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The 1958 is a customer car getting the a full build out for expo west in August. The GX is the shop development truck and they were doing a bunch of fitment work on it.
Official Photo/Video thread
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Since this is titled a picture thread, I got a few from my experience with the new 250 here in Hawaii.
A few weeks back, I got word that the first LC250 arrived on the island at the Toyota dealership. Went down early the next day to check it out and hopefully get to test drive it.
Unfortunately, I got there just as the new owner that had bought it was driving it off the lot. I got a quick Look inside, but really wanted to see how it drove. It wasn’t a total wasted trip, as the showroom had a sweet fj62 on display. It belonged to the dealership owner and had got it new in ‘88!
Fast forward to earlier this week and I heard a different Toyota dealership got their demo LC250 in. Was pretty excited to test drive it, especially since it was the same trim level that I had originally wanted (the Land Cruiser model). I was actually surprised how much I liked driving it. The seats were extremely comfortable to sit in and the seat cooling feature was an immediate plus for my year round tropical weather. Also, the interior styling just seems to be super refined and the dash area layout was designed perfectly in my opinion. Those were immediate first impressions, and it only improved once I put my foot on the gas. I didn’t know how the 4cylinder hybrid would feel having never driven one in my life. But the power when giving it some gas was surprising! I wouldn’t say the hybrid would be my first choice for an engine, but considering there isn’t another option, I was pleasantly impressed with its get up and go. Additionally, the Steering and handling responded surprisingly well for its size. Again, not what I was expecting. And I’m certainly no expert when it comes to the review of these things, just a casual observer that is used to driving 30, 40, and 50 year old Land Cruisers that I currently own.
Here is the one I test drove, I liked everything but the musterdy color.
I put myself on what my Toyota dealership called the 250 wishlist. Since the dealership only gets a few a month, I had to fill out a sheet that specified the color and trim level I wanted. Once it comes in, they call and it’s first come first serve. I’m holding out for the Black on black in the Land Cruiser trim model like this one that came in but was already spoken for.
A few weeks back, I got word that the first LC250 arrived on the island at the Toyota dealership. Went down early the next day to check it out and hopefully get to test drive it.
Unfortunately, I got there just as the new owner that had bought it was driving it off the lot. I got a quick Look inside, but really wanted to see how it drove. It wasn’t a total wasted trip, as the showroom had a sweet fj62 on display. It belonged to the dealership owner and had got it new in ‘88!
Fast forward to earlier this week and I heard a different Toyota dealership got their demo LC250 in. Was pretty excited to test drive it, especially since it was the same trim level that I had originally wanted (the Land Cruiser model). I was actually surprised how much I liked driving it. The seats were extremely comfortable to sit in and the seat cooling feature was an immediate plus for my year round tropical weather. Also, the interior styling just seems to be super refined and the dash area layout was designed perfectly in my opinion. Those were immediate first impressions, and it only improved once I put my foot on the gas. I didn’t know how the 4cylinder hybrid would feel having never driven one in my life. But the power when giving it some gas was surprising! I wouldn’t say the hybrid would be my first choice for an engine, but considering there isn’t another option, I was pleasantly impressed with its get up and go. Additionally, the Steering and handling responded surprisingly well for its size. Again, not what I was expecting. And I’m certainly no expert when it comes to the review of these things, just a casual observer that is used to driving 30, 40, and 50 year old Land Cruisers that I currently own.
Here is the one I test drove, I liked everything but the musterdy color.
I put myself on what my Toyota dealership called the 250 wishlist. Since the dealership only gets a few a month, I had to fill out a sheet that specified the color and trim level I wanted. Once it comes in, they call and it’s first come first serve. I’m holding out for the Black on black in the Land Cruiser trim model like this one that came in but was already spoken for.
How did it ride on the 20 inch wheels? I really have no desire to have 20's but every LC that's not the 1958 or First Edition coming to central Ohio seems to have them so I might have to have them, at least for a little while.
joseywales
Renaissance Redneck
@Aloha Jen
I was reading your post without having looked at who posted it and thought “this sounds like Jen”
Black for a Hawaii truck? Hmmmm… sounds “hot”!
I was reading your post without having looked at who posted it and thought “this sounds like Jen”
Black for a Hawaii truck? Hmmmm… sounds “hot”!
TheLCProject
SILVER Star
Would love confirmation from the current owners of the GX Overtrail and LC...
Are there diff breather extensions or are they on the directly on the axle like my 2006 Tundra and this frame only model from the Land Cruiser Channel?
Are there diff breather extensions or are they on the directly on the axle like my 2006 Tundra and this frame only model from the Land Cruiser Channel?
I didn’t even notice the wheels were 20”, just remember noticing that the tires looked huge. I’ve never driven something with 20” tires to be able to make a comparison, but it drove great on the road.
Not sure the color matters all that much here. You have to remember the temperatures are very mild here, never really gets above 90 degrees and rarely gets below 65 year around where I live next to the ocean. I think it gets incredibly hotter or humid in the summer in nearly every state on the mainland.@Aloha Jen
I was reading your post without having looked at who posted it and thought “this sounds like Jen”
Black for a Hawaii truck? Hmmmm… sounds “hot”!
Plus, the 250 has seat coolers and strong AC, more than adequate for here to deal with the heat.
Spent a few hours exploring one of the local National Forests with my son today. Pretty much all fire roads but did find a few offshoots with moguls that really showed how well eKDSS works. Also really impressed with how well it rides off road, even while fully aired up.
Right. I've owned a black '90 4Runner in Hawaii without AC for over 20 years, no complaints. But then, I'm only there during fall/winter. I kinda like the mustardy color.
The following could be of interest for this thread: Toyota puts Hillary Swank and Jimmy O Yang in the new Cruiser to see if it can "get them back". Brief video.
Now that looks great compared to the N American version. If they could integrate the lower front bumper to get rid of the wandering Lego parts under the headlights, it would look even better. Or you could mount an aftermarket front bumper to cover it up. Thanks for posting.
I assume it's like the outgoing 460 where the front diff and T-case have breathers extended up into the engine base but the rear diff is just on top of the carrier. I might be wrong, but extending the rear diff breather is like a 30 minute, $30 task if you need to.
TheLCProject
SILVER Star
Thanks, but you're missing the point. It's a $1 task for Toyota.
I'm looking for confirmation of GX vs LC differentiation.
SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr
SILVER Star
$99k AUD (+$12k bump over URJ150 model) works out to ~65k USD and you get it fully loaded with a spec sheet even saying heated and ventilated back seats whereas we don’t even get heated rear seats.
IMO a cruiser at this price should at least have some of these small features like heated rear outboard seats that were prevalent on an early model GX460 that cost less when adjusted for inflation.
ryanjl
SILVER Star
Not feeling the love on that Gucci Australia Prado. Don't care for the grille. The color-matched fenders remind me of those ugly port-installed fender flares on some 100-series Land Cruisers. And any call to integrate the front bumper misses the point for me - not having to take a cutting disc to the body of the 250 series to put on an aftermarket bumper is part of the appeal.
What kind of atrocious front bumper is that? Does that have worse approach angle than stock?
Atrocious is Jaos’s core competency.
ryanjl
SILVER Star
I remember Jaos being consistently bad back in the 00's when I had my 80 series. It appears that some things never change.
I can’t think of a more inaccurate statement and it’s extremely apparent you’ve never been to an Overland Expo. West in particular is a literal collecting point of folks that have done or are doing some of the most legit Overland travel around, Patty Upton and her Darien Gap Jeep, members of the Transglobal Car Expedition, having just driven to the North Pole, fellow members of Expeditions7, dozens of folks mid-way thru PanAmerican traverses, etc, etc, etc… all standing at the same place at the same time, wander around a bit and you’ll find more and more.
I’ve not crossed the Serengeti (yet), but I’ve driven all over dozens of countries on six continents and the exact brands we’ve used on many of those builds are well represented along with the vehicle builders themselves, i.e. Arctic Truck, Toyota, Lexus, Ineos, Earth Roamer, etc, etc, etc.
If you go to Overland Expo and base all of your opinion solely on the vendor show area… you’ve missed the roots & fundamental benefit of attending an Overland Expo, presentations, round tables, meet/greets, hands-on training, etc.
Seat of the pants towing comparison, GX460 vs GX550 with a ~2800lb (light) Scamp camp trailer. I was out on the trail with an amazing group of vets all last week in the 200. Got home and the Mrs and I decided to head right back south and take the dogs and Scamp down to some property we have in Central Utah. No sweat, hitch up the GX.
The 550 was better or on par in every aspect:
Power was similar/better when towing on flat, better on grades. Stability felt improved with some occasional trailer wag
Road noise par, zero complaints with either
Fuel economy better (Averaged 14-15mpg, admittedly pulling the old Scamp far faster than I should up and down the canyon)
The paddle shift made for easy downshift/engine braking
Smooth transmission shifts, par or better.
We've been all smiles since picking up the 550, no change after towing.
The 550 was better or on par in every aspect:
Power was similar/better when towing on flat, better on grades. Stability felt improved with some occasional trailer wag
Road noise par, zero complaints with either
Fuel economy better (Averaged 14-15mpg, admittedly pulling the old Scamp far faster than I should up and down the canyon
)The paddle shift made for easy downshift/engine braking
Smooth transmission shifts, par or better.
We've been all smiles since picking up the 550, no change after towing.
