Keep Your 200 (1 Viewer)

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Ram discussed this decision. The Cummins engine is around 1,100 lbs. That weight would unfavorably change the spring rate and balance for the intended purpose. If only they had a baby Cummins, like the 3.0 Duramax, to put in it.

I don't know there are any 'great' engines out there currently. The 6.2 GM has a massive problem. The big DuraMax has a crankshaft pin the shears. The 6.4 Hemi eats cams if MDS is left engaged (easy to disable if you're aware). The Power Stroke CP4 fuel pump can be a complete fuel system replacement if it goes. Seems like everyone is stumbling right now. It seems like we went from engines that lasted with transmissions that failed to transmissions that last and engines that fail.
Solid points. I didn’t know the 6.2 GM issues. It seems like most of this started around 2008 with cafe iirc and all the DEF stuff that was mandated for diesel. Maybe I’m off on the timeline, but know anytime you add complexity to a system you introduce more potential points of failure.
 
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.
One of my friends bought a GX550. His real world mileage is not much better than my 200. Not worth 2mpg.
 
Not a fan of buttons, but really grew to like the shift dial on the Ram. Once you get used to it you'll not miss the lever. The gain in console space is the win. With the paddle shifters in the LX I'd very much gladly give up the lever for better use of console space.
I also really like the shift dial on the Rams. Beats having your center console be half taken up by a shifter
 
The 2021 2500 Power Wagon was actually a fantastic vehicle. The only issue I had was an exterior temp sensor that went bad, probably due to me picking ice of the bottom of the mirror. Replaced it for $11 (could have used that warranty, but it was worth more than $11 to not have to waste time on multiple dealer trips). Other than that it was flawless, comfortable, easy to drive, better on snow/ice than that 200. The solid front axle and swaybar disconnect make it a giant Jeep. If it wasn't so dang big I would have kept it.

Toyota has a real thing with their 'golden ratio'. The Ram was only 20" longer but all of that was in wheelbase. Turning around on shelf roads isn't really possible. And the 6" in extra width doesn't seem like much but on tight trails is the difference between go and no-go.
That’s the main reason I got rid of my F150. It was even longer wheelbase than the Powerwagon and breakover was a serious issue.
 
Why did they ever get rid of column shifters? Best of both worlds. Mechanical and free’s up space.

Best thing about my first pick up (a Ram 1500, single cab, short bed) was having a full bench seat so the hunnies could slide on over and sit beside me. 😂
 
No thank. No mechanical linkage at all. Reports of them failing all over the internets.
Most shifters are not mechanically linked now, even if they are on the center console.
 
Maybe not in BOF trucks but in crossovers and sedans you have the B58 from BMW and you can still get the 2UR in the IS/LC 500.

No comment on BMW (lol...)

But yeah, the UR in the IS500 and LC500. Those are pretty low volume though... basically enthusiast cars.

More mainstream, Toyota's 2GR is still out there. It's fantastic in the Lexus ES350. IS350 too. And, the Lexus TX550h+ (plug-in hybrid).
 
Why did they ever get rid of column shifters? Best of both worlds. Mechanical and free’s up space.

Best thing about my first pick up (a Ram 1500, single cab, short bed) was having a full bench seat so the hunnies could slide on over and sit beside me. 😂
My 3500 has a column shifter. Missing the bench seat though 😂😂
 
I am happy you did not loose much on the adventure 🙏🏿, and gotta say, surprised to see this post coming from you, I thought you were happy with the 250.

Thank you very much for posting your impressions and journey 🫂


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.
 
Gosh. This post hit's too close to home.
Picked up a TRD Off-Road 2024 Tundra 4x4 February 2024...Mind you, this would be my 4th Tundra added to my ever increasing list of owned vehicles.
Definitely looked the part. Less than 1 year of ownership, I just had to get away from it. Within the first 1K miles, I experienced the headliner detaching from the Velcro that I'm assuming holds everything together, brakes were screeching every single time I drove in reverse - honestly, very embarrassing and even had a experience where my mother offered to help pay for my breaks thinking that I didn't have the funds to take care of it....Bed squeaks every time I closed the rear passenger doors. All for what? +1 MPG improvement over my prior 17' Tundra, and a little more refined for the exception of the electrical annoyances.

Any who, sold the Tundra and I'm now in a 2018 LC200. Couldn't be more stoked.
 
Gosh. This post hit's too close to home.
Picked up a TRD Off-Road 2024 Tundra 4x4 February 2024...Mind you, this would be my 4th Tundra added to my ever increasing list of owned vehicles.
Definitely looked the part. Less than 1 year of ownership, I just had to get away from it. Within the first 1K miles, I experienced the headliner detaching from the Velcro that I'm assuming holds everything together, brakes were screeching every single time I drove in reverse - honestly, very embarrassing and even had a experience where my mother offered to help pay for my breaks thinking that I didn't have the funds to take care of it....Bed squeaks every time I closed the rear passenger doors. All for what? +1 MPG improvement over my prior 17' Tundra, and a little more refined for the exception of the electrical annoyances.

Any who, sold the Tundra and I'm now in a 2018 LC200. Couldn't be more stoked.
A part of me wants these products to be better than the previous generation, but it’s not. In some ways, it is a good thing though… there’s no desire to move up to the next generation and my pocket book thanks me for that. There’s better use of your funds to keep the 200 running well for years to come, and taking the extra money (that would be paying for an arguably inferior product) and investing that in your future instead.

Welcome to the 200 club! May it treat you very well for years to come.
 
A part of me wants these products to be better than the previous generation, but it’s not. In some ways, it is a good thing though… there’s no desire to move up to the next generation and my pocket book thanks me for that. There’s better use of your funds to keep the 200 running well for years to come, and taking the extra money (that would be paying for an arguably inferior product) and investing that in your future instead.

Welcome to the 200 club! May it treat you very well for years to come.
Thank you!
That is an excellent perspective. Although there is something evil inside me that wants to throw those saved funds into a blower for the LC. Ha!
 
Thank you!
That is an excellent perspective. Although there is something evil inside me that wants to throw those saved funds into a blower for the LC. Ha!
Haha, at least the 3UR can handle it. :)

Though, a blower has its inherent drawbacks with increased wear and tear, and gas mileage.

My 2 cents - If you want speed, buy a separate car that doesn’t have to lug around 3 tons of curb weight.
 
While do miss my HE, I have found that my taste for power have outweighed reliability. There are 250’s everywhere here in N Dallas, and every time I see one I immediately think it’s a Nissan Xtera from the 90’s.

Since selling my HE and getting a base Raptor, the TTV6 never grew on me I knew it had to go. Also, Ford is whoring out the Raptor name like T is the LC. I traded the Raptor in and ordered a 2026 X7 M60i TTV8 and picked up a 2024 F150 Reg Cab Short Bed 4x4 5.0 with a Whipple SC 725hp as a toy.

Let me tell you this truck now checks every box, and I just smile every time I drive it. It has everything I need; cloth bench seat, column shift, knobs for everything and flys down the road. I’ll post a pick when I get the fox suspension put on in two weeks. I also have a 100k warranty on the entire truck as well, and all for under 55k!

My 12 year old already thinks it’s going to be his in 4 years, ha.

Toyota really let my down, and not just about the LC. When they care more about their customers in the future maybe I’ll come back. Until then, I enjoyed my 200 immensely while I had it.
 

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