Swap ‘21 LC for ‘24 GX? (1 Viewer)

[WkndProject]

Been torn for the last week on whether to swap my ‘21 LC for a ‘24 GX. I got a trade-in value on my LC and it would be an even swap. Looking at the Premium+ GX, so would lose out on some of the off-road features, mainly crawl control. Honestly, this vehicle won’t do any hardcore off-roading. Just the occasional forest service road (~1/year). 99% family hauler.

The why:
I always had the dream to own a LC. The engineering and reliability were what fueled my obsession. I drove one in 2011 as my company vehicle in the ME deserts and knew it was the fleet vehicle because no one would ever get left stranded. When it was announced on Christmas Eve 2020 that they would be discontinued, I bought one two weeks later.

I love it. Drives like a tank and nothing feels cheaply done.

However, 3.5 years into ownership, I’m realizing that while special, all vehicles age. It is still pristine, but leather wears, infotainment is outdated, a few scratches here and there. It or any other Toyota product will have a service life longer than my ownership.

So I’m leaning towards taking advantage of 3.5 years of great, nearly free driving and going with the GX.

Since this is MUD, I’m sure half of y’all will think I’m nuts. Am I looking at this wrong? Fire away.

 

[TexasFunRunner]

Been torn for the last week on whether to swap my ‘21 LC for a ‘24 GX. I got a trade-in value on my LC and it would be an even swap. Looking at the Premium+ GX, so would lose out on some of the off-road features, mainly crawl control. Honestly, this vehicle won’t do any hardcore off-roading. Just the occasional forest service road (~1/year). 99% family hauler.

The why:
I always had the dream to own a LC. The engineering and reliability were what fueled my obsession. I drove one in 2011 as my company vehicle in the ME deserts and knew it was the fleet vehicle because no one would ever get left stranded. When it was announced on Christmas Eve 2020 that they would be discontinued, I bought one two weeks later.

I love it. Drives like a tank and nothing feels cheaply done.

However, 3.5 years into ownership, I’m realizing that while special, all vehicles age. It is still pristine, but leather wears, infotainment is outdated, a few scratches here and there. It or any other Toyota product will have a service life longer than my ownership.

So I’m leaning towards taking advantage of 3.5 years of great, nearly free driving and going with the GX.

Since this is MUD, I’m sure half of y’all will think I’m nuts. Am I looking at this wrong? Fire away.

My way of looking at things, YMMV, it's not about the model or capability, it's what makes sense economically. If your income level allows you to "upgrade" vehicles like you "upgrade" phones, that's a nice position to be in.

Of course, that assumes you have a nice six figure savings account, retirement investment account, kids college savings account, own your own home, etc. etc. Of course, many will answer no to these questions, because, FOMO, they have to have the shiny new toy!

Those of us who are not in the upper income tiers, find we get along just fine with a five, ten, fifteen year old model. That is why we can answer yes, to having those accounts and a home. Again, YMMV, is the importance of a shiny new toy more important than your secure financial future?

 

[M1911]

I wouldn’t trade in a vehicle after 3.5 years. I will buy a first year vehicle, but that is because I have to, due to the condition of my frame. If I were you, I would wait at least a year to let Toyota work through the first year issues.

 

[WkndProject]

I wouldn’t trade in a vehicle after 3.5 years. I will buy a first year vehicle, but that is because I have to, due to the condition of my frame. If I were you, I would wait at least a year to let Toyota work through the first year issues.

That is a good point. Refined last model year vs new model year. I didn’t even have this idea a week ago. Just checked my trade in value out of curiosity and saw that I had near zero depreciation. That is a rare situation and opportunity.

Financially, it’s a wash. LC is paid for/GX will be near zero out of pocket. The big unknown is what values of 200s will do in the coming years.

 

[OSS]

I drove my FJ60 for 30 years

 

[TexasFunRunner]

I drove my FJ60 for 30 years

Bingo, I drove my last car for 17 years, I'm at 8 years for the current one. Funny how Google and Yahoo tracking cookies get the keywords in your history, a timely story to parallel this thread:

Americans have ‘a shot’ at being millionaires — but people in 5 professions stand the best chance
The top five careers for millionaires turned out to be:

• Engineer
• Accountant (CPA)
• Teacher
• Management
• Attorney

“The interesting thing is, one third of them, 33% made less than $100,000 a year,” said Ramsey. “They were not making bank. They were not earning their way into it real quick.”

Dave Ramsey says all Americans have ‘a shot’ at being millionaires — but people in 5 professions stand the best chance

Those who say it can’t be done … are “evil”

finance.yahoo.com

Again, YMMV, if you can actually afford it, kudos to you, but as the above survey shows, swapping cars every three years may not contribute to a $1M plus target. Some ask themselves, do I want to spend bucks on that shiny new toy or do I really need to keep up appearances? Some would rather have no payments and lower insurance bills for x years and put the difference into savings and investments.

 

[Romer]

He said it was an even swap so the financials are not really relevant to his discussion

Land Cruisers last a long time when well maintained. My daughters 2004 and other daughters 2007 are both going strong with no issues

I debated going to a GX550 and trading in my 2014 and I decided against it. Maybe in a few years I will reconsider

It is a personal decision and I recommend you go sit in one and drive one and decide if that lights your fire.

The 200 series is a robust vehicle that will last as long as you take care of it. The GX550/250 may be as reliable, hard to tell right now. Toyota has a great reputation.

One of the things that sold me on the 200 is that Cangaro racing does the Baja 1000 every year with essentially the same drivetrain as I have. They beat the crap out of it and it keeps on driving.

I saw that Kurt just picked up an Overtrail though. They are nice

It is a personal decision. I ended up augmenting my 200 with a 2024 Tacoma, which is a 250 series with a truck body for all practical purposes

One of the big reasons I hear to upgrade is to get aa modern infotainment system. I did that in my 200 series

 

[rexington14]

A Land Cruiser (especially if bought new!) is a family heirloom.

It is meant to be kept for decades.

To bring your newborn baby home from the hospital. To take on vacations, adventures, road trips, daily duties.

Maintained over the long haul. Taken care of.

Passed down to the next generation.

Not traded in after 3 years like a POS Euro-mobile. lol

 

[WkndProject]

A Land Cruiser (especially if bought new!) is a family heirloom.

It is meant to be kept for decades.

To bring your newborn baby home from the hospital. To take on vacations, adventures, road trips, daily duties.

I agree, that’s what I’m wrestling with. In the short time since purchase it has memories from every item on your list. If the damn thing depreciated as expected I wouldn’t need to make a decision.

Probably no right decision or wrong decision.

The dealer actually sent me the numbers and if I do trade it in, I would take home a GX and a small check. For those preaching finance, the smart financial move would be to trade it in, assuming everything else is even. Our financial plan assumes 6k/yr depreciation on our vehicles. So a fair swap on a 3.5 yr old vehicle is similar to gaining $21k in savings we don’t have to put towards cars (yes, I know a GX is a “lesser” vehicle and Lexus will depreciate faster, etc. But keeping it simple).

 

[goodnightnyc]

I also own a ‘21 LC. My short answer is no, don’t do it.

The LC 200 is a timeless classic. The new GX is just a shiny new object that will lose its luster very quickly.

 

[McDuff123]

I also own a ‘21 LC. My short answer is no, don’t do it.

The LC 200 is a timeless classic. The new GX is just a shiny new object that will lose its luster very quickly.

Keep telling yourself that…
Hilarious. Good thing you’re not biased

 

[goodnightnyc]

Keep telling yourself that…
Hilarious. Good thing you’re not biased

Obviously we’re all biased. We’re on a Land Cruiser forum aren’t we?

The OP asked for opinions so I gave mine. Feel free to take it or leave it.

 

[Docyota]

I vote sell primarily due to the finances. hard to beat driving a vehicle for 3-4 years and not losing money.

I think the 200's will drop in value within the next year, so I think this is the right moment to move.

 

[rexington14]

I agree, that’s what I’m wrestling with. In the short time since purchase it has memories from every item on your list. If the damn thing depreciated as expected I wouldn’t need to make a decision.

Probably no right decision or wrong decision.

The dealer actually sent me the numbers and if I do trade it in, I would take home a GX and a small check. For those preaching finance, the smart financial move would be to trade it in, assuming everything else is even. Our financial plan assumes 6k/yr depreciation on our vehicles. So a fair swap on a 3.5 yr old vehicle is similar to gaining $21k in savings we don’t have to put towards cars (yes, I know a GX is a “lesser” vehicle and Lexus will depreciate faster, etc. But keeping it simple).

Sure. But the depreciation really only materializes if you plan to sell. Or it gets totaled and you have to take an insurance check - but it does no good thinking that way

This is a last of it's kind Land Cruiser that you bought new. To serve your family well, for decades and hundreds of thousands of miles.

When to sell it is a decision your kid(s) will make.

 

[merchantmariner]

I'll chime in on this one. This was my 2005 Toyota Landcruiser that I recently sold with 254,000 miles on it. I had it for 14 years and it never once left me stranded. We live in very rural Maine two miles down a privated dirt road with no DOT. What that means is in the winter time it could be driving through a foot of snow or a foot of mud in the spring time. It hauled equipment for my business and friends and I to Boston for weekend getaways. Unfortunately Maine roads and salt finally got to the frame and I had to sell it.

I cross shopped,
Land Rover Defender
200 series Landcruiser
GX 460
LX 570
LX 600 (day dreaming on this one)
GX550 Overtrail+

Ultimately settled on the Overtrail plus but the runner up was actually the 200 series. The problem is and maybe I'm misguided but I'm not going to spend 60-80k on a 2021 Landcruiser when I can get something brand new under warranty. I guess time will tell if I made the right decision.

 

[joseywales]

OP, in case you haven’t gotten the news, your LC is, and will always be, a FAR better vehicle than the 550. Keep it for a LONG time.

 

[joseywales]

The problem is and maybe I'm misguided but I'm not going to spend 60-80k on a 2021 Landcruiser when I can get something brand new under warranty. I guess time will tell if I made the right decision.

I hope I’m wrong, but I bet you will NEED that warranty. Probably less likely that you would with the 200, similar to your 100 experience.

 

[Fort9378]

The mysticism around the 200 is so wild to me. The 200 was met with the same skepticism when it released. There is nothing magically different about it. It's not like toyota just decided to start turning a profit in 2024 and neutered all of their vehicles. They've always been a for-profit company since their inception.

While we do not know what the future holds for the new models, there is absolutely no reason to believe that they are any less reliable than any of Toyota's previous vehicles.

 

[mkennedy009]

Sell it because it is ugly and buy the GX because it is handsome.

 

[goodnightnyc]

When you ask strangers on the internet for their opinion on such a subjective matter, you’re bound to get a wide variety of responses. Just go with whatever vehicle makes you happiest.