Body on Frame vs. Unibody Discussion Continued
10-05-13, 02:50 PM
#46
Lexus Fanatic
That's all they have over there. You talk as if these people have made a conscious choice between a BOF vehicle and a unibody vehicle. There's no choice. They have no safety standards, their consumers have no need for comfort or design, they just need utilitarian vehicles, hence why sell anything but old, basic, BOF vehicles there?
You're drawing a conclusion when there isn't enough evidence there to support it.
You're drawing a conclusion when there isn't enough evidence there to support it.
10-05-13, 03:31 PM
#47
What do you mean no choice? Middle East, Africa, Russia, Australia -- you can buy crossover SUVs in any of these places! I would hardly call the LX/GX to be utilitarian vehicle with no comfort! Top Prado trims are very nice too.
10-05-13, 07:01 PM
#48
Driver
Thread Starter
If I needed to go far into the bush offroading, there are whole bunch of vehicles I would take over the GX. A basic 4Runner with a mechanical 2H/4L lever will be superior to the electronic dash switch in the GX. Also, the GX adaptive variable suspension and KDSS will have more stress and fail points than a 4Runner with a basic nuts and bolts set up.
Not to sure about Cherokee but my thoughts are is that they are highly electronic like the GX.
Can you imagine the GX electronic transfer case malfunctioning while in 4L with a malfunctioning adaptive variable suspension stuck in the low position. No thanks.
Not to sure about Cherokee but my thoughts are is that they are highly electronic like the GX.
Can you imagine the GX electronic transfer case malfunctioning while in 4L with a malfunctioning adaptive variable suspension stuck in the low position. No thanks.
10-05-13, 08:34 PM
#49
Lexus Fanatic
You're bouncing back and forth from talking about military and war use in Afghanistan and talking about places like Australia.
10-05-13, 09:29 PM
#50
Lexus Fanatic
I don't claim toughest. Where did you see that? But I claim they are used far harder than any unibody Jeep is. The premise here is if a unibody SUVs were as capable you would see them equally used (or even beat) body-on-frame SUVs. Did you just say 4WD Ford trucks and not Ford crossover SUVs by any chance?
A unibody can be just as durable and good as a BOF. The Toureg and the Range Rover are both rated to haul and tow more than the GX460.
Google "unibody vs frame" and you will see a 50s Chevy BOF get destroyed by a 2009 Chevy unibody.
From what everyone is saying in this thread, the body on frame is safer in a crash. ????
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 10-05-13 at 09:32 PM.
10-05-13, 09:42 PM
#51
Lexus Fanatic
What makes you think the lever will be superior to the switch? Both can could have malfunctions. I can agree with you about the suspension, but that's why the Lexus offers a GX without the air suspension. And this generation of 4Runner is laughable at best. It has all the added weight with no V8 option. Also KDSS has been available since previous generation GX and I have yet to read a failure on the system, especially those who off road them.
The 4Runner will eat the GX for lunch off the beaten path. Design wise, less things to go wrong on a basic 4Runner than a GX. Just imagine what would happen to the big bad GX if the AVS failed, the 4lo actuator failed, perhaps the crawl control was stuck on the on position or what would happen if the power telescoping steer wheel was stuck too in the low position rendering the GX undrivable?
From an engineering standpoint , the 4Runner should be superior.
And the Prado uses the same V6 as the 4Runner.
10-06-13, 06:40 AM
#52
Driver
Thread Starter
The whole point of the switch vs the electric actuator is that there is mechanical hard link connected from your hand which is directly linked to the transfer case. No electronics to fail, no plastic switch to break. From a durability point of view, the lever will be superior.
The 4Runner will eat the GX for lunch off the beaten path. Design wise, less things to go wrong on a basic 4Runner than a GX. Just imagine what would happen to the big bad GX if the AVS failed, the 4lo actuator failed, perhaps the crawl control was stuck on the on position or what would happen if the power telescoping steer wheel was stuck too in the low position rendering the GX undrivable?
From an engineering standpoint , the 4Runner should be superior.
And the Prado uses the same V6 as the 4Runner.
The 4Runner will eat the GX for lunch off the beaten path. Design wise, less things to go wrong on a basic 4Runner than a GX. Just imagine what would happen to the big bad GX if the AVS failed, the 4lo actuator failed, perhaps the crawl control was stuck on the on position or what would happen if the power telescoping steer wheel was stuck too in the low position rendering the GX undrivable?
From an engineering standpoint , the 4Runner should be superior.
And the Prado uses the same V6 as the 4Runner.
10-06-13, 06:48 AM
#53
Driver
Thread Starter
You are missing the point of the whole discussion, it is not the design BOF vs unibody that is most important, what is important is the engineering of the vehicle.
A unibody can be just as durable and good as a BOF. The Toureg and the Range Rover are both rated to haul and tow more than the GX460.
Google "unibody vs frame" and you will see a 50s Chevy BOF get destroyed by a 2009 Chevy unibody.
From what everyone is saying in this thread, the body on frame is safer in a crash. ????
A unibody can be just as durable and good as a BOF. The Toureg and the Range Rover are both rated to haul and tow more than the GX460.
Google "unibody vs frame" and you will see a 50s Chevy BOF get destroyed by a 2009 Chevy unibody.
From what everyone is saying in this thread, the body on frame is safer in a crash. ????
http://www.volksbloggin.com/2006/08/...-cars-of-2006/
10-06-13, 07:56 AM
#54
A crash is a game of numbers. A heavier car will always have an advantage in a vehicle vs vehicle collision. What NHTSA measures is a crash with a concrete wall, which by the way, puts heavier cars at a disadvantage because all this energy has to be absorbed by the car itself. When LX hits a Telsa in a head-on collision I don't care what NHTSA rating the Tesla has -- I want to be in the LX because it'll simply throw Tesla off the road without taking much impact itself.
Last edited by Quadro; 10-06-13 at 08:23 AM.
10-06-13, 08:01 AM
#55
Lexus Fanatic
Wow, you really are not sure of what makes an off road vehicle worthy, the 4Runner Trail Editions 33/26 approach/departure angles are far superior to the GX's 28/25. Also, the 4Runner has 1.5 inches more ground clearance than the GX. Lets also not forget that the GX is 400 lbs lighter than the GX.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 10-06-13 at 08:16 AM.
10-06-13, 08:02 AM
#56
I think LX gets even more bashing in the US for it's truck roots than GX does. Guess what -- it's a number #1 Lexus model sold in the Middle East. It outsells everything else, including the RX. It's a huge success overseas.
10-06-13, 08:08 AM
#57
Wow, you really are not sure of what makes and an off road vehicle worthy, the 4Runner Trail Editions 33/26 approach/departure angles are far superior to the GX's 28/25. Also, the 4Runner has 1.5 inches more ground clearance than the GX. Lets also not forget that the GX is 400 lbs lighter than the GX.
10-06-13, 08:25 AM
#58
Lexus Fanatic
First of all you should be comparing 4Runner to a Prado. A Prado has 32/25 so it's really a wash. The lower approach angle on the GX is simply caused by a bigger bumper, that's it. Secondly in the parts of the world where people can buy both Prado is generally considered to be superior and is more expensive.
10-06-13, 08:34 AM
#59
10-06-13, 08:51 AM
#60
Lexus Fanatic
What are you trying to get at? The GX/4Runner/Prado and FJ are essentially the same vehicle. The GX is a rebadged Prado and the 4Runner is a V6 Prado with a different body.