Thoughts on 200 series (1 Viewer)

[josharre2000]

Hi folks,

After 5 years the wife has gotten tired of driving a mini-van. I am looking for some observations from you folks on the 200 series. This rig will be used to shuttle the kids around, occasionally tow the boat, family trips, etc.

I have heard accounts of poor quality and suspect reliability. However, I wanted to get it straight from those of you who actually own a 200.

Thanks,

Josh

 

[chimyz]

I've had no problems with quality or reliability. Since I bought it a year ago, it has been nothing but gas fillups, oil changes and bliss. The thing has served me really well.

It is a very big and heavy rig...not like the mini van. The seating is great for road trips (we have done 7500 miles as a family last year, and I did an additional 3000 myself). One thing I will advise, if you are looking for economy, steer clear of the 5.7L V8.

My guys are 3 and 8 months, and there is no way they can get into the 200 by themselves with the lift and tires I have on them, so unless you are keeping it stock, you make sure your kids know how to climb up into it. Again, as far from a minivan as you can get.

Getting things out of the back can sometimes be a chore compared to other vehicles. I am 6'0" and need to climb into the back if something rolled up against the seats.

Other than those, I couldn't recommend a better vehicle. This is a great all around "King of all Roads".

 

[dtt255]

If she is ONLY going to be using it for a mall cruiser (which is everything you described) you would SAVE alot of money just getting a Sequoia. Plus you get a slightly larger vehicle.

Whoever you heard from that mentioned poor quality and suspect reliability is someone who knows NOTHING about this vehicle, oh and if it was a dealer or a technician...it is OBVIOUS they know nothing about this vehicle.

I have ran mine through the ringer and have not had a SINGLE ISSUE! I actually was off road in the desert for 4 hours straight today and when I hit pavement again...she was a smooth and quiet as the day I got her!

Gosh it makes me mad when people who know NOTHING about this vehicle start **** because they don't know how to be honest and say: "I really don't know"

 

[sdtash]

Josh,
I have had quite a few LC's from new. The latter being a 97 80 series GXL TD and a 03 120 Prado TD.

The LC 200 is by far the best Cruiser I have owned. Far Superior straight out of the box than the others and a sheer joy to tow with. I have the GXL V8 D4D version sold in Australia. The engine is sweet, plenty of grunt straight off from right down low.

I have had the tailshaft replaced under warranty due to the slight clunk that could be felt when moving from a standstill. Apart from that I had no other issues at all. I have completed 24,000 kms in it since new in Oct 07.

The 200 is not cheap to purchase and not cheap to accessorise. One important factor I liked was the numerous safety features that are a standard on the LC 200, and the protection it offered the family. With the LC 200 a lot of the high tech gear is not visible form the outside. KDSS, VCS,A-TRAC and what ever all adds up to one hell of a 4x4.

 

[josharre2000]

Yes this will be a soccer mom rig--- for now. I have a LX450 which I have built for wheelin, exlporing, etc.

It looks like there are some smokin deals out there on new LCs. I just wish we could get the 4.5 TTD here in the states.

As far as the Sequoia, she is not a big fan of the new body style. She had an 05 when we lived in Alaska and loved it. I think she would be more comfortable with something like the 200 or 100 series.

thanks guys.

 

[Gone Bush]

Josh, you could always import a diesel version from the Land Down Under.

You wife would only have to get used to the steering wheel being on the right hand side of the cabin, a mere detail.

 

[dtt255]

Yes this will be a soccer mom rig--- for now. I have a LX450 which I have built for wheelin, exlporing, etc.

It looks like there are some smokin deals out there on new LCs. I just wish we could get the 4.5 TTD here in the states.

As far as the Sequoia, she is not a big fan of the new body style. She had an 05 when we lived in Alaska and loved it. I think she would be more comfortable with something like the 200 or 100 series.

thanks guys.

What I want to know is who the hell told you it was unreliable and has quality issues?!?!?!?!

 

[JBHorne]

Sounds to me like this is not your vehicle. Don't get me wrong, I love mine, but this ain't a mall cruiser like DTT said.

That is where the sequoia fits the bill. If she doesn't like the styling of the sequoia, I'm not sure why she would like the styling of the LC200.

Also for females and little fella's, like chimyz said, it can be difficult to get stuff from the rear with the lower hatch like a truck and the top like a normal SUV. Personally, at 6'1" this doesn't bother me, and I love having the rear to sit on with two speakers right above my head.

Pushing a 5.7L around town is kinda pointless unless you need it for towing and take long road trips. Even then the Sequoia seems a better fit.

This is just my $.02. I hate to see LC's driven to only pick up groceries.

 

[JBHorne]

What I want to know is who the hell told you it was unreliable and has quality issues?!?!?!?!

Probably the dealership that doesn't have one in stock, which around here is all of them. As far as I know, I'm the only one in AZ with one, as I've called the two Toyota dealerships in Tucson and also in Phoenix, and they all have never sold one (besides mine) -- nor will they have one on display. So yeah, it's people that don't know about them.

 

[dtt255]

Sounds to me like this is not your vehicle. Don't get me wrong, I love mine, but this ain't a mall cruiser like DTT said.

That is where the sequoia fits the bill. If she doesn't like the styling of the sequoia, I'm not sure why she would like the styling of the LC200.

Also for females and little fella's, like chimyz said, it can be difficult to get stuff from the rear with the lower hatch like a truck and the top like a normal SUV. Personally, at 6'1" this doesn't bother me, and I love having the rear to sit on with two speakers right above my head.

Pushing a 5.7L around town is kinda pointless unless you need it for towing and take long road trips. Even then the Sequoia seems a better fit.

This is just my $.02. I hate to see LC's driven to only pick up groceries.

x2

If there was not a $25k to $30k difference then I would say go for it. Then again, that may NOT be a concern for you.

JB - Just remember that the Sequoia also has the same 5.7 engine

 

[JBHorne]

x2

If there was not a $25k to $30k difference then I would say go for it. Then again, that may NOT be a concern for you.

JB - Just remember that the Sequoia also has the same 5.7 engine

Yes, but he did say that it was also to "occasionally tow the boat", which makes the 5.7 nice. Even so, you hit it on the nose that he (or his wife) will not be using the 25-30K in extra features of the LC.

 

[007-FJC]

no LandCruiser should be a mall cruiser. Why spend 70-80 grand on a piece of equipment loaded down with all the offroad goodies just to climb a few speed bumps? It's your money, my oppinion for you is leave the LC for the mountain goats and get your wife a Venza. Stylish, not a minivan and it gets good mpg.

On a side note, the LC has horrible quality. Usually when kids climb init, the panels will fall right off. the 5.7L siezes up in the Sears parking lot and the driveline clunks when you go over a speed bump. I wouldn't trust this thing to be a mall cruiser

 

[chimyz]

007-FJC - You've got to change your sig line...it kills me everytime I see the thing!

 

[sdtash]

I think the 200 will hold 338 soccer balls, a family of 5 and a dog named Fred.










In all honesty the 200 has a fine build quality, yes there has been a few warranty issues in OZ. Toyota has stepped up and has placed mods for the fixes. Identified issues in OZ are-

# Tailshaft clunk. - Grease tailshaft / Replacement.
# Engine Stalling - Flash ECU for fuel pump.
# 4.5ltr TTD diesel High Oil Consumption - Replacement vacuum pump.

In all I feel the numbers of cars involved are low. As with the WWW as it is, normally you only here the bad stories.

 

[josharre2000]

no LandCruiser should be a mall cruiser. Why spend 70-80 grand on a piece of equipment loaded down with all the offroad goodies just to climb a few speed bumps? It's your money, my oppinion for you is leave the LC for the mountain goats and get your wife a Venza. Stylish, not a minivan and it gets good mpg.

On a side note, the LC has horrible quality. Usually when kids climb init, the panels will fall right off. the 5.7L siezes up in the Sears parking lot and the driveline clunks when you go over a speed bump. I wouldn't trust this thing to be a mall cruiser

My Wife would divorce me if I brought that strange a** looking carminisuvvan home. Got a line on an 08 with 2k miles on it (demo). The sales person talked some pretty big smack today about how well he could do on it. I plan on seeing if he is serious tomorrow. Wish me luck.

BTW-- do not fret too much about this LC not being used as intended (all of my cruisers get thier turn-- except the 40). However, I am very interested in seeing how well it compares offroad to the 80.

 

[sdtash]

BTW-- do not fret too much about this LC not being used as intended (all of my cruisers get thier turn-- except the 40). However, I am very interested in seeing how well it compares offroad to the 80.

Josh ,
Having had a 97 TD 80 myself I am sure you will not be disappointed. The 80 drove like a truck , the 200 is a limousine but more capable. Hope things go well tomorrow, take no prisoners.

 

[josharre2000]

thanks shane. good to hear from the straight axle crowd as well.

 

[JBHorne]

The 200's are going for below invoice (at least the 08's)...so a good deal would be at or below invoice.

There's another thread on the pricing somewhere.

 

[007-FJC]

007-FJC - You've got to change your sig line...it kills me everytime I see the thing!

Done

 

[dtt255]

Done

Now THAT is funny!