GS400jon

Although the ride is very comfortable, the vehicle flails in very moderate winds. Very scary on the highways. People think you own a Lexus but you have to let everyone by. Where is the stiffer setting on the GX. I'd like to try it today. Thanks ← The AVS setting is on the console just behind the rear height control. Is that what you're asking?

<_< Hmmm, I think a hitch cover emblem is a little over the top. It's like people having a chromed license plate with "Lexus" on it when the badging on the trunk/rear door already has that. That's a little repetitive/overkill to me.

Well if I had a Cayenne, I'd debadge it too. I can't believe such an expensive vehicle has doors that sound so tinny when they are closed and has such a cheap looking interior. Mercedes reliability doesn't do much for the prestige image. I'll take my reliable, great looking and handling GX any day. You couldn't sell me a ML500 because the printing over the buttons and switches are so small I'd have to wear my Dr. Dean's while driving. Now there's some really odd engineering for you. I noticed this while riding in a 2004 ML AMG. So, what caused you to buy a Lexus???

Well, it will be interesting to see how this all falls out. I am on my third vehicle from Magnussen Lexus and couldn't be more pleased with the sales staff and service department. Referred one person to Magnussen, who is now the very happy owner of a 2004 RX330. I was really surprised to hear that lexus-wang's problems turned out to be with this dealership.

I have Bridgestones on my ES330. There is absolutely zero vibration at any speed. There has to be a tire balance or possibly an alignment problem. One thing you may want to try is take your car to another Lexus dealership and have the vibration checked out or if that's not feasible, a Toyota dealership. I'm not sure what the credibility of the large chain tire/alignment shops are in arbitration or court.

I am also looking for a new GX470 2005 (nonsport) with every thing including Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. As Lexus dealers do not show new car inventory, it impossible to find which dealer to talk with about GX470 with the right equipment and color. Maybe other parts of the country do show inventory but not Northern California. I do not like to go to car dealer, even Lexus, as they are clearly sales persons on commission. Also it is hard to deal on cars if you do not know which dealer has what you want, short of driving to every dealer and hoping you get a salesman who can get out of a wet paper bag. Also what is a good price in Jan/Feb time frame. Thanks ← If you're interested in a good dealership, try Magnussen Lexus in Fremont. The sales person to talk to is Clifford Lee. He will not only tell you what they have in stock but what's on the next ship bound for Long Beach. This dealership will trade vehicles in order to get one you want if it's at another dealership. Tell him that Jon from Cupertino referred you. I had settled on the price of my GX months before it was delivered. He might have got into a little trouble over that since no knew at the time how scarce trucks with KDSS would be.

No, not really, i have not smelled anything.... i also realized that i must firmly (really firmly) hold down the brake when changing gears from reverse to drive to stop a loud noise, a screechy high pitch metal grinding squeeky noise....hard to put in words! ← Wow, you have a problem. Have you had someone at the dealership listen to this sound while changing gears? I can tell you it's not normal for sure.

Wow, this is almost as bad as telling people you are a doctor :D So, now that I have your attention, what's your theory as to why some trucks have the "thunk" and others don't? Have there been any changes made to the drive shaft design on the 2005 GX?

I would probably avoid talking to that dealer. Heard the LX is due for a face lift. No way the GX will have a major redesign for at least another three or four years.

You'll have to take your truck back to the dealership. I am surprised that the problem wasn't caught before delivery. Do you have a signed off Inspection Certificate? Looks like somebody didn't do their job.

I think ADVocate knows what the "thunk" problem is all about and it's not what he's experiencing with his truck.

ADVocate, thanks for the additional description of what you are experiencing. I would tend to agree that there may be something going on with the KDSS. The "intermittent" is the bane of the vehicle owner. I think it was invented by the auto dealer as a description of something that can't be duplicated for the service people so it therefore must be normal operation or a creation of the owner's imagination. Hope you are successful in isolating the problem.

Hmmmm. I know I'm not helping by asking more questions but how did you conclude that the problem you feel is caused by the KDSS? I am not mechanically oriented so relating a problem that feels like a shock absorber to sway bars control is confusing. :(

I do not speak for everyone obviously. But, I do not see everyone who posts here, having that particular dilemna. Your correct in that all the vehicles have the same mechanical parts. But, I do not have that driveline issue. Perhaps, I have the defective unit. And the problem I have noticed with my KDSS is not a driveline issue. I can actually feel the truck settle its' position by a shift in tension on the suspension. And it occurs rarely, only after some hard swift manuevering. Once I determine how to recreate this on command, I will let the dealership guys have a crack at it. It would be interesting if my "suspension" issue is really the driveline issue your talking about. It just does not feel like that from where I sit. And it does not happen very often. And, it is not something that would make me feel the truck was a total POS. But, that is my opinion. In the past I have effectively sued an auto manufacturer, and they had to buy the car back. I have not seen ANY issues with my truck that would even lead me to that course of action now. ← Yours is only the second KDSS owner that has described a problem that I am aware of. I don't quite understand what you're feeling when you talk about a shift in tension. Can you explain that again please? Well, I don't know if I am in the minority or majority or just plain lucky, but I have none of the problems currently being discussed on the message boards. The truck doesn't clunk, stray off center, move around in the wind, vibrate, have a stinky catalytic converter, shift poorly or lean to one side.

Driving through the mountains on Highway 17 the other day, I finally remembered to switch the AVS from Comfort 2 to full Sport. I was very pleasantly surprised at the range of the suspension settings, though the ride got pretty stiff. There was a 330I convertible in the passing lane in front of me and all he could see in his rear view mirror was a big chrome "L" logo. He must have felt a little nervous and moved over so I could pass him. WHOA, I'm not saying my truck can out handle a bimmer but just that I know that road like the back of my hand and obviously, he didn't. It was just too tempting to press a little since the corners felt so good with the KDSS and the full Sport setting. I'll try to keep my "road racing" limited to that one episode. It's amazing a vehicle with such a tall stance can corner as well as it does.

KDSS is for on road handling too. There are other threads with posts about the difference between a non KDSS and KDSS truck during on road driving. This is also mentioned on the corporate Lexus site as well as GX reviews. AVS is standard equipment. If you adjust the lights higher, you will probably end up with living proof why HID's are not offered on the GX. Well, they are two very different vehicles for sure. Apples and oranges. To each his/her own, which is why the two models exist in the first place.

You can't get KDSS on a RX. I had HID's on a GS400 and now on a ES330. They throw a huge amount of light but for a limited range, then it's almost blackout time.

I just drove an LR3 this morning. The dealer let me take it for a couple hours to really give it the once over. My first impressions. The interior is nowhere near as nice as the GX470. It does have more storage cubbyholes though, including two glove boxes, and a nice deep center console storage bin. No birds eye maple, no french seam seats and door trim. Lots of cheap feeling dark plastic. The LR3 does not ride as well as my Lexus. It's composed, and it was rattle free, but I felt the bumps more then I do in my Lexus. The Lexus is much quieter inside then the LR3, both in regard to road noise and engine noise. The LR3 has a usable third row seat, unlike the Lexus. The second row seats in the LR3 however, do not have as much leg room as the Lexus. It also didn't appear to have as much width in that second seat for fitting three adults there. The LR3 V8 has more horsepower, but it sure didn't feel any quicker. The LR3 has a better system for choosing the type of 4wd gearing to use. There is a 4 position rotary switch on the center console, with english language settings for "normal", mud/snow, ruts, or rock climbing. That seems like a much more elegant way to do it then the GX's low range gear lever. After driving the LR3 for a couple hours, It felt good to get back into my Lexus. I won't be trading it in on an LR3 anytime soon. :) ← Motor Trend named the LR3 the 2005 Sport Utility of the Year???? Anyway, I took a look at their site and judging from the other contenders, it's possible. Enjoyed reading your review of the LR3. Thanks.

I was always told that the brakes are for slowing or stopping a vehicle. When I had a manual transmission, I used to downshift but never with an automatic. In the long run, brakes will probably be cheaper to replace than a transmission if it ever gets to that point. Interestingly enough though, if the brakes are applied while going downhill on the ES330, the transmission will downshift automatically.

I have the stainless steel exhaust tip. http://www.lexus.com/models/gx/accessories.html My price was $45 at Magnussen Lexus parts department. ← huh? when i was at ur dealer, i asked about it, said they were $80! ← Yup, that's the regular cost. $45 is the employee cost and my salesman ordered it for me under his name.

Thanks, I will try to look it up. ← Try this one..... http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread...15&pagenumber=1

Could that have just been the specific brand of regular that you tried that may have been substandard? I can't think of a reason why it would make a difference if you switched back and forth. I havn't tried 87 octane regular yet, but have noticed no difference between 92 octane prem, and 89 octane mid grade. How many others have tried experimenting with different grades of gas, and with what results? ← I have only used 87 octane in the GX and haven't had any problems. Tried 89 octane for six months on the ES330, then went to 87 octane with no problems and no noticeable difference in performance or mileage. I use Shell gasoline for both vehicles.

I have the stainless steel exhaust tip. http://www.lexus.com/models/gx/accessories.html My price was $45 at Magnussen Lexus parts department.

Either this forum or the ClubLexus forum had a thread on the GX leaning to the right or left. It came up just after I got my truck, a February 9700E, but mine was level at that time. Rechecked it again last week and it's still level. I don't remember if this issue was ever resolved.