The great Debate - 100 or 200?

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Nardulli

Nardulli

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Joined
Jul 12, 2025
Threads
8
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111
Location
St Louis, MO
A good friend asked me to source a 4Runner for him to take to Florida and leave it there for when he's there. He was looking to spend $30 35K. Blah. I had him drive my 01 LC100, and he was blown away. He asked me this morning about what ChatGPT advised him - that the 200 was the better choice due to updated technology, engine, etc. What say you, the tribal elders of all things Cruiser?
 
Buy the newest Land Cruiser you can afford.

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Depends on what you are after. I sold a 2019 cayenne S for my 100. I loathe new cars and figured I’d try one again. Not for me. New cars imho are chock full of things nobody asked for. I don’t want screens or things beeping at me. Also my dog hated the cayenne. The other night I went through a drive thru, paid cash, and put the change in the ash tray of my 100 and it made me happy.
 
200. This coming from someone who owns both and used the 100 as an airport/ beach car for a year.
 
Both are great, but different. I personally like the analog, but still modern, feel of the 100. But, man, the 200 is comfy.

Pretty much any issue that 100s will have has been documented, but 200s aren't the same story. Its only been in the last few years that we've seen 200s having catastrophic failures. Additionally, heavily loaded 200s are dog poop to drive. 100s aren't great, but, percentage wise, they lose less driveability than 200s, if that makes sense.

For long trips, the 200 is hard to beat, especially in stock form. They have more features, more power, and more comfort. The 6 or 8 speed transmission is awesome. They are both more efficient than an a343 at least, and probably an a750. The extra overdrive gear really helps fuel economy, though, interestingly, 200s don't get that much better economy.
 
Nardulli said:
Elitist... LOL
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that's one way to describe it. i just get kinda triggered when less knowledgeable people (im trying not to call the jeep people stupid) compliment my "4runner" this has happened several times.

I drive a 97 LX450 with a YUGE lexus logo on the side. so i feel like i need to embrace the stereotype.

anyways not to hijack the thread but a wise old man once told me this:

Buy the newest land cruiser or the oldest land cruiser you can afford. Unless you are gonna wheel it then you should buy an 80 series.

and by wheeling i mean like class 2 type fun trails.

but what do i know. I'm just a 80 series peasant
 
CHECK OUT A USED ARMADA Y62 PATROL... BLOWN AWAY BY DRIVING A 400 HORSE POWER V8 THAT GETS 19 MPG. I have a 100, drove a 200 and then the Y62! what a monster that is.. comfortable, 18 inches longer wheel base, no body roll in cornering, interior is 4 inches wider than 100. Best of all, you can get a low mile 4X4/AWD (10 k or less) 2022-24 Armada for about 40K with a factory 3 year warranty. A 200 with that many miles will be about 80K and no warranty.
 
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nissanh said:
CHECK OUT A USED ARMADA Y62 PATROL... BLOWN AWAY BY DRIVING A 400 HORSE POWER V8 THAT GETS 19 MPG. I have a 100, drove a 200 and then the Y62! what a monster that is.. comfortable, 18 inches longer wheel base, no body roll in cornering, interior is 4 inches wider than 100. Best of all, you can get a low mile 4X4/AWD (10 k or less) 2022-24 Armada for about 40K with a factory 3 year warranty. A 200 with that many miles will be about 80K and no warranty.
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"Idiots drive Jeeps, fancy idiots drive Land Rovers, professionals drive Toyotas, and those who can't afford a Toyota drive Patrols." - some smart Australian guy on the internet
 
Nardulli said:
A good friend asked me to source a 4Runner for him to take to Florida and leave it there for when he's there. He was looking to spend $30 35K. Blah. I had him drive my 01 LC100, and he was blown away. He asked me this morning about what ChatGPT advised him - that the 200 was the better choice due to updated technology, engine, etc. What say you, the tribal elders of all things Cruiser?
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What was it about your 100 that "blew him away"? If a 200 is now a consideration then he should look for an opportunity to test drive one. Also should check out the 4Runner of initial interest. 30-35K is a lot to spend on a used vehicle. This will be a second car for occasional use in Florida?
 
ttFJC said:
"Idiots drive Jeeps, fancy idiots drive Land Rovers, professionals drive Toyotas, and those who can't afford a Toyota drive Patrols." - some smart Australian guy on the internet
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This statement is not valid with newer Toyota's. Now with 100K+ recalls on LX 600, Tundras and Tacomas for blowing transmissions and engines. No sale on these at toyota dealers, Smarter now choose Nissan trucks. So far no recalls on Armada's!
 
80 series, 100 series, 2 x 200 series TD and 1 x 200 series petrol and this is in the land down under where no sane person can speak ill of Toyota. Dusted Turbo's, failed injectors among the most common faults and whilst I was lucky and didn't become a victim, I know of several that did and if I recall correctly a set of injectors ran $7-10K. I am not an off roading fan but drive crap roads and tow a 2 tonne off road van and I sold my 2008 200 series with all the gear and now drive a 2004 LX470 with 530k km and I love it and you couldn't give me a 200 series TD again (it cost me $12K versus the $52K I sold my 200 series for) The LX is so quiet and comfortable and EVERYTHING works including AHC and I was guilty of thinking a Lexus was a 100 series with spoilers....so wrong and even my mechanic who got sick of repairing failed diesel vehicles just bought an LX570 petrol. As they say opinions are like assholes everybody has one, but a final note on my first 200 series towing a 3500KG van used to burn 30 litres per 100km into a head wind. And towing with a 300 series TD V6 with a hot vee will find out the same way BMW did with their hot vee V8 everthing cooks prematurely.
 
nissanh said:
This statement is not valid with newer Toyota's. Now with 100K+ recalls on LX 600, Tundras and Tacomas for blowing transmissions and engines. No sale on these at toyota dealers, Smarter now choose Nissan trucks. So far no recalls on Armada's!
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I'm about to ditch Toyota altogether and get a BMW G05 with a B58, lift and tires just to grief on the Porsche Cayenne guys LOL.
 
nissanh said:
CHECK OUT A USED ARMADA Y62 PATROL... BLOWN AWAY BY DRIVING A 400 HORSE POWER V8 THAT GETS 19 MPG. I have a 100, drove a 200 and then the Y62! what a monster that is.. comfortable, 18 inches longer wheel base, no body roll in cornering, interior is 4 inches wider than 100. Best of all, you can get a low mile 4X4/AWD (10 k or less) 2022-24 Armada for about 40K with a factory 3 year warranty. A 200 with that many miles will be about 80K and no warranty.
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I've had Armadas numerous times as rentals. They rip with the VK56. Last one I had was for a all-highway trip on flat roads, going 70-80 mph and got up to 23 mpg IIRC. I'm not up to speed on the reliability of them but I think they'd make a great highway/tow vehicle SUV.

Way too big, way too long, and way to hard to see out of for wheeling....plus they have IRS.
 
Rednexus said:
Way too big, way too long....
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As well as no way being as reliable as the hundy....the above is big reasons why I would never own an Armada or any Nissan. Although it is splitting hairs....I think the 80 series is the perfect size for my liking but everything else about a hundy puts that hair back together.
 
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