daryll40

OK, I saw the GX470 today. I am SURE the quality is better than my wife's Mercury Mountaineer (Explorer). That being said, what brain surgeon designed the 3rd row seat? It makes NO sense. Soccer moms, the majority, or at least a large minority, who will be driving it, will NEVER EVER go for all that pulling, lifting, hooking and fussing. Explorer/Mountaineer flips down....ka
boom...and that's it. I can't believe a company that has a track record of "WOWing" the public would come out with this "afterthought". Makes no sense and I suspect they'll loose many potential sales because of it.

Squiggy

The third row design is also what they've done in the LX
for a while, but that's a bigger box, and the seats don't
seem so obtrusive when they are up.

Still, for me, I don't have that much of a problem with it.
I sold a Durango to get the GX, and the Durango had
the third rear seat that folds down first, long before
Ford did.

The problem with the folded down seat is that it is still
taking up space. In the Durango, you could not remove it,
so you could never get a nice flat space.

Here's what I did with my third row seats: wrapped them
in a 3-mil plastic bag and put them in a special place in
my garage. My kids are grown and my need for the third
seat is occaisional, but minimal. When I need them, they
are installed and down. When I don't need them, they
are in my garage, not taking up space (and weight) in the
rear of my vehicle.

also, the fact that it's two pieces makes it a lot lighter.
I used to have a minvan with a removable third row,
but you had to be a body builder to wrestle that thing
out of there. The GX third row seats can be taken in and
out easily without breaking a sweat.

daryll40

the vehicle is targeted to people UNLIKE you. You, essentially, have eliminated the 3rd row "on the fly". Most soccer moms like my wife want the "on the fly" ability. My point is that while the GX most certainly has the quality Lexus is famous for, they goofed in the design department. People who want BIGGER vehicles will get the LX (or a Toyota Sequoia). People who want no third seat will get the RX or the BMW X5. This vehicle is positioned to compete with Durango and Explorer for soccer moms with carpool. It's a feeble attempt, in my humble opinion. (Actually, it looks like the new 4 Runner, on which the GX is based, did not get a real re-design at all but just a makeover. They need to redesign it to compete properly).

Kash

i like my gx with out my 3rd row seats... it allows me to put more laundry baskets on the way home from school!!! i dont/didnt want a lx becuase its almost the same vehicle and it costs more..