Signing off. Decided not to purchase GX460. Wanted to thank u all!
02-22-13 | 10:33 AM
#31
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: NY
s4play,
My requirements were I wanted a pretty much fully loaded SUV with third row seats (which makes no sense since I rarely use them) that was good in inclement weather. I came from a 2008 GX470 and loved it. It was reliable (only oil changes, nothing else through 50k miles including original tires and brakes) and good in bad weather (we had a significant amount of snow one year and it tore through it no problem although weather hasn't been an issue since). My limiting factor when shopping for a new SUV was price range since I wanted the truck to be at most $60k. I looked at the BMW X5 and liked it but it's reliability wasn't that great and it really isn't a good SUV in bad weather. I also liked the Mercedes GL but it was way out of my price range when optioned up. I looked at the QX but it was over my budget and although the GX isn't much of a looker, the QX to me was plain awful looking. I looked at the Audi A7 and it just didn't really do it for me on the interior. I really liked the Land Rover RR Sport or LR4 but it consistently ranks low on reliability and I know people that currently own them and they still have some issues, the service experience isn't great, and the maintenance costs are killer (brakes, tires, etc.). As a result of the above, the GX was the only one that met my needs that could be had for under $60k with all of the features I wanted.
I didn't consider any american SUV's for no good reason but if my budget was larger I would have bought a Mercedes GL and if reliability was better the LR4. I will likely try a LR4 next since my wife really likes them but will likely lease it for a short term.
My requirements were I wanted a pretty much fully loaded SUV with third row seats (which makes no sense since I rarely use them) that was good in inclement weather. I came from a 2008 GX470 and loved it. It was reliable (only oil changes, nothing else through 50k miles including original tires and brakes) and good in bad weather (we had a significant amount of snow one year and it tore through it no problem although weather hasn't been an issue since). My limiting factor when shopping for a new SUV was price range since I wanted the truck to be at most $60k. I looked at the BMW X5 and liked it but it's reliability wasn't that great and it really isn't a good SUV in bad weather. I also liked the Mercedes GL but it was way out of my price range when optioned up. I looked at the QX but it was over my budget and although the GX isn't much of a looker, the QX to me was plain awful looking. I looked at the Audi A7 and it just didn't really do it for me on the interior. I really liked the Land Rover RR Sport or LR4 but it consistently ranks low on reliability and I know people that currently own them and they still have some issues, the service experience isn't great, and the maintenance costs are killer (brakes, tires, etc.). As a result of the above, the GX was the only one that met my needs that could be had for under $60k with all of the features I wanted.
I didn't consider any american SUV's for no good reason but if my budget was larger I would have bought a Mercedes GL and if reliability was better the LR4. I will likely try a LR4 next since my wife really likes them but will likely lease it for a short term.
02-22-13 | 01:01 PM
#32
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
I read the OP's post and although I don't agree with him on the Lexus quality as my experience has always been top notch but I am curious why you guys picked a GX?
The car does have off-road heritage but let's be honest who really takes the car off-roading here?
It's not the prettiest suv nor is it big, the 3rd row seats are a joke!
We just sold our RX and looking to get a large 3-row SUV and apparently Lexus does not have such a vehicle so we're looking at the QX56. V8, 400hp and priced reasonably.
The LX is just way overpriced for such a truck and the GX is not much better in terms of size. I'm just curious why owners here pick this model? I'd love to hear your reasons.
I love Lexus and will always be a brand loyalist (we had the ISF and now a CT200h) but in the big truck segment Lexus is definitely lagging behind
rick
The car does have off-road heritage but let's be honest who really takes the car off-roading here?
It's not the prettiest suv nor is it big, the 3rd row seats are a joke!
We just sold our RX and looking to get a large 3-row SUV and apparently Lexus does not have such a vehicle so we're looking at the QX56. V8, 400hp and priced reasonably.
The LX is just way overpriced for such a truck and the GX is not much better in terms of size. I'm just curious why owners here pick this model? I'd love to hear your reasons.
I love Lexus and will always be a brand loyalist (we had the ISF and now a CT200h) but in the big truck segment Lexus is definitely lagging behind
rick
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...e-barrens.html
Even though most will not hit the trails the GX's off-road abilities are taken advantage of in bad weather. I would put the GX up against just about ANY vehicle in bad weather. Also the GX makes a GREAT tow vehicle (in its tow rating).
If size is your number one concern yes the QX is a better bang for the buck! But, I would still pay the extra bucks for the LX. I keep vehicles a long time and reliability/durability is the number one concern for me.
Koz
Last edited by Koz; 02-22-13 at 01:33 PM.
02-22-13 | 01:53 PM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 58,383
Likes: 2,794
From: Maryland
02-27-13 | 04:42 PM
#34
i'm waiting on the refresh that's supposed to come MY 2014. as currently stand i agree with OP, GX is very underwhelming compare to the likes of GL450, Q7, or even Porsche Cayenne which are all in the same price ball park. i wish Lexus drop the 4.7 L, just put that 5.7 in there with an 8 speed auto. one thing i have to disagree with OP is the lack of options for bigger rims for GX. GX isn't your typical premium luxury SUVs, it's based on Toyota 4Runners which has a heritage of being an off road king. wheels bigger than 18'' would just look out of place on GX.
02-28-13 | 07:09 AM
#35
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
i'm waiting on the refresh that's supposed to come MY 2014. as currently stand i agree with OP, GX is very underwhelming compare to the likes of GL450, Q7, or even Porsche Cayenne which are all in the same price ball park. i wish Lexus drop the 4.7 L, just put that 5.7 in there with an 8 speed auto. one thing i have to disagree with OP is the lack of options for bigger rims for GX. GX isn't your typical premium luxury SUVs, it's based on Toyota 4Runners which has a heritage of being an off road king. wheels bigger than 18'' would just look out of place on GX.
Koz
02-28-13 | 08:41 AM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 58,383
Likes: 2,794
From: Maryland
You list those differences as positiives, but for 95% of buyers they are negatives.
If you have 10,000 GX's, how many do you think ever leave the road on anything worse than a dirt road headed to a cabin? 2? Does Lexus build a vehicle that sacrifices what the 9,998 people want most for those 2?
Also vehicles like the Porsche Cayenne are a joke off-road.
02-28-13 | 11:22 AM
#38
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 304
From: Maryland
It depends what you mean by same ballpark since everyone is different. Besides the Q7, I could not get the GL or the Cayenne in the same ballpark with similar options/features. The GL was around $15k higher and the Cayenne was about $10K higher. To me personally, that was enough to consider it out of my ballpark.
02-28-13 | 11:45 AM
#39
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 92
Likes: 7
From: FL
My $.02:
We just bought a GX to replace a Toyota Sequoia that needed a new frame (they would pay, but we didn't want to put more money in for the inevitable parts they wouldn't cover).
Anyway, we are at a point where we didn't really need a huge SUV, but still needed something decent-sized to haul the family across the country and back once a year to our summer house. We still need a third row for short trips where we haul lots of people.
We looked at the 4Runner, but there isn't enough headroom in the second seat, and it also felt cramped elsewhere. We are a tall family.
We would never buy an American or German SUV for reliability reasons (the Mercedes sedan in the garage two slots over from the GX will be the last German car we buy-the car between them is an RX).
We wish the GX had better gas mileage or at least better acceleration, but otherwise it hit pretty much everything on our list. We actually like the styling and it is quiet and comfortable. It will never see much off-road use, just on soft sand when going to the beach.
Enform is a joke, however. Not only does it require many steps to set up, Lexus tells me the GX doesn't have Open Table, Pandora, etc. apps. I can download destinations to the car. Big whoop.
We just bought a GX to replace a Toyota Sequoia that needed a new frame (they would pay, but we didn't want to put more money in for the inevitable parts they wouldn't cover).
Anyway, we are at a point where we didn't really need a huge SUV, but still needed something decent-sized to haul the family across the country and back once a year to our summer house. We still need a third row for short trips where we haul lots of people.
We looked at the 4Runner, but there isn't enough headroom in the second seat, and it also felt cramped elsewhere. We are a tall family.
We would never buy an American or German SUV for reliability reasons (the Mercedes sedan in the garage two slots over from the GX will be the last German car we buy-the car between them is an RX).
We wish the GX had better gas mileage or at least better acceleration, but otherwise it hit pretty much everything on our list. We actually like the styling and it is quiet and comfortable. It will never see much off-road use, just on soft sand when going to the beach.
Enform is a joke, however. Not only does it require many steps to set up, Lexus tells me the GX doesn't have Open Table, Pandora, etc. apps. I can download destinations to the car. Big whoop.
Last edited by LFIL; 02-28-13 at 01:01 PM.
02-28-13 | 01:39 PM
#40
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
I think this is the issue Lexus needs to, and will address in the new GX. Buyers don't want that anymore, they don't really care about off-road prowess, they want a large, comfortable, good performing vehicle with as good gas mileage as is possible.
You list those differences as positiives, but for 95% of buyers they are negatives.
If you have 10,000 GX's, how many do you think ever leave the road on anything worse than a dirt road headed to a cabin? 2? Does Lexus build a vehicle that sacrifices what the 9,998 people want most for those 2?
And nobody cares, thats my point.
You list those differences as positiives, but for 95% of buyers they are negatives.
If you have 10,000 GX's, how many do you think ever leave the road on anything worse than a dirt road headed to a cabin? 2? Does Lexus build a vehicle that sacrifices what the 9,998 people want most for those 2?
And nobody cares, thats my point.
Koz
02-28-13 | 04:54 PM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 58,383
Likes: 2,794
From: Maryland
You also have to remember that the RX is one of the most successful crossovers on the market and sells extremely well.
03-13-13 | 02:54 AM
#42
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 319
Likes: 30
From: Nevada
But out West it's a different story; 4WD SUV's and Pickups are popular despite their poor fuel economy because we have mountains and lots of recreational opportunities in those mountains.
03-13-13 | 07:53 AM
#43
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 626
Likes: 12
From: DE
What we do appreciate is the comfortable and quiet ride, the surprising agility ... especially the tight turning radius for parking ... and the security and peace-of-mind of four-wheel drive. We also know that if we lose power in a blizzard ... it happens, even in Delaware ... our GX would be our "emergency escape vehicle"! Where we would go is another issue, but we could get there.
Regards,
SaniDel
P.S. We've even thought through how we would 'escape' ... our garage door opener has a battery backup!
03-13-13 | 08:11 AM
#44
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 626
Likes: 12
From: DE
The point of the article ... besides the humor ... was that those vehicles are gone, but there are still drivers who appreciate the advantages of those vehicles ... and they are now driving SUVs! I admit to being ... or at least getting old, but I still wear a belt and look over the steering wheel ... and I like driving a "... large, comfortable, good performing vehicle ..." as you said. Even better, so does my wife and one GX 460 satisfies both of us.
Regards,
SaniDel
03-13-13 | 08:46 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 58,383
Likes: 2,794
From: Maryland
Buyers in your neck of the woods - the east coast - may not care much about off-road prowess or towing capability.
But out West it's a different story; 4WD SUV's and Pickups are popular despite their poor fuel economy because we have mountains and lots of recreational opportunities in those mountains.
But out West it's a different story; 4WD SUV's and Pickups are popular despite their poor fuel economy because we have mountains and lots of recreational opportunities in those mountains.
Originally Posted by SaniDel
A recent automotive column lamented the decline of "land yachts" ... large, body-on-frame sedans with large V-8 engines, rear-wheel drive and excessive turning radius. They were often driven by old men wearing Sans-a-Belt pants and golf caps who peered through the spokes of the steering wheel as they meandered down the highway ;-)
The other concern is safety, as safety regulations get more strict, and fuel economy standards as they become more strict. Body on frame vehicles typically have drawbacks in both categories when compared to more modern unibody designs.
My point is...you're seeing less and less full frame SUVs, as you now see no full frame cars.