WreckITFrank
Technical Excellence Contributor
we have a 2019 XC90 and can honestly say its one of the most comfortable vehicles I have ever driven in. plus its quite roomy. beat out the disco 5 for us.
Grenadier
- Thread starter WreckITFrank
- Start date
evilfij
Well-known member
That is because no one has ever changed the brake fluid on a Toyota. And the brakes on a 70s 911 are phenomenal if properly maintained. And compared to a 90 with OME HD springs or a lotus they are downright plush.
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evilfij
Well-known member
I threw in the towel and bought one of these after being mislead by several Toyota dealers. Should be here within a month. I mean it is green so that alone is worth the extra money over the 4runner …. And it will tow a car trailer (6500lbs tow rating) and it’s actually nice inside. Going to slap on a tow hitch and call it a day. I think it comes with the wiring already 4 and 7 pin.
Now to build it a tool kit …. All green tools.
Now to build it a tool kit …. All green tools.
mgreenspan
Founding Member
Awesome and congrats on your purchase.
Z.G
Well-known member
That's actually sort of a nice part, you dont really need a tool kit for these. That being said, it does have some nice storage compartments throughout the back.
mgreenspan
Founding Member
Used GX470s are getting $20k+. I’ve had mine 10 years and it’s up to 150k miles. Supposedly I could sell it for what I paid in 2012. The prices are illogical and fueled by the current chip availability, fanboy demand for rust free, absurd Toyota perceived invincibility, and lack of useful 4x4s offered by brands.
I don’t know if it’ll actually ever cool off. The GX market is strange because you can find them used for very low prices compared to Tacomas and 4Runners, but full service history and no rust fetches an absurd premium.
evilfij
Well-known member
Keep in mind dealers were discounting land cruisers and they never sold well while they were available. Now everyone sees them gone and the new LX600 they shot way up (more than the car market generally) and if a new Land Cruiser comes back it will be similar to the LX600 and sequoia or it will be a highlander based product.
There are very few somewhat simple vehicles left: wrangler v6, charger/challenger, ram classic, 4runner, tacoma 4 cylinder, GX460 everything else is direct injection turbo maybe hybrid million speed auto.
I probably should have waited for the grenadier to see the price and one in person, maybe bought a used X (g-wagen, LC, LX570, sequoia), but to be honest, what sold me is that the GX, especially the interior, is actually nice and it is built like a bank vault. Heated and ventilated seats, wood trim, apple car play, it’s quiet, it’s not huge, door shut well, all the panel lines and paint are perfect etc. I asked about getting a non-premium to save some money (and avoid the rear AC) but they don’t exist and it’s like a $600 savings when you add back heated and ventilated seats. While I don’t like the light grey seats, the black headliner, blacked out trim (which minimizes the grill), black interior trim and the few extra goodies like the 360 camera made it worth the few extra dollars for the blackline (who am I kidding I bought it because it was green). 2023 is the last year of the GX, although it looks like 2024 for the 4runner. It also helps that the Lexus dealer is a half mile from the house and the guy I bought it from I have known forever. So basically I jump now and buy one or I won’t be able to get one new. I did the same thing with my tacoma 4 banger manual and my GT3 and don’t regret buying those.
PS and the tool kit is for other vehicles I may encounter too.
There are very few somewhat simple vehicles left: wrangler v6, charger/challenger, ram classic, 4runner, tacoma 4 cylinder, GX460 everything else is direct injection turbo maybe hybrid million speed auto.
I probably should have waited for the grenadier to see the price and one in person, maybe bought a used X (g-wagen, LC, LX570, sequoia), but to be honest, what sold me is that the GX, especially the interior, is actually nice and it is built like a bank vault. Heated and ventilated seats, wood trim, apple car play, it’s quiet, it’s not huge, door shut well, all the panel lines and paint are perfect etc. I asked about getting a non-premium to save some money (and avoid the rear AC) but they don’t exist and it’s like a $600 savings when you add back heated and ventilated seats. While I don’t like the light grey seats, the black headliner, blacked out trim (which minimizes the grill), black interior trim and the few extra goodies like the 360 camera made it worth the few extra dollars for the blackline (who am I kidding I bought it because it was green). 2023 is the last year of the GX, although it looks like 2024 for the 4runner. It also helps that the Lexus dealer is a half mile from the house and the guy I bought it from I have known forever. So basically I jump now and buy one or I won’t be able to get one new. I did the same thing with my tacoma 4 banger manual and my GT3 and don’t regret buying those.
PS and the tool kit is for other vehicles I may encounter too.
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mgreenspan
Founding Member
Last time I checked US was steel everywhere else was plastic, unless you get the winch bumper upgrade.
That would be stu...well, confusing, anyway.
I thought Ineos was putting this thing together to buck the trend of luxury SUVs replacing hardworking utility vehicles? AFAIK only the rear camera is mandatory in the U.S. If someone wants the other stuff that's fine. I'm not criticizing them for their choices. It's just that I'd rather pay for more important things like substantial ring gear diameter or beefy axle shaft size instead of standard "piddle lamps" or any of the other stuff in the smooth move pack.*
EDIT: *Apologies for the infantile word play. It's been a long day.
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evilfij
Well-known member
Will be interested to compare when someone local @WreckITFrank gets a grenadier.
One thing that occurred to me this morning was what the dealer buying and service experience is going to be for Grenadier. I am sure it will vary some dealer to dealer, but being familiar with Porsche, Toyota, VW, Lotus and now Lexus (BTW anyone near philly my Lexus guy is great, knew him for a decade and he has been there with the same dealer for 25 years and my Porsche guy is awesome too), the difference between what I would call highline and mass market dealers is night and day. I mean I bought the GX mainly because the local Toyota dealers turned me off so much. For example, the order had accessories crap on it I did not want. Toyota: can’t change, can’t order etc. I was like, I will pay you whatever profit you are making I just don’t want running boards etc etc. Lexus: no problem, 86ed the accessories. It showed up with some of them none the less and they did not charge me for them. So now I have a set of rubber mats that will live in my attic until I die ….
One thing that occurred to me this morning was what the dealer buying and service experience is going to be for Grenadier. I am sure it will vary some dealer to dealer, but being familiar with Porsche, Toyota, VW, Lotus and now Lexus (BTW anyone near philly my Lexus guy is great, knew him for a decade and he has been there with the same dealer for 25 years and my Porsche guy is awesome too), the difference between what I would call highline and mass market dealers is night and day. I mean I bought the GX mainly because the local Toyota dealers turned me off so much. For example, the order had accessories crap on it I did not want. Toyota: can’t change, can’t order etc. I was like, I will pay you whatever profit you are making I just don’t want running boards etc etc. Lexus: no problem, 86ed the accessories. It showed up with some of them none the less and they did not charge me for them. So now I have a set of rubber mats that will live in my attic until I die ….
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WreckITFrank
Technical Excellence Contributor
does this mean you will actually wash it? maybe they will do it for you when you stop on in...
evilfij
Well-known member
Ha. I told them not to wash it before giving it to me. Washing causes scratches.
vtlandrover
Well-known member
That's the least offensive Lexus/BMW/Audi grille currently on offer... as I've said many times, my '11 Land Cruiser was the nicest thing I've ever owned. Wonder if the build quality and driving experience of the GX is similar?
evilfij
Well-known member
Ya, on the grill, the “black edition” I got has black chrome around the predator grill (rather than regular chrome on all the other GX) and the insert was changed in 2020 to the teeth center. I don’t mind if and it sort of grew on me.
I have driven an LX570 (the Lexus version of the TLC), albeit briefly, and the GX drives similar, but a bit more sporty if you can believe that. The reviewers say the same. And the GX is still pretty big, but narrower than the TLC/LX. Think Range Rover v. Range Rover Sport.
As far as build quality/reliability, the build quality is the same, if not better (supposedly the plant where GX is made is slightly better than the one that LX/TLC is made) and the reliability is better by a little bit as only the luxury trim has the fancy shocks whereas most LX/TLC got them. Also, the 4.6 V8 in the GX is supposed to be a bit more reliable than the 5.7 V8 but splitting hairs. The engines are effectively the same, it’s just that the 5.7 has a longer stroke and the 4.6 is detuned. GX other than luxury which has the really nice semi-analine leather get nu-luxe which is a really nice fake leather. LX/TLC get regular leather (and semi-analine on the higher LX trims).
So far my only complaint is that you need the Lexus computer to turn off the feature where the power adjust steering wheel retracts back to allow easier access when you shut off the vehicle. Trauma from broken L322 Range Rover steering columns makes me want to turn it off so maybe I will go back to the dealer to do that, but I know where the fuse is and I am just going to pull the fuse for now. After setting them initiallh, I have never adjusted a steering wheel on anything I own (especially defenders lol).
I am also going to pull the foam filter on the secondary air pump intake and fit the K&N breather. I bought the UNI brand breather for the GX. Apparently the foam degrades over time (like 12 years) and kills the pump. I did the same mod on my tacoma with the K&N and I think the UNI brand is better. If you read the Toyota/Lexus forums that’s about the only fault, other than frame rust, that there is. It’s night and day between our beloved old defenders and them.
One other issue is that bought the Curt hitch because the Lexus one is on stop sale (wiring is already there). The Curt is only 5k lbs v. 6500 for the Lexus hitch which has additional side mounts to the frame rails.
I have driven an LX570 (the Lexus version of the TLC), albeit briefly, and the GX drives similar, but a bit more sporty if you can believe that. The reviewers say the same. And the GX is still pretty big, but narrower than the TLC/LX. Think Range Rover v. Range Rover Sport.
As far as build quality/reliability, the build quality is the same, if not better (supposedly the plant where GX is made is slightly better than the one that LX/TLC is made) and the reliability is better by a little bit as only the luxury trim has the fancy shocks whereas most LX/TLC got them. Also, the 4.6 V8 in the GX is supposed to be a bit more reliable than the 5.7 V8 but splitting hairs. The engines are effectively the same, it’s just that the 5.7 has a longer stroke and the 4.6 is detuned. GX other than luxury which has the really nice semi-analine leather get nu-luxe which is a really nice fake leather. LX/TLC get regular leather (and semi-analine on the higher LX trims).
So far my only complaint is that you need the Lexus computer to turn off the feature where the power adjust steering wheel retracts back to allow easier access when you shut off the vehicle. Trauma from broken L322 Range Rover steering columns makes me want to turn it off so maybe I will go back to the dealer to do that, but I know where the fuse is and I am just going to pull the fuse for now. After setting them initiallh, I have never adjusted a steering wheel on anything I own (especially defenders lol).
I am also going to pull the foam filter on the secondary air pump intake and fit the K&N breather. I bought the UNI brand breather for the GX. Apparently the foam degrades over time (like 12 years) and kills the pump. I did the same mod on my tacoma with the K&N and I think the UNI brand is better. If you read the Toyota/Lexus forums that’s about the only fault, other than frame rust, that there is. It’s night and day between our beloved old defenders and them.
One other issue is that bought the Curt hitch because the Lexus one is on stop sale (wiring is already there). The Curt is only 5k lbs v. 6500 for the Lexus hitch which has additional side mounts to the frame rails.
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Z.G
Well-known member
On my GX that's an option in the menu screen. I was also nervous about that, but assumed Lexus had it a bit better figured out then the early RRs
A lot can’t, in my experience.
evilfij
Well-known member
Better yes, but they do break apparently. You can disable the seat moving through the menu, but not the steering column. The additional kicker is I went digging tonight and the fuse for the steering column is not in the same place as on the old ones and I have not found it yet. Maybe it’s in the Lexus computer at the dealer as an option to disable. I have turned off everything I can and now am at the point of pulling fuses and modules …. I just got in a fight with the lady on the SOS button because that shit was not supposed to be turned on …. I think that is a violation of federal law because I never signed anything to agree to transmit data.
While I am complaining, you also can’t turn the screen off while driving and it’s way too bright. I need to get the module hack so it thinks you are parked at all times, but I have not seen one for 22/23 yet.
I need to research some prado parts ….
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