GX470 Owner Looking for LX570

[Heckraiser]

Around $25,000-$30,000 for a LX570 with 120-200k seems to be a common price point for these, and the best value IMO. Add $5,000 if you want a Toyota instead of a Lexus. But I agree that the Lexus is the superior tow rig (AHC). Get a truck from the south or west and then treat it with woolwax or fluidfilm or whatever twice a winter. Don't be that guy who drags a pristine rust-free cruiser up north only to ruin it!

Maintenance "gotchas" are pretty limited and all the common ones have been mentioned in this thread. Starter is a biotch on this truck, do it pre-emptively on your own schedule FTW.

Also if you're cross-shopping GX460, don't. IMO your old 470 is a better all around vehicle and actually has a better power/weight ratio than the 460. 460 will not be an upgrade for your camper-haulin' family.

 

[jonshonda]

Just a thought, but you can undercoat your truck in the north and pay for unlimited car washes??? Mine has both and very little rust at 130,000 in WI……NHOU is very good!

I will certainly undercoat it yearly once I find a nice clean example from the south. So many car washes locally have gone away from full under carriage washes now, and just do the rockers. Honestly I think if you undercoat that each time you wash it you are washing away some of the undercoat, so excessive washes might do more harm then good? Just a thought, no proof.

 

[jonshonda]

Around $25,000-$30,000 for a LX570 with 120-200k seems to be a common price point for these, and the best value IMO. Add $5,000 if you want a Toyota instead of a Lexus. But I agree that the Lexus is the superior tow rig (AHC). Get a truck from the south or west and then treat it with woolwax or fluidfilm or whatever twice a winter. Don't be that guy who drags a pristine rust-free cruiser up north only to ruin it!

Maintenance "gotchas" are pretty limited and all the common ones have been mentioned in this thread. Starter is a biotch on this truck, do it pre-emptively on your own schedule FTW.

Also if you're cross-shopping GX460, don't. IMO your old 470 is a better all around vehicle and actually has a better power/weight ratio than the 460. 460 will not be an upgrade for your camper-haulin' family.

Yeah my wife is struggling with the cost of the LX570 at that age with that range of mileage, but I agree that the price is best in that mileage range. I'm on par with even the most anal preventative maintenance user on Ih8, and understand that either you fork over the money to buy new, or you invest money in used. haha

Can you elaborate on why you think the 470 is superior to the 460? I'm all ears as a local guy I spoke with that has had both says the GX is much better for a dd basis, but I don't know that he tows much.

 

[TeCKis300]

Yeah my wife is struggling with the cost of the LX570 at that age with that range of mileage, but I agree that the price is best in that mileage range. I'm on par with even the most anal preventative maintenance user on Ih8, and understand that either you fork over the money to buy new, or you invest money in used. haha

Can you elaborate on why you think the 470 is superior to the 460? I'm all ears as a local guy I spoke with that has had both says the GX is much better for a dd basis, but I don't know that he tows much.

I can't answer for the GX460 vs GX470. If you have inklings to tow a larger camper, I would highly encourage a 200-series. Interestingly, coming from the Airstream forums, the GX and 4Runner sisters are notably not great for towing travel trailers. They're rated pretty generously but they can be more sensitive to stability if not setup right on account of softer long travel suspensions. It's also a combination of narrower track, wheelbase, and longer rear overhangs that can be a liability with longer travel trailers. It would be important to augment them with airbags if they don't have factory rear air, for better support. Also being particular about properly setting up WD the hitch. This sentiments actually comes from CanAmRV which has setup thousands of tow rigs over decades.

 

[Heckraiser]

Yeah my wife is struggling with the cost of the LX570 at that age with that range of mileage, but I agree that the price is best in that mileage range. I'm on par with even the most anal preventative maintenance user on Ih8, and understand that either you fork over the money to buy new, or you invest money in used. haha

Can you elaborate on why you think the 470 is superior to the 460? I'm all ears as a local guy I spoke with that has had both says the GX is much better for a dd basis, but I don't know that he tows much.

GX460 adds A LOT of weight over the GX470. A a stock '05+ vvti 470 has a better power to weight ratio than a 460, despite the extra 38 horsepower... that's how heavy it is. And what really matters for towing, torque, is pretty much unchanged, but peak torque in the 460 is higher in the powerband (not good for truck stuff). Interior space is not much different, but the 460 cargo space is worse because of the high cargo deck/in-floor 3rd row seats.

The GX460 is a beautifully designed truck, and an awesome daily driver and *small* family campster. The suspension is sublime-no other word can describe it. But its too wimpy for towing anything bigger than your basic travel trailer. The 200, by comparison, will completely shrug off a heavy camper even with 35" tires and stock gears. The difference in towing power is night and day. If you're packing 2 kids and 2 dogs in, you'll definitely appreciate the added interior space as well. I mockingly/lovingly call mine "the minivan" for this reason

 

[jonshonda]

Found a 13 LX w/ 120k zero rust underneath (GA MD vehicle), a few small scratches. But the previous owners did every single lexus service on time. It just had a water pump, ahc flush, 5 new Michelin LTX tires, etc. All diff services, etc. Never any customer deferred notes. After taxes and fees it would be $35k. Not a steal but by far the best service records I have seen on roughly 20 that I have looked at.

 

[bicycleagent003]

Found a 13 LX w/ 120k zero rust underneath (GA MD vehicle), a few small scratches. But the previous owners did every single lexus service on time. It just had a water pump, ahc flush, 5 new Michelin LTX tires, etc. All diff services, etc. Never any customer deferred notes. After taxes and fees it would be $35k. Not a steal but by far the best service records I have seen on roughly 20 that I have looked at.

So did you snap it up? Let's see the pics. I'm hoping to get into a 200 Series in the next year or two. Currently saving for the purchase.

 

[Heckraiser]

Found a 13 LX w/ 120k zero rust underneath (GA MD vehicle), a few small scratches. But the previous owners did every single lexus service on time. It just had a water pump, ahc flush, 5 new Michelin LTX tires, etc. All diff services, etc. Never any customer deferred notes. After taxes and fees it would be $35k. Not a steal but by far the best service records I have seen on roughly 20 that I have looked at.

Service records, year and mileage all add up to a solid deal. Top of budget, but this sounds like the one to me.

 

[Nothinghead]

I came from a 2005 GX to 2017 LX and tow a 5,000 lb airstream with two kids and a dog. The GX is a more sporty drive as a DD and gets better MPG with LT285/70R17 (33”) tires and 2” lift. It towed fine even over 10,000 foot passes but I always felt the trailer there, mostly due to the soft and flexible suspension. WDH and brake setup are crucial.

We just finished our first camping trip with the LX and same trailer. This LX has LT295/70R18 (34”) tires but no other mods. Aside from worse MPG, I never noticed the trailer was there. Inside is roomier and obviously more modern. Personally, I like GX more as it was much cheaper, more engaging to drive and otherwise adequate for my needs (plus I put 100,000 miles on it). The LX is better for everyone else. AHC is a game changer for towing stability and still having a capable off-roader. If I could have the turbo diesel with AHC, that would be perfect.

I agree with the above to avoid the 460. They’re too heavy and engine isn’t as good for towing as the 470 (based on numbers and my buddy who has a 460).

Whatever LX you get, make sure to baseline change all of the fluids and stay on top of that maintenance and you’ll likely have years and years of trouble free use.

 

[jonshonda]

Service records, year and mileage all add up to a solid deal. Top of budget, but this sounds like the one to me.

Yeah I agree. New radiator within the last 2 years as well. Diffs, coolant, brake fluid, ahc fluid, trans fluid all within the last 3 years. Lots of them out there with very little service records.