denslexusgx470

Well first of all, this is all my dad's idea. The choices are just narrowed down to a 4Runner or Sienna because he's still not comfortable with the budget of our bigger home, and seems that the 97 odyssey is asking for "retirement". :whistles: The odyssey currently has a pending tranny problem waiting to come, and an air compressor to replace. Looking at a grand total of $5,000 to get that thing fixed up, including labor. Now he's not really happy spending $5,000 on a vehicle that's not even worth $5,000 if he were to sell it today, so he's thinking of getting another one. Main factors: 1. Price (got narrowed down because of the new house payments) 2. Brand 3. Safety features 4. Where it's built (Preferrably Japan) 5. MPG (we never discussed this when buying a car in the past. :chairshot: ) Now it seems that Toyota is offering a good deal on the 4Runner. Roughly, I'll give you the figures of what we were given(Lease rates). (But we're definitely not going to pay MSRP) 06 Sienna LE w/Homelink, Power sliding passenger door -> $249 a month + tax. on a MSRP of $26,900 06 Toyota 4Runner V6 2wd w/optional 17" rims (GX tire size), tonneau cover, spoiler, tow hitch -> $259 a month + tax. on a MSRP of $30,190 10 bucks difference???? That's why the 4Runner seems like the candidate that fits 4out of the 5 main factors above. Now what we're concerned is the MPG of the 4Runner. My dad's not convinced that the 4Runner will be a good gas saver, compared to the GX. Sienna LE- 19/26 4Runner - 18/22 This is my next question. If anyone's got any experience with any 4Runner, 03 and newer, please advice me on how much is the actual GAS MPG on this vehicle. Preferrably the V6 2wd MPG, but I doubt that many people will buy that combination. I really prefer the 4Runner over the Sienna. So Please Put Some Good MPG Feedback!!!!!!!!! For now, I'm thinking of swaying him to a Highlander V6 if he won't give in to the 4Runner. :(

This is why I keep my Jeep... that and when we need to take our dog somewhere or get mulch, or stuff that I would prefer not to put in my LEX... but what stinks is that I had to turn on my wipers and lights! POS JEEP :D Don't get me wrong I like my Jeep I have replaced everything on it just about twice! but after having my RX330 I almost have to force myself to drive it... hmm"CLEAN Lexus again" or "drive jeep" ??? Well I kept her clean today! What is wrong with you of course you should have called a cab...or walked!!! :D At least you RX300/330/350/400H owners have an easier time to clean your vehicles. Try cleaning a vehicle, like the GX. Most people that drive SUVs this big have never seen what the roof looks like (unless you are on a patio that overlooks on top of your garage and you can see the roof). I detail my cars MYSELF. I am never satisfied with detailing shops, and ESPECIALLY dealer car washes. They always leave water marks, especially on chrome parts of the car. I know how it feels when you just cleaned your cars, and it rains the following day. I had that situation this last winter (so much rain in my area, for just this last winter) and I was really *BLEEP*ed that I couldn't even enjoy the cleanliness of my cars for more than a day, unless I don't leave home (which isn't possible). It feels so great though to clean them, wax them, vacuum, and spend countless hours putting love and care into our vehicles. Here's a picture of my GX after a loooooong rainy winter season, newly cleaned, waxed, vacuumed, and rotated and balanced tires.

JX or LX, the name does not matter, "the" replacement for the LX470 is what I am talking about! well not just a name change, but some change, probably in size, and engine, and features, and everything. the details, i have no clue.

Michelin Cross Terrains would be great. ;) Lots of threadware, and has good performance and ride comfort at the same time.

I think the most interesting article i've read from the magazine is the one that explains how the Lexus vehicles are used in the filming industry. It says like how they have to put a new sticker on top of the original paint, to give it a new color. Then it shows some pictures of the RX330 and ES330 with the roof chopped off so the camera has a better angle or what not. That was the most interesting article for me. The others, so so. ;)

The Jasper Pearl looks like a fad color. Something that will be catchy to people at a certain time, then would look "old and obsolete" . That's my $.02 :)

It's also possible that they MIGHT discontinue the LX, and replace it with the JX (550). Although that's only a rumor. Still remains to be seen on what Lexus wants to do. :whistles:

I used to get the magazine. I don't know why they stopped sending it to me! :chairshot:

well they do offer a 10 year/100k warranty, so they're confident that their vehicles are well built.

I hear what your saying......but to be fair, not matter what model Subaru Forester or Outback one purchases (as an example), it does not come with the darker 'privacy glass' (which I think should) one see's with more popular SUV's & Minivans. I wish they did.......it would only cost me for the 2 front side windows. B) well that's a different story. usually by the looks of the vehicle, i can tell if it's a basic or kinda loaded, or loaded EVEN if there's no tint. Like the CR-V, back in 1997, the top of the line (EX) doesn't have tint from factory. Now Honda thought about it and their current one has it. :D

The RX300 had less bilnd spots when looking back. The Rx330/350/400h has that big ol piece of metal sloping down the back, which reduces visibility looking back. Although, the RX330 has a better turning radius than the RX300 for sure. There are times that when making a u-turn with the RX300, you'd have to back up to avoid hitting the curb. It was really bad with the RX300. The RX330 has a much more better turning radius.

That happened to me with my pearl white Riviera & Maxima back in the day......also got one with my ES when I first got it. Nice feeling. B) I get a compliment from other GX owners, once in awhile. They always say "What color is that? I've never seen that before". Then I would say "Sand Dollar Pearl. Only a very few of us had the opportunity at this color" Then they would just nod and shut up. They don't say whether they like it or not. It got discontinued for some small reason. Oh well. I really love this color!

for sure. sometimes when i see a vehicle that has no tint at all, it makes me feel that it's a bare, basic model. i.e. the very basic Honda Pilot doesn't have rear tint from the factory. it makes it look very obvious that it's a basic model. Tint kinda hides that. :o ;)

I was on the stoplight this afternoon, when i noticed that a lady next to me was pointing at my GX. I rolled down the window, and she says "That's a very beautiful and unique color, very nice. It stands out so great." I told her "Oh Thank You very much". Then the light turned green. First time I've ever gotten a color compliment. Usually other GX owners (particularly Blizzard Pearl GX470 owners) tend to just stare at mine, since it's very rare, but this lady was even nice enough to mention it. Now i feel very happy to really keep this GX, even with small problems that i've been running into, and some in the past. :P :) :D Hail to Sand Dollar Pearl GX470s!!!!!!

geez. i didn't mean for this to turn into a little arguement. nc211 , well putting tint won't reduce visibility. what about those little sun shields that clip on to the window and aren't illegal? i think those can cause poor visibility than tinted windows. if you live in an area where 100s is a normal temp on a typical summer day, you'd say it's worth it to tint the windows. ;)

You have any better pictures? Like one that wasn't taken from the roof of your house?!?! I'd guess 40%; then again, it is so hard to tell from a picture! Ideally, the best way to take a picture to show the % of tint is to open the window about halfway and shoot the picture from inside the car, showing the outside. ;) can't really do that cuz i'm in Cali and this car's in the Philippines. It's got 5% 3M MAgic Black tint. It's really hard to see out of the car at night.

20% front, 5% rear. probably because you have fewer windows on the Escort, 20% front really looks dark. If only front tint was totally LEGAL, i'd put a 20% on the front. here's a couple pix of my CR-V in the Philippines, (they're not good picture angles) but I think you can still see thru the tint. anyone guess the percent on this one??? lol :) :D

i agree. we find out these things before Consumer Reports does. ;)

no new updates are expected for 07. maybe Lexus Link will be available again (saw an 03 GX today, with Lexus Link, because it had a rubber "ducky" antenna on top of it). Pros: The "better" gas mileage of most SUVs of it's size. Good performance Enough Power Reasonable for it's price Cons: Possible clunk Possible Vibration Possible sulfur smell (do they still have that problem coming up lately???) Possible leaning (if u get a GX with KDSS) Non-usable 3rd row seat

well sometimes if u give time to it, the "scratch" tends to be just thick dirt. well if it is a real scratch, go with SW03ES's idea. ;)

It really is worth it. The privacy (not that I'm doing anything secretive, I just don't like people looking at me!), lowered interior temps, amongst the other benefits of keeping sun out of the car are so valuable. Scofflaw....can't help but think of the Seinfeld episode where Newman has all of those parking tickets! LOLDen, here's my LS 10% all around (it's an overcast day, so it looks darker than it really is): Law enforcement never bothered me unless their was a check point or something. On a sunny day, it lightens up greatly: I recently had my front two windows put at 40% which is legal in LA, and I don't really care for it. I can't seem to find any pictures of the 40% at the moment, but I'll post some later. I think about changing it back all the time! oh wow. thanx for the pix. that really doesn't seem too dark. i guess sometimes the different angles make it look like it's dark. i think i'll go with 35% just so that it won't look too dark. besides, calling different tint places here in town, a lot of them have a limit of 35% as the darkest for front windows. i know that they're not liable for putting illegal tint, but i wonder why they wouldn't install anything darker than 35%?

Why would you want to chance getting a summons. Is it really worth it.....or are you a born scoflaw? :whistles: well cops in my area don't mind people with front tints anymore, cuz everyone has it. they'll only fine u after they catch you speeding. besides, after you feel the scorching heat here, you'd be happy there's tint even on the front windows. my dad's odyssey has light tint, and it helps so much. ;)

well i've kinda decided to get some front tints on my GX (even though it's illegal here in CA) so could some of u kindly post some pix of ur front windows and tell me what's the percent on them. i'm in the middle of deciding between around 30-35% or 40-50%. thanx in advance. ;) uh oh. i think i posted this in the wrong forum. i kinda meant the GX forum. I hope u mods will keep this topic here in general discussion. :whistles:

i just get a moist towel and wipe it off. i do that everytime i car wash the car. but then again, i am very strict with shoes that hit the sidings and the leather when entering and leaving the car. yesterday, i just cleaned the my dad's odyssey sidings, and a moist rag did the job (imagine how thick that dirt is, first time i ever thought of cleaning off the shoe markings on the interior sides of the odyssey in 9 years).

My wife drives like a granny. ;) Of course, she is but I get yelled at if I go 5 mph over during cornering etc. I can't imagine the VSC kicking in on her without her telling me about sliding all over the road, "saw my life flash before my eyes" kind of thing. Thank you. Gary the VSC won't necesarily BEEP only when your sliding or losing control. when on an incline, the VSC usually activates when you start rolling back. That's how my GX reacts. Now for an RX330, i've had a loaner several times, and when i let it roll back slowly down my driveway it doesn't BEEP. MY GX does (given the same driveway, rolling down slowly) but the loaners, didn't .