dross33333

HI, I know that I am on a Lexus forum and it might be biased. But I am torn between leasing the Lexus GX 470 '04 or a BMW X5 3.0. '05

The pring is very close and each has certain things I like. I would appreciate any feedback that might help me make up my mind.

Thanks
David

Rx900

Well i don't want to spoil ur car buying, but the X5 has been known with defects (which i have no knowledge of what they are) but the GX also has some defects. The major ones know are the clunk (thump) which is the rear driveshaft prob (03s and 04s), vibration (03s and some 04s), sulfur smell (03s and some 04s i think, but i don't have it! ), creaking seats (duno who has it also but i have it), cladding rattles (some of us here have it), leaning (04s with KDSS).

X5, I'd have to say, is for performance. A little noisy when i test drove it (that was when i still had the Rx300) and i knew i was going to miss the good noise insulation of Lexus.

GX470 is a good off roader, great features, and everyone has the same engine (don't have to worry about being inferior of bigger engine guyz). The Gx is somewhat gas friendly (at least me cuz i'm getting around 19-20 mpg lately with city and highway driving combined, leaning more towards city drive), but no very handy because it's based of trucks.

Well, GOOD LUCK IN UR SEARCH!

TLW

i would say lexus for quality

but have you asked a bmw forum the same question?

oh and welcome aboard

Rx900

sorry to be off-topic, hey that's a nice smiley, what's the code for it?

jdh62

While shopping for wife's car, she liked the X5 but ultimately decided on the GX-470 for the 3rd row seats. She's happy with her decision. I did hear about future X5s coming w/option of 3rd row seats though.

lexguynj

I'd get the X5 for myself for the sportiness and handling, however the 3.0 engine as great as it is (I have the same engine in my smaller BMW 330i which is awesome), I don't see how that small engine can really lug around that huge truck. My brother had an X5 4.4 (V8) and if you were going for that, then I would say go for it since that's monster power!

However in this case X5 3.0 vs. GX470 - go for the GX470 and the nicer V8

super_cjc

Why would someone want an x5-v6?
Lack of space, lack of power for a ¡§ultimate driving machine¡¨, lack of quality, lack of luxury, ¡K.
Please don¡¦t insult GX470 with an x5-v6.

cab2u

I had an X5 3.0 before the GX470. Totally different cars. The X5 is much smaller but it drives and handles MUCH better. The GX does not come close to the X5 in handling but it is not meant to. And sure, if you can afford the 4.4, go for it, but as far as power goes, the 3.0 was just as fast as the GX's V8. I really don't care for the GX's handling. I needed a third row (folding up to the side sucks by the way). You might want to take a look at the new Land Rover if you need a third row.

Rx900

lexusnc

Well this was my experience. In 2002 I bought my wife an X5 3.0 (which has an in line 6 and not a V-6 BTW). We loved (and still do) the styling and performance. What we did not love was the 8 trips to the dealer to fix problems including 5 count’em 5 trips to the dealer to fix the same problem with the aux cooling fan for the A/C system (yes they replaced the fan 5 times before they got it right). But what we really didn’t like is they way (after about a year) the interior began to rattle and squeak. We went to the dealer with the complaints, but there were simple too many squeak and rattles to address all of them. Also the X5 has very little usable space in the back seat or cargo space. I don’t see how they will get a third row seat back there without making the chasse bigger. In 2003 I sold my X5 and bought a GX470. The GX470 has good handling, the X5 has great handling (though the GX is faster to 60 MPH than the 3.0 X5), but as far as fit and finish and quality over the long-term it was a no brainier for me and after over a year with the GX470 I can tell you I do not regret the trade one bit. If you don’t care about the cramped 2nd row or the lack of space in the rear or the squeaks and rattles and you don’t mind getting very familiar with your local BMW service department, by all means get the X5, I did, for awhile at least.

StevenS

I also had an X5 3.0 before.
1.It is almost as quick as GX470 (especially in sport mode, that I always used). So, no one wins.
2. It has much better handling than GX. X5 wins
3. Quality? I had very little problems with it, but my friends had a lot more (one even had to change transmission 2 times, ones after 2 month of ownership and another after 2.5 years). But of course Lexus has a better quality and much better customer service in buy and service departments. Lexus wins.
4. Size? I would say that GX is bigger but only in cargo space. Also I have to mention that (you can check it yourself) X5 has more usuable space in first and second rows (just look at the size of the door space, not mention other), but of course cargo space is much bigger in GX. No one wins.
5. Need more than 5 seats? Lexus wins.
6. Need good off-roading or live in the place with strong winter? Lexus wins.
7. Price? You can get better price on Lexus than on BMW (difference in MSRP and invoice is bigger in Lexus and this allow Lexus dealer to give you a better price/payment)
8. Noise. I was totally surprised to found that GX is so noisy (especially on highways). No one wins?
So, as you see everything is about what you need more. I personally choise Lexus because of the price (BMW would cost me $150 more in lease payments) and more space. But sometimes I miss BMW handling.

lexusnc

I will address the X5 vs GX space issue as follows, I am a big guy 6', 260 Lbs and when I adjusted the seat in the X5 so I was comfortable in the drivers seat, there was only enough room behind me for a small child to sit in the 2nd row. In the GX under the same situation, A regular adult can fit comfotable behind me. So however the spce is mesured in the literature, my experience has been that the GX has more usable space where you need it.

lexguynj

The BMW X5 is still overall more fun to drive, power and handling wise, however one more factor to keep in mind is BMW'S 4 Year / 50K mile full maintenance program which is included.

With a BMW you won't be going in for service until 10K-15K miles and doesn't cost a thing. By 15K miles, you will be at Lexus for at least 3 services and at $100+ per service that is something to think about.

Of course the BMW could be in for more service visits than usual, since it's not as reliable as the Lexus, but hey it's all included!

super_cjc

For better handling, speed, fun to drive, all wheel drive and don’t care about the trunk space, and towing and off-road capability, why not go for a Subaru or Audi wagon? They probably have more space and more fun to drive than X5-V6 and definitely can save a lot of money.

For vehicles that don’t have GX’s luxury, quality, and utility and can only go as fast as GX but have the same price tag as GX, I think that’s pathetic. Of course, that's just me. What can I say, I love my GX

BTW, from what I read in this forum, GX with KDSS handles very well.

Vonhasch

I own both a 2004 BMW X5 3.0 and a 2004 Lexus GX470 and it all comes down to why you in the market for an SUV. We just purchased the GX (trading in a 2003 BMW 530i) and we were going to purchase another X5 but since I have two infants we needed the extra size. This is the ONLY reason we purchased the GX over another X5. As far as I'm concerned the X5 is superior over the GX in handling, material quality, maintenance (5 yr/50,000), and in my opinion looks. The GX is superior over the X5 in size and has better 4wd. This is the second X5 that I owned and as far as I'm concerned is as reliable as anything out there and probably more so.