Your Thoughts on the LC 250? (7 Viewers)

[rexington14]

Don’t like the drivetrain? This is the only real debate in my mind. Coming from my turbo’ed 80-series the 250 definitely offers more power. I’ve never driven a 200, just ridden in friends. I’d imagine the big V8 offers some advantages. If this is a deal breaker buy a Lexus 550/600/700 or Sequoia.

Same dude praises the turbo 2.4 in his other video on 6th gen 4Runner. Calls it the best 4Runner ever, lol. Sure, the 6th gen 4runner is slightly smaller and slightly lighter than the 250, but hard to imagine these tiny differences make the powertrain awful in one vehicle but fine in the other.

That said, I do think the V35A in the 250 would have been a better fit from the beginning. Should be an easy fix for Toyota and go a long way towards addressing this "situation" is to simply offer the V35A as an option in the 250 ASAP.

 

[Corbet]

My smaller comments come from the video where he states it got smaller. I didn’t pull specs. But without a doubt the 250 offers significantly more space to the seated passengers than my 80. It’s hard to compare the cargo areas as I’ve had a platform or drawers so long in my 80 I know longer remember what it was like stock. My 15yr old son at 5’10” says it’s the most comfortable back seat he has ever sat in.

 

[Specialeyes]

I personally find the "it's not a real Land Cruiser" rants a bit hard to comprehend.

I can't believe these rants are still a thing 18 months later. Like @Corbet said, the enthusiasts knew from the jump that it's a Prado and not a 300. Why there is a vocal minority constantly dunking on it and talking down on those who bought one I don't understand. Maybe some of it is good ol fashioned ribbing but it comes off as nothing more than senseless trolling with a bit of gatekeeping sprinkled in. Is the 250 perfect? No but what vehicle is? Even Land Cruisers have their flaws.

My hot take is that the people complaining about the 250 would also be complaining about the 300 or the 70 if we had those here in the states. The 300 has the V35A-FTS, no split tailgate, more aluminum panels, and would be priced well into the 6 figure range with today's market. Then you have those clamoring for the 70... if you think the 1958 trim is too bare bones and cheap feeling boy oh boy are they really going to be disappointed with what is essentially an agricultural truck, not meant for daily driving. I actually agree with Mr. Demuro on one of his recent videos where he says people don't want the 70, they want something that LOOKS like the 70 but has all the creature comforts found in things like the 4R, 250/550, etc, etc.

 

[TWILLY]

I can't believe these rants are still a thing 18 months later. Like @Corbet said, the enthusiasts knew from the jump that it's a Prado and not a 300. Why there is a vocal minority constantly dunking on it and talking down on those who bought one I don't understand. Maybe some of it is good ol fashioned ribbing but it comes off as nothing more than senseless trolling with a bit of gatekeeping sprinkled in. Is the 250 perfect? No but what vehicle is? Even Land Cruisers have their flaws.

My hot take is that the people complaining about the 250 would also be complaining about the 300 or the 70 if we had those here in the states. The 300 has the V35A-FTS, no split tailgate, more aluminum panels, and would be priced well into the 6 figure range with today's market. Then you have those clamoring for the 70... if you think the 1958 trim is too bare bones and cheap feeling boy oh boy are they really going to be disappointed with what is essentially an agricultural truck, not meant for daily driving. I actually agree with Mr. Demuro on one of his recent videos where he says people don't want the 70, they want something that LOOKS like the 70 but has all the creature comforts found in things like the 4R, 250/550, etc, etc.

All of the nameplate agony has less to do with actual Land Cruisers than lost social exclusivity.

 

[BobJingles]

All of the nameplate agony has less to do with actual Land Cruisers than lost social exclusivity.

Nailed it.

 

[SanJuanJ]

10000% correct IMO.

So you agree this is 10000% a silly semantic discussion.

 

[Corbet]

I'd love a 70 but have lived out of one for 10 days in the Outback. So I know what I'm getting myself into. It would not sell in the states to the current LandCruiser target demographic, NO. Could you steal big three 3/4 ton business. Probably not without 1 billon tf/lbs of torque and a towing capacity rivaling a Pederbuilt.

I love my Prado, except the small fuel tank and the exaggerated MPG on the window sticker.

 

[Catching Neutral]

Light beer vs dark beer

 

[MRego]

So you agree this is 10000% a silly semantic discussion.

No. There is nothing silly about what Toyota did. Deceptive and disingenuous, yes. Silly, no.

 

[Girl Dad of 3]

The 200 is fine to drive, but it's not something you'd be amazed by. I've driven at least half a dozen 200's and 570s at various times over the years. It's like a tundra with heavier steering and a sluggish throttle response. They're fine. Nothing bad - but the driving experience is the opposite of light and sporty. They do have great outward visibility and forward visibility, solid build, fine powertrain. I haven't driven an LC250, so I can't really compare. But I'd bet a dollar the electric steering is much lighter feel.

Fair point. For this reason, I decided to put the TVS2650 supercharger on my LX570, and it has made a world of difference. Fixes all of the issues that you mention here with sluggishness Now I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to trade it, though perhaps in the future the 700h (used and not $120k ) would do it.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

250 is a neutered, plastic rich, underpowered, vanilla biatch. Test drove one in Colorado. Blasphemy. Wife got a mint 90k mile 200 series for far less. Cant hold a candle to a 200.

 

[Girl Dad of 3]

I can't believe these rants are still a thing 18 months later. Like @Corbet said, the enthusiasts knew from the jump that it's a Prado and not a 300. Why there is a vocal minority constantly dunking on it and talking down on those who bought one I don't understand. Maybe some of it is good ol fashioned ribbing but it comes off as nothing more than senseless trolling with a bit of gatekeeping sprinkled in. Is the 250 perfect? No but what vehicle is? Even Land Cruisers have their flaws.

I agree. The dunking on the 250 doesn’t make much sense to me. A better, more interesting question that is certainly debatable is whether a person should spend the same or less money to get a gently used 200 rather than a 250. That’s a fair debate, and reasonable minds can differ. It depends what you’ll use it for, what features you prioritize, styling preference, etc. For me, the 200 is better. I can understand why the 250 is better for others. It’s not a one size fits all.

 

[Girl Dad of 3]

Light beer vs dark beer

Dark beer is objectively better and far more robust. And god forbid they try to call it a dark beer but it’s actually light beer in the bottle.

 

[Specialeyes]

No. There is nothing silly about what Toyota did. Deceptive and disingenuous, yes. Silly, no.

I think it’s silly that some feel like a global corporation set out to trick Americans. What they actually did is reposition it in the North American lineup and in doing so sold nearly as many in one year as the previous gen 200 sold during its entire run.

They didn’t trick anyone into buying it. The did bring some new customers over to the brand who probably would have ever owned one otherwise.

 

[Rednexus]

Dark beer is objectively better and far more robust. And god forbid they try to call it a dark beer but it’s actually light beer in the bottle.

It also leads to hangovers, headaches, and lost sleep. Sometimes the refined, artisan-made, and objectively more enjoyable option carries not only additional cost, but additional baggage.

- Former dark beer aficionado who now drinks light beer as I get older. It's nice waking up feeling good .

And I'd sure love a LX570 with a Harrop on it.

 

[Catching Neutral]

It does not always have to be either/or. Problem solved.

 

[JohnGood]

Hot Take: Most of the hate on the internet is people with 200 series cruisers finally getting to point at the new generation and say "Thats not a Real Land Cruiser!!"

For years ive driven Prados in developing countries and prayed that one day we would get them here in the USA (obviously i prayed for diesel with no add blue but thats another story. I also pray for Hilux.)

I purchased a 250 yesterday.

My experiance so far has been great. Its basically like Toyota took an 80 series that everyone loved and called "the last real Land Cruiser" and improved all the complaints people had.

1. its way faster than my 80. (most common 80 series complaint and why we all do LS swaps)
1a and better fuel economy than my 80 series
2. it has CUP HOLDERS!!!
3. Factory locked with MTS and SBD for all of us that suck at wheeling
4. NEW and updated entertainment system.

All my complaints are that its still just an updated 80 series. You want a real truck? Buy an F250. You want more space? Buy a Tahoe. You want go rock crawl? buy side by side.


I wonder if all 200 hundred owners out there will be butt hurt when the world says "the last real Land Cruiser was the 80 series.....until they made the 250!"

 

[MRego]

I think it’s silly that some feel like a global corporation set out to trick Americans. What they actually did is reposition it in the North American lineup and in doing so sold nearly as many in one year as the previous gen 200 sold during its entire run.

They didn’t trick anyone into buying it. The did bring some new customers over to the brand who probably would have ever owned one otherwise.

I happen to think it is silly to believe they didn't. We can agree to disagree there. My point is they could have done all of what you said slapping the Prado in the back and voila. All this "silly" comparison with the 200 would have never happened and this forum would have less 10 or so threads.

 

[onemanarmy]

and to continue to beat the dead horse......
please don't compare 200 vs. 250 sales #s
its meaningless

Toyota never tried to actually sell the 200 in serious numbers in the USA
the pontiac aztec 'outsold' the 200
meaningless stat

 

[Phillyd2]

I think it’s silly that some feel like a global corporation set out to trick Americans. What they actually did is reposition it in the North American lineup and in doing so sold nearly as many in one year as the previous gen 200 sold during its entire run.

They didn’t trick anyone into buying it. The did bring some new customers over to the brand who probably would have ever owned one otherwise.

Not sure what is actually meant by 'trick' but it's beyond obvious that they exploited the name brand for monetary gain. Otherwise it would have been a 4R trim level.