Worth Upgrading from an '07 LX?

[marshcat]

As prices for late-model 100s have skyrocketed I've noticed that for a little money on top I could possibly upgrade my '07 LX to an '08 or '09. I love my LX but an extra 100hp is tempting. I live in a city so almost all of my driving is on-road, with occasional dirt roads up in NH.

I brought my '07 up from NC in late '19 and immediately oil undercoated it so it's still rust-free. It's perfectly sorted with not a single issue or deferred maintenance item. If I sold it I could never find another one as good. But still...

 

[eatSleepWoof]

The 200 series is a very substantial upgrade over the 100. Especially since it looks like you don't do anything extreme offroad (judging by the very mild modifications in your photo). If you've got the itch to upgrade, there's only one way to scratch it.

 

[Moosepuck]

Sounds and looks like you’ve got her just the way you want….she looks nice and I doubt the value will drop. Unless you need the extra power for towing, I’ll vote to keep her. Cheaper to keep’er….

 

[dubyahard]

I upgraded from a 2007 LC to a 2008 LX.

Night and Day difference. Both are now equally "built" and the LX feels like it performs far better in every category with maybe MPG being the exception (but the LX easily fits 35s compared to the 07 LC). I tow a TT so that was also a big factor too but only partially.
Put another way, I moved from an 80 to a 100 to a 200. I feel like I could have skipped the 100.

" would recommend"

 

[TeCKis300]

Beautiful '07 there. Looks like my previous car twin that was an '06 LX470. Still in the family as I sold it to my brother. No comparison and the 200-series is miles better being a 10 year newer design. Still has a soft spot for my 100-series though.

 

[TomEf]

If you ask me, an upgrade from a 100 to a 200 is a no brainer in a vacuum. I think it's better on road, off road, and even in fuel economy while having way more power.

The big question to me is that it seems like your 100 is well sorted, great shape, up to date on maintenance, etc. Would an early 200 be as sorted out as your 100? Would you be okay with higher mileage and some wear items coming up?

 

[lx200inAR]

I agree, if I was selling that 100, I’d want to know what 200 I was replacing it with beforehand. My perspective comes from someone who was shopping clean 100s, then found a good deal on a 200, so I haven’t driven a comparable 100 to give any real advice. I will say, I’m certainly happy with my purchase.

 

[grinchy]

You already made up your mind before posting. Go pick up the 200.

 

[marshcat]

If you ask me, an upgrade from a 100 to a 200 is a no brainer in a vacuum. I think it's better on road, off road, and even in fuel economy while having way more power.

The big question to me is that it seems like your 100 is well sorted, great shape, up to date on maintenance, etc. Would an early 200 be as sorted out as your 100? Would you be okay with higher mileage and some wear items coming up?

I like high mileage! My '07 has 330k on the clock. And it's clean. Took a lot of work to get it perfect, though.

 

[Sandroad]

Are you going to be able to find a "perfectly sorted with not a single issue or deferred maintenance item" in a 200 for "a little money on top"? I think not. Your 100 is a treasure; what do you really need a 200 for? I'd take @lx200inAR advice and look at 200s before you leap. Finding a rust free, perfectly sorted, well maintained 200 at a decent price might be quite a bit more difficult than you think?

 

[marshcat]

All true. I imagine my sorted 100 plus cash gets me a 200 that needs quite a bit of work.

Appreciate all the input. Thinking I should hold on to my truck.

 

[tacoduck]

I know that truck! I sold that truck 2.5 years ago to marshcat.

I really enjoy my 200 vs my 100. That said, I sold my 100 for $9k, and bought my lx570 for $43k. That’s a huge price difference. IMO an 08-09 truck will be on the “older side”. A 2013-2015 would be a huge upgrade, but would most likely mean your truck plus $30k.

$30k buys a lot of amc stock or Bitcoin. IMO 100 prices have bottomed and are now moving up. 200 prices will come back to earth once Toyota announces a new Lc for North America.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

@marshcat
Just do it. The 200 is a totally different beast and I don't think you will be disappointed with any year that you get.

Good ones with positive history are still out there.

I just picked up a completely sorted out 1 owner, CPO '18 with all of the required service, up to date and some extra stuff (all fluids changed but coolant) done too for a good price. I even tracked down the original owner and spoke to him about the history to confirm it all.

You just need to search, ask the right questions, research the history from different sources and be willing to pass on ones that don't fit your requirements & be willing to travel to pick it up, quickly. Shipping vehicles usually kills any deal and opens up for damage that you never get restitution on as auto shippers are shady (at least all I've ever encountered). I never had a vehicle that damaged by the driver. They will never admit fault but that's for another thread.

As for the 200, it feels more like my lifted, Supercharged 80 but better. It's very truck like in feel vs. the LX470 that is more refined with a tighter turning radius. That being said there are specific tools for specific jobs. The 470 and a 200 are just different tools.

Good luck in your hunt!

 

[Reckless]

As prices for late-model 100s have skyrocketed I've noticed that for a little money on top I could possibly upgrade my '07 LX to an '08 or '09. I love my LX but an extra 100hp is tempting. I live in a city so almost all of my driving is on-road, with occasional dirt roads up in NH.

I brought my '07 up from NC in late '19 and immediately oil undercoated it so it's still rust-free. It's perfectly sorted with not a single issue or deferred maintenance item. If I sold it I could never find another one as good. But still...

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My suggestion is save money for a 200 and have both. I have 200 and a 100. My 200 is my daily driver my 100 is when I feel like offroading.

 

[Tex68w]

The 100 Series is the only LC I haven't owned from the 40 on. I still have a major lust for them even though I know that the 200 is a major step forward in just about every way. I think the appeal is because of the nostalgia from seeing them new on the road when I was in HS. I think you have a beautiful and clean 100 and those are impossible to find. Seeing how you don't do much in the way of off-road I would recommend you keep the 100 and start your search for a 200 to add to the stable. Maybe then you can use one of the two to start doing a little light off-road travel to get your feet wet with the dirt scene. At the end of the day they aren't making anymore of either one so I'd have a hard time parting with it.

 

[Weatherman]

I've owned both. The 200 is a big upgrade (features, power/performance, and luxury) but I still have a fondness for the look and feel of my old 100. The rub with the 200 is that it feels bigger. The visibility and command of the road in the 100 is/was better IMO - it just seemed more rugged and purpose built for the road less traveled. If I could unwind the clock, I'd probably just keep my 100, but I sure hated that cassette player, turn-key start, and huffing and puffing on the freeway.

 

[jerebear21]

I have an 06 LX470 and a 2016 LC200. The LC200 is MILES better than the lx470. But if I have to pick which one I want to drive daily, it's my lx470. It's not even close.

 

[AnyMal]

I would NEVER sell that. Rust Free? Sorted?

Look at TeckIs' photo. Look at how beautifully its designed. The 100 is timeless.
It will end up being the most valuable of the LC generations. I would never sell it even if you hated it.
They are going to do nothing but appreciate. IMO its like asking if you should sell an e46 m3. It was magic all around in the mid 2000's.
This era is going to be chased after until the end of time. This "scene" is going to do nothing but get bigger.

I would drive it until it died and electric convert it and then keep driving it.

 

[hickuptruck]

I went the other way. Despite how many people rave about how the 200 is better than the 100, there are many immeasurable ways on why I like the 100 equally if not slightly more than the 200, besides the price difference.

 

[AnyMal]

I went the other way. Despite how many people rave about how the 200 is better than the 100, there are many immeasurable ways on why I like the 100 equally if not slightly more than the 200, besides the price difference.

There are many things the 100 had over the 200.

The big three:
1) Rear quarter windows vent
2) Removable third row
3) 600lbs lighter

and bonus :
Night vision
Rear AC toggle switch up front
6 Speed
(the minute efficiency gains of an additional 2 gears doesn’t justify the hit to driving experience, gears 1-2 in my 200 are basically a joke)

The only real gripe I have about it is the power, but that can be fixed too, and that needs to be done on both gens if you asked me due to the weight increase.