New GX Owner-upgraded from a 4Runner
01-02-12, 07:00 PM
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New GX Owner-upgraded from a 4Runner
Hi All,
Just found this forum today when I was searching for directions on updating my nav DVD. Its a wonderful site with great content! I immediately joined and have been surfing since. I 'upgraded' to a 2007 GX470 from a 2003 4Runner Limited the week before Thanksgiving. The GX has 53K miles and is Titanium Metallic with Ivory interior. I was provided the opportunity to buy it from a relative for $22K, which I jumped on. I was happy with the 4Runner, but have been nothing but impressed with the GX. The Nav and Mark Levinson stereo are to die for, along with all the gadgets(ride softness control, ride height, etc.) The Nav update was a no brainer and had never been updated. (great directions on this forum for this by the way).
Like a lot of you, I have the 'clunk' when stopped/start at a stoplight and spotted the ginormous thread on that topic. I am relieved to know I am not alone. I also immediately removed and stored the worthless 3rd seats(circa 1967 episodes of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom featuring Land Rovers with face to face seats in them?)
The all wheel drive in the GX is awesome, and I had an opportunity to test it first hand two days before Christmas with a fresh foot of snow.(I live 15 miles south of Denver). I never slipped and the GX was flawless on all surfaces, including ice. I was going to throw my Blizzaks from my 4Runner on it but really don't think I need to. Any thoughts from folks on that one ?
Anyway, glad to be aboard and a GX owner!
HAWKBARR
Just found this forum today when I was searching for directions on updating my nav DVD. Its a wonderful site with great content! I immediately joined and have been surfing since. I 'upgraded' to a 2007 GX470 from a 2003 4Runner Limited the week before Thanksgiving. The GX has 53K miles and is Titanium Metallic with Ivory interior. I was provided the opportunity to buy it from a relative for $22K, which I jumped on. I was happy with the 4Runner, but have been nothing but impressed with the GX. The Nav and Mark Levinson stereo are to die for, along with all the gadgets(ride softness control, ride height, etc.) The Nav update was a no brainer and had never been updated. (great directions on this forum for this by the way).
Like a lot of you, I have the 'clunk' when stopped/start at a stoplight and spotted the ginormous thread on that topic. I am relieved to know I am not alone. I also immediately removed and stored the worthless 3rd seats(circa 1967 episodes of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom featuring Land Rovers with face to face seats in them?)
The all wheel drive in the GX is awesome, and I had an opportunity to test it first hand two days before Christmas with a fresh foot of snow.(I live 15 miles south of Denver). I never slipped and the GX was flawless on all surfaces, including ice. I was going to throw my Blizzaks from my 4Runner on it but really don't think I need to. Any thoughts from folks on that one ?
Anyway, glad to be aboard and a GX owner!
HAWKBARR
01-03-12, 09:15 AM
#5
Driver School Candidate
Traded my 2000 4Runner 4WD Limited this past Saturday for a 08 GX, and those are my thoughts also.
great ride, and extremely quite after putting 4 Michelins on to replace the dry-rotted/wornout Dunlops.
Enjoy!
great ride, and extremely quite after putting 4 Michelins on to replace the dry-rotted/wornout Dunlops.
Enjoy!
01-03-12, 08:17 PM
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Just curious, since we upgraded from/to similar vehicles, have you found the ride to be much nicer with the GX ? Even in Sport Mode (stiffest), the GX rides smoother than the 4Runner. Power is about the same though, as even with more hp, the GXs weight holds it back. Have you found the same to be true ?
Which Michelins did you go with ? I am running Michelin LTX M+S and while not my first choice worked well in the foot of snow before Christmas. That also could have been the all wheel drive advantage of the GX over the 4Runner also.
Let me know your thoughts....
Thanks,
Hawkbarr
01-03-12, 08:24 PM
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Congrats on the new ride! We have a GX and 4Runner in the driveway with identical engines. I notice a difference in power between the runner and GX. As for ride quality, I think they are similar. The Lexus is just quieter and more comfortable. I also like the upscale interior with the wood trim and other bells and whistles. I have Michelins on both trucks!
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01-04-12, 06:09 AM
#8
Thanks Texas!
Just curious, since we upgraded from/to similar vehicles, have you found the ride to be much nicer with the GX ? Even in Sport Mode (stiffest), the GX rides smoother than the 4Runner. Power is about the same though, as even with more hp, the GXs weight holds it back. Have you found the same to be true ?
Which Michelins did you go with ? I am running Michelin LTX M+S and while not my first choice worked well in the foot of snow before Christmas. That also could have been the all wheel drive advantage of the GX over the 4Runner also.
Let me know your thoughts....
Thanks,
Hawkbarr
Just curious, since we upgraded from/to similar vehicles, have you found the ride to be much nicer with the GX ? Even in Sport Mode (stiffest), the GX rides smoother than the 4Runner. Power is about the same though, as even with more hp, the GXs weight holds it back. Have you found the same to be true ?
Which Michelins did you go with ? I am running Michelin LTX M+S and while not my first choice worked well in the foot of snow before Christmas. That also could have been the all wheel drive advantage of the GX over the 4Runner also.
Let me know your thoughts....
Thanks,
Hawkbarr
We have Four 4Runners in the family (2002 Sport, 2003 V8 Sport, and two 2004 Sport ) so I know these beasts real well.
01-04-12, 07:40 AM
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thanks Texas!
Just curious, since we upgraded from/to similar vehicles, have you found the ride to be much nicer with the GX ? Even in Sport Mode (stiffest), the GX rides smoother than the 4Runner. Power is about the same though, as even with more hp, the GXs weight holds it back. Have you found the same to be true ?
Which Michelins did you go with ? I am running Michelin LTX M+S and while not my first choice worked well in the foot of snow before Christmas. That also could have been the all wheel drive advantage of the GX over the 4Runner also.
Let me know your thoughts....
Thanks,
Hawkbarr
Just curious, since we upgraded from/to similar vehicles, have you found the ride to be much nicer with the GX ? Even in Sport Mode (stiffest), the GX rides smoother than the 4Runner. Power is about the same though, as even with more hp, the GXs weight holds it back. Have you found the same to be true ?
Which Michelins did you go with ? I am running Michelin LTX M+S and while not my first choice worked well in the foot of snow before Christmas. That also could have been the all wheel drive advantage of the GX over the 4Runner also.
Let me know your thoughts....
Thanks,
Hawkbarr
I think others have nailed the difference I noticed immediately, even with the Dunlops. Smoother accelleration, quiter, more comfortable ride, elevated above the traffic. Not to mention the ML audio. Killer all.
I drove about 200 miles to the closest Discount Tire and put on LTX M/S-2 tires, the next generation tire you have. Wow, what a difference, even quiter/smoother more comfortable ride the next 1000 miles back home.
My 2000 4Runner's 4WD Limited V6 engine/transmission was no match for the GX V8/transmission, and I get better gas mileage as a bonus
Last edited by GX470TX; 01-04-12 at 07:44 AM.
01-04-12, 07:28 PM
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It is a HUGE different between the 3gen 4Runner (96-2002) and the 1GX470. The 4Runner is 3.4L V6 with 183 hp and it is ROUGH. The 4Gen 4Runner V8 is the same as the GX470 but I think it feels FASTER (may be because it is lighter) and it feels LOWER to the ground as well. Overall, the GX470 is much better vehicle.
We have Four 4Runners in the family (2002 Sport, 2003 V8 Sport, and two 2004 Sport ) so I know these beasts real well.
We have Four 4Runners in the family (2002 Sport, 2003 V8 Sport, and two 2004 Sport ) so I know these beasts real well.
Sounds like you know your trucks. Which weighs more, the 4Runner or GX (assuming a V8 4Runner, not V6)?
01-04-12, 07:47 PM
#11
GX weighs a couple hundred lbs more, but it's really tough to notice it since the VVTI engine's got a good amount of grunt throughout the rev range.
4th gen is the best 4R ever made imho. v8. updated interior (good enough). bigger interior. 3rd gens are simpy too rough around the edges for today's standards.
i drove the 5th gen v6... can't compare. horrible waste of $. would rather have a used GX. 2uzfe for life!
4th gen is the best 4R ever made imho. v8. updated interior (good enough). bigger interior. 3rd gens are simpy too rough around the edges for today's standards.
i drove the 5th gen v6... can't compare. horrible waste of $. would rather have a used GX. 2uzfe for life!
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