LX570 vs LC
- Thread starter chriswhisenhunt
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
This is the chief advantage of the LX in my books:
34) All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (LC DRCC for 25mph and up)
This feature is fantastic for ease of driving around town. I'm hopeful All speed cruise control is made standard with the 300 series. I'd find it more valuable than CarPlay/Android Auto.
34) All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (LC DRCC for 25mph and up)
This feature is fantastic for ease of driving around town. I'm hopeful All speed cruise control is made standard with the 300 series. I'd find it more valuable than CarPlay/Android Auto.
The LC200 isn't a exactly a "tech" kind of car. If that's high on your appointments list, then you might be disappointed. You can put a Chinese Tesla display in, but I think you'd be disappointed as well as they're slow to boot.
The display in both are quite integrated into the vehicle along with climate control.
Where the 200 is in is the solidity and mechanicals.
The display in both are quite integrated into the vehicle along with climate control.
Where the 200 is in is the solidity and mechanicals.
Only reason real to buy an LC over LX is if you want to majorly mod it for off road. Really it comes down to do you need >34” tires.
As for you being a “tech guy” as others have said in terms of tech, UI, and “gadgets” 200 series are way behind. The ~$15k Chevy sonic I had issues when I was deployed back in Feb had an infotainment system that was about 20 years ahead of my ‘13 LX. Personally I could care less about apple play and similar, I don’t even use hands free or streaming music in our rolling computer Tesla(s). But if “tech” is important to you may want to hold your breath for a 300 series.
As for you being a “tech guy” as others have said in terms of tech, UI, and “gadgets” 200 series are way behind. The ~$15k Chevy sonic I had issues when I was deployed back in Feb had an infotainment system that was about 20 years ahead of my ‘13 LX. Personally I could care less about apple play and similar, I don’t even use hands free or streaming music in our rolling computer Tesla(s). But if “tech” is important to you may want to hold your breath for a 300 series.
Not really true, and the funny thing is that it's actually quite a bit easier to fit big tires to the LX.
The common limitation with the LC in fitting big tires is clearance to the the KDSS bar. This happens somewhere around 34" tires. They have to really commit to wanting larger tires past that as it would require more extreme compromises. Use a KDSS relocation kit which puts the sway bar end link at poor angles that cause premature failure. Use un-optimal offsets and deal with further handling and clearance issues against the bumper and body mount. Then there's modding the suspension for lift and the static lift issues of UCA, and more lift actually reducing track width further exacerbating KDSS clearance. A whole host of complexities and costs.
With an LX, toss on 35" tires with moderate offsets. Then just clearance the wheel well plastics. Perhaps a body mount chop with more aggressive 35s, but that's the same for the LC. And sensor or calibration lift AHC. That's it. I'm trying to dream up justifications to the wife to do this. Maybe after I finish her backyard.
Can anyone speak to on-road and off-road drive quality compare/contrast?
I'm sure tire type, pressure, wheel diamter etc. all play into it. But also curious LX having comfort/Normal/Sport settings and LC not.
I've driven a friends 2015 LC a little, but not any LX of any year. So that's my only point of comparison.
LX is great for passengers, smooth ride as long as you put LT tires. AHC does excellent job of disconnecting you from bunps on the road. Passengers will thank you.
LC is more of a drivers car, not as great for passengers as you feel every bump on the road. Personally I find it more pleasant to drive solo.
Both are relatively same offroad unless you are a baja jumper. Find the 200 with less rust is the main thing.
LC is more of a drivers car, not as great for passengers as you feel every bump on the road. Personally I find it more pleasant to drive solo.
Both are relatively same offroad unless you are a baja jumper. Find the 200 with less rust is the main thing.
This. push forward the front bumper liners, and heat gun a little here a there and you're done. If you anticipate flexing, grind down a pinch weld and chop about 1" off a body mount and voila!
The LX is definitely the more driver oriented car (as much as a 6000lb tank can be). And the more comfortable car. The benefit of dynamic suspension is its duality of purpose. Multi-purpose that is. One doesn't have to pick what it's optimized for. It self adjusts to be suited for the use at hand. On-road or off-road. Empty or laden. Speed or comfort. With driver selectable input to further bias it for comfort, normal, or sport.
It's the LC that is the marshmallow stock. A static suspension setup for a perfectly comfortable ride, focused on articulation and suppleness on and off-road. Along with soft suspension comes a dose of brake dive and acceleration squat. KDSS does a good job with roll resistance while allowing for great articulation off-road. Put a heavy payload in it and one will wish for a better suited suspension. Get an aftermarket suspension with higher rates for better handling and more load, and they miss the comfort of the stock ride or when empty.
LC guys forget that KDSS is a passive, mechanical variant of Kinetic Dynamic Suspension. Much of the same cross linked suspension technology is applied to AHC, but in a much more technology heavy active form. That can vary damping, spring rates, ride height, and more. Those capabilities did not go to waste just for a smooth ride. It has functions to enable better handling, including specific functions to minimize squat and dive. As a sports car junkie, for a body on frame tank with solid rear axle, I find its handling performance on secondary roads convincing with fine damping, little roll, and solid posture control.
Here's some of what the system does to help make for a better ride and better drivers car:
Last edited:
Let me summarize - those who own an LX, think an LX is better. Those who own an LC, think an LC is better. Go drive both, pick which you prefer.
Thanks for the detailed reply.
Does the sport setting and other two settings make much difference in feel?
And is there much difference in 08-11 vs 13-15 vs 16-20 versions in the AHC and settings?
I should really go test drive some to compare.
Whatever, man. LX is better.
Well it only took 24 hours
I'm all for everyone sharing their opinions. There's no need to get caught up in objective features as fitted to the two flavors of 200-series. Both can further be modified to suit whatever your tastes might be.
Yes, a pretty large difference in feel. They are aptly named in their intent and results.
Sport ratchets up compression damping substantially, increasing suspension stiffness, turn-in, and roll resistance. As I said, I'm a self professed sport car junkie with a very modified sports car, and I like to push cars on the track and street. A big factor in my choice for the LX. AHC sport setting can sometimes be overly stiff legged on broken secondary roads where it makes the ride unnecessarily brittle, actually giving up pace as the suspension doesn't deflect and absorb the irregularities as much as it does in normal mode.
Normal mode is well tailored for everything as it's already self adjusting for load, condition, and driver input.
And comfort, blissful for long stretches of highway. Even with Load Range E AT tires as I have fitted to mine.
Yes, a pretty large difference in feel. They are aptly named in their intent and results.
Sport ratchets up compression damping substantially, increasing suspension stiffness, turn-in, and roll resistance. As I said, I'm a self professed sport car junkie with a very modified sports car, and I like to push cars on the track and street. A big factor in my choice for the LX. AHC sport setting can sometimes be overly stiff legged on broken secondary roads where it makes the ride unnecessarily brittle, actually giving up pace as the suspension doesn't deflect and absorb the irregularities as much as it does in normal mode.
Normal mode is well tailored for everything as it's already self adjusting for load, condition, and driver input.
And comfort, blissful for long stretches of highway. Even with Load Range E AT tires as I have fitted to mine.
Last edited:
LC may have old school suspension...... but a quick look on this forum today are a few threads complaining about bad ride of LX, even on-road!
You just don’t see any thread about bad LC ride on any road.
As for handling and braking etc, there is no objective data to say one is better than the other.
But LX AHC requires significant more maintenance and cost throughout life of vehicle. And one member LX is still in the Lexus shop for a few weeks for gremlins in the AHC system.
Yeah LC suspension is so bad.
You just don’t see any thread about bad LC ride on any road.
As for handling and braking etc, there is no objective data to say one is better than the other.
But LX AHC requires significant more maintenance and cost throughout life of vehicle. And one member LX is still in the Lexus shop for a few weeks for gremlins in the AHC system.
Yeah LC suspension is so bad.
Last edited:
good descriptors. This helps me.
I need to find an lx I can test for several days to get a better feel for it and it’s manners. I like the option for adjustments in its settings.
this doesn't count. we warned him several times that the price didnt add up and he should DIY
Please post your thoughts on the LX compared to LC when you have tested it.
I test drove 8 different LX570 before buying my LC. I wanted an LX, I have an LX470 but ended up with 200 LC because I didn't like the disconnect from the road. I even drove the LC to another dealership to compare to the LX570 before writing the $33k check. I parked both of them side to side and had harder time maneuvering the LX570 in tight spaces. That, plus the 3 driving modes were squirelly (due to not using LT tires IMO).
I think AHC is a robust system in the 200 (not the 100). So that wasn't a factor in my choice. I like AHC for its ability to raise and lower the vehicle esp with weight (bumpers/etc). Also, if I had an LX I would have two sets of wheels/tires, 33" and 35"(I have an extra set of RW waiting for an LX someday).
I test drove 8 different LX570 before buying my LC. I wanted an LX, I have an LX470 but ended up with 200 LC because I didn't like the disconnect from the road. I even drove the LC to another dealership to compare to the LX570 before writing the $33k check. I parked both of them side to side and had harder time maneuvering the LX570 in tight spaces. That, plus the 3 driving modes were squirelly (due to not using LT tires IMO).
I think AHC is a robust system in the 200 (not the 100). So that wasn't a factor in my choice. I like AHC for its ability to raise and lower the vehicle esp with weight (bumpers/etc). Also, if I had an LX I would have two sets of wheels/tires, 33" and 35"(I have an extra set of RW waiting for an LX someday).
