Overland & Under Budget - Lexus GX 470

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 04/21/2015 at 18:24 • Filed to: Overland & Underbudget, Lexus, GX, TWBV

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I was teased today by a post by Tavarish about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that I thought was going to be about the Lexus GX 470. When I found out I had been had I decided to write my own. Enjoy!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

jkm7680 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:30

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The Lexus GX is used in America for the following.

Covering in stickers from your son/daughter’s private school.

Driving 20 mph under the speed limit in the fast lane.

Driving to Starbucks wearing yoga pants, a pink Nike hat and a purple Nike sweater all while texting on a white Iphone.

Hauling around little shits that are raised to think they are superior beings to everybody else.

HammerheadFistpunch > jkm7680 04/21/2015 at 18:32

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Its pretty easy to hate on the GX here, for many reasons. That’s why I love the idea of using one of these as a base overland vehicle. Its like Kim Kardashian suddenly going “Screw it, where is my climbing harness, I’m outta here.”

jkm7680 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:34

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If it were a Toyota, I’d like it a little bit more.

Kim would have to put the pill bottle down before that would happen!

EL_ULY > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:35

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100% spot on. Though, you will never convince the people round here and their perceptions of this vehicle. I know every single bolt on these cars, they are awesome machines.

HammerheadFistpunch > jkm7680 04/21/2015 at 18:38

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I hear you, but the truth is that its the same thing.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:38

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Great review, and not at all surprising considering some of the LC chops underneath it. Shame they’re capable but rarely get used for such things.

HammerheadFistpunch > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/21/2015 at 18:39

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jkm7680 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:39

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I just don’t know how they would hold up.

HammerheadFistpunch > jkm7680 04/21/2015 at 18:40

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Why? Also, turns out they are already holding up VERY well.

jkm7680 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:41

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Because they really weren’t really intended in the slightest to leave the parking lot of the local mall.

HammerheadFistpunch > jkm7680 04/21/2015 at 18:43

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Yes they were, the were conceived from the very start to be a true light duty off road workhorse. All Lexus did was take that foundation, add some leather, some fake wood and sense of entitlement. did you read the article?

jkm7680 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 18:59

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Skimmed, I’ll have a better look a bit later and get back to you.

Torquelife > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 19:12

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So I had a mostly unrelated question - how do you get the preview/cover image in Oppo to show up as the full column width? All of mine seem to post with the image as a postage stamp in the corner as opposed to the original size.

For the record, the J120 Prado is an absolute beast on the sand dunes. Part of the problem with the Lexus one was that the wheels and grille just didn’t fit the rest of the car’s styling, but I’d love an off-road prepped 05+ GX. That’d be fun.

Loping Camshaft > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/21/2015 at 19:24

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Eh they were relatively expensive when new, if you wanted an off road SUV, you had lots of less expensive options. But now they’re less expensive than a new Wrangler or Grand Cherokee, and about the same a used 4Runner.

On the other hand, you can also get an old G-Wagon for the same kind of money....

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 19:44

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Badge swap?

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 20:58

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I've driven a friend's mom's once. she gave it to her son (my friend) as his first car, and got the dad to buy her a new X5 4.4i (rich family....) anyway, the kid isn't a car guy, but he knew a couple of dirt trails, so we went and we drove the thing through some mud. seemed pretty capable.

Only thing I can compare it to is a Nissan Xterra I drove off-road, and it was comfier, so there's that

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch 04/21/2015 at 21:58

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Lady up the street from me just traded in this one:

For this one:

Thank god it’s not the predator one.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch 04/22/2015 at 12:09

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I have some misplaced anger towards the GX because of its consistently prickish drivers. Like more often than not if you see a GX it’s being driven terribly. But as they’ve aged and moved on to second/third owners, those people aren’t as big of pricks, and I can sort of appreciate the GX for what it is: a fancified Prado.

This past winter when I was looking to replace my old ‘99 Grand Cherokee with something more reliable, I checked out an ‘05 GX470 with no crappy navigation and no stupid worthless too-small 3rd row seat that just takes up cargo space (only way to roll with a GX, imho). It was pretty nice. I like it more than the 4th gen 4Runner because the extra height means you have a relatively normal driving position and a commanding view out. Whereas in the 4Runner you sit on the floor and look up out over the dash.

I didn’t buy it because the dealer wanted more than I was willing to spend for a second vehicle, and because I was concerned about the potential repair costs of the air suspension if/when it eventually gave out.

So of course I did the totally rational thing and bought an ‘05 Hemi Grand Cherokee for 7 grand less than the dealer wanted for the GX. Even with the work I’ve put into it (EGR, spark plugs, oxygen sensors, proper tires) and the atrocious fuel economy, I’m still way more within my budget.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein 04/22/2015 at 12:23

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The good/bad news with the GX is that it hold value like a Land Cruiser, so its hard to get a good deal on one. The nice thing about the air suspension is that the conversion to coil is like $500. Its not too bad.

WiscoProud > HammerheadFistpunch 04/22/2015 at 15:28

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Good post. The GX470-460 are starting to get respect stateside as prices come down. I enjoy lurking on their Mud boards and seeing what people are up to with them. I still find myself admiring them.

From what I've read, many of the Prado parts, especially armor, will require some cutting due to different fenders, skirts, etc.

WiscoProud > jkm7680 04/22/2015 at 15:29

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^^^Kinda need to read the article before you argue it.

WiscoProud > Textured Soy Protein 04/22/2015 at 15:30

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I'm the same way with the GX v. 4Runner. I'm tall and like the extra head room in the GX.

ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. > jkm7680 03/01/2018 at 12:43

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The GX series are derived from the Land Cruiser Prado. The image below comes from Toyota Gibraltar, supplier to the UN and similar agencies.

A factory stock Land Cruiser Prado is capable, at least, of the following:

The J150 platform used by the LC Prado is quite similar to the one that underpins the 4Runner and FJ Cruiser. It is quite a capable vehicle. Everything the Prado in the video does, I have done with my Xterra.

ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. > ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. 03/01/2018 at 12:47

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Now granted, your statement is largely and colloquially correct, but could be applied to virtually any offroad-capable vehicle or remotely sporty car in the hands of an “average” car owner. However, just because the majority of owners don’t use or know how to use the full abilities of their vehicle does not mean the vehicle itself is incapable.