Cool, distinctive, interesting automotive builds are all over the place these days. Among them are several eye-catching off-roaders and overlanding vehicles. Beyond a showy display of one’s finances though, what’s it actually like to live with and drive such a contraption?
One man with a Lexus GX470 knows after stacking almost 60,000 miles on it with a lift kit, 33-inch all-terrain tires, a 4.7-liter V8, and several off-road-focused parts. He’s provided some insights that truly only come from everyday experience.
That man is Douglas Sonders of the BlackBird Moto YouTube channel. He typically spends time reviewing unique and interesting one-off builds like the ones mentioned at the outset of this piece. This time though, he critiques his very own SUV.
Again, this is a 2008 Lexus GX470. It came stock with the 263-horsepower, 323 lb-ft V8, though Sonders bought it with around 150,000 miles on the odometer already.
It also had a two-inch lift and some B.F.Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires on it at that time. Now, it still has that same lift kit but sports new wheels and new Falken all-terrain tires. Sonders also added steel bumpers, a 15,000-pound winch, an ARB skid plate, and some rock sliders too.
There are a few luxury upgrades that help with overlanding and towing, too. They include high-performance fog lights along with airbag spring helpers for the rear coilover shocks. Sonders can inflate those bags via a built-in air valve that sits in the rear bumper.
On top of that, the interior now features a recently reupholstered set of seats, a long-range GRMS CB-style radio, a new steering wheel, and even a small flip-down table on the rear door. All of those mods make for more enjoyable off-roading but don’t forget one thing that makes this SUV even more appealing.
The engine is largely bulletproof. It’s the same one Toyota used for the 4Runner and that SUV didn’t get an update for over a decade. Beyond routine maintenance and important scheduled maintenance, it has no major known flaws.
The one issue with a vehicle like this is fuel economy. Sonders reports 14 to 15 mpg there which means that it’s worse in the city and likely even worse still off-road. Granted, off-road fuel economy isn’t a giant concern so long as one isn’t wheelin’ every day and everywhere they go.
In addition, he says that many of the mods he has now aren’t very useful to him currently. “I’ll be honest, I did all of these amazing off-road upgrades… and then I moved to New York City and it’s overkill,” he says. Perhaps that’s why the entire rig is now available for sale on Facebook. Sonders is asking $17,999. To be fair to him, the city is where most LX470s live anyway.
Based on sales of similar vehicles on Cars and Bids and Bring A Trailer, that seems like a reasonable price given the age, mileage, upgrades, and condition. Those in the market for an adventure vehicle now have just a bit more insight into what living with one is like.
If you like this one you can give it a new life back in the wilderness where it belongs!
But this topic brings us to a question: Sonders clearly realized that his rig is so overbuilt for what he needs now that he’s in the city. But plenty of folks in the city drive SUVs and trucks every day despite the compromises associated with them. So the question is: Do you own a car that has way more capability than you need? And how do you square in your mind that you’re making compromises for capability you’re not really using? No judgment here, of course, but I’m curious.
Images: Douglas Sonders; Blackbird Moto/YouTube
I have used pretty much every upgrade on my off-roader. Exceeding those limits…. hmmmm. That is where you have to trust the nut behind the wheel. I have it set up so that I can go places to see things and to be in nature. I can go more places now than stock.
I also have another 10k in truck-porn fantasies for what amounts to a 5k truck when stock.
Other truck hauls and tows. Have only added airlift airbags because I don’t always get to load the trailer, and it can make up for some tongue weight. No extra capacity there, as I also have 2-4 passengers pretty regularly.
Yeah. I have a 2005 Grand Cherokee. It was great when I had two big 100+lb dogs and I would take them to the Cabin which had a goat trail at the end of a long dirt road.
Now the dogs are dead and gone and the cabin is gone ( failed foundation due to shifting slope) and I’m stuck with 15mpg if I’m lucky. I’d love to get into a sedan or a small crossover but even those are still 20K used with a bit of warranty left so I keep shilling out for the gas.
The plus side is the wife has a 2008 prius that’s still pulling 42-46 MPG so we can take that on the weekends.
“Do you own a car that has way more capability than you need?”
No because I don’t like wasting my money.
Also it depends on how you define a ‘need’. Theoretically, I could probably satisfy my needs with a bicycle and a bike trailer.
And does anyone truly need A/C and heated seats? Is comfort truly a need?
It is a common thing. Sub in the word ‘wants’ for ‘needs’ pretty much anywhere and you should be good.
I am really curious to see the movement on “need”-le when it comes in living hot and humid enivronments like Florida.
Yes, I need A/C. I prefer to not stink like a circus animal when I get somewhere, and at my advancing middle age decrepitude in a Florida summer NOT having A/C can be a health risk. A/C is not just comfort in these climate changing times.
To some extent, I have to buy cars that exceed my needs because the versions that would really be a good fit are simply not sold in the US. As a prime example, I would prefer an MB E200 or E250 – 180hp-200hp would be entirely adequate, but the car was only sold as an E350 with 302hp in the US in 2014. Similarly, I don’t need AWD, but that is the only way they came. I do want a car that is a proper station wagon, big enough to hold the things I regularly haul around (and with the capacity to do it effortlessly – yeah load leveling suspension), and that drives properly. Which is why I have a Mercedes wagon. It is as zero-options base as you could get in the US though.
“I prefer to not stink like a circus animal when I get somewhere”
HOWVER… if you did stink like a circus animal, it would keep the mosquitos away!!!
LOL
On a more serious note…
“ Similarly, I don’t need AWD, but that is the only way they came”
And that’s the problem with a lot of vehicles these days… too much shit is standard.
You can’t even buy a ‘work truck’ version of the Ford Ranger (as one example). All the trims go from “loaded” to “more loaded”. You can’t even get a 2wd version.
Completely agree about the state of cars these days. The unfortunate reality for those of us who only want what we actually need, is that it’s cheaper to just make them all the same, and the punters will pay up for that crap. I don’t know how we all didn’t just instantly die in the winter back when 90% of cars were RWD.
Pickup trucks are just in a class of stupid all by themselves.
Colorado ZR2 – It gets used pretty hard, but I’m usually running solo so I’m not going to take it to that 100% mark and leave no room for error.
’07 Aprilia Tuono – Yeah, this bike will always be more capable than me.
Probably the opposite in that I arguably exceed the capabilities (at least for expected customer use), which I prefer as I feel unworthy of equipment that I don’t approach a safe maximum in for at least one category of use. I currently have a GR86 and, before I built a utility/kayak trailer for it to tow, I loaded 9′ lumber in it and some plywood to build cabinets and the trailer. It gets over 30 mpg commuting, but I’ll just say that the tires also do not get anywhere near their mileage ratings. For my Focus ST before this, I moved a yard of (bagged) dirt and was frequently loaded all the way into the passenger seat with equipment for work. My old Legacy moved engines in the back, went up trails people around here think they need 4WD lifted trucks to handle (car was FWD), pulled more J turns than Rockford, regularly saw very high yaw moment sliding on snow covered gravel roads, and seemed to be aero limited somewhere around an indicated 133 mph.
I have hauled lumber home in my Triumph Spitfire numerous times. The look on the dudes at Lowe’s faces is priceless every time.
My partner has an 8-seater SUV and 80% of the time it has 2 or less people in it. It’s great for road trips though!
I’m not sure how to judge this. I use my vehicles to 100% of their capability at least yearly so maybe I’m close to what is “needed”. I could do with less but it wouldn’t be as comfortable or convenient or fun.
My truck is a Colorado, RWD. I hit both payload and towing capacity at least a couple times a year. Plus I use all 4 seats and fill the bed (literally full) almost every weekend and maybe once during the week.
My Saturn Sky Redline I peg at WOT and get close to its lateral handling limits more then I should. Although, it has the wrong tires on it and if it had the summer tires it’s supposed to have I suppose I wouldn’t get anywhere close to its handling limits. I would race it if groups weren’t so pissy about it being a convertible without a roll-bar.
So, my assessment is not much more capability then needed except…
I also have a 530 HP C4 ZR1 Corvette, that I don’t think I’ve ever had at WOT below 3rd gear because I’m pretty sure I couldn’t handle it. And it has grip for days which is impossible to fully use (safely) off the track. I’d honestly like to sell the Vette but its complicated.
I was going to reply but your answer would be my answer. I built up my own GX…and I actually do need what it can do more than I think…and it’s nice to be able to pivot instantly to what I need that swap out to something else I might have in my driveway. Which is my wife’s Highlander.
Yes, and I would argue that every car sold has more capability that is needed. The word need is overused. I do not need Apple Carplay, but I want it and would not purchase a car that did not have it or one that I could not add it to. I do not need a car that can do a 100 MPH, but everyone of them can. No one needs leather seats, but we like them. No one needs nice wheels on a car, but we like them. I think in western culture, we are far too fast to define something as a need that really is a desire.
I mean, yeah. So many people just haul themselves around in their cars – with the weekly load of groceries or the annual haul of gardening supplies thrown in. A Honda Fit would suit my needs for 98% of the miles I drive – and for a lot of other people too.
Sorry to not answer the question, but my ’10 4cyl 5spd Frontier with a utility cap is pretty much exactly what I need for what life throws at me. I use it’s full capability less these days, but it’s there when I need it.
Probably, almost everyone does, it’s actually quite surprising how little power is really needed to keep up with traffic flow
Both my 1962 Porsche and my 1991 Nissan Figaro will go around 100mph, which there is absolutely no need for around here. I think I’m going to keep them anyway thought 🙂
I did, but traded it. Just too big, too thirsty, and not really the right tool for the job. I don’t drive nearly as much as I work from home. Most trips are local and short hop. So a hybrid made much more sense, had the right size, better mileage, better performance, and it fits in the garage too.
What a weird question. Even a Kia Rio has more capability than what 99.99% of people need.
I had a one ton dually flatbed diesel, once upon a time. I had big plans of having a horseback trail riding facility and lots of horses. It fell through, and after that, the truck was more than I need. Was so glad to get rid of the damn thing.
My only “Over-Capability” issue is quantity. I have 4 vehicles (Willys CJ2a, Jeep TJ Wrangler, MX-5 Miata NB, gen3 Honda Insight) – I’m retired and we drive approximately 50 miles a week.
My cars are pretty appropriate for the use they get.. where I have an issue is my Polaris we got “for the property”. We could have probably bought a $1500 Mule or golf cart but nope, we got sucked into the appeal of the RZR (older one) with aftermarket lights, doors and suspension components. I’m in the process of trying to sell/trade it but at this point nobody in this country has the play money to buy it..
I can’t seem to do anything without over doing it. My current stable is a 4 door sedan with 485 HP and a K5 with one ton axles and 40 inch tires. But I live in the Chicago suburbs with no place to exercise either…
https://flic.kr/p/2oVAzRi
How do you like the 300C? I’ve been keeping an eye on them since they were released and they seem to be depreciating normally. I might swoop in on one once they hit the high 30s/low 40s…especially since so many of them were bought by Boomers thinking they’d surge in value. There will be plenty of low mileage examples around.
I love it. It’s my fourth LX platform so I may be biased but the “Scat Pack in a suit” is the best of the bunch. My old Scat was fun and a comfortable car but attracted the wrong attention on the road. This one stays under the radar better.
It’s a older Stellantis/FCA/DiamlerChrysler platform with an interior that hasn’t had a serious update in 10+ years but it’s comfortable and with a $60 dongle to make the Car play/AA wireless it has all the major amenities one could want.
If you can accept the compromises of the old platform you’ll have a drivetrain and platform the likes of which simply can’t be had anywhere else, at least in the price range. And you are right, a bunch of boomers bought them to appreciate and are panicking when they realize they won’t.
I do recommend better tires on day one however, stock are terrible. 275s fit on the stock wheels but you also have every wheel from the Hellcats and Scats that fit as well.
Thats a nice two car garage,I love that K5.
It isn’t just the city that folks overbuild. I live in a town of 3,000 in the middle of the Arizona Sonora desert and am off-road a lot. I have a 2015 Jeep JKU Rubicon. It seems like it is the only one in Arizona that hasn’t been lifted. I go just about everywhere and haven’t felt the need to lift it. It is a daily driver and after 100,000 plus miles it works for me. Only mods are decent LED headlights, metal brackets to hold the hood down and I’ve gone to KO2s for tires. You see a lot of huge lifted pickup trucks that might go over a lot of things but don’t fit on trails. Be safe out there!
I feel the same about my 2012 JKU sport I off road a lot and everyone else but me has rubicons. I do have a 2in lift and a front tru trac lsd but other than some rock gardens my sport is just fine and I can do more than some friends with rubicons because they are not as experienced.
Wouldn’t that be 99.9%+ of car owners? That’s it if the car runs anyway…
My car actually has the perfect amount of capability for me. I take it to the track every now and then, so all the go fast bits get used to their full potential. It’s front wheel drive with a limited slip diff which is more than enough to handle the weather here in DC. It’s the perfect size for the city and still an extremely useful package since it’s a hatch.
It’s also just enough power to have fun with without putting your license in jeopardy. You can drive it at about 7/10ths on the street pretty consistently without being antisocial and when you find an empty country road, on ramp, deserted stretch of highway, etc. you can go all out within reason. I haven’t had any issues with looking down and realizing I’m going 100…which I have when I’ve driven stuff with 400+ horsepower.
As I’ve said several times, I think 300ish horsepower in a 3-3800 or so pound car is kind of the sweet spot for a fun, capable daily. Really my only complaints with the Kona N are the lousy ride (I find it tolerable, but it’s at the absolute limit of tolerable and it does get grating sometimes) and the bad fuel economy (lifetime is 20.1 MPG, although I do live in the city where no pure ICE vehicle does well).
It’s a pretty perfect car for my needs and it’s dirt cheap to own and run. Eventually I’ll get something crazier but for where I’m at in life it’s as close to ideal as I’m going to get without spending $60,000+.
7/10ths? I can’t drive my Accord at 7/10ths on the street consistently without being way too fast. I’d say my 150hp f150 is close though.
Overkill?
Not a massive amount. The Bugeye WRX with slightly tall tires will —with judicious driving lines—get me further down local trails than I should rightfully take what is basically a tarted-up economy car with a turbo. It will take me camping where I want to go, and hold carriers for both the cat & dog.
The Roadster is just silly: I don’t need 200+ lb-ft of torque to take the dog to a park or pick my buddy up from dialysis, and I can probably only exploit maybe 7/10 of its capabilities on a good day. But, it will induce chortles on demand, so I am gruntled.
Way more? No. Granted, air conditioning is more of a nice-to-have, and it could be a bit slower and still plenty freeway-capable.
Yes, though I have a modest poverty spec 2009 Accord. Any car at all is more capability than I need. I could get by with walking, cycling, and public transit along with the occasional Uber, taxi, or rent a car. It’s just out of sheer laziness that I drive once a week or so to the grocery store because the car is so convient for that in the US. In Europe, a car is more trouble than its worth.
I would hesitate to say yes. My car can do 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and has AWD. My truck can go almost anyplace it can physically fit. Do I need AWD and 400 HP to idle along in stoplight traffic? No. Do I go out to the ranch every weekend and need to cross streams, rutted out logging roads, and boulder-strewn trails anymore? No.
But that doesn’t mean I should give them up when I can still do those things with a couple of minutes of packing and picking a spot on a map.
My hesitation to say yes means no. Just to clarify.