Doug Rips Us Again

[Nor Cal Cruiser]

Recommend ignoring and not clicking on anything posted by these clowns. The LC was not always a luxury vehicle, and when the LC went there or tried to is lost its market. But it's always been a capable and enjoyable vehicle to drive on or off road. That's all it is. And the 250 fits that bill fantastically, at various trim levels. You can mall crawl it and be supremely comfortable. You can put it in dirt situations that few vehicles can handle, and it will handle them easily and confidently, in comfort. Pretty easy to know what this is, and it does everything it was designed to do. This is not a G-Wagon or Range whatever and it's not meant to be.

 

[Nor Cal Cruiser]

The 4R is a staple. But, I believe the LC was geared toward a more “mature” demographic and the 4R to a more “sporty” market. I won’t lie, if the 4R had come delivered with the LC interior, I would have likely leaned toward the 4R, but the greenhouse of the LC is so much nicer.

Doug says something that really twists my tail and you hear it from others; “It’s not a real Land Cruiser.” Well, Toyota owns the name, so it is. The 150/Prado existed alongside the 200 and 70’s, so yeah buddy, it is a real Land Cruiser. It’s the light duty. Toyota painted themselves in a corner by not calling it the LC250, or they just never plan to bring in the 300. I am glad they didn’t call it a Prado, that is just a weird name for the US, to me at least.

I've made this point here before. Toyota gets to brand their cars and they call this an LC, so it is. Almost the inverse of a Mustang, which was historically poorly made crap and is now quite a bit better (though not my taste at all). If Ford calls it a Mustang it is a Mustang. The 250 is a Land Cruiser and Doug D and Jason C can go eff off about their click bait opinions. They make "content" and I have no respect for that at all.

 

[Sharkey]

I personally think he is way off base.

Doug thinks customers bought the LC250 just for the name shows how clueless he is. I bought it because it ticked all the boxes I wanted in a new ride. Call it the DougWhiner 250 for all I care. Also Doug showing love for the LX that cost $50k more than the LC just shows that he has deep influencer pockets. Buying one of those just isnt a option for most of us.
I quit watching him long ago.

 

[D-Train]

I will say this.. the real winner here is Doug. Right or wrong, regardless of the truth, here we all are 2 pages in engaging in discussion about his click-bait YouTube review. Hence a major problem with today's internet.

I would rethink my career choice and become an 'influencer' and 'content creator', but alas.. I have too much self respect for that.

 

[Altitude]

I will say this.. the real winner here is Doug. Right or wrong, regardless of the truth, here we all are 2 pages in engaging in discussion about his click-bait YouTube review. Hence a major problem with today's internet.

I would rethink my career choice and become an 'influencer' and 'content creator', but alas.. I have too much self respect for that.

Agreed, though I for one haven’t watched this review and I don’t need to.

 

[Altitude]

The LC was not always a luxury vehicle, and when the LC went there or tried to is lost its market

Absolutely true. This is why I find Demuro’s observations to be strange at best. Surely he is aware of this dynamic.

 

[Nor Cal Cruiser]

I will say this.. the real winner here is Doug. Right or wrong, regardless of the truth, here we all are 2 pages in engaging in discussion about his click-bait YouTube review. Hence a major problem with today's internet.

I would rethink my career choice and become an 'influencer' and 'content creator', but alas.. I have too much self respect for that.

Not wrong but I have not and will not click on their crap. Just posting on the forum we have for those of us trying to share useful info about our 250s.

 

[AlexGates]

At 84, do I qualify as "mature"? Yep! My trouble is, for the wife we need power running boards, so seriously considering the GX550 in the Luxury+ trim. But, BIG bucks! However, still nervous re the V6 engine. Has Toyota resolved this issue?

There is a thread on it, it seems like they may have changed something, but it wasn't the "foreign debris" that they were pushing. Just going by what was posted, Toyota seems kind of sketchy about it.

I drove the GX550, I was strongly considering one (mainly, I couldn't get over the 4cyl Turbo Hybrid in a Land Cruiser lol). I don't know which model I drove, but it wasn't the Overtrail. I didn't like how it road at all, I was kind of meh on the interior. This was the demo vehicle and it may have been on 22's. It took me three test drives to like the LC and I am still very happy with it.

I think the GX550 is a fantastic vehicle, it looks great. I just don't want a Lexus, although the 700h Overtrail* is very tempting, but as I have mentioned, I really like the greenhouse on the LC and mine is mainly a urban/suburban vehicle. I was tired of getting aggravated with a full size truck in some parts of town. So in the end, the LC "light duty" was perfect for me, just like it is perfect of 99% of the US buyers.

*They need to update the interior.

 

[supernova]

Sure, a 6-cylinder LC250 would’ve had me sold. But a GX550 with that hideous minivan front wearing a Lexus badge? Nope. Hate the brand, hate the look

 

[basicxj]

I will say this.. the real winner here is Doug. Right or wrong, regardless of the truth, here we all are 2 pages in engaging in discussion about his click-bait YouTube review. Hence a major problem with today's internet.

I would rethink my career choice and become an 'influencer' and 'content creator', but alas.. I have too much self respect for that.

Maybe we should simply refer to him as "D***"?

 

[PA-Cruiser 200]

So I own a Prado... so what? I don't give a shit what you call it. The reason they discontinued selling the 300 series 'REAL LANDCRUISER' was nobody wanted one. Too big and thirsty these days.

Sad to see who I thought was once a somewhat level reviewer delve into the usual click bait trash.

I have both a 200 and this new "Prado". The new one gets terrible gas mileage and is just as thirsty as the 200. Annual cost of fuel consumption is equal or even greater with the new 250 based off the "premium" gas prices. There really is no comparison. The 200 is better, in every way except... the infotainment. That being said, the new 250 is not a competitor to the old 200 or even the 300. The 250 in Japan and Europe get a non-hybrid diesel and gas engine options w/ 3rd row options, but the US. We get the "poverty buttons" of where the 3rd row seat belts go...

I like the 250 so far, but in no way is it a long term vehicle like the 200. Just look at resale values.

 

[D-Train]

I have both a 200 and this new "Prado". The new one gets terrible gas mileage and is just as thirsty as the 200. Annual cost of fuel consumption is equal or even greater with the new 250 based off the "premium" gas prices. There really is no comparison. The 200 is better, in every way except... the infotainment. That being said, the new 250 is not a competitor to the old 200 or even the 300. The 250 in Japan and Europe get a non-hybrid diesel and gas engine options w/ 3rd row options, but the US. We get the "poverty buttons" of where the 3rd row seat belts go...

I like the 250 so far, but in no way is it a long term vehicle like the 200. Just look at resale values.

Not sure what you consider 'terrible' gas mileage? I'm getting ~22mpg combined, and that's with my lead foot on the highway. I understand folks who are getting way below the advertised mpg are not happy, and I would be unhappy as well if i were them.

 

[PDPete]

Suggesting that people buy the new Land Cruiser solely to project wealth is condescending, it’s a very bad look for Doug.

If anything, in certain contexts, I hesitate a bit when asked about it and say it's a "Land Cruiser"...just because I know that traditionally it's a name associated with a much more expensive class of vehicle...and I am NOT trying to project wealth (and because it's also a context where explaining that it's part of the lighter-duty line will fall on deaf ears)

To me, the nagging question is whether Toyota needs both the LC250 and the 4Runner in this market, because there is absolutely some cannibalization going on. If the LC had not been available there is a very strong chance I would have bought a 4Runner myself. But both seem to be selling well.

I 100% would have been in the market for an iForceMax 4Runner... I got the LC because I liked the appearance of it better and preferred the full-time 4WD. Toyota will obviously sell more 4Rs in the US than LC 250s, I'm curious to see if availability and sales numbers of the LC drop off now that the 6th gen 4R is fully available.

I was just at my dealership for service (15K Toyota Care) the other day, and they had 4 Land Cruisers on the lot (no 1958s ; all with Premium Pkg), but 8 or 9 4Runners of various trim levels.

 

[Stage7]

I like the LC300 and if it were available in the US I might have taken a look. It’s firmly in Range Rover territory from a price standpoint though, and I’m not sure if there is a market for >$100K Toyota SUVs in the US, good though they may be. There is a market for Lexus at that price point though, and lo and behold we have that variant. I rode in several of them on a recent business trip and I felt like I was in a Japanese Tahoe. Which is neither good nor bad, but rather a use case observation. I realize the Sequoia really is a Japanese Tahoe, but the Lexus LX also felt that way.

The brief for the LC250, as I understood it, was to back off the posh a little and field an off-road capable slightly upscale product available between the mid 50s and high 60s, which is maybe 25% less money than the previous variant. The LC 250 nails that brief in my opinion.

To me, the nagging question is whether Toyota needs both the LC250 and the 4Runner in this market, because there is absolutely some cannibalization going on. If the LC had not been available there is a very strong chance I would have bought a 4Runner myself. But both seem to be selling well.

I guess a lot of this nonsense would have been avoided had Toyota used the Prado name in the US, or maybe some diminutive on the Land Cruiser marque - “Land Cruiser Sport” probably. Whatever.

You are correct. They should have just called it the Prado like they do everywhere else then all of the influencers would have nothing to whine about. If the 300 were available in the US I would consider purchasing one as well. But I would probably keep my Prado because I really dig it, flaws and all. Sense the 4Runner comes with two available trims that have permanent four wheel drive (if I'm not mistaken) like the LC (Prado) you have a valid point. I'm purchasing the Prado emblem and putting it on my truck like they do in Australia because it is a Prado, and I'm good with that.

 

[Defender-LC]

I can't stand that guy.

Also, Doug is off base, way off base. The 200 is now the 300, we don't get that (except of the LX). If he wants to bash someone, bash Toyota, not the buyers of the 250/North America Land Cruiser.

I like how mine drives and the serious lack of blind spots, I was always 4R guy. They could have called the thing a Land Cruiser Sport, a Prado, the Toyota Box, whatever, I'd have still bought it. While I'm at it, Toyota made the 4R and Taco interior look juvenile, the screen placement is crap, as is the 4WD/traction dial (what a stupid location), and the lack of driver's A pillar hand holds.

The snooty part about people buying the LC 250 is ridiculous. I know people who are like that about Tacomas (which isn't a Hilux), is made in Mexico, and apparently may have transmission issues. Then there are the Tundra owners, how's that new engine? Oh, the 300 (LX), same engine. oops Doug.

Since he brought up the Lexus (GX550 and LX), some of use don't want to drive a Lexus or deal with the Lexus dealerships, which can be almost as bad as trying to deal with a Rolex AD if you haven't bought anything from them.

Hey buddy, ease up on the Tacoma. It’s a good truck. I should know we have 2 24’s our family. The same kind of BS crap these YouTube influencers spout about the Land Cruiser. They have also spouted about the Tacoma and you’re just repeating that crap. We have 45,000 miles on a Tacoma with the transmission TSB and have never had a problem with it. I have over 10,000 miles on the other one. And I personally don’t mind the large screen and its placement as a taller driver. I see right over it no problem.

 

[Defender-LC]

I personally like the Tacoma and the new 4runner and the new Land Cruiser. I bought the new Land Cruiser instead of the 4runner because to me it felt very much like an all wheel drive 5th gen 4Runner with actual torque. If you ever owned the fifth GEN, you’ll know exactly what I mean. I couldn’t be happier with my Tacoma and my Land Cruiser and someday I’m sure I’ll try out the new 4runner.

 

[alkioth]

I care about the name, but also my neighbor will never sell his 80 series My wife won’t let me spend the money on anything but a new one because she’s smarter than I am

I considered a GX Overtrail but it’s a lot of money and some trade-offs weren’t worth it for us. I wanted a LC, and I got an LC. There are pluses and minuses but there’s little chance my wife would love me to spend the money on a LC300 if they come back to the states.

End of the day: haters gonna hate, potatoes gonna potate. I love my LC250.

 

[katekebo]

I think Toyota played a brilliant marketing game by introducing the LC one year ahead of the 4Runner.

Many people in the US wanted a LC but were either concerned about the price or simply couldn't afford it. So when Toyota introduced a lower priced LC, they created an avalanche of demand and made a hefty profit. The re-introduced LC was extremely attractive because:
1) It carries the highly desirable LC badge
2) It competed (initially) against an ancient, outdated 4Runner platform.

Now that the new 4Runner is available it will be interesting to see what Toyota will do about LC in the US. I suspect Toyota will follow a similar approach they did with the FJ Cruiser. When the FJ was introduced in 2007 there was a similar reaction. Many automotive "experts" questioned the logic of the FJ vs. 4Runner. Both were about equally off-road capable and there wasn't much price difference (the FJ was slightly cheaper). But it had unique styling and sales were good for the 3 years. But slowly sales dried out and Toyota made the FJ a "one and done" deal, and discontinued it after 7 years (in 2014) in spite of keeping it in production and continuing to sell it in other markets until 2022.

I suspect Toyota will do something similar with the current LC 250. Sales will gradually slow down as consumers gravitate toward 4Runner (value) and GX/LX (luxury), with the LC being neither.

That doesn't make the LC a bad car, it's a short-term commercial opportunity for Toyota to make a lot of money, and it may make the resale value of the LC to actually go up once Toyota decides to discontinue it on the US market (just as it happened with the FJ). There are valid reasons to choose the LC over the 4Runner, just as there are good reason to choose the LC over the GX. But the truth is that in the end, the marketing space for the LC is pretty narrow.

 

[Blue Bear]

The 4R is a staple. But, I believe the LC was geared toward a more “mature” demographic and the 4R to a more “sporty” market. I won’t lie, if the 4R had come delivered with the LC interior, I would have likely leaned toward the 4R, but the greenhouse of the LC is so much nicer.

Doug says something that really twists my tail and you hear it from others; “It’s not a real Land Cruiser.” Well, Toyota owns the name, so it is. The 150/Prado existed alongside the 200 and 70’s, so yeah buddy, it is a real Land Cruiser. It’s the light duty. Toyota painted themselves in a corner by not calling it the LC250, or they just never plan to bring in the 300. I am glad they didn’t call it a Prado, that is just a weird name for the US, to me at least.

I've been in the new 4Runner and it feels cramped and claustrophobic compared to the LC and the sight lines out of the 4R are terrible by comparison. A friend of mine with a 4R (prior generation) who has driven my LC also likes the LC a lot more. That doesn't mean the 4Runner isn't good, but it serves a different population than the LC.

With over 70,000 LC250 sold in the U.S. since the reintroduction last year Doug's comments feel really out of touch with reality. If your use case is like Doug's (stealth wealth/look at me), maybe it's not the right truck for you. If you're like me and wanted an extremely capable off road 4x4 that is reliable and a great daily driver, then this is by far the best in the market.

 

[LCDakota]

Damn. I should’ve checked in with Doug first before getting this fake LC.