Considering the GX470, cost of ownership, purchasing advice

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Springs505

Springs505

10 Year
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Threads
23
Messages
892
Location
CO
Hi Everyone,

After a recent hail storm damaged 2 of our 3 cars (my 80 is safe ;)), my wife and I are suddenly shopping for a new vehicle. We had plans for a new 4runner, but we need to get something older for now. We looked at some 4th gen 4runners, but the ergonomics aren't great for us: we are tall and I am picky about seating. So, we are looking at closely at the GX, which seems to be much better in these areas.

Currently, my wife would use the truck for a short daily commute and the family would use it for vacations, camping, light towing, road trips, etc. If I end up buying a GX, we may get my wife something newer in a couple years and I may make this my off road/expo rig.

I would love to hear any advice you can give on shopping for these trucks. I have been researching a lot in the past few days, but there is a lot to take in. My questions:
  1. It seems like 2005-2006 are the sweet years: more power than earlier years, but no premium fuel requirement. Is this right?
  2. I would like to have a loaded truck with Mark Levinson and Navigation. I worry that this could come back to haunt me if anything fails. Any thoughts?
  3. KDSS: Is this something to avoid? My impression is that it is a great and reliable feature, but may cause problems if I plan to lift the truck later on.
  4. We are targeting trucks in the ~100k mile range. My thinking is to get the cleanest truck we can afford first and lower mileage second. Should I be afraid of higher mileage?
  5. I know it's critical to replace the timing belt at 90k intervals. Are there any other special maintenance items I should be aware of?

Thanks for any advice you can give!
 
The 05 and up had the vvti change but I'm not sure the hp increase and that wasn't a deciding factor for me.


You'll find a lot of people don't like the navigation with mark levinson sound due to the fact that you can't swap anything out. I really didn't care because I've previously owned vehicles I've replaced the entire system and spent thousands so I didn't want that at this time.

Mine came with KDSS but I will be "unplugging" it so to speak and removing the sway bars. Many people lift with the KDSS so a mild lift will be just fine.

These motors run forever. I would not be scared of mileage.

The brakes wear fast but other than that I can't think of anything else I've had to deal with other than maintenance items every car needs.
 
Gx4sevend said:
You'll find a lot of people don't like the navigation with mark levinson sound due to the fact that you can't swap anything out.
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Yes, that is my concern with ML/nav: it stops working and I have to pay big money to replace with identical outdated technology...OR, I want to upgrade and I am not able to do so.

Thanks!
 
Exactly just get a well maintained one without Nav and you will be good to go.
I had to settle for tan interior but Low miles (85K), well maintained (Full Lexus maintenance every 5k), and No Nav checked off three of my four criteria so I pulled the trigger.
Oh and the dealer replacing the Timing belt & water pump was just icing on the cake.
 
Mark Levinson sucks as well as the factory navigation, I would avoid these options at all costs.

Be sure to cold start the truck and make sure the exhaust manifolds are not cracked and tick. Timing belt is a plus, but it shouldn't be a deal killer on the right rig. Watch for the transfer case leak, CV boots, drivetrain clunk, cracked dash (recalled) and log into the Lexus owner's website with the vin and check all of it's dealer history.

I own an 03 and an 04 and am happy with both. One has 196k and the other has 242k, mileage is no problem!
 
kbahus said:
Mark Levinson sucks as well as the factory navigation, I would avoid these options at all costs.

Be sure to cold start the truck and make sure the exhaust manifolds are not cracked and tick. Timing belt is a plus, but it shouldn't be a deal killer on the right rig. Watch for the transfer case leak, CV boots, drivetrain clunk, cracked dash (recalled) and log into the Lexus owner's website with the vin and check all of it's dealer history.

I own an 03 and an 04 and am happy with both. One has 196k and the other has 242k, mileage is no problem!
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Thanks for the advice. I would have not thought of the exhaust manifold or known it had been a problem.

If I'm looking at 05/06 trucks, the 10 year limitation for the cracked dash warranty has run up and I would have to pony up if it happens. I will be asking or trying to find out if this repair has already been done as I shop.
 
And the ticking from the manifold is s pretty common issue and I think it's every year not just specific ones but u could be wrong. It's an annoyance more than anything
 
Get a Non-Nav. Clean. Don't worry about the 04 vs 05+ thing. The O5+ crowd has issues that the 04 does not. Non are a huge deal. But neither is the power increase on the 05+ It's only up top and is weaker down low. Not enough to matter but either way not a big deal. Drive a 04 and 05+ but don't assume the 05 is a ton better. But most importantly. Get the non nav.
 
I guess I'm the odd man out. I don't mind the navigation. I'm way past the spending thousands on audio.

I also bought mine below wholesale book when I bought it and it only had 78k on it. So nav or no nav held little importance to me
 
co4wheel said:
I would be ok with NAV if you could promise me it won't break. Seems way to complicated for me to trust.
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My thinking, too. I want to have the nav and.premium sound that comes with it, but if it breaks, it sounds like people have a hard time fixing it.
co4wheel said:
That hail storm he sucked bad. Really put a beat down on a lot of vehicles.
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Yep. We have a totaled corolla and highlander. Luckily, both insured full coverage.
 
co4wheel said:
Get a Non-Nav. Clean. Don't worry about the 04 vs 05+ thing. The O5+ crowd has issues that the 04 does not. Non are a huge deal. But neither is the power increase on the 05+ It's only up top and is weaker down low. Not enough to matter but either way not a big deal. Drive a 04 and 05+ but don't assume the 05 is a ton better. But most importantly. Get the non nav.
Click to expand...

The advantage of VVTi is to vary valve timing throughout the rev range...how is the non-VVTi motor weaker down low? What I've read indicates the opposite.
 
Springs505 said:
My thinking, too. I want to have the nav and.premium sound that comes with it, but if it breaks, it sounds like people have a hard time fixing it.


Yep. We have a totaled corolla and highlander. Luckily, both insured full coverage.
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There's nothing "premium" about ML sound. The Nav sucks, the stereo sucks, and you're much better off with a non Nav since you can have a system that's completely relevant and light years ahead of the factory crap for less than $1000. I've blown 2 door speakers and the sub in my truck, and I don't listen to loud music. Also keep in mind the ML stuff is 8ohm, so aftermarket replacement options are hard to come by for speakers.

My opinion, which has been questioned here time and time again, is get an 03-04. No VVTi, no secondary air emissions crap, no recommendation for premium fuel, etc. no tire monitoring system on the 03's, which I'm really glad about. I ask a lot from my truck when I actually drive it. It takes me miles and miles and miles from the beaten path, and in my mind, at least for MY purposes, simplicity is better. Yes, there are cheap band aids and bypasses for most of the concerns I have with the 05-09's, but if you're going to eventually bypass them anyways, might as well start out with a platform that simply doesn't have them in the first place. Would I buy an 05-09 if the deal was great? Absolutely, they're ALL great trucks. It's just what I prefer.
 
I gotta agree, get what gives you the best deal. I was open to all of them and ended up with an 06, I thought a great deal for $15K and 112K miles. I have the by-pass for the secondary air pump and I run reg gas with no problem and to me, no change in power to me. I have the non nav and have now installed a Kenwood stereo/nav system.

So far my maintenance has been oil changes, front brake pads, changing out transmission oil, power steering fluid and thats about it. I got a GX that was serviced by a dealer for everything the manual called for. Counting tires ($1500.00) and the by-pass ($175.00), I have another $2000 invested for driving it 15K miles. Now I have put $6000.00 into this GX since getting it, Tires, wheels, lift, suspension, alignments, skids, transmission & PS flush, oil changes, air filter, wiper blades.
 
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co4wheel said:
I think your right in the GX. I was looking at my old tundra.


Oops. I was comparing it to my 06 Tundra that had less to on paper then all if them.
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Keep in mind the SAE power ratings changed for 2006. A 2005 GX470 is rated at 270/330 and a 2006 is rated at 263/323, but it's the same drivetrain.
 
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