Thought long a hard about the GX550 and decided on the LC. The approach angle difference is pretty substantial in real-world usage. Plus, I liked the features of the LC Premium vs the non-+ Overtrail.
LC250 vs GX550 vs other?
- Thread starter shwazz714
- Start date
Nobody ever mentions the Defender around here, which is odd because I do think the design of the current LC and GX derives from the current Defender. I have to believe some cross-shopping is going on.
I figured the Defender would be my next vehicle for a long time and came close to ordering one a couple years ago. I do have a lot of friends warning off Land Rovers on reliability issues but I have other friends who have driven theirs forever.
What turned me off ultimately was repair times and parts availability. Even with a warranty it sucks if you’re out of a car for weeks waiting for a part. I started hearing enough anecdotal about that to make the idea stick. Then, just last week, a friend of ours did some water damage to the electrical system in her Evoque (not sure how you do that in Denver unless you drive it into a pond). Land Rover came back with an eight month turn time for the repairs. Not what I’m looking for.
I figured the Defender would be my next vehicle for a long time and came close to ordering one a couple years ago. I do have a lot of friends warning off Land Rovers on reliability issues but I have other friends who have driven theirs forever.
What turned me off ultimately was repair times and parts availability. Even with a warranty it sucks if you’re out of a car for weeks waiting for a part. I started hearing enough anecdotal about that to make the idea stick. Then, just last week, a friend of ours did some water damage to the electrical system in her Evoque (not sure how you do that in Denver unless you drive it into a pond). Land Rover came back with an eight month turn time for the repairs. Not what I’m looking for.
I think you might have answered your own question.
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- #24
A few years ago I was looking at Land Rover, but three owners stated they couldn't wait to get rid of theirs, said it was in the shop at least once a month for something, so I went for the BMW X5. The X5 was very nice but definitely not an off roader.
I looked long and hard at Defender 110, liked a lot about it, including air suspension. Ultimately the lack of a dealer in Vermont and reliability concerns convinced me to get a GX550, even though no Lexus dealer here either (and a Land Cruiser FE for my wife, we do have Toyota dealers up here!).
We shopped GX OT and Cayenne initially. Cayenne S was required for offroad package and prices were well over 100k for one with packages we wanted. Didnt want any GX trim except the overtrail (or OT +) and we could not get one. Tried out of state and no one would sell us one. In fact only the 2 closest dealers would let us order it with no ETA possible. We passed. Strongly considered the Defender but were worried about reliability. Decided to give the Land Cruiser (always wanted one) a look and ordered an LC LC after 1 visit - we drove a 1958 for the test drive.
Yes, it’s the exact same engine in the Tundra and the LX that has been recalled. I am not buying the metal debris theory. I know people who own both who are now in need of a new engine. One of the main reasons I went with the LC. Plus the LC interior is much nicer.
+1. I would opt out on the sunroof, rack and cooler as well. My wife likes the sunroof so I guess there's that but for me I would rather have the headroom and less weight. Not that the headroom is bad but I don't need a sunroof.
