Hello everyone,
I'm looking into buying a used one with 60k miles. Has anyone experienced any major issues with the GX470 when it starts getting closer to 100k miles or more, aside from the normal wear and tear? Most of the online reviews I have read give the GX470 a 10 on reliability, is this true? Luxury features aside, I currently drive a honda accord which now has 198k miles, original transmission and engine it is still as reliable as ever.

- Joe

 

i would say it is just as reliable as other japanese made like toyota,honda,acura... doesn't mean you are not gonna run into a problem... we purchased our 04 with 58k miles on it past november and had brake/abs/trac problem which is still in progress of getting it repaird, lexus can't nail down what is causing this problem even after abc ecu replacement(over $2000) but this time we got it taken care of, still crossing our fingers!! we were on a loaner for over a month... but everything is perfect... this is our 2nd lexus and sure won't be our last!! and coming from honda you will appreciate lexus' service...

 

oh and what is their asking price? options? 3rd row, navi, rear entertainment?
you might be able to find a CPO lexus for decent price if you think about warranty... that's just my $.02 and i am guessing it is 1owner carfax clean, correct? how did it feel when you test drove it??

 

Hmm if you want a bullet proof suv get a landcruiser/lx. IMO the gx is a great car and i love mine, but when i compare it to my dads landcruisers (94 and 2008) it just feels...cheaper. So far problems ive experienced included an ac condensor leak (at 40k mi), ride height sensors going bad, and the thumping sound from the drive shaft.

 

The asking price is $24,899. It does not come with nav (GPS are cheap nowadays) and entertainment center. I haven't test driven it yet just been trying to get as much information on the GX 470. Most of the ones being sold through carmax seems to be former fleet use. If I do purchase one I will definitely get an extended warranty. Did you purchase yours from the dealer or owner? Carfax only works if the techs who inspected/worked on the vehicle actually records what has been done.

I will have to ask carmax if they will allow me to take it to a shop I trust so I could have them check it out. I am pretty handy working on cars but I don't think car max will allow me to do an engine compression test, trans test etc. on their lot.

 

From my experience extended warranties are generally not worth what you pay. I used to work at a car dealer and the markup on them generally runs about 150-250%. Especially if you are handy around a car, id just take my chances. good luck with the purchase. Oh and btw, with 60k mi i dont know what year it is, but 25k sounds high imo. Id think especially with the economy going the way its been going, you should be able to steal that gx from them.

 

I love land cruisers especially the FJ 40's! This will be for the wife though. It if were for me I'd go for the FJ cruiser or 4runner. I just want to make sure she is driving a reliable/comfortable vehicle since she is pregnant with our first child : )

 

It is a 2004. Carmax claims there is no price haggling but you're right, with the economy the way it is those rules might change. Good to know about the markup! Thank you!

 

It's like any vehicle, so it's not without its issues, but I would say the problems are fewer and far between. The only unknown variable buying used is not knowing the history of the truck. Many of the problems I hear about come from customers who buy used, which is not to say we original owners do not or will not have problems. I have owned mine since new and overall it has been a great truck of exceptional build quality. If you find the right vehicle and by that I mean a GX that was properly maintained it will last you well in excess of 100k mi without much trouble. That said, anytime you ad all of the technical gadgetry found on a GX it only increases your chances for something to fail and when it does it will cost you $ to fix it - you're lucky your accord does not have all of this stuff.

If you found the perfect truck at Carmax and it checks out based on your visual inspection, buy it and take it right to the Lexus dealer and have them give it a soup-to-nuts inspection. If there are any problems return it to Carmax within 5 days and get your money back - that's part of their 5 day guarantee. Good luck and hope it works out, they are great trucks.

 

I have a 2004 Lexus GX470 NAV & Marc Levinson, third row seating, 57,000 miles that I had to value for business: blue book excellent condition is between $19,800-$20,800. Your carmax quote is probably a little high. It's had the TSB done. Also, I do get the oil changed & tire rotation every 5000 miles.

Note: I also have a 1994 Honda Accord w/ 197,600 miles. It has its quirks, but I can't get rid of a car that still gets 26+mpg.

Louise

 

Hmm your the second person who mentioned the blue book value is lower by about $2k, I did check online it is somewhere between $19k - $21K. I'll have to tell the rep at carmax.

Ha..ha I know what you mean about the quirks of an old car mine is an '89 accord. I knew a guy once who had 250k miles on an accord four banger!

 

My 04 GX has 83,000 miles and I was given a trade-in value by Lexus of $15,500. I'll keep this vehicle until the wheels fall off. It has been the best SUV I've ever owned. Only problems have been the infamous "chunk" which was repaired and just had the 4 wheel selector unit rebuild ($1000) after it developed a leak . A 10 cent O-ring and $900 in labor. I did have the Lexus extended warranty, so no cost to me.

 

The 05 GX have the vvt-i technology, which gains about 30 HP compare to the 04. I know its your wife's truck, but the GX is a heavy truck, even with the added HP, its not a fast truck. With that said, some of the more common problems with older GX are drivetrain clunk, rear height sensors, shocks, rotors, timing belts and rear cameras.

 

When is the timing belt due for replacement? I wished they used a timing chain as opposed to the belt must be for noise reduction.

 

price seem bit high for it's year/mileage. i don't know used car market in your area but in illinois(chicagoland) you can find LEXUS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED for that price... try different dealers or even cars.com in your area....