Doug Rips Us Again

[PA-Cruiser 200]

These are specific to an individual market, I assume? And is this including all models or just a specific lineup (station wagons, Prados, etc)?

Looks to be just US sales. Australia alone in 2021 sold just over 12k 200s, just over 21k Prados, and +13k 70 series.

They might be the biggest LC fans on the planet!!! Lol

 

[RideWithYanu]

Looks to be just US sales. Australia alone in 2021 sold just over 12k 200s, just over 21k Prados, and +13k 70 series.

They might be the biggest LC fans on the planet!!! Lol

Aussies love them some Land Cruisers! Perfect continent for them, too.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

All I know is the more I drive mine, the more impressed I am....20mpg in winter at 75-80 mph.....no complaints! That Motor Trend dude obviously didn't know the art of the hybrid.......nor did he properly fill it up, nor did he realize the 2-3 gallons left at zero range so every tank he was shorting himself 4-5 gallons which even at his lousy abilities equaled 74-92 miles of range which easily put him over 300 miles per tank....
I stick to a handful of quality reviewers. Most of these wannabees look like some peckerwood in a K mart suit..........ie low class.....the initial goofy face on these losers is usually a dead giveaway. Over the top facial exclamations are click bait for the intellectually challenged.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

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, and lo and behold we do 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 - like a large burly wagon more than a “Sport Utility Vehicle.”

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.

I would NOT have bought a 4Runner....That would be Chevy level sorry to Say and I have never owned a Chevy. Other comparison would be a Mitsubishi...think Montero, the high water mark for that brand. ..

 

[RideWithYanu]

What? 4Runners are fantastic. They’re basically Prado-lite. Different folks, different strokes, I suppose.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Nothing against them but even in limited trim, they were not of the same material quality in my limited experiences. I would equate the interior materials were closest to my 2008 Isuzu Ascender, basically a Trailblazer, Envoy, Bravada, Saab 9-7x clone. Think leatherette v leather. Maybe more recent generations have upped the anty.

 

[RideWithYanu]

Nothing against them but even in limited trim, they were not of the same material quality in my limited experiences. I would equate the interior materials were closest to my 2008 Isuzu Ascender, basically a Trailblazer, Enboy, Bravada, Saab 9-7x clone. Think leatherette v leather. Maybe more recent generations have upped the anty.

Ah fair, I honestly didn’t even think of interior finish. There’s a gap there (though it’s narrowing).

 

[Scrappopatamus]

I would NOT have bought a 4Runner....That would be Chevy level sorry to Say and I have never owned a Chevy. Other comparison would be a Mitsubishi...think Montero, the high water mark for that brand. ..

Funny considering in your signature you boast about your Italian steeds. A Fiat and several Alfas. I had a spider when I was 18. Great car for a kid. Curious if you sit in your garage and watch the Fiat rust? A 4Runner likened to a Chevy? I'm guessing you visualize a Chevette when thinking of a 4Runner? Laughable at best

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Nice try. No rust whatsoever and bring any gun you want to a fight with the Stelvio Quad.....appears you have recently upgraded in life yourself......can finally afford the LC? Apparently you have lost your ability to have fun driving ONROAD which would IMHO certainly be the case in a TRD "PRO" as overpriced as they are.

Think Yaris v Chevette

 

[RideWithYanu]

Bragging about or insulting lack of wealth is lame.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Throwing sh!! out there and not expecting a comeback is also lame...as I was about to remove the word asshole...that would have been more appropriate in person. Cuse me for not holding the 4Runner in high regard....which I still don't. Have never made my short list even back to the early generation 2 model. I opted for a Montero SR.

 

[Scrappopatamus]

Throwing sh!! out there and not expecting a comeback is also lame...as I was about to remove the word asshole...that would have been more appropriate in person.

Must be pretty lonely wherever you reside. Better quit while you're ahead

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Seem to remember about the only thing that rusted faster than a Toyota in the late 70's and early 80's was a Datsun...you're going to have to do a lot better.....might want to be a man and block me before I upset you. Yup, it can be lonely at the top...........want some more?
Meanwhile back at the ranch, sorry 4 Runner folks I have offended but as indestructible as they were prior generations, the 4.0 was decent but the ancient 5 speed tranny made it the gas piggy it was. Tech was at least a decade behind the times even in powertrain world. Granted in 1996, it was ahead of the curve at its 2nd generation inception, but seemed to get left behind. Very similar to how the Sequoia was allowed to get so long in the tooth with ~15 yr generation cycle. Toyota has a history of hanging on too long sometimes.
Toyota made a very wise change in giving us a new gen Land Cruiser that is actually selling in 5 digit numbers v the couple thousand per year previously. Neither vehicle was EVER on my radar.
Our reviewer seems to draw his "knowledge" if you can believe it, off the ancient relics of the internet. For the bigger is better crowd, they will mourn. I ,for one, decided bigger is not always better. You Tube drivel doesn't remotely line up with everyone that sees it, rides in it etc. Even a Range Rover friend simply stated that it stands out better than the new L460,L461 platform......If Toyota ever decided to go all in on the aluminum body etc, they could drop 600-1000 lbs off the Land Cruiser....That would be a REAL paradigm shift. With the existing powertrain we'd probably be looking at a 4500-4800lbs vehicle getting 25/30/27mpg that would be a sub 7 seconds accelerator.

 

[Scrappopatamus]

Seem to remember about the only thing that rusted faster than a Toyota in the late 70's and early 80's was a Datsun...you're going to have to do a lot better.....might want to be a man and block me before I upset you. Yup, it can be lonely at the top...........want some more?
Meanwhile back at the ranch, sorry 4 Runner folks I have offended but as indestructible as they were prior generations, the 4.0 was decent but the ancient 5 speed tranny made it the gas piggy it was. Tech was at least a decade behind the times even in powertrain world. Granted in 1996, it was ahead of the curve at its 2nd generation inception, but seemed to get left behind. Very similar to how the Sequoia was allowed to get so long in the tooth with ~15 yr generation cycle. Toyota has a history of hanging on too long sometimes.
Toyota made a very wise change in giving us a new gen Land Cruiser that is actually selling in 5 digit numbers v the couple thousand per year previously. Neither vehicle was EVER on my radar.
Our reviewer seems to draw his "knowledge" if you can believe it, off the ancient relics of the internet. For the bigger is better crowd, they will mourn. I ,for one, decided bigger is not always better. You Tube drivel doesn't remotely line up with everyone that sees it, rides in it etc. Even a Range Rover friend simply stated that it stands out better than the new L460,L461 platform......If Toyota ever decided to go all in on the aluminum body etc, they could drop 600-1000 lbs off the Land Cruiser....That would be a REAL paradigm shift. With the existing powertrain we'd probably be looking at a 4500-4800lbs vehicle getting 25/30/27mpg that would be a sub 7 seconds accelerator.

Some more of what?

 

[Stage7]

Here you go "Doug". It's a Prado emblem. Now, can you shut the fuck up and stop whining about this not being a LC 300?!

 

[nollasjr]

Too many reviewers and opinion-sharing folks alike fail to see that Lexus and Toyota are separated by a blurry line, even on their best day. The LC200 left the US and returned in its new form as a Lexus. But most will argue we didn’t get a 300. The LC250 was a reestablishing moment for the US market for the Land Cruiser, where Toyota made functional and straightforward vehicles under the Toyota brand and premium fixtures under the Lexus badge.

I chose the 1958 not because I couldn't afford a higher trim level, but because that was the vehicle I wanted Toyota to sell. A modern take on the 80 series LC. If it makes people happy to call it a Prado, I'll just laugh and remember the Prado is also a Land Cruiser.

 

[JFinCA]

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.

Exactly my thoughts!
Who cares what it is called. It is a Toyota.

I bought the LC solely due to its merits.
I knew nothing of the land cruiser heritage, but i knew i wanted Toyota reliability..
It was an SUV, 4x4, locking center diff AND rear diff, all the offroad modes, great size, power, torque, and towing, hybrid, AND it looked COOL!
When shopping around, there were no other challengers for what the LC had.

Tempted by the 4Runner, but it wasnt available at the time, but in hind sight I am still swayed by the larger interior space of the LC.
Tempted by the GX550, but it wasnt available at the time, but in hind sight I appreciate my 21 MPG's combined efficiency vs the GX MPGs.
Landrover, reliability reputation is not the same.
Grenadier, too new on the market and again not enough track record.

My LC to this day represents the best compromise in a vehicle. I view these as a consumable and a tool that serves my needs and my family's needs and provides a source of enjoyment.

 

[JFinCA]

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.

I caught wind of another narrative and it goes something like this....that the original LC was a basic utilitarian vehicle that is nothing like the 200 and 300 luxury and size. If anything the LC 1958 is more in line with the original trucks in the sense that it is more "basic". i..e. cloth seats and bare of accessories. So following this thinking everyone that is seemingly disappointed that the LC 250 does not follow the construction of the 200/300 is on a different trajectory when it comes to expectations of what an LC should be.

 

[RideWithYanu]

I caught wind of another narrative and it goes something like this....that the original LC was a basic utilitarian vehicle that is nothing like the 200 and 300 luxury and size. If anything the LC 1958 is more in line with the original trucks in the sense that it is more "basic". i..e. cloth seats and bare of accessories. So following this thinking everyone that is seemingly disappointed that the LC 250 does not follow the construction of the 200/300 is on a different trajectory when it comes to expectations of what an LC should be.

This is, in fact, Toyota’s own messaging. They position the station wagon (300-series being the latest) as the “flagship” luxury variant, the 70-series as the “heavy duty” variant, and the Prado as the “core” variant which is a return to the core fundamentals of what Land Cruisers were meant to be before the bloat began compounding with the 100, then 200 and now 300 series moving further from “go anywhere reliable beast of a machine” into a “highly capable luxury minivan.”

 

[ctgallosb]

I personally think he is way off base.

F*ck Doug. Not clicking