GX vs 4Runner - is GX too fancy for me?

[rstl99]

I've been looking for a good 4th Gen 4Runner or GX470 for a while now. Have looked at a few local ones, just missed out on a nice 2006 4Runner Sport (single owner low miles). An 06 GX470 is arriving soon at a local car lot so will take a look at that.

I test drove a 10 year old GX and a V6 4Runner back to back a couple of weeks ago from the same dealer. The GX felt so much smoother (ride, comfort, acceleration, quiet) than the 4Runner. Of course, there was also the V8 vx V6 which made the comparison a bit unfair.

10 year old is in my price point, and here in the N-E, still have hope of not being severely rusted through underneath.

My SUV's in the past have been rather spartan (60 and 80 Series Land Cruisers, Land Rovers) so I'm thinking that a GX might be a bit too "luxurious" for my taste. I have a cottage so am always hauling stuff to and from the city, and want to explore some of the backroads in the country. Part of me feels that a 4Runner with cloth seats would be more compatible for me (I also have a fairly large black dog). No kids, no family.

The other thing about the GX is that with the more sophisticated mechanicals and electricals (air suspension, navigation system), I tell myself it's just more stuff to go wrong and cost money in repairs, in a 10 year old vehicle.

Am I silly? Should I just go for a GX and treat myself to some luxury and comfort at my age (turning 60)?

 

[jclarke450]

If not now, when? The lexus is nicer, but that isn't a detractor. If you put a few things in place you can keep it in great condition and still haul around a big black dog with ease. I feel funny driving a Lexus sometimes. I too have been a toyota guy amd current tly h e an 80, 100, and 200 series also. Then I remember that virtually every part on this car has a toyota part number. It's a land cruiser prado!

I say go GX but I'm biased

 

[GXO]

You just cant see a stock GX the way I do. Right to left...stock, not stock. See how you can be happy in a GX?

 

[rstl99]

Well, if I was 40, maybe even 20 years younger, the one on the left would have some appeal to me, but at 60 the one on the right is looking better and better Easier to get in and out for one thing... And easier on the pocketbook (keep it stock).
Still I admire what some people do to their truck, you gotta spend your money somewhere I suppose

 

[GXO]

If you keep it stock I would suggest the GX460. Those things are silly nice. A GX is better stock that any toyota SUV outside of land cruiser, and the GX460 is just cooshie luxury mode.

 

[rstl99]

Yeah I'm sure the 460 is nice, but the used 470's are in the sweet spot for what I want to spend on one. 460's are newer and would likely be beyond what I am able/willing to pay. On a budget and I'm cheap!
Thanks anyway!

 

[NMBruce]

good luck on you decision. I went with the GX470 because I did want something a little nicer. I found one without the Nav system, so that more like the 4runner. I like cloth seats, much nice in the winter, but you could just put some seat covers on it. If you get the limited 4runner, then you have the same 4 wheel drive system. The GX470 is a 4runner with some nicer stuff, I like the way I sit up higher, the way it looks a little more boxy to the same year 4runner. The GX rides better, smoother, quieter, just a more refined SUV, but stock to stock will go everyplace you could go with the 4runner, haul the same stuff and tow more.

If you get a GX and gets dirty inside, but you doing what you want with it, why does it matter?

 

[rstl99]

Yeah when I test drove same year GX and 4R from the same car lot, the difference in ride quality was impressive (in the GX), though there was a bit of a wallowing feel to the GX (the air suspension I gather) that was a little disconcerting at first. The 4R felt more like a truck, and the V6 had a healthy roar when merging onto the freeway, whereas the GX was so smooth and silent.

For someone like me who won't be off-roading or needing the 4WD regularly (other than winter driving of course) I'm wondering if a non-limited 4R might be better - part-time 4x4. But it's not a big difference.

Yeah I'd prefer getting a GX without the nav. The one I test drove didn't have Nav, was quite nice, but I wasn't yet ready to buy and there was a bit of rust underneath that I wondered about. We'll see what the newly arriving GX is like...

oh yeah, as you say, it's our truck and we do what we want with it, and who cares. You can always clean it up when it comes time to resell, whenever that is.

I have some concern about cost associated with future failure in the GX air suspension in the back, but sounds like you can put in a spring kit for $400 if that were to happen, which would likely be the way I'd go.

Thanks.

 

[scparrish]

The GX also has a little more interior room which was a big thing to me.

 

[co4wheel]

You don't have to go crazy to have a nice truck that doesn't look like a sissy at the same time.

 

[BlackCat]

There's a LOT of us here that thrash our trucks off road. It's just as capable as a 4Runner, is a much nicer truck, and can be bought for roughly the same, if not less money. Seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[rstl99]

Well, I just went to test drive a 2011 4Runner this afternoon, and if I can get it for a good price, may go for it. It's got a more local ownership path (2 owners) than the 5 year older GX470 rolling into town any day, which has rather spotty ownership (started life in the US, moved up to Canada, seems to have had 2-3 owners up here).
SOmething to be said for a newer vehicle I suppose, and this 4Runner drove well, upgraded SR5 (leather interior, moonroof). I like the roll down rear window feature of the 4Runners.
And one small detail that I prefer the 4Runner over the GX470: a full-sized armrest cubby tray lid, as opposed to the thin armrests on the GX.
The 4Runner also wouldn't have problems fitting in my garage height-wise, whereas the GX would be nip and tuck.
I found this 5th gen 4Runner very room inside, including the back seat. And it's nice not to have the silly 3rd row seats hanging from the cargo sides as in the GX (I know, you can remove them, but still).
Do I sound like I'm sold on the 4Runner? Maybe I am, we'll see what the price says...
(Oh and this would be a private sale, so the sales tax is half of what it would be buying the GX through the dealer - 7% instead of 13% ouch!).

 

[BlackCat]

Well, I just went to test drive a 2011 4Runner this afternoon, and if I can get it for a good price, may go for it. It's got a more local ownership path (2 owners) than the 5 year older GX470 rolling into town any day, which has rather spotty ownership (started life in the US, moved up to Canada, seems to have had 2-3 owners up here).
SOmething to be said for a newer vehicle I suppose, and this 4Runner drove well, upgraded SR5 (leather interior, moonroof). I like the roll down rear window feature of the 4Runners.
And one small detail that I prefer the 4Runner over the GX470: a full-sized armrest cubby tray lid, as opposed to the thin armrests on the GX.
The 4Runner also wouldn't have problems fitting in my garage height-wise, whereas the GX would be nip and tuck.
I found this 5th gen 4Runner very room inside, including the back seat. And it's nice not to have the silly 3rd row seats hanging from the cargo sides as in the GX (I know, you can remove them, but still).
Do I sound like I'm sold on the 4Runner? Maybe I am, we'll see what the price says...
(Oh and this would be a private sale, so the sales tax is half of what it would be buying the GX through the dealer - 7% instead of 13% ouch!).

Ya, you're basically saying why you should not buy a GX, and why you should buy a 4Runner. Either are a good choice.

 

[rstl99]

Seller and I agreed on a pretty good price for that 2011 4Runner, so that settles it for me. 2 owner local truck, which I'm more comfortable with than an out of town GX with uncertain past. This 4Runner has leather moonroof roofracks and a V6, which will be plenty good enough for me (no towing, no huge family to carry). Look forward to closing the deal next week and start getting familiar with the rig and deciding which mods to start doing to it.
Thanks for all your thoughts on this 4R vs GX debate. Came down to best bang for my buck.

 

[NMBruce]

Congrats