2004 Lexus Lx470: Not the hippest S.U.V. , but by far the greatest!
Written: Jul 03 '04 (Updated Jul 04 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Reliability: |
 |
|
| Seat Comfort: |
|
|
| Build Quality |
|
|
| Roominess: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Interior quality and luxury, ride smoothness, exterior styling,reliability, resale value,
Cons: fuel economy, some rattles, engine needs more juice
The Bottom Line: It may not be the newest and coolest S.U.V., but it is certainly the best!
|
|
|
| callycarexpert's Full Review: 2004 Lexus LX 470 |
Since Lexus launched the full-size LX470 luxury S.U.V. back in 1998 I have been enamored by its brawny looks, gorgeous interior, and its luxurious driving characteristics. Finally, I bought one last year, and my ownership experience has been terrific. It is easily the greatest car I have ever owned. I continue to refer to it as a car, as it drives smoother then my BMW 7 Series. My ownership experience hasn't been perfect. My Lx470 has been in numerous times for rattles, yet I have never had any other problems, or once regretted my purchase.
Interior: The interior of the Lx470 was redone in 2003. I personally liked the way the older interior looked because of its darker wood color, yet the new interior in my model is more modern and sophisticated. Everything on the dashboard is easy to use and find. Every button is placed logically, and the navigation system in the car has to be the easiest and most effective navigation system on the planet. Occasionally my navigation gets confused, but it has helped me more times then one can imagine.
The interior materials in the Lexus are beyond reproach. Everything I touch is of the highest quality. My favorite part of the interior are the door grab handles, which are beautifully stitched and executed. The faux metallic trim looks high quality, and the wood, although not my favorite color, is gorgeous.
The leather on the seats are so smooth and buttery. Unfortuantely, one of the problems I have experienced with leather on Japanese cars, is that it wears out and looks worn much faster then many other cars. After about a month of ownership my seats didn't look new anymore, which was very disappointing. I have been applying Lexus leather conditioner, which seems to be helping a little. The seats in the Lx470 are very comfortable, and I love my adjustable armrests. I also enjoy the wood steering wheel, which makes driving the car feel so much more luxurious and substantial.
Driving Impressions: Turning the engine on in the LX470 is one very quiet experience. You can barely even hear it. The cars steering varies its weight as speed increases, so it is light in parking lots, and increases in weight at higher speeds. The system works very well, and makes the Lx470 very enjoyable to drive.
The LX470 rides smoother then any other S.U.V. I have driven including: the Escalade, Navigator, and the Range Rover. The only thing that rides smoother is Lexus's own LS430 sedan. My LX470 has an adjustable variable suspension, which basically means you can adjust the shock absorber settings to make the ride sportier or lean more toward comfort. I probably use the system more then the average LX470 owner, and I find the sport setting to make the ride much bumpier, yet it produces tighter handling. The regular mode is where I leave it most, and it rides just fine.
The handling on the Lx470 is nothing to brag about, the steering is great, but there is a lot more body role then in a Navigator or Range Rover. Tires will squeal easily if you take a turn to fast.
The 4.7 liter V-8, as stated before, is super quiet and refined while driving. With only 235 horsepower, acceleration is my biggest complaint. ( It is rumored that in 05 the V8 will get Vvti and produce over 280 horsepower). At lower speeds, the Lx470 feels very powerful, because of the engines great amount of torque (320), yet at highway speeds when you floor it, it is not very responsive. I usually use the etc power mode on my car, which makes the engine rev up faster, and it feels quicker to me. Overall the Lx470 is the best driving and riding SUV out there.
My complaints: The third row seats are extremely cramped. Small kids will not be comfortable there. Also, the seats should fold flat in such an expensive car, but instead fold up to the sides. This is more complicated then it looks, because if you don't fold them up correctly they will rub against the tire well and crinkle up the leather.
Also in the first few months, I experienced rattles coming from my right side passenger area. The dealer fixed it after the third try. Fuel Economy is obviously horrible, and I am to embarrassed to state my gas mileage. Otherwise, I have had no other problems. I absolutely love my Lx470, I would buy another in a second.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $64,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: Navigation, Mark Levinson, DVD Player
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
callycarexpert
|
|
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.