Called marketing strategy
Ya think???? Shame that they do not make the 300 series LC available in the US - that's the one everyone wants here
I just like the old school look of that LC versus the more modern one.
Seriously! Those Toyota folks pulled some parts off the shelf in a matter of 30 mins as a direct response to the IG - as a car company making 8M cars a year - IG would be a juggernaut with their 15K. More interesting topic with a conspiracy theory attached to it ;-). Now if Martians had invaded the US at the same time as the IG market launch - that would be a direct correlation.
I looked at buying a GX a number of years ago. Although the engine & wheelbase may have been similar if not identical to the LC, the GX was not the LC. The price on the GX (at that time) was between $52-$55k. The Toyota LC was over $80k. Just think about that price discrepency: whatever makes the less luxurious nameplate $30k more expensive must have been substantial. If it wasn't the size of the SUV, then there must have been some ways to differentiate the LC based on all the parts surrounding the engine, and that must have been where the extra $30k Toyota wanted over the GX price. I didn't find the GX particularly appealing overall, and bought a LR instead. Much later, I did get a chance to test out a LC, and that was just awesome. I don't know what the mechanical differences are, but I doubt Toyota was pricing it $30k more than a GX for nothing
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The previous generation GX (either a 460 or 470) was very similar to it's sibling 4Runner at the time. This has been shifted with the "current" GX550 (and new US "Land Cruiser") both share the same wheelbase as the LC300 (112.2" or 2850mm). This is the same wheelbase as the LC200 as well. In comparison to the GX460, the GX550 is an increase in 2.4" in wheelbase length and 5"+ in overall length.I looked at buying a GX a number of years ago. Although the engine & wheelbase may have been similar if not identical to the LC, the GX was not the LC. The price on the GX (at that time) was between $52-$55k. The Toyota LC was over $80k. Just think about that price discrepency: whatever makes the less luxurious nameplate $30k more expensive must have been substantial. If it wasn't the size of the SUV, then there must have been some ways to differentiate the LC based on all the parts surrounding the engine, and that must have been where the extra $30k Toyota wanted over the GX price. I didn't find the GX particularly appealing overall, and bought a LR instead. Much later, I did get a chance to test out a LC, and that was just awesome. I don't know what the mechanical differences are, but I doubt Toyota was pricing it $30k more than a GX for nothing
