FWIW, here is a brief summary of my buying experience and initial likes/dislikes after 50 miles:
1. Monday: Decided on LC over waiting on a 2025 4Runner. Test drove a 1958 that day. Thumbs up. Used the Toyota site to build my ideal vehicle and search inventory in 500 mile radius (Northern California). Call to fourth dealer yielded unspoken-for unit with not too many unwanted options, 40 miles away. Tuesday: deposit down, vehicle processing at Benicia Port. Thursday: processing complete. Friday night: LC delivered to dealer (Vallejo, 10 miles from Benicia). Saturday morning: test drive and purchase.
2. I went ahead and paid the +$5k ransom (good luck finding an MSRP deal on an actual vehicle in this area) with the thinking that mark-ups will be around for awhile and I need a rig by the end of the summer when I am giving my 4Runner to my son as a wedding present.
3. Dealer experience was exceptional... not a single DIO, no pressure to buy any add-ons. Highly recommend Toyota of Vallejo.
Vehicle specs: LC Trim, Meteor/Black, Premium Pkg, 20 inch wheels (not desired), cable pkg (ridiculous), ball mount (not needed), cargo mat and net (wanted), door edge guard (nice), Coin holder (total waste). MSRP $69.714K
First Impressions after 50 mi drive home:
1. It's like driving my 4Runner but with a lot more get up and go. Definitely know you are driving a 4-cylinder though... just has that feel and sound. Cabin quieter than 4Runner, much more tech of course. Not a luxury feel, which is fine by me... not a Lexus guy.
A few dislikes:
1. Cool Box - what a POS gimmick that renders the center console space almost unusable. As soon as someone posts instructions for removing it, that is going - maybe trade with some 1958er who wants it. Even after it is gone, there is far less storage space around the driver and passenger than I would like.
2. Tumbling rear seats. Much prefer the 4Runner traditional fold down approach. Adding this with the "hybrid hump" where the batteries have been fastened to the top of the cargo deck means you have a very uneven cargo space with lots of ups and downs. And you cannot easily sit on the bumper with the rear hatch open.
3. 20 inch wheels with 60R "all weather" tires. Would much prefer 18's with 70R Falken Wildpeaks like on my 4R.
4. The price. Even without the markup, you may get more vehicle for this money in the form of a Tundra, Sequoia or TRD Pro 4R. I feel like I paid about $10K for the LC badge.
No vehicle is perfect and these issues were not showstoppers for me (obviously)
The Likes that more than offset those downsides:
1. Styling - much prefer over the new 4Runner. Seems classier and more refined with a nod to LC history. Fits me (60+ years old) better according to my wife!
2. The tech - customizable dash screens, cameras, ability to turn off most nanny-car features,
3. Comfort/size - fits me at 6-2 easily with tons of headroom, legroom in rear.
4. Power rear lift gate - why this was not on recent 4R's I don't know.
5. Head-up display - did not know I was going to like this so much! I set it to display only speed and really like not having to look down.
6. Engine and powertrain - still more to experience here, but the 8-speed is a great improvement. Plenty of torque at low speed and high.
I'll stop here... I doubt anyone has read this far anyway. But if you have, cheers to you!
1. Monday: Decided on LC over waiting on a 2025 4Runner. Test drove a 1958 that day. Thumbs up. Used the Toyota site to build my ideal vehicle and search inventory in 500 mile radius (Northern California). Call to fourth dealer yielded unspoken-for unit with not too many unwanted options, 40 miles away. Tuesday: deposit down, vehicle processing at Benicia Port. Thursday: processing complete. Friday night: LC delivered to dealer (Vallejo, 10 miles from Benicia). Saturday morning: test drive and purchase.
2. I went ahead and paid the +$5k ransom (good luck finding an MSRP deal on an actual vehicle in this area) with the thinking that mark-ups will be around for awhile and I need a rig by the end of the summer when I am giving my 4Runner to my son as a wedding present.
3. Dealer experience was exceptional... not a single DIO, no pressure to buy any add-ons. Highly recommend Toyota of Vallejo.
Vehicle specs: LC Trim, Meteor/Black, Premium Pkg, 20 inch wheels (not desired), cable pkg (ridiculous), ball mount (not needed), cargo mat and net (wanted), door edge guard (nice), Coin holder (total waste). MSRP $69.714K
First Impressions after 50 mi drive home:
1. It's like driving my 4Runner but with a lot more get up and go. Definitely know you are driving a 4-cylinder though... just has that feel and sound. Cabin quieter than 4Runner, much more tech of course. Not a luxury feel, which is fine by me... not a Lexus guy.
A few dislikes:
1. Cool Box - what a POS gimmick that renders the center console space almost unusable. As soon as someone posts instructions for removing it, that is going - maybe trade with some 1958er who wants it. Even after it is gone, there is far less storage space around the driver and passenger than I would like.
2. Tumbling rear seats. Much prefer the 4Runner traditional fold down approach. Adding this with the "hybrid hump" where the batteries have been fastened to the top of the cargo deck means you have a very uneven cargo space with lots of ups and downs. And you cannot easily sit on the bumper with the rear hatch open.
3. 20 inch wheels with 60R "all weather" tires. Would much prefer 18's with 70R Falken Wildpeaks like on my 4R.
4. The price. Even without the markup, you may get more vehicle for this money in the form of a Tundra, Sequoia or TRD Pro 4R. I feel like I paid about $10K for the LC badge.
No vehicle is perfect and these issues were not showstoppers for me (obviously)
The Likes that more than offset those downsides:
1. Styling - much prefer over the new 4Runner. Seems classier and more refined with a nod to LC history. Fits me (60+ years old) better according to my wife!
2. The tech - customizable dash screens, cameras, ability to turn off most nanny-car features,
3. Comfort/size - fits me at 6-2 easily with tons of headroom, legroom in rear.
4. Power rear lift gate - why this was not on recent 4R's I don't know.
5. Head-up display - did not know I was going to like this so much! I set it to display only speed and really like not having to look down.
6. Engine and powertrain - still more to experience here, but the 8-speed is a great improvement. Plenty of torque at low speed and high.
I'll stop here... I doubt anyone has read this far anyway. But if you have, cheers to you!
