Thoughts From the 200 Crew On the LC250 Reveal (2 Viewers)

[ryanCA]

Correct, but in that case Mr. T. is getting handsomely well paid for that swallowing exercise. I think the ones suffering are the traditional Japanese folks (not the execs) that, back in Japan, wore the LC brand with pride and honor reflected on that 25-year life span goal. They now have to "whore-out" the name plate to a lesser product in the US.

1000000% agree

name has been watered down for the USmarket

sad for those of us who truly bleed the REAL LC

 

[ryanCA]

This is the thing that doesn’t make sense. They have a built in fan base but are gambling on running them off in the hopes of attracting new fans which aren’t guaranteed to come. This is the car version of Disney Star Wars.

The CAFE standards have a lot of blame to shoulder here as well.

Agree, Artie but I do think it makes sense

Typical Lc owner (who buys new keeps 20 years). Average mud owner is the 3rd owner of a LC

Toyota needs more customers

instagrammers/high income but no wealth people/lease people are the demo toyota wants - who care about more about carplay than lockers

they got the right target now… and are making $$ with these instant gratification fans

 

[ryanCA]

They are both ugly.

However, looks don’t get you up the trail with all your crap so I would be a shopper on the function over fashion POV but that’s my typical approach to this type of stuff and I have a closet full of identical pants to prove it.

those of us who wear the same pants daily arent buying either

most these guys go on trail is take a forklift and show off their “flex” in a concrete parking lot

they buy new trucks- lift+ 37+ snorkel+ RTt+ bumpers built by other idiots who have no skills - then go pick up their kids at school and then go to starbucks

you willl see how shiny their ko3 and grapplers are… they also style and gel their beard every morning and send meme on how much of a real man they are

only mud they know is the mudbath they go to

 

[bloc]

I dislike the lc250 for a host of reasons, but at the end of the day the “real” Landcruiser fan base didn’t buy enough of those new off the lot to make it a viable product in the US.

 

[Blackwater]

I dislike the lc250 for a host of reasons, but at the end of the day the “real” Landcruiser fan base didn’t buy enough of those new off the lot to make it a viable product in the US.

True, but what's sad is we've not had the option of a 70 series or the like that most of us would absolutely love to have..

When we're only offered $90k new trucks it's not a big mystery when the sales aren't there..

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Strictly from an appearance standpoint, IMO both the new 4Runner and LC look better than the ones they're replacing.

However, I'd probably prefer owning a 200 over the 250 but choose the newer 4Runner over its predecessor.
Actually, I'm perfectly content with my'97 80 series and 1990 4Runner. No desire for anything newer. Nope, not even a new 70 series although that would be tempting.

 

[bloc]

True, but what's sad is we've not had the option of a 70 series or the like that most of us would absolutely love to have..

When we're only offered $90k new trucks it's not a big mystery when the sales aren't there..

IMO a 70-series would do even worse in the US, and only partially because it would also be very expensive. Not to mention ride quality, crash safety standards, fuel economy, stock off-road performance..

You just can't get the level of quality inherent to a 200/300/70 without it costing a lot of money, relative to similarly-optioned competition.

 

[Gazziza]

That’s fair. It’s definitely a luxury to have more than one vehicle. The GX 550 / LC 250 is a really good pick for its versatility and ability to do a little bit of everything especially if it’s the only car. I wasn’t trying to knock it. It can be a daily driver, shuttle the family cross country, and take you off road. Not a bad combination at all.

That said, for lighter duty, I prefer the GX 460 over the new models since you can get a gently used one for a song and it’s got a V8. I also think the design might stand the test of time better than the trendy boxier design. If I were buying a GX, I’d go with a ‘22 GX that some old lady just returned off a lease.

You keep referencing “light duty”. What’s your definition of “light duty”? Light or heavy duty only matters in terms of how you use your vehicle and I think you have a misconception of what that truly is. The 150 and 250 platform is used worldwide in rural areas like Thailand, Africa, South America, Australia, Middle East. They’re used all over the world in some rough ass terrain in stock and modded configurations. I think you’d be shocked what “light duty” 5th gen 4R, GX460, LC250 or GX550 can do. There’s plenty of examples of that on the forums and socials. Plenty of these “light duty” vehicles have done trails in Moab, the Rubicon, Uwharrie, SW Colorado with ease. I think they’re more heavy duty than you give them credit for. These vehicles have more capability than you (and most drivers) have skill. I had two 5th gen 4Runners that I took on trails that Jeeps on 40’s were surprised I could do on 32” tires, solo no spotter.

If you are a city dwelling, flatlander that is just trying to brave city traffic, rainstorms or the occasional tornado in Dallas then what does it matter if you have a 200 series vs a 4Runner/LC-Prado/GX? In that situation it doesn’t matter what platform you have because that’s just normal city driving. Those aren’t “heavy duty” required driving situations. The question is what do YOU do that requires a “heavy duty” vehicle that you don’t believe a 150 or 250 is suitable for? If your answer is that you feel the 200/300 series is more robust and luxurious then that is fine but let’s not minimize how capable the 150/250 platform is. If you feel better about yourself by saying you have a “heavy duty” 200 series then just say that.

 

[ryanCA]

I dislike the lc250 for a host of reasons, but at the end of the day the “real” Landcruiser fan base didn’t buy enough of those new off the lot to make it a viable product in the US.

That is due the price. If we had stripper 40-50K version like rest of the world, many would buy them.


Also in the US "prestige" is with a brand. people rather buy the LX than an expensive Toyota...

 

[DrivenLyfe]

That is due the price. If we had stripper 40-50K version like rest of the world, many would buy them.


Also in the US "prestige" is with a brand. people rather buy the LX than an expensive Toyota...

Agreed all around. Wish we got the stripper or poverty spec models. It’s funny watching the reactions of folks from different places.

Tell someone who has largely been stateside about LCs and often met with a blank stare, like they don’t know what it is out why you’re talking about it. Tell them LX they’re like ohhh I know what that is.

Conversely tell people who have served or from other nations about LCs and you see them revere it. Mention an LX and they think it is some soccer mom mobile so they shrug their shoulders. Mention it is the Lexus LC and they get it lol.

 

[MRego]

You keep referencing “light duty”. What’s your definition of “light duty”? Light or heavy duty only matters in terms of how you use your vehicle and I think you have a misconception of what that truly is. The 150 and 250 platform is used worldwide in rural areas like Thailand, Africa, South America, Australia, Middle East. They’re used all over the world in some rough ass terrain in stock and modded configurations. I think you’d be shocked what “light duty” 5th gen 4R, GX460, LC250 or GX550 can do. There’s plenty of examples of that on the forums and socials. Plenty of these “light duty” vehicles have done trails in Moab, the Rubicon, Uwharrie, SW Colorado with ease. I think they’re more heavy duty than you give them credit for. These vehicles have more capability than you (and most drivers) have skill. I had two 5th gen 4Runners that I took on trails that Jeeps on 40’s were surprised I could do on 32” tires, solo no spotter.

If you are a city dwelling, flatlander that is just trying to brave city traffic, rainstorms or the occasional tornado in Dallas then what does it matter if you have a 200 series vs a 4Runner/LC-Prado/GX? In that situation it doesn’t matter what platform you have because that’s just normal city driving. Those aren’t “heavy duty” required driving situations. The question is what do YOU do that requires a “heavy duty” vehicle that you don’t believe a 150 or 250 is suitable for? If your answer is that you feel the 200/300 series is more robust and luxurious then that is fine but let’s not minimize how capable the 150/250 platform is. If you feel better about yourself by saying you have a “heavy duty” 200 series then just say that.

Heavy duty = offroad trails, war zone and s***.

Light duty = coffee run, school run and soccer practice run.

 

[ryanCA]

Agreed all around. Wish we got the stripper or poverty spec models. It’s funny watching the reactions of folks from different places.

Tell someone who has largely been stateside about LCs and often met with a blank stare, like they don’t know what it is out why you’re talking about it. Tell them LX they’re like ohhh I know what that is.

Conversely tell people who have served or from other nations about LCs and you see them revere it. Mention an LX and they think it is some soccer mom mobile so they shrug their shoulders. Mention it is the Lexus LC and they get it lol.

Bingo

Rest of the world, LC is for rich people, business leaders, Prime Ministers, Parliament members...

 

[stonepa]

IMO a 70-series would do even worse in the US, and only partially because it would also be very expensive. Not to mention ride quality, crash safety standards, fuel economy, stock off-road performance..

You just can't get the level of quality inherent to a 200/300/70 without it costing a lot of money, relative to similarly-optioned competition.

I would agree. Most people who want a 79 have never driven one. Ride quality, slow, hard plastic everywhere, no sound deadening. You had might as well spend the same amount of money on a fully restored FJ60 or, even better, HJ60. At least the steering will be on the correct side of the vehicle.

 

[bloc]

A 4-liter 200-series would fare about as well as that 79-series in the US. Probably even worse, when you consider the competition in that price range.

 

[Girl Dad of 3]

Heavy duty = offroad trails, war zone and s***.

Light duty = coffee run, school run and soccer practice run.

You keep referencing “light duty”. What’s your definition of “light duty”? Light or heavy duty only matters in terms of how you use your vehicle and I think you have a misconception of what that truly is. The 150 and 250 platform is used worldwide in rural areas like Thailand, Africa, South America, Australia, Middle East. They’re used all over the world in some rough ass terrain in stock and modded configurations. I think you’d be shocked what “light duty” 5th gen 4R, GX460, LC250 or GX550 can do. There’s plenty of examples of that on the forums and socials. Plenty of these “light duty” vehicles have done trails in Moab, the Rubicon, Uwharrie, SW Colorado with ease. I think they’re more heavy duty than you give them credit for. These vehicles have more capability than you (and most drivers) have skill. I had two 5th gen 4Runners that I took on trails that Jeeps on 40’s were surprised I could do on 32” tires, solo no spotter.

If you are a city dwelling, flatlander that is just trying to brave city traffic, rainstorms or the occasional tornado in Dallas then what does it matter if you have a 200 series vs a 4Runner/LC-Prado/GX? In that situation it doesn’t matter what platform you have because that’s just normal city driving. Those aren’t “heavy duty” required driving situations. The question is what do YOU do that requires a “heavy duty” vehicle that you don’t believe a 150 or 250 is suitable for? If your answer is that you feel the 200/300 series is more robust and luxurious then that is fine but let’s not minimize how capable the 150/250 platform is. If you feel better about yourself by saying you have a “heavy duty” 200 series then just say that.

Fair enough. You’re right that the 250s are very capable, and I didn’t mean to suggest that they aren’t. I don’t think they have the same rock solid build quality as the 200s, nor are they going to have the durability over many years that the 200s have shown. If you’re going to push the truck hard over time and a variety of challenges ranging from terrain to load to 100ks miles to all weather, I suspect the 200s will hold up better based on my perception (amateurish) of the build quality. Heavy Duty as I’m using it refers to the ability of the truck to hold up over the long haul under duress, which is why I’d be less inclined to buy one of the new 250s. I do believe the older GX has a more solid build that will hold up better long term.

 

[MRego]

I do believe the older GX has a more solid build that will hold up better long term.

Yes. And, in the old GX case, it has already proven to hold up better long term based on the various generations pushing 200k 300k miles still running today. Oh and some doing some pretty “heavy duty” stuff in the trails.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

This is the thing that doesn’t make sense. They have a built in fan base but are gambling on running them off in the hopes of attracting new fans which aren’t guaranteed to come. This is the car version of Disney Star Wars.

The CAFE standards have a lot of blame to shoulder here as well.

Thew new "LC" comes in at a significantly lower price point than the new 300, or even many used 200 series models. They're counting on a larger consumer base, and they will probably get it.

How many people that could never previously get into a 200 series now jump at the opportunity to get a "Land Cruiser" and flex in front of their Tacoma buddies? I bet quite a few. In fact, just about any time I see this new abomination in the wild, it's almost always in the company of a Tacoma, Frontier, T4r, etc. - it's the same group of young folks buying all these trucks.

The last camping trip of last year... walking around during the day, came across a campsite with a Frontier, Tacoma, and a LC250 all in one group. Bunch of young 20-somethings, roof top tents, externally mounted MaxTrax & Roto Pax fuel containers, 35" tires, sliders, bumpers... at a paved, provincial park campground.

Like someone said previously, these groups are the "off road" version of the WRX/GTI folks. Nothing wrong with that - I went through that stage myself - but not my crowd.

 

[Supra Turbo]

Mr Toyota did a good job and fool'd me right into getting a LC250.

They sure did... I too don't mind the looks of it, but I do have a problem with not calling it what it is all around the world - a Prado. Its a great Land Cruiser Prado.

 

[Zill]

Let’s be real, if they dropped a V8 option in the 250, I bet many of the complaints would not be there.

Much of the perceived build quality and driving experience is due to the butter smooth V8 in the 100 and 200.

 

[Supra Turbo]

Agreed all around. Wish we got the stripper or poverty spec models. It’s funny watching the reactions of folks from different places.

Tell someone who has largely been stateside about LCs and often met with a blank stare, like they don’t know what it is out why you’re talking about it. Tell them LX they’re like ohhh I know what that is.

Conversely tell people who have served or from other nations about LCs and you see them revere it. Mention an LX and they think it is some soccer mom mobile so they shrug their shoulders. Mention it is the Lexus LC and they get it lol.

Couldn't agree more. This has been my experience indeed.