GX470 vs. LR3 (overland rig)

[Mr. Monday]

This is my first post here. I am having a very difficult time deciding between an 05 or 06 GX470 with KDSS and a 07 or 08 LR3 both are around 100k miles with full maintenance records and cost $15-16k . Either way I go the rig will be getting the off road/overland treatment with off road wheels, lift, lights, rack, armor, skids, locker, full size spare, and snorkel. Which should bring me up to $20k. This rig will not be a daily driver but I want to be able to take this on overland camping trips across the US and Mexico and maybe even South America without any headaches so it needs to be able to be comfortable for long highway and off road miles. I am used to maintaining older benzes so regular maintenance is something I understand but I would prefer something that I can rely on not to give me a headache when I am out for weeks on end.
GX470 KDSS:
PROS:

• High End Toyota
• Reliability
• Gas Consumption
• Serviceability in Developing Countries
• Handling (agility)
• Its a Rebadged LC Prado

CONS:

• Looks
• Rear Door
• Parts more expensive than Toyota (gizmos (still less than LR))
• Top heavy

Land Rover 3
PROS:

• Looks
• Out of The box ability
• Size
• Comfort
• Cheap to Lift

CONS:

• Gas Consumption
• Reliability
• Maintenance Cost
• Maintenance Interval
• Parts Cost
• Limited Wheel Options

Posting this in the Toyota section I expect biased responses but I would love to hear from people who can compare the two. Please let me know what you think I should get and why!

 

[epersonne]

I have an '05 GX, which I love. You get the Toyota reliability with a softer more refined look and feel. The issue I see popping up with the LR3 is the reliability, and when you get up in miles it could start to become an issue potentially.


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[zelatore]

I'll refrain from commenting on the Toyota as I don't have one or know anybody who does. I will say you should expect a VERY biased response on this side of the forum as from what I can tell most of the Yota folks think all Rovers are going to collapse into a pile of parts just sitting in the driveway while Rover owners think all toyota owners are boring PTA members.

I will say the late model Rovers from the LR3 platform on are completely different animals than the earlier models. Are they the world's most reliable vehicle? Probably not (nor do I know what is because frankly there are plenty of good and bad stories about all brands...including toyota) but I do know plenty of people who wheel them on weekends and daily drive them to work who ARE NOT mechanically inclined and they seem to get by just fine thank you. i.e. I wouldn't hesitate to put my wife in one solo cross country.

Be sure to stop by the Rover section for a counter-point.

 

[NMBruce]

get either one and you will be happy and maybe wondering if you should of gotten the other one

 

[xlcaferacer]

I vote gx470. Toyota quality with Lexus luxury. Actually looking for one myself for the wife to replace her 4Runner. Wheeled with a couple of them this summer and I was impressed! Get rid of the airbag suspension and replace it with something more trail friendly and you are good to go. Really not that expensive, and probably about the same $$ as fixing the stock suspension when it goes bad.
One huge thing for most to consider is the availability of dealerships. If something goes wrong and you can't fix it yourself, it's nice to have a dealership with trained mechanics close by. I live in ColoRADo and there is only a hand full of Rover dealerships but there is a Toyota dealership within 60 miles of anywhere you want to go. Lexus or Rover is a decision only you can make for yourself; but for me, there is a little peace of mind in knowing that when the wife is traveling solo and I'm not there to fix her truck if it brakes she can get it to a dealership nearby.
When I lived in the San Juan Mtns. of Colorado a few years back, I remember a guy giving me a friendly ribbing about driving a Toyota. When I asked him what he drove he said a Land Rover, but on this trip he was driving a rental Jeep because his Rover broke and it had to be towed to the nearest dealership over 200 miles away to be fixed because the local shops wouldn't touch it. At the same time there is a Toyota dealership 30 miles up the road.
Just my 2cents.

 

[MrWesson]

LR3 owner here.

For overland the GX470.

For someone who wants to explore locally, doesn't want a big lift and "play" off road the LR3.

Problem with overland is the traveling part.. Who has the time to spend a week on the road? Most people fall into the second category of local explorer with a mattress in the back.

LR3 is more capable as stock.
LR3 is less reliable. Things will annoy you, if ignored things will break but not leave you stranded(most likely).

The GX accelerates quicker but the LR3 has it beat on ride(tough to beat a lexus but the LR3 is like driving a pillow made of even softer pillows)
You can lift the GX with spring swaps.
The LR3 can manage massive amounts of lift using the stock air suspension but inevitably could leave you wanting more.. A spring swap would totally mitigate the point of the vehicle which is simply comfortable and capable. Want 35's? Its a much easier path with a GX.

The GX has a decent traction control system that will get you though most everything a LR3 system will with one huge problem.. It requires massive amount of wheelspin and is slow to respond. I frankly felt like it was half assed and sold the GX short.


They both look the part with a nod to the LR3 but when you remove the stupid side steps from the GX it looks great with some all terrrains. If left on and with stock tires it looks "girly".

I made the same choice a year or so ago and even after taking a GX home for 24 hours decided on the LR3. At the time the GX felt so stagnant and boring when compared to the LR3. I told myself "i'd rather work on an LR3 than own a GX"..

Did I make the right choice? I'm not so sure. I'd certainly be more selective about which LR3 I bought.

 

[JLee]

Aftermarket for the GX has picked up a lot over the last year. Check out GXOR on Facebook.

I just bought my second GX last weekend - sold the first one when I moved cross-country, then decided I missed it enough to get another one. I managed to find an 05 with KDSS, 179k, maintenance records, and some minor body damage for $8150.

Edit: You listed parts prices as a con for the Lexus, but I'm not sure I agree. The expensive Lexus stuff (electronic shocks and air bags) are getting replaced when you install the lift. The driveline is Toyota.

 

[Leibbrand]

buy the GX470 for overland, buy a rover if you want something to work on.

 

[p nut]

LR3 owner here.

For overland the GX470.

For someone who wants to explore locally, doesn't want a big lift and "play" off road the LR3.

Problem with overland is the traveling part.. Who has the time to spend a week on the road? Most people fall into the second category of local explorer with a mattress in the back.

LR3 is more capable as stock.
LR3 is less reliable. Things will annoy you, if ignored things will break but not leave you stranded(most likely).

The GX accelerates quicker but the LR3 has it beat on ride(tough to beat a lexus but the LR3 is like driving a pillow made of even softer pillows)
You can lift the GX with spring swaps.
The LR3 can manage massive amounts of lift using the stock air suspension but inevitably could leave you wanting more.. A spring swap would totally mitigate the point of the vehicle which is simply comfortable and capable. Want 35's? Its a much easier path with a GX.

The GX has a decent traction control system that will get you though most everything a LR3 system will with one huge problem.. It requires massive amount of wheelspin and is slow to respond. I frankly felt like it was half assed and sold the GX short.


They both look the part with a nod to the LR3 but when you remove the stupid side steps from the GX it looks great with some all terrrains. If left on and with stock tires it looks "girly".

I made the same choice a year or so ago and even after taking a GX home for 24 hours decided on the LR3. At the time the GX felt so stagnant and boring when compared to the LR3. I told myself "i'd rather work on an LR3 than own a GX"..

Did I make the right choice? I'm not so sure. I'd certainly be more selective about which LR3 I bought.

I agree with about everything here. I don't tinker much, so I shy away from LR's. Then again, I bought a FORD (fixed or repair daily) recently....
__
By the way, Mr. Monday, was there really a need for 3 threads copy and pasted in other subforums? If you want a non-biased opinion, just post in the "General" section.

 

[toyotech]

Buy the Lexus. If you don't like it. You will have no issues selling it for what you paid. Good luck with the LR3


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