Buyig Experience
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: CA
Buying Experience
First up, I want to thank everyone here, I have been following this forum for the last month or so and it has been immensely helpful.
Let me share my experience, which might help someone on this forum as the other posts did for me.
I have just moved into US and was hence looking or a SUV. Having driven a Toyota Prado for three years, I am really used to and comfortable with a high drive height, fast acceleration, off road ability and loads of space.
Which is why (due to the drive height) the Toureg and the BMW were out, even though I thought the Toureg was a great car on paper (I never test drove it).
So my shortlist was LandRover LR3, Volvo XC90, Lexus GX470.
The Landrover was my hot favourite for some time, till I browsed the forums and learnt about the negative quality perception in the general market regarding Land Rover. Now that is a pretty bad sign for resale values and for a 50K car, I definitely want a decent resale. If the LR3 does prove itself and changes the perception, it well might be my next car.
The volvo was awesome. Drove really well, great specs, very safe, 6 speed shiftable makes a huge difference in the acceleration.. Only problem was that the volvo would have cost me more than the Lexus!! and again, resale wise, Lexus is Lexus and Volvo is Volvo...
Which then left the Lexus GX 470, now almost all the features are there in this SUV, except 6 sped shiftable, 19 or 20" wheels, HID and MP3 ability. When I test drove the car, the cornering was not up to scratch with Volvo either.. Which is why I opted for the sports model with KDSS.
The plusses of the Lexus? Lots of them, including removable third row seats, bluetooth, luxury inside, suepension, permanent 4WD (which I think is rated better than the AWD)
So, I have now managed to book the gx 470.. at a pretty sweat deal too!! And in the deal part, KBB, Edmunds and the guys who posted that excel worksheet were tremendously helpful..
Let me share my experience, which might help someone on this forum as the other posts did for me.
I have just moved into US and was hence looking or a SUV. Having driven a Toyota Prado for three years, I am really used to and comfortable with a high drive height, fast acceleration, off road ability and loads of space.
Which is why (due to the drive height) the Toureg and the BMW were out, even though I thought the Toureg was a great car on paper (I never test drove it).
So my shortlist was LandRover LR3, Volvo XC90, Lexus GX470.
The Landrover was my hot favourite for some time, till I browsed the forums and learnt about the negative quality perception in the general market regarding Land Rover. Now that is a pretty bad sign for resale values and for a 50K car, I definitely want a decent resale. If the LR3 does prove itself and changes the perception, it well might be my next car.
The volvo was awesome. Drove really well, great specs, very safe, 6 speed shiftable makes a huge difference in the acceleration.. Only problem was that the volvo would have cost me more than the Lexus!! and again, resale wise, Lexus is Lexus and Volvo is Volvo...
Which then left the Lexus GX 470, now almost all the features are there in this SUV, except 6 sped shiftable, 19 or 20" wheels, HID and MP3 ability. When I test drove the car, the cornering was not up to scratch with Volvo either.. Which is why I opted for the sports model with KDSS.
The plusses of the Lexus? Lots of them, including removable third row seats, bluetooth, luxury inside, suepension, permanent 4WD (which I think is rated better than the AWD)
So, I have now managed to book the gx 470.. at a pretty sweat deal too!! And in the deal part, KBB, Edmunds and the guys who posted that excel worksheet were tremendously helpful..
Last edited by goforit123; Mar 9, 2005 at 07:31 AM. Reason: spelling
Congrats on your decision. 
What are your color choices?
I have no regrets with my GX and just love the sound of the V8 when I step on it
........by no means that it's a sport car 
What are your color choices?
I have no regrets with my GX and just love the sound of the V8 when I step on it
........by no means that it's a sport car
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Universe93
Car Chat
66
Jun 30, 2016 08:56 PM
matmanx1
GX - 1st Gen (2003-2009)
14
Feb 8, 2016 06:59 AM
