Has anyone regretted upgrading to GX 460?

[Harris Y]

No regrets here. The KDSS is outstanding, the new luxuries and quieter cabin make it feel like going from a toy to a real car.

 

[joefbtg28]

6 month update:
I ended up finding a super clean, low mileage, GX 460. Overall I am very happy with it, however I knew either way there would be trade-offs.
* Pro: The GX is by far the best road tripping car I have ever ridden in. Very confortable for long periods of time. Cabin is very quite.
* Pro: v8 and 6 speed are incredible. Extremely smooth both around town and in the mountains.
* Pro: KDSS works great.
* Pro: One feature I wasn't aware of is the transmission automatically downshifts for you in the mountains. Super nice feature not having to handle this manually. Just break on a hill and it will downshift and hold that gear until you use the accelerator.
* Pro: Very capable on snowy highways in stock form. It felt just as or more stable than my 4th gen 4runner with Falken Wilpeaks.
* Pro: I never really used DAC (downhill assist control) in my 4th gen. You can easily mod this switch to add crawl control or multi terrain select.
* Pro: Features you "don't need" that are super nice. Auto leveling HIDs headlights, auto headlights/wipers, heated mirrors/steering wheel/seats, great sound system with dampening, folding mirrors, etc.
* Neither: Truck drives great. It does take some time to get used to the extra weight during breaking and slightly wider profile during parking.
* Neither: Gas mileage seems about as rated. Just a couple of MPGs worse than the 4.0 v6.
* Neither: I was hoping to get the beatsonic on a black friday sale, but no such luck. I will probably just pay retail.
* Neither: For those looking used, the black interior seems to age much better than the lighter colors.
* Neither: People's perception of the Lexus is much different than the 4runner, even though I was shopping for both in the same price range. This can either be good or bad.
* Con: The rear gate takes some getting used to, and my dog misses the roll down rear window. I don't use the third row.
* Con: Due to the taller cabin, I cannot fit my inno wedge roof box on in the garage (by 1/4"). A bit of a bummer for ski season. Not a huge deal since I am planning on doing suspension and tires, so it wouldn't have fit with those mods.
* Con: So much chrome. I usually black out all of my vehicles with plasti dip or vinyl wrap, but the GX has so much I didnt' want to tackle the project yet.
* Con: There really isn't all that much storage in the back of the vehicle. My 4th gen had cubbies in both wheel wells that were nice. The subwoofer takes up what could be a storage area. Things I like to have tucked away in the cargo area are; jump pack, air compressor, bug spray, sunscreen lotion, leather gloves. I will probably add a metal molle panel with bags in the rear area that sits above your eyeline in the rear view mirror. This isn't too intrusive since the cabin is taller.
* Con: The asthetics are pretty soft looking IMO. You really need a lift, tires, or roof rack to make it look as off-road worthy as it actually is. Without putting too much crap on the outside of the vehicle.

 

[Oldmanb777]

Nice review. I think I would mostly agree. Ours doesn't downshift with breaking. If your in cruise control it will to try and hold speed from increasing. But other than that, I have not had it down shift with breaking. That would be nice. We have the white interior. Yes it seem to not be wearing as well as it should. The drivers seat is showing wear where you slide in and out. Seems like the interior space is efficiently used, but we could use more, of course. And YES its just plain uggly!!!!!! Nice bumpers and rock sliders can make it a very good looking rig. I would like to do the mod, adding crawl control, maybe some day. We don't seem to ever use the downhill mode. I would like the comfort/sport mode to be a lot more aggressive. It doesn't do enough to justify taking up the space. The rear door takes a bit of getting use to. can't say I like it, but don't hate it. I would like the glass to be bigger. Lower entry area of the glass would be much nicer, and add visibility witch is lacking anyway. The gas mileage is better than I would have expected, but you need to drive it like a heavy car. 2 lead feet will destroy any gas mileage dreams. We average mid 15's around town. Lots of 2 and 3 and 4 mile jaunts. Average about 20 on the highway. We drive between the disaster on the front range to Grand Lake a lot. That usually gets us a bit over 20 mpg round trip. Best have seen is 21.2.

 

[Oldmanb777]

Something really anoying to me is the poor quality of the lether used for the seats. Ours is a 2017, always garaged. About 36K on the clock. Both front seats are showing significant wear, especially where you slide in and out of the seat. I would expect to see wear in that spot. but for comparison my '99 GMC pick up sits out side in the high altitude sun all it's life. I get in and out with work clothes etc. The leather on the drivers seat is in much better shape than the drivers seat on the GX. Pretty disappointing.

 

[joefbtg28]

Ours doesn't downshift with breaking. If your in cruise control it will to try and hold speed from increasing. But other than that, I have not had it down shift with breaking. That would be nice.

I read another thread on this. If you ride the brakes it will not downshift. Try a series of light brake taps until the tranny downshifts. I have a tendency to pulsate the brakes in the mountains, so that is probably why it was working as expected for me.

 

[slayman]

What an informative thread. Thanks to all who have posted. I was considering a GX to replace my 253K mile 99 4R. I was hoping to get to 300K but the 24 years of PA winter roads is going to mean some costly mitigation work. I say "was considering" because of the tail gate on the GX. Does the window open at all? There have been numerous occasions when I put the window down to haul PVC pipe, lumber, furniture. Also the 4R is my tow vehicle and I often open the tail gate with a trailer connected. Granted this is only a couple of times a year occurrence but I'm planning a motorcycle trip in the western US. Intending to tow the bike to CO. I find don't find the GX particularly attractive but from the drivers seat they all look the same.

Thoughts?

 

[Oldmanb777]

I read another thread on this. If you ride the brakes it will not downshift. Try a series of light brake taps until the tranny downshifts. I have a tendency to pulsate the brakes in the mountains, so that is probably why it was working as expected for me.

I'll try that. I drive with a very light foot, both gas and brake. Try to plan braking in advance so I don;t have to change them out as often. I down shift manually when coming down grades, like Berthoud pass, so seldom need to ride the brakes. Interesting though.

 

[Oldmanb777]

What an informative thread. Thanks to all who have posted. I was considering a GX to replace my 253K mile 99 4R. I was hoping to get to 300K but the 24 years of PA winter roads is going to mean some costly mitigation work. I say "was considering" because of the tail gate on the GX. Does the window open at all? There have been numerous occasions when I put the window down to haul PVC pipe, lumber, furniture. Also the 4R is my tow vehicle and I often open the tail gate with a trailer connected. Granted this is only a couple of times a year occurrence but I'm planning a motorcycle trip in the western US. Intending to tow the bike to CO. I find don't find the GX particularly attractive but from the drivers seat they all look the same.

Thoughts?

The widow opens, but not like a roll down. It opens upward. The window is also small, or at least smaller than i would find useful. I do use it but the sill height is also high, so my wife doesn't use it like she did on the Cherokee. The tail gate takes some getting use to. I don't hate it like some, but can't say I'm a fan either. But that said, it so much nicer car and a lot more car than the runner.
Now for the important part, a Motorcycle trip to Kolorado. Make sure you do your homework. The Denver Metro area is the car theft capitol of the country. So plan your car storage accordingly. Also the car jacking capital and , well that is what has become of my home.
What are you riding? what kind of riding are you going to do? I did 100+ on my Africa twinn today. Some very Icey stretches along the Platte River near Deckers. Mostly on the dirt parts. The paved parts were mostly dry, except for the shady parts of Deer creek canyon. Next week will be snowmobile instead.

 

[slayman]

The widow opens, but not like a roll down. It opens upward. The window is also small, or at least smaller than i would find useful. I do use it but the sill height is also high, so my wife doesn't use it like she did on the Cherokee. The tail gate takes some getting use to. I don't hate it like some, but can't say I'm a fan either. But that said, it so much nicer car and a lot more car than the runner.
Now for the important part, a Motorcycle trip to Kolorado. Make sure you do your homework. The Denver Metro area is the car theft capitol of the country. So plan your car storage accordingly. Also the car jacking capital and , well that is what has become of my home.
What are you riding? what kind of riding are you going to do? I did 100+ on my Africa twinn today. Some very Icey stretches along the Platte River near Deckers. Mostly on the dirt parts. The paved parts were mostly dry, except for the shady parts of Deer creek canyon. Next week will be snowmobile instead.

Thanks Oldman. 4R(probably) and trailer will be stored at a HS friends "ranch" in Steamboat. Riding a Ninja 1000SX so mostly paved. I'm not opposed to a few miles of well maintained gravel. Looking at at least 10 days of riding. Clockwise-ish: CO, UT, ID, eastern OR and WA, ID, MT, WY, CO. I might just ship it out and ride back to PA. Early-mid June probably. When are the passes usually open in CO? I know Beartooth in WY may not be open. All very tentative depending on how busy I am at work.

 

[Oldmanb777]

Most paved passes will be open by early June. Might be cold at the top, but the highways will usually be plowed by then. That said, if a front goes through you could get snowed on. Maybe even snow packed roads on the high passes for a day. But it won't last long. Just expect it could happen and delay your travels for from a few hours to a day or so. The dirt passes on the other hand probably won't be open. Even passes like Trail Ridge Rd are usually open for Memorial Day. Often it closes again for a few hours or even a day. Beartooth may be a bit iffy in early June, but Chief Joseph should be open to Cook City etc. The Yellowstone Plateau is higher than most people think. And you get more moisture on that side, so weather is more severe.

 

[Oldmanb777]

Another thought, it's BIG country. Looks like your planning a lot of miles in 10 days. You may not have time to enjoy the trip. I dnnon't know how many miles you like to do in a day, but seems like your planning 10 very long days in the saddle. Things you may not want to miss, like the Museum in Cody, or Sinks canyon. Lots of cool places to stop and check out along the way. Maybe even the "train station" outside of Red Lodge. Oh wait, that doesn't really exist....:smash:

 

[bzizzi]

Dealer let me bring a 2021 GX home for the weekend, I liked driving it, was smooth, love the V8 but felt top heavy and hated the barn door in the back.
I then drove a new 4R ORP with KDSS, felt more nimble on back roads, felt more rugged. The 4R absolutely kills the GX in resale value, Spend $30K + more for a GX, drive both four years, same mileage, both will have similar resale value.
So that extra $30K + you spent on the GX is gone. I have owned three 4R's every one had unbelievable trade in value after fours years of ownership. Today March 28, 2024, I just traded my 2020 4R TRD ORP W/KDSS for a 2024 with even more options and the latest features for $7K difference out the door. No way could you do this with a GX.

 

[IanB]

Dealer let me bring a 2021 GX home for the weekend, I liked driving it, was smooth, love the V8 but felt top heavy and hated the barn door in the back.
I then drove a new 4R ORP with KDSS, felt more nimble on back roads, felt more rugged. The 4R absolutely kills the GX in resale value, Spend $30K + more for a GX, drive both four years, same mileage, both will have similar resale value.
So that extra $30K + you spent on the GX is gone. I have owned three 4R's every one had unbelievable trade in value after fours years of ownership. Today March 28, 2024, I just traded my 2020 4R TRD ORP W/KDSS for a 2024 with even more options and the latest features for $7K difference out the door. No way could you do this with a GX.

Pro tip: buy the GX lightly used and skip the 1st owner depreciation, great value for the $$ buying used.

 

[Oldmanb777]

The emotional purchaser "wants" a 4 runner. Thier friends all "want" 4 runners. None of them have stopped long enough to understand the difference between them. So depreciation on the GX is atrocious. I can't count the number of times I have been told by 4 runner owners that "I wish I had a V-8 the v-6 sucks" Then the blank look when you tell them"well you could have had one."
They have no idea that its almost the same car. Yes heavier and generally softer sprung. But still...................

 

[hoppyjr]

I really wanted the emotional connection to the spirit of the Land Cruiser, so I went 4Runner. I have no regrets, but after purchase I test drove a GX460 and it was very nice. I’d still choose the 4R, because it’s what I really wanted, but I’d love to have a GX in the garage too.

 

[Oldmanb777]

I wanted the Land cruiser. Wife didn't and its her daily driver. The GX actually works better for us anyway. If we had bought a 4 runner, it would have been long gone a long time ago. Between my Neice with one a neighbor with one and another friend, the things I don't like about the GX are amplified in the runner.

 

[gomiami]

I am in my 5th month of owning a GX460 and I love it. For me, it was the right decision versus a 5th gen 4Runner.

 

[FrancisK]

Maybe not the same thing but I want from an 80 series landcruiser (LX450), my first car I kept for 18 years and sold when I leased a new GX in 2016. I kept the 80 for a while but finally let it go, honestly the only thing I missed was the nostalgia the GX is a great intersection between modern but still a real truck and not dumb useless gadgets ready to break modern.

But yea the nostalgia was strong, picked up another 80 during covid....long story....oof.

 

[FrancisK]

No idea why those uploaded sideways....sorry

 

[4everunner]

Only regret not getting sooner. I want another one…