I just have 2 kids, don't expect to have another one.

You bring up a very good point, why purchase a new van for just a few year of usage.
The wife brought up leasing a van for the 3 years that we need it for.

 

Sounds like your wife is a smart lady.

When my first child was born I had a MK4 TDI golf 2 door. Everyone said I needed to get a bigger car, but the back seat was roomy and access was surprisingly good. I kept that car till my daughter was about 6 years old and we had our second child. Then I traded it in for a highlander.

Was the Toyota roomier and more comfortable? Yup.
Was it faster? Oh yes, everything is faster than a TDI.

Could we have made due with the TDI? Honestly, probably.

The amount of times we filled the back of the Toyota up with luggage or gear, I could count on 1 hand. The money we spent driving it around compared to the TDI I'd need a calculator to count.

Worse, a few years later, with the Highlander finally paid down enough to trade in without a loss and my second born now big enough to fit into a booster seat, I traded it in for a Golf R (Lemon, don't ask) and regretted having spent the money on a big 'ol family hauler.
Now, my wife on the other hand fondly remembers the Highlander. If I had leased it, like it seems like you might, I would have avoided about a year of driving a car I didn't like and still made her happy.

 

Appreciate all the honest feedback in the thread - not just thoughtless "GX is the best ever!"

It sounds like youve already decided, but just to add in the opinion after around 10 years of 2010 GX460 ownership. Thoughts and maintenance issues over that period:

If you appreciate/ need any of the truck features, GX is great. 4x4 is solid, occasional towing is OK, but definitely not good for any regular towing. Gas mileage isnt great stock - granted bigger tires knocked me 1 mpg down, roof rack closer to another 1 mpg. Its not a deal breaker for me, but bet it would be a significant dip from the RX so i mention it.

around 60K miles - TSB for airpump. covered under the TSB, but inconvenient. Presumably fixed in newer models.
80k (not milage related) - Takata Airbag Recall
100K miles - tiny crack in plastic radiator. It wasnt causing any issues or loss of fluid (yet) but i preemptively fixed because i didnt want it to ruin a trip later
130K miles - Valley plate leak: This one hurt a bit, and if you arent "looking out for it" could easily leave you stranded on the side of a road. $100 in materials and $1400 in labor. presumably also fixed on newer models, but seeing that its the second Lexus V8 ive had to deal with this issue Id look into before buying a newer one.
150K miles - front wheel bearings. I run spacers behind stock wheels, so likely that I accelerated this timeline, but hard to say how much

Oil, filters, gas, and brakes. Overall we have loved it.

 

The GX is actually more reliable than the RX, but we aren't talking about a day and night difference between the two as they're both Lexus. The edge for the GX stems from the fact it's an overengineered body on frame Land Cruiser Prado. However, as a current minivan owner (my wife's daily), you simply can't beat the roominess and the price. The comfort in a Toyota Sienna (I had a brand new '12 XLE AWD) was decent. The comfort in a Kia Sedona (my wife currently have the '16 SX) is good. Just to compare, the comfort in the RX and GX are close, both very good. I would highly recommend test driving a minivan, one of the two I mentioned above, just to be sure. A used low mileage '17 GX used to get you a brand new mid-range, somewhat loaded Sienna or Sedona but I don't know with today's market.

One more thing about the GX. Although 99.9% of the YouTube reviewers talk about how small the 3rd row seats are, like someone said here (not surprisingly the ONLY one --hahaha), it's not that bad. He said he's 6-1 and I'm about 5-10. As long as the 2nd row isn't pushed all the way back, the third row is very usable even for adults. Imagine adjusting the first and second rows so that space/legroom is equitable between all three rows. The caveat, and this remains true no matter what, is the cargo space disappears with the third row up. You can fit maybe 12 grocery bags, stacked, if you use the 3rd row. It's actually funny. It's because the GX has a very purpose-driven design and pretty much everyone who owns one long term fully understands this purpose. For a go-almost-anywhere-in-comfort, small family adventure vehicle, with safety and reliability in mind, it's a very hard vehicle to beat even with the notorious MPG. Unfortunately, large family hauling ain't it.

 

Hey hey hey. I said I was 6-3. LOL otherwise yes same opinion as you.

 

Yep - they always push the second row all the way back and make a big deal about not getting their legs in. No way that Redline guy couldn't make it work at 5'7. Yeah, there is no leg room if your fellow passengers are sociopaths. But I agree that if the main use case is hauling 5 or more people and their gear than GX is in most cases not optimal. Maybe Durango, if totally against minivan or the Tahoe's or Expeditions of the world

 

Hahaha. My bad.

Yeah, I don't listen to Sofyan Bey's reviews for most cars. When he reviewed the GX, I believe he did 2 or 3 videos total with the last one covering the refresh on the '22, he practically trashed the GX and treated it like ****, speed-talking his way through the video. You can tell he wanted to just get it over with. That told me everything I needed to know about his biases. He didn't care and wasn't interested in giving it a meaningful and thoughtful review because he had already made up his mind, whether the refresh on the infotainment was done or not. In his eyes, the GX should just die and go away. It's people like him who will one day look back and fawn over the charm of simpler cars that weren't 100% computers and functionality, reliability, build, etc. offered more value over technology and gadgets, not realizing when those cars were around he was the one trashing them. Listen to his review on the Mazda MX-5, I think when he compared it to the 86/BRZ, if you want proof. The only thing he's consistent on is trendy tech is always a plus for him. While it's gimmicks for people like me, it's worth paying premium for with him. He's one of those reviewers who sees only numbers and specs that a manufacturer's marketing department advertises. With the GX, it will lose in nearly ALL categories... and yet it continues to have strong sales figures. I'm also willing to bet, when cars are no longer DIY serviceable, everyone will wish they had kept a luxury truck SUV when they had a chance... and the GX will easily be in the top 3. It's very simple, those who get the GX get the GX. It's like an open secret that some just find so mysterious. They simply don't get why it exists. If I were to chase every single bell and whistle on a new truck SUV, I would be crying and regretting along with all the new Bronco owners.

 

Currently, I own a RX 350 and a GX 460 Luxury Lexus models. My wife generally drives the RX and I drive the GX. We have owned 3 other RX's and 7 GX's from the time the first generation of these two vehicles were released. This gives me over 15 years of owning these two body styles. The RX is a wonderful, reliable, practical and generally fun to drive vehicle around town. The interior offers plenty of space for us and the two local grandchildren if needed. Our model is not the extended long RX, so it is very comfortable for 4 passengers. My GX is a bigger vehicle, built on a sub frame, is very safe and an excellent extended trip vehicle. The GX quality is consistent with the fit and finish of the RX. The third row seating is cramped for adults, but serviceable for younger kids. We can seat 6 comfortably in the GX assuming that the youngest and smallest passengers are seated in the third row. Both vehicles hold their value very well. I would have no issues moving from the RX to the GX.

 

I’m still here SD. 👍🏻 Reading the thread responses out of band via email

Great info. thank you all for your feedback I am now scoping out the GX460. I am looking at both used and new. I dont really care about fancy new interiors. I really want a solid, reliable and dependable vehicle. I know this one will last. the used market is starting to soften but I am also looking at new.

That all said, I truly believe that Toyota makes the most reliable vehicles.

 

I put a deposit down today on a GX. Keeping the RX. Delivery in February. I am amazed how fast they sell. I had my eye on an incoming BL Nori Green and I delayed too long and it sold. A Chevy dealer has a 2022 model and priced too high for me and would not negotiate so I decided to order new, and I am very excited!

 

If in the "Salt Belt" ... just make sure you spray (clean) the underside in the winter on a regular basis ... just look at the 4-Runner and FJ Cruiser Class Action Law Suits for cancerous frame rust ... all the same ... so take care of your underside and it will last forever !!!

 

Agreed. Rust is probably the only thing that kills a GX. I learned this from my last GX so within a week I got the 2022, I fluid filmed, Corrosion X’ed, and POR15ed hell out of the undercarriage. I also try to drive 1 vehicle as much as possible so I do not have to deal with rust on every one of them.

 

We have both an RX and GX. The GX is mine and the RX is the wife's. Her's is paid off and will be replaced in a few years once mine is paid off (I dont like more than 1 car payment at a time). She doesn't like the new RX so maybe I can convince her to buy a CPO GX550. Hopefully by then they will have gotten the kinks out.