ChiTownGX

Hi all,

I am new to this club, but not new to Lexus. My wife has a 2008 RX350. My previous car was a 1996 GS300. Currently I have a 2005 GX470, with 104K on it. All were bought as 3 year old CPO vehicles.

I am really more of a car guy. I bought the GX because I needed a good tow vehicle to pull my race car. I figured as long as I had to drive a truck, it might as well be a nice one!!! After 6 years with the GX470, I really love it and can say that it would be hard to live without an SUV now. It's towing capacity is great and the storage space for all my race car spares and tools has been great.

So with the GX getting up there in years and mileage I have started thinking about replacing it with a newer one. A three year old GX460 is a whole lot more expensive than when I bought my three year old GX470. It appears that I would have to buy a "Premium" model to get the same options as I have on my 470. My question to you who have owned both is, "Is the GX460 worth the extra money?".

What do you like about the 460?
What do you not like about the 460?
Is it built as well as the 470? Mine has been rock solid, with very little problems.
What kinds of problems have you had with your 460?
Do you have any recommendations in what to look for while purchasing one?

I am having a really hard time trying to decide if I should just buy a Certified 2009 GX470 while I can still find one with relatively low miles, or pay the extra money and go for the GX460.

I am looking forward to hearing your opinions.

Thanks in advance,

Marty

patgilm

See my thread here with my opinions. I had a 2008 GX470 for four years that I bought new.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ew-gx-but.html

Overall it is a better truck with way more features but some of the materials feel cheaper to me than the old 470. The most noticeable to me are the seats. They are more comfortable but are lighter and feel cheaper to me. After a short while there is some material that folds under the lower bolster from getting in and out of the truck. This is the only Lexus I have had do this and I have seen this on every used one I have seen. A lot of people complain about the cheap plastic on the dash and doors but I never really noticed it until someone here posted about it and I have seen a review that pointed out the amount of plastic it has for its price point. I am not that picky so it really doesn't bother me.

As for problems, this thing is so cheap to maintain similar to the 470. I am at 30k miles and had to pay for 2 oil changes and a recent brake fluid change which were in the low $100 range each.

ChiTownGX

Thanks for the reply. That is the helpful kind of feedback I am looking for from people who have lived with both models.

Anyone else have more to add?

FrigginFGO

The GX470 4.7L V8 uses a timing belt while the GX460's 4.6L V8 uses a timing chain. You won't have to worry about doing the massive and expensive 90,000 mile timing belt maintenance on the GX460.

JohnJerk

I have owned both and the 4.7 pulls harder than the 4.6. Towing a car would make it even more noticeable. I love my 460, but notice the slower acceleration. Could be toyota tuning for better mpg as much as anything. Stick with your current rig unless going to the 460.

patgilm

It is supposed to have better mpg but I definitely haven't seen it in 30k miles. For our kind of driving it has actually been the same and even a little worse.

ChiTownGX

That is good to know. Thanks.

ChiTownGX

Well, towing is the primary reason I have to own a GX. With the additional HP up to 301 HP, you would think it would pull better, not worse. I wonder if they changed the gearing too? Or maybe its the 6 speed trans?

The 470 really does tow the race car very well, with little effort. I definitely would not want to go backwards in towing capability. For reference, the car and trailer weigh about 4,700 pounds. I also carry about 500 lbs of spares, tools and tires in the back.

I would be interested to hear your experiences from those that have towed with the 460.

Marty