If my criteria were max space + max passenger comfort + max interior flexibility + max tow capability + max value than the Sequoia is the pick of choice of any vehicle on the market regardless of price.
If you take away max value, max towing, and max interior flexibility and replace these needs with interior refinement + quality of materials + passenger comfort + a good interior design THEN the choices IMO are either the MB GL 550 or the Infiniti QX56. Both of these vehicles would be far superior choices to the LC or LX. Both have superior platform designs with relatively new rear independent suspension designs combined with better interior refinement.
If the GL550 had a larger interior it would have been my choice over the Sequoia. Unfortunately its a somewhat narrow vehicle with minimal 2nd row legroom compared to the Sequoia although as good or better legroom than the LC/LX. Same is true for the QX compared to the Sequoia however it too exceeds the LC/LX from an interior design standpoint compared to the LC/LX.
If interior space were not as critical and towing were less important, than the GL550 is a substantially better value and design than either the LC/LX. And if you really wanted a diesel, the only large suv on the US market is the MB GL320 CDI getting 18/24 mpg
Unfortunately the LC/LX loses out with an inferior interior design when compared to the Sequoia where space is the premium sought by its customers. The LC/LX loses out to the GL or the QX if refinement is more important than space and towing. Unfortunately the LC platform remains an inferior product given its older rear suspension design when compared to the larger Sequoia or the more refined MB or Infiniti products.
Its a relatively simply choice for customers to make in my opinion based on needs and available funds and unfortunately the LC/LX comes up short on both customer demographics and needs.
You are damn right about that. Toyota sales have stalled. The CEO has said that quality is poorer than it could be and Toyota made a big mistake is production forecast 3 months into the 2nd gen Tundra/Sequioa.
By guess is that they wanted to be on par with Ford, GM and Dodge and they have....they have a very powerful V8 which sucks a lot of gas and they have a very very very poor made interior.
The way I see your post going it seems like we all need to compromise our lifestyles when Toyota has proudly been Value core vs Luxury like Lexus a division of Toyota Motor sales
Not really. The Land Cruiser, Highlander, 4runner, FJ and Prius are all built off Lexus/Toyota production lines. Most of the Toyota line is value brand but there are still some Toyota's that benefit from Lexus superior standards of engineering and parts defects that is not applied to Sequioa.
No AMERICAN/CANADIAN vehicle does this.
Highlander or Rav 4 I can't remember is coming to Canada VERY soon.
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2003 Salsa Red Pearl
Last edited by pagemaster; 03-16-2008 at 10:56 PM.
Page - you talk about pulling up to Country Clubs and who buys and who can buy the LC vs. the Seq. In the lasy 6 years I have had a 745 BMW, a Land Cruiser and then my Seq. I have pulled up to my CC in all three. You know what.... I got the most attention in my Seq. The 6 friends that I shuttle around buy only the most expensive vehicles regardless of their knowledge of the hardcore specifics and you know what they loved the Seq. I would not be surprised if they owned a Seq in next couple months. I can buy anything I want, I drove them all until I couldn't stand it anymore and by far and away the best large SUV on the market today is the 2008 Seq. The LC is so weak by comparison. I would take 25 minutes telling you why, but to save me time I urge you to review Heatwaves last 45 posts. (BTW I had a LC for 6 years, like it alot but it is NOT AS GOOD as the 2008 Seq... stop crying)
I traded the LC for Seq and I already posted Seq pics. Black with sand interior
Mdolloff, btw I found a wonderful feature on TS that I wasn't aware of. Its called the "ignore list". It allows you to add names of posters to an "ignore list" which blocks their posts when you're viewing TS forums. Its a very "pleasant" feature.
I also had a similar experience today when picking up a few friends of my son for a visit to the movies. One of the kid's dad has a 2004 LC and spent some time checking out my Plat Sequoia. He found it to be a far better vehicle from his LC. His lease expires in the next 5 months. He is definitely not getting another LC and both the Q and Seq are the 2 main vehicles on his shopping list. Rather interesting perspective that aligns with your decision.
I think many other past LC owners will be persuaded by the superior interior design and flexibility of the Sequoia over the LC/LX over the coming year as the new Sequoia becomes more visible on the roads. For those looking for more "status" than they perceive to get from a Toyota Sequoia, I think they will naturally navigate to the QX and MB GL, both of which would have better met my needs than an LC or LX if prestige was a more important shopping criteria than functionality and comfort.
I agree Heatwave, even people with more than enough money to throw around often draw the line it it means looking like a complete fool. Which is what paying $20,000 more for an 08 LC vs. 08 Seq is - foolish and bordering on embarassing.
Easy answer to the bad Toyota navigation "problem ". Save your $$ and get a Garmin or whatever other brand. I use mine on my truck and 3 other cars................only cost $400 and works very well.
I agree Heatwave, even people with more than enough money to throw around often draw the line it it means looking like a complete fool. Which is what paying $20,000 more for an 08 LC vs. 08 Seq is - foolish and bordering on embarassing.
The new Sequoia has IRS which sucks for off-roading.
The LC's heritage is built on 4wheel drive, which is why it has a solid rear axle.
2 completely different vehicles for different purposes.
The new Sequoia has IRS which sucks for off-roading.
The LC's heritage is built on 4wheel drive, which is why it has a solid rear axle.
2 completely different vehicles for different purposes.
That's an interesting perspective since some of the best offroading vehicles on (and off) the planet have IRS such as the military's Humvee HUMVEE. Also, the Land Rover, Range Rover, MB GL have been upgraded to IRS along with almost every off-road racer. I think those tied to live axles are living in the past with the nostalgic view of vehicles like the LC and the 50+ yr old tech of solid rear axles.
Heck...the lunar rover had IRS and you can't get further "off-road" than the moon
[QUOTE=Heatwave3;970655]That's an interesting perspective since some of the best offroading vehicles on (and off) the planet have IRS such as the military's Humvee HUMVEE. Also, the Land Rover, Range Rover, MB GL have been upgraded to IRS along with almost every off-road racer. I think those tied to live axles are living in the past with the nostalgic view of vehicles like the LC and the 50+ yr old tech of solid rear axles.
QUOTE]
But this is between the Land Cruiser and the Sequioa. RR, MB, GL are all vehicles in different classes than the IRS Sequioa and plus the owners are in different classes.
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The new Sequoia has IRS which sucks for off-roading.
The LC's heritage is built on 4wheel drive, which is why it has a solid rear axle.
2 completely different vehicles for different purposes.
Don't bother trying with him. Heatwave has tunnel vision with his Sequioa. Maybe he has been staring into the deeply recessed gauges of his Sequioa and the optitron needles are hipnitizing him .... While the Sequioa is nice and I wrote a very nice review about it, the 200 series and Sequioa are different SUVs. The 200 series is a premium SUV while the Sequioa is a large full size SUV.
The buyers of the 200 series are a different demongraphic, lifestlye, age, sex than the average middle class Sequioa owner.
Both SUVs are built different, using mostly different parts, different plants, different standards of build quality etc...
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2003 Salsa Red Pearl
Last edited by pagemaster; 04-01-2008 at 11:48 AM.
The new Sequoia has IRS which sucks for off-roading.
The LC's heritage is built on 4wheel drive, which is why it has a solid rear axle.
2 completely different vehicles for different purposes.
BTW, the Land Cruiser sold a whopping 363 units NATIONALLY in March and the LX570 sold 642 units in the month of March. The Sequoia sold 2856 units in March.
I stand by my prediction that the LC platform is as dead as a door knob and will quietly exit the US market within 24 months. The LC won't be replaced and the LX will be replaced with an high end version of the Sequoia. My guess is the designs are already in the computer and Toyota just needs to amortize the cost of the recent very minor refresh of the LC/LX. My guess is that the LC will have its last model year in the US in 2009 or maybe 2010.
24 months of these dismal sales and the LC/LX will find its appropriate resting place in the ROW market.
The LC won't be replaced and the LX will be replaced with an high end version of the Sequoia. My guess is the designs are already in the computer and Toyota just needs to amortize the cost of the recent very minor refresh of the LC/LX. My guess is that the LC will have its last model year in the US in 2009 or maybe 2010
You need to educate yourself about Toyota/Lexus vehicles. No other Lexus other than the RX350 is made outside of Japan. The Land Cruiser/LX 200 is built to a higher level of standard than the Sequioa. There is no doubt about it. The Sequioa is a LEAR interior made in a pick up truck assembly facility.
The Land Cruiser is 95% japanese parts LX 100% japanese parts and built in the flagship assembly line with the lowest part per defect.
As for sales. Any smart company will tell you that they want an increase in year over year sales. The 200 series is selling at about 12-15k per year which is on par give or take to the Land Cruisers best years on average except the big SUV boom in 1999. Both LX and LC are up over 80% year over year sales whereas the Sequioa is at %12 increase.
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I stand by my prediction that the LC platform is as dead as a door knob and will quietly exit the US market within 24 months
You want to talk about a HUGE MISTAKE....the Sequioa...Toyota missed the market for the Sequioa and will suffer big time because of this. Toyota was expecting 60k sales and will be lucky to hit 40k.
Also, heatwave....Toyota recently slowed production of the Sequioa...what does this mean for a vehicle that is only four months on the road. NOT A good future.
Both the 200 series and Sequioa will co exist. Both SUVs compete in two different market segments. Both have different demographics, incomes, lifestlyes and are both affected differently by gas prices.
Re: 2008 Toyota Sequoia interior....What a shame
.... While the Sequioa is nice and I wrote a very nice review about it, the 200 series and Sequioa are different SUVs. The 200 series is a premium SUV while the Sequioa is a large full size SUV. 
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