Officially a 100 owner

[jrcnring]

Hi guys, after a couple of months of searching and lots of patience I landed my very own 2006 Land Cruiser 100.

This is a Mexican market speck Land Cruiser.

This is a long distance purchase so as soon as I have it at home I will post more detailed photos of the LC.


Some of the details on my 100 are the following.

2006 Land cruiser
In Mexico there where no trims so this is the top of the line, no options lists all came standard.
- No navigation system
- Separate climate controls from the stereo head unit.
- No ride height control.

The biggest mode my 100 has until today is armoring (bullet proof). Full armor (glass, cabin, firewall and tires)
The LC was armored in 2006 by Global Armor.

The armor is not evident on the photos but once I get the car here in a couple of weeks I will post some more photos and some of the additional upgrades the armoring company is going to do to it.

 

[ssichler]

Nice. Welcome. Hopefully you don't work for the US Government in Mexico.

 

[jrcnring]

Jejejeje thankfully no..... private enterprise and very very very low profile.

Nice. Welcome. Hopefully you don't work for the US Government in Mexico.

 

[hks3sgte]

Is it a V8?

 

[SmoothLC]

Look forward to hearing more details about the armor!

 

[The Mack]

I am too looking for more details on this.

Are you located in Mexico? If so where are you located at?

 

[FJfan]

I've been a passenger in a few armored 100's before. VERY heavy, opening the door reminded me of pushing a piano.

 

[gtfour43]

Interesting! Welcome to mud. Can't wait to see more of your 06.

 

[jrcnring]

Is it a V8?

Yes V8

Look forward to hearing more details about the armor!

Will do a full write up once I have it at home. Right now what I have on the armor specs is that is Euro B6 Armor with 33 mm thick windows. Ballistic steel plates on all non visible panels (doors, roof and fire wall). Mexican LC 100 came standard with sun roof, I`m not sure if mine is cancelled out or if its operational with a ballistic steel plate.

I am too looking for more details on this.

Are you located in Mexico? If so where are you located at?

I'm all over, but my base is in Texas.

I've been a passenger in a few armored 100's before. VERY heavy, opening the door reminded me of pushing a piano.

Yes that is very common with the higher armor levels like B6 or more. My current Armored SUV has really heavy doors. I adapted a aluminum plate on the driver door in order to hold the door open with my leg while I'm parked on a slope as they are really heavy. Incredibly as tough as the glass is, it is not good for it on the long run to slam the doors, the inner polycarbonate layer cracks or separates from the glass. It does not affect the bullet proof capacity of the glass but it really looks ugly and over time it can affect visibility.

 

[The Mack]

Your LC looks very nice. Why did you decide to buy a MX based LC? Is this model better for the armor installation proses?

Is this LC built in MX? I ask because anything with the (J) in front of the vin# can not be imported into MX and seems like most products sold here MX from automobiles to appiances seems to fall apart and not made too well to began with.

I was surprised see peugeot sold here MX as they are the worse auto thats ever maid next to the yugo and the expansive parts are hard to get thats why the US stopped selling them.

Have been looking to buy another LC but the US models are hard to come by here in MX. Have seen a few MX LC for sale and wanted to get your take on if the build quality are the same as Us models.

 

[jrcnring]

Hi Mack.

My decision on buying this LC in Mexico has mainly to do with the armor.
The car right of the ship was sent to the armoring company.
That brings me to the second main reason.... Price.
To buy a brand new car and have it armored in the level needed is quite expensive.
The LC that I bought has two invoices, one is the original Mexican Toyota dealer invoice from 2006 for 60k and the another invoice from the armoring company stating the cost of the armor about an extra 47k this means tha when all was said and done in 2006 this LC had an actual price of well over 107k not including tax which adds an extra 15% in Mexico.
It is not worth buying a flashy new suv an lose 20% in depreciation plus loose abot 30% on the armor.
Plus all the attention you get with a new suv in Mexico.

This LC has a j vin number. All LC imported by Toyota of Mexico are Japan built.
The US LC you occasionally see in Mexico where imported by chance or by playing with the system. That is very common in Chihuahua as most SUVs and trucks get imported quite easily because they are supposed to be used for agriculture purposes.
But even for that you have some guidelines like weight capacity and year.
The reason you cannot import Toyotas with vin numbers beginning with J is mainly because the Mexican government is protecting car companies selling their cars in Mexico. The rule is you can import any car, by that I mean any car as long as it has under 1000 miles and you bought it brand new at a dealership in another country e.g. You are the first owner. And most importantly you pay the import tax.

I do extensive business in Mexico and for that reason I have a home in Mexico city and have had for years cars down there.
I agree with you Peugeots are garbage, but Hondas are great, Toyotas are great, almost all brands are good, one of the biggest problems is qualified labor. I have owned several BMW's down there and it is difficult for dealers to be consistent in their repairs. Additionally you have such a small base of certain brands of cars that mechanics don't get that much practice them and parts are scarce.
I had a BMW M5 a couple of years ago with the v10 engine and I just had it shipped to El Paso TX to avoid any long wait for parts.

In conclusion from what I know Mexican spec LC are the same as Us spec LC, same factory only a couple of options missing.
Toyota motor co only imported originally the LC 100 to Mexico and it first came out in 2003. And in 2008 they started selling the 200.
But they imported a very limited number of LC each year.
In fact they where considering not offering the 200 any more due poor sales and it was competing directly with the Sequoia.

Your LC looks very nice. Why did you decide to buy a MX based LC? Is this model better for the armor installation proses?

Is this LC built in MX? I ask because anything with the (J) in front of the vin# can not be imported into MX and seems like most products sold here MX from automobiles to appiances seems to fall apart and not made too well to began with.

I was surprised see peugeot sold here MX as they are the worse auto thats ever maid next to the yugo and the expansive parts are hard to get thats why the US stopped selling them.

Have been looking to buy another LC but the US models are hard to come by here in MX. Have seen a few MX LC for sale and wanted to get your take on if the build quality are the same as Us models.

 

[The Mack]

Thanks for the info.

Well, I myself might look at the MX LC for my next purchase but prefer another 1998-1999 with diff lock .
I found that the Nav unit realy does not work well here MX as most streets are not (only the main streets) plotted and do not have street signs posted.

One more ? Can one take a MX auto into the US for driving or short stays??

 

[jrcnring]

The Mex Land cruiser I think it could be a great option specially if you find it in a big city such as Mexico city, or any of the big cities. LC in Mexico where rarelly purchased by enthusiast, at least most of the LC owners I know in Mexico bought them for their reliability other than anything. And some of them have very low mileage and prices could even be lower than hire mileage higher priced us models.
Try looking at www.autoplaza.com.mx

Factory nav units from older US sourced cars really don't work in Mexico as you state. But I use a really good small Harmon unit and it is very accurate, and I think I payed for it less than 60 dollars on eBay with Mexico maps preloaded.

As for driving the Mexican plate car in the US you shouldn't have any problems provided you are a US citizen an proof residence in Mexico. The worst that can happen is that they ask you at the border who's car is it but you can always show them it's yours and that you have a residence in Mexico.
Warning do no try this If you are not a US citizen. If you are a resident Alien they can give you a really hard time.

Thanks for the info.

Well, I myself might look at the MX LC for my next purchase but prefer another 1998-1999 with diff lock .
I found that the Nav unit realy does not work well here MX as most streets are not (only the main streets) plotted and do not have street signs posted.

One more ? Can one take a MX auto into the US for driving or short stays??

 

[The Mack]

Well..hope you are never in a position where you need to use the armor. I think the mental pain being inside it when things crazy not knowing for sure if all rounds are stopped before entering the cabin.

I think a fully automatic pop-out machine terout from the roof would complete the armor build

 

[jrcnring]

Deffinately I hope I never really on it.

I have seen a truck on tv that has that I wish that was an option. For now a low profile is one of the best tools.

Well..hope you are never in a position where you need to use the armor. I think the mental pain being inside it when things crazy not knowing for sure if all rounds are stopped before entering the cabin.

I think a fully automatic pop-out machine terout from the roof would complete the armor build[/:c

 

[jeetS]

mind telling us what you do that would make you want armor?

sounds scary

 

[jrcnring]

I own a couple of businesses. But since I need to drive into Chihuahua to keep one of the businesses going, the armor is just a countermeasure for being in the wrong place at the wrong time (drug gang violence, or opportunistic kidnapers)

mind telling us what you do that would make you want armor?

sounds scary