Prices LC200 vs LX570 (1 Viewer)

[chilibit]

I choose the LC because there is a world-class LC master mechanic in my dealership in my town. Lexus means a drive. It is my third LC since 1975. I am faithful to the roots. I think the Lexus buyers are way more tolerant of depreciation. By-and-large they are a different demographic. Some exceptions to be sure but a different mind set in general. And that drives the used car trade. I wish I had AHC at times (towing my track car for instance) but then I would be unfaithful. Illogical perhaps, but it is true for me. Lexus treats you nicely but I am happy with Toyota because they are my friends and there is mutual respect. And of course the elephant in the room is the nose of the 570.

 

[jblatl]

I still have the stock suspension in my LX470 still and will run it until it dies, I love the way it rides.

My LC200 also really rides nice, they are two different animals.

I wanted the LC200 over the LX570 because of perception at the office.

Both great trucks. I still drive the LX 3-4 days a week.

My LX passed 120k this week!

 

[Fasternfaster]

I'll offer a alternative point of view on AHC.

Look at the number of LC build threads that have a slippery slope of suspension mods. These suspension mods generally aren't cheap for the good stuff (which still doesn't come close to AHC in my mind). They are always a compromise between idealized trip use vs daily driving, load carrying capacity vs daily comfort, racing coilover for performance vs. longevity.

You can do a 1.25" AHC lift in 10 minutes with a 10mm wrench. Or more with a little bit more effort with some brackets. Or not at all, because it won't sag when burdened with gear or towing, and has 2"+ lift on demand when needed. With proven 200k+ mile durability. Try that in an aftermarket coilover which needs rebuilding every 30-50k miles.

AHC gives that all to you in proven package. You'll have the best ride you can get on the LC platform, with the widest breadth of competencies, and automatically dialed in dampening and performance since it's an active system.

No clearance or rust issues with KDSS for wider tires.

The LC camp is just not aware of what they're missing with AHC and they'll tell you that you need to rip out to "improve" the suspension. I wouldn't be able to understand why one would ever do such a thing as it's THE pinnacle suspension setup. I'm not overstating this, but removing for anything else is would be a huge downgrade. No brake dive, flat cornering, always right dampening for load and conditions. Lift on demand, with extra lift in low range, along with kneeling for ingress/egress/loading.

In terms of carrying capacity, AHC is pretty darn robust. I've towed a number of things, including my 28ft Airstream which has a tongue weight ~1k lbs. No squating or suspension too soft feeling. Which is an issue on the standard sprung and damped LC. If extra load is wanted, the suspension can be augmented to carry heavier loads. Airbags and coil spring spacers. In the future, there will likely be higher spring rate coils like the LX470 has now. And shocks can be dialed up, and the computer will match for conditions.

Preach it!! I have the same sentiment when i hear about how hard/impossible it is to rip out the AHC. How much do airbags cost now? If you are going to add bumpers and winches etc.. even making some custom rate spings will probably be cheaper than what LC guys spend their suspensions without getting the dynamic benefits of AHC.

Other than the stigma of being in a LUXURY SUV.. i just tell people that hey.. i could have gotten an LC, but this LX was cheaper! and it had more options and i dont care what badge is on the front its still a TOYOTA! People tell me i am crazy when i say i want to drive it over rocks and dirt.. but hey its my car and my money!

 

[mcgaskins]

Preach it!! I have the same sentiment when i hear about how hard/impossible it is to rip out the AHC. How much do airbags cost now? If you are going to add bumpers and winches etc.. even making some custom rate spings will probably be cheaper than what LC guys spend their suspensions without getting the dynamic benefits of AHC.

Other than the stigma of being in a LUXURY SUV.. i just tell people that hey.. i could have gotten an LC, but this LX was cheaper! and it had more options and i dont care what badge is on the front its still a TOYOTA! People tell me i am crazy when i say i want to drive it over rocks and dirt.. but hey its my car and my money!

AHC doesn't use airbags

 

[Fasternfaster]

AHC doesn't use airbags

i know that, its been mentioned in the past that they can be added inside the coil springs in the rear to help the softer LX springs support more weight to take the pressure off the AHC system if needed. so if you are adding 1000LBS to the rear axle and you also need to tow a trailer the AHC system may not be able to lift up due to an over pressure condition. in such a case, airbags would be useful.

 

[RyanR]

I was shopping for a LC and had read up on the LX extensively but didn't have any intention of going that direction... a great deal popped up, I PM'd a slew of questions to people here on the boards and called up Christo Slee to pick his brain for a bit and within a few hours had put a deposit down on an LX.

Coming from an FJ Cruiser with a fairly stiff (IronMan FCP Medium Spring Rate) suspension the LX at first impression felt way too soft. Even in sport mode I felt like it was still to "wallowy" in the corners and I didn't enjoy driving it quickly, it did not inspire confidence. AT ALL. After a couple weeks though my opinion has changed.

The FJ felt immediately confident in the corners. It was firm, firm feels sporty. Turn in, springs compress and it remains constant through the corner. I know if I hit that big bump mid corner with the springs already pre-loaded it's going to be a hard hit. The LX doesn't feel "right"... I'll explain what I mean.

The springs are extremely soft. Without the AHC system, huck the LX into a corner hard and it would probably roll right over. When you enter a corner and start to load up the suspension part of that load is being carried by the coil springs and the rest is carried by the hydraulic AHC system. The result is the suspension doesn't load up like every other car I have ever driven. In a normal car you turn into a corner and you feel the suspension get firmer and firmer as more and more load is placed on it.

In the LX it just doesn't. You hit that same bump mid corner and it soaks it up just like it would if you hit it straight on. This defies 20 years of muscle memory and for the first few days it is disorienting.. I did not like it, I did not dislike. It just didn't feel "right". Now that I have more time behind the wheel and have had some chances to hustle this pig through a few canyons... I absolutely love it.

Railing through a bumpy corner without disturbing your coffee is an odd sensation, but man is it awesome once you wrap your head around it!

 

[SWUtah]

I'll offer a alternative point of view on AHC.

Look at the number of LC build threads that have a slippery slope of suspension mods. These suspension mods generally aren't cheap for the good stuff (which still doesn't come close to AHC in my mind). They are always a compromise between idealized trip use vs daily driving, load carrying capacity vs daily comfort, racing coilover for performance vs. longevity.

You can do a 1.25" AHC lift in 10 minutes with a 10mm wrench. Or more with a little bit more effort with some brackets. Or not at all, because it won't sag when burdened with gear or towing, and has 2"+ lift on demand when needed. With proven 200k+ mile durability. Try that in an aftermarket coilover which needs rebuilding every 30-50k miles.

AHC gives that all to you in proven package. You'll have the best ride you can get on the LC platform, with the widest breadth of competencies, and automatically dialed in dampening and performance since it's an active system.

No clearance or rust issues with KDSS for wider tires.

The LC camp is just not aware of what they're missing with AHC and they'll tell you that you need to rip out to "improve" the suspension. I wouldn't be able to understand why one would ever do such a thing as it's THE pinnacle suspension setup. I'm not overstating this, but removing for anything else is would be a huge downgrade. No brake dive, flat cornering, always right dampening for load and conditions. Lift on demand, with extra lift in low range, along with kneeling for ingress/egress/loading.

In terms of carrying capacity, AHC is pretty darn robust. I've towed a number of things, including my 28ft Airstream which has a tongue weight ~1k lbs. No squating or suspension too soft feeling. Which is an issue on the standard sprung and damped LC. If extra load is wanted, the suspension can be augmented to carry heavier loads. Airbags and coil spring spacers. In the future, there will likely be higher spring rate coils like the LX470 has now. And shocks can be dialed up, and the computer will match for conditions.

Got a tech sheet from a member on here last year that detailed all the tech on the 200 series auto hight control suspension is amazing it is like three times more robust than 100 really made some huge improvement I deleted it at the time since I didn't have a 200 series but very impressive I wouldn't take one out. I did take the automatic height control out of my 100 series and installed an old man emu

 

[Ali FJ80]

Got a tech sheet from a member on here last year that detailed all the tech on the 200 series auto hight control suspension is amazing it is like three times more robust than 100 really made some huge improvement I deleted it at the time since I didn't have a 200 series but very impressive I wouldn't take one out. I did take the automatic height control out of my 100 series and installed an old man emu

yes, it is much more involved than the 470 version with all the extra sensors etc. I have been looking and posted here but still have not been able to find any info on what the pressure ranges etc are supposed to be. Here are all the parameters AHC looks at. Very different from the 470 as pressure only moves when lifting/lowering and then it goes back to 0. I caught this going between levels.