Took a test drive on the dark side in a 2017 Armada/Patrol

[cc1999]

Not commenting on quality of Land Rover products, but you will be surprised how well they maintain its price. Particularly, referring to '13 and newer full size Range Rovers. I bet you it blows LC/ LX out of the water in that department.

That is interesting. I read somewhere that the residual values had been improving. wasn't sure quite what to make of it.
Are we talking % of retained initial value or actual cash depreciation in term of real dollars spent or lost. My concerns have always been that even if it retained 80%, and I would be really shocked if it retained higher then 80% of its value over the first 2 years and 20,000 miles. That would still be a 20-30,000 loss depending on what model and options I chose to buy. I could tone down the options and go with a Sport, but you loose the split rear hatch. Not sure what else changes between the 2 models.

I don't think we would see that large of an actual cash loss on the LC or the GC, or Armada.
Especially the GC or Armada for that matter since they only cost 50-55k . Even a week 70% residual value would only have a real net dollar amount of $15K lost.
Where the LC would land around 74k-76K new depending on the sort of deal I could make on one.
Then 2 years 20K miles in on the LC I think would likely land in the residual value of 60-62k basically creating a $12-15K net loss in actual dollars. However after those first couple years are under the LC's belt, the amount they drop in value really seems to slow way down, from there on out.

 

[cc1999]

The color white is always a good one.

Well that is very true, I am really having to stretch to make myself look at alterative color choices.
Of my final 3 vehicle choices, only the Jeep GC can be bought in my favorite color a basic pure bright gloss white no metallic.
My alternate color is typically non metallic pure gloss black none of the 3 are offered in pure gloss black.

So for the Armada I am leaning toward silver or maybe even the dark grey, the dark grey is the only Armada not two toned.
The LC would 100% have to be the silver. I really like the LC in the silver, not as much as the old Super White like I have bought on all 3 200 LCs that I have owned and currently own . As far as looks alone go, the 16/17 Silver LC is my favorite of the 3 contenders.

 

[cc1999]

Well I could not stop thinking about how much I liked that Armada I had driven a few weeks ago.
I took another one at a different dealer on another test drive, a much longer drive this time, and this weekend my original local dealer got one in a color combo I liked, with all the options I wanted. It was setting on the showroom when I made it by their today to check it out. I had them pull it off the floor and fill it up, so I could take it for a really long solo test drive. When all was said and done, it somehow found its way into my garage tonight. Lol

I still have the twin cruisers for now. Though I am Likely to be selling off one of the twin LCs sometime soon.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Well I could not stop thinking about how much I liked that Armada I had driven a few weeks ago.
I took another one at a different dealer on another test drive, a much longer drive this time, and this weekend my original local dealer got one in a color combo I liked, with all the options I wanted. It was setting on the showroom when I made it by their today to check it out. I had them pull it off the floor and fill it up, so I could take it for a really long solo test drive. When all was said and done, it somehow found its way into my garage tonight. Lol

I still have the twin cruisers for now. Though I am Likely to be selling off one of the twin LCs sometime soon.

View attachment 1330197

We have an '08 Armada and its our trip vehicle. I tow 40 and 60 cruisers with it all the time. Powerful and a nice ride. We get good mileage in it (16/20) pending whose driving.

I'm not a fan of the Infinity bulbous look. Prefer the scaled down Nissan lines much better. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

J

 

[White Stripe]

Why not consider a Icon? It would hold its value more than anything out their, cooler than anything on the average dealer lot, and you can have a bunch of different engines installed. I worked for Nissan for a while, they have some nice products. However I found that for some reason, especially when introducing an all new model, they rush things too much before the bugs are worked out. I remember they had their representative bring in a new sedan they were introducing shortly, (can't remember the name, I have a hard time remembering the different models now) it was delayed for a long time because of software issues. Every single one had to have a software update when it got to the dealer before being sold. A buddy has the same car, and the nav/app screen freezes up all the time. As far as their SUV's in America, look underneath one some time, they are nowhere near as buff as Toyota's SUV's(especially in the drivetrain and suspension areas). But Nissan's stuff always had a great looking and feeling interior, and more enjoyable to drive engines than toyota from what I noticed. I also noticed the leather in the Nissan vehicles-especially the drivers seat-while looking and feeling very nice had typically worn out after about 2 years, and the power adjustments crapped out. I replaced quite a few under warranty, but once your warranty is up, its up to the owner to flip the bill, and the seat parts and covers were not cheap.

 

[SWUtah]

Well I could not stop thinking about how much I liked that Armada I had driven a few weeks ago.
I took another one at a different dealer on another test drive, a much longer drive this time, and this weekend my original local dealer got one in a color combo I liked, with all the options I wanted. It was setting on the showroom when I made it by their today to check it out. I had them pull it off the floor and fill it up, so I could take it for a really long solo test drive. When all was said and done, it somehow found its way into my garage tonight. Lol

I still have the twin cruisers for now. Though I am Likely to be selling off one of the twin LCs sometime soon.

View attachment 1330197

Nice. I've been wanting to checkout a stripped down version. Something Toyota does not provide in the LC

 

[LBridges]

The wife and I have been planning to purchase a 200 series in the next year (hence me lurking about).

The family had an Xterra and a 4Runner (both 2008 MY) that saw about the same life conditions and the 4 Runner was infinitely superior in reliability terms (zero mechanicals on 4 Runner, over ten trips and thousands spent on the Xterra).

On the long term reliability webpage and Xterra vs 4 Runner: 46 vs 91 ... and the Armada vice LC: 64 vs 100

I bow to the experience of real-world owners, is the LTQI numbers more or less correct or are they somehow skewed?

 

[BTUMAN]

I think there are Nissan forums....we don't want to hear how an Nissan ended up in your garage over a 200 series- just sayin'. Ha.

This is tounge in check- have to raz you. Post back up when you get a 200.

 

[JtBrown]

Haha! Yea I've owned Nissan SUV's and I think they are great but if I can afford to buy a TLC nothing will matter, no matter how cheap, fuel efficient, or break threw whatever! But glad ur happy on ur decision.

 

[cc1999]

I think there are Nissan forums....we don't want to hear how an Nissan ended up in your garage over a 200 series- just sayin'. Ha.

This is tounge in check- have to raz you. Post back up when you get a 200.

Lol, That's ok, but I do have 2 200's and have owned 4 total over the years. One of them is setting next to the Armada in garage pic . Lol.

Just trying something different. I liked the added room and comfort the Armada offered.

 

[cc1999]

The wife and I have been planning to purchase a 200 series in the next year (hence me lurking about).

The family had an Xterra and a 4Runner (both 2008 MY) that saw about the same life conditions and the 4 Runner was infinitely superior in reliability terms (zero mechanicals on 4 Runner, over ten trips and thousands spent on the Xterra).

On the long term reliability webpage and Xterra vs 4 Runner: 46 vs 91 ... and the Armada vice LC: 64 vs 100

I bow to the experience of real-world owners, is the LTQI numbers more or less correct or are they somehow skewed?

No doubt the LCs are superior quality.
That said , I doubt any Armada data your looking at, is all that accurate in this case. The 17 Armada/ patrol has only been on the market here in the Us for 30 days or less. The Patrol has been offered here in the US since 2011 but it was only offered with the infinity brand and styling tweaks.

Keep in mind This Armada as of now 2017 model year, is really the the global market Patrol still built in Japan just like how the Land cruiser is the only Toyota offered in the US still built in Japan.

I would be interested in knowing how the Qx80 infinity compared to the LCs, since the Armada is now the same vehicle as the Qx80 as of 2017 model year. 2015 and back the Armada was based on the old Titain platform.

Can you check and see how the Infinity qx80 scores compared to the LC?

I doubt it scores as high as the LC, but I bet it scores better then the old Titain truck based Armada.

 

[LBridges]

...
I would be interested in knowing how the Qx80 infinity compared to the LCs, since the Armada is now the same vehicle as the Qx80 as of 2017 model year. 2015 and back the Armada was based on the old Titain platform.

Can you check and see how the Infinity qx80 scores compared to the LC?

I doubt it scores as high as the LC, but I bet it scores better then the old Titain truck based Armada.

Thanks for your opinion. Our plan is to take a new 200 into retirement with the idea it will be our last new car purchase; hence the reliability and build quality questions (I will continue buying used vehicles for projects).

It was given a 71 (link here) so about 10 points better, but falling behind the LX (98), G Wagon (79) and Escalade (72)

 

[T4Runner]

Keep in mind This Armada as of now 2017 model year, is really the the global market Patrol still built in Japan just like how the Land cruiser is the only Toyota offered in the US still built in Japan.

To my knowledge, the 4Runner continues to be manufactured in Japan as well.

 

[koifish]

Those are two nice trucks you have there sir! I really wish Nissan brought over the rear bumper from the Patrol though. Could you post side by side photos comparing your 200 and Armada? Strongly considering one of those to be my next daily driver.

 

[cc1999]

Those are two nice trucks you have there sir! I really wish Nissan brought over the rear bumper from the Patrol though. Could you post side by side photos comparing your 200 and Armada? Strongly considering one of those to be my next daily driver.

Thanks .
I will try and snag a few pics this weekend of both mine outside in the sun. The one above is identical to mine.

Side by side in the garage you can tell the Armada is lager then my Cruiser , in all directions wider, longer, taller. However the height is not do to ground clearance. There is a very clear ground clearance, break over, approach and departure advantages all in favor of my LC . Off-road the LC is a clearly King of all SuVs in this class. There is just no way the Armada can do what a cruiser can do off-road. Lots of videos on line of both in action off-road . I would say the Armada is more capable then most 3 row SUVs in this class other then the 200s. Not a real big deal for my needs, both can handle where I need or want to go with them.

The rear bumper of the armada is sticking out that far I believe to make room for the rear independent suspension which forces the large full size spare further back . The bumper is out that far to hide the hitch and spare. I do wish they would have just gone a head and brought the cabin on back another 3 or 4 inches for even more cargo space as apposed to the way they did it with a lot of worthless dead space over the top of the bumper.

Do they do something different with the rear bumper on the Patrol?
I know the Qx80 sticks out just like my Armada does.

 

[cc1999]

Thanks for your opinion. Our plan is to take a new 200 into retirement with the idea it will be our last new car purchase; hence the reliability and build quality questions (I will continue buying used vehicles for projects).

It was given a 71 (link here) so about 10 points better, but falling behind the LX (98), G Wagon (79) and Escalade (72)

Thanks for the score and link info. I think I should point out the data seems to cut off at 2012 in the charts and lumps all QX models together ,which would mean the score is really not accurate for the patrol based Armada or the Patrol Based QX80. The first gen QX was a Titan based rebadged Armada through 2010. Based on the milage needed to generate high milage reliability data, I think it's highly unlikely that much data is there from the 2011 Patrol platform QX56 now Qx80. It's a good site I think some data is likely accurate . I.e. The data on the 200s should be pretty accurate since those were out 4-5 years before the data cuts off.

I agree the LC is a great choice no matter, how long you plan to own it, 5 years or 25 years. I really don't know of a better built mass production vehicle, I have yet find anything built better. The LC is not perfect, for being so well engineered, they could stand a bit of improvement in areas like corrosion preventative coatings and materials underneath on the chassis , and paint thickness on the body could stand some improvement, those are my only complaints I have had with any 200 I have owned.

 

[koifish]

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Thanks .
I will try and snag a few pics this weekend of both mine outside in the sun. The one above is identical to mine.

Side by side in the garage you can tell the Armada is lager then my Cruiser , in all directions wider, longer, taller. However the height is not do to ground clearance. There is a very clear ground clearance, break over, approach and departure advantages all in favor of my LC . Off-road the LC is a clearly King of all SuVs in this class. There is just no way the Armada can do what a cruiser can do off-road. Lots of videos on line of both in action off-road . I would say the Armada is more capable then most 3 row SUVs in this class other then the 200s. Not a real big deal for my needs, both can handle where I need or want to go with them.

The rear bumper of the armada is sticking out that far I believe to make room for the rear independent suspension which forces the large full size spare further back . The bumper is out that far to hide the hitch and spare. I do wish they would have just gone a head and brought the cabin on back another 3 or 4 inches for even more cargo space as apposed to the way they did it with a lot of worthless dead space over the top of the bumper.

Do they do something different with the rear bumper on the Patrol?
I know the Qx80 sticks out just like my Armada does.

It is different, not sure why. Maybe to hide the hitch or maybe just to keep the look from the QX80.

 

[Markuson]

View attachment 1331504
It is different, not sure why. Maybe to hide the hitch or maybe just to keep the look from the QX80.

All about a rear stepping surface...or not...??
Looks to me like they think the American market simply demands a rear step surface on the full bumper. Looks like the Patrol has a single step-point via the hitch...where the American vehicle extends the ENTIRE bleeping bumper(!) just to have a step.

 

[D21FJ60]

^That's a good point. I was looking at the pics OP posted of similar truck and can't quite place my finger on it....something just seems off and I think it is the rear. It will be interesting to see longevity (granted that both trucks are used in the same manner) of the LC and Armada down the road...although my bias says that the LC will still win...so its more of a how close will the Armada fare compared to the LC. Either way congrats on your new purchase OP!

 

[Markuson]

The difference seems to ONLY be the step surface of the bumper...which seems like a frustrating decision...because it makes it clear that the US bumper COULD have been far more tucked in.

The other thing I wonder though... It wouldn't surprise me if the Patrol has a standatd rear axle. I'm a little shocked it's independent rear suspension.

For years, you could buy the LC with standard axles in the rear AND in front...long after the US forced IFS in our market.

Heck... Slee even went so far as to custom build a standard axle into his 100 series shop truck (anyone remember the "BLUEBERRY?"

Would a standard axle halo with bumper dimensions in some way? Or did they serious ruin departure angles on the US truck just to offer a step bumper?

Someone knows...