Experiences with swing away rear hatch on 120?

[chimyz]

My wife needs a new car and after searching, I think I fell in love with the new Lexus GX460. The only issue my wife has is with the useability and safety of the swingout rear door.

I was looking for comments, issues and general experiences from anyone with a Prado, GX470 or Toyota product with the swing out rear door.

Thanks in advance.

 

[LittleRock80]

In my experience it's a non-issue. It easily locks in place when on an incline and shuts very easy. I just wish there was a roll-down or flip up back glass. It would be more conveient than opening the whole door at times. I like the design more than a flip-up gate (that is if i can't have a tailgate like on my 80-series).

Justin

 

[uzj100]

We took the GX470 skiing this past weekend and the swing open was an issue from a dirt standpoint. The rear bumper was covered in nasty road grim and everytime we opened the door to change in and out of ski gear, the clothes had to be carefully placed over the bumper or everything would be nasty.

99% of the time it is a non issue and you can actually get much closer to the cargo area than the cruiser tailgate. My wife now wants a GX460 as well. Also, the rear glass opens on the 460 which will make it even more of non issue.

Please get one and post alot of pics!

Thanks,

uzj100

 

[chimyz]

Looks like my wife is leaning away from the GX, she went to the dealers and saw a LX570 and fell in love. It would be crazy having two of the same in the driveway, but one built and one luxury.

I just can't get her to accept the rear door on the gx, 4runner may be the way to go.

 

[uzj100]

LX570 is very nice.

 

[chimyz]

That's what she said. I told her to get that months ago but she kept saying no...until she saw one.

 

[4x4v8]

The door is no problem. It isnt heavy at all and swings easily.

 

[chimyz]

The problem is this would be a rig for my wife...hauling around two kids and a stroller with parallel parking and all, it could pose some interesting situations, also the comment of it making a great wind block but poor rain block coming from my wife couldn't be argued. I think the 4runner will be the next one to look at.

 

[4x4v8]

The problem is this would be a rig for my wife...hauling around two kids and a stroller with parallel parking and all, it could pose some interesting situations, also the comment of it making a great wind block but poor rain block coming from my wife couldn't be argued. I think the 4runner will be the next one to look at.

Parking shouldnt be an issue as they come with a rear camera. But having the hatch open upwards on my 4runner is nice when it is raining.

 

[lexwoody]

I have an 04 GX470 and the door swinging open is no problem at all. Dirt on the bumper, every one gets dirt on their bumpers. The new GX 460 has an pop up rear window and people wish that would had been a nice option for the GX470. The 470 and Prado has the 3rd row windows that pop out. The 4Runner's don't. Toyota, Lexus has a way of giving each of their vehicles a uquie Q's about them to make them different. As that being said, Prado 120 and 150 are the grand daddy of the GX, Fj, and 4Runner. Which in a way have Land Cruiser in thier gens. Now people can keep on and on about want they don't like or what would be a problem with having a GX. Don't buy one if you don't like it. Be like every one else and get a 4Runner. But, Lexus does take care of thier customer and Toyota don't. Try getting a loaner from toyota when it's time for service or warrenty items.

 

[80BajaBound]

My wife needs a new car and after searching, I think I fell in love with the new Lexus GX460.

Mine does too. I see you went the Audi direction. Essentially, I'll be going the opposite direction. We have a Touareg now and want some more space due to the growing family. I drove the GX460 today and loved it, naturally. The true test is if the can give up the "rocketship" as she likes to refer to it, for something a little more capable. I know she'll like the cooled seats!

 

[Makakio]

I'm not a fan and I miss the 4R's hatch and roll-down. Period. A tailgate would have been better. Pretty much anything would have been better. Stupid Lexus and their foreign RHD markets. If not for my wife this alone would have been a deal-killer for me.

 

[THEROK]

There are great design reasons why Lexus went with the barn door. There are pros/cons to both.

I love the barn door. It looks WAY cooler than the minivan hatch style!

 

[The Shoe]

Holy Thread resurrection!!! :LOL

 

[Makakio]

I'm still looking for the pros of a right-hinged barn door with fixed glass on an SUV. Please explain.

 

[GXO]

Pro: It comes with a GX attached

 

[patrickfinley]

I'm still looking for the pros of a right-hinged barn door with fixed glass on an SUV. Please explain.

In the rest of the world it has a big pro, there is a tire attached. The Prado comes with a tire mount. Unfortunately this is lost on the GX.

It's a nice thing to grab onto while climbing in and out of the 3rd row.

It has a nice little storage compartment on the door.

It's a negative if you're street parking and you need to open the door all the way with a car parked behind you. It can also get in the way of things you have sitting on the sidewalk you need to get access too. Other than this rare occurance, I don't see anything else that would be a major bother. I believe they considered changing it with the 150, however it would have lost part of it's identity.

As a side note, nothing beats the split tailgate on the LC's.

 

[therealdutch]

Pro: It comes with a GX attached

'zactly.

 

[BonnerBB]

Barn door opens when the GX is in the garage...

The hatch on my QX56 does not - well at least not without me worrying about it scratching the s*** out of the paint on it when I have to pop the automatic lift gear mechanism to stop it from going any further and resting it gently on the metal garage door.

 

[playdrv4me]

Funny, I mosied on over to the Prado forum from the 100 forum as I was curious to see how many threads down I would have to go before a post about that awful rear door came up. Sure enough, it was number 4 or 5 LOL.

My friend's parents had both a 2003 LX and a 2004 GX. The GX was purchased after his stepdad's phenomenal experience with his LX (it now has 320,000 miles) for my friend's Mom. The GX was an absolute disaster. Lots of electrical issues (this is probably not common) but her number one complaint has been that damn door. Especially after parallel parking in front of other tall vehicles.

It's a good thing they added the window option to the U.S. model for the new GX, as I do know several current or former GX owners who got very frustrated with it. As for his Mom, she has moved on to a 2011 QX56 and absolutely loves it, as do the kids.

In other words, while it may not be as bad as some people make it out to be, if you have a Wife and/or Children that will be constantly in and out of this thing, it *is* a consideration that needs to be taken into account.