Anyone ever consider downsizing to 1st Gen GX/120?

[foeix]

Sold a unicorn KDSS Non-Nav Sport GX470 when I found my 200.

The GX is interesting but the fit and finish is so-so, leather is terrible, cockpit was rattly and the swing open door was dumb.

I don't find the 200 to drive and larger although it has much more car cargo space. Fuel mileage is nearly the same.

My 200 w/ 172K on the clock is much tighter all around than the GX470 w/ 90K miles.

 

[sickspeed]

Like others have said, your fuel economy really won't improve with the GX but they certainly are a better value proposition. The 460 at least has a two piece rear hatch which helps lessen the peculiarity of the side swing rear door, the glass opens separate from the door. I don't believe the GX470 had this. A 4Runner with the new 3.5 from the Tacoma would temp me out of my 200 but 2015+ Yukon/Tahoes are also tempting if you don't plan on much real offroad time.

 

[Angelo1]

We have a LS600hL, get one of those if you can. Sublime...

My buddy has that same LS. Great rear interior but the entire car outside and inside has no soul. It’s super smooth to drive and the executive rear seats are the better place to be but the car itself has no spirit. Test drive the new Panamera 4S and you’ll understand what I mean by “soul”.

 

[ryanCA]

My buddy has that same LS. Great rear interior but the entire car outside and inside has no soul. It’s super smooth to drive and the executive rear seats are the better place to be but the car itself has no spirit. Test drive the new Panamera 4S and you’ll understand what I mean by “soul”.

My 90 LS400 had no soul. 98 LS400 had no soul. LS430 had SOME soul. LS600hL has no soul either.

The LS is like a reliable wife. Does everything perfectly. When I need a mistress, I take my italian/british stuff out of the garage, which has a lot of soul, but lots of times leaves me stranded on side of the road, or costs more than a Coke Habit

Soul is great, depends how much you want to pay for it

 

[mcgaskins]

A 4Runner with the new 3.5 from the Tacoma would temp me out of my 200 but 2015+ Yukon/Tahoes are also tempting if you don't plan on much real offroad time.

Have you driven the Tacoma with new 3.5? I highly doubt that engine would tempt you away from the 200, and I have both in my driveway.

 

[ryanCA]

A 4Runner with the new 3.5 from the Tacoma would temp me out of my 200 .

I have a 17 Taco Pro 6MT. The 3.5L is the worst thing about it.....

 

[sickspeed]

Have you driven the Tacoma with new 3.5? I highly doubt that engine would tempt you away from the 200, and I have both in my driveway.

Yes. Don't get me wrong, I would miss the smoothness and power of the 200 but not the fuel economy. My issue is a little different. I really need a 3 row family hauler and I'm struggling to justify the 200 for that and daily commuting duty. I also really love the split tail gate.

 

[I6turbo]

...Like others have said, your fuel economy really won't improve with the GX...

Used in the same manner, I typically get just over 3 additional MPG with my GX vs. the LX 570 EXCEPT in steady state highway cruising at 65 MPH or lower. In that case, there's only about 1.5 MPG difference. The % improvement in MPG is significant, but only $500 or so over a typical year's driving.

 

[Angelo1]

My 90 LS400 had no soul. 98 LS400 had no soul. LS430 had SOME soul. LS600hL has no soul either.

The LS is like a reliable wife. Does everything perfectly. When I need a mistress, I take my italian/british stuff out of the garage, which has a lot of soul, but lots of times leaves me stranded on side of the road, or costs more than a Coke Habit

Soul is great, depends how much you want to pay for it

LMAO! Very well said.

 

[m3fan]

I finally scratched this itch and test drove a pretty much perfect example of a GX470 yesterday. Was at a BMW dealer that took it in on trade... from TEXAS. So, Texas car its whole life. This is a big deal since I'm smack dab in the Rust Belt. Undercarriage looked brand new. Truly amazing example, great recent service, apparently owned by a surgeon who had a bunch of cars. 89K on the clock.

Nice car, but couldn't do it. It was super smooth, had awesome steering feel and effort, great ride. I rocked a V8 4R for 10 years so all of that was familiar. But, didn't have the LC build quality and fit/finish for sure. So, here right in front of me was really the best GX I could possibly buy, ridding myself of LC payments but simply could not do it. LC is too special. So, case closed. I posted it in the GX classifieds as a non-affiliated referral since it really is a gem, just for somebody else.

 

[bloc]

and wish I had an M1 Abrams.

That is what the OP should buy.

I also considered an LS (430) for daily duty but the grandpa jokes from everyone I know would have got to me, as much as I’d pretend they didn’t.

So I bought something I’ve wanted for years.. a cheap e320 CDI. Getting it back to great mechanical condition has been the latest project. I love it.

I understand the argument for not wasting money if you aren’t going to drive the 200 often, but I see it as keeping the boring miles off it so it’ll last longer for more of the good miles. OR, increased value if I eventually get bored and sell it (unlikely. It was down for a week and a half with my starter adventure and I missed it a lot)

 

[99Cruiser]

We have a GX470, 100 series, and 200. The 200 gets driven the least. We take my wife's GX470 with the kids if driving around town. The 200 is our travel vehicle. It seems overkill for just driving a few miles around town. The 100 seems much more nimble even though it is almost same size as the 200. Also the 100 has better visibility.

 

[tommy854runner]

I have a very similar issue and felt crazy for thinking it. I rocked my 2001 LX470 for 8 years and should have never sold it. I was thinking I would fall in love with my 2014 LX570 like I was with my 470 but after owning mine for about 4 months but I don't think I ever will. I drive my 95 Bronco with a soft top more even though it's winter time! (gas mileage is about the same anyway!)
My mother in law has a pristine 2007 GX470 with 85k miles that I could probably buy pretty cheap and I could afford to buy bumpers/lift/wheels tires for what I put down on the 570. My wife has a yukon xl denali that is pretty much the road trip car so the LX doesn't even get to do that on the weekends. I am intoxicated with the power of the 570 but in Atlanta traffic hardly ever get to exploit it. Am I crazy for thinking of trading "down" for the GX???

 

[speyrod]

I would look to what is your goal. I can't say I love my 200 (LX) after a tree totaled my locked 80. But it serves its purpose well it's just a little too fancy and I needed to buy something in 18 for tax reasons. I bought it on the 12/31 and have put about 750 miles and that includes the 200+ to get it home. So it will take time to replace 16 years of 80 ownership.

I work out of the house or travel so as a DD its not too bad from the MPG or size. My needs were simple, something to tow the boat, and go hunting and fishing. Now I need to make it less of a mall cruiser and more cruiser.

My plan was reliable P/U and carrera or c7 cab/convert. and I still might head that direction but I'll keep the LX for a while.

If I need to make a road trip I have my wifes RX450H and E320 CDI for the road trips.

 

[Chrisleduc1]

Actually I think this is quite helpful input from all. I went out of my way for a 200 as well. It's been a long-time "dream" car. This winter may just be getting to me at this point. Sun was out and roads were dry today so I commuted in the M5 today. This "maybe I should downgrade" insanity seems to have possibly been temporary and fleeting.

The M is the problem, or rather, the M reveals the real problem. Your 200 needs one of these:


Mine is getting installed in (3) weeks.

 

[TeCKis300]

^That was a nicely done promo video. Hardware pr0n. Healthy amount of output too. Better save up for an LRA aux tank to pair with that.

Back to the topic. I have a few cars in my garage. Each car serves a different function. I'm not afraid to go too far into that niche to maximize competency across the fleet. Rather than each car be too much of a compromise coming to middle as just a good car, I want it to excel at what it brings to the table.

For my big car, I have the big 200. It's going to be the one that does heavy lifting, posh date nights, van duty for when relatives visit, and long trips. I considered the GX460/470 too. But I wanted more ability, more luxury, and more capacity so the 200 was the right answer.

For my fun car, I have a 911 Turbo. No question it excels at what it does. With even bigger turbos, injectors, and coilovers, its even more raw and fun. Still with a back seat to accommodate the whole family or kid drop off duty.

With those gas swillers, I needed a personal carbon offset program that we can pile miles on as a family and not feel guilty. So we have a RAV4EV as a runabout and no nonsense appliance. SUV body and EV drivetrain. Already 5 years since we've had it and only now does there exist other EV SUVs. It is as guilt free, trouble free, with incredible drivability around town with an EV drivetrain as it gets.

Maximum coverage and competency was the goal and I think I've done that. Perhaps that is a perspective that can help you @m3fan decide what is best for you.

 

[40Man]

I don't find the 200 to be very big at all. It really isn't much longer or wider than my 4R TBH. I think it parks really easy and the mileage is pretty decent. I've been averaging at 14.5 MPG this winter and my wife in our 4Runner has been averaging 16 (we both bump around 1 MPG on summer blend). Not a big enough difference to care. My Tundra was much harder to maneuver in parking garages and city streets.

I've assisted at accidents with small cars resulting in deaths. One accident the back seat and the passenger sitting in that seat was just destroyed and the passenger in the front seat was pinned (hit by a hydroplaning suburban). I personally like to transport my family in heavy SUVs, and was one of the main reasons I bought a LC. They seem to handle impacts amazingly well.

 

[SCbarber]

Before purchasing my 200, I looked at everything out there. Trucks, other SUVs, etc. They were all expensive and had issues with them. If I was spending the money, it was going to something realiable, and held its value. I love my LC and would not want to drive anything else, but that is just me.

 

[A10Driver]

No

 

[Tex68w]

We are looking forward to 200 ownership here in the coming weeks, it’s the only vehicle that we’ve both somewhat coveted for the past 3-4 years. After driving 3/4-ton and 1-ton diesel HD trucks for the better part of the last decade in no way will the 200 feel too big haha. If anything I am still getting used to how small and under powered our 4Runner is.

We are looking forward to owning a reliable, comfortable, powerful, and capable SUV, now if only it could be efficient too haha.