78k mile GX 470…go for it?

[dstewart3ss]

I have the opportunity to get an ‘05 GX470 with 78,xxx miles for right around $10k. Haven’t put my eyes on it yet but from pictures looks like some faded paint, no rust, cracked dash. Don’t have much info yet on service history so assuming I’d have some serious base lining to do. I’ve been out of the 100 series and GX market for a few years…so looking for some advise from the community.

Is this a “run don’t walk, take cash and go buy it tomorrow, why are you even questioning it” situation OR “ehh you better check it out thoroughly and proceed with caution”??? My gut says, go buy it even if I don’t any info about service history.

Thanks!

 

[Rednexus]

A cracked dash is no big deal - Lexus will still sell you a new one. It's hard to find a GX below $10K that's not beat to crap, much less one with only 78K on it.

I'd personally drive it, run the service history via CarFax/Lexusdrivers.com and, unless you find a red flag, buy it.

 

[dstewart3ss]

A cracked dash is no big deal - Lexus will still sell you a new one. It's hard to find a GX below $10K that's not beat to crap, much less one with only 78K on it.

I'd personally drive it, run the service history via CarFax/Lexusdrivers.com and, unless you find a red flag, buy it.

Thanks for the reply. Good to know on the dash. Is the issue with these models simply cosmetic or is it unsafe? Know what Lexus sells them for?

 

[GrizzlyClint]

Keep in mind rubber and plastic age so even with really low miles it is imperative to make sure all belts and hoses are replaced immediately. Find out when and or IF the timing belt and waterpump service were done. It is way over due on age if it hasn't been done.

 

[dstewart3ss]

Keep in mind rubber and plastic age so even with really low miles it is imperative to make sure all belts and hoses are replaced immediately. Find out when and or IF the timing belt and waterpump service were done. It is way over due on age if it hasn't been done.

Great points, I had already been thinking about the rubber/plastic and def the TB/WP. Doesn’t seem like these have the heater tee issue that the 100 series cruisers do though.

Any ideas what an Indy shop would charge to replace all the rubber stuff? Curious to hear any data points from you all.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

Any ideas what an Indy shop would charge to replace all the rubber stuff? Curious to hear any data points from you all.

Probably depends on your brand choice. Strongly recommend replacing with OEM. It'll be a little more money but worth it in the long run. I don't remember how much it was for my hoses and serpentine belt replacement.

 

[Rednexus]

Thanks for the reply. Good to know on the dash. Is the issue with these models simply cosmetic or is it unsafe? Know what Lexus sells them for?

Dash issues are cosmetic only. I got mine for $600 on sale.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Maintaining and repairing a 20 year old car can be expensive especially if you take it to a shop to do all the work. Just keep that in mind.

Some of the bigger items that could go bad are the integrated catalytic converters, master brake cylinder, cooling system (timing belt, water pump, radiator, hoses, pulleys, thermostat, cap, etc). And there’s so many bushings in the UCAs, LCAs, sway bars, end links, rear control arms, pan hard bar, shocks, etc…

And the worst part for me is that when I replace bushings…I’m upgrading those parts for moderately difficult off-roading (like Total Chaos UCAs, Apache Offroad rear upper/lower links, long travel rear shocks, Nolathane HD rear sway bar, OCD extended rear sway bar end links,…you get the point.

And then there’s the cosmetic stuff that I didn’t have to repair, but I did. Like leather re-upholstery for the front seats, like a new dashboard, like new oem sport headlight housings, like the outside window mouldings, like the wheels and tires, like speakers, and more.

So, I’ll never be selling mine because I have so much time and money dumped into it. I would rather part it out when the time comes! But I’m looking forward to another 8 years of ownership. I bought it in 2017.

Just know that you could potentially go down a rabbit hole!

 

[Rednexus]

@HomersCanyonero makes great points - even at 78K, these rigs are going to need work. You're just getting what is probably going to be a better and cleaner example. Including the purchase price, I've put well over $20K into my GX470, which I purchased for $10,700 in 2020 with 135K on it (It's not at 190K). Around $5K of that money is mechanical repairs/maintenance, the rest are cosmetic repairs (seats, dash, etc), along with mechanical modifications and upgrades. I've done (and will keep doing) all of the work on the rig myself. Had I taken it to a shop, my $20K would have easily turned into $30K.

It's a labor of love to own one or these rigs. But, once you have it totally dialed and gone through, they are amazing vehicles. I took mine to CO last year - this year it's going to WY and MT towing a camper. I use it as a work truck for pulling trailers etc. all the time, and it literally turns heads on a regular basis. These are (in my biased opinion), probably the best all-around SUV ever made, and definitely one of the best-looking, and among the most reliable. But, that does not mean they are cheap to own .

 

[TexasHusker]

I have the opportunity to get an ‘05 GX470 with 78,xxx miles for right around $10k. Haven’t put my eyes on it yet but from pictures looks like some faded paint, no rust, cracked dash. Don’t have much info yet on service history so assuming I’d have some serious base lining to do. I’ve been out of the 100 series and GX market for a few years…so looking for some advise from the community.

Is this a “run don’t walk, take cash and go buy it tomorrow, why are you even questioning it” situation OR “ehh you better check it out thoroughly and proceed with caution”??? My gut says, go buy it even if I don’t any info about service history.

Thanks!

That's a bargain. Buy it.

 

[Sixto Lezcano]

Unless it’s really rusty or has something else horribly wrong (water damage, reeks like Marlboros, grandpa gold color, etc) you should buy it. You could flip it quick for a good profit if you don’t like it.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

@HomersCanyonero makes great points - even at 78K, these rigs are going to need work. You're just getting what is probably going to be a better and cleaner example. Including the purchase price, I've put well over $20K into my GX470, which I purchased for $10,700 in 2020 with 135K on it (It's not at 190K). Around $5K of that money is mechanical repairs/maintenance, the rest are cosmetic repairs (seats, dash, etc), along with mechanical modifications and upgrades. I've done (and will keep doing) all of the work on the rig myself. Had I taken it to a shop, my $20K would have easily turned into $30K.

It's a labor of love to own one or these rigs. But, once you have it totally dialed and gone through, they are amazing vehicles. I took mine to CO last year - this year it's going to WY and MT towing a camper. I use it as a work truck for pulling trailers etc. all the time, and it literally turns heads on a regular basis. These are (in my biased opinion), probably the best all-around SUV ever made, and definitely one of the best-looking, and among the most reliable. But, that does not mean they are cheap to own .

Yeah…labor of love. That’s one way to describe it. And it does feel good when this thing purrs like a well oiled machine and it takes you remote places here in the West!

 

[zzyzx85]

be wary of odometer roll back because I have read that is a thing with these

 

[dstewart3ss]

All this feedback is awesome, thank you. I saw it yesterday, planning to buy it today.

It needs a really good detail deep clean and probably some clear coat work to get the exterior really clean like I want it. Dash is cracking but not terrible. All the power stuff works like it should. It’ll need new tires real soon.

A grandma has had it so it’s just been driven around town to church for the last 13 years. With that said, they’ve basically only done oil changes and the grandson says they replaced the front shocks. I think they may have unknowingly changed them to coils - the OFF light is flashing at the height of the adjustment part of the dash and it doesn’t respond to raising or lowering.

The truck rides nice, feels solid, no leaks, smells.

I’m gonna get it right into my indy to look over thoroughly and give it a thorough inspection. I plan on getting it appropriately baselined.

Will share a few pics and more details once it’s mine. I look forward to learning from and contributing to this forum!