Keep Your 200 (2 Viewers)

[Zill]

aaaah got it! They rather have $16/hr mechanics rebuild their V6TT once the bearings let go

All while the customer pays $200+ an hour so the dealer owners can profit boat loads of $$$.

It’s mainly what has driven away so much talent in the automotive repair field, and then we are left with a bad dealer experience. Especially when the techs need to touch these heaping pile of spaghetti string engine bays without adequate training.

 

[Hardazclay]

most people I know... do the Return on time calculation

they can make $$2500 for taking a call.. they would not want to spend the same time doing a head gasket

then again they are smarter than I am

Are these people lawyers? I've never met someone who considered opportunity cost in regards to working on their vehicle. The average NPC who gets all their maintenance done by a mechanic scroll social media while they wait.

 

[Oakleyguy]

No. Shared architecture does not mean shared parts.

They share commonality of concepts and interface designs such that major components are compatible with the potential for mixing and matching. The actual parts are different.

They have different chassis. Different cabs. Different suspension components etc.

It's not unlike the 200-series relation to the second gen Tundra and Sequoia. Certain components are similar or even shared, but chassis, cab, suspension, etc are bespoke.

The new TNGA-F architecture is just branded but confuses media who perpetuate these misunderstandings.

Shout this from the rooftops!!!!!

Something I said in the past on the GX vs LX:

I'm going to say this again.

The frame is the same platform/family, which means it has a common layout, mounting points and methodology. HOWEVER the frames between the LX and GX are NOT the same. The TNGA-F is a standard blueprint from which vehicle was developed from and each vehicle was customized based on its design target.

Saying the 300/250/Tundra/Taco/4rnr are all on the same frame is similar to saying that all of us here on the forum are humans and thus we are the same.

 

[OregonLC]

Especially when the techs need to touch these heaping pile of spaghetti string engine bays without adequate training.

That was the 1980s. Since OBDII the job of servicing internal combustion has become much easier; plug in a tool to diagnose and then replace the defective part.

The problems today are with the complexity of hybrid systems and the fragility of diesel emissions.

 

[Zill]

Shout this from the rooftops!!!!!

Something I said in the past on the GX vs LX:

I do look forward to hearing how your experience goes with the LX 700h. Hopefully it’s better than the 550 you had.

Once these 200 parts dry up in the next 10-15 years, we may be forced to move on from this platform and hopefully there’s a decent replacement vehicle at that time.

 

[Oakleyguy]

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.

Adding on, I was the first GXOT at my dealer and recently sold it (for profit) with 6000 miles on it. It was an amazing truck, was a champ on the trails during LCDC.

But, that special spark was missing. The LX600 I drove for a couple hours had it (with exception of the tailgate).

And now, I'll be picking up the first LX7 Overtrail at my dealer in about 4 weeks.

 

[ryanCA]

All while the customer pays $200+ an hour so the dealer owners can profit boat loads of $$$.

It’s mainly what has driven away so much talent in the automotive repair field, and then we are left with a bad dealer experience. Especially when the techs need to touch these heaping pile of spaghetti string engine bays without adequate training.

well said

i dont understand if dealer monkeys cant be trusted to change oil (per this forum)- how can they be trusted to put new motors in that are failing left and right?

 

[ryanCA]

Are these people lawyers? I've never met someone who considered opportunity cost in regards to working on their vehicle. The average NPC who gets all their maintenance done by a mechanic scroll social media while they wait.

and THAT is the current crop of fake Lc owners

 

[ryanCA]

Shout this from the rooftops!!!!!

Something I said in the past on the GX vs LX:

you and @TeCKis300 and most know a 300 aint a 250 and I always appreciate both of your posts

its the 250 owners who think they have same truck as a 300 that make people laugh - so much justification

 

[ryanCA]

Adding on, I was the first GXOT at my dealer and recently sold it (for profit) with 6000 miles on it. It was an amazing truck, was a champ on the trails during LCDC.

But, that special spark was missing. The LX600 I drove for a couple hours had it (with exception of the tailgate).

And now, I'll be picking up the first LX7 Overtrail at my dealer in about 4 weeks.

congrats on the profit - well done in the post covid world

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I've never met someone who considered opportunity cost in regards to working on their vehicle.

I don't know if I've ever met anyone that's actually heard the term opportunity cost, much less used it to rationalize their spending decisions!

But back on the working on your own vehicle topic... I take mine to the local indy 99% of the time, because:

a. After accounting for parts, they charge literally $15 for an oil change on my LX. I don't have to jack the truck up, don't have to wrench, don't have to spill oil everywhere, don't have to discard it afterwards. Letting them do all that for $15 is about the best money I've ever spent.
b. I've messed up plenty of simple mechanical issues in the past, and simply can't afford to deal with potential downtime/complications on my daily vehicle.
c. They have the expertise to spot things that may be wrong, and which I would not notice myself.

Wipers, cabin filters, etc. get done in the garage. Front pads & rotors get done in the driveway because I've done them enough times to be comfortable doing the job blindfolded. Wheels get swapped as needed. Aftermarket electrical gets done in the garage because I need to know what was done, where, and be sure it was done well. Everything else goes to the Indy.

 

[gasman4u]

agree with you. Cheap is what I want... I would fly standing up if it was cheaper and they would let me. When I am in japan I have to pay boatlods of $$ to ride the shinkansen. When I am in Dhaka, I can ride the roof of the trains for free..

They’ve teased “standing” airline seats before. Like getting felt up without a good date before imo

 

[Supra Turbo]

I call this the airline seat problem. Every industry has it. People say they want bigger, more comfortable seats with more legroom. But what they buy is 17" wide seats with a 30" pitch.

Same with vehicles. People say they want quality and durability but what sells is style and tech.

Imo, not really apples to oranges comparison. I fly business for work, but for personal travel its economy simply due to cost. The same applies to vehicles. Most bought 4Runners and such over 200 series Land Cruisers not because they did not want more luxury, but cost.

 

[TheComedian]

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.

Mine kicks in automatic exactly at 54C engine temp in and rampung up to full blow once it reached 56C. It is in automatic mode at least in the GX trim as diesel connected to the engine temp.

 

[MRego]

And now, I'll be picking up the first LX7 Overtrail at my dealer in about 4 weeks.

From the reviews I've seen, this one will have a soul I just hope you are getting the 2 row, not the 3 row version. That battery pack arrangement is as clumsy as they come.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Imo, not really apples to oranges comparison. I fly business for work, but for personal travel its economy simply due to cost. The same applies to vehicles. Most bought 4Runners and such over 200 series Land Cruisers not because they did not want more luxury, but cost.

100% this.

The "vote with your wallet" approach works when the items you're voting on cost the same.

If option A is a super modern, high tech, and unreliable vehicle, and option B is a somewhat recent, low tech, reliable vehicle, given equivalent cost of both, I bet that most people would buy option B.

The problem is that option A costs $40k, but option B costs $90k, and that's where people have difficulty justifying the extra expense.

I read "The Millionaire Teacher" some years back, and according to that book, the vehicle of choice for the majority of millionaires was a Toyota Camry. With millions in the bank, vehicle price is largely irrelevant, and people are clearly choosing something practical and reliable.

 

[rexington14]

I read "The Millionaire Teacher" some years back, and according to that book, the vehicle of choice for the majority of millionaires was a Toyota Camry. With millions in the bank, vehicle price is largely irrelevant, and people are clearly choosing something practical and reliable.

You mean spending or financing $90k+ on a depreciating asset isn't a wise financial decision?????

 

[Oakleyguy]

From the reviews I've seen, this one will have a soul I just hope you are getting the 2 row, not the 3 row version. That battery pack arrangement is as clumsy as they come.

I'll have the three ROW, since the two-row is vaporware for the next 12-18month.

HOWEVER, I'm going to convert it to a Two-row and will be documenting the process.

 

[gasman4u]

I'll have the three ROW, since the two-row is vaporware for the next 12-18month.

HOWEVER, I'm going to convert it to a Two-row and will be documenting the process.

I look forward to your getting your new rig. I just saw the OT as an option on the LX platform. Interesting possibilities, but is it still the 3.5 V6 with the bearing issues?

 

[coleAK]

100% this.

The "vote with your wallet" approach works when the items you're voting on cost the same.

If option A is a super modern, high tech, and unreliable vehicle, and option B is a somewhat recent, low tech, reliable vehicle, given equivalent cost of both, I bet that most people would buy option B.

The problem is that option A costs $40k, but option B costs $90k, and that's where people have difficulty justifying the extra expense.

I read "The Millionaire Teacher" some years back, and according to that book, the vehicle of choice for the majority of millionaires was a Toyota Camry. With millions in the bank, vehicle price is largely irrelevant, and people are clearly choosing something practical and reliable.

My uncle who is an orthopedic surgeon (now long retired). Bike commuted to the hospital most days, when he did buy a car for anyone in the family he bought a used beater (back in the 80’s and 90’s I remember it was almost always a ford Taurus or Subaru) that he thought was in “reasonable” condition and a great deal. Drives it for 1-2 years and usually sells it for at least what he pays for it. He calls it his revolving free car program.