Some funny dramatizations in this thread.. Anywho, the HIDs on present day big SUVs are not blinding considering the auto leveling technology & housing designs. I thought Lexus vehicles are equipped with auto dimming mirrors.. How are you guys being blinded by these SUV's?? Excuses, excuses for the ice creme truck GX. Caddy, Range Rover, Lincoln, BMW, Volvo & others are rocking some wonderful HIDs.. You want to talk about safety? Halogens in no way shape or form will give the driver better visabilty & range at night compared to HID's.

Caddy has a wonderful setup..

 

the first one looks to be a old photoshopped picture of a Toyota Highlander Hybrid that's been floating around for awhile


I have never seen the other two, looks like a Corolla XRS SUV from that picture of the front end.

 

So I'm still perplexed... which RELIABLE SUV should I get????

 

Oh.. no assumptions here.. There are some things that are just obvious..

Well, I can tell you that I've driven it & others in the segment..

 

AND.... the X5 reliability scares the crap outta me... and I bailed on a Cayenne cuz it's even worse... what's a SUV wannabe to do???

 

kia borrego? don't knock it until you look at it.

 

Which aspect of the X5 is unreliable?

 

I agree, you can use waterford crystal in the new GX projectors and the halogen light will still be not as bright as the HID.

I agree with one of post earlier about Lexus's concerns for other drivers more than the the safety of the owner of the Lexus, who is paying Lexus's bill anyways. Lexus need to get their priority straight.

 

Got a LOT of feedback on Bimmerfest on tranny, electrical... test drove the X5xdrive35d back-to-back with Q7 diesel, Audi blew it away...

Right now, I LOVE the Cayenne GTS and Turbo over EVERY other SUV... reliability is the concern, otherwise I would have my order placed. It drives like NO OTHER SUV, period. I like it over the new X5M as well.

I'm weighing a IS-F/ GX470 combo purchase vs Cayenne GTS or Turbo on it's own... either way solves all my issues, I just don't want to sit in service all the time

 

I would get the IS-F GX470 combo, more utility and more performance.

 

+1.. as you saw in the GX forum, this is the way I am leaning...

 

This...honestly...is ridiculous, and you know I respect you FKL. I don't know the last time that I read such an ill-founded comment on this forum.

When I worked for the Lexus Southern Area headquarters one of the vehicles that fell into my lap was a 2007 GX. Prior to that point it seemed to me like the lame duck of the Lexus family- smaller RX was far more successful while the big LX is one of the top premium SUVs. Who cared about the GX? I never gave it a second thought.

At the end of a two month stint, the only reason I gave that truck back was because they MADE me. The thought of stealing it crossed my mind! I had the option of driving an IS350, GS450h, LS460, SC430...anything in the lineup, and the GX was by far my number one choice. After driving it for so long and essentially "owning" it, I can promise you that even despite age, this is still one of THE finest luxury SUVs that has ever been sold.

Your comments about it being a cheap 4Runner knock off are so baseless that it is nearly shocking! Are you familiar with the 4Runners long standing history for off road ability and prowess? Or how trusted and revered the Land Cruiser Prado is in other countries? Judging by your comments about the exterior and interior, have you ever seen one in person, much less sat in one?

For Lexus' intended use, there was no better platform than this one, and the end result is every bit a "Lexus" as the LS or any other. The GX was never meant to be a Cayenne or X5 fighter...by size they will probably be cross shopped but by nature they are polar opposites. Lexus wanted to create a midsize, off-road-able, luxury vehicle and I have no doubts that the GX does that better than any other.

Why?

- ROCK SOLID, super smooth and refined chassis. Smaller size gives the GX better road manners than the LX and makes it more maneuverable. This is no X5 on the road but it is far smoother, quieter, and more comfortable than any of the German unibody SUVs and I will stand by that statement until I am blue in the face and yes I have driven ALL of them. I am the type of guy who would prefer a sedan parked next to my BOF SUV...I can appreciate the X5, Q7, and others but they are not necessarily my style. I like driving a BOF SUV.

- 263hp V8 might look underpowered on paper but it's a very torquey, smooth, and powerful engine and never once did I think "this thing is lacking". It will get up and go in any situation, especially from a stop.

- Interior is pre-L-Finesse which means everything is extremely high quality, plush, and seamlessly assembled. ML sound is great even despite the age. The center stack and shifter are definitely not the most beautiful but work well and have artful and well thought out details. The entire interior is beautifully crafted, comfortable, and luxurious.

- Perfect size - slightly larger than some midsize offerings, but not as big as the LX or others. It was perfect for me as well as friends when I hauled them, my dogs in the back, etc.

- No German or American SUV can remotely hold a candle the the GX's reliability. Not even close. Touareg, Cayenne, Q7, ML, X5, and XC90 have all been riddled with various problems since their inception while the GX had one minor driveshaft "thud" noise that was easily corrected. No electrical gremlins or recalls, it doesn't burn through brakes and pads, it simply doesn't break down. The GX is quite honestly, a rock.

The GX 470 is a competent and comfortable on roader while also being a fierce off roader with enough luxury trimmings and features to make you never think twice about venturing off the pavement anyway. The interior is high quality, well thought out, and beautifully finished. IMO, the 4Runner roots are nothing but good because this is one of the only SUVs that will tackle anything you throw at it. Lexus added refinement and luxury to one of the most proven chasses in the world, and created what is seriously one of the best SUVs ever to roll off an assembly line.

Your comment about HIDs is laughable. Yes, it's ridiculous that Lexus doesn't offer them and they most definitely should, but to say the GX isn't a Lexus because of it is pure hilarity.

As I admitted, before I drove one, I never gave the GX a second thought or cared much about it. After doing so, I am sure that I will purchase one in the next few years. It is a nearly faultless and truly flawless luxury SUV, and I don't know a single person who wouldn't agree after driving one.

 

This is EXACTLY the confirmation I was looking for...

MPLexus301...

THANK YOU!!!!

 

Wow, these pictures are pure "ownage", lol.

Look, I dislike the GX very much, mostly for being a "body on frame" SUV with non-independant rear suspension. I realize that this setup is much more rugged and offroad capable, but since 99% of GX buyers will never take it offroad, it doesn't make sense to me.

But as far as refinement and interior quality, its simply silly to compare it to RR or VW. The Lexus is simply far superior in that respect. As far as RR being a true Luxury SUV and GX being a Toyota, well the RR was never historically marketed as a luxury SUV until recent, it was always known for its legendary offroading capability (and legendary unreliability). And the only other true competitors for RR's offroading prowess are the MB G, Jeeps, and yes, the Toyota Landcruiser.

As far as HIDs, well GX is an aging design, and when it was introduced it wasnt the only SUV that didn't have HID's. Acura MDX also didnt offer HIDs and maybe others. The reasoning was that high mounted HIDs are blinding to oncoming traffic (has nothing to do with dimming mirrors). Whether or not they can overcome this downside with modern optics remains to be seen on the next gen GX.

And Mike, (1SICKLEX), I dont think LEDs are the future. They simply offer nothing over HIDs (metal halide). Their luminous efficiency isnt any better than HIDs, and they last forever only if they are low power. The high power leds produce heat that is destroying them, and they require complicated heatsinks. The only advantage that LEDs offer over HIDs is the "instant on", while HIDs require warm up time to reach full brightness and intended color temperature.

 

^ No problem.

I know that my opinions come off as strong spirited but that is partly because I went from having no opinion of the GX whatsoever, to being COMPLETELY in love with it. I truly think this is one of the best vehicles on the market, and probably the best kept secret in the Lexus lineup.

If someone told me today that I had $90,000 to go spend on an SUV, it would hands down be a GX 470 even though I could have an RR or LX 570 within that budget. Simply put, the GX is the right size with the right features, is built like a tank, has a well thought out and luxurious interior, and they are ridiculously, ridiculously reliable. I would know- I worked in the customer satisfaction department for Lexus and had access to thousands of repair records. GXs don't break. They don't. They don't break on road, they don't break off road...ever. Anywhere. The thing is so smooth, so comfortable, and so seamless that I really don't think you can find a better SUV out there, even despite the age. I really don't.