Lc100 vs Gx470

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future1

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Dec 23, 2016
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This will be my wife's daily driver with our two boys, 2/5 years old. Light off road, lake, wash roads and snow.

I would prefer a 100 series for the looks and size, but in searching the last two months getting frustrated with the poor selection. Near by a local Toyota dealer has a 2000 LC with 257k miles. Local 1 owner, but does have a small accident indicator on carfax. Very little maintenance info on toyota owners site and carfax. The dealer says timing belt does not need to be replaced but cannot confirm when it was last replaced.

The good, they are replacing the rear brakes, resurfacing rotors, replace battery, replace hood shocks, replace cv axle boot, replace valve cover gasket, and 4 new tires.

Cost for the cruiser is $7000

On the other hand I know I can get a GX 2004-2006 with about half the miles for probably 11-14k. Like the looks, but it's smaller and she hates the rear swing hatch.

Thoughts? Feedback?

IMG_8864.webp
 
I too prefer the Land Cruiser to the LX but there are more LX models out there and they typically are better cared for and have seen lighter duty. The law of numbers will bring more low mile Lexus versions than Land Cruisers. The LC you describe may be a very good weekend, trail, rig, but I would look for a newer LX or LC if my family were going to be riding in it everyday. The side curtain air bags and traction control/ABS features of the newer units are far superior to the older models. Your $mid teens budget should find you a newer 150k mile LC/LX that has been cared for or at least seen lighter (mall cruiser) duty. If you like the size of the GX then look for Limited trim level 4Runners which do not have the swing out door


NOTE: You may also consider a nice used Sienna for the Mom wagon and buy the lower priced LC you really want. A bit higher insurance for both rigs but you get two great vehicles.


RKTINC
 
Having driven both extensively I can say without a doubt the LC is the better vehicle. The size and swingout are more of an issue than you might think at first. The GX just seems poorly laid out for space efficiency. The LC's are simply built better as well. That being said, the GX will have considerably more pep being lighter with the 5-speed. The GX is a good vehicle, the LC is just darn near perfect.

However, for your subjective situation, I'll refrain from giving input. LC's can run forever if they are well maintained, but who knows on that one. Objectively the LC is a better vehicle.
 
You should be able to easily find LX470's with 140k for $13k-15k if you're willing to drive/fly to get one. Just be sure to get one that hasn't spent time in the rust belt.
 
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Wife prefers the LX/LC far more than the GX and I would agree. Was trying to talk myself into the GX I Guess because they are easier to come by and price vs Kelly blue book are more in line IMO. I just need to be patient for the right one to come around. I've expanded my search to a 500 mile radius.

With both boys still in car seats, forward facing, I can see the value of the side airbags and of course rear tethers for the car seats.
 
Consider the LX, there are many more of those compared to LC's and you just might find one with much lower mileage. There should be a few in the bay area - that's where mine came from a few years ago.
 
If plausible, I'd suggest expanding your search radius so you can find a better LC a little further away and make a family road trip out of it. Although your kids are pretty young, so maybe a solo roadtrip/with a buddy/etc.
 
future1 said:
Wife prefers the LX/LC far more than the GX and I would agree. Was trying to talk myself into the GX I Guess because they are easier to come by and price vs Kelly blue book are more in line IMO. I just need to be patient for the right one to come around. I've expanded my search to a 500 mile radius.

With both boys still in car seats, forward facing, I can see the value of the side airbags and of course rear tethers for the car seats.
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Beat me to it, good call expanding the search.
 
Yes ranked she likes the LX then the LC, but would be happy with both. California seems overpriced? Or is that just me being naive to these?
 
future1 said:
Yes ranked she likes the LX then the LC, but would be happy with both. California seems overpriced? Or is that just me being naive to these?
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Probably. Probably not dissimilar to the overpriced nature of cost of living in CA in general...
 
OP- my wife and I own both. She drives the GX and I drive a LX.

She loves the smaller size of the GX and feels more comfortable in traffic with it.

Offroad they are so similar suspension wise, other than weight they are the same.

You are on a 100 series forum so you may be getting some biased opinions.
 
I almost pulled the trigger on 3-4 from Cali, one in LA a few up in the bay area when I was looking earlier last year. Deals can be found in Cali too.
 
I realize most would be 100 series biased here, but that's ok as I prefer them ultimately. Would I be crazy to buy one from Texas or Florida sight unseen? Found a few deals over the last few weeks but got gun shy and they're gone now. I would just have the vehicle shipped back to CA.
 
future1 said:
This will be my wife's daily driver with our two boys, 2/5 years old. Light off road, lake, wash roads and snow.

I would prefer a 100 series for the looks and size, but in searching the last two months getting frustrated with the poor selection. Near by a local Toyota dealer has a 2000 LC with 257k miles. Local 1 owner, but does have a small accident indicator on carfax. Very little maintenance info on toyota owners site and carfax. The dealer says timing belt does not need to be replaced but cannot confirm when it was last replaced.

The good, they are replacing the rear brakes, resurfacing rotors, replace battery, replace hood shocks, replace cv axle boot, replace valve cover gasket, and 4 new tires.

Cost for the cruiser is $7000

On the other hand I know I can get a GX 2004-2006 with about half the miles for probably 11-14k. Like the looks, but it's smaller and she hates the rear swing hatch.

Thoughts? Feedback?

View attachment 1398496
Click to expand...

I have a 2000 LX470 with 195,000. It has been meticulously maintained, but I also do preventative maintenance. The LX is going to be more luxurious inside and have the AHC but have the same basic hardware outside. If you're looking at a LC or LX470 over or around 200,000 miles I would be weary/check for:
- Timing belt replacement (crucial to make sure has been done)
- Upper/Lower control arm replacement, and tie rods
- Power steering/rack replacement
- All fluids changed in correct intervals (differentials, transfer case, AHC, power steering, transmission, etc.)
- wheel bearings, CV boots have been replaced( if they haven't, lord knows they'll have to be.)

They are phenomenal cars that are overbuilt for how much normal people use them. With that, owners often neglect maintaining them, so do your due diligence and ask lots of questions.
 
I shopped the GX's when I bought my second 100 series. At 6'4", they were too small inside, width-wise. The third row seemed useless for actual humans. Once you've been in the LC/LX, it's hard to downsize.
 
I have both in the family. If the choice were between a 2000 LC and 2004-2006 GX, I for sure would pick the GX. If it were a 2003, or even 2006 LC, that would make the choice a bit tougher, and I personally would lean to the LC.

The older LC has some significant trade-offs. I would definitely give the reliability edge to the newer, lower mileage GX. The major LC advantage is in heavy duty use. DD use would give the edge to the GX as it's lighter, much much peppier, and nimble. Older LC's are lumbering. MPG edge also goes to the GX.

If interior creature comforts (other than size) are a factor, edge goes to GX (unless you get a LX). If you think in the future that the 3rd row may matter, they are close, with the LC being wider.
 
if you like the GX but hate the rear door etc you could just get the 4Runner of the same years. The Limiteds are fairly well equipped (not quite as nice as the GXs, but nice) and you can still get the awesome V8 and 5 speed auto tranny, and they have a traditional liftgate with roll down window!
 
I would echo what most have said. I searched in Cali for a LC, LX, and GX. Having a family with 2 young boys and a young girl, and knowing that I would be keeping the vehicle for a while, I couldn't go for the GX. That third seat is just a waste in the GX. It took me time, but I found an LC in SoCal with 150,000 miles on it, I just had to drive 5 hours round trip to get it. Unless it's urgent, take your time and get what you really want.
 
A bit more background, we down sized from a Tahoe to her current Jeep Grand Cherokee, which after about 18 months have decided is too small in about every dimension. We both prefer larger vehicles. Truly the reason I had opened up my search to GX was cost and availablity.
 
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