Thoughts/questions going from 200 to LC250/GX550 (3 Viewers)

[waydownsouth]

Been considering trading our 2015 200 series (108k mi) on a LC250 or GX550. I've kept up with this forum subsection since these units start hitting the dealer lots, trying to weigh pro's / cons of each. Our 200 series is super tight and clean, but wife really likes the looks of new 250 series. This week we test drove a new 250 in the Land Cruiser trim (w/ premium pkg) and a new GX550 in Prem+ trim. Here are some thoughts / comments based on the 2 units we viewed. We drove the LC first.

-LC250: Engine is peppy, but not smooth/refined under acceleration. Prefer the LC's center infotainment and hard buttons for A/C stuff. 2nd row seats seemed to not have as much leg room as I anticipated. I looked online and sure enough there is a 10" difference in leg room between LC250 (26.7") & GX550 (36.7"). I suppose the hybrid battery forced them to push 2nd row seats forward ?? Wife didn't really like the drive characteristics versus our 200 series (not apples to apples, I get it).

-GX550: looks nice, little more flashy. Much more refined cabin and smoother drive. Steering wheel feels better in your hand. Seat leather is nicer. Wife said "this drives more like my car (200 series)". Available 3rd row seating is big plus for us. We got the feel that you are getting more for your $$ with the GX550.

Takeaways: Pricing is basically the same for these 2 trim levels. Would likely move forward with the GX550, but I'm still not confident of the Lexus TT V6 having all of its issues resolved. Does anyone have any new information here?...... 2nd row leg room difference is noticeable....... LC250 in Land Cruiser trim feels $5-$10k over priced versus the comparable GX......

Maybe this info is helpful to someone. I'm still on the fence on giving up the 200 series for either of these....

 

[LCQ]

I looked online and sure enough there is a 10" difference in leg room between LC250 (26.7") & GX550 (36.7").

10” would be massively apparent. That’s like extended cab vs mega cab. Those numbers are incorrect. They’re the same at 36.7”

Check Toyota’s specs instead of Google’s summaries.

 

[waydownsouth]

10” would be massively apparent. That’s like extended cab vs mega cab. Those numbers are incorrect. They’re the same at 36.7”

Check Toyota’s specs instead of Google’s summaries.

I thought the info I looked at last night was official, but after looking at toyota.com just now I stand corrected on those posted dims. I didn't pull a measuring tape on it, but we drove them back to back, and I was struck at the difference in rear seat leg room (the GX also had bench seats in 2nd row). Could been just a perceived difference. I'll do more research here.

 

[MRego]

I'm still on the fence on giving up the 200 series for either of these....

If the 200 is her car and she likes the 250/GX, you probably lost that battle. Most women are drawn to the little-tonka-toy-boxy appearance that has nothing to do with actually being a tank-like the 200. If the 200 is yours, that is a different story and, if I were in your shoes, I would get the same money and buy a 2019/2020 lightly used (maybe even splurge for a Heritage, if you can find one) and keep the real tank in your stable.

 

[rexington14]

Would likely move forward with the GX550, but I'm still not confident of the Lexus TT V6 having all of its issues resolved. Does anyone have any new information here?...... 2nd row leg room difference is noticeable....... LC250 in Land Cruiser trim feels $5-$10k over priced versus the comparable GX......

Maybe this info is helpful to someone. I'm still on the fence on giving up the 200 series for either of these....

As you probably already know the GX550 is not included in the V35A recall.

Lexus sold about 31k GX's in 2024. (some of these could be leftover 460s). I haven't heard of a single report of main bearings failure in a 550.

 

[Sandroad]

There are other threads on the switch that may be useful. Here’s one of several

200 series owners who went to 250 series?

Serious conflict with myself trying to decide if I want to jump ship on the 200 and get the 250. Any 200 owners who made the swap have any thoughts? Pros, cons, happy, have regret? Thanks

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[waydownsouth]

Thanks, good info. Seems like early on there were concerns related to the V6 in the GX550, maybe even a stop sale for a period of time. But I got lost in trying to keep up with that months ago. Good to know GX550 engines were not recalled.

On the 2nd row leg room for the LC , the 26.7” is listed on several dealer’s site if you look under dimensions. The Toyota main site lists it as 36.7”.

 

[Patassa]

I've yet to see a GX driven by a man in my city. 100% of the ones I've seen are being driven by women.

 

[MRego]

I've yet to see a GX driven by a man in my city. 100% of the ones I've seen are being driven by women.

Where I live the proportion has been the same as the old GX460. I did see men driving it, but probably on a ratio of 8 to 2, being 80% women. It is a fact that women (with a few exceptions) do not like the 200 due to its sheer mass and heavy steering. Looks like even the OP's wife is on that camp after testing the Prado.

 

[joseywales]

On the 2nd row leg room for the LC , the 26.7” is listed on several dealer’s site if you look under dimensions. The Toyota main site lists it as 36.7”.

They are 100% the same leg room in the second row. If the LC was 10” less, you’d open the back door and walk in to the side of the seat. The whole reason I’m looking at a 250 over other options IS the rear legroom…

 

[Knowbuddy]

I've yet to see a GX driven by a man in my city. 100% of the ones I've seen are being driven by women.

What does that matter? 90% of 200s I see are also driven by women. It’s a weird metric.

 

[Rednexus]

What does that matter? 90% of 200s I see are also driven by women. It’s a weird metric.

It's all 4x4 SUVs. Wranglers, Defenders, and Broncos also appear to be 50%+ woman driven in my area. Jeeps are the worst with all of the pink accessories.

The 4Runner and LC200 may be the only two with mostly male drivers.

 

[Patassa]

What does that matter? 90% of 200s I see are also driven by women. It’s a weird metric.

That's for you to decide.

 

[Knowbuddy]

That's for you to decide.

Nope it’s weird. But hey we can’t all identify our insecurities like you. Because who the F*** cares about the gender of the driver.

 

[Patassa]

Nope it’s weird. But hey we can’t all identify our insecurities like you. Because who the F*** cares about the gender of the driver.

Just take a break dude, if you're this bent out of shape and insecure about someone noticing it's mostly women driving GX's in their area, maybe go touch some grass.

 

[Knowbuddy]

Just take a break dude, if you're this bent out of shape and insecure about someone noticing it's mostly women driving GX's in their area, maybe go touch some grass.

Nah if pointing out you’re so worked up that a woman drives a car so you can’t feel like a man bothers you then maybe you should stay off the internet champ.

 

[Patassa]

Nah if pointing out you’re so worked up that a woman drives a car so you can’t feel like a man bothers you then maybe you should stay off the internet champ.

Let's review.
I said "In my area it's 100% women driving GX's". Other people chimed in they noticed a similar trend in their areas. Zero emotion, zero feelings, zero implications. Literally just noticing a trend and stating it.

Then you jump in with "that's weird, you're insecure, what does it matter" and making it personal?

I think it's clear to everyone who has the problem here.

 

[Dilspec]

So ya, how bout that 250…

 

[Knowbuddy]

Let's review.
I said "In my area it's 100% women driving GX's". Other people chimed in they noticed a similar trend in their areas. Zero emotion, zero feelings, zero implications. Literally just noticing a trend and stating it.

Then you jump in with "that's weird, you're insecure, what does it matter" and making it personal?

I think it's clear to everyone who has the problem here.

It’s weird.

Back on topic. 200s are fantastic and 250s are fantastic. Both have their strong points regardless of your gender. 250 makes up for a lot of gripes I have with the 200 but every vehicle has its compromises.

 

[Rednexus]

I want women to drive these rigs. They won't abuse them, leaving them in good condition for me when I pick one up in 5-10 years. Just like the string of Karens who owned my GX470 before me. Including the first one who purchased it in Greenwich, CT, in 2007, right before the financial crisis.

How do you know it was Karen owned, you may ask? When I refreshed the interior I found a ton of her blonde hair and decade-old dried soda residue. A habit she passed on to her kids too, because it was all over the front and rear seats carpet/seat crevices/etc. It was around 3/16" thick in the E-brake area so she must have spilled several in the center console. Regardless, she kept it maintained and didn't wheel it.

I hope there is another Karen out there, somewhere, right now, pampering my future GX550/LX600 in her climate-controlled garage. Maybe she's even treating it to overpriced scheduled maintenance at the Lexus dealer in her upper-income suburb.