Olazz
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
- Messages
- 1,428
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Have had a 200 on extended test for a week, thought I'd put up some of my thoughts if anyone interested.
I'll start by saying that I wasn't a great fan of the shape and "bulbous-ness" of the 200, and from certain angles I thought it looked odd; wheels that were too skinny and small for the huge body... After a few days my view has only modified slightly, in that the look sort of grew on me and even SWAMBO began to soften towards its looks.
This cruiser is BIG, both the exterior and the interior. Masses of space between driver and passenger, and huge amounts of room front to rear. It not only looks big inside, it actually feels very big. Everyone that got into it made the same comment. Space everywhere.
Driving position. Found this a little disappointing in that I couldn't get the seat low enough to feel really happy. I'm only 6'3" not excessively tall, and felt that the seating was designed to let shorties see over the expanse of bonnet... I couldn't !
Lights, lights everywhere. The dials are LCD type, back lit like the 100series, and I think are pretty relaxing on the eye; I liked them. Certainly found them easy to read during the day and even better at night. The Sat nav display is also, like the rest of the car enormous, with what seems like even conceivable programmable and "personalisable" menu one could think of. A little too gimmicky for me, and adjusting every-day stuff like radio, climate, internal lighting, etc was a bit of a faff. Lots of menus with sub-menus to help, but it doesn't really work for me. The huge screen certainly helps with the reversing camera, which you need because you can't see out the back too well.
Gearbox was 5 speed auto with sport setting and tiptronic. Smooth and very car like. Didn't quite see the point of the sport or tiptronic setting... if you want or indeed are expecting sports car like performance, you'll be sorely disappointed.
Engine. D4D V8 diesel. I was expecting a lot out of this, as its a V8 and the figures look pretty impressive on paper. In reality it was a bit dull. I have driven a V6 diesel which feels much more powerful and purposeful and feels muck "pokier". Perhaps this is where the gargantuan size and no doubt weight of the 200 begins to show. Around town it is easy to drive, extremely comfortable (normal mode) and providing you can find a space large enough, park. The motor is relatively quiet and if you really want to get a move on it does gather itself up and move, but I wouldn't say its an overtakers dream. Needs a clear road and a head of steam to let one feel really confident of an easy pass.
Suspension has three main settings. Comfort, Normal and sport. Comfort is ok, but made some feel a little sea-sick, with its wallowing motion. Sport (not sure why) made the cruiser, pitch and porpoise a little too much; not a nice experience. Normal it was then for most of the time.
Fuel consumption. This was pretty impressive for what feels like and certainly is a big heavy vehicle. The computer showed average consumption over three days, town and motorway, hard driving and dawdling, stop start traffic and on cruise, at 29mpg! Better than a V6, 8 speed diesel which will only show 23 for the same sort of driving.
This is a very very big and luxurious vehicle. not in the same leagues as the RR, but close. It has more toys on board than most and would make a supreme long distance "cruiser". It seems pretty frugal and can lift its skirts when required.
Would I buy one?
If I wanted a BIG, spacious, comfortable, capable long distance vehicle - its pretty hard to beat.
If I wanted an easy to drive/park/commute, every day vehicle - its too big.
If I was looking for an alternative to a RR/Cayenne/X5.
The RR is plusher and has more cache
The Cayenne is faster and more avant-garde
The X5 is sportier and more agile
I wanted to come away, blown away; I wasn't. I wanted to feel that sense of occasion when driving; I didn't. I wanted to love this Landcruiser but couldn't quite and at £67k
with looks of an over bloated Hippo... Im not quite sold.
You of course, may disagree.
I'll start by saying that I wasn't a great fan of the shape and "bulbous-ness" of the 200, and from certain angles I thought it looked odd; wheels that were too skinny and small for the huge body... After a few days my view has only modified slightly, in that the look sort of grew on me and even SWAMBO began to soften towards its looks.
This cruiser is BIG, both the exterior and the interior. Masses of space between driver and passenger, and huge amounts of room front to rear. It not only looks big inside, it actually feels very big. Everyone that got into it made the same comment. Space everywhere.
Driving position. Found this a little disappointing in that I couldn't get the seat low enough to feel really happy. I'm only 6'3" not excessively tall, and felt that the seating was designed to let shorties see over the expanse of bonnet... I couldn't !
Lights, lights everywhere. The dials are LCD type, back lit like the 100series, and I think are pretty relaxing on the eye; I liked them. Certainly found them easy to read during the day and even better at night. The Sat nav display is also, like the rest of the car enormous, with what seems like even conceivable programmable and "personalisable" menu one could think of. A little too gimmicky for me, and adjusting every-day stuff like radio, climate, internal lighting, etc was a bit of a faff. Lots of menus with sub-menus to help, but it doesn't really work for me. The huge screen certainly helps with the reversing camera, which you need because you can't see out the back too well.
Gearbox was 5 speed auto with sport setting and tiptronic. Smooth and very car like. Didn't quite see the point of the sport or tiptronic setting... if you want or indeed are expecting sports car like performance, you'll be sorely disappointed.
Engine. D4D V8 diesel. I was expecting a lot out of this, as its a V8 and the figures look pretty impressive on paper. In reality it was a bit dull. I have driven a V6 diesel which feels much more powerful and purposeful and feels muck "pokier". Perhaps this is where the gargantuan size and no doubt weight of the 200 begins to show. Around town it is easy to drive, extremely comfortable (normal mode) and providing you can find a space large enough, park. The motor is relatively quiet and if you really want to get a move on it does gather itself up and move, but I wouldn't say its an overtakers dream. Needs a clear road and a head of steam to let one feel really confident of an easy pass.
Suspension has three main settings. Comfort, Normal and sport. Comfort is ok, but made some feel a little sea-sick, with its wallowing motion. Sport (not sure why) made the cruiser, pitch and porpoise a little too much; not a nice experience. Normal it was then for most of the time.
Fuel consumption. This was pretty impressive for what feels like and certainly is a big heavy vehicle. The computer showed average consumption over three days, town and motorway, hard driving and dawdling, stop start traffic and on cruise, at 29mpg! Better than a V6, 8 speed diesel which will only show 23 for the same sort of driving.
This is a very very big and luxurious vehicle. not in the same leagues as the RR, but close. It has more toys on board than most and would make a supreme long distance "cruiser". It seems pretty frugal and can lift its skirts when required.
Would I buy one?
If I wanted a BIG, spacious, comfortable, capable long distance vehicle - its pretty hard to beat.
If I wanted an easy to drive/park/commute, every day vehicle - its too big.
If I was looking for an alternative to a RR/Cayenne/X5.
The RR is plusher and has more cache
The Cayenne is faster and more avant-garde
The X5 is sportier and more agile
I wanted to come away, blown away; I wasn't. I wanted to feel that sense of occasion when driving; I didn't. I wanted to love this Landcruiser but couldn't quite and at £67k
with looks of an over bloated Hippo... Im not quite sold.You of course, may disagree.
I did own a BMW e39 530i and it had 220,000 kms when I sold it - it was relatively heavy maintenance but a lovely fast machine.
![URL]](http://[URL]http://farm4.dealernet.com.au/stock/20120911/CAD42CE2560B4E5D902D2ECB1DE64649.jpg[/URL])
