caha14

So here's the situation...

As in previous winters, I am refusing to drive my LS on salted roads. In the last couple years, I've been able to car pool with my wife, but this year, I will need to drive and have been toying with the idea of a winter car.What began as an outlandish thought has now turned into a real search. I've been all over the place, looking at short-term lease swaps (mainly GX460 and some RX), searching for used Hemi-powered Grand Cherokees and even looking at a couple 6-speed-manual SH-AWD TLs.

Long story short, I have pretty much settled on finding a used GX, and the ultimate question is whether to go 470 or 460. This is where the 2nd Gen forum comes in, especially with those of you who've lived with both 1st and 2nd-Gen GXs.

A 2004 GX470 was my first Lexus, which I loved. When I drove the first 2010 GX460 my dealer received (Christmas 2009), between the changes and the $67k non-negotiable price tag, we chose to go LX570, and the rest has been history (twice!). However, the 470/460 tradeoffs seem different now that I’m buying used, and I’d appreciate everyone’s input.

Here's what I'm seeing…

2008-09 GX470:

Pros·

1. Late production years
2. Solid, solid, solid truck and drivetrain
3. Cool red color available those years
4. ML system (on most units)
5. Price (I’m trying to stay in the teens)

Cons

1. Looks a bit dated (though I could be ok with that)
2. Missing features I’ve become used to (park assist, Bluetooth audio, etc.)
3. KDSS: harder to find, and price point tends to jump (unless Carfax has accidents)
4. High mileage (for the most part) – not an issue if well maintained, but… there seems to be a “sweet spot” at 100k miles below which pricing jumps to $20k+. Side note: there’s a 2009 GX470 with 40k miles out there. It has KDSS, appears to be in solid shape, and asking price is almost $28k. Putting aside my budget, paying as much for any 470 feels a bit absurd.

Once we get closer to $20k territory, higher mileage GX460s are – all of a sudden – in play.

GX460:

Pros

1. Bluetooth audio, park assist, KDSS
2. No timing belt to worry about
3. Marginally better mpg, though I won’t be driving all that far
4. Better resale (presumably, due to being newer style?)

Cons

1. Early production issues (e.g., 2010-11 or 12 steering shimmy, which early 470 also had)
2. Cost/high mileage tradeoff (even more so than 470s?) – seems like $20k cutoff comes at 120k miles or so

I welcome any suggestions or input on what I am missing, potential problems, etc. There is arguably still a chance that a short-term lease will pop up (e.g., I saw a promising 7-month GX460 deal on swapalease that disappeared), but I don’t want to bet on this, especially since I’ve been told the process with Lexus Financial can take north of a month!

Acrad

I've never had or drove a GX 470 but several members here have so they will likely chime in. I have a '12 and no steering shimmy at all. This can affect some as per a TSB but mine isn't affected. I believe the revised steering rack was put in the '13s.

IIRC there are some potential driveshaft clunk issues on 470s that were fixed with a TSB and 2009 models should have the revised part. There were also some dashboard cracking issues on quite a number of 470s but I think Lexus is basically fixing them all.

EDIT: Not sure what this goes for in all areas of country but here is a fully loaded '10 (at a Dealer) in my area that even includes Driver Support Package for $23.8 w/95k miles.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...389663707.html

caha14

Thank you acrad! I am very familiar with all GX470 known problems.

I appreciate the link and looked at it with much excitement, but lo and behold, in the photos the odometer shows 153,310 miles!

Acrad

Funny... I didn't look at the odometer pic... they must have lifted pic from another site as this site shows around 72k miles as of 2015.

https://www.vehiclehistory.com/pagin...JM7FX7A5004134

EDIT: I think that is one of the trip odometers at 1533.10 miles

lennyr89

Its in KM, look at Speedo. 95k miles is 153k km

Acrad

It may be from Canada... if so lower mileage

Actually 1 KM is 0.621371 miles

~59-60K miles. I'd be looking at this one myself if in the market

EDIT: Strike my post... assuming ad is correct and image is wrong :-) Too many beers at cabin tonight to think straight :-)

Acrad

I texted seller for clarification.

EDIT: Definitely from Canada with the gauge package

autoqwest.hammerwebsites.net/v/At-ZJGPe

caha14

Excellent catch! I looked so quickly... Indeed: 1.6 km to a mile, and it all ties out. Thanks!

Acrad

That dealer did get back to me... already gone.

Dallasguy1

I have kept a Gx470 2007 and now driving a 12 460, as u said the 470 looks dated but it was very solid indeed apart from cracking seats, water pump and rusting under carriage. I bought mine 2 years ago at around 80k miles and it already had all these problems. 12 on the other hand has updated look specially the interior is very nice along with the extra features your missing on the 470. If I have to buy again I'll buy a newer 460 as I'm missing the blind spot monitor on the 12. Also I don't have any steering problems in my truck. If this helps.