"forced" into buying a 4R "limited" instead of a LC?

[D-mac]

All 3 of my 4Rs had MTS, and the 6G I had on order before choosing the LC definitely had it.

It's confusing with so many 4Runner trims, the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims with part time 4WD have MTS, maybe some others?

 

[Markarian421]

As a former Michigan resident, I’d agree full time 4WD is vastly superior to part time 4WD for winter driving. And really any poor condition on road driving. You’re making the right choice there.

If your 2nd priority then is off-road capability, I’d go with the Land Cruiser. The last I checked the Limited trim is basically the mall crawler build and has pretty nerfed off-road features (like no locking rear diff) compared to the LC or other 4R trims.

If you’re not planning to do rock crawling vs. more sane off-roading, you could consider aluminum skid plates and rock sliders. Less weight, no rust.

 

[teghogh]

What? Are you saying a Lexus GX premium is the same price as the LC non premium? New models?

Yes

 

[DubDub]

It's confusing with so many 4Runner trims, the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims with part time 4WD have MTS, maybe some others?

Yes, those two and the TRD Off-road for certain

 

[BlueCruiser]

A simple check on the corporate web sites shows the list price difference between the GX Platinum and LC standard is $3,265 more for the GX 550. An LC 1958 base is almost $8K lower than the GX Platinum.

Do you have another source for your claim?

 

[DubDub]

A simple check on the corporate web sites shows the list price difference between the GX Platinum and LC standard is $3,265 more for the GX 550. An LC 1958 base is almost $8K lower than the GX Platinum.

Do you have another source for your claim?

He doesn’t have a single source for that claim… or the “50% more payload” claim either. Nevermind the fact that you have to struggle to find a GX before attempting to negotiate into the delta that further increases the price difference. Just nonsense all around.

 

[teghogh]

He doesn’t have a single source for that claim… or the “50% more payload” claim either. Nevermind the fact that you have to struggle to find a GX before attempting to negotiate into the delta that further increases the price difference. Just nonsense all around.

So 3k difference in 65k price point is not in the same price range ? The lc premium payload is 1000-1100 and gx 1545 and some change . I’m getting tired of all the idiots here.

 

[DubDub]

So 3k difference in 65k price point is not in the same price range ? The lc premium payload is 1000-1100 and gx 1545 and some change . I’m getting tired of all the idiots here.

No sir, not an idiot.

LCLC non-premium payload at 1280. “50 percent more payload” would mean the GX premium had 1,920lbs. Instead, It’s actually 1,445 (12.9%).

Assuming you are getting an LCLC with no negotiated delta, or GX at MSRP: A $3,265 increase over a $61,500 LCLC MSRP is a 5.3% increase.

By your own percentage conflation, a 12.9% payload increase it huge… how is 5.3% on price so negligible?

 

[gdiep]

I would have bought the GX premium at msrp if I could have found one when I bought my LC Premium 2 months ago. But none were available within 150 miles of me (central New York).

 

[RUN-8]

So 3k difference in 65k price point is not in the same price range ? The lc premium payload is 1000-1100 and gx 1545 and some change . I’m getting tired of all the idiots here.

Please point to where I can buy a GX550 of any description at MSRP.

Go ahead, try.

 

[D-mac]

Please point to where I can buy a GX550 of any description at MSRP.

Go ahead, try.

I know some the largest Lexus dealers in the USA, JM Lexus in Florida, Longo Lexus and Stevens Creek Lexus in California are no markup over MSRP. That's why they are high volume dealers.. However, they probably won't have any GX inventory ready for delivery, you have to wait in line. Lexus and Toyota dealers have the lowest inventory of any brands in the US now.

 

[DubDub]

Bottom line here is that the payload gains in the 4R and GX are not significant enough to be the determining factor. And I think we can all (sans the one arbitrary pseudo-mathematician) agree the OP shouldn’t be overly concerned about it.

On the subject of prices: Assuming you can get a trim-only spec’d GX Premium (hard to find) at MSRP (long wait/dedicated effort), we still have to accept that you can get Toyota dealerships to deal in the delta (Invoice<->MSRP), further increasing the entry cost gap between the two. $3-5k may seem insignificant to some, but it isn’t universally insignificant.

To the OP’s considerations here, the 4R is an excellent alternative. However, it isn’t a decision best made on spec sheets and opinions. Do what I did, go sit in them and drive them. Preferably go from one to the other. Just sitting in them side-by-side I immediately knew what I wanted and needed. I had a deposit on a 2025 TRD Pro dealer request and immediately reallocated those funds.

 

[teghogh]

No sir, not an idiot.

LCLC non-premium payload at 1280. “50 percent more payload” would mean the GX premium had 1,920lbs. Instead, It’s actually 1,445 (12.9%).

Assuming you are getting an LCLC with no negotiated delta, or GX at MSRP: A $3,265 increase over a $61,500 LCLC MSRP is a 5.3% increase.

By your own percentage conflation, a 12.9% payload increase it huge… how is 5.3% on price so negligible?

Look at the payload sticker on your lc. They are all 1100, it’s as low as 950 on FE with rockrails and roofrack . My gx ot has 1545

Gross vehicle weight/tow capacities of the three LC trim levels

For the last four years I have been searching for suitable truck, to use a a tow vehicle to pull a camper of some sort, either a slide in, of smaller pull behind. What became obvious after watching 50 eleven YouTube videos, was that the more options that we order for our (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and...

www.landcruiserforum.com

You want to redo the math or should the suedo mathematician do it for you to get the 50%

Gx550

Lc250

 

[DubDub]

Look…

I deleted the majority of your comment, way more there when quoted vs. what I can see in the thread.

Ok, I don’t really want to bite for so many reasons… pseudo-math again being amongst my main reasons. Let’s get the constants loaded up here: 50%=0.5
50% increase=1.5

Variables (dependent on tires, because apparently we are using that as our baseline):
LC: 1,100 lbs
GX: 1,545 lbs

Actual Math:
1,545 - 1,100 = 445
445 / 1,100 = 0.405
0.405 = 41% increase (admittedly strong, albeit not 50%)

Pseudo-math:
1,100 lbs x 1.5 = 1,650 lbs

You won’t catch another response from me, I don’t have the time or GAD for it. I’ll call out BS, but I won’t sink to trolling. Semantics and face saving aside, throwing arbitrary percentages out there in response to people seeking to actually gather info is pretty basic. Enjoy your Labor day, I sure am.

 

[Blue Sky]

OP,
I think the payload question would definitely warrant a follow-up with the Toyota dealer.

I haven't checked mine yet, but am quite surprised by the disparity in Toyota's claimed payload vs what appears to be on the door sticker:

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

I wanted full-time 4WD with a low-range. That meant the LC. Lexus out of the question because nearest dealer is over 400 miles away. I looked at the 4R and didn't like the rear seat room/access. Hence, I bought the LC.

I did shop the LC against a Bronco. The LC had fewer features, but was a more "adult" vehicle. If all I wanted was an off-road vehicle, the Bronco would have won, but I wanted a family vehicle.

AWD is wonderful in winter climates. I played the part-time shift dance 30 years ago in an Isuzu Trooper and, while it worked, was rather annoying. Since then, I've owned vehicles that had a full-time 4WD option.

If you're not doing any serious off-road driving, massive skid plates and sliders are unnecessary. However, never skimp on tires. Good tires give you traction on bad surfaces and help with the vehicle payload.

There is not enough payload difference between the LC and 4R to worry about. Buy the one that is most comfortable for you and your family.

 

[EOD Guy]

Wasn't going to comment, but the little yellow sticker Toyota places on the door jam which informs owners of the lowered payload is often overlooked................ just say'in

 

[ultane]

Welcome to the asylum @tarcan.

 

[tarcan]

Thank you everyone for your participation, a lot of valuable information here.

I also appreciate the different perspective on the GX. Considering my original worry about the payload, If I was willing to consider "downgrading" to a 4R limited, why not "upgrade" to a GX base (in Canada, it is the "signature", base price of 89000$ vs LC non premium 82000$). A huge difference, but I did consider the LC premium (88000$) and dismissed it mainly because nothing really interested me that much in it aside from the memory seat positions!!! So we are in similar territory.

Originally, I had completely dismissed the GX as I compared the "overtrail" (99000$ in Canada) in order to keep similar off road capabilities to the LC (I am rounding out the numbers) and that was more than I was willing to pay at the moment.

Am I mistaken by seeing there is slightly more leg room in the GX, 36.7" vs 26.7" for the LC according to Lexus and Toyota Canada sites?

Anyhow, I am definitely reassured about the payload situation with the LC for my needs... and the LC looks so amazing compared to the GX (I know, it is purely subjective).

I do hope for the extra off road capabilities. I never went off roading, but I never had a vehicle to do so. My twin boys are on the autism spectrum and one of them, the only thing he truly enjoy is going for car rides and he loves more "intense" or "bouncy" stuff (well regular roads in Quebec already provide that!). But I see it as a great possibility for week end activities!

Thank you again for everyone's time.

 

[RUN-8]

I think the legroom numbers are a typo. Exact same wheelbase, same body, same frame. Only difference is sheet metal and interior trim. I don’t think the rear seats in the GX are in any different position than the LC.

My mom recently took delivery of a Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max Super Long Model Name For No Reason, the specs say it has 39.5” of 2nd row leg room. I believe it, it’s huge back there.

There is no way the GX is only 3” less than that on a 112” wheel base it shares with the LC, the simple fact is the rear axle and wheel wells tell you it’s not possible because both the rear seat and the wheel wells would need to occupy the same space.