What does Oppo think of the Lexus GX?

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
08/17/2014 at 15:50 • Filed to: None

Whenever the conversation comes up about luxury SUVs, here on Jalopnik or anywhere else, people always seem to forget (or otherwise not mention) the Lexus GX. Which is odd, because at least the first generation one used to be extremely popular, but is no longer. A lady up the street from me has a black one, but all the other people I know that had them are slowly getting rid of them. They're still common, but not like they were 5 years ago.

I know a couple people who bought second-gen ones as well, but that pretty much stopped when Lexus gave it that hideous new makeover.

While it may work on the sports sedans and coupes, there can be no denying that the gaping, pointy predator-style grill does not work on the RX, GX, and the big LX. Good God, it's ugly.

Which brings me on to another confusion; the massive, LX (aka the Toyota Land Cruiser) and the old people's RX (aka the Toyota Harrier) are friggin' everywhere. The stupid new grill hasn't stopped people buying those. And looks, as we know, didn't stop rich people eating up the first Cayenne and the Panamera like they were Honda Pilots. Yet no one, it seems, buys the GX. They would rather have a Mercedes ML, or a BMW X5, or whatever else fits in the size class between compact luxury SUV and massive luxury battlecruiser. My guess is, the unibody Germans are simply better to drive than the body-on-frame Lexus. This is a perfect example of how much of the SUV world really is an image/feel thing. The GX is based off of a Land Cruiser Prado (I think), and should therefor be able to whup the German's arses when the going gets tough. But we all know that the only time one of these is likely to go off-road is when some dentist's trophy wife backs over the white marble fountain in front of their Palm Springs McMansion. Still, it surprises me with how popular I remember these being, and how popular its siblings are, that sales of the GX seem to have just sort of...stopped. What do you think, Oppo? Do you like the Lexus-badged baby Cruiser? Or can you see exactly why the moms of the AYSO dropped it like a lazy nanny?

DISCUSSION (23)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 15:56

I shit you not, I had a lady cut me off in a new GX yesterday without a blinker, cut another person off not using a blinker, and then cut ANOTHER person off not using a blinker. She was doing at least 85 (I was going 75 and she blew past me) in the rain without headlights on. Oh, and she was on the phone.

This is common GX owner driving practice around here.

Yeah, I hate the GX because every owner I've ever encountered can't drive for shit. Oh, and the new ones are ugly as sin.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:00

It's actually the same platform as the 4Runner, but yes I do like it sans grill. I would rip that off.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/17/2014 at 16:00

I don't really know the lady up the street who owns one, but the only thing I know is that her husband (and her, maybe) is a doctor, and the whole neighborhood was mad at them for a while because they did something downright douchey.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:03

Well, then it's just fact most GX owners are horrible people.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
08/17/2014 at 16:04

It must be a shared platform between the Prado and the 4runner.

I cannot believe they actually tried to sell it with that grill.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/17/2014 at 16:05

Good grief. Did one run over your dog?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:08

It is a shared platform. The Prado also gets that grill. It saddens me that my color combination on the new 4Runner looks like a Juggalo. http://latescar.com/wp-content/upl…

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:09

No, one just almost rear ended me in the truck before because they were texting.

One's pulled out from Chipotle in front of me and almost caused me to T-Bone them in the van (when the brakes would lock up under any sort of emergency braking)

None of them EVER use their blinkers.

They drive like assholes and think they own the road.

I HATE GX owners.

I never have this problem with X5 owners.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/17/2014 at 16:10

This is how I feel about people in Accord Coupes.

Alex B > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:10

I love these. Two of the middle generations and one old generation in my neighborhood. I have the latest. Looks top heavy and ungainly.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Alex B
08/17/2014 at 16:12

You guys have a GX? I thought it was just a Honda and a Leaf.

Alex B > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:14

Oh, no. Autocorrect. I hate the latest is what I meant.

EL_ULY > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:16

what do you need to know? I literally know every bolt on those :] People seem to still be judging these by their owners, if that is the case, Ferraris and Audis are shit cars

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Alex B
08/17/2014 at 16:16

Ooops. Big difference.

Alex B > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:17

Yes. I know. My parents would never get a GX. Not fuel efficient enough for them.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > EL_ULY
08/17/2014 at 16:18

I don't need to know much, I was just curious to know what folks think of them. I always like picking Oppo's brain about cars I don't often hear talked about.

I think my dad was considering a used 1st gen after he sold his GS300, but I don't remember much about it, as that was 5 years ago.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/17/2014 at 16:21

Come to Seattle, where GX drivers are slightly friendly and X5/ML drivers want motorcyclists' legs by sideswiping them.

HammerheadFistpunch > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:33

i wish i wasn't mobile, i have feelings on this subject. the gx and lx feature in a post I've been worrying for a while

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
08/17/2014 at 16:35

I have a feeling the autocorrect is strong in this comment.

Cé hé sin > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 16:43

We don't get these but it looks very like the fancier model of Landcruiser. I'm guessing it does without the diesel V8 though.

ly2v8-Brian > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 18:20

No thanks.

twojayzee > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/17/2014 at 18:48

Have a first gen (replaced the FJ Cruiser) for weekend trips up to the mountains and such. Does very well off road, although I've never run into another while off the highway. Incredibly jerky throttle response and generally not the most comfortable thing to drive, but hey. Sucks fuel like a sonofabitch too.

Textured Soy Protein > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2014 at 15:25

I kinda sorta like them in that they're basically a Land Cruiser Prado.

But they also seem to exclusively be driven by assholes who would've otherwise bought a Range Rover but wanted something reliable.