Mileage: 107,780 Engine: 4.7L V8 DOHC 32V Carfax shows many service entries for roytine stuff. No accidents, clean title. FOUR owners. Southern vehicle $11,900 Used car lot near me (Japanese import specialist).
I have a friend with a Tundra that's over 565k with the same engine. Far as I know this is a bulletproof Landcruiser with a very nice interior.
Are there model specific concerns anyone can help me understand? Good deal?
In reply to OHSCrifle:
The four owners may be a bit of a concern, but it's a bulletproof truck so it's hard to go wrong.
G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to OHSCrifle: The four owners may be a bit of a concern, but it's a bulletproof truck so it's hard to go wrong.
I'm right there with that thought...
My wife's co-worker had one and for what it's worth it was routinely at the shop.
My understanding is there werw issues with the air suspension and something to do with the key not talking to the truck leaving him stranded. Then the motor went around 100k miles with a bottom end knock. It got traded in at that point.
Could of been a lemon and he's not a car guy at all.
Neat. I didn't know these were based on the smaller Land Cruiser Prados.
Sounds about right. I bought a nice-condition 05 Sequoia last year with 20k less miles and completely loaded (same engine, just as many luxury features) for $14k. Only odd thing with the GX470 from that year is that it had a relatively low tow rating (5k, IIRC), which is less than the Sequioa or 4Runner with the same engine. IIRC the 03 GX was the non-VVTi engine, so the 04+ got more power, but it does have the 5-speed transmission that the Sequoia didn't get until '05 (which is stronger than the 4-speed).
I say jump on it.
We have an '08. Love it. Its the wife's new favorite vehicle she has had. Funny note, this is the lowest weight vehicle that you could get the "3/4 ton or larger" tax credit on.
The 04 was the first year I think, so it had quirks, but no big worries. We test drove a few and some of the lower priced earlier ones had some noises and strange things that seemed a little off. So we passed on it and another one similar. They were also 200+k miles too.
I would say that you are golden to get it. The engines are interference though so you may need to change out the timing belt. Though I know of a few of these engines that have run for 175k+ without issue.
Thanks for the replies. I will probablt go check it out.
Curious though.. Is the 4wd 4Runner of same model year on the same chassis? I realize I asked about a truck that punches a huge hole in the wind, so there will obviously never be good fuel economy, but "full time" 4wd bruises my cheapskate gene.
OHSCrifle wrote: Thanks for the replies. I will probablt go check it out. Curious though.. Is the 4wd 4Runner of same model year on the same chassis? I realize I asked about a truck that punches a huge hole in the wind, so there will obviously never be good fuel economy, but "full time" 4wd bruises my cheapskate gene.
Nope, different chassis. 4runner is a 4Runner platform. This is a gussied up Land Cruiser Prado.
We have an '08 and it's awesome. We bought it in '12 as a CPO vehicle and it's just been basic maintenance. Oil and gas really. The dealer replaced the water pump/timing belt for us under CPO warranty because the water pump was weeping a little. My feeling is they did it because they could, it hadn't come close to failing.
I just put a new battery in it this past weekend and will replace the rear brake pads shortly, new tires in the Fall. That's it.
The only thing I don't like about it is the way the rear hatch door opens as a barn door. I'd much prefer that it either had the split tail gate that the Land Cruisers have, or just have a one piece door that opens vertically...
Are the 3rd row seats removable?
When I was looking for my LS 430, I found a site that rated most reliable used cars. The Lexus LS was 2nd behind (wait for it) the Lexus LX as the most reliable used car. If I get a few minutes I will try and find that link.
I have found some information on the "Club Lexus" forum, but keep in mind that as a rule the Lexus guys are waaaay less hands-on than the folks on this forum. Lots of threads on blingy wheels and dubious Ebay coilovers, but some solid information there too if you look.
The LX is rated up there because it's an FJ series Land Cruiser, which is also one of the most reliable things ever made. 
I was/am considering the gx. From my research, prado, 4runner and gx are the same platform. Think of them as landcruiser lite. Prado and gx are essentially the same--engines are different. 4 runner is slightly wider and shorter. 4runner v6 was used in prado in other markets. 4runner seats 7 with 3rd row gx seats 8 with third row. 3 of the 8 have to be children:). I think 4runner and prado can be had with a rear locker from factory. No such thing in gx from factory. V6 4runner can in some years be fulltime or part time 4wd. Gx has more sound deadening and a nicer interior.
G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to OHSCrifle: The four owners may be a bit of a concern, but it's a bulletproof truck so it's hard to go wrong.
Fuel mileage could be a reason to pass it on.
I have worked on several at the shop, a few with over 200k, but almost all the ones I dealt with, had rear air bag issues. so I swapped them all for coil springs, probably a rust belt thing ( salt gets stuck inside of air bag causing it to rot/wear) but its an easy swap, and they are like a big pillow on the highway, would buy
Thanks
It's not a rust belt thing, id's an air spring thing. They all break eventually, and I totally approve of switching to coil springs. Other than that, I can't really name s problem with these trucks. If you like the price, I say do it.
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