Lexus GX 550

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by ASAP

meanwhile in the toyota reliability department...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyota...uit-new-jersey

Yowza bo Bowza!

[25 V8 IS]

I was just looking at a Lexus dealership's LX they have in stock. So let me get this straight...You want $120K for a vehicle that's engine is gonna grenade at 30K?

Yeah...No thanks!

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by ASAP

meanwhile in the toyota reliability department...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyota...uit-new-jersey

DUUUUUUDEEE... Off topic!!... Didn't even NOTICE you snagged a G80!! Jealous.

OK... back to GX550 talk...

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by TXGrey

DUUUUUUDEEE... Off topic!!... Didn't even NOTICE you snagged a G80!! Jealous.

OK... back to GX550 talk...

yea wasn't gonna do it and here we are... thats why i havent been on the g01 forums

[mirob]

Originally Posted by ASAP

meanwhile in the toyota reliability department...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyota...uit-new-jersey

There's blood in the water.

[25 V8 IS]

Oh and just remember these are so hard to get right now that dealers are marking up used ones $20K over original sticker.

[mirob]

Originally Posted by 25 V8 IS

Oh and just remember these are so hard to get right now that dealers are marking up used ones $20K over original sticker.

Not just dealers but also private sellers trying to make a quick buck.

[Alfisti]

Remember folks paying $15K ADM for a Hyundai SUV?

[mirob]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Remember folks paying $15K ADM for a Hyundai SUV?

All too well, unfortunately. When we were looking back in 2020ish I was checking the local KIA and Hyundai dealer sites. All the Telluride and Palisade listings showed "Call For Price." I asked a buddy that worked at the KIA dealer what the deal was. He said, "It's because they're all marked up." I appreciated it because I needed a laugh.

[Gringo]

Lexus is luxury

[mirob]

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Yeah, DO NOT do it. Toyota/Lexus has a major design flaw on it's hands with those twin turbo V6s including the hybrids. Toyota initially claimed machining debris was responsible for main bearings failures which made absolutely no sense because if machining debris is in the oil, it going to take out the rod bearings first. These motors have been pulled apart and the rod bearings are fine. It turns out the real issue is a engine block design problem that affects the main bearings. I wouldn't touch any Toyota product with one of these motors until Toyota has proven their "fix" is proven to work. At this point, it hasn't. Some folks are on their 3rd motor. Some have been waiting months for a motor.

Don't do it.

My mechanic knows BMW and can fix them well and anything. He loves or loved Toyota. He has a Tundra and an old Ford F150.

He is despondent to almost suicidal over what happened at Toyota with the twin turbo V6. He thinks someone purposely tried to sabotage Toyota. I turn my relative on to him who has a 2018 4Runner. He wanted to buy it. We dropped her 4Runner for an oil change and check up.

When we came back, he said he was talking to people over at the Toyota dealership, probably parts department. He said they told him that the Toyota dealerships will not take them in trade! We said are you sure and he said yes.

Oh as you mention replacement motor. It will never be like the one installed in the factory. My mechanic worked at the dealership and starved. He said the guys working at the dealerships are monkeys. I think his point is new cars are so complex that it is almost impossible to find really good mechanics anymore.

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by mirob

All too well, unfortunately. When we were looking back in 2020ish I was checking the local KIA and Hyundai dealer sites. All the Telluride and Palisade listings showed "Call For Price." I asked a buddy that worked at the KIA dealer what the deal was. He said, "It's because they're all marked up." I appreciated it because I needed a laugh.

I used to think Hyundai/Kia/Genesis were going to be competition to Japanese. Koreans are really smart, etc etc. The engines are bad. They do not back anything. Poor slobs buy Kia Souls to get to work and the engines fail.

At this point buy Mazda or Subaru. If you can afford it and if you maintain it, buy a BMW. I still like Ford somewhat but the Bronco and Sport Bronco have crappy turbos. Ford is loading up everything with turbos too. Eco Boost.

BMW has been doing BMW's since 1975, thank you Bob Lutz. Turbos in race cars to. I like BMW but I would never buy a twin turbo. Just too much heat.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by ASAP

the point I am trying to make here is, yes Lexus may have better reliability but it comes at the cost of a subpar overall car...

I have no idea what you are measuring to declare Lexus as "subpar overall car", but Consumer Reports reliability and my personal experience (sample size of 1) could not disagree more.

Our RZ has been rock solid for about 2 years, and is a supremely comfortable highway cruiser. I had an RX350 for a loaner while RZ was in for annual service, and that car felt a bit nosier, but equally competent.

CR 2025 OEM brand reliability rankings are enclosed.
Interestingly for BMW, the average of 58 is a mix of 73 for 2-Series (most reliable) and 42 for X3 (least reliable).
Confirms my impression from all the loaners that X1-X3 range is disposable crap.

YMMV,
a

P.S.: For Lexus, IS (84) is the most reliable model, NX Hybrid (42) is the least reliable.

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by mirob

Thinking about picking up a 2026 Premium+. Anyone have any experience with one? General thoughts?

TIA

No. Major twin turbo problems. Other turbos in the Camrys and the rest are not much better.

If you want a good Toyota at this point, buy a Supra with a B58 engine.

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by afadeev

I have no idea what you are measuring to declare Lexus as "subpar overall car", but Consumer Reports reliability and my personal experience (sample size of 1) could not disagree more.

Our RX has been rock solid for about 2 years, and is a supremely comfortable highway cruiser. I had an RX350 for a loaner while RZ was in for annual service, and that car felt a bit nosier, but equally competent.

CR 2025 OEM brand reliability rankings are enclosed.
Interestingly for BMW, the average of 58 is a mix of 73 for 2-Series (most reliable) and 42 for X3 (least reliable).
Confirms my impression from all the loaners that X1-X3 range is disposable crap.

YMMV,
a

P.S.: For Lexus, IS (84) is the most reliable model, NX Hybrid (42) is the least reliable.

Just for further reference, one of the reasons I bought my 2025 Lexus IS 500 was the legendary build quality of the 2UR-GSE (and don't mention the valley plate coolant leak because I already know how to avoid that problem). Of course, that engine is 18 years old and is overbuilt to begin with. Put that engine in a sedan that has spent 15 years in production, and I have zero worries that I will have any issues with it.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by afadeev

I have no idea what you are measuring to declare Lexus as "subpar overall car", but Consumer Reports reliability and my personal experience (sample size of 1) could not disagree more.

Our RX has been rock solid for about 2 years, and is a supremely comfortable highway cruiser. I had an RX350 for a loaner while RZ was in for annual service, and that car felt a bit nosier, but equally competent.

CR 2025 OEM brand reliability rankings are enclosed.
Interestingly for BMW, the average of 58 is a mix of 73 for 2-Series (most reliable) and 42 for X3 (least reliable).
Confirms my impression from all the loaners that X1-X3 range is disposable crap.

YMMV,
a

P.S.: For Lexus, IS (84) is the most reliable model, NX Hybrid (42) is the least reliable.

I am not sure I understand... your chart shows Lexus and BMW very much neck and neck in the reliability department above. Then if you look at the same CR owner satisfaction rating... BMW even beats Lexus...

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...s-a1291429338/

The main difference being, BMW isn't an appliance like Lexus is... if reliability was the pure definition of a vehicle, then we should all be driving Toyota Corollas to 300K miles... the problem? I don't want a Toyota nor a Lexus RX which is now a fully dressed up Toyota Grand Highlander... I am looking for a solid driving experience, a fun car that handles well with a real motor and tranny combo (for example the B58 / Zf8 options that BMW offers now lead the industry) and tech that doesn't feel it's out of a car 20 years ago..

You can even speak to some of the better offerings from Lexus i.e. the Is500... and as a package, they can't hold a candle to even an M340i... unless you want to feel like you went 20 years backwards in almost every way. (outside of the brilliant V8 of course)... that is of course unless you want a worse tranny, rear end, interior, tech, fuel efficiency, handling and on and on...

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I am not sure I understand... your chart shows Lexus and BMW very much neck and neck in the reliability department above.

Lexus is ahead of BMW, Toyota is far ahead of BMW.
One point in reliability is huge.

Originally Posted by ASAP

Then if you look at the same CR owner satisfaction rating...

Totally different metric, which is irrelevant for the purpose of this discussion (e.g.: Rivian has THE highest owner satisfaction, and the THE lowest reliability). Which means grand total of nothing, other than subjective "satisfaction" does not require "reliability". Some folks are "satisfied" by highly unreliable shiny toys:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...s-a1291429338/

Originally Posted by ASAP

The main difference being, BMW isn't an appliance like Lexus is...

What is your evidence to back-up this claim?
You continue to denigrate Lexus by calling it an "appliance", which is exactly how I would describe BMW's highest selling X1-X4 truck-a-ppliances.

Originally Posted by ASAP

if reliability was the pure definition of a vehicle, then we should all be driving Toyota Corollas to 300K miles...

Not true.
You should be driving Lexus IS series - which has the highest reliability of that brand, as documented above.
That would be a very satisfying and very reliable outcome!

YMMV,
a

[srony10]

good choice. wonderful car

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Lexus is ahead of BMW, Toyota is far ahead of BMW.
One point in reliability is huge.

One makes simple cars, the other doesn't... that's says more about BMW and how reliable it is vs a company that makes Corollas.

Totally different metric, which is irrelevant for the purpose of this discussion (e.g.: Rivian has THE highest owner satisfaction, and the THE lowest reliability). Which means grand total of nothing, other than subjective "satisfaction" does not require "reliability". Some folks are "satisfied" by highly unreliable shiny toys:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...s-a1291429338/

It could also mean, they make simply more interesting cars...

What is your evidence to back-up this claim?
You continue to denigrate Lexus by calling it an "appliance", which is exactly how I would describe BMW's highest selling X1-X4 truck-a-ppliances.

Well considering most of the platform sits on Toyotas (some of which are basic FWD sedans) and it's hard to tell the difference between a grand highlander and an RX, that's a fair statement. Also, the X3 and X4 are phenomenal RWD biased vehicles that have some of the best driving dynamics of any SUV on the planet... the X1 and X2 are absolutely appliances but they are a tiny fraction of overall sales and in m35 format, they are still more engaging and more fun to drive than just about anything in the lexus line outside of the LC and IS


Not true.
You should be driving Lexus IS series - which has the highest reliability of that brand, as documented above.
That would be a very satisfying and very reliable outcome!

I am ok with not driving a car that has 15 year old underpinnings, a slow transmission, an infotainment system from 1975...

YMMV,
a

See above

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by ASAP

See above

I'm ok with driving a sedan on a 12 year old chassis because it has an 18 year old V8...

Kind of hilarious, right?

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by 25 V8 IS

I'm ok with driving a sedan on a 12 year old chassis because it has an 18 year old V8...

Kind of hilarious, right?

i am in full agreement w the v8 lol... its a standout in the lexus lineup... its unfortunate they didn't make a modern ICF.