Thinking about a 350/450h instead of a Land Cruiser...
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I currently have an 07 Land Cruiser.
I'm having second thoughts on driving 25K+ miles a year in a truck that ideally needs about 1-2" of more front legroom to be ideal for my 6'-4" frame. According to the specs I can find online, the GS has ~1.5" additional front legroom and more than an inch of rear legroom as compared to the LC. I would lose a little headroom, but I'm fine when I lower the GS seat down w/ a little to spare.
A friend has an 07 GS 350 and it feels incredible on the road to me. I'm looking at getting rid of the LC for a Black or Gray 2007/08 Lexus GS 350 or 450h. I'm just wondering if I'll regret it later. We are a family of four and regularly take 3+ hour road trips for 3-4 day periods. In the LC, space is simply not an issue as there's plenty of room - except in the front seat legroom dept as that's my only issue w/ it.
I would prefer the 450h, but the trunk appears to be abysmally small. Is it as bad as others have made it out to be?
What are the other drawbacks to a GS for travel?
I know that the fuel savings would be in most minds, but I'm not really worried about that. I'm looking at the comfort level and the safety aspects only at this point.
Here's what I have:
![](http://4rnr.net/2007-UZJ/2007-UZJ100-LandCruiser.jpg)
And here's what I'm leaning towards...
![](http://www.cstatic-images.com/supersized/DMI/202243/H1855.03.jpg)
I'm looking at Black/Black or Gray/Black for now. There's an 07 450h local to me, but it has 81k miles and they're asking $28k. It has some paint flaws that would need to be addressed and a good detailing. From what I can tell, that's about $3-4K high for what they have. The mileage doesn't scare me as the car will see a lot of additional miles and I will be changing it out after 2-years anyway. I'm lucky in that the vehicle I drive and the fuel I use is paid for by my employer...
So, am I crazy wanting to go from a $48K SUV to a $30K sedan?
I'm having second thoughts on driving 25K+ miles a year in a truck that ideally needs about 1-2" of more front legroom to be ideal for my 6'-4" frame. According to the specs I can find online, the GS has ~1.5" additional front legroom and more than an inch of rear legroom as compared to the LC. I would lose a little headroom, but I'm fine when I lower the GS seat down w/ a little to spare.
A friend has an 07 GS 350 and it feels incredible on the road to me. I'm looking at getting rid of the LC for a Black or Gray 2007/08 Lexus GS 350 or 450h. I'm just wondering if I'll regret it later. We are a family of four and regularly take 3+ hour road trips for 3-4 day periods. In the LC, space is simply not an issue as there's plenty of room - except in the front seat legroom dept as that's my only issue w/ it.
I would prefer the 450h, but the trunk appears to be abysmally small. Is it as bad as others have made it out to be?
What are the other drawbacks to a GS for travel?
I know that the fuel savings would be in most minds, but I'm not really worried about that. I'm looking at the comfort level and the safety aspects only at this point.
Here's what I have:
![](http://4rnr.net/2007-UZJ/2007-UZJ100-LandCruiser.jpg)
And here's what I'm leaning towards...
![](http://www.cstatic-images.com/supersized/DMI/202243/H1855.03.jpg)
I'm looking at Black/Black or Gray/Black for now. There's an 07 450h local to me, but it has 81k miles and they're asking $28k. It has some paint flaws that would need to be addressed and a good detailing. From what I can tell, that's about $3-4K high for what they have. The mileage doesn't scare me as the car will see a lot of additional miles and I will be changing it out after 2-years anyway. I'm lucky in that the vehicle I drive and the fuel I use is paid for by my employer...
So, am I crazy wanting to go from a $48K SUV to a $30K sedan?
Last edited by bamachem; 05-15-11 at 09:00 AM.
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Yes, you are crazy. With comfort and safety as a priority, the LC is the keeper... With the constant road trips you are taking, I'd much rather be higher off the ground and have the extra cargo space.
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But for me, the GS is MUCH more comfortable. Both received "Good" crash safety ratings...
I like the feel of being up higher in the LC and the cargo room is crazy, but it's not anywhere near as comfortable on the road or in the seat as my friend's GS.
I like the feel of being up higher in the LC and the cargo room is crazy, but it's not anywhere near as comfortable on the road or in the seat as my friend's GS.
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Given these circumstances:
" We are a family of four and regularly take 3+ hour road trips for 3-4 day periods. In the LC, space is simply not an issue as there's plenty of room - except in the front seat legroom dept as that's my only issue w/ it. "
Keep the LandCruiser.
" We are a family of four and regularly take 3+ hour road trips for 3-4 day periods. In the LC, space is simply not an issue as there's plenty of room - except in the front seat legroom dept as that's my only issue w/ it. "
Keep the LandCruiser.
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With a family of 4 that takes road trips....i'd try to stay away from a GS, unless you REALLY like it due to space (interior and trunk).
I think you will find the trunk too small to accomadate your family's things for those trips. Take your friends car (if you can) and load it up with what you guys usually bring and see how it goes. Good luck!
I think you will find the trunk too small to accomadate your family's things for those trips. Take your friends car (if you can) and load it up with what you guys usually bring and see how it goes. Good luck!
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I test drove a 450h on Friday and I fit fine. With the seat all the way back, not only did I have the room I needed, but the rear set had the same room as provided in the LC. Only down side I see is cargo space and everything else is better than the LC (cabin room, comfort, efficiency).
I think I'm going to go back and test the 450h overnight and see how it does.
I think I'm going to go back and test the 450h overnight and see how it does.
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Sounds like you've already made up your mind. I don't care what a crash test report says, physics says, suv > car in a collision. If I had a family of four I definitely wouldn't be driving my 3GS
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I wish Lexus had spent more time in adequately designing a more useful, spacious rear trunk.
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Does the LC have nav and a DVD player? lol. I've never been very big on SUVs. I prefer to be lower and spend less on gas. I love my dad's denali but no way in hell would I ever buy one. Too expensive on gas and no offense to GM owners but the interior just seems kinda relatively cheap. Air conditioned seats are the **** as well during a hot day. I bet your employer will like the fuel savings with the 450h too.
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I would say keep the LC. If you don't mind the gas and drive very far. The LC has a lot of room for stretching, sleeping, eating, or whatever lol. And as someone else said about safety....you are higher off the ground.
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I'd keep that LC.
Like the others have mentioned, the GS trunk is not that big...it even looks small compared to the latest Accord/Camry.
So if your family of 4 takes frequent road trips, you'll be feeling that lack of trunk space for luggage.
Like the others have mentioned, the GS trunk is not that big...it even looks small compared to the latest Accord/Camry.
So if your family of 4 takes frequent road trips, you'll be feeling that lack of trunk space for luggage.