Hello, I am a past GS400 owner hailing from a very Lexus-crazy family. We're trying to make a decision on an SUV - the GX or the LR3.

The LR3 really has my attention with its styling and technology. Touchez as well on the apparently superior third-row seating. What holds me back on the LR3 is Land Rover's notorious reliabilty and resale.

Therefore, the GX seems the winner. Lexus reliability rules (notwithstanding the glitches I've just read about here); I can live with the "old fashioned" third row design.

The only thing holding me back from the GX is...the swinging rear door.

Please tell me straight-up...how bad is it??

(and are the thumps and droans really that epedemic?)

Thanks
TS

 

It's different, but after having it for a year now, I really like it. Seems strange and harder to open and close another person's vehicle with a standard door.

~ Cap

 

I have a late model '04 and have no noticeable droan or thumps. I didn't think I would like the rear door, but after living with it I like it a lot. Its nice not having to reach over your head to put the door down, also with a large Thule Cargo box that extends to the rear of the vehicle it is still possible to fully open the door where a lift gate would hit the shell.

I think the LR3 is really sweet but I was too worried about the first model year problems ESPECIALLY with a Land Rover. Even the '04 GX has some notable improvements over the early '03 GX's.

I did own an early Touareg that was repurchased by VW due to first year problems--they had a very high number of problems when they first came out. I will never by a first year model again--not even a Lexus.

 

I also have a late model Gx04. Initially, it was a little odd getting used to the rear door, but after 6 months, we love it. We often make trips to Costco here in Northern Ca and its so easy to load stuff in the back.

Our GX also has rear seats and Its easy access to fold the seats down. After use I often fold the seats back up

 

I thought I'd hate it and I do. I hate it in the rain, I hate it when I park at the curb and the door is on the wrong side, and I hate it when I need to park close to the car behind me and I cant open it.

Having said that - I am trading in my 2003 for a 2005....so I guess I love the rest of the truck a lot!

 

Buy the GX and you'll love it. No need to stress over the decision. You won't regret it.

I have an '04 and, while I sometimes feel a thump of some sort and a vibration at 60 mph, it has never been anything that was such a big deal that it would make me change my mind about the purchase. Maybe mine isn't as bad. Maybe there is some "Princess and the Pea" effect with some. Who knows.

I personally love the rear door. My only negative points are the lack of a window that opens and it would be nice to have a cover when loading groceries in the rain. That said, we only have a couple months of rain so its not too much of an issue (unlike when I lived in Florida and it rained every freakin' day at 3:00!!)

Knicksfan, I notice that you are in NYC. I never thought about it until now, but I wonder if location may play a big part in likeability of the door. In Sac, I rarely (if ever) am parked on a street loading and unloading on the curb with another car parked behind me. While I would hate it if I was in that situation, I am always in a roomy parking lot and don't have those problems. Just a thought to ponder...

 

I love the combination of the rear door and big step on top of the bumper. If you ever have to change in a muddy or sandy parking lot after a hike or surfing, it makes a nice platform to change clothes. The pockets in the door just add to the utility. With small kids, its also a nice platform to change their clothes. I also like the fact that I don't have to worry about hitting my head on the door.

The LR3 looks kick-bum, and I too like the seat configuration. But I think reliability and resale will be an issue? The other thing is that it weighs about a thousand pounds more than the GX.

The new Range Rover Sport looks real interesting. Brembo's and 400hp.

 

LR3 may share to many parts with Ford, just for that I'd get a GX, I like LandRover and Ford has improved Jaquars quality except the little X-Type and their suppost to be improving LandRovers but still that kind of money for something that was built on an Explorer platform, just with that I'd buy a GX

 

I always thought it was odd that they switched it from right hand drive to left but forgot to redo the door, if you look at the back it does not look that hard to switch the door if their was some brackets, my washer and dryer have that option but the GX don't

 

My thought was that the door opens the way it does so it doesn't try to close on you when the truck is parked next to the curb on a slant due to the crowned street surface

 

My thinking it's because most people are right-handed.

~ Cap

 

The door closes on me. Never happened with a "hatch"...

SacKen is right - its a bigger issue for me because of my NY home - but I also have a home in East Hampton and I cant fully open the back door in my garage (and the door closes on me....oh well)...

Nothing is perfect and everything else about the truck makes me smile.

 

I thought a hatch would be better but now I like the back door. No problems closing the door for the short wife..

 

I took a poll on that very issue around here not too long ago. It seems that most people fall into the same camp as me. To sum it up? Boy am I glad I didn't let the side opening rear door stop me from buying the GX! It has turned out to be a non issue. I can't believe how little I care compared to how much I thought I would care. The GX is the type of vehicle that you like more and more the longer you own one. I have found great new respect for this vehicle now that I have experienced first hand how awesome it is off road and in the snow. The ride and comfort are second to none. I'd venture to say it's got the nicest interior (which in my book is what matters most) of any SUV out there.

 

Why don't you "lock" it when open so that it doesn't close on you?