GX470 vs 5th Gen

[rainmn]

My wife has had two GX470s (first and last years). They are good trucks, but IMO, the only thing they have on a 5th gen 4Runner is the V8. I like pretty much everything else on the 4Runner better.

The rear door on the GX is just stupid. 4Runner wins hands down here.

If you need 3rd row seating, the 4Runner wins again there.

The adjustable rear air suspension on the GX is crap. I had issues with it on both of her trucks. (Although when it worked, it was nice to be able to lower the truck to make it easier to get our Mastiff in)

The GX has some features absent in my 4Runner. If I had bought a limited, I'd have some of those, but I don't really miss any of them.

This one is purely subjective, but I think the 4Runner looks far better both inside and out.

 

[jeremyc74]

My wife has had two GX470s (first and last years). They are good trucks, but IMO, the only thing they have on a 5th gen 4Runner is the V8. I like pretty much everything else on the 4Runner better.

The rear door on the GX is just stupid. 4Runner wins hands down here.

If you need 3rd row seating, the 4Runner wins again there.

The adjustable rear air suspension on the GX is crap. I had issues with it on both of her trucks. (Although when it worked, it was nice to be able to lower the truck to make it easier to get our Mastiff in)

The GX has some features absent in my 4Runner. If I had bought a limited, I'd have some of those, but I don't really miss any of them.

This one is purely subjective, but I think the 4Runner looks far better both inside and out.

The V8 is a pretty strong selling point for me though. I'm planning on getting a boat, and might occasionally tow a small camper. Did you ever do any towing with the GX? Also, how bad is the timing belt to change and what's the cost? I generally do this kind of thing myself, but I don't have a garage right now and I'm busy so I may have to pay someone to do it.

As far as features go, what is the 4Runner missing? I would rather not have leather seats honestly, so I was kind of avoiding a Limited when looking at 5th gens.

Also, what's the difference in the transfer cases on the 5th gens. I see some with a stick and some with a knob. (if there's a thread discussing that feel free to point me to it instead of explaining it again)

Thanks for all the info. I'm certainly more educated but I'm not sure I'm any closer to making a decision. :smashputer:

 

[rainmn]

The V8 is a pretty strong selling point for me though. I'm planning on getting a boat, and might occasionally tow a small camper. Did you ever do any towing with the GX? Also, how bad is the timing belt to change and what's the cost? I generally do this kind of thing myself, but I don't have a garage right now and I'm busy so I may have to pay someone to do it.

As far as features go, what is the 4Runner missing? I would rather not have leather seats honestly, so I was kind of avoiding a Limited when looking at 5th gens.

Also, what's the difference in the transfer cases on the 5th gens. I see some with a stick and some with a knob. (if there's a thread discussing that feel free to point me to it instead of explaining it again)

Thanks for all the info. I'm certainly more educated but I'm not sure I'm any closer to making a decision. :smashputer:

I've only towed my boat with the GXs, not with the 4Runner yet. I'm not the best to comment there, since I only move the boat 2x a year, and only to the ramp about 1/4 mile from the house. Just about anything would work to get it that far.

Never changed the timing belt on either truck. Traded the first one in just before 90k miles on an LR4. The 2nd was totaled with less than 30k on it.

Some of the features that all GX470s have: Auto headlights, memory seat / mirrors / steering wheel, rain sensing wipers, leather, heated seats, rear A/C, adjustable suspension, adjustable rear ride height, auto climate control, etc....

Some of those you can get in a 5th gen 4Runner, some you can't.

As for the 5th gen transfer cases, someone else can correct me if I'm wrong here, but I was under the impression there was no difference between the dial and lever. I believe both are ultimately connected to the same transfer case, but I'm not 100% on that one.

The limited is obviously different, since it has full time 4wd.

 

[salong53]

What I like about my 5th gen:
1) Warranty
2) Crash safety (door reinforcements, more airbags, etc...)
3) It was a virgin when I bought it
4) Newer electronics
5) S-mode to control gears when towing
6) No fear of 4Lo or center diff actuator failure

What makes me wish I'd bought a GX:
1) Leather
2) The V8. The 5th gen has a serious need for more low end torque, especially cruising above 75mph on the highway or when towing my boat.
3) I could've spent about $10-15k less
4) More rear cargo height and removable 3rd row seats compared to the 5th gen with 3rd row
5) Open/locking center diff & full time 4wd

If you're looking for a GX, find one with the timing belt service done regardless of mileage. Find one without the Mark Levinson factory nav, and replace it with aftermarket nav if that's a necessity for you. Make sure there is no dash cover crack issue or leather cracking (it will only get worse). Make sure 4lo works and rear air suspension doesn't leak.

I would place more emphasis on all of those things than finding a sport package model. I have no doubt that KDSS is nice, but it increases the price, gives more parts to break, makes it harder to lift, and is difficult to find.

 

[jeremyc74]

What I like about my 5th gen:
1) Warranty
2) Crash safety (door reinforcements, more airbags, etc...)
3) It was a virgin when I bought it
4) Newer electronics
5) S-mode to control gears when towing
6) No fear of 4Lo or center diff actuator failure

What makes me wish I'd bought a GX:
1) Leather
2) The V8. The 5th gen has a serious need for more low end torque, especially cruising above 75mph on the highway or when towing my boat.
3) I could've spent about $10-15k less
4) More rear cargo height and removable 3rd row seats compared to the 5th gen with 3rd row
5) Open/locking center diff & full time 4wd

If you're looking for a GX, find one with the timing belt service done regardless of mileage. Find one without the Mark Levinson factory nav, and replace it with aftermarket nav if that's a necessity for you. Make sure there is no dash cover crack issue or leather cracking (it will only get worse). Make sure 4lo works and rear air suspension doesn't leak.

I would place more emphasis on all of those things than finding a sport package model. I have no doubt that KDSS is nice, but it increases the price, gives more parts to break, makes it harder to lift, and is difficult to find.

Thanks for the comment. I'm going to have to do more research on the nav system, and what makes it so bad. It's pretty hard to find the later models without it.

Other than KDSS, I'm really after the dark wood you get with the sport package. I'll take one with the darker red color and black interior if I have to, but I absolutely hate the lighter colors, and they don't age as well.

I'm searching nationally (at least everything from TX east), and I'm not in a rush so I'm sure I can find one. I travel constantly for work, so when I find one I'll just book my return flight to wherever it's at, and it will only cost me the fuel to get home.

 

[Morphyne]

The ML speAkers I believerun at 4 ohm. Making it hard to find a suitable head unit. ML by the way is the very best in car audio. AZ far as the nav. People say it's not very good and is hard or not able to update. I do not have the ml in my gx470. So I don't have first hand knowledge of its use. Personally I use my phone as an up to date gps.

 

[rainmn]

I had the nav and ML audio in both of mine.

Honestly, I didn't think the nav was that bad. Not the best one I've ever used, but certainly not the worst either. There are differences between the nav interface from year to year. I think there were 3 different versions used. Also note that only the later years of the GX had bluetooth and backup camera.

As for the ML audio, I thought it sounded pretty good for a factory system. My only complaint was that the foam surrounds on the front door speakers dry rotted away to nothing on the 2003. There really were no suitable aftermarket replacements at the time, so I ended up replacing them with OEM.

 

[salong53]

Thanks for the comment. I'm going to have to do more research on the nav system, and what makes it so bad. It's pretty hard to find the later models without it.

Other than KDSS, I'm really after the dark wood you get with the sport package. I'll take one with the darker red color and black interior if I have to, but I absolutely hate the lighter colors, and they don't age as well.

I don't think the nav was all that terrible, but it's one of the older systems that requires a disc to update the maps. If Toyota hasn't already stopped producing updates, you can guarantee they will fairly soon. The biggest problem is that the nav and climate controls are one piece, meaning it's virtually impossible to swap in an aftermarket head unit in the Mark Levinson models. If you never plan to modify it, then it's no big deal I guess.

The 2008-2009 models IIRC all had the nicer looking grey interior with red wood. You could find one of those for less than $20k most likely.

 

[Bumbo]

The ML speAkers I believerun at 4 ohm. Making it hard to find a suitable head unit. ML by the way is the very best in car audio. AZ far as the nav. People say it's not very good and is hard or not able to update. I do not have the ml in my gx470. So I don't have first hand knowledge of its use. Personally I use my phone as an up to date gps.

Its been a long time since I was into all the car audio stuff but I was under the impression 4 ohms for were pretty standard across the board for speaker mains and head units...

In home theater, on the smaller satellite speakers, you mostly see 6-8 ohms and most of the receivers, at least on the more low to mid tiers are 8 ohms.

 

[jeremyc74]

Its been a long time since I was into all the car audio stuff but I was under the impression 4 ohms for were pretty standard across the board for speaker mains and head units...

In home theater, on the smaller satellite speakers, you mostly see 6-8 ohms and most of the receivers, at least on the more low to mid tiers are 8 ohms.

4 ohms is standard for car audio stuff, but I think a lot of the OEM premium systems are using 2ohms. I've read about this issue with other vehicles that have Bose systems. That lets them get more power out of an amp without having to put in a more expensive amp that uses a DC-DC converter to raise the voltage.

Edit: Started doing some research, and the ML stuff is actually 8ohms.

You know it's bad when you get this from Crutchfield:
•We don't recommend replacing the radio in your vehicle.
•None of these items fits your GX470.

 

[Bumbo]

4 ohms is standard for car audio stuff, but I think a lot of the OEM premium systems are using 2ohms. I've read about this issue with other vehicles that have Bose systems. That lets them get more power out of an amp without having to put in a more expensive amp that uses a DC-DC converter to raise the voltage.

Edit: Started doing some research, and the ML stuff is actually 8ohms.

You know it's bad when you get this from Crutchfield:
•We don't recommend replacing the radio in your vehicle.
•None of these items fits your GX470.

You could always just get two 4 ohm speakers and wire them in series... 8 ohm final load and now you just need to cut some holes in your dash for more speakers... no replacement for displacement :lol:

Or, just hook up a 4 ohm speaker and let it ride... just makes more heat... whats the worst than can happen?

It would be high quality, just like my on-board-air compressor...
12V Air Compressor - 250 PSI, Compact Air Compressor

 

[Morphyne]

4 ohms is standard for car audio stuff, but I think a lot of the OEM premium systems are using 2ohms. I've read about this issue with other vehicles that have Bose systems. That lets them get more power out of an amp without having to put in a more expensive amp that uses a DC-DC converter to raise the voltage.

Edit: Started doing some research, and the ML stuff is actually 8ohms.

You know it's bad when you get this from Crutchfield:
•We don't recommend replacing the radio in your vehicle.
•None of these items fits your GX470.

That's right. I had it backwards. I knew it was a standard compatibility issue with car audio. So head units would suck to buy because the OHMs are wrong. So if you want to upgrade your ML speakers systme and head unit, it sounds like you have to do it all at once.

 

[Peyto]

4x4 does noting for you in the rain except lessen the likelihood of breaking a tire free on acceleration from a stop. The confidence is all placebo.

This.

For me, UNLOCKED 4WD gets a lot of use. If you cant unlock the t-case, then your 4x4 feels more off-road only. I hate putting on tire chains, and being locked in snow feels like you have less control around turns.

I totally get the convenience of it, and if it was an available option on a Trail I would probably go with it, but I do a a lot of winter driving in both the city and on highways and gravel and I get good use of the part time 4x4. Not as mindless as you have to remember to switch when you hit a cleared road, but doesn't change the way it drives and handles in any way that I can perceive.

 

[stiles_s]

A few things that haven't been mentioned. FWIW, I put 100K on an '07 GX w/KDSS. It was one of the best vehicles I've ever owned.

The full time torsen awd with the v8 simply kicks the ass of the 5th gen -- at least for my typical driving. No comparison. Mileage is significantly better in the 5th gen, though.

The additional bits: I was never really comfortable in the GX's seats. They are scaled for either women or shorter folks. In particular, the seat bottom is short. The 5th gen 4runner fits me great. Far more comfortable seats, size and cushioning wise.

The roll down rear window in the 4runenr is just killer. The barn door in the GX is dumb.

All that said, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to live w/the lack of low end torque in the 5th Gen 4runner for long. I've looked at the GX460 and: it's bloody ugly, the seat bottom issue is still there, and I'm religiously opposed to eating trunk space for a 3rd row I'll never use. So, no. Gotta save for a Land Cruiser.