Buying my first GX460 (2011) for $8,500 good deal? Best large-screen infotainment ? rear screen replacements ? + tire size on stock wheels?
I’m about to buy a 2011 Lexus GX460 in a private sale for $8,500 and wanted some opinions from people who actually know these trucks.
The seller says it’s the Premium trim, which from what I understand was the higher trim level for 2011.
He says the GX has roughly 150k actual miles, but the original gauge cluster failed and was replaced with a used cluster that currently shows around 190k miles. I understand that the mileage discrepancy/unknown mileage is something I’ll have to live with and disclose when I eventually sell it.
Other than that, the truck seems to be in really good condition. The paint/body are very clean and the owner took care of a lot of the cosmetic details. The damaged interior areas were redone in marine-grade vinyl. He says he changes the oil and filter around every 3,000 miles, it has never had a check-engine light, and the only warning currently is for a tire-pressure sensor.
The factory rear air suspension was also deleted and converted to coil springs. He says the rear springs are from an FJ Cruiser/TRD setup, and he’s also including a 2-inch lift kit that he bought but never installed.
It also has the factory rear-seat entertainment system with the screens in the backs of the front seats. Both screens still work, but the screens themselves are pretty scratched up. Has anyone replaced just those factory screens with newer aftermarket displays while keeping the OEM location/fit? I would love to modernize those too instead of having scratched 2011 screens back there.
I’m buying it as a fun daily/project and don’t want to go crazy spending money right away.
A few questions:
At $8,500, would you consider this a good buy even with the cluster/mileage situation?
Is there an easy way to confirm whether it’s actually a Premium and what factory options it originally came with?
What is currently the best large-screen infotainment upgrade for a 2011 GX460? I want something that looks modern and integrated, preferably a large vertical/Tesla-style screen with wireless CarPlay. I’ve seen some Alibaba units and also Hamilton Motor Company/Hamilton-style systems. Which one is actually reliable and worth buying?
Are there any large screens/brands I should specifically avoid because of bad audio quality, HVAC integration, slow software, bugs, poor cameras, etc.?
What would you guys do about the scratched factory rear entertainment screens? Can I replace only the LCD/screens with newer aftermarket ones while keeping the factory housings, or is there a better retrofit?
What is the largest tire size you would recommend on the current factory wheels without changing wheels? I’d rather spend the money on tires and suspension first instead of buying another set of wheels.
Since it already has the rear coil conversion and I’ll have a 2-inch lift kit available, what tire size/setup would you personally run for a mostly street-driven GX that I still want to look aggressive and be legitimately capable off-road?
I’m not trying to build a hardcore rock crawler. I just want a clean OEM+/overland-style GX with a bigger stance, modern infotainment, bigger tires and enough capability to have fun off-road.