Hi from Australia

About 1000km into the drive, averaging 11.3L per 100km (still getting broken in) Comfort setting on the outback roads means it bounces like a balloon on a stick! Power to get past road trains and out of the death lane is fantastic, really happy with the power. Some wind noise at 110+ but not awful. Handles really well (but not on comfort mode on these shit roads) and doesn’t have much road noise from the tyres. Seats are comfortable, 37ºc in Winton so the aircon seats are fantastic. Took a long time to get the dash set up for me but now it’s really good, auto steer is really really good (compared to the VW) it doesn’t keep trying to rip the wheel out of your hands and will negotiate corners while you rummage around in the (surprisingly excellent) fridge/cool box. Heads up display is excellent, I’m impressed with it.
Overall to me it’s definitely worth the money as I drive out to Mt Isa from Cairns often and it’s making it easy and comfortable.

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Update: We did the River Gum tour (50km of things to see outside Winton) lots of washboard and I found that speed and comfort settings make it super smooth and easy, this is the best vehicle I’ve ever driven on washboard roads hands down!
We did some minor off-roading which was fun, the more I drive it the better it gets.
The video show how much better the washboard is at speed, it’s hardly noticeable compared to going slow. (file was too large to upload, sorry)
It’s camouflaged out here, you’ll struggle to see the car in the photos LOL!
 

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Update: We did the River Gum tour (50km of things to see outside Winton) lots of washboard and I found that speed and comfort settings make it super smooth and easy, this is the best vehicle I’ve ever driven on washboard roads hands down!
We did some minor off-roading which was fun, the more I drive it the better it gets.
The video show how much better the washboard is at speed, it’s hardly noticeable compared to going slow. (file was too large to upload, sorry)
It’s camouflaged out here, you’ll struggle to see the car in the photos LOL!
Looks amazing mate! Fits the environment of Australia perfectly, now you need to choose a roo bar that compliments the front of the car and not some ugly ARB crap. 😀
 
Now at 2084 km things you should know:
1. DTE (distance to empty) is wildly pessimistic, with 40km range left I still had 21 litres in the tank and I was averaging 11.3km per litre.
2. Aircon can be brutal, it’s extremely efficient compared to the VW which I had at 21ºc and in 34ºc I have the GX at 23ºc and it’s comfortable.
3. beeps, alarms etc, drives me nuts… ‘you’re close to the centre line’ - yes and the car is steering… You’re speeding! - yes and it’s on cruise and we’re going downhill… Driver inattention!!!! - yes because I’m getting so many beeps I’m looking for the reason. etc etc…
4. the self steer is overall very good, makes light work of long days of driving.
5. Heads-up display, excellent but don’t wear polarised glasses.
Power is brilliant, we went from 79kph to 148kph passing a 52m long road train, it’s always great to be out of the death lane as soon as possible.
6. Ride quality is much better than the VW on the shit outback highways.
So far loving the GX.
 
Now at 2084 km things you should know:
1. DTE (distance to empty) is wildly pessimistic, with 40km range left I still had 21 litres in the tank and I was averaging 11.3km per litre.
2. Aircon can be brutal, it’s extremely efficient compared to the VW which I had at 21ºc and in 34ºc I have the GX at 23ºc and it’s comfortable.
3. beeps, alarms etc, drives me nuts… ‘you’re close to the centre line’ - yes and the car is steering… You’re speeding! - yes and it’s on cruise and we’re going downhill… Driver inattention!!!! - yes because I’m getting so many beeps I’m looking for the reason. etc etc…
4. the self steer is overall very good, makes light work of long days of driving.
5. Heads-up display, excellent but don’t wear polarised glasses.
Power is brilliant, we went from 79kph to 148kph passing a 52m long road train, it’s always great to be out of the death lane as soon as possible.
6. Ride quality is much better than the VW on the shit outback highways.
So far loving the GX.
That’s awesome! I had the same issue with polarised sunnies on my BMW could not see the Heads Up Display. 😀
I am a bit worried about all the bloody beaping, I supposed you just have to get used to it. Will you do much towing? Have you seen any bonnet rattle? How’s the speakers in the car?
 
That’s awesome! I had the same issue with polarised sunnies on my BMW could not see the Heads Up Display. 😀
I am a bit worried about all the bloody beaping, I supposed you just have to get used to it. Will you do much towing? Have you seen any bonnet rattle? How’s the speakers in the car?
Your my test Guinea Pig for Australia! 😀👍👍
 
Hi Jrox
The beeping isn’t super annoying (unlike my friend’s Landcruiser which we named Justin Beeper!) and yes, I’ll get used to it, it just takes time. I do plan on towing and the tow bar gets installed after I get back (and get the complimentary clean which it definitely needs). Bonnet rattle? The people complaining obviously have little happening in their lives, yes there’s a little flutter but really who cares? Stereo, this one took a while to get right for me (industrial deafness and tinnitus) but after I cranked down the bass and tweaked the treble it sounds great to me. Much fewer setting than the VW but easily as good sounding. Bluetooth for Carplay is slow, I’ve got a cable and my phone in a vent Quadlock mount like I did in the VW and it works great, very responsive. Vents are great there are 4 in the roof lining above the cargo area and the second row and the usual in the front.
I’ll be putting on another 1500km or so before I get home next week so I will know a fair bit more about it. But this is why we bought the car, I travel to Mt Isa very month 2600km return but with ‘Lexifer’ I can knock off a couple of hours and K’s by going through Porcupine gorge which is still quite rough and the VW with it’s low profile tyres didn’t like, it handle it but I was worried about breaking a rim and the water crossings were probably too deep for it but with the GX it will be no problem at all.
The pics are of the VW and the GX in the same spot.
 

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The GX looks 10 times better! 😀
My hearing is not the best either, too much heavy metal music turned up to 11!
I am trying to see if one of the US Lexus garages will ship a rubber boot liner and back see protectors to Sydney as the carpet crap we are offered just won’t do for, look at the difference:
I thought $130 USD was reasonable.
Anyway, enjoy your week end driving! All the best, John R (Sydney) 👍👍👍
 

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I’ve ordered the rubber mats and bonnet protector that will go in when I get back (both Lexus) I like the idea of the rubber backed seats. I also have drawers to install and maybe a fridge?
I did the same, rubber mats and bonnet protector just not sure of what kangaroo protection bar I want, saw a great little one in the US:
It’s for the 560 but they are making a similar one for GX to follow the grille line, just not sure how practical it will be in case we get a jumper.
 

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I did the same, rubber mats and bonnet protector just not sure of what kangaroo protection bar I want, saw a great little one in the US:
It’s for the 560 but they are making a similar one for GX to follow the grille line, just not sure how practical it will be in case we get a jumper.
GX 460
 
I think we’ll have some choices after the new Prado is released (fingers crossed). Saw a few big reds dead on the side of the road, lots of greys and a surprising amount of pigs dead on the side of the road, that would be like hitting an anvil.
 
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