Help me pick a used V8 SUV from Toyota/Lexus

lnlogauge said:

05-07 has the 4.7 with a timing belt. 

I stand corrected. 

90k is the suggested replacement interval. I'm about to drop $1100 to have a local toyota shop do mine. I just don't have the tools out here in LA to do it :(

The Toyota v8s went timing chain with the 4.6 and LC 5.6. 
 

this is of interest to me as I'm about to take over a gx460 from my parents. Also if you're into offroad, I just found out you can add crawl control and multi terrain select to any gx460 with about $500 in parts. 

Sorry to thread jack but, besides some sheet metal, are there any differences between LCs and LXs of the same year/vintage?

In reply to Old_Town :

depending on the vintage, the lx usually came with leather standard and a few more options as standard like premium sound or navigation.  On the fzj80s the lx450 is a little more likely to come with the f/r lockers  

In reply to Old_Town :

in the current ones, the lexus has a higher end interior leather option and a different infotainment system. Also the Current LX has the option for a 2 row or a 3 row instead of  3 row only that the current lc has(not counting heritage edition)

Just drove a 325k mile land cruiser. A little rusty. But damn. They thing drove well. 

Fueled by Caffeine said:

Just drove a 325k mile land cruiser. A little rusty. But damn. They thing drove well. 

They were selling it for only $12,300

In reply to Olemiss540 :

4300. Ran and drove better than any other. Beater I've recently driven. The frame was good. Couple crossmembers are a bit crusty.  Some holes in the body. 
 

bubbling paint on the leading edge of hood all over the bumper. 
 

but everything worked. Even had remote start. 

Fueled by Caffeine said:

Just drove a 325k mile land cruiser. A little rusty. But damn. They thing drove well. 

none rusty

In reply to yupididit :

That E36 M3 berkeleys. 

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :

Is that bad or good? Lol

In reply to yupididit :

It's good. 

Fueled by Caffeine said:

In reply to yupididit :

That E36 M3 berkeleys. 

People who berkeley know

Fueled by Caffeine said:

In reply to yupididit :

It's good. 

Okay I say "E36 M3 berkeleys" as a negative expression lol

I've got a 2014 Sequoia, a 2020 4Runner TRD Pro and a '93 Land Cruiser (5 speed manual from OZ). The 4Runner is hands down the best riding SUV on crappy roads.  The Sequoia is better on the highway and mountain roads.  The 4Runner does too much downshifting to maintain speed.  Does not tow as well either.  I'd daily the 4Runner if I had to pick.  The suspension is that much better.  If you compare a non-TRD Pro 4Runner to a Sequoia, I'd rather have the Sequoia.  It's bigger, hauls more, drives just as well and the mileage doesn't seem to be all that different.   The Land Cruiser is RHD and just for fun...

I understand the Toyota love, believe me... but if I was V8 SUV shopping I'd skip directly to the nicest GM product I could find in my preferred length/drivetrain. Suburbans/Tahoes have basically perfected the SUV-That-Tows formula IMHO. Even at equal money they'd be my choice, but they're also way cheaper. 

In reply to Tom Suddard :

2015+ GM SUV's retain their value well. For good reason, like you said they've perfected the SUV that tows. And they're good looking! 

Tom Suddard said:

I understand the Toyota love, believe me... but if I was V8 SUV shopping I'd skip directly to the nicest GM product I could find in my preferred length/drivetrain. Suburbans/Tahoes have basically perfected the SUV-That-Tows formula IMHO. Even at equal money they'd be my choice, but they're also way cheaper. 

Ehhhh..  As soon as GM killed the Suburban HD/ Suburban 2500, they became an also-ran.  The 2500s filled a pretty good niche.  Its OK you dont have the Toyota SUV love yet, I didnt get it at first either.  

Case in point - just had a brandy brand new Yukon as a rental.  Like 5 miles on it.  More rattles, worse visibility than my 120k mile 2015 Land Cruiser.  It did ride nice and the interior was pretty comfy.  

In reply to 93gsxturbo :

I get it.  I just drove one. It was great.  Wouldn't fit my three kids and all their crap for

camping and mountain biking and the canoeing stuff and the trolling motor. 
 

 Suburban or full size truck here I come.  The seqouia is good but not as much space as the burb 

Old_Town said:

Sorry to thread jack but, besides some sheet metal, are there any differences between LCs and LXs of the same year/vintage?

From my limited research, the difference seems to be in the same vein as the Camry vs Lexus ES. Same underpinnings, but the Lexus has more standard and optional appointments geared toward comfort and luxury. Although the LC eventually gained some of them as the 100 series lived on.

One difference that seems to be a major point of contention is the AHC or Automatic Height Control. It's an auto or adjustable hydraulic suspension height system that was exclusive (and standard equipment) to LX's, while the LC didn't get it until it became an option for 2006 and 2007 (while still standard on the LX). Some guys seem to want to avoid it like the plague or immediately replace it with a kit that deletes it, while others think it's great or think the issues are overblown. I guess it's expensive and time consuming to deal with when or if it does end up having issues. For those that don't want the system, it makes a 06 or 07 LC without AHC the ultimate unicorn because you get the 5 speed trans, power bump from VVTi and no AHC. It's unicorn because supposedly most 06/07 LC's ended up equipped with AHC. I confirmed this with a country wide AutoTrader search where out of a dozen and half 06/07 LC's, all but one had AHC.

In reply to shelbyz :

Also sound deadening.  The LX470 is much quieter on the road than the LC.  Extra seals on the doors and material under the carpet in the Lexus. Also harder to find a LX470 without nav in case you wanted to replace the head unit since it also controls the heat and a/c.  They made a lot more Lexus ones then they did Toyota which is why you see more of them for sale.