Toyota Stalking, er...um, SPOTTING with Charlie™ (Land Cruiser and Lexus LX/GX Edition)!

November 27th, 2019:

Norfolk, Virginia

 

November 27th, 2019:

Norfolk, Virginia

 

November 27th, 2019:

Norfolk, Virginia

 

November 27th, 2019:

Norfolk, Virginia

 

November 28th, 2019:

Norfolk, Virginia

 

If you look closely, you can also see a cement 3rd Gen TRD PRO hiding behind this cruiser...


November 29th, 2019:

Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

December 7th, 2019:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 

@ColoradoTJ
@El Duderino
@Running Man
@shakerhood
@Speedytech7
@Taco critter


How did the North Koreans get a goddamn Land Cruiser?!?! I thought that (A) there were trade restrictions on the country, and (B) the late Kim Jong Il banned Japanese vehicles in 2007 (just a rumor)...?!?!



I have never been to the DPRK, and there is absolutely a zero percent chance of me ever going there because I don't have a death wish! However, I am absolutely fascinated by North Korea and have done a lot of research on the country in recent years. I don't know who took this picture, but I can verify that this picture was in fact taken in North Korea. The most obvious clue is Ryugyong Hotel, which can be seen in the background.

 

We have trade restrictions with them. Actually I think it's a restriction on all trade. But that doesn't mean they can't get it through other means. Either they can get things from Japan or one of the countries at least that is producing Land Cruisers. Some countries like Venezuela and South Africa produce their own lower-cost Land cruisers. They're still supported by Toyota but the factories are located there and sell models that are older or specifically designed for that region. For example Venezuela produced a stripped down version of the the 80 series landcruiser which was discontinued everywhere in 1997 up until 2007. It was the only country to have it's own 80 series edition and produce it's own model beyond the one the rest of the world got. Who knows how it got there, under most circumstances all Land cruisers come from Japan. But for a few countries very specific Land cruisers are produced in smaller quantities there.

 

The white one seen above is obviously based on the current North American market Land Cruiser, but it's foreign market base model. Wouldn't it be epic if they released a base model version of the current $80-$90K Land Cruiser?!?! It would have the same 5.7L V8 and automatic transmission; A manual would be awesome, but we've got to be realistic here! Toyota USA would never sell a full-size SUV with a third pedal here, and Toyota Canada probably wouldn't sell one either.

Obviously, front and rear air-conditioning would be standard, and rear heat would be standard as well. I would love a stripped down version of the current North American Land Cruiser with crank windows and plastic floors, but again we must be realistic; Nobody would ever buy an SUV of this size and in this price range without power windows, and thus Toyota would never want to pay for the development of interior trim panels to accommodate manual windows. So, my new fantasy Land Cruiser would be come standard with the following, aside from the obvious like power steering, power brakes, traction control, etc:

STANDARD FEATURES:

• Air-conditioning (front and rear)
• Rear heater
• 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS
  
• Cruise control
• Tilt/telescoping steering column
• Power windows
• Power locks with remote keyless entry
• Alarm system with engine immobilizer
  
• 8-speaker AM/FM stereo with CD player, USB port, AUX input, satellite radio capability, and ENTUNE
• Toyota Safety Sense
• Backup camera
• Cloth seats
• Triple-locking differentials
• Tinted glass
• No extra cost choice of cloth or vinyl seats
• Towing package
• No extra cost choice of either plastic/rubber floors or carpeted floors
• Steel wheels

OPTIONS:

• Automatic climate control with individual controls for driver, front passenger, and rear seat
  
• GPS navigation
• JBL stereo
  
• Rear-seat entertainment system with headrest screens and BluRay player
  
• Power driver's seat
• No extra cost 3rd row seat delete
• Sunroof
• Alloy wheels
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Remote start
• Engine block heater

Leather seats and all of the other luxury crap would NOT be available; I could not resist adding a JBL stereo as an option, because I am the type of person who would buy a no-frills vehicle with the most expensive stereo upgrade!

I estimate that a base model with no options and upgrades would between $45K and $50K (Maybe $52K at most), whereas one with every option would be over $60K but less than $65K. This is still quite a price improvement over the $80K-$90K ultra-luxury Land Cruisers currently available.

 

Kim could probably get a new Tacoma from a dealer in California if he really wanted one, but he would have to go through numerous sources and he'd probably end up paying about a hundred grand when all was said and done...

 

Also, one obvious feature is the flag on the door; That is obviously not a DPRK flag. Perhaps this LC is owned by an embassy? Also, it's an LHD so that means it came from a market other than Japan or the UK.

 

Oh yes, and you know the North Koreans have shell companies to do their bidding...

 

@ColoradoTJ

I think that the Kim regime is evil, but I am fascinated by Korea as a whole, and it's history; I have no idea why!

 

@disconnected
@El Duderino
@Running Man
@shakerhood
@Speedytech7
@Taco critter


December 19th, 2019:

Lexington Park, Maryland

 

Good looking 40 series. I'd have a hard time cutting a 40 series fender for a snork

 

I have a hard time believing there's a vehicle without air-conditioning registered in Texas!

 

There's lots. Air conditioning is costly to repair and America has a lot of people below the poverty line. It was the same way in Arizona too. Could be a hundred ten degrees out and still see people with their windows down and you knew exactly why.