Awkward Question Trail Edition or GX 460?

D

dadgumit

New member
First post for me, sorry if I tard it up somehow by mistake.

I have been considering getting a trail edition 4 Runner as my first entry into the off road world. I am by no means an expert but it looks like the trail would more than meet my needs for some trips to national parks etc...

However, while looking at them I noticed that the trail edition 4 runner costs roughly the same as the lexus gx460. Obviously the GX isn't AS capable as the 4Runner, but by that same token I doubt I will push the 4runner to the edge of it's capability anyways.

Given that this will be a daily driver and there is no questioning the comfort of the GX I was wondering if anyone knowledgeable could chime in on what things I could consider.

I have had a hard time figuring out what options etc... I should be looking for on the trail (other than KDSS, which I def want) so making a comparison to the GX is already difficult and I really don't know a ton about those options either. So I would appreciate what to look for on the trail.


Thanks in advance
 
Register to hide this ad
Huh? The GX460 starts at $53,800.
You're either getting a hell of a deal on the Lexus or you're getting reamed on the Trail.
I would trade my Trail for a GX in a New York minute.
 
Those vehicles do not cost roughly the same. Maybe if you get a super used GX vs new trail? Anyway get the damn GX. I am so close to pulling the trigger on one my self. Don't exclude the Limited from your test drives.
 
Get a GX, it is as capable as the Trail edition and you will thank The Lord everyday for your V8 and the luxurious appointments. You think to yourself "hey this V6 isn't that bad" but it will get on your nerves after a while.
 
A new GX and a new T4R will be no where near the same price. You are seeing (very) used prices or scam auctions if they are anywhere near the same.

A GX will be a great daily driver, and be able to hit some trails once in a while - I saw a GX470 on Engineer Pass last weekend. However, for hard core off-roading, the GX has way too much low hanging crap that is not easily removed. Too bad they don't sell the Prado here in the states, with a 4.6 v8 option. I would have bought that.
 
Lolrax said:
Get a GX, it is as capable as the Trail edition and you will thank The Lord everyday for your V8 and the luxurious appointments. You think to yourself "hey this V6 isn't that bad" but it will get on your nerves after a while.
Click to expand...


I know the GX attack angles are worse. I also think that things like crawl control are optional on teh GX (which I'd need to look out for),but then I don't know if the trail edition has that standard.

Thanks for your reply... really hoping someone knows enough details to compare the two by features.
 
1000MPH said:
Huh? The GX460 starts at $53,800.
You're either getting a hell of a deal on the Lexus or you're getting reamed on the Trail.
I would trade my Trail for a GX in a New York minute.
Click to expand...

Juding by autotrader, you probably could get that transaction done. I think the GX just depreciates much more quickly than the trail (probably the trail has more of an enthusiast base).
 
dadgumit said:
This generation Prado is offered in the US badged as the 2010 model year Lexus GX 460. Source
Click to expand...
It is offered in the states as the GX and the 4R. Unfortunately the Lexusized Prado is pretty worthless as a trail rig, due to all of the low hanging crap. Fortunately, the 4R is relatively popular as a trail rig and has some aftermraket support.
 
dadgumit said:
Juding by autotrader, you probably could get that transaction done. I think the GX just depreciates much more quickly than the trail (probably the trail has more of an enthusiast base).
Click to expand...

New GX depreciates 50% in 3 yeaars, just like any luxury vehicle. 4runner not so much. you can always modify that GX to look like this
20130627_095159.jpg
 
Jeremy556 said:
It is offered in the states as the GX and the 4R. Unfortunately the Lexusized Prado is pretty worthless as a trail rig, due to all of the low hanging crap. Fortunately, the 4R is relatively popular as a trail rig and has some aftermraket support.
Click to expand...

Per wikipedia the differences are cosmetic or interior, I have been googling and found nothing to support your claim of a difference between the two.

You keep saying it has "low hanging crap". What does that mean exactly? Keep in mind that I am a complete neophyte and what is obvious to you might not be to me.

From what I have been able to find the attack and departure angles are worse, and the ground clearance is like 8.1 inches, 1.5 inches less than the trail edition. The thing is, I don't know if that is a material difference. It doesn't SEEM like an extra inch and a half would make a world of difference but I don't know either.
 
The GX460 has the 1UR-FE going for it, which if Toyota was smart they would have thrown in the 5th gen! But it also has air suspension, Lexus crap in it (in this case its crap, because I don't need super luxury in my off-road rig; power windows, A/C, power door locks, and pretty interior are good enough), and clearance differences.

The Prado is roughly the same frame, but divergent from the 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, GX460, and Tacoma in body and such; its not a simple re-skin.

What he means by low hanging crap is the lower clearance, running boards, bumper skin, ect ect.

Not to sound mean, but how much off-roading are you really planning on? If the most you're going to see if some unpaved roads and muddy ruts then you can manage with the GX460 and some good AT's if you want to tow and such; otherwise the TE will be fine if you can live with a V6.
 
dadgumit said:
Per wikipedia the differences are cosmetic or interior, I have been googling and found nothing to support your claim of a difference between the two.

You keep saying it has "low hanging crap". What does that mean exactly? Keep in mind that I am a complete neophyte and what is obvious to you might not be to me.

From what I have been able to find the attack and departure angles are worse, and the ground clearance is like 8.1 inches, 1.5 inches less than the trail edition. The thing is, I don't know if that is a material difference. It doesn't SEEM like an extra inch and a half would make a world of difference but I don't know either.
Click to expand...

Go and look at a GX460 and T4R TE. The T4R has some serious shortcomings, but with a lift, tires, etc it will rival a JEEP. A regular T4R or GX will be tearing off body panels on the easy trails.

When I talk about low-hanging crap, I mean big body panels that extend below the body line, and I know that on my truck, I drag these things over rocks, and break the shit out of them.
 
dadgumit said:
Per wikipedia the differences are cosmetic or interior, I have been googling and found nothing to support your claim of a difference between the two.

You keep saying it has "low hanging crap". What does that mean exactly? Keep in mind that I am a complete neophyte and what is obvious to you might not be to me.

Go wheel a GX and a T4R, I promise the differences will make themselves apparent.
Click to expand...
 
I all depends on what kind of off-roading you're going to do and how much you're willing to risk scratching paint/ breaking the plastics on a Lexus. I would LOVE to have a GX460 with a lift and tires! I understand what [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] and others are saying about low-hanging running boards, etc, but there's no reason you couldn't remove those and add sliders. If you're not running tight, rough, rocky trails it won't matter anyway. We all have different needs for our trucks and not all of us try to go and run Jeep trails. You just have to be honest with yourself about what you want to do in your truck and what your priorities are, then buy accordingly. There is definitely not as much aftermarket stuff available though.
 
The problem with that example gx is that it is over 50k miles and therefore out of warranty. You can extend the factory warranty only if the factory warranty is still active. Find a gx with 49k miles or less and extend the factory warranty to 100k for around $2400 using the contact available by search on this forum. I had a gx 470 that was out of warranty and I was never comfortable given the potential cost for repairs. The example trail is CPO and therefor already has the 100k warranty which is great piece of mind. In that respect these vehicle cannot be compared.
 
The GX compares directly to the Limited.

To me it's not worth the extra money for a slightly better interior and slightly more powerful V8.
 
Spring if 2015 we're getting a GX 460 pending everything stays the same. We'll be getting rid of our BMW for it.

It will be my wife's car and Ill running the 4Runner hopefully 300k.
 
LandCruiser said:
The GX compares directly to the Limited.

To me it's not worth the extra money for a slightly better interior and slightly more powerful V8.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't though because you can get KDSS on it and adaptable height control. It's more capable than the limited, which is an SR5 with X-Reas and full time AWD. The GX doesn't have XReas.

The interior isn't slightly better either, it blows it away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 858 (members: 6, guests: 852)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,087
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top