traded the 17 4Runner
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Redsoxx1918
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got a 19 lexus GX, more power, way better interior should be a great old folks car
Worse gas mileage, no roll down rear window, and too expensive to take anywhere off road.
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Redsoxx1918
New member
They are pretty nice though. What did you get for a trade value and what kind of deal did you get on the GX?
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Congrats on the new ride!
We've owned both and they both have their perks. I personally can't stand the rear door, I had the same dislike for it on both of my FJC's as well. The V8 and extra gear in the transmission make them more enjoyable to drive but it sacrifices fuel economy even further which is already not the best in the 4Runner. Nicer interior appointments for sure when compared to the 4Runner, but just as dated inside if not even more so considering its price point and competition. They are fantastic when purchased used at 4-7 years old with low miles because they plummet in resale value worse than probably any other Toyota/Lexus product.
Personally the spindle grille on the front of the 2014+ GX isn't my favorite but I have grown to accept it. We chose to keep a 5th Gen and add a 2019 LX instead, quite the step up form the 5th Gen and the GX. It too still suffers from the spindle grill but I can live with it until someone comes out with a nice winch bumper option.
You should consider a lift, here's one on 5100's and 32/33's. Subtle yet looks meaner and doesn't detract from what it is.
Our 2019 LX 570 on 33's. Like the GX but bigger lol.
We've owned both and they both have their perks. I personally can't stand the rear door, I had the same dislike for it on both of my FJC's as well. The V8 and extra gear in the transmission make them more enjoyable to drive but it sacrifices fuel economy even further which is already not the best in the 4Runner. Nicer interior appointments for sure when compared to the 4Runner, but just as dated inside if not even more so considering its price point and competition. They are fantastic when purchased used at 4-7 years old with low miles because they plummet in resale value worse than probably any other Toyota/Lexus product.
Personally the spindle grille on the front of the 2014+ GX isn't my favorite but I have grown to accept it. We chose to keep a 5th Gen and add a 2019 LX instead, quite the step up form the 5th Gen and the GX. It too still suffers from the spindle grill but I can live with it until someone comes out with a nice winch bumper option.
You should consider a lift, here's one on 5100's and 32/33's. Subtle yet looks meaner and doesn't detract from what it is.
Our 2019 LX 570 on 33's. Like the GX but bigger lol.
Bumbo
New member
Nice, I really like the GX.
As to the comments about gas mileage, it’s really not that big of a deal. No one buys these things to pinch pennies.
Compared to even a brand new Limited, it’s a lot smoother in many aspects. I wouldn’t mind a 470 to mod for off-road, but the 460 on-road is about as good as it gets until you step up to the LC or LX, assuming you even want something that large.
As to the comments about gas mileage, it’s really not that big of a deal. No one buys these things to pinch pennies.
Compared to even a brand new Limited, it’s a lot smoother in many aspects. I wouldn’t mind a 470 to mod for off-road, but the 460 on-road is about as good as it gets until you step up to the LC or LX, assuming you even want something that large.
HOJeepster
New member
I'm getting 21 mpg highway/mountain driving in my V8 Gx, I'm not complaining, they are buttery smooth vs the 4runner V6.
The interior is way nicer than the SR5 I got rid of (and the Limited and TRD we looked at). Also looked at a Q7 and X5, but German reliability isn't what it used to be and dealer service is $$$, plus how many BMW / Audi dealer are there compared to Toyota / Lexus on cross country trips. I was going to wait and get a 2 row LC but after looking at them and the Sequoia - they have way less headroom (and legroom) than the T4R and the GX.
Got $29K trade on basically stock 17 SR5 with Rocky Road Sliders and a bug guard, paid $52K for the GX. That's my blue 4 Runner on the Rocky Road Web page with the Kicker Sliders 4runner Rock Sliders: Toyota 4runner Rock Sliders
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Thai
Elite Member
I also recently got a GX....
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-topic/268915-after-years-finally-back-suv.html?highlight=Lexus+Gx
I really dig it.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-topic/268915-after-years-finally-back-suv.html?highlight=Lexus+Gx
I really dig it.
I just went out and measured the difference in rear seat head room and leg room between our 2018 TRD Pro and our 2019 LX 570 (two-row), I made measurements with the drivers seat set to my preference and I am 5'10" and have a 31 inseam. Much to my surprise the leg room and the head room (measured from the top of the seat backs to the headliner) was nearly identical. I can attribute the room being similar to the much larger and more padded and larger bolsters of the LX seats in comparison to the almost toy-like seats in the 4Runner. Statistically speaking, the interior cu.in. volume numbers favor the LX over the GX in all respects and the LX is 4" wider. The GX when compared to the 4Runner is actually narrower and only bests the 4Runner in rear leg room by an inch. In most respects they are almost identical in all specs.
I have owned all of these vehicles and currently still own the TRD Pro 4Runner and the LX 570 and when you get down to it there is honestly very little perceived size/space differences amongst them. I can say that I always feel more confined in the front seat of the GX than I do in the other two, I think it has something to do with the center stack/console layout and the height of the dash.
Here's what I have to say about each of them.
5th Gen 4Runner: Best fuel economy, simple layout and design, nice aftermarket, fantastic off-road. Engine and transmission combo leave a little to be desired in the power delivery, but it's super simple and reliable. Feels cheap and plastic-like in comparison to the others. Excellent resale and reasonably priced. They are everywhere, that's both good and bad.
GX460: Nice interior appointments, delightful little V8 and six-speed transmission, okay fuel economy. Horrid cargo area with high floor design and the barn door is a love it or leave topic, most hate it, including myself. Dated interior but a new one is coming soon, still nice. Resale is sad, hordes of leases on these make for a flooded secondary market, bad for a seller but fantastic for a buyer, shop them right and you can get unbelievable deals on lightly used and CPO. These are gaining in popularity with the off-road world so the aftermarket is starting to pick up and they are rather easy to modify but they lack in options in comparison to the other two. No lockers, but can easily add MTC to those not equipped.
LX 570: Big V8, 8-speed tranny, very nice but barely acceptable to horrid fuel economy. Best ride and handling of the bunch, it feels like you're driving a bank vault down the road, very little to no road noise at all, obviously the best interior by a long shot. The price is shocking, but with that said they hold their value exceptionally well, just like the 4Runner and Land Cruiser. The 200-series in general has a decent aftermarket and are considered exceptional off-roaders, if not some of the best in the world. AHC is a fantastic tool and 33's fit stock, some have even made 35's work with the AHC lift-mod set to High. These are 350K+ trucks simply by following the recommended service intervals.
If we are talking new prices, one can nearly buy two TRD Pro's or TRD ORP for the price of one LX 570. The 4Runner is almost every bit the off-roader that the LX/LC is, but the 5th Gen will never match the comfort, quality, or overall fit and finish of its Lexus cousins. But that's not what the 4Runner is supposed to be and that's why the Lexus products exist.
The argument that the LX/LC are so much bigger isn't really valid either, while they feel bigger driving them, there is very little difference in their overall exterior dimensions other than length (hello bigger V8).
T4R GX LX/LC
Exterior
Length 190.7 in 192.1 in 200 in
Width 75.8 in 74.2 in 78 in
Height 71.5 in 74.2 in 75.2 in
Wheelbase 109.8 in 109.8 in 112.2 in
If I could only keep one it would undoubtedly be the LX, but if money and fuel economy were a factor then I would have no issue happily keeping the 4Runner and having 90% the vehicle for 50% of the cost. At the end of the day they are all fantastic vehicles that while different are very similar overall. They are all Toyota's and they will all outlast us and our needs if properly taken care of. I see the GX as a natural progression for those who like the overall size and capability of their 4Runner but want just a little bit more when it comes to refinement and power without having to spend the $80K+ for the 200-series. We will certainly be seeing more of these on the trails in the years to come.
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Thai
Elite Member
Most of what you wrote is very true. For me, GX is the Goldilocks of the choices out there.
Recently, when i was shopping for GX/LX on used market, i did not see much difference in resale value. Lexus LX value drops quite a bit. I can get a 2 year old LX with 10k miles for just under $70k...maybe a few pennies more off with more haggling.
GX value drops by similar % for similar age. I cannot comment on 4runner because i was not shopping for it.
Now, the Land Cruiser is where you see much better resale value. Even though the two are similar, TLC clearly has better resale value than Lexus LX. A similar age TLC with more miles on odometer cost MORE than LX with less miles.
For me, because the used market price drop wasn’t enough, i am OCD (worry about what previous owner did to car), and Lexus dealer giving nice discount for new car, i decided to get a new GX instead of used. And when i was shopping, my salesman also said that they are discounting a lot on the LX too.
As for Land Cruiser, Toyota dealer did not want to deal much. I would have to pay at least $20k more than what i got GX for.
As i have said before, i would have gotten 4runner Limited if it came with KDSS, CRAWL, and pre-collision/adaptive cruise/blind spot. And i require full-time 4wd...so, the other 4runner models were ruled out. (2020 4runner at least now has more safety features.)
The TLC/LX are amazing vehicles. Build quality 2nd to none. Awesome sound system. Very nice interior. Off-road capable, but (like GX) hindered by low hanging plastic bumpers and huge rims. For me, i did not like the 2 row LX (or TLC in 2020) because i need 3rd row at times...for me, a 2row LX/LC is like a delete option despite paying same price. But then the 3rd row in regular 3-row LX is non-removable and takes up space. Clam shell back door is OK but makes it hard to reach in to get your stuff when the bottom door is down.
For me, i drive probably around 15-20k miles per year (splitting with my minivan). Fuel economy is not great in GX, but i am easily getting around 20 mpg at 75 mph...better if you cruiser slower. The LX i drove was significantly worst. In addition, i prefer the size of the GX...Goldilocks size. Not too big, but yet enough to carry my 3 kids in the 2nd row with emergency 3rd row if needed. The GX represents for me best compromise (luxury ride) for my long drives yet still half-decent fuel economy...thank goodness gas is cheap these days!
The GX barn door is weird but at least the rear window pops up to carry longer items and you can reach in to grab something quick from the cargo area (same as 4runner row down rear cargo window). The raised rear cargo floor is a bummer but at least the 3rd row is hidden (fold flat) when not in use vs. LX design clumsy 3rd row.
As for ride and comfort, i did not see much difference b/w GX and LX...both rides amazing. Quiet. Solid...maybe LX feels slightly more? The GX is definitely narrower inside. LX is roomier, no debate on this IMHO. My ONLY complaint of LX/LC interior is lack of space under the front seats when you’re sitting in 2nd row...thus less significantly legroom for 2nd row riders.
Since i drive a minivan (which is pretty big in every dimension), i can tell you that the biggest factor for me as a driver is width. Shorter in length is helpful but width is huge in navigating tight streets and parking space. Those few inches make a huge difference in real-word driving. The GX is almost like a sedan when you park it, esp when you have side camera (LX does too). The GX is so easy to drive (like 4runner) everywhere...size of the LX/Land Cruiser is a problem off-road too.
Of the 3 powertrains (LX, GX, 4runner), the one that i worry about most is the LX with the 8-speed auto. I did tons of reading on this during my shopping. Lexus/Toyota has been sending out updates on the 8-speed auto on both LX and Land Cruiser several times already. Shifting behavior is different than the older trannies. And there have been several stories of tranny failures on both Clublexus and ih8mud.
But for off-roading, LX/Land Cruiser is a clear winner...and Land Cruiser edging out LX. Much cleaner underbody vs. GX/4runner. More ground clearance for LX/LC. Hi mode is great on LX......but does limit articulation and is speed limited. But, problem for LX/LC off-road is purely related to its sheer size. Unlike 4runner Limited, both LX and GX have CRAWL...on GX, it is optional. MTS is less useful IMO. CRAWL is one of the reason why i got GX over 4runner. And GX has KDSS, which i love the concept of.
All vehicles have their strengths and weaknesses. My life circumstances favor the GX but that is because of my specific needs.
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Thai
Elite Member
As for modding, i don’t plan much. I do not plan on getting LT tires or upsizing much. LT tires add about 12-15 lbs per tire (unsprung too). One of the reason i got GX was for its luxury ride and quietness for my commute. Adding unsprung weight may compromise this...and may worsen GX fuel economy.
I may upsize it +1 (265/65/18 vs. stock 265/60/18).......but then i don’t have much clearance for larger tire in spare compartment. My stock spare tire is already hitting the hitch.
I will probably stick with stock size and get Goodyear AT Adventure with Kevlar as a compromise b/w light weight and decent strength for my rare off-roading.
I may upsize it +1 (265/65/18 vs. stock 265/60/18).......but then i don’t have much clearance for larger tire in spare compartment. My stock spare tire is already hitting the hitch.
I will probably stick with stock size and get Goodyear AT Adventure with Kevlar as a compromise b/w light weight and decent strength for my rare off-roading.
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Fair enough. Like you said, we all have our needs and desires. I have been driving 3/4-ton and one-ton HD trucks on 37's for the better part of the last decade so when someone says the 200-series is "big" or "too wide" or creates an issue when parking or when off-road, it makes me chuckle.
In my case, we don't have a need for a third row, so we specifically sought out the two-row and were excited when they started offering it as an option last year because the layout of the third row jump seats is awful and you lose a lot of floor space even when you remove them. I know they are a throw back to the original FJ40 LC, but they are terrible and hopefully get left out with the 300-series redesign.
You are correct when you say that the LX doesn't hold it's value as well as the LC and my reply would be similar to that of the GX in that I am certain the overwhelming amount of leases on them plays a large factor in that scenario. Three times as many LX's are sold than LC's, that certainly has an impact on the resale values. That said, it has better value retention than the GX.
Coming from someone who has owned a LC and now a LX, I prefer the AHC on the LX. I am running 33's on the factory wheels in Neutral (regular ride height) mode and I flip a switch and can be sitting up nearly two more inches. In stock form it's limited to 17mph in Hi mode, but with a wrench and five minutes of your time one can perform the AHC lift-mod and you can run around in Hi mode as your Neutral height. Limited articulation aside, one can run 35's on an LX with this mod, check out Christo Slee's (owner of Sale Off-Road) LX for this.
AHC has proven to hold-up beyond ten years and over 100K miles before needing any major servicing quite regularly, the same can't be said for the standard shock and spring lift of the LC and KDSS. Ask around on IH8MUD and you'll find lovers of both systems, but rarely do you find a 200-series LX owner that wishes he didn't have AHC in favor of the LC's suspension. In some European markets, LC's actually come with AHC.
Now, if I were simply building a 200-series from the ground up to be a long distance overland rig that would carry me over all types of terrains day in and day out, then I would probably start with a Land Cruiser and a proper lift but only because I would like to run larger than a 33" tire. For everyday driving and mixed use with occasional off-road needs, the LX and AHC on 33's take the cake.
IMHO, the LX's only downfall is the front grill and that can be remedied with aftermarket bumpers. A few manufacturers are currently working on winch bumpers and I have already seen ARB bumpers modified to work with the 2016+ LX front end. It's strengths are the exact things you pointed out in your comparison of the 4Runner vs the GX, nicer interior appointments and a much better ride. Aside from that, the LX and LC are the same vehicle so pick your poison based off of your individual needs and desires. Had it been left up to me, I would have likely come home with a 2019 LC, but this vehicle is driven by the misses most days and she wanted the LX for those interior appointments and better head lights.
Now I hope it doesn't seem like I am bashing on the GX, because I am not. If someone were to come to me and say that they wanted a more refined 4Runner then the GX is exactly where I would send them. All I was trying to point out is that the GX is not some 4Runner killer and when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, there are freakishly similar in their dimensions and in fact are identical in a number of them. At the end of the day, I hope to see more GX's on the trails in the coming years and with the recent growth in their popularity among former 4Runner owners and availability on the second hand market at favorable prices, it appears like that will be the case.
Thai
Elite Member
According to this, GX actually holds value slightly better than LX among luxury SUVs: 18 Luxury Vehicles With the Lowest Depreciation Rates - MotorTrend
But from real world shopping, it’s about the same depreciation depending on options.
More data: Autotrader - page unavailable
GX actually is the #1 resale value champion for luxury midsize.
But from real world shopping, it’s about the same depreciation depending on options.
More data: Autotrader - page unavailable
GX actually is the #1 resale value champion for luxury midsize.
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Those numbers don’t reflect what I have seen here locally or what book shows me. When I can drive a 4Runner for two years, dump 25K+ miles on it and still get 85-90% of the original selling price back, that’s pretty good. The GX barely brings 70% in that same time. Unlike the 200-series, the GX does not sell above book value and most of the time sells for below it. We can agree to disagree here.
Thai
Elite Member
Sure. I agree with facts. You don’t. Lol
That Motor Trend link above is only a few days old....
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Thai
Elite Member
Bumbo
New member
I like facts as much as the next guy, and I think it’s probably pretty accurate, but you do see some market anomalies depending on where you are, or if the buyers/sellers are “enthusiasts” or “in the know”
In places like San Diego the 4Runner seems to have way more of a following than something like a GX. The 4Runners and Tacomas with 4WD get so much of a Toyota tax stacked on the resale price tag that I have actually found much better GX deals from a % standpoint.
Here is a perfect example of a San Diego dealer who knows what he’s got.
2007 Toyota 4Runner 4WD Sport V8 | miramarmotorsports
Toyota Kearny Mesa had extreme mark-ups on anything that said Pro on it… Private sellers are generally no different when it comes to the sale of their 4WD.
Then you have the well to do older GX sellers… some of them couldn’t be bothered when it comes time to move on. My friend bought a GX from an older gentleman for about half of what a KBB 4th gen of a similar year would have cost because the VSC/ABS lights were on for about $3k. DIY fixed (secondary air injection pump bypass), still on the road today.
Sometimes you just get lucky, but when you don’t have people fighting over used inventory, good things can happen.
In places like San Diego the 4Runner seems to have way more of a following than something like a GX. The 4Runners and Tacomas with 4WD get so much of a Toyota tax stacked on the resale price tag that I have actually found much better GX deals from a % standpoint.
Here is a perfect example of a San Diego dealer who knows what he’s got.
2007 Toyota 4Runner 4WD Sport V8 | miramarmotorsports
Toyota Kearny Mesa had extreme mark-ups on anything that said Pro on it… Private sellers are generally no different when it comes to the sale of their 4WD.
Then you have the well to do older GX sellers… some of them couldn’t be bothered when it comes time to move on. My friend bought a GX from an older gentleman for about half of what a KBB 4th gen of a similar year would have cost because the VSC/ABS lights were on for about $3k. DIY fixed (secondary air injection pump bypass), still on the road today.
Sometimes you just get lucky, but when you don’t have people fighting over used inventory, good things can happen.
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