Hi CL members, I can use some help please.

I may be looking at a Silver 2004 GX470 tomorrow if it's not sold already and I have some questions.

1) I live in FL and dont need 4wd and I would rather not have the associated repairs and expenses of features I don't need- do all GX470's have 4wd?
2) Saw some videos about the rear air bag system being a costly repair and was wondering if all GX470's have this system or should I look for one that doesn't have it?
3) Is there anything GX470 specific I should look at and be warned about checking and red flags if I can go see the car?
4) Aftermarket availability of parts- how are these cars for finding quality parts for repair if oem parts are obsolete?

Normally not worried about checking the car out as I don't need a mechanic but this car is so equipped I'm afraid it may have features that are common failures I wouldn't know to check so any advice and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Other details:
Mileage: 195k
Color: Silver/ Silver
Price: $10K
>> Don't know if it was a northern car or rust bucket, I requested a carfax to see where the car came from and waiting.
>> This unit has no Nav and I prefer it that way as I currently have an RX330 that had nav until I deleted it- I can always put in a new radio with backup cam so I'm happy with that.
>> Mileage scares me but if the car check out I might keep the my old car too or trade it in, current car 150K.

All advice is appreciated! Thank You!

 

Greetings,
I would give you some answers:

1. Yes, All GX470 are 4WD
2. Air bag system actually is not that expensive if are tools handy, and yes, all are air bag system in the back
3. Check for driven belt replacement, air bag system properly working, radiator is not leaking.
4. Easily availability of parts, most the same as 4runner except the body obviously.

ask yourself, why you want a GX470. Advice, if you dont want 4wd, go look for a 4runner instead. My two cents.

 

Thank you losperher, I will check those things.

We had a 4runner a few years ago and traded it before it hit 100k miles and wife found it "blah" and never liked the car with the cloth seats with no lumbar for her back problem and the "japaneesy interior" if that makes any sense.

To me it was "just a car" because I liked it but it just didn't have that Lexus style that makes us love our cars, kicking myself now for letting it go but at the same time wife doesn't miss it. lol
Wife doesn't drive much any more so we went down to one vehicle but for whatever reason she thinks the 4runner is ugly but the GX470 looks great.

Got the carfax- GX470 lived in NY for 1st 3.5 years/54k miles and then in FL until now at 194k.
I've never owned a car with that many miles and it scares me, just being honest but I'll go look at it.

>> Do you think I should hold out for one in good condition with lower miles? seems like they jump up to $15K for ones with near 150k miles.

 

Given that it's spent the first 3-½ years in NY, and the last 150,000'ish miles in FL, check for corrosion/rust in/on the frame. The salt belt isn't kind, nor is the salty FL air. You may find the rust runs deep. (I'll be surprised if not.)

I love my '05. The only real "problem" I've had is the brakes/rotors. The front rotors on the GX's were remarkably undersized for such a heavy vehicle. At one point, I was replacing the roots every 10-15,000 miles or so - yes, that frequently - as they'd warp. I finally wound up going with drilled and slotted rotors over the standard smooth rotors and, after about 30,000 miles, the drilled/sotted are just starting to get a little herky-jerky on stops. Also, the four-piston calipers on the front of the GX's were notorious for seizing. After almost six years of ownership, mine haven't (yet!) but my rear-right caliper has done so twice. I'm probably going to just replace rotors and calipers all-around with a heftier towing package-type brake set the next time I do the brakes. And you're right about the rear airbags. If you don't have the tools and know-how, it can be about $2,000, just for the airbags, and another $1,900 for the leveling shocks. But there are a number of videos on YT that'll show you just how to do the job and equal or better quality parts are available on Amazon for ¼ the dealer price. A little patience and <$500 can get you the same results/ride $2,000 would have.

Just keep in mind, these are almost 20-year old vehicles (for some of us) and, as such, they'll be showing their age if not visually, then definitely mechanically. However, I'd buy another one again in a heartbeat, or perhaps a 460 since it has the timing chain in lieu of a timing belt (something else to consider). One of the great things about having an older "luxury" car is (in my case) full-coverage insurance is just $47 a month and I still get to drive a "nice vehicle." Something to be said for that.

Let us know how it goes and what you decide!

 

Thank you TDYalden for the detailed info, thats what I love about CL, people have always helped me when I needed it.

You nailed my #1 concern about it being a NY car for the 1st 54k miles and the mileage is 2nd so that's gonna be a deal breaker on this one.

Living in FL, for the most part cars are rust free if they live more than a mile from the beach unless you are rich and live on the ocean and yeah I've seen Lexus LS430 with rust coming thru the paint on the door panels and all over every inch of the car- but only usually a problem if you are very close to the beach(where people can afford to buy these cars new) otherwise not usually a concern but it needs to be looked at closely, you are right.

I'm less afraid of the suspension airbags now and I saw a video on youtube about checking if the "center lock" engages as seen by a light in the dash so I'll look more into that.
If I go look at one I will be sure to hook in a scanner and check for saftey airbag and abs codes too- might even bring my laptop with techstream if they'll let me plug it in- I'm a fairly new member and I have seen many stories about major codes showing up days or a week after buying a car that I suspect were probably "pending codes" at the time of purchase.

I think I will hold out for one with a little lower mileage if I decide to go the GX route and since they ask so much for them down here I will try to be more picky and wait until I get one that didn't grow up in the rust belt.

Any other things worth considering plz let me know. thank you