Obviously the interior appointments are not the same and the 3rd row is manual versus auto. The engines are the same, the general options are the same: DVD Nav, RSE DVD, Cool/Heat Seats.

What else is different? Keyless GO? There seems to be about a 10K difference in base MSRP.

 

^^^ The Land Cruiser has KDSS.

The seat on the LC do not cool.

The LX570 for the difference of $10,000 you get more for your money.
The LC at $64K is too much for a Toyota at my local Toyota/Lexus dealer the LX is flying of the lot , not so for the TLC.

 

You may be right about the seats but I was told by a salesperson (on the phone) that they do cool/heat. I haven't seen it in person yet but plan to test drive later today.

I'm just not too excited about waiting 3-4 months for the LX570.

I'll have to check out the KDSS you're talking about.

 

just remember, you spend all your time inside the suv....and that is where the LX really shines.
The wood trim inside the TLC is truly hideous in my opinion.

 

Yep, Toyota refers to the wood trim in the '08 TLC as "wood-grain-style". I guess that sounds slightly better then "fake wood"

 

its dark, lacks luster, and just looks fake.

 

If you do plan on off-roading (more than just going camping), then i would get LX570 because it has the air suspension that can raise up. The new TLC/LX570 are low to the ground...thus, an air suspension is cool to have as an off-road tool even though the TLC with KDSS suspension can flex better.

 

So, I got my first feel for the ethics (or lack thereof) of dealing with a mass market dealership versus a premium (MB, BMW, Lexus, Audi) type dealership.

I made an appointment to test drive the '08 Landcruiser. I show up on time and the salesperson I spoke with informs me that they no longer have one available...IOW, he lied to me on the phone just to get me to the lot...what a load of crap?!

So, he then proceeds to push me into the Sequoia Platinum package vehicle...b/c he has one of those available, right. I was very disappointed but test drove it anyway for comparison. It did have a bunch of great attributes and was only $56k loaded. However, it was a BUS of a vehicle and felt more like a bulldozer than a sports car.

After some other discussion today I've decided the extra 12-15k is worth the money and I'll probably go LX570...I still would like to at least drive an LC before writing them off. Apparently the order time is less than 3 weeks.

One unfortunate thing is they don't offer a Silver (Exterior)/Tan (interior) combination in the LC.

 

Good luck getting anywhere on those 20 inch tires. I would take the TLC and KDSS w/ 18" wheels anyday of the week off-road.

 

Yeah, but someone who buys a LX570 can easily switch out the rims and use 18" rims from TLC. You canNOT add air suspension to the TLC to make it have better clearance. With Crawl Control (and how effective i hear it is), the lack of wheel articulation is not going to hurt it as bad as high centering yourself or tearing off your bumpers!

 

With the Toyota Landcruiser you are buying into the model.. where as with the LX570 is you are buying into the brand.

The interior is not the same but is constructed very well in both models.
I prefer the Landcruiser 200 interior as the LX to me seems a little on the feminine side...and plus the all the Lexus models look the same as one another and same thing with this LX. Also to me, the landcruiser ergonomics are a little better and the truck is a big more rugged.

Some don't like the faux wood in the Landcruiser but it does not bother me at all. I have never really care if the wood is real or faux. I also do not like the ride of the LX as much as the Landcruiser...but again, the ride is a personal taste. Lastly the door panels appear like more thought and design has been put into the Landcruiser than the LX as I feel the LX is too Avalon like. Just my opinion.

 

I just cannot get over the 31/20/21 (appr, depart, breakover) angles.

Comparison:
Jeep Commander Overland 4x4: 34/27/21
Range Rover: 34/26/30
LR3: 37/29.6/28
G500: 36/31/25

 

Does it get much better with active height

 

Lexus LX570: 31/23/breakover??

Not great numbers, but it's a small improvement.

 

So they both suck. I think the Landcruiser has been wheel articulation with the KDSS which helps make up for a bit shorter departure angle. Toyota make the truck a little bit longer but kept the wheelbase the same.