GXSummit

Hey everyone, Just joined tonight! I've been looking at purchasing a used Lexus GX 460! I currently have a Toyota Tacoma but am ready for something a little nicer. I do plan on lifting the Lexus and doing some light offloading with it. I think the 460 is what i want. I did look at a few 470s as well. I'm trying to keep the price around 25,000 give or take a little. . What are the pros and cons of the GX 470 vs the 460 in terms of offloading capabilities? are they both just as reliable as each other? Is there any major problems with either model i should look out for? The input would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!

Acrad

You could pick up a '10-'13 model for that.

Unless you get a stellar deal ...if you plan to lift go with a Base model otherwise you will have to remove the rear air springs. I think most remove the adjustable shocks as well when they do a lift.

460 has a timing change versus the 470 which requires a timing belt replacement every ~100k miles.

other threads to check...and get you started. Love my '12.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...-recall-7.html

A total PIA to change on the 470... at least easy to swap parts on 460.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...50k-miles.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...y-expires.html

Oldmanb777

I like the engine response of the 470 much better than the 460. But yes the 460 has a timing chain instead of belt. There isn't much suspension travel, especially in the rear. The 470 looks better than the 460. Oh well, not sure if there is much other difference. The older 470 body style seems to have more aftermarket stuff. So much easier to eliminate all the plastic junk, like the running boards, and find some real bumpers. I guess some of the stuff from the 470 won't fit the 460.

GB2011GX

I got a 2011 GX 460 for, what did I say??? $25,600 with 77,000 miles on it? (I'm OLD and can't remember my name! My wife calls me Jack A__, maybe that's it! LOL)

Htony

GX470 has a newly designed V8 . compare the engine specs. vs. GX460. And tailgates, barn door style vs. swing up style....

Oldmanb777

I understand the 4.6 ltr engine is the same as the LS engine, just detuned to make it more truck like, than a sedan engine. The older design 470 is more of a truck based engine. It makes its power at lower RPM than the 4.6 does. That makes for a nicer driver. You don't have to have your foot in it all the time and run higher RPM all the time. I think getting used to running higher RPM to make it go acceptably is just a matter of driving style. But you use low end torque to drive under normal driving conditions. That's just drivability, plain and simple. Horsepower is what you get wide open throttle and high RPM. That's seldom the driving that is done in normal use. But while I prefer driving the 4.7 engine, I certainly would not make it a deal breaker. The timing belt is probably more of a deal breaker.
The lack of low end torque out of the 4.0 ltr in the 4 Runner is what knocked it out of the running when we were buying the car. If I remember right, it makes its max torque @ about 4500 rpm, vs the 4.6 is about 3500 RPM. Even though the GX is heafty @ something like 1000 lbs more than the 4 runner, it still is anemic until you rap it out.

Acrad

From what I can tell the big difference between the LS 4.6L and the one in GX is it lacks direct injection. This is a substantial performance hit but from a maintenance & reliability standpoint the one in GX should be better.

http://desertoasisautorepair.com/dir...ppens-prevent/

Addressing issue usually requires taking intake off and sandblasting with something like walnut shells or something like that. The issue seems to primarily hit people who only use their car for city driving.

cruzinZ

Pick up a GX470 base. You will have a greater selection to chose from of the GX470 and they will be less expensive. More people are willing to modify a less expensive vehicle and take it offroad. The GX460 are designed more for the mall crawler crowd due to the running boards and overhangs from the front and rear bumpers. Also check out some of the rigs that people around the world have put together for the Toyota Parado 120. This will give you some ideas of what to do to your new vehicle.

I picked up a GX460 to be used as the wife's daily driver and we needed something that would double as a pull vehicle for the boat. I was looking into all of the various GX470 rigs that people were building and thought it would be great to have one. But this is the wife's vehicle so the GX460 was the only option between the two due to the updated interior.

Acrad

GX 470 does appear to have more off-road support right now but the 460 will as well once it is common to find one under $20k.

470 does have slight edge on approach compared to '10-'13 460 but break-over and departure are the same. Running boards seem easy enough to remove on both the 470 & 460.

I think the big thing to be careful on with a 470 is for poorly documented maintenance in regards to the timing belt... one would have to just assume it wasn't done if no sticker or strong documentation it was done.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...breakover.html

GXSummit

Thanks for the reply's everyone. I'm pretty torn between saving a few bucks and just getting the 470 or spending a little more for the 460. I like the interior of the 460 a lot better. I also like that if i find a base model 460 it dosen't have the air suspension. That would be huge when i go to lift it! I wouldn't have to mess with all that like i would on the 470. The timing chain is also nice on the 460. The aftermarket dose seem a lot better on the 470 though. I'm very concerned about that air injection pump for emissions. I know it's on both of them and hear it's costly to replace. My other concern for the 460 is the cam tower leak like the tundras get i also hear people have issues with oil around where the spark plugs are inserted. How many people have had all these problems? I'll be buying a gx with 90K plus miles im not to worried as i have owned a lot of toyotas that have gone over 200k including the Tacoma i currently have. I'm just trying to get some solid feed back before i pull the trigger on one.

Acrad

3rd party parts repairs for the air pump issues are relatively cheap... 470 hard to replace air valves... 460 simple

Check for leaking water pump. I had to get mine fixed under warranty just a couple months ago.

EDIT: There is a bypass kit one can get for air pump issue... if I had a 470 I would be getting that versus attempting to fix the valves and/or air pump.

GXSummit

Thanks, all good stuff to know! I’m pretty torn between the two for a variety of reasons! Guess I just need to write down the pros and cons of each. That or whatever one I find that’s a clean unit and good deal.

Acrad

With current off-road support you'd probably want to go with a 470 as that is what your primary focus for vehicle is. You should be able to pick up a nice one for mid to upper teens. Don't let the air pump issue scare you... the bypass is around $300. It is linked in the other thread.