• Jack-it Night: April 2024 RS Meeting Hey Guest: Wed. April 3rd is the next Rising Sun meeting, and you won't want to miss it. We're doing our annual offroad recovery equipment demonstration and trail skills training aka "Jack It Night." Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. (early) Click here for all the details.

Toyota LC 300 Series

Hulk

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Well I hope they sell more of the 300 than the 200. In all reality the 200 wasn't appealing to most people.
It was appealing to me, but my bank account balance needs another couple of zeroes at the end.

In reality, many of the people who could afford a $90k Land Cruiser, choose to buy a top of the line truck instead.
 

mcgaskins

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You think you'll upgrade to the 300 when it comes out? What are the selling points for you?

The 300 will only come to the US in the Lexus version, and I don't have any interest in that. I have a Rivian R1S on order and look forward to the day Toyota offers a full EV version of the Land Cruiser. The R1S is within 7" of length, 3.5" of width, and 100 pounds of the 200 while offering 3.1"-5.6" more ground clearance (depending on ride height mode) and has 3 degrees better approach angle, 12 degrees better departure angle, 8 degrees better breakover angle, and 15" more wading depth...all while offering essentially double the power with less maintenance, a better warranty, better technology, and it costs about $10k less before generous tax breaks. Regardless of whether it's an EV or not, those are impressive stats which make it very challenging for any vehicle in its class to compete. But again, I will be very interested to see what the full EV Land Cruiser will look like in the future, and I strongly believe when Toyota puts its full effort behind EVs they will be amazing.

Sidebar, here is the new EV Hummer which just happened to be loading up at Spanish Trails Arena when we rolled in from our trail day.

ACtC-3fBQ6XL7Oynb4J9xFp7BXCcsbY9nLXS8jMCDLxAm8N8DzLbYVcWJXGG0CJ3nMurvKCe0BoTY9vn4Jj5dmTL_e3Ad520eKyAh22ySaOWo0fdkyl8hZuN5T_R-YfQw_NjupGHDtR8Dz2JVQxxqpKokloOWQ=w1250-h937-no
 

Notyourmomslx450

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Phillip got held up by a broken electric hummer for around 2 hours on Thursday. At the waterfall on Poison Spider
 

mcgaskins

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Phillip got held up by a broken electric hummer for around 2 hours on Thursday. At the waterfall on Poison Spider

Wow that’s wild! Did the group get any pics of the Hummer on the trail? I chatted with the engineers for a while, and they were super nice. They mentioned it kept getting stuck in crab mode however which is not an uncommon occurrence in early prototypes I’m sure. It is just cool to see a working prototype in the wild without camo!

840F634C-91FB-4A15-B430-A66EE892DA29.jpeg
 

3rdGen4R

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Wow that’s wild! Did the group get any pics of the Hummer on the trail? I chatted with the engineers for a while, and they were super nice. They mentioned it kept getting stuck in crab mode however which is not an uncommon occurrence in early prototypes I’m sure. It is just cool to see a working prototype in the wild without camo!

View attachment 94491
We have pictures of it. They are on my wife’s phone.
 

J1000

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Isn't the "300" going to be Lexus only but then there was talk about bringing a Toyota badged Prado-sized LC to the US at the same time to compete with the new Bronco and Defender. Previously that chassis only came as a Lexus GX in the USA so it might be cool to get a version with cloth seats and lockers from the factory.
 

bassguyry

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Isn't the "300" going to be Lexus only but then there was talk about bringing a Toyota badged Prado-sized LC to the US at the same time to compete with the new Bronco and Defender. Previously that chassis only came as a Lexus GX in the USA so it might be cool to get a version with cloth seats and lockers from the factory.
I'd heard the same thing, but I'm not sure they'll actually do it, as a Prado-sized LC would probably compete directly with a 4Runner. Or at least I think it would. :)
Can't we just get the 70's that they are already making for everyone else? I don't get the issue.
This. 100% this.
 

KC Masterpiece

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I'd heard the same thing, but I'm not sure they'll actually do it, as a Prado-sized LC would probably compete directly with a 4Runner. Or at least I think it would. :)

This. 100% this.

I think toyota gave up on the 70 in the US a long time ago. I would sell a kidney if I could buy a new dual cab here but the grass is always greener on the other side.

If I recall right it had to do with crash test ratings and needing to modernize the platform to make it okay for US sales. I also believe the 70 series are still manual only optioned from the factory which is great for enthusiasts but not a big seller in our current market.

I recently took a trip in the 80 with a friend riding in the back who has a new Taco. He was amazed at the LC and could not stop talking about how little room the taco had for his family of 3 (soon to be 4) and their dog. I tried to sell him on swapping it for a used 100 in good shape as it seemed like the best vehicle for him.

Of course as soon as we started looking at Craigslist adds he was emphatic to even be considered the vehicle needed Bluetooth, heated seats, backup camera, heated mirrors, automatic everything, ect.....

Unfortunately most American consumers would rather spend 50k on a domestic truck with more luxury features that needs 2k in maint every year over a 70k bare bones platform that will never break but has less bells and whistles.
 

rover67

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Wow that’s wild! Did the group get any pics of the Hummer on the trail? I chatted with the engineers for a while, and they were super nice. They mentioned it kept getting stuck in crab mode however which is not an uncommon occurrence in early prototypes I’m sure. It is just cool to see a working prototype in the wild without camo!

View attachment 94491
Love the "Do it for Dale" sticker.
 

damon

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J1000

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Of course as soon as we started looking at Craigslist adds he was emphatic to even be considered the vehicle needed Bluetooth, heated seats, backup camera, heated mirrors, automatic everything, ect.....
My '07 LX470 has all of that. Only had to add an aftermarket bluetooth module.
 

Shuksan

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My '07 LX470 has all of that. Only had to add an aftermarket bluetooth module.
Yeah I was just about to post this. 100 series were the 200 series of their day. Also replacing a stereo is just about one of the easiest things you can do and the earlier 100s don't have Nav/climate controls built into the touch screen system.
 

AlpineAccess

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I think toyota gave up on the 70 in the US a long time ago. I would sell a kidney if I could buy a new dual cab here but the grass is always greener on the other side.

If I recall right it had to do with crash test ratings and needing to modernize the platform to make it okay for US sales. I also believe the 70 series are still manual only optioned from the factory which is great for enthusiasts but not a big seller in our current market.

I recently took a trip in the 80 with a friend riding in the back who has a new Taco. He was amazed at the LC and could not stop talking about how little room the taco had for his family of 3 (soon to be 4) and their dog. I tried to sell him on swapping it for a used 100 in good shape as it seemed like the best vehicle for him.

Of course as soon as we started looking at Craigslist adds he was emphatic to even be considered the vehicle needed Bluetooth, heated seats, backup camera, heated mirrors, automatic everything, ect.....

Unfortunately most American consumers would rather spend 50k on a domestic truck with more luxury features that needs 2k in maint every year over a 70k bare bones platform that will never break but has less bells and whistles.

You're right, I'm sure there is more to it. Ford has an interesting combo on the newer Ford Ranger in that you can get a 4 door XL (bare bones) with the ecoboost and 4x4 for just under $30k. It too is mostly 15 year old tech, with the exception of the changes for the US marketplace.

Toyota's sure leaving their roots but I guess that's how it goes when you make a lot more selling to the consumer that replaces the vehicle every 3-5 years vs the Toyota guy that's still driving his Tacoma with 350k on it. It's a shame because in my opinion it takes the Toyota guy to keep the image of their reliability and low cost of ownership alive, but I'm sure the bean counters have it figured out.
 

J1000

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I'd heard the same thing, but I'm not sure they'll actually do it, as a Prado-sized LC would probably compete directly with a 4Runner. Or at least I think it would. :)
Well maybe or maybe not. The 4Runner is not really a hardcore off-roader unless you get some of the really high specced ones and even then it comes with a wimpy V6 and is uncomfortable etc. I think there'd be room for a Prado in the US market especially with a turbo V6, more gears in the trans, better cargo and towing stats, and more offroady stuff standard. Similar to how the Tacoma and Tundra overlap slightly but the Tundra still starts in the low $40ks whereas the 200 LC starts at $85k.
 
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bassguyry

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Well maybe or maybe not. The 4Runner is not really a hardcore off-roader unless you get some of the really high specced ones and even then it comes with a wimpy V6 and is uncomfortable etc. I think there'd be room for a Prado in the US market especially with a turbo V6, more gears in the trans, better cargo and towing stats, and more offroady stuff standard. Similar to how the Tacoma and Tundra overlap slightly but the Tundra still starts in the low $40ks whereas the LC starts at $85k.
The LC isn't really a hardcore off-roader until you spend a small fortune building one out. ;) They're definitely very capable off-road in stock form, but I wouldn't call that "hardcore". If they started marketing a more off-road version of the LC in the US, it would absolutely compete with the 4Runner, as that's how the latter is marketed here. The LC is marketed as more of a "luxury" vehicle (though we all know better, lol), while the 4Runner is marketed as a more utilitarian/off-road vehicle. Toyota already has the GX in this market, so why would they bring in a Prado to compete, when that's pretty much the exact reason why they're keeping the LX in the US, and removing the LC?

Also, keep in mind that Prados are typically cheaper than full LCs everywhere else in the world. A Prado in Australia sells for about $59k USD, not $85k like a full 200-series LC. A TRD Pro 4Runner starts at around $51k - that's not a big price difference between the two. Some toe-stepping will likely occur...

And I'd struggle to say that the Tacoma and Tundra overlap at all. V6 vs. V8, 3,500-6,800lb vs. 8,800-10,200lb towing capacity, mid-size pickup vs. full-size pickup. That's like saying a Ford F-250 competes directly with a Ranger. They're not even in the same category of trucks. The only similarity they really share is that they're both pickup trucks.

When we take off our LC fanboi blinders, it becomes clear why Toyota won't be selling the 300 series in the US, and why they probably wouldn't introduce a Prado in this market. The US LC sales over the last 10 years speak volumes. I'm surprised they kept it here as long as they did, TBH.

Then again, I've been wrong before... ;) Honestly, I hope I am wrong. I'd love a Prado LC in the US market. I'd love a 70-series even more. I just don't see either happening, based on the LC sales numbers here. Toyota's best bet is to build a more capable stock 4Runner with lockers, factory lift kits, bigger tires, etc. That would do a better job of competing with the Bronco, IMO.
 

KC Masterpiece

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So who is working to remove those running boards and bumpers with photo shop so we can see what that big beast actually looks like?
 

Notyourmomslx450

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I think they would have sold more Cruisers if we had the options that the rest of the world gets vs just luxury
 

J1000

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Also, keep in mind that Prados are typically cheaper than full LCs everywhere else in the world. A Prado in Australia sells for about $59k USD, not $85k like a full 200-series LC. A TRD Pro 4Runner starts at around $51k - that's not a big price difference between the two. Some toe-stepping will likely occur...

And I'd struggle to say that the Tacoma and Tundra overlap at all. V6 vs. V8, 3,500-6,800lb vs. 8,800-10,200lb towing capacity, mid-size pickup vs. full-size pickup. That's like saying a Ford F-250 competes directly with a Ranger. They're not even in the same category of trucks. The only similarity they really share is that they're both pickup trucks.
Sounds like we are in agreement, honestly. The 4Runner is a cheap econobox or you can spec it up to top of the range which is bottom of the Prado range. Just like you can get a cheap econobox Tacoma or spec it up to the range of a full-size pickup. The reason would be because the Prado is a slightly larger and more upscale platform that would get the new turbo V6 and the 4Runner is the economy platform that's going to stick with budget engines.
 
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