bree

I can answer your question from two perspectives--1. I own 4 trailer and trailer hitch centers and 2. I have owned an LX 470 for 5 years and we are now replacing it after 143000 miles--with lots of towing of our 3800 lb boat/trailer combo. Our new car is a GX but I can't haven't towed with it yet. The LX was the best tow vehicle I have owned. It rode much more comfortably towing than did our 1997 Expedition that it replaced in 2001. Some cautions on towing and vehicle wear. Its usually the transmission that takes the brunt of towing wear and tear. Most vehicles with tow packages come with a factory installed transmission cooler. If you don't have one, get one. Also you can increase your towing capacity and the ease by which your vehicle handles towing with an equalizer hitch. In most cities, there will be one or two trailer hitch specialists. Avoid a smaller company who does just a few hitch installs. Equalizer hitches are a bit of a specialty install. NOt too difficult but you want to buy it from someone who has installed several. If you are close to the vehicle towing limit and you tow frequently its worth the investment.

LOL. We just bought a very low mileage 03 GX (19k miles) and we are selling our 1998 LX. We bought in in 2001 with 31000 miles and it now has 143000 miles. My wife loves the GX but I think the LX actually rides a little smoother over rough bumps than the GX (which I have only test driven). Mileage will be worse of course. If you ever tow, we towed a 3800lb boat/trailer often with the LX. The LX is far and away the best towing vehicle I have ever driven--much better than our heavier and more powerful Expedition we had before. None of the jiggling/up and down motion towing usually brings. I will be surprised if the GX does as well. The car has been virtually maintenance free. However the CD player (which has a auto changer that "swallows" 6 Cds instead of the sep cartridge that a nav equipped GX has) froze up (with our CDs in it) and I have read this is common with the LXs. The 3rd row rear seat tract/removal mechanism drives me nuts. My wife never seems able to secure it and once it broke entirely after we removed it for storage. The car may soon look dated--rumor has it the LX will likely be replaced or eliminated and replaced with a bigger JX/sequoia based model. I liked driving a 98 that looks like a 2006. I don't know if I'd like driving a 2003 or 2006 that looks like a 98. Its certainly an older design, but I still think it holds up well. The electric antennae motor has also broken several times. I also don't like the auto daytime running lites (altho I dont know if that is still standard in 03). Certainly roomier. Overall the LX is the finest car, reliability taken into consideration, we have owned.

Lexus will buy your car back if you complain loudly enough about the "clunk". I am going to buy at auction next week a 2003 low mileage GX470 to replace our LX470---this car is being sold by Lexus Financial and is a buyback. In my due diligence, I asked what was the defect that led to the buuback. i was told it was the driveshaft clunk. There is also a low mileage 04 buyback for sale with the same problem. In both cases, I am told the problem has been fixed. I have attached the "condition report" that Lexus Financial includes for each of its cars sold at auction. Note about 2/3 of the way down the capital letter notations "AS IS MANBB" When this car is resold, it must be disclosed as a buyback. By the way, it is not sold "as is" that is standard language from Manheim auction. The car is sold with the remainder of the factory warranty and Lexus represents the problem has been fixed. If you indeed have the clunk and have had it to the dealer several times, most states' lemon laws require the manufacturer to buy the car back. Lexus does indeed buy them back. 2003 LEXUS GX470 - SILVER Body Style: 4Dr SUV - Sun Roof Ext Color/Code: SILVER - Int Color/Code: TAN - Mileage: 19,189 ECM Mileage: n/a Seller: LEXUS FINANCIAL SERVICES/GEORGIA Title State: FL Certified: No Condition/Grade: Grade 4, Clean Rcv Date: 01/30/2006 Sale: 17 Lane: 22 Run: 9 Inspection: BEVILACQUA 01/31/2006 Cyberlot: No Drivable: Yes Factory Category: In-Service Date 2005-07-08 VEHICLE INFORMATION MECHANICAL INTERIOR OPTIONS 8 Cylinder Gas Automatic 4X4 04.7 L FLUID LEVELS Fuel LeveL: Empty Clean TAN - Leather Odometer - 6 Digits Analog - Operable Int Odor: OK Wood Trim Dash Pwr Lock Pwr Window Tilt Steering Cruise Ctl Cassette Tape Dual Air Bags Premium Stereo Rear Air Conditioning Heated Seats Navigation System Auto-Suspension Fog Lamps Traction Control Trip Computer Power Mirrors Rear Wiper Woodgrain Interior Package Running Board Pwr Steering Pwr Seats A/C Rear Defrost Side Air Bags ABS Brakes Memory Seat CD Changer Dual Air Conditioning Third Seat HomeLink Ride Control Luggage Rack Telescopic Steering Wheel Floor Mats Spoiler Steering Wheel Audio Control TIRES AND WHEELS KEYS LF - 8/32 DUNLOP 265/6517 RF - 8/32 DUNLOP 265/6517 LR - 8/32 DUNLOP 265/6517 RR - 8/32 DUNLOP 265/6517 SP - 9/32 DUNLOP 265/6517 Tire Condition: Good Wheels - Alloy Master Key - 2 Master Key - 2 Valet Key - 1 ANNOUNCED CONDITION: LA,MO,GPS,SA,TN,DC,AS IS MANBB INTERNET REMARKS: REMARKS/ADDITIONAL DAMAGE: DISCLOSURES: NOTES TO CONSIGNOR: DAMAGES REPAIR PAINT PART TOTAL DESCRIPTION CONDITION SEV. HOURS HOURS HOURS HOURS Overall Picture Ovrall Picture .00 .00 .00 .00 Overall Picture Ovrall Picture .00 .00 .00 .00 Overall Picture Ovrall Picture .00 .00 .00 .00 Front Bumper Chipped .00 .00 .00 .00 Hood Chipped .00 .00 .00 .00 TOTALS .00 .00 .00 .00 REPAIRED REPAIR PAINT PART TOTAL DESCRIPTION CONDITION SEV. HOURS HOURS HOURS HOURS Windshield Cracked STANDARD 6" to 7" .00 .00 .00 .00 TOTALS .00 .00 .00 .00