2025 or 26 LC

[Roscoe13]

Hello forum readers, I live in SoCal and soon to retire. Been driving a company car for 16 years and need my own vehicle once I retire.

Serious about an LC and drove one once on predetermined dealer route. The small sample of the drive was disappointing from that stand point. I drove a 2024 Trailblazer company car. Had a F150 4x4 previous and that got me leaning to the LC.

Our other vehicle is A 2021 Lexus NX. I don't get to drive her NX since she plans to keep it forever so she says. Thanks to organizer(s) of the forum. Cheers

 

[Nuke]

First, welcome to the forum Roscoe, and secondly, REALLY anxious to hear of your disappointments with the LC test drive, as ours is still in the queue, and can be cancelled.

 

[EOD Guy]

Welcome to the Jungle!

 

[NoMe cruiser]

as ours is still in the queue, and can be cancelled.

Wow Nuke that is a long time to wait. Are you sure this dealer is going to pull through for you?
Not to hi- jack your thread Roscoe… welcome to the group. I imagine the newer trailblazers probably give a more comfortable ride assuming they are not body on frame.

 

[Roscoe13]

First, welcome to the forum Roscoe, and secondly, REALLY anxious to hear of your disappointments with the LC test drive, as ours is still in the queue, and can be cancelled.

Regarding first drive with dealer rep along, the drive was a series of rights in Oxnard, CA. I asked to drive roads right next door to streets we were on but sales rep shut it down. Said to say unless your are putting money down, with this dealer there is no other drive options. My take or experience was less than beneficial. Need I say I'll look for dealers who play differently. Some conclusions, back seats won't be where I sit but if I had to drive back there, I'd ask for more leg room from the side seating in front of me. All said about tin sounding doors is very true. I'll deaden mine ASAP. Said that Toyota doesn't take action on tin doors is beyond me. More after my next test drive.

 

[dubel]

Some dealers are stingy about test drives and others will toss you the keys. For the Land Cruiser I also needed a deposit or could possibly wait until a 1958 shows up unclaimed. At the time I was looking all of the LCs were accounted for, and I can respect the dealers not offering a reserved vehicle for anyone to test drive. At Tesla I was encouraged to take a CyberTruck for a drive and was surprised that the sales rep wasn't allowed to come along.

I wasn't in love with how the LC handled on roads. Between the quirky hybrid drivetrain, excessive roll and tires crying around sharp corners it isn't luxury or sporty. However, I do find it capable (especially off road), comfortable and with great visibility. I didn't test drive the GX 550 Overtrail but I bet the TT V6 and eKDSS solves those issues. Even so, I still prefer the styling (inside and out) of the Land Cruiser and I get more of what I want for ~$15k less, so I'd still choose the Land Cruiser. The LC was already pushing my budget.

After 5k miles, I've gotten used to the quirks. I really enjoy the LC and still really happy I got it when I did. Regarding this thread's title "LC 2025 or 26" - I haven't heard of anything changing and wouldn't expect anything to change. Though if they offer a green color for 2026 I will be super jelly!

 

[TimHerald]

Hello forum readers, I live in SoCal and soon to retire. Been driving a company car for 16 years and need my own vehicle once I retire.

Serious about an LC and drove one once on predetermined dealer route. The small sample of the drive was disappointing from that stand point. I drove a 2024 Trailblazer company car. Had a F150 4x4 previous and that got me leaning to the LC.

Our other vehicle is A 2021 Lexus NX. I don't get to drive her NX since she plans to keep it forever so she says. Thanks to organizer(s) of the forum. Cheers

Welcome. LC is a truck, so no sports car ride, but most of us absolutely love ours …

 

[sf jakey]

They need better colors for 26. Not everyone is into the current trends. A nice silver, not old man bronze silver, a good medium gray, not mostly black and scratch easy underground, a nice green with metallic, a shade of darker red, a nice darker blue. I’m ready to buy but there isn’t a color I can live with long term. Fuel tank issue is real, but I doubt it will ever be changed. Even though EVERYONE mentions it as a big shortcoming.

 

[Yoter]

Regarding first drive with dealer rep along, the drive was a series of rights in Oxnard, CA. I asked to drive roads right next door to streets we were on but sales rep shut it down. Said to say unless your are putting money down, with this dealer there is no other drive options. My take or experience was less than beneficial. Need I say I'll look for dealers who play differently. Some conclusions, back seats won't be where I sit but if I had to drive back there, I'd ask for more leg room from the side seating in front of me. All said about tin sounding doors is very true. I'll deaden mine ASAP. Said that Toyota doesn't take action on tin doors is beyond me. More after my next test drive.

I'd definitely try another dealer. My local dealer has a 1958 demo car on the lot that they will toss you the keys after a 1 min conversation and a scan of your driver's license.

As for the doors, I plan to add deadening eventually, Just waiting for fall or winter since it gets hot in the garage. In the short term they sound fine if you aren't slamming them.