Roadtest LX470

[Darkhorse]

I tested the 100 LX470 today, and it was a very interesting drive. My observations are as follows:
The drive on tarmac was very smooth and the vehicle was very powerfull.lso on the tarmac, the LX was rolling quite a bit from side to side , and I wondered wether I was experiencing the IFS..on no paved roads going up inclines, when the road surface was a bit rough, the vehicle started shaking which really surprised me...I thought the suspension would have absorbed that...it wasnt like there were rocks or holes in the ground, it was an unpaved road, little rough but not much... ...

 

[LXPearl]

What year LX? What was the active suspension setting (comfort, sport), speed, type of roads? Off road - AHC high? Lo gearing?

My LX takes gravel roads excellent, better than my LC did. Either 100 wallowed some in rough roads - they are very heavy vehicles. LX allows suspension control - Sport works well in off roading and heavy loads.

 

[Darkhorse]

No the setting was not on sport mode..Normal... the AHC height was middle...does your LX rattle alot in off road gravel conditions...I will post some photos I took today

 

[Dandon]

I tested the 100 LX470 today, and it was a very interesting drive. My observations are as follows:
The drive on tarmac was very smooth and the vehicle was very powerfull.lso on the tarmac, the LX was rolling quite a bit from side to side , and I wondered wether I was experiencing the IFS..on no paved roads going up inclines, when the road surface was a bit rough, the vehicle started shaking which really surprised me...I thought the suspension would have absorbed that...it wasnt like there were rocks or holes in the ground, it was an unpaved road, little rough but not much... ...

"Rolling quite a bit from side to side" sounds scary. IFS is supposed to have better on-road manners than SFA, so I don't think this is the cause. I regularly cruise at 150-160 km/h on speedway/highway, and I've never noticed such a thing, neither with the AT's nor with the original size tires.
While off-road I set the suspension to soft (confort), unless I'm driving faster than reasonable on very bumpy tracks. I feel it does a better job absorbing smaller bumps and general roughness. And I also set the AHC to high whenever speed allows.

 

[Darkhorse]

It may well be that the wheels need balancing..that is what the dealer says...lets put it like that...i didnt feel very comfortable going much past the 140 km/h mark...

"Rolling quite a bit from side to side" sounds scary. IFS is supposed to have better on-road manners than SFA, so I don't think this is the cause. I regularly cruise at 150-160 km/h on speedway/highway, and I've never noticed such a thing, neither with the AT's nor with the original size tires.
While off-road I set the suspension to soft (confort), unless I'm driving faster than reasonable on very bumpy tracks. I feel it does a better job absorbing smaller bumps and general roughness. And I also set the AHC to high whenever speed allows.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Make sure it doesn't have the Dunlop tires. They have a reputation of causing a bouncy ride as if they were unbalanced. It seems these problems were solved by replacing the tires w/ Michelin LTX's or Bridgestones. Then there's the issue if the dealer has the correct balancing machine/adapter.

 

[Darkhorse]

Thanks...so you recommend Michelin?Bridgestone...well if a dealer cant balance a wheel then he shoud be shot

Make sure it doesn't have the Dunlop tires. They have a reputation of causing a bouncy ride as if they were unbalanced. It seems these problems were solved by replacing the tires w/ Michelin LTX's or Bridgestones. Then there's the issue if the dealer has the correct balancing machine/adapter.

 

[LXPearl]

My LX feels very solid on gravel roads. On smooth gravel roads I use the normal setting and it does well through 50+ MPH (I rarely have opportunities on forest roads to go faster on the curves). On rough gravel roads I sometimes dial in more sport setting and be traveling a lot slower. For off road rocky conditions in 4Lo I have used sport (3 or 4) and AHC in Hi.

Michelin and Bridgestone tend to be better tires. The Dunlops on my LC did not wear even on the original alignment. At 18K, I took them to a master alignment tech I know at a dealership and he set it up so they ran relatively smooth and the additional wear was even. It had over 60K when I traded it and the tires still had enough tread to allow the dealer to certify it. Other than that tech, I have not found effective alignment techs at any dealership I have used anywhere else. Alignments are an art and the machines are tools. An average tech can set the alignment within the factory (typically very broad) specs, but a true alignment specialist can set the vehicle for how you drive it: such as the type & frequency of roads, loads, number of people, etc. If they do not ask you such questions, then do not expect a precise alignment.

 

[Darkhorse]

I received some comments that IFS tend to behave more shaky on rough roads then sfa...is that your experience?

My LX feels very solid on gravel roads. On smooth gravel roads I use the normal setting and it does well through 50+ MPH (I rarely have opportunities on forest roads to go faster on the curves). On rough gravel roads I sometimes dial in more sport setting and be traveling a lot slower. For off road rocky conditions in 4Lo I have used sport (3 or 4) and AHC in Hi.

Michelin and Bridgestone tend to be better tires. The Dunlops on my LC did not wear even on the original alignment. At 18K, I took them to a master alignment tech I know at a dealership and he set it up so they ran relatively smooth and the additional wear was even. It had over 60K when I traded it and the tires still had enough tread to allow the dealer to certify it. Other than that tech, I have not found effective alignment techs at any dealership I have used anywhere else. Alignments are an art and the machines are tools. An average tech can set the alignment within the factory (typically very broad) specs, but a true alignment specialist can set the vehicle for how you drive it: such as the type & frequency of roads, loads, number of people, etc. If they do not ask you such questions, then do not expect a precise alignment.

 

[LXPearl]

I have not driven a SFA Land Cruiser on dirt and rough roads for comparison. The 01 LX with AHC handles a gravel road better than the 01 LC. Both handle a gravel road much better than the 86 (2wd) and 97 (4wd) F150's I used to own.

 

[SWUtah]

I received some comments that IFS tend to behave more shaky on rough roads then sfa...is that your experience?

My wifes 2004 4runner sport with the XREAS shocks rode way better then my 100 series Landcruiser on rough unimproved roads. The 4runner made the road seem almost smooth while my LC bounced all over the place. I bought new Bilsteins for the LC and it did not change the comparison. I love the 100 series but were talkin old technology compared to the newer stuff so just get use to the rough ride it ain't going to break.

 

[LXPearl]

My 4Runner did not have XREAS and I did not think it handled the forest roads better than the LC. It did feel sportier though - so its fun-to-drive rating was higher than the LC.

I like the LX because it is an improvement on the forest roads, and I can dial in the sportiness to make a rather fun-to-drive SUV with excellent comfort.