I’m not thrilled right now. My “reliable” vehicle is broken and it won’t be cheap to fix. The vehicle in question is my 2011 Lexus GX 460. I bought it because it’s a Toyota and they’re known to last a long time. I know it’s a Lexus but if you look under the hood the engine is covered in Toyota logos, so let’s not fool ourselves thinking it’s anything else.
Consistent readers will know that I have a penchant for older cars. I love to buy older cars that I can transform into gems. My two daily drivers are a 2001 Lexus LS 430 and a 1999 Porsche 911. These were expensive cars when new, but I picked them up for a fraction of their original prices. I maintain my cars meticulously because I don’t have any other choice. When you drive older cars you have to stay on top of every little thing. And you need more than one car just in case the other one breaks.
My Lexus GX 460 was supposed to be the exception to my two “beater” cars. It’s more than 10 years newer than my other cars, has fewer miles, and more modern features. What’s more, it’s my wife’s car—our family car. You know, ol’ reliable, the car that always works no matter what.
I bought my GX 460 based on its reputation as a tough, do-it-all off-roader. In actuality, the GX is a Land Cruiser. Toyota trucks and Land Cruisers are so tough and so reliable that they’ve become the defacto vehicle for many terrorist groups. Hell, even Top Gear put an old Toyota on top of a building and blew it up—only to discover the Hilux pickup truck started and drove.
But here’s the thing…Toyota isn’t what it used to be.
The Forever Flagship
I often compare my 2001 LS 430 to my 2011 GX 460 and there are stark differences between the two. My LS 430 has the nicest interior of any car I’ve ever owned. It makes my 911 feel like an economy car (granted it is a 996 but we’ll leave this discussion for another day). My LS is so quiet and smooth while driving that I can hear my watch ticking away. That’s just crazy.
The quality doesn’t stop with the interior. The fit of the panel gaps is millimeter-perfect. Every door and latch closes with a pleasing thud. The engine is a thing of beauty. Sure, there are plastic panels that cover the engine bay but those are there for aesthetics and sound dampening. The oil filler tube is metal. The timing belt cover and VVT covers are metal. The cooling system is metal and rubber. There’s no cheap plastic that breaks and crumbles. The LS was built to last and many have done several hundred thousand miles—even a million miles.
My friend Adam said it best that the LS 400 and 430 will be the forever flagship of Lexus. And I agree with him. I don’t think Lexus will ever build a car as great as those early LSs. Lexus doesn’t have to because it built its brand on top of the LS’s reputation, which means it doesn’t have to keep making cars to that standard anymore.
The GX
All of this leads me back to my GX 460. It’s been a good car but it just isn’t on the same level as my LS. I’ll acquiesce to that fact. The GX’s interior isn’t as luxurious or durable as the LS 430’s. The 1UR engine isn’t as refined as the 3UZ or 1UZ. The timing chains add extra noise compared to the engines with timing belts. But the biggest disappointment is with the GX’s transmission. My GX has never shifted smoothly. I know that it’s a body-on-frame SUV, which means it will never be as smooth as a sedan. But I expected a little more refinement out of the vehicle.
The transmission finally decided to kick the can after 186,000 miles. I know that’s pretty high mileage for most cars—but a Land Cruiser isn’t most cars. I thought I’d get another 100,000 miles out of my GX before it needed anything major. Turns out I was wrong for comparing modern Lexus with its past.
What Should I Do?
So now I’m left with a dilemma: do I put a new transmission in a vehicle pushing 200,000 miles? Is it worth putting $6,000 to $9,000 into a vehicle that will maybe fetch $15,000 in good working condition? Honestly, I don’t know. But I also don’t want to buy a newer used car for $30,000 and up.
There’s no right answer. Regardless of the answer though, I need a safe, reliable car for my wife and kids. I need a car that will be my family’s transportation foundation so I can enjoy my aging beauties.
I’m currently waiting to hear back from several transmission suppliers to see if they have anything available for my GX. It seems the supply chain issues of 2021 and 2022 are still with us. The one benefit of this waiting is that it gives me time to think through what I want to do.
If you were in my situation, what would you do? Would you fix the GX to try and get another five years out of it? Or would you cut your losses and move on to something more modern?
I’m genuinely curious to hear your thoughts and opinions. But either way, I appreciate you reading this rant.