Objectively speaking, a 200 smokes the 100 series, right?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Nov 30, 2014
Threads
24
Messages
163
Location
Nashville, TN
ive had a lot of 60’s, 80’s, and 100’s. Looking at my first 200. Wife and I are looking to buy a small camper and I think I want that 5.7.

I’ve spent a lot of time in this forum and to me, if you are objective and not biased (that’s not a bad thing), the 200 appears to be superior is every way....other than one thing....it’s pretty damn ugly on the outside imo.

What do you guys think?
 
I like the 200's looks, but it is an acquired taste. Other than going away from an actual shift lever for low range and loosing the opening rear side windows I can't complain too much. The 5.7 (and 6 or 8 speed tranny) is worth it!
 
And KDSS. And cabin noise level. And updated electronics. And...

The two critiques I have thus far are the aforementioned lack of opening wing windows and the sliding second row. The latter is a great concept but poorly executed. Results in the 60 side being a bit less than solid. For an overland build with drawers in the back, the sliding row is pointless, but I get that I'm not the demographic Toyota is building to.
 
Only downside is maneuverability of the 200 compared to the 100 and that's down not only to the size but also the mass of it as you feel an added body roll in turns. But on highways, bad roads, and offroading, the 200 smokes the 100.
 
I had a LX470 for many years. Thought it was going to be the one that I keep for a long time. It had all the capabilities and luxuries I was after.

It came down to this for me. I needed more capacity. For towing and payload. I needed the stronger platform and motor. Without the vehicle being a one dimensional load bearing truck. The 200-series is that. It's steroided up 100-series. Exceeds all functional areas of the 100-series and then some.

My bro still has my old LX470. Which I think has some really timeless lines. But the LX570 makes me more than happy that I can't say I really miss the LX470. Onward and upward.
 
EmuWings for the 200 Series Toyota Landcruiser.
Solution, and possibly more useful than OEM.

I've seen those and they're a nice (albeit expensive) feature. I'd like them even more if they were a storage bin. Having recovery gear on one side and camp kitchen stuff on the other would be pretty cool. Especially if they hinged down to form a small working surface.

Regarding the wing windows, I really liked those on the 100 for the dog. Gave him his own fresh air source. Better yet would have been a rolldown tailgate window a la 4Runner, although that's a non-starter with the split LC/LX tailgate... which I would gladly trade for a full hatch opening. I know I'm in the minority here on that last point.
 
the 200 is a huge step forward in platform quality and power..... and aftermarket is supporting it well.
 
More useful design, but then you potentially have to solve airbag and antenna issues on top of price and installation of the EmuWing...

Not sure why it would change airbag deployment. There is no intrusion into the panels. Window only.
 
More useful design, but then you potentially have to solve airbag and antenna issues on top of price and installation of the EmuWing...

I think it would be fine. The airbag pops out from two points so it would just land over the small brackets below the hand grip.

The antenna is another issue. But you can wire in another one if you really want AM/FM

index.32.jpg

20161022_104642_medium.1024x0.jpg
 
“**This kit will interfere with the operation of the rear curtain airbag deployment - we suggest this kit is only installed where the seats have been removed and a a cargo barrier has been installed. If you use the rearmost seats this kit should not be installed.”

I wouldn’t think it would be an issue except for that....
 
Have had 4 100 series in the family, and still have one (a 2000). My 200 is a 2008 (thought about trading in for 2013+ a year ago but I went the build route instead). 'Objectively' I guess would depend on your own objectives and mine may be different. I think the 100 series is nicer looking (and I think an 80 is the best looking) but I guess those are subjective which is what the OP is alluding to.

For daily driving I love the extra power of the 200. To me the 3/4 rear visibility is better on the 100. I miss the opening rear windows (wings) on the 100. I'm not big on luxury, which is a good thing because the luxury amenities on my 200 aren't as luxury as other competitors (although the LX's are nice). I'd prefer a lever for the lo-range, don't trust switches as they get older.

I guess you already know the towing capacity differences as you mention a camper - and I recall several of the fellas on here speaking of the superior towing capacity of the 200.

I recently drove a stock 2004 100 series and I was reminded of how nice a vehicle it is from the factory (before lift, exhaust, all-terrains, etc). But my modded 200 is still quieter inside than a stock 200.

I think the first time I saw a 200 Land Cruiser I was put off by the looks, thinking it looked like a big ol' Highlander. I thought to myself that my 2005 was the last one I'd ever own. The 200 grew on my over time though, and I bought mine in 2010. In the looks department (going back to subjective again) I think the 2015 and older LX570's look nicer and if I didn't plan any mods I'd probably go the LX route.
 
Last edited:
I think the first time I saw a 200 Land Cruiser I was put off by the looks, thinking it looked like a big ol' Highlander. I thought to myself that my 2005 was the last one I'd ever own. The 200 grew on my over time though, and I bought mine in 2010. In the looks department (going back to subjective again) I think the 2015 and older LX570's look nicer and if I didn't plan any mods I'd probably go the LX route.

Your initial impression of the 200 back in 2007 mirrors my reaction. I didn't like it. From a distance, I actually had a hard time distinguishing it's rear end from that year's Highlander for a while. BUT... I was blown away by and envious of the incredible boost in HP. The acceleration difference is truly stunning (though I'm still itching for gears now that I'm super heavy).

The looks of the 200 dramatically improve with even a few simple mods, like running board delete, AT's and a lift. Suddenly it looks like a truck again. Now that my 200 is fully built? Almost no resemblance to it's factory look.
 
Your initial impression of the 200 back in 2007 mirrors my reaction. I didn't like it. From a distance, I actually had a hard time distinguishing it's rear end from that year's Highlander for a while. BUT... I was blown away by and envious of the incredible boost in HP. The acceleration difference is truly stunning (though I'm still itching for gears now that I'm super heavy).

The looks of the 200 dramatically improve with even a few simple mods, like running board delete, AT's and a lift. Suddenly it looks like a truck again. Now that my 200 is fully built? Almost no resemblance to it's factory look.

Yeah I agree that modded 200's will never be mistaken for a Highlander (no offense to Highlander owners :) ). First time I saw a modded 200 with bumpers and lift I thought "Oh hell yeah! - gotta do that!" The 200's equipped for overlanding look damn nice. I get a lotta compliments on mine now - and to think I bought it thinking to myself "I can't believe I'm paying this much for this ugly bastard", when I loved the looks of my old Thundercloud silver 2005 with All-terrain KO's on it that I traded in.

I don't know why I can't delete the $@#$@ image below. I'm at work and was researching this company a bit and copied that to send to a coworker. Somehow I pasted the dang thing into my post here and I've tried erasing it several times to no avail
 
Last edited:
I don't know why I can't delete the $@#$@ image below. I'm at work and was researching this company a bit and copied that to send to a coworker. Somehow I pasted the dang thing into my post here and I've tried erasing it several times to no avail
View attachment 1642318

I think you can do it from the "More Options" section once it's posted initially.

So:
Edit...
More options... (middle, orange button)
Below your post, click orange delete button next to the image thumbnail.

Then go up into post and delete the reference to the image if it's still in brackets in your post.
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom