Should we get a LX470?

[Delux2769]

We are looking for a larger vehicle to fit our 5 big dogs (430 lbs worth of dog), no kids. We want to be able to travel cross country again with all the dogs. We off-road every weekend. Our driveway is 28 degrees, North facing, in the shade, at 8500' elevation, after a 1/2 mile uphill dirt mountain road. My '21 WRX with snow tires wouldn't make it up most winter days. Ended up selling it last month, as it was fun, but not useful for us 6 months out of the year. The '95 Impreza does great on snow tires. Sometimes need the lockers from the XJ or GX to even get up the driveway. Wife has a commute of 15 miles of canyon carving before hitting downtown Golden for work. Can get super sketchy in the winter.

Our current vehicles are:
Wife DD #1 - '07 GX470 with 4.88s, ARBs, 5" lift, F/R bumpers, dual Warn 12k winches, 37"s, 275k miles. It started life as the "family" hauler, but after multiple alignment issues and wearing through a set of 38"s, soon to be SAS swapped on tons and 40s.
Wife DD #2 - '95 Impreza coupe, widebody, lifted, roof scoop, no P/S, no AC, 320k miles (mainly winter DD) (22mpg) - main DD for her
My DD #1 - 2000 MR2 Spyder - stock (33mpg)
My DD #2 - '94 XJ with 4.88s, dual lockers, 3" lift, 33"s.
Offroad Rig #1 - '98 XJ with 35"-40"s, 7" lift, chopped from front doors back - gets wheeled HARD ALOT
Offroad Rig #2 - '05 Forester XT with 35"s, 12" lift, welded rear, locked center diff

I keep coming back to the LC100 and LX470 as an SUV DD/ travel vehicle for us... Do fellow owners think this is the appropriate vehicle for us, or should we look at something else? I've thought about older Suburbans or Expeditions, but for equivalent miles the LC/LX seems safer after 20 years old. I enjoy doing all the work on our vehicles, except for gear swaps.

Found a local 2000 LX470 with 257k miles for $4,000. Haven't looked at it yet, but outside looks very good, and the interior looks well for 250k+ miles.

 

[rexington14]

Road tripping with 5 large dogs sounds like it'd be pretty crowded in a 100. Maybe go with something larger like a 4x4 Suburban? GMT400 with the 6.5L diesel.

 

[hoser]

I think if you can accommodate 5 dogs in your GX, the LX will be super fine. Given your elevation, I would at least opt for a 5sp ('03+). If you are willing to spend more coin, I'd certainly consider a 200. It has more power and more safety features.... since you mentioned your wife's sketchy commute.

 

[kevgentile]

Agree with @hoser, A 5 spd variant would be ideal. I just moved to the denver area and the mountain passes are beginning to become annoying with the 4 spd. Constantly having to switch back and forth in and out of over drive. A re-gear for the 33's and bigger could be a good help though. I already have the 4 spd so I have to live with it for now but if I were starting over I'd get the 5 spd.

 

[Malleus]

We are looking for a larger vehicle to fit our 5 big dogs (430 lbs worth of dog), no kids. We want to be able to travel cross country again with all the dogs. We off-road every weekend. Our driveway is 28 degrees, North facing, in the shade, at 8500' elevation, after a 1/2 mile uphill dirt mountain road. My '21 WRX with snow tires wouldn't make it up most winter days. Ended up selling it last month, as it was fun, but not useful for us 6 months out of the year. The '95 Impreza does great on snow tires. Sometimes need the lockers from the XJ or GX to even get up the driveway. Wife has a commute of 15 miles of canyon carving before hitting downtown Golden for work. Can get super sketchy in the winter.

Our current vehicles are:
Wife DD #1 - '07 GX470 with 4.88s, ARBs, 5" lift, F/R bumpers, dual Warn 12k winches, 37"s, 275k miles. It started life as the "family" hauler, but after multiple alignment issues and wearing through a set of 37"s, soon to be SAS swapped on tons and 40s.
Wife DD #2 - '95 Impreza coupe, widebody, lifted, roof scoop, no P/S, no AC, 320k miles (mainly winter DD) (22mpg) - main DD for her
My DD #1 - 2000 MR2 Spyder - stock (33mpg)
My DD #2 - '94 XJ with 4.88s, dual lockers, 3" lift, 33"s.
Offroad Rig #1 - '98 XJ with 35"-40"s, 7" lift, chopped from front doors back - gets wheeled HARD ALOT
Offroad Rig #2 - '05 Forester XT with 35"s, 12" lift, welded rear, locked center diff

I keep coming back to the LC100 and LX470 as an SUV DD/ travel vehicle for us... Do fellow owners think this is the appropriate vehicle for us, or should we look at something else? I've thought about older Suburbans or Expeditions, but for equivalent miles the LC/LX seems safer after 20 years old. I enjoy doing all the work on our vehicles, except for gear swaps.

Found a local 2000 LX470 with 257k miles for $4,000. Haven't looked at it yet, but outside looks very good, and the interior looks well for 250k+ miles.

I'd buy that LX470 all day long for that price! You'll love it.

Having owned both the 100 and LX470, I can say that I'd much rather drive the Lexus. The only advantage the 100 has over it is that IF you wanted to modify the suspension, it's less work without the AHC. If you have no intention of modifying the suspension, the LX470 is hands down my pick.

 

[wthomp10]

5 large dogs does sound like they'll need a lot of room. The 1st gen Sequoia is larger inside than the LX if you want to stay Toyota. Otherwise I'd say a diesel excursion may be best for the room.

 

[ace10]

We have six dogs. 145, 115, 95, 30, 30 and 20lbs. Our 100 is the primary dog hauler.
The big guy is a Dane and I struggle to put more than two or maybe three other dogs (of any size) in our 100 with him. When he lays down, that's at least 1/3 of the space behind the front row.

I could probably slam all six in the back if it was a SHTF situation, but it would be a constant struggle and nonstop conflicts. Stopping for breaks would be difficult avoiding a jail break situation, too.

Many moons ago, we did a long road trip with three 100 lb+ dogs in our old LX470 along with gear and supplies, and it was torture.
We also rented an Excursion for a road trip a long time ago. I think it was 3 or 4 big dogs at the time, and it was shocking how much space there was.

The length of a Sequoia (either Gen) would be a huge plus over a 100. If I was more motivated, I would strip out the 100's 2nd row to gain 6-8" of space.

 

[ace10]

Volume isn't necessarily the best measure for dog capacity, but at least it's relative:

100 Series: 91 cubic feet
1st Gen Sequoia: 128 cubic feet
2nd Gen Sequoia: 120 cubic feet
Ford Excursion: 146 cubic feet

We owned a 2000 Suburban for a short period, but I gave it to a buddy before it could be deployed for dog duty. The interior was massive, but the ceiling height felt kinda low. Volume was 139 cubic feet.

 

[MongooseGA]

You and your wife have pretty good taste in cars.

I don't think a 100 is going to have adequate room for all of you and any gear. As it is for me, I have one 70lb buddy that gets the whole back seat and we cram gear on the rear floor board and fill up the cargo area for a weekend trip. In your shoes, I'd go Excursion. Or find a house sitter.

I'd buy that LX470 all day long for that price! You'll love it.

Having owned both the 100 and LX470, I can say that I'd much rather drive the Lexus. The only advantage the 100 has over it is that IF you wanted to modify the suspension, it's less work without the AHC. If you have no intention of modifying the suspension, the LX470 is hands down my pick.

The LX470  is a 100.

 

[Coin]

Should you buy a 100 series? No
Do you want one? Now that is a different question.

 

[Foehammer]

A duramax swapped suburban would be my first choice; if you can swing the coin for it.

Ford excursion, Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon XL etc.

 

[Vision19]

Or a long bed pickup with a topper. The only people I know that have that many dogs run a sled dog team. They have a pickup flatbed with a bunch of kennels on it.

 

[Delux2769]

Thanks for all the insight fellows. I looked at the LX470, brought our 135lb Akita and 95lb Lab/Pyrenees with me, and it didn't feel like there would be enough room to comfortably travel with all the dogs plus gear cross-country. Our bully is super hyper and she needs some room to move from window-window while the big boys rest. Looking at Suburban style, Excursions, MAYBE a 1st gen Sequoia. The vehicle would ideally only be driven a few times a year, unless it becomes a Tow-Vehicle as well for hauling the GX and XJ to trails.

PS. The GX470 just got tuned by MBP and is now on 38s. Holy s*** it's nice, feels like it'll pop a wheely from a standstill with the 4.88s. MPGs seem to have increased to ~13 as well, so that's a nice bonus, the tune should pay itself off in 7-10 years, lol.

 

[Foehammer]

What is MBP tuning? I've never heard of it?

 

[Delux2769]

What is MBP tuning? I've never heard of it?

Tuning company that specializes in Toyotas. There's a few threads on here regarding them, and they're active on FB. Not sure of their website. I believe they're based in the PNW, but have regional reps that can tune on-sight or via mail in of ecu. They took in consideration my Headers, exhaust, intake/snorkel, gears, and tire size for the mapping.

We have 2 large "hills" on our commute, and now don't do any gear searching on the commute. Pulls hard to redline as well.

 

[Foehammer]

Right ok seems like a sweet rig you got there!

 

[MongooseGA]

If towing is a big consideration, I'd skip the first gen Sequoia. It's the same 4.7 and even without being loaded up, it's just not a great towing platform. I generally dislike towing with my 100.