This week’s YSE (Your Shitty Economy) Car of the Week comes to us via Lexus (and Autotrader): the Land Cruiser-with-wood-trim LX470. The low-volume sales of these SUVs proves Americans are not real keen on a tree branch scraping down the side of their $80,000 vehicle. Even though the second gen LX470 is supremely capable off-road, most rock climber-kayaking types are more likely to own a Jeep or an old Tacoma. Never mind. This pre-loved 2004 LX470 with 49k on the clock is yours for just $29,499. This price may seem high for a car almost old enough to qualify for the cash for clunkers, and 13 mpg is a bit scarifying, but the Land Cruiser/LX duo maintains some of the best re-sale values in the biz. Sure you can pick up a used Range Rover for a little less, but why would you? There’s no competing with the Japanese-built LX for reliability and longevity. So saddle up, strap down the antique furniture, and take the no-road option home.
So badge engineering doesnt normally bother me on the used market (I drive a 2006 Mountaineer with every bell and whistle known to man, and paid less for it in December of 2008 than similarly equipped Explorers), but there’s something about a really, truly iconic vehicle that’s been badge engineered that bugs the shit out of me. The LX470 was one of those vehicles. Until Toyota wrecked the really, truly iconic vehicle it was based on. Nothing about the Landbruiser should have been for the mass market.
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