Modifications and new car warranty

[dogfishlake]

Hello all,

I am seriously considering moving to a new GX550 Overtrail to replace my 2013 200 series. I'm still not 100% there because the 200 is so good, but the reality is it has 213,000 (trouble free) miles and it is my wife's daily and our weekend Cruiser. I have a stable full of older Cruisers and I really would rather spend my limited free time on the older trucks and have one that doesn't need a thing for a while.- hence going to new.

The only thing is, I know myself too well to think I won't do any mods on it, especially lift/leveling and some better looking and sized tires.

My question has to do with the warranty- How much can you do and not void warranty work? It is a Lexus, so I really don't expect it to be an issue, but I don't want to lose the safety net of having the new car warranty.

I asked my local Lexus dealer and got a deer in the headlights response. They couldn't answer my question. 99.9999% of Land Cruisers and LX/GX trucks in Michigan are either non-existent or stock so I am not surprised.

If anyone has ideas or experience with the warranty situation, I would much appreciate it. I an not too worried about it, but my wife is, and it will pretty much be her truck.

Thank you!

 

[Zill]

Hello all,

I am seriously considering moving to a new GX550 Overtrail to replace my 2013 200 series. I'm still not 100% there because the 200 is so good, but the reality is it has 213,000 (trouble free) miles and it is my wife's daily and our weekend Cruiser. I have a stable full of older Cruisers and I really would rather spend my limited free time on the older trucks and have one that doesn't need a thing for a while.- hence going to new.

The only thing is, I know myself too well to think I won't do any mods on it, especially lift/leveling and some better looking and sized tires.

My question has to do with the warranty- How much can you do and not void warranty work? It is a Lexus, so I really don't expect it to be an issue, but I don't want to lose the safety net of having the new car warranty.

I asked my local Lexus dealer and got a deer in the headlights response. They couldn't answer my question. 99.9999% of Land Cruisers and LX/GX trucks in Michigan are either non-existent or stock so I am not surprised.

If anyone has ideas or experience with the warranty situation, I would much appreciate it. I an not too worried about it, but my wife is, and it will pretty much be her truck.

Thank you!

The magnuson warranty act gives you some protection where the warranty provider would need to prove that your mod impacted the broken part in question; however, push comes to shove. You would need a lawyer to likely argue that on your behalf and that is expensive…

Arguably, going from a 200 to a 550 is a downgrade imo. You’re better off buying a lightly used 200 (newer) that’s out of warranty if you really want to mod your rig.

 

[dogfishlake]

The magnuson warranty act gives you some protection where the warranty provider would need to prove that your mod impacted the broken part in question; however, push comes to shove. You would need a lawyer to likely argue that on your behalf and that is expensive…

Arguably, going from a 200 to a 550 is a downgrade imo. You’re better off buying a lightly used 200 (newer) that’s out of warranty if you really want to mod your rig.

Thank you.
A 2020 or 2021 HE is on my radar for sure.
I agree they are the U.S. pinnacle for the Land Cruiser.
That said, everyone is down on the 250 being a "prado", but with TNGA, I feel the Prado argument is a bit moot because so many trucks are on the same platform anyway.

 

[stridertexas]

if you’re only doing a leveling kit and tires etc to keep it a true daily, then go for it, I say. That shouldn’t affect a warranty really at all.

 

[Zill]

Thank you.
A 2020 or 2021 HE is on my radar for sure.
I agree they are the U.S. pinnacle for the Land Cruiser.
That said, everyone is down on the 250 being a "prado", but with TNGA, I feel the Prado argument is a bit moot because so many trucks are on the same platform anyway.

Have you driven a 550 yet compared to a 600? The 600 is a much better all around driving experience, even though they’re both on the TNGA platform. I was surprised to see how much of a difference there was when you drive them back to back. It’s the small details that really add up in the full fat cruiser to justify the price increase. It doesn’t reflect on paper, but you will certainly feel it while driving them.

It’s hard to go from a full fat LC down to the Prado line. You will likely miss that extra level that differentiates the two. Just giving you a heads up since you’re used to the 200. If you’re coming from a previous gen 4Runner, then the 250/550 is an upgrade.

The HE 2020/2021 are honestly not worth the price tag they bear. You don’t get semi aniline leather or a cool box in them. There’s a ton of value right now in the 2016-2019 cruisers with low miles, which are out of warranty and ready to mod with no worries about warranty conflicts.

The poster above is right though. A small leveling lift and some bigger tires likely won’t run into warranty issues. (They may balk at suspension components failing though, but that’s rare on these rigs anyway)

 

[dogfishlake]

Have you driven a 550 yet compared to a 600? The 600 is a much better all around driving experience, even though they’re both on the TNGA platform. I was surprised to see how much of a difference there was when you drive them back to back. It’s the small details that really add up in the full fat cruiser to justify the price increase. It doesn’t reflect on paper, but you will certainly feel it while driving them.

It’s hard to go from a full fat LC down to the Prado line. You will likely miss that extra level that differentiates the two. Just giving you a heads up since you’re used to the 200. If you’re coming from a previous gen 4Runner, then the 250/550 is an upgrade.

The HE 2020/2021 are honestly not worth the price tag they bear. You don’t get semi aniline leather or a cool box in them. There’s a ton of value right now in the 2016-2019 cruisers with low miles, which are out of warranty and ready to mod with no worries about warranty conflicts.

The poster above is right though. A small leveling lift and some bigger tires likely won’t run into warranty issues. (They may balk at suspension components failing though, but that’s rare on these rigs anyway)

That's a good point about the non HE 200 series being a better buy. My 2013 is modded and I like it that way, and other than a couple of small things that would get tossed anyway doing mods to it, the difference is nil. I do love that cool box too

On the 600, that is just too far out there on the money to consider. I am sure they are great, just a no go for me.

 

[Sandroad]

Hello all,

I am seriously considering moving to a new GX550 Overtrail to replace my 2013 200 series. I'm still not 100% there because the 200 is so good, but the reality is it has 213,000 (trouble free) miles and it is my wife's daily and our weekend Cruiser. I have a stable full of older Cruisers and I really would rather spend my limited free time on the older trucks and have one that doesn't need a thing for a while.- hence going to new.

The only thing is, I know myself too well to think I won't do any mods on it, especially lift/leveling and some better looking and sized tires.

My question has to do with the warranty- How much can you do and not void warranty work? It is a Lexus, so I really don't expect it to be an issue, but I don't want to lose the safety net of having the new car warranty.

I asked my local Lexus dealer and got a deer in the headlights response. They couldn't answer my question. 99.9999% of Land Cruisers and LX/GX trucks in Michigan are either non-existent or stock so I am not surprised.

If anyone has ideas or experience with the warranty situation, I would much appreciate it. I an not too worried about it, but my wife is, and it will pretty much be her truck.

Thank you!

I bet you (wife) would enjoy the GX. I’m sure there are a lot of mods you can mess with (drawers, phone mounts, roof racks, etc) that have nothing to do with the basic vehicle regarding warranty. After a year or 2 when you’ve got confidence it won’t ever need warranty work, start the usual dogfishlake mods you’re known for.

 

[dogfishlake]

I bet you (wife) would enjoy the GX. I’m sure there are a lot of mods you can mess with (drawers, phone mounts, roof racks, etc) that have nothing to do with the basic vehicle regarding warranty. After a year or 2 when you’ve got confidence it won’t ever need warranty work, start the usual dogfishlake mods you’re known for.

Thank you.
It seems like a nice truck. Our 200 has been great. When I jumped from an 80 to a 100, then to a 200, each series had improvement in manners and performance in stock or mildly modded form for all around everyday use. I expect the 250 to do the same.

 

[Zill]

Thank you.
It seems like a nice truck. Our 200 has been great. When I jumped from an 80 to a 100, then to a 200, each series had improvement in manners and performance in stock or mildly modded form for all around everyday use. I expect the 250 to do the same.

Sadly, that’s not the case for the 250/550 if you’re coming from the 200. It’s a step down, not a step up.

 

[MRego]

Sadly, that’s not the case for the 250/550 if you’re coming from the 200. It’s a step down, not a step up.

Yep. It's been beaten to death all over here.

When I jumped from an 80 to a 100, then to a 200, each series had improvement

You went from one heavy duty to another. The next in line there is the 300, not the 250 - which would be a light duty.

All that said, if the main driver will be your wife, the GX might work for her. I have seen over and over around town, women driving bling bling GXs and Prados with 20s or 22s wheels, as a replacement for their Discoveries, Defenders, old GX 460s, on and on.

 

[dogfishlake]

Yep. It's been beaten to death all over here.


You went from one heavy duty to another. The next in line there is the 300, not the 250 - which would be a light duty.

All that said, if the main driver will be your wife, the GX might work for her. I have seen over and over around town, women driving bling bling GXs and Prados with 20s or 22s wheels, as a replacement for their Discoveries, Defenders, old GX 460s, on and on.

You definitely don't know my wife

No Discoveries or Defenders. No 20's or 22's

 

[MRego]

You definitely don't know my wife

No Discoveries or Defenders. No 20's or 22's

View attachment 3975062View attachment 3975063

View attachment 3975064

Oh, man. Knowing (and seeing) this now, if I were you, I would not even hint at moving her from a 200 to a GX. Unless, of course, you are looking for BIG trouble. LOL.

 

[cruisergreen]

Ignore the 200 trolls. The 250/550 is awesome.

Lift your truck. Only a dealer who's been living under a rock would be thrown by a lift. Around here half of all vehicles from Subarus to F350s get lifted five minutes after driving off the lot.

The dealers I know would install a lift for you and then you know they're ok with the modification, so that's the other option.

 

[Zill]

Ignore the 200 trolls. The 250/550 is awesome.

Lift your truck. Only a dealer who's been living under a rock would be thrown by a lift. Around here half of all vehicles from Subarus to F350s get lifted five minutes after driving off the lot.

The dealers I know would install a lift for you and then you know they're ok with the modification, so that's the other option.

It’s not trolling when you are trying to save somebody grief.

Nah the 250/550 is not awesome, and OP will regret making that move. I wouldn’t recommend anybody to go to the 250/550 from a 200. That’s just a waste of money, and an irresponsible decision when you can buy a newer 200 for the same price.

There’s far better value in a newer 200 and the OP knows these trucks will stand the test of time with lived experience.

 

[MRego]

It’s not trolling when you are trying to save somebody grief.

Nah the 250/550 is not awesome, and OP will regret making that move. I wouldn’t recommend anybody to go to the 250/550 from a 200. That’s just a waste of money, and an irresponsible decision when you can buy a newer 200 for the same price.

There’s far better value in a newer 200 and the OP knows these trucks will stand the test of time with lived experience.

Not to mention we are also trying to save the guy’s marriage.