4R v's GX

[bulldog-yota]

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???

Here in my valley, you wont find a LC for under 60K. Seems like they are discounting the 04 models on the LCs where you are, but dont expect it to last. The delaers wont even deal that much on an LC here, same as Lexus. You can probably knock a few K of the MSRP, but that's it.

If I were yo I would get an LC at that price

 

[Kanab]

Here in my valley, you wont find a LC for under 60K. Seems like they are discounting the 04 models on the LCs where you are, but dont expect it to last. The delaers wont even deal that much on an LC here, same as Lexus. You can probably knock a few K of the MSRP, but that's it.

If I were yo I would get an LC at that price

I think the one priced at $48K was a demo but still like you I would want the LC even if I would have to pay a couple of thousand more.

 

[Mark86]

In my area, the 2005 GX470's are not being discounted at all. For a 2005 fully loaded (sport package, nav, KDSS) GX470, the sticker was around $53,000. The salesman said that what you see is what you get. There is no movement on the price of those trucks. On the other hand, a 2005 4Runner Limited fully loaded (nav, XREAS, ride height) goes for $43,000. The salesman said that they could work on the price and knock it down a bit. Don't know how much though. The Land Cruisers in my area range from $58,000-$60,000. The LX470's are around $69,000-$71,000. I didn't see anybody mention a Sequoia. I have to say that the Sequoia is a good buy for the money. You could get a fully loaded one for around $47,000 and it is like double the size of the 4Runner and GX470. I think that is more worth the money than a Land Cruisier or LX470. It also has a lot of the same technology as the 4Runner.

 

[Kanab]

In my area, the 2005 GX470's are not being discounted at all. For a 2005 fully loaded (sport package, nav, KDSS) GX470, the sticker was around $53,000. The salesman said that what you see is what you get. There is no movement on the price of those trucks. On the other hand, a 2005 4Runner Limited fully loaded (nav, XREAS, ride height) goes for $43,000. The salesman said that they could work on the price and knock it down a bit. Don't know how much though. The Land Cruisers in my area range from $58,000-$60,000. The LX470's are around $69,000-$71,000. I didn't see anybody mention a Sequoia. I have to say that the Sequoia is a good buy for the money. You could get a fully loaded one for around $47,000 and it is like double the size of the 4Runner and GX470. I think that is more worth the money than a Land Cruisier or LX470. It also has a lot of the same technology as the 4Runner.

Guess I don't understand why anyone would pay sticker? You could go through a broker who would shop the country and beat that price. If I can find a LC at my local dealer that is a untitled demo and I could buy for $48K with a MSRP of around $58K, anyone in New Jersey could also buy this vehicle with a little effort. I know local brokers that can beat these prices all day long and still make a profit.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Guess I don't understand why anyone would pay sticker? You could go through a broker who would shop the country and beat that price. If I can find a LC at my local dealer that is a untitled demo and I could buy for $48K with a MSRP of around $58K, anyone in New Jersey could also buy this vehicle with a little effort. I know local brokers that can beat these prices all day long and still make a profit.

Not everybody wants to buy a demo probably.

As to the sequoia, they are good value and the biggest by far of the bunch. Unfortunately they dont drive as nice or feel as sporty as the others, they are defintely more focussed on the pure family buyer not the SUV nut. Where sport and offroading comes to mind.

I'm currently looking between another 4R, GX, LC and Sequoia for the second "family" vehicle. The 4R is leading the charge so far, mostly due to price. The LC worries me witht the fact that the current model will be phased out in the next year or 2, and that they didn't put in the new V8. It defintely is the slowest of the bunch but feels the best to drive. In my area you can't find them without rear seat DVD and a lot of options I dont really care for driving the price well above 60k. Special order is a nono here on dealing for a good price. The Sequoia is really nice, but a bit too big and doesn't really fit my need, come on I only have one dog not 10 The GX gets critized for being a Lexus (GF dont try and figure a woman's mind), things like the wood steering wheel just doesn't work in the style department for me.

The problem I have is that there are too many people with lots of $$$ here, so the GX and LC gets loaded with big $$$$ and that's it. The dealers sell tons of them and are happy, no incentive to deal. At least the 4R and Sequoia is still "value" vehicles here giving more options in the $$$ department.

 

[Mark86]

Not everybody wants to buy a demo probably.

As to the sequoia, they are good value and the biggest by far of the bunch. Unfortunately they dont drive as nice or feel as sporty as the others, they are defintely more focussed on the pure family buyer not the SUV nut. Where sport and offroading comes to mind.

The GX gets critized for being a Lexus (GF dont try and figure a woman's mind), things like the wood steering wheel just doesn't work in the style department for me.

I never drove a Seqouia. They just looked good from the outside and from the sticker! The price on those is something you can't beat. I really don't have a need for a Sequoia either since I have only myself to transport! Since my parents are looking for new SUV's, they took me along with them because they are interested in either the GX470 or 4Runner and who better to come along for the ride???:lmao: So far I have test drove the 04 GX470 without KDSS and the 04 4Runner V8 fully loaded. This Friday they are getting in an 05 GX470 with KDSS. I get to take a spin on that and will post my thoughts here and maybe some pics if I could sneak some!! I have to agree with you on the wood steering wheel. Before I test drove the GX470, I thought it looked good. After driving one, I liked the leather better because the wood doesn't feel good while driving. You can't slide your hand around it.

 

[Kanab]

Just talked to a buddy at the gym that wholesales highline cars and he just picked up a 2002 fully loaded Landcruiser with less than 40K miles for $36K.

 

[EDGE]

Im in the same situation as Bulldog, my area is just got to much money

The MSRP of the Toyotas and Lexus vehicles I looked at are, these are all Loaded:

V8 4Runner Limited, 43-45k
GX470, 53k but I've seen 49k and 55k
LC, 60 - 62k but they do dealer add ons up to 67k and the nightvision is expensive
LX, 67k but with DVD's , playstations and other video stuff their 76k, they did have a 2003 with the TRD blower, other dealer add ons for almost 80k, that dealer charges 7000 for the TRD install, thats why my 03 does not have 1

Sequoia, nice but they are way to soft

As for right now their is only 1 dealer in the area who is getting V8 Limited 4Runners and they sell as fast as they get them, I'll wait a month or 2 when they have 20 instock that or a GX, the look is growing on me:

 

[EDGE]

oh yeah, demos are not cheaper

 

[Kanab]

www.motorwerkscars.com Go here guys and Kip can get you what you need at big savings.

 

[Thai]

KDSS:

Industry-First Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System
The performance cornerstone of the Sport Package is the unique Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). Introduced as an option in 2004, KDSS brings new levels of handling, ride comfort and off-road capability to the already highly competent GX 470.

Employing a simple hydraulic control system acting on both front and rear stabilizer bars, KDSS reduces the degree of roll stiffness provided by each of the bars in response to changing road conditions and driver inputs. With its variable roll stiffness, a KDSS-equipped GX 470 is able to use much larger stabilizer bars that help reduce maximum body roll angle by nearly 50 percent, helping to significantly enhance handling response.

Large stabilizer bars would normally mean a stiff ride over single-wheel bumps, but with KDSS, the energy is distributed between front and rear so that ride comfort is not disturbed. In some cases it's improved. Larger stabilizer bars enable shock absorber damping force to be optimized to improve ride comfort, without sacrificing handling.

The front and rear stabilizer bars, which have nearly double the standard torsional stiffness, are supported by their own inter-connecting hydraulic cylinders. In normal cornering, the bars work conventionally to resist body roll motion and there is no fluid flow between the cylinders. When unequal wheel loading occurs in certain conditions, fluid can move between the front and rear cylinders, helping to equalize loading.

The variable terrain typical of most off-road situations highlights the benefits of KDSS. Stiff stabilizer bars can limit off-road performance, because the inside wheels tend to lift and lose traction when outside wheels encounter bumps. However, with KDSS, the hydraulic cylinders allow the wheels on each axle to move with a larger degree of side-to-side independence, helping to minimize any tendency for wheel lift. The increased suspension articulation freedom helps maximize traction, even in challenging off-road driving situations.

KDSS works in concert with the standard Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which continuously changes shock absorber damping in response to road conditions and driver input.

Combining these suspension technologies helps provide superior ride and handling and maximum traction both on and off-road.

 

[Thai]

More KDSS info

Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS)

The optional KDSS employs hydraulic controls for the front and rear stabilizer bars in order to improve on-road handling and enhance off-road capability.

The system uses hydraulic cylinders acting on each stabilizer bar that are linked by a pressure-sensing valve. During cornering, when both front and rear cylinders are compressed, no fluid is flowing in the system and the stabilizer bars work conventionally to reduce body roll.

However, when an uneven surface is encountered, one compressed cylinder causes fluid to flow between the front and rear cylinders, allowing the stabilizer bars to move freely. This increases wheel articulation and travel as well as helping to equalize wheel loading.

By allowing the stabilizer bars to disengage in certain situations, the stiffness of the stabilizers can be notably increased, thereby reducing body roll and improving handling without negatively effecting ride comfort or off-road performance.

 

[Thai]

Above info can be found in this thread:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4633&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

You can read from page 4-5 about the '04 and '05 GX.

 

[bulldog-yota]

OK, great info. Now for the million $ question. Can it be retro fitted to an 4R??

I would like to figure that one out, so I can get it on my 4R. Maybe somebody can buy a GX so we can "review" it in detial

 

[Luxury]

OK, great info. Now for the million $ question. Can it be retro fitted to an 4R??

I would like to figure that one out, so I can get it on my 4R. Maybe somebody can buy a GX so we can "review" it in detial

Or better yet, someone buy a junk heap that we can all scavange off of.

I'd love to retrofit mine with that system.

 

[Thai]

It's probably cheaper to trade-in your 4runner and get the GX...than it is to retrofit the KDSS.

 

[Luxury]

It's fun to dream though. Dam, you already woke me up, back to the reality of work

 

[bulldog-yota]

Test drove a GX today. Unfortunately the 05s are selling so fast here they didn't have one at the dealer. We were in the area so we stopped by the dealer to look at them, as we are looking for a new car for my GF. They only had a lonely 03 standing there. SO we said what the heck.

It is definitely feels much bigger inside. Couple of inches extra headroom, especially in the front with the moonroof. You can also get your feet under front seat when seated in the rear, which makes the legroom in the back feel lots bigger. This is an issue with my 4R limited. The inside feels way better than the 4R. The ride was a bit soft for my liking even with the shocks set at firm, I hope the KDSS system fixes this if we get her a GX. The wind noise is better than my 4R, but road and engine noise was the same, even slightly worse even with my Revos. (Oh I forgot to mention I put Dynamat in 4R floor, still need to do doors ) When I put the Dynamat in I couldn't really tell a difference, but I guess now I know better.

They will give me a call when they an 05 with KDSS, so I can give feedback on how it does with the new V8 and upgraded suspension. The pickup on the GX felt more or less the same as my 4R with lift and 32" tires.

 

[TexGX]

I hope everyone had a great holiday. Mine was great. I was up in Sedona, AZ and finally got to take my GX off-road. There is a trail called Broken Arrow that the jeep tours go on. It is a very technical trail. The GX work perfect. I got a lot of looks from the people on the jeep tours, they could not believe that the Lexus, could make it up the same places the jeeps went. I did scratch one running board, but am planning on replacing with sliders any way. The KDSS worked as reported. I am looking forward to hitting the dirt again.

 

[Kanab]

I hope everyone had a great holiday. Mine was great. I was up in Sedona, AZ and finally got to take my GX off-road. There is a trail called Broken Arrow that the jeep tours go on. It is a very technical trail. The GX work perfect. I got a lot of looks from the people on the jeep tours, they could not believe that the Lexus, could make it up the same places the jeeps went. I did scratch one running board, but am planning on replacing with sliders any way. The KDSS worked as reported. I am looking forward to hitting the dirt again.

WOW, taking a 50K+ Luxury SUV off road, your either rich or your not married