Talk me into spending the extra $30 grand for the LC 200 please!

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serpico1

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Hi again everyone,
Talk me into spending the extra $30 grand for the LC 200 please!

You know the old expression you are not my accountant? We have all heard this but throw out some opinions if you would please anyway.

I’m waiting for the dealer to get me my LC 200 and full disclosure I am at about $78,900 after beating them up. They will not move.

So as I said in my earlier post I am trading my BMX X5 Diesel as we need more room but we could make it work if we had too. Truthfully I am not crazy about the bimmer. It’s just ok and I don’t smile when I look at it in the garage. I really don’t want to buy the Sequoya; it just doesn’t call out to me. I still stand by my lack of confidence of our Tahoe’s, Yukons, navigators, etc. I am as red blooded American as they come but most will agree, it’s just not the same build quality and longevity and value as the LC.

I want to buy a keeper. I want to own it for 250k miles and for the next 10 years. But man, I am now having a hard time justifying the price. To be clear I could pull it off but am now thinking going all in or just getting another mid-size normal SUV like the MDX, Pilot, etc for $45k

I have run the numbers and it boils down to about $600 more per month for an LC than an MDX or similar. That’s the rub really, do I want to pay the extra $600 and own an LC or not.

Did anyone else justify the price any other way creative way or just said screw it I want it and I am going to pay to play as they say?

Again thanks for sharing some thoughts.
 
If you're looking for something that's even as remotely as nimble and fun to drive as the X5, the Land Cruiser will most likely disappoint you. If you legitimately can see yourself keeping it a decade and putting over 200k miles on it (with reliability, capability and comfort), then there are not many vehicles that will serve you better. I personally rarely keep a vehicle more than 1-2 years, so buying anything on the front end of the depreciation curve makes little sense.

I think the new facelifted 2016 looks great and is much more modern, but the truth is you can buy a pretty nice 200 for half what a new one costs. I recently almost pulled the trigger on a mint, virtually flawless 09 LX570 with 80k miles on it for $35k, and there was a really 2012 nice Porsche Cayenne S with 40k miles certified pre owned/warrantied to 100k locally for $41k recently. If I was set on spending $76-$80k plus fees and tax, I would be parking a 200 and something else that's fun to drive in my garage instead of a brand new off the lot 200. All that said, I don't judge or find it absurd someone else with a different outlook than mine would buy a new 200. Heck we all need people to keep buying new cruisers in the US to keep them coming here! Since it sounds like you're financing, an extra $600 beyond what a different car payment would be is a lot of money for some, and if you have a hard time justifying it now, that may be a sign you would be fine with keeping that money in your pocket and looking for something less expensive. And it's not a matter of whether someone can "afford" something or not, it's a matter of being comfortable and confident in your choice, not regretting the money being spent and keeping the family/wife happy too.
 
I would echo mcgaskins....Buy a low mileage used 2014/15. You'll save at least 20 grand and will be on the smart end of depreciation.
 
Are you against buying used? You can save a lot and get more or less the same truck used. People turn in used LC's with less than 50k on the odo. I'd personally hate writing a check that painful every month for a new one.
 
I will echo everyone elses sentiments. Buy a used one and save have the $40k or more. I spent less than $30k on mine and couldn't be happier. Cars are a depreciating asset. Why spend more than you need to get what you want? If youre going to keep in for any length of time, it wont matter. If you only keep it a few years, you will be much happier you didn't spend the money on a new one. If you had enough money that $40k didn't matter, then I would say buy new. The fact that you are financing it indicates you don't have unlimited funds.
 
I just bought an '11 LX with 9,500 miles in perfect condition for $55K. Deals on used 200s are out there.

So, here's my "why to buy" answer: In '93, after owning three K5 Blazers in a four year period, and having problems with each, I wanted a new LC. I still remember exactly when I saw the one I wanted. However, it would have cost me $42K and that was way too much for me. Instead, I bought a new K Blazer for $27K. Took care of it religiously. Wasn't a bad truck except for the three radiators, two alternators, and the dashboard that had to be replaced under warranty within the first couple of years. And the roof rack that tore off. And a whole bunch of other little stuff I don't want to go into here. Oh, and the cracked dash that developed within five years. And the fading paint and the discolored trim. Did I mention how well I took care of it?

in 2004, at 11 years and 132K miles, a lower main bearing failed and I had to replace the engine...yup, the one that I cared for religiously. And you know what I kept thinking? "If I had only invested in that damn Land Cruiser!!"

Three months later, I finally bought one...a used '00 LX470 (thus the FinallyGotOne! handle). It had 48K miles on it and I paid $35K for it. Since then I have towed, 'wheeled, and traveled all over the US for 150K miles and have never regretted my decision. I had one major failure: the transmission, and I was upset about it, but I didn't have all of the little problems my father-in-law continues to have with his Tahoe. The transmissions were weak in the '00 models and not in the other years. Oh well.

So here I am now with my second used LX and I have no reason to believe that it won't last me another decade or so with minimal problems and maximal utility and fun. I recommend you go for it - but get a certified used, or a well-maintained used one and keep it for the long haul.
 
Buy lightly used. Mine was 48k miles and perfect.

If you grab one with maybe 40-50k, and in perfect condition...you'll save your money right there, and it will still easily outlast most new trucks.

To me, buying quality used LC is just about a no-brainer...even if I could afford new.

If you set a brand new Sequoia next to an LC with 40-50k on it? I'd take the Cruiser in a heartbeat. No contest.
 
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I bought my 14' LC with 9500 miles on it. I think I paid $65k total and additional $2200?(can't recall) for the extended warranty to 100k. Most likely a waste of money for the warranty but I like insurance ;) I have no problem buying a Land Cruiser to keep it for 6yrs+. It's the only SUV I would pay cash for. If I was to buy any other SUV, i.e X5, LR4, Range Rover, Audi Q7, Porsche etc. it would be a Lease only deal. Once those are out of warranty, the service dept. is going to love your AMEX card.
 
I'll chime in from the other side since I bought mine new. For me the land cruiser was my dream vehicle. I always bought slightly used low mileage 1-2 years old and always Toyotas. At the time I couldn't afford a land cruiser and it does take some gut wrenching to spend 50k on a land cruiser with 50k miles when you can buy so many vehicles new for that price.

At the end of the day I knew I would keep my 200 for a very long time and I plan on it being my 5 year old first car. Got 11 more years with it. :)

I wanted to be the first one in it and make it my own and know everything that was done to it. Have no regrets buying new but wouldn't hesitate buying used either.
 
codyaustin5 said:
I'll chime in from the other side since I bought mine new. For me the land cruiser was my dream vehicle. I always bought slightly used low mileage 1-2 years old and always Toyotas. At the time I couldn't afford a land cruiser and it does take some gut wrenching to spend 50k on a land cruiser with 50k miles when you can buy so many vehicles new for that price.

At the end of the day I knew I would keep my 200 for a very long time and I plan on it being my 5 year old first car. Got 11 more years with it. :)

I wanted to be the first one in it and make it my own and know everything that was done to it. Have no regrets buying new but wouldn't hesitate buying used either.
Click to expand...

The desire to know everything that's happened with the vehicle certainly makes sense. If you can afford it...good for you, and I'm sure you'll love it for a very long time.

But for those who understandably NEED to question the expenditure...I think there might be no better vehicle than the LC for buying used. So many original owners literally drive them to work and back...and that's about it...meaning there are a lot near-perfect units out there that have already taken then sticker-price hit. -A great opportunity for those about to drop 40 or 50k on a lesser, new vehicle.
 
I agree with those that have posted and especially with codyaustin5...the LC was also one of my dream vehicles...and I too hope to take care of it for the next 10+ years to be able to give it to my son as his first vehicle.

The lease on my last car ended in October and I was in the search for the perfect vehicle...I took months looking at everything and even renting certain models from Avis to test out.

I actually never seriously considered purchasing a 2016 LC. I really thought I was going to end up with a Sequoia as it fit most of my needs and was at a price point that I could digest, but I dreaded the thought of having to drive it everyday...just didn't seem fun and exciting to me. Similar to you, couldn't justify the price for well-equipped Tahoes, Denalis, Escalades, Navigators, etc...and those didn't give me the ruggedness or reliability that I was seeking.

While the LX also fit my needs, I wanted something more discreet, while still being luxurious, rugged, and reliable...so, I kept coming back to the LC. I love it for its legacy, looks, reliability, resale, size, functionality, etc.

I initially started trying to look for slightly used models and demos, but there weren't too many in my area and the ones that I did find weren't that attractively priced. While I originally liked the looks of the 2013-2015 more than the 2016, I started worrying about buying one since a lot of the features and technology that I was hoping to find in a $50K+ vehicle were missing.

I actually lucked out by finding someone on this forum who informed me of a dealer that was selling a new 2016 at invoice, so without thinking I said yes and made the purchase...

My loan payment scares me, but I have absolutely no regrets as I love what I drive every day.

New or used I don't think you can go wrong with an LC...and it absolutely destroys an MDX, Pilot, QX, etc. etc. etc.
 
Maybe a bit European thinking but never loan for a car and never spend more than 1 to 4, so have 4 times the money on the bank than for the car,
We paid one quarter on our house morgue cash, I mean mortgage, and many advise to not do that and spend it on aex= stocks.
Then everything went down, the bricks are still mine :cool: and that house is now on lease for more profit than any bank or stock would get me.
Get what is in your budget: might get unemployed, might get a raise...

I helped people with debts: got me confused and irritated daily: money is a learning curve and some people will never learn.
 
Early on in this thread Output Shaft said in part:

"It remains to be seen if the 200 will carry the torch, but odds are pretty good that it will fare pretty well."

Ten years into the LC 200 run and owners are almost ready to give it a thumbs up. That is a tough audience. And it captures the conservative persona of the LC aficionado to a tee.
 
chilibit said:
Early on in this thread Output Shaft said in part:

"It remains to be seen if the 200 will carry the torch, but odds are pretty good that it will fare pretty well."

Ten years into the LC 200 run and owners are almost ready to give it a thumbs up. That is a tough audience. And it captures the conservative persona of the LC aficionado to a tee.
Click to expand...

Hey it's too early to tell. We just recently decided the 100 is ok after all :D
 
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Buy used. Save $.

(See, I made it short and sweet.)
 
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