This is 100% true on the 1958!
I do, however, really like having the option to put the LC in 4-lo and Not have the center locker engaged.
Congrats on the Bronco! I’m sure it will be a super fun rig!
*edit for clarity.
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So long, farewell Land Cruiser
- Thread starter brian254
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I do, however, really like having the option to put the LC in 4-lo and Not have the center locker engaged.
Congrats on the Bronco! I’m sure it will be a super fun rig!
*edit for clarity.
Happens on the base model too. Drives me nuts!
Yes it happens on the LCLC trim as well. I filed a complaint with the NHTSA but never got a confirmation -- it's super annoying when you're dealing with difficult terrain and your display is locked up waiting for you to hit the return button every five seconds.
I've been tempted by the Bronco since it came out. I was waiting for the hybrid/plug in hybrid that they've been testing since that first year but never released. (Plus, owning a Ford that was in the shop so often is what drove me to buy my first Toyota, and I've never gone back. Hopefully they are better now!) The Land Cruiser is probably better for me anyway though. But I'm for sure jealous of the ground clearance. I saw a video a while back with an informal comparison of a few offroad SUVs including a Land Cruiser, some Jeep, and a Bronco, and they concluded the Bronco was the most effortless on difficult offroad trails.
Suggestion: get some kind of tie rod reinforcement, that seems to be a really common failure point on the Bronco.
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OP
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- #24
I was hoping to avoid name-calling - as you see, I've been nothing but complimentary of the LC, and only stated that I feel the Bronco is a better choice for what I want to do off-road. Of course reliability and longevity are important to me - and based on my personal experience, I expect that Toyota will likely require fewer major repairs over time. However, their recent track record might foretell that reputation slipping.
Recent recalls:
- 106,000 of the 222,000 MY 2024-25 Tacomas made have been recalled due to potential brake failure (was originally only 4WD models, but was expanded in February of this year to include many 2WD versions as well)
- 280,000 MY 2022-24 Tundras, Sequoias, and Lexus LX have been recalled because the transmission may allow engine power to reach the driveline even when the vehicle is not in gear
- And the mac-daddy of them all - Toyota has recalled (so far) 102,000 MY 2022-25 Tundras (and Lexus LX) with engine issues caused by machining debris left during manufacturing. I've known 3 people whose Tundras experienced a 'loss of motive power' (Toyota's words) due to this issue. And oh yeah - Toyota has recalled only the non-hybrid vehicles because the hybrid version "can still provide motive power in the event of an engine failure, thanks to their electric motors". Not very useful if you're 20 miles off a paved road, a task for which the Tundra TRD Pro that my son-in-law just traded for a... gasp... Bronco was built to do! So basically, if you have a Tundra with the iForceMax hybrid system, you may not be covered under the recall if your engine craps out like the 102,000 non-hybrid units that ARE being recalled, and you may have to pay a very expensive recovery bill to get it back to a place where it can be towed to a Toyota dealer.
'Publicly known' TSBs (I say publicly known because Toyota hides their TSBs behind a $25 for days access paywall). So if you don't hear about a TSB through the grapevine, you're at the mercy of you stealership (see other forum posts on this topic):
- 2024 Tacoma transmission and torque converter issues (same 8-speed trans used in the LC) - Toyota didn't issue a recall, but a TSB and replaced (how many) transmissions and torque converters due to a problem with a pressure control solenoid actuator. THIS ALSO AFFECTED EARLY PRODUCTION LC 250S.
- There are plenty more, but honestly, I became bored with this research activity. lol
I 100% genuinely hope that all Toyota owners - and you LC owners particularly - lie down on a bed of rose petals of vehicle quality and experience no problems for the rest of their ownership. I'm sure the Bronco has had its share of recalls (I know it has, and mine has an open recall on the rear shock external reservoir). I've enjoyed all my 4 of my Toyota/Lexus SUVS (2 4Runners, a GX 460, and the LC). Again, I believe the Bronco is the better choice for me - but you do you. I guess that longevity probably plays in a little less with me - I've owned 9 vehicles since 2020, including 3 Toyota/Lexus models. And if it craps out, I have the resources to buy something else - a luxury that I know not everyone has. So I'm willing to chance it. And for Pete's sake, at least it's not a Jeep!
jkOh yeah - thanks for acknowledging that my Ford would be F.O.R.D. (First On Race Day)! Wanna go crawl some rocks with me? Make sure to lock your front diff - oh wait, you can't do that.
P.S. This was written tongue-in-cheek - I don't take anything personally when written by someone I don't know (and usually not at all). I also think that without competition between brands, we would all be driving a Yugo or a Lauda.
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- #25
If you guys are good with having a 'member emeritus' lurking the forum, I'll try to post updates from time to time. For competitive info, if nothing else. lol
Updates on the Bronco? Speaking for one, I’d pass. But you should feel welcome to stick around to talk Land Cruisers!
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- #27
The 'Squatch package was the tipping point for me. I did a back-of-the-napkin estimate on what it would take to lift the LC suspension to get the ground clearance, 35" high-profile tires, wider bead lock wheels, rock rails, and full-length bash plates. With parts and labor (I wouldn't take on lifting the truck, and I don't have the equipment to mount and balance tires), rough numbers came in around $13-$16k. And I still wouldn't have the front locker, or the removable hardtop, trail turn assist, etc. The 'Squatch package also comes with 4.70 final drive ratio - desirable for slow crawling the trails. I'm not sure if anyone even produces a solution to change that for the LC.
I'll say it for the umpteenth time - I loved the LC. She'll always hold a special place in my heart - but I'm having a 2nd mid-life crisis and the Bronco is the hot little number for me at the moment.
I understand there are a number of factors that point us towards our eventual choices in what we are going to drive. None of those choices are going to be perfect 100% of the time for every conceivable situation, no matter what. I can also understand choosing the right tool for the job. There are things I would tackle without a second thought in the Jeep that I’d approach differently in the LC.
Broncos, Wranglers and yes even Toyotas (in this case Land Cruisers) all have their niches in the market, and these three models all have retro styling queues and variations/fortes in off-road capability. Most dyed in the wool car people will get it. If you bump your thread with how the Bronco is treating you, I’ll read out of interest.
Broncos, Wranglers and yes even Toyotas (in this case Land Cruisers) all have their niches in the market, and these three models all have retro styling queues and variations/fortes in off-road capability. Most dyed in the wool car people will get it. If you bump your thread with how the Bronco is treating you, I’ll read out of interest.
This is a good responseI was hoping to avoid name-calling - as you see, I've been nothing but complimentary of the LC, and only stated that I feel the Bronco is a better choice for what I want to do off-road. Of course reliability and longevity are important to me - and based on my personal experience, I expect that Toyota will likely require fewer major repairs over time. However, their recent track record might foretell that reputation slipping.
Recent recalls:
- 106,000 of the 222,000 MY 2024-25 Tacomas made have been recalled due to potential brake failure (was originally only 4WD models, but was expanded in February of this year to include many 2WD versions as well)
- 280,000 MY 2022-24 Tundras, Sequoias, and Lexus LX have been recalled because the transmission may allow engine power to reach the driveline even when the vehicle is not in gear
- And the mac-daddy of them all - Toyota has recalled (so far) 102,000 MY 2022-25 Tundras (and Lexus LX) with engine issues caused by machining debris left during manufacturing. I've known 3 people whose Tundras experienced a 'loss of motive power' (Toyota's words) due to this issue. And oh yeah - Toyota has recalled only the non-hybrid vehicles because the hybrid version "can still provide motive power in the event of an engine failure, thanks to their electric motors". Not very useful if you're 20 miles off a paved road, a task for which the Tundra TRD Pro that my son-in-law just traded for a... gasp... Bronco was built to do! So basically, if you have a Tundra with the iForceMax hybrid system, you may not be covered under the recall if your engine craps out like the 102,000 non-hybrid units that ARE being recalled, and you may have to pay a very expensive recovery bill to get it back to a place where it can be towed to a Toyota dealer.
'Publicly known' TSBs (I say publicly known because Toyota hides their TSBs behind a $25 for days access paywall). So if you don't hear about a TSB through the grapevine, you're at the mercy of you stealership (see other forum posts on this topic):
- 2024 Tacoma transmission and torque converter issues (same 8-speed trans used in the LC) - Toyota didn't issue a recall, but a TSB and replaced (how many) transmissions and torque converters due to a problem with a pressure control solenoid actuator. THIS ALSO AFFECTED EARLY PRODUCTION LC 250S.
- There are plenty more, but honestly, I became bored with this research activity. lol
I 100% genuinely hope that all Toyota owners - and you LC owners particularly - lie down on a bed of rose petals of vehicle quality and experience no problems for the rest of their ownership. I'm sure the Bronco has had its share of recalls (I know it has, and mine has an open recall on the rear shock external reservoir). I've enjoyed all my 4 of my Toyota/Lexus SUVS (2 4Runners, a GX 460, and the LC). Again, I believe the Bronco is the better choice for me - but you do you. I guess that longevity probably plays in a little less with me - I've owned 9 vehicles since 2020, including 3 Toyota/Lexus models. And if it craps out, I have the resources to buy something else - a luxury that I know not everyone has. So I'm willing to chance it. And for Pete's sake, at least it's not a Jeep!
Oh yeah - thanks for acknowledging that my Ford would be F.O.R.D. (First On Race Day)! Wanna go crawl some rocks with me? Make sure to lock your front diff - oh wait, you can't do that.
P.S. This was written tongue-in-cheek - I don't take anything personally when written by someone I don't know (and usually not at all). I also think that without competition between brands, we would all be driving a Yugo or a Lauda.
In no way was I trying to call you names, just a genuine question. And if you replace cars frequently (as it seems you do) then your outlook is spot on.
Back story time! First vehicle I ever owned was a 1991 Ford F-150, long bed single cab. I LOVED that truck. Pretty sure when I gave it to my mom it had over 175,000 miles on it. It had large flakes of metal coming out of the transmission fluid whenever we changed it, but it never gave us any major problems mechanicly and that trans just kept going despite what seemed like should have been a big deal.
Other than that Ford, every other Ford in the family was dog doo. Expedition, various sedans, Explorer. All gave us multiple problems and none lasted very long.
So after all that, and some issues with some Chevrolets and a Mazda, when I started looking to buy my last vehicle (first actual brand new vehicle I have purchased), after EXTENSIVE research, I bought a 2019 Toyota 4runner TRD Pro in January 2019. It is my daily driver to this day. 121,000+ miles problem free. We love to hike and camp, we had 1 baby on the way at the time and hoped for just 1 more (which the good Lord provided!). Our number one priority was reliability/dependability and after that was capability for off-roading and camping. After that was cost efficiency. Vehicles are depreciating assets. Im sure the economics are understood so I won't go into those details. In the 6 plus years I have replaced the rear brake pads 1x, battery 1x, spark plugs 1x, pcv valve 1x, serpentine belt 1x, and performed regular oil changes/fluid changes regularly. I have never had to take it in for anything other than routine maintenance. 2 summers ago we road tripped car camped with it for 2 weeks in Wyoming (Tetons and Yellowstone). It never skipped a beat and it's honestly hard for me to imagine a more reliable vehicle.
We considered the LC 200 at the time (as I have always been a big Cruiser fan) we bought the 4runner. But as we didn't need a 3rd row, the 200 was less fuel efficient, and almost twice as expensive, going with the 4runner was a no brainer. The TRD Pro we got was also more capable off road (Stock to stock) vs the 200 to boot.
In September 2023 we took the kids up to Glacier National Park. We used Turo to rent a 4 door Ford Bronco, Everglades edition. My little son loved it. It performed very admirably, and had a cool vintage feel to it that I really liked.
This year we were incredibly blessed to get our LC 250. It is the Premium package, and it came to us with a full Dobinsons MRR suspension front and rear, riding on 35" toyo rt trails with 17" Black Rhino Wheels. Our LC has the SDM, so it is very capable off road with ground clearance for days. It is our road trip/camping vehicle now and a wonderful "toy" to have.
Last month we did a Colorado Rockies road trip though RMNP and much of the San Juans, with a detour to Mesa Verde. On and off road, it's amazing (as I am sure you are aware the LC 250 is).
Yes the verdict is still out on the new Toyota truck models, across the board. They all have relatively new (or brand new) drive trains/engines. Some kinks are expected. Of note, most of those problems are in trucks made OUTSIDE of Japan. Not so with the LC 250. My hope (and my money) is on the 250 not being Found On Road Dead
Have fun with the Bronco. They are definitely cool looking, capable vehicles. The removable top is such a cherry for good weather!!
