Hi,
I'm on the market for something that can do a bit of towing and can handle my driveway at the same time. The driveway is hopeless with a RWD truck with a loaded trailer. Budget is older trucks & SUVs. The Lexus 470 has my attention, but I need information on it's long term drive train life cycle. The 02-08 trailblazer is $4k-$6k to rebuild the front end (from wheel bearings to transfer case). What's the drive train life cycle like on the Lexus 470?

 

Welcome to CL.

I'm not sure what you mean by "drive train cycle", but the LX470 has essentially the same drivetrain as the equivalent Toyota Land Cruiser for that year.....one of the most durable drivetrains on the market, as witnessed by its extensive Third World use.

 

I'm looking at cost of ownership. What I'd like is a ballpark for when major work on the 470's usually happens and what's involved. Even a 50K mile range would be useful. Are we talking the $4-$6K involved in rebuilding the front end of a chevy 4X4? That's from front bearings to transfer case or CV joints and bearings of an older front end drive.
I though the majority of Land Cruisers are 4x4 - not the AWD of the 470.
Thanks.

 

n

Very long, we have owned a 470 before and now we currently have a 4Runner with the same 4.7 powertrain and transmission. Our 4.7 has about 110K on it and we have never had an issue with the engine. We our going to have to replace the exhaust soon. Had a transmission cooling line leak last year. Compared to GM, there is no comparison as GM is pretty junky. from that era.

What does a 50K mile range mean? Not at all cheap to repair.

Land Cruiser and Lexus has been full-time 4WD (a bit different than awd) for their body on frame suvs since the very early 90s.

 

Put it this way, I wouldn't consider going to a dealer. I was looking for touch up paint (did not realize it's not stocked) and I overheard a woman telling a man (both worked for the dealer) that a customer is very upset about a $3k charge. This was 2017. The man says what car are we talking about? Lady goes '14 GX. Man goes that's not a lot. It's nice to live in a world where a 3 y.o. car gets a $3k service, and that isn't a lot.

I know from experience that on larger jobs the dealer charges 2X an indie, when the latter in many cases does superior work. When you can do a lot DIY, then the playing field is leveled. my .02

As far as the comment that said GM is pretty junky, well, my wife drives one today, and I concur lol

p.s. for the life of me I can't get over the fact that Toyota dealers work on any car and allow customers to provide internet parts, it's hilarious that new car dealers do that. And it does cost way more than an indie even doing that.