4R v's GX

[TexGX]

This is a debate close to my heart. I was planning on getting a Limited V8 4R loaded. I had found one a dealer the exact way I wanted it. The only problem was my wife just did not like the interior and I made the mistake of letting her look at the GX. Here are the main differences I have found.

1. Upgraded interior. the GX has real wood, higher quality leather, quieter, better looking plastic.

2. KDSS! This is the main reason I caved on the GX. I can corner this thing like a Audi. There is very little body roll. KDSS also increases the wheel articulation in off roading so you have all four wheels on the ground more of the time.

3. Tail gate. I hate the tail gate on the GX. I would trade it for the 4R lift gate any day. The GX gate opens to the side. The side it opens to is opposite of the curb. Sucks when park along the street. Also it is nice to have a place to get out of the rain. I will say my wife likes it because she is knee high to a grasshopper.(Texas talk for short)

4. Navigation screen. The 4R has the lift up screen with the CD slot. The GX is similar to the Land Crusier. It would be nice to have the single slot for one CD. I have worked around this by using my DVD player in the center console.

5. After Market Gear. I can not find anything for my GX for off-roading. There are products for the 4R.

6. Last but not least: Price. The GX is about $10,000 more than the fully loaded 4R.

I would not trade my GX for anything. This in no way takes away from the 4R. They are practial the same truck. Same engine, frame, and drive train.

My only problem is most GX owners have no idea what the truck can do. Soccer moms don't do much 4 wheeling. I think a Toyota/Lexus off-road event would be great. I hope that I have helped.

TexGX

 

[bulldog-yota]

You forget the GX is quieter and has an inch or so extra headroom

How exactly does the KDSS work mechnically? I'm looking at something to improve the IFS articulation during offroading. Have not found a way to disconnect the front sway bar and tuck it away yet.

The 4R with XREAS probably handles better than the GX with KDSS, but it doesn't have the flex during offroading

Pending on the KDSS some of the offroad stuff should work on the GX. Do you have the rear air suspension?

 

[Luxury]

You forget the GX is quieter .........

Oh no he didn't.....he said that in item "1."

I think one of these days I am going to go for a test drive in a GX.....just for fun. Maybe I'll wait till the RX400h comes out and drive both at the same time......but I think that isn't till April.

 

[Mark86]

My parents are in the same boat. They are between a fully loaded 4Runner Limited and a GX470 with KDSS. They test drove both and liked different features in both trucks. The main problem for them was the GX470 cannot be configured without the thrid row seats. They do not need the third row seats, which takes away the cargo cover. The Limited's here do not have a third row. I went along and test drove both and I have to say, there is nothing like a GX ride and interior. Other than that, I liked the 4Runner in all other aspects (cornering, acceleration, looks). Personally, it didn't impress me enough to think about switching from a 4Runner!! Here are my feelings about both vehicles. I am totally honest here!

GX470
Pros: wood trim, fine quality of leather, comfortable seats, quiet ride, feels and looks luxurious, many cool little features (all in one key, windows go down with the key, lit up window switches)
Cons: not as fast as 4Runner, third row seats which eliminates cargo cover, $10,000 more for pretty much the same truck (mechanically) as a 4Runner, top heavy, liftgate swings out

4Runner
Pros: Get a lot for the money, many high tech features that you don't expect to find in a Toyota(touchscreen nav, ride height, XREAS), liftgate opens upward, cornering, same engine and mechanics as in a Lexus
Cons: headroom is the biggest thing here, seats not as comfortable as in the Lexus, made with some cheap materials (headliner, door panels)

 

[bulldog-yota]

A quick question on the Lexus: Does it have space for rear passenger feet under the front seats?

I never checked when I looked at them, and this is a pain sometimes with adults in the back with th 4R. Plenty of leg room but no room for feet, so the passngers end up bending their legs more than sometimes comfortable.

 

[TexGX]

Like I said the two are very similar. I will say that the KDSS GX handels better than the XReas 4R. XReas is a cross linked system, KDSS is indepentent to each wheel. This allows for more control over the truck. KDSS can disengage the sway bar during times that you need more wheel articulation. It all comes down to personal prefernce. Reguarding leg room in the back seat. I have had several people back there and not had any problems. I would love to see a loaded 4R and GX in a head to head test. GX has the same air suspenion in the back as the Limited 4R. The GX also has varible suspenion modes. It allows you to choose from comfort to sport. I personally like the sport mode, it stiffens up the ride. All in all I feel that if you like the 4R, then the GX just steps it up a notch. Rember, I wanted the 4R, I just fell in love with the GX.

 

[Luxury]

Besides the $$$$ factor, my largest deciding factor was the exterior rear styling. 4runner isn't perfect there either, but it is a sht-load better than the GX. I realize this is just my personal taste.

 

[Mark86]

Like I said the two are very similar. I will say that the KDSS GX handels better than the XReas 4R. XReas is a cross linked system, KDSS is indepentent to each wheel. This allows for more control over the truck. KDSS can disengage the sway bar during times that you need more wheel articulation. It all comes down to personal prefernce. Reguarding leg room in the back seat. I have had several people back there and not had any problems. I would love to see a loaded 4R and GX in a head to head test. GX has the same air suspenion in the back as the Limited 4R. The GX also has varible suspenion modes. It allows you to choose from comfort to sport. I personally like the sport mode, it stiffens up the ride. All in all I feel that if you like the 4R, then the GX just steps it up a notch. Rember, I wanted the 4R, I just fell in love with the GX.

I forgot about the adjustable ride. That was a pretty cool feature but I still liked the ride in the 4Runner better. The only thing is that the GX470 that we test drove did not have KDSS. That could be a big factor!! :

Originally posted by Luxury
Besides the $$$$ factor, my largest deciding factor was the exterior rear styling. 4runner isn't perfect there either, but it is a sht-load better than the GX. I realize this is just my personal taste.

I agree with you 100% there. I am not a fan of the 4Runner's back, but I like it a lot better than the GX470's back. I can't pinpoint what it is with the GX470, but it looks more like a minivan from the back. I think the 4Runner has a nicer shape to it.

 

[TranceKrayz]

the GX looks top heavy. it's too tall and not wide enough, so it doesn't look as stable as the LX or LC. Other than that....i also like the GX. the interior of the 4runner is nothing compared to it. i also occasionally drive my uncle's 2003 avalon, and i love that interior. i wish the 4runner were a little more luxurious. what can i say....i'm an old man stuck in a 19 year-old's body!

 

[TexGX]

The GX is not any more or less top heavy than the 4R. They have the same width and wheel base. The fact that the GX is a little taller than the 4R is not going to make difference. The addition of KDSS keeps this thing level as can be during aggressive cornering. It is more stable than the LX or LC. They have more body roll. I like the look of both of them.

 

[Kanab]

I don't need all of the soft leather and if I did I would buy it after market. I bought the Sport V8 more bang for the $$$. Fully loaded sport V8 AWD listed for $36K and bought for $32K. The best deal I've ever seen on a GX was someone paid $49K for one that listed for around $52K. Now your talkin $17K difference of my $$$ for some leather and help finding out where your goin (NAV System). Not in my lifetime. I can buy some of the nicest after market leather interior and have it installed for a few hundred dollars and if I need help finding out where I'm going you can buy some real nice after market GPS systems for a few hundred dollars. Lets see that means I still have $16K left in my pocket To me its all about the most bang for my buck. Nothing agains't the GX470 it is a great vehicle, I just can't/won't afford it.

 

[slowginjoe]

The GX is not any more or less top heavy than the 4R. They have the same width and wheel base. The fact that the GX is a little taller than the 4R is not going to make difference.

I think he meant that it only 'looks' more top heavy, which I agree with. I would've went for the GX as well had it not been for how the backend looks and side swinging door. For some reason I just couldn't get over that, but hey, you can't argue much against a consecutive 2-time 4wheeler magazine offroader of the year!

 

[bulldog-yota]

Like I said the two are very similar. I will say that the KDSS GX handels better than the XReas 4R. XReas is a cross linked system, KDSS is indepentent to each wheel. This allows for more control over the truck. KDSS can disengage the sway bar during times that you need more wheel articulation. It all comes down to personal prefernce. Reguarding leg room in the back seat. I have had several people back there and not had any problems. I would love to see a loaded 4R and GX in a head to head test. GX has the same air suspenion in the back as the Limited 4R. The GX also has varible suspenion modes. It allows you to choose from comfort to sport. I personally like the sport mode, it stiffens up the ride. All in all I feel that if you like the 4R, then the GX just steps it up a notch. Rember, I wanted the 4R, I just fell in love with the GX.

How does the GX disconnect the swaybar exactly? I would like to see if I can devise a similar mechanism for my 4R in the front. The swaybar really limits front flex while offroading and there is no current way to disconnect the swaybar apart from removing it. So it is really not a quick job to do for offroad situations and thne connect back while going on road again.

If you can have a look at it I would really appreciate it.


Leg room is not the issue in the 4R, it is the fact that you can't put feet under the front seats that sucks. I dont know if it is n issue with the GX as well.

 

[TexGX]

I will agree that the side opening door sucks. I would much rather have the lift gate on the 4R or even better the split gate on the LC.

Reguarding how the KDSS disconnects the sway bars, you can look up KDSS on the Lexus web site for more information. I do not know exactly how it does it. I will look in to it.

A full loaded 04' GX can be had for about $49. The loaded V8 Limited I priced out was right at $39 so I was thinking 4R. So you are right I paid $10 for upgraded leather, real wood trim, KDSS, Lexus service, third row (more for resale) and a happy wife. To me money well spent. If the wife was not happy, I did not get a new truck.

I think both trucks are great. I knew I was going to by a Toyota regardless if it said Lexus on the back. Let just all agree that the 4R and GX are two of the best true SUV's on the market, hands down. :cheers:

 

[slowginjoe]

Let just all agree that the 4R and GX are two of the best true SUV's on the market, hands down. :cheers:

i agree 100%! :cheers: :beer:

 

[slyangel9]

IMO - the GX looks very sharp especially in white.

 

[EDGE]

KDSS handles better than the X-REAS, thats very good to know cause I have been looking at the GX more and more and since I graciously gave my 4Runner to my brother I have been looking for new wheels, of course the top of my list is the 05 V8 Limited Loaded but I hate how they turned the Limited into an SR5 by taking the sliver accents away.

I can deal with the swinging door but I like the 4x4 switch in the 4Runner over the lever in the GX: and the 4Runner being faster:

 

[Kanab]

KDSS handles better than the X-REAS, thats very good to know cause I have been looking at the GX more and more and since I graciously gave my 4Runner to my brother I have been looking for new wheels, of course the top of my list is the 05 V8 Limited Loaded but I hate how they turned the Limited into an SR5 by taking the sliver accents away.

I can deal with the swinging door but I like the 4x4 switch in the 4Runner over the lever in the GX: and the 4Runner being faster:

If I was going to spend the $$$ it cost to get a GX I would buy a new Landcruiser. JMHO

 

[bulldog-yota]

If I was going to spend the $$$ it cost to get a GX I would buy a new Landcruiser. JMHO

Toyot did their homework too well on pricing for that to happen.

COmpared to a 4R:
GX 10k more
LC 20K more
LX 30k more

So take your pic

 

[Kanab]

Toyot did their homework too well on pricing for that to happen.

COmpared to a 4R:
GX 10k more
LC 20K more
LX 30k more

So take your pic

My local Toyota dealer has 5 Landcruisers that they have stickers on that have them priced from $48-52K the MSRP's are $57-62K. They are also a Lexus shop and the GX's are going for around $50K. I guess you can find a GX for around $47-48K but I would buy the $48K (new) 2004 Landcruiser than the GX. I'm just going by what I saw???