 as well.

Edit: The long 250 warm up time may not be related to the small engine displacement concept if it’s burning similar amounts of fuel compared to the V8 (laws of thermodynamics), and it may be because Toyota now uses solenoids to block off certain coolant passage ways to warm up specific parts of the engine to meet emission standards… at the expense of leaving the passengers in the cold for longer since warm coolant is being bypassed from the heater core.

 

[ryanCA]

Yay another love 200 and hate 250 thread. Last one got locked up by the mods

I got almost 300k on my 200. Gonna keep till 500, even if I need to change Head Gaskets yearly

cant afford the POS 250

 

[Zill]

Yay another love 200 and hate 250 thread. Last one got locked up by the mods

I got almost 300k on my 200. Gonna keep till 500, even if I need to change Head Gaskets yearly

cant afford the POS 250

Let’s hope this one doesn’t get shut down haha.

I do think it’s important to point out the drawbacks so people are aware of them prior to purchasing a vehicle. The 200 has some too, but they’re much more tolerable.

One of my only gripes with the 200 is the heavy steering, but you get used to it if it’s the only car you drive.

The 200 potential weak repair points are well documented, and generally fairly easy to fix to keep these rigs on the road. Aside from your favorite head gasket issue

 

[ryanCA]

Let’s hope this one doesn’t get shut down haha.

I do think it’s important to point out the drawbacks so people are aware of them prior to purchasing a vehicle. The 200 has some too, but they’re much more tolerable.

One of my only gripes with the 200 is the heavy steering, but you get used to it if it’s the only car you drive.

The 200 potential weak repair points are well documented, and generally fairly easy to fix to keep these rigs on the road.

the 08 has very soft steering - exactly like us soft owners

most people dont know that as they are not poor and do not buy the 08 especially since its so ugly

is my 08 as smooth steering soft as my 67 one pinky caddy deville steering? no

but it is a very soft steering compared to other japanese cars

of course the 200 being a low quality LC let me down at 263k miles and the steering rack let go

having replaced with a oem new rack - toyota has changed it - so now my steering is hard - like the good looking 2016+ owners, and us owners now have hard steering which cost more than a year supply of cialis. in my old age, i dont need to be hard by myself. but toyota wont let me have it any other way. hard or nothing they tell me

if we are to make a thread as a public service to warn people to stop making bad purchases shouldnt we make threads about pos Range Rovers and POs Wranglers and Broncos and Expeditions too?

Why sully ourselves with singular discrimination and hate of the 250 only!? MLK would not approve of such hate and nor should top of the world 200 series owner lower themselves to talk about the 250 . Notice Maria Shriver never spoke of the maid…

real men are hiding here

200-Series to 300-Series Pros and Cons

So, tell me why you guys think a slightly used/pampered 2023 LX600 (instead of a smoothie-maker engine 250 or a light duty GX550 Prados) is (or is not) a good replacement for a 200? This would be for the occasional road trip offroad once or twice a year and the other 70% on road duties. I have...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Zill]

the 08 has very soft steering

most people dont know that as they are not poor and do not buy the 08 especially since its so ugly

is my 08 as smooth steering soft as my 67 one pinky caddy deville steering? no

but it is a very soft steering compared to other japanese cars

of course the 200 being a low quality LC let me down at 263k miles and the steering rack let go

having replaced with a oem new rack - toyota has changed it - so now my steering is hard - like the good looking 2016+ owners

if we are to make a thread to warn people to stop making bad purchases shoulsnt we make threads about pos Range Rovers and POs Wranglers and Broncos and Expeditions too?

Why sully ourselves with singular discrimination and hate of the 250 only!? MLK would not approve of such hate and nor should top of the world 200 series owner lower themselves to talk about the 250 . Notice Maria Shriver never spoke of the maid…

I am sad they went to a heavy steering rack in the later models.

I mean, most people who own 200’s don’t own wranglers, broncos, and expeditions because they will run into the same compromised issues the 250 has. Cost cutting and half baked/rushed ideas to make maximum profits for the companies, and auto journalists are paid by the manufacturers to not truly criticize the vehicle so the mass populace is not aware of them until the money has left their pocket books, and they’re stuck with it.

In general, this discussion does pertain to 200 owners if they were contemplating moving to these new generation vehicles.

All I am saying, keep your 200 for as long as possible. Auto manufacturers will never make them like this again. It’s the end of an era.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

And then in the winter, the 250 averages 18-19 mpg. By the way, it takes 10-15 minutes of driving until the cabin warms up due to the small displacement engine. In the 200, it takes a couple of minutes…

The 200 has a special, dedicated heater which kicks in when the temperature delta between the actual interior temp and desired (set) is high enough. That's likely what you're getting the heat from. And yes, it's dope.

 

[ryanCA]

I am sad they went to a heavy steering rack in the later models.

I mean, most people who own 200’s don’t own wranglers, broncos, and expeditions because they will run into the same compromised issues the 250 has. Cost cutting and half baked/rushed ideas to make maximum profits for the companies, and auto journalists are paid by the manufacturers to not truly criticize the vehicle so the mass populace is not aware of them until the money has left their pocket books, and they’re stuck with it.

In general, this discussion does pertain to 200 owners if they were contemplating moving to these new generation vehicles.

All I am saying, keep your 200 for as long as possible. Auto manufacturers will never make them like this again. It’s the end of an era.

REAL 200 owners move to a 300. Never to a 250

 

[Zill]

The 200 has a special, dedicated heater which kicks in when the temperature delta between the actual interior temp and desired (set) is high enough. That's likely what you're getting the heat from. And yes, it's dope.

It is awesome and does help, but even my 2021 Tundra takes a little bit longer than the 200 (another minute or so). Definitely not the lethargic 15 minute 250 warm up time.

 

[ikarus]

I keep trying to get my wife to buy a new car to replace her 200 so I can inherit it and start building it. I finally got her to sit in a 250 and she just got in, said "ew" and got out hahaha

She doesn't mind the 550, but not enough to buy one. I'm gonna try to line up an LX700 test drive next, it's my only hope

 

[KLF]

My nephew waited for months for his new GX550 to arrive. He's had it for 3 months now, and it's been at the dealer for almost as much as he's had it. He's only put 600 miles on it. He's a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, and all the nanny computers are driving him nuts. So he goes back to driving the 20+ year old Corolla that has over 450k on it, but still runs fine.

Ya I'm keeping my 200 for as long as I can.

 

[Zill]

REAL 200 owners move to a 300. Never to a 250

The problem is, the 300 is compromised as well (not as bad as the 250 though).

It’s all a part of the modern day design of vehicles.

 

[Zill]

My nephew waited for months for his new GX550 to arrive. He's had it for 3 months now, and it's been at the dealer for almost as much as he's had it. He's only put 600 miles on it. He's a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, and all the nanny computers are driving him nuts. So he goes back to driving the 20+ year old Corolla that has over 450k on it, but still runs fine.

Ya I'm keeping my 200 for as long as I can.

Hell yeah! We have to keep these 200’s around and enjoy them as long as we can.

 

[ryanCA]

The problem is, the 300 is compromised as well (not as bad as the 250 though).

It’s all a part of the modern day design of vehicles.

everything but 200 is compromised

King of the hill - soul and all

 

[ryanCA]

I keep trying to get my wife to buy a new car to replace her 200 so I can inherit it and start building it. I finally got her to sit in a 250 and she just got in, said "ew" and got out hahaha

She doesn't mind the 550, but not enough to buy one. I'm gonna try to line up an LX700 test drive next, it's my only hope

EWW - 250

Let me know when your wife is single

Sounds like she is smart - unlike 250 owners

 

[ryanCA]

My nephew waited for months for his new GX550 to arrive. He's had it for 3 months now, and it's been at the dealer for almost as much as he's had it. He's only put 600 miles on it. He's a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, and all the nanny computers are driving him nuts. So he goes back to driving the 20+ year old Corolla that has over 450k on it, but still runs fine.

Ya I'm keeping my 200 for as long as I can.

bearing give out on motor?

 

[KLF]

bearing give out on motor?

Keeps throwing sensor codes on the dash. Dealer is doing the usual "parts cannon" approach.