Sell me on a 470

[cwbolyard]

Hello everyone, new to the forum and the Lexus/Toyota world. I need you to sell me on making the jump to a GX or LX from my Bronco. Backstory: I lived in Western Colorado just minutes outside of the San Juans, have had a Bronco for years now and LOVE it. Black Diamond 4 door, 2.7L, hard top, front and rear lockers, steal bumpers, all the goodies. Was an amazing vehicle for my wife, daughter, and myself when we could off road any day of the week and did several times a month. Very few complaints and it's something I worked towards purchasing since they announced it. The dilemma: we have since moved to western TN and the bronco has turned to a mile racking payment princess. There is no off roading within 6 hours of us and we are expecting another kid. We plan to move back west in a few years but for now we are without even monthly adventures and we're paying $900 a month for very impractical vehicle at the moment. We love the vehicle but are considering replacing it and using the saving for more travel.

I need y'all to sell me on a 470; GX or LX. Their reputation is obviously legendary. I would love a quieter cabin, rear air for the kids, a little more storage, and an optional third tow as we often tow a set of grandparents, and a little more pulling power for our trailer.

I am looking at an 05-07 GX or LX but am concerned about off road ability, fuel economy, sluggishness, expensive and limited aftermarket support. Obviously, they are very capable off road but getting one to the same caliber as the bronco will be expensive. After modifying it heavily (bumpers, lockers, armor, tires, rails, lift) I am concerned about its power and efficiency. I have read reports of people averaging 9 mpg after building their rigs and requiring premium fuel. Currently I'm averaging 18.4 mpg in the bronco running 87 octane. I have read about gearing appropriately my tires, shooting for 285s, with 4.88 might help with efficiency. Cold air intake, magnaflow exhaust helping. What is a realistic MPG I can expect to pay with a built 470? I bring up this point heavily because I drive approx 20,000 a year between commuting and adventure travel. So if I'm trying to save money by getting a Lexus but still pay $300 a month and an additional $400 a month in gas...I might as well keep what I have and love. I have read about adding a turbo and that would of course help with power but does it help fuel economy? (wouldnt off set gas cost...but would have mucho guts now at least). Sorry for the lengthy post but I am having a hard time deciding if in the end it is worth selling out beloved Bronco. With I could afford both. Thoughts?

 

[cwbolyard]

a little more towing capacity* not power

 

[gtex]

A 2UZ will still be running after Keith Richards has inherited the world and died.

 

[cwbolyard]

A 2UZ will still be running after Keith Richards has inherited the world and died.

Very true. Longevity I'm sure goes to the Lexus

 

[bkfj40]

Sounds like you should buy a minivan.

 

[cwbolyard]

Sounds like you should buy a minivan.

Right?! My father-in-law just told me the same thing haha and if I could take it around the alpine loop I would!

 

[Patron100LC]

When you say “$300 a month" You mean in car payments?? you mean you want to finance a 15-20 YO car??

A new car financed by the mfg direct lending institution at 2.9% after incentives at 72 or 84 months is one thing.
Trying to finance an old car with high miles that is valued at 1/2 of the asking price is a completely different story.
There might be a credit union that will offer the option, but don’t expect super low rates or long terms.

At 20k miles a year you’ll pay $400 a month in gas, or very close, driving Any V8 car.



The minivan idea sounds great. A rental minivan will do any off-road you throw at it!

 

[BullElk]

Keep the Bronco or get a Prius and mod it out.

 

[HokieCruiser]

If you can swing the car pmt, I'd say keep the Bronco, after reading everything you posted. Good luck.

 

[2000UZJ]

I would not turbo the 2UZ, it's been done but not enough for data. These trucks are not meant to be fast. My '06 with VVTi and the 5 Speed is damn near about as fast as one of these should be. Save for repairs, maintenance and if your driving 20,000 a year...maybe hijack a fuel truck every couple of weeks.

I bought my '06 in decent shape, over maintained on the dealership level from the PO....I'm 10K deep in the first year of ownership. Some of those are mods, but this is not a cheap platform to modify...it never will be. It's not common enough.

 

[Bisho]

I have a stock VVTI 470 (available 2006/2007) and built 2000 100. I get ~15mpg with the 470 and 12.5mpg in the 100. With the awning removed the 100 gets 13mpg, but I'm lazy and leave it on.

The 470/100 do not require extensive modification to be very capable off road. 33" AT tires and rock sliders and you're set for 95% of the trails out there. Your biggest concern will be scratching the paint. If you want to go after the last 4% you can add various things (see my 100) to your taste and use case. ATRAC is very capable, I haven't found the limit yet where I need a locker.

Parts are plentiful, but when buying a 17+ year old vehicle, this is where you will have your biggest expense. Most of these trucks are north of 200k miles, and that means over the next 100k miles you will replace most of the accessories (alternator, starter, a/c, rack, etc, etc) and the rubber items (bushings, door/window seals). The truck will get you where you want to go, and bring you back. If you don't like doing that kind of work, I'd stick to the Bronco, although it won't be many years before its in the same spot.

I love that I can load up, cruise 90mph where I want to go in comfort, then climb a mountain or ford a river.

 

[97 AZ LC]

You're not even a prospect to get a 100 series. It would be irresponsible for this forum to try to talk you into it. You're going to be the best person to decide what you should do.

 

[Vision19]

Sounds to me like you need a $4000 minivan. My coworker has been trying to kill his dodge and he can't do it. $900 a month for a vehicle is absolutely insane. I would not advise financing a 20 year old vehicle either. Find something you can buy with cash and put that money away for something later down the road.

 

[Foehammer]

Sounds like your Bronco is doing quite well. I would keep it.

Old Lexus/Toyotas aren't getting any younger. Parts are expensive and can be hard to find. A lot of these things have high miles. They always need parts and work. It's just part of the game. I got mine cause I hate car payments, distrust most new vehicles, and like something I can wrench on myself for the most part. If I were you and still wanted one; I'd lean towards 4th gen 4 runner or GX470. Parts and mods are far more readily available compared to the LC/LX; they simply made more of them.

And the 2uz is buttery smooth, has no design flaws, tremendously reliable, I love that engine to death but it does not like to get out of her own way.

And I live in Canada so parts are a little harder to find. YMMV

 

[4Beast]

As far as mileage goes, I get pretty much 12mpg regardless. I've had 33s, now (almost) 35s, roof top tent or not, loaded for a weekend or not, doesn't seem to have much if any real world effects, although towing anything, even a uhaul trailer puts you solidly into single digits. I doubt there is much that a Bronco could do that a LX470 can't off road, but most people don't drive to the margins anyway. As others have said, as appealing as the quiet, smooth comfortable 470 would be, it may not suit your need case right now.

 

[dbleon]

10th vote for a minivan

 

[SteveH]

Your burn rate on car payments and fuel is way too high. Buy a commuter car, sell the Bronco, and buy (with cash) a used offroad vehicle of some sort, and don't build it up until you absolutely have to. Stock Toyotas/Lexus will go almost everywhere you'd take a family without bumpers, roof racks, and winches.

 

[Gartenmeister]

There is no off roading within 6 hours of us and we are expecting another kid.

Minivan

 

[GerLC100]

I don't think you'll be happy with a 100
Fuel economy, 20yo car that needs maintenance and sounds like you need a daily driver always working... a 200k+ miles 20yo car will likely not provide that...

Minivan, E-Series, ... whatever. But a newer vehicle with better mileage and fast/ immediate parts availability in any spot of the US would be my friend here...

 

[Coin]

I agree with the above, but if you just have to get one of these. A GX sounds more to your liking. A bit better mileage and better passing on the highways. Honestly, a GX 460 might be the best option. Newer, even better mileage and power.
The 3rd row in both vehicle is basically a joke. Small kids only. If you need a 3rd row often, these are not the trucks for you.