I figured that buying a LC over an LX cost me about 3-4K, it is basic supply and demand. For every 1 LC there are 10 LX 200's. I talked to a Toyota rep about it years ago and he said Americans just had issued paying that much for a cruiser, not a problem with the Lexus name so that drove the production/delivery numbers for North America.
So true. I have heard that the newer 13'+ LR4 is much improved on realiablity and quality but with its history, it would be hard for me to pull the trigger on one unless it was a lease and used as a DD and not a deep woods out in the middle of nowhere type vechicle. Hard to beat a Crusier that's for sure