Considering the GX470, cost of ownership, purchasing advice

[Hoosier Daddy]

Don't over-think it. Buy the truck with the best condition and best maintenance history, at the best price you can afford. Frankly, I think all this stuff about horsepower, air pumps, navigation, and so on is mostly just internet masturbation. Those things will affect your ownership experience far less than finding a truck that hasn't been neglected or abused. All years of GX are good. Mark Levinson isn't high end but it isn't bad, and they don't go bad often. Nav is truly terrible, but who doesn't have nav on their phone these days?

KDSS may be the exception though. It can be wonderful, but you have to decide if you really want or need it.

You're welcome to drive my truck if you want to compare between years and options.

 

[BlackCat]

Don't over-think it. Buy the truck with the best condition and best maintenance history, at the best price you can afford. Frankly, I think all this stuff about horsepower, air pumps, navigation, and so on is mostly just internet masturbation. Those things will affect your ownership experience far less than finding a truck that hasn't been neglected or abused. All years of GX are good. Mark Levinson isn't high end but it isn't bad, and they don't go bad often. Nav is truly terrible, but who doesn't have nav on their phone these days?

KDSS may be the exception though. It can be wonderful, but you have to decide if you really want or need it.

You're welcome to drive my truck if you want to compare between years and options.

Unless you're often places where you don't have cell service like I am, an aftermarket nav unit would be EXTREMEMLY beneficial to me. It's all in how the truck will get used.

 

[kbahus]

Most of the speakers in my ML system are blown, the surrounds deteriorate and crack to pieces. It's nearly impossible to replace without spending mega money on new speakers that suck just as bad, just do a google search about rattling ML speakers in the Lexus vehicles with ML. Nothing detracts from the Lexus experience more than getting in my GX and turning up the radio to drown out the ticking exhaust manifolds only to have speakers that rattle because the surrounds have all disintegrated. 1st world problems, but avoid it if you can!

 

[Springs505]

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.

Yep. It is a change to the way power was measured at the time...not a change in performance.

Most of the speakers in my ML system are blown, the surrounds deteriorate and crack to pieces. It's nearly impossible to replace without spending mega money on new speakers that suck just as bad, just do a google search about rattling ML speakers in the Lexus vehicles with ML. Nothing detracts from the Lexus experience more than getting in my GX and turning up the radio to drown out the ticking exhaust manifolds only to have speakers that rattle because the surrounds have all disintegrated. 1st world problems, but avoid it if you can!

Yeah. I found the issue with speaker surrounds, and it's definitely something I want to avoid. I would guess this is worse with trucks parked outside or in hot climates.

 

[kbahus]

I do complain a lot but the bottom line is the GX470 is a really amazing truck, you will love it. Hold out for the right one!

 

[JLee]

Yep. It is a change to the way power was measured at the time...not a change in performance.



Yeah. I found the issue with speaker surrounds, and it's definitely something I want to avoid. I would guess this is worse with trucks parked outside or in hot climates.

Mine was fine, but I had an '07 and it was from Albuquerque, so I'm not sure how well it'd have done if it was in Phoenix its whole life. You can buy repair kits for the speaker surrounds for ML audio, though, which may be worth considering if you do find the right truck but it has ML.

 

[GXO]

I put in a speaker that is about 300x better than the best ML setup and it was under 2200. Sorry, I spent almost 2x that amount on my FRONT suspension components, so as a proportion to the build, and the joy it brings me, it was entirely worth the non-nav hunt.

 

[afraptor22]

I put in a speaker that is about 300x better than the best ML setup and it was under 2200. Sorry, I spent almost 2x that amount on my FRONT suspension components, so as a proportion to the build, and the joy it brings me, it was entirely worth the non-nav hunt.

Agree. I got an 06 with more mileage than I wanted, but no nav. The HVAC controls are tied to the navigation display so you are tied to the nav system if you have it. Mileage shouldn't be a problem, the GX uses parts common to several very popular Toyota vehicles and I've never had an issue finding reasonably priced wear items. I don't have KDSS, but with a mild lift like coilovers and FJ springs you should be OK with KDSS. The air ride is only half the system from the LX...so don't feel bad about ripping it out. We are both happy with the GX, my wife drives it about 10mi a day and it's our weekend family wagon. Gas mileage around town is not good, but highway is ok even with a lift, tires and a kayak on the roof.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Unless you're often places where you don't have cell service like I am, an aftermarket nav unit would be EXTREMEMLY beneficial to me. It's all in how the truck will get used.

The good news is that you can now preload Google's maps into your phone so no cell service is needed for nav.

 

[co4wheel]

The good news is that you can now preload Google's maps into your phone so no cell service is needed for nav.

I didn't know you coul do that with Google. Cool.
You can do the same in Gaia maps and have topo/trail/etc maps. It's great.

 

[GXO]

I have 4 GPS programs in my dash mounted ipad. Awesome

 

[NMBruce]

which programs and do you like one better than another?

 

[JLee]

Unless you're often places where you don't have cell service like I am, an aftermarket nav unit would be EXTREMEMLY beneficial to me. It's all in how the truck will get used.

You can cache Google Maps for offline use - I brought a Nexus 7 tablet with me on my last trip and it was fantastic when paired with a Delorme atlas.

Edit: I'm late to the party, it seems.

 

[co4wheel]

If I pair my non GPS I pad to my Cell phone will it have GPS through my phone. I have a I Pad that is WiFi only so its useless for GPS unless I can do this in some fashion

 

[NMBruce]

You can cache Google Maps for offline use - I brought a Nexus 7 tablet with me on my last trip and it was fantastic when paired with a Delorme atlas.

Edit: I'm late to the party, it seems.

Google maps are great, love them, but I have found a few places where they do not show a complete road in the mountains, like Stoney Pass road, FR 520 from Hwy 149 north of Creede CO, it should go to the top on Stoney Pass and then turn into FR737(?) and into Silverton via CR2, but it stops way short of the pass.

Looks like they fixed Engineer pass road

Google Maps

 

[NMBruce]

If I pair my non GPS I pad to my Cell phone will it have GPS through my phone. I have a I Pad that is WiFi only so its useless for GPS unless I can do this in some fashion

you could also do a bad-elf gps Plug-in GPS

there are just too many places out here where you can not connect with a cell phone.

 

[JLee]

Google maps are great, love them, but I have found a few places where they do not show a complete road in the mountains, like Stoney Pass road, FR 520 from Hwy 149 north of Creede CO, it should go to the top on Stoney Pass and then turn into FR737(?) and into Silverton via CR2, but it stops way short of the pass.

Looks like they fixed Engineer pass road

Google Maps

Hence pairing with an atlas. Even then we found stuff that didn't line up with Google and/or the atlas, but it worked well enough where we were. I am planning on exploring Colorado next spring, so that is good to know.

 

[BlackCat]

The good news is that you can now preload Google's maps into your phone so no cell service is needed for nav.

Seriously? That flipping rules!

 

[Springs505]

Insurance company just towed away our highlander, so the search is on now for sure. Thanks everyone for the good advice!

We drove a pretty nice 05 tonight, and checked out a pretty rough 06. I have noticed that around here (CO), it seems like these are being sold at a premium, with asking prices a few grand above kelly blue book. The 05 was very clean, but with a cracked windshield and slight exhaust leak, and they were firm on the price at ~1500 over book. It that normal for the GX? It seems to be the norm for the 80 series, for instance.

Also, I have used preloaded google maps n my phone with mixed luck. sometimes I have gone outside of the area that I had saved and sometimes I find that I did not save the level of detail I needed ahead of time. I have also used the pdf maps app. I find pdf maps is a good way to navigate on forest service land since you can see your position right on the the forest service motor vehicle use maps. Otherwise, pdf maps is not very useful. I have been kicking around the idea of installing an android double din head unit in the 80 to add built-in gps capability and to be able to add a back up camera. I might do the same in the future GX, too.

 

[co4wheel]

Insurance company just towed away our highlander, so the search is on now for sure. Thanks everyone for the good advice!

We drove a pretty nice 05 tonight, and checked out a pretty rough 06. I have noticed that around here (CO), it seems like these are being sold at a premium, with asking prices a few grand above kelly blue book. The 05 was very clean, but with a cracked windshield and slight exhaust leak, and they were firm on the price at ~1500 over book. It that normal for the GX? It seems to be the norm for the 80 series, for instance.

Very true. Over book is normal. I looked for months for a low mileage with good interior. Cared about interior more then exterior as I new I was hitting trails. I was unwilling to use my time out of state.
Let me know if you need anything.