dgi

I went from drooling over 200 Series Land Cruisers, to considering 2008-10 Cayenne GTSs to now finding an 80K mile 2003 G55 locally. Looks to be a one owner car thats been dealer maintained all its life.

I drive about 20K miles a year. I'm particular about keeping up with maintenance and have a lift at home along with certified mechanic friends.

Would picking up a 2003 G55 be the end of me?

Highest maintenance car i've owned was a 2008 VW R32 that needed a tranny service every 20K miles to feel "right". Current DD is a 2006 Expedition with 198K that runs great, just showing some age and consumables are costing some $ here and there.

Thoughts?

pdeacon

First off....the G is very different than a Land Cruiser and Cayenne GTS. The GTS is basically a luxury /performance SUV. Land Cruiser is probably more comparable to the G. They are basically Trucks. That means they handle like and ride like, well, trucks. The G will run for well over 200K miles if well maintained. Parts are expensive basically because they are limited production vehicles. My advice to all first time buyers is to test drive one extensively in many and varied situations. The G is unique in many ways. Some may call it "character". You either love 'em or hate 'em. Fuel economy is also horrible; maybe 12 to 15 mpg. So if you are looking to purchase a G on a budget, take a pass and find something else. They are expensive to buy, expensive to maintain and expensive to run. Don't want to discourage you but just suggesting you go into the purchase of a G with your eyes open. One positive note; they hold their value, especially when well maintained. I love my G and would not part with it. I also have other vehicles at my disposal which allows me to not rely on my truck as a DD.
Good luck with your search. Let us know how you make out.

sterz85

I had a 2012 Cayenne Turbo and drove a 2004 G55 for a few months.

They are very different cars, the Cayenne is definitely much more luxurious and fast. It has way more technology than the G55. The G55 (a family friend who wanted to swap cars for a few months) had the G550 suspension on it so it rode better than a regular G55. The car was amazing to drive. The sound system wasn't as good as the porsche, the bluetooth wasn't as good, the gas mileage wasn't as good, but somehow none of that mattered. I loved how high i sat, how clear everything was, the exhaust sound, the look of the g-wagon, and the narrowness. I found it easier to park get around than the Cayenne because the g-wagon is actually pretty narrow compared to other SUVs.

A few comfort things to do if you're considering the older G wagons
- G550 shock swap (will ride much better)
- Sound insulation (will make the ride a lot more quiet and luxurious)
- Blind spot detectors, you can get the blind spot system from ebay and the upgraded mirrors have the blind spot signals
- Audio in terms of bluetooth/navigation will be a bit tricky because of the D2B fiber optic system; i think after 2007 they switched it to the MOST fiber optic system which has a lot in terms of adapters to install an aftermarket unit

dgi

Would it be too difficult to update the factory stereo with a double din setup in 2003-05 G500/G55 trucks?

I'm used to rough riding and poor fuel economy. I'm looking for something where the risk of being left on the side of the road is minimal. I dont mind replacing window regulators or dealing with other quirks, but when driving up and down the east coast, I cant afford to be left on the side of the road with two young kids waiting for a tow truck.

Going to look at a local 2003 G55 this weekend (hopefully) and will compare it to the Land Cruisers and Cayennes i've recently sampled.

pdeacon

Keep in mind that you are looking at a 15 year old truck. Even though the G is a reliable, rugged, go anywhere unit capable of going 200K miles, it is like any other aging vehicle. Things will go wrong and the age increases the potential of being stranded on the side of the road. Things wear out with age. Good luck with your continued search

mobster600

i contemplated the thought of having a cool semi-older vehicle (~15yrs old). The costs were worth the cool factor. BUT like the above posts mentioned its a car that is going to have problems. Its maintenance prime has past and its downhill.

I would definitely tell you the DD will increase the probability of problems to come. I would rotate the vehicles, do maybe 10k miles per year on each. I think you should go for it, but keep in mind the one-off repairs due to age. Im sure it will be worth it for the fun factor

dgi

aerG500

it all boils down to your own passion level for cars, their quirks and what you're willing to overlook for what I consider character and fun. I bought mine 7+ years ago with just 2300 miles on it, yet it was 3 years old at the time and the original owner just liked having it but not driving it. I've since driven it daily, have 101k miles on it now and Absolutely LOVE it like the day I bought it. never lose sight of the fact that it is NOT a "luxury SUV". but a barrel of fun. I maintain mine to an obsessive level and have done countless upgrades on every angle, including G550 shocks, G63 springs, custom Polyethylene bushings throughout the suspension, 133 sqft of Dynamat Xtreme covering every metal surface inside the truck, full JL Audio sound system upgrade (all hidden to look stock aside from the head unit), Renntech Headers, Eurocharged ECU Tune, Renntech transmission upgrade, custom made CF scoops, HRE forged wheels, Brembo BBK with two piece rotors etc etc etc. It's an absolute blast of a truck and I don't plan on ever selling it. Yet I'll say it.... it's certainly not for everyone. Maybe a good comparison would be... are you a porsche precision guy or an older ferrari guy being ok with the upkeep, issues and loads of character?

dgi

aerG500

aerG500

aerG500

aerG500

dgi

Very clean!!! Diggin the Brembo brakes.

Inspiring!!!

pdeacon

That's one good looking ride. Tasteful upgrades!

NYCBenz

This might be the problem. Didn't read to carefully, but not even sure you have sat/driven a G Wagon before?

Driver position isn't the best, and at 6'6", I have a feeling you are going to be extremely uncomfortable. I'm 6', and can't imagine driving a G Wagon (of any variant) 20,000 miles/year, however everyone is different I suppose.

Also taking into consideration the space in the back for two kids, there isn't that much space to begin with. if you have the driver's seat pushed all the way back (you'll have to), there is virtually no space for a human behind you. Not sure on the Older G's, but the Newer G's (2014+) have the "knee cutouts" behind the front seats to make more space for the rear occupants.

Good luck, and test drive for as long as possible, with the kids in the back as well.

pdeacon

That is an interesting rear bumper mod. Just curious...where/how do you mount the rear license plate?

aerG500

The plate is mounted on the rear door to the lower right of the spare. The bumper cover has a license plate light built in at that location just below th the plate, shining up on to the plate keeping it legal.

dgi

scottyOTM

Check the front hub seals and all the motor and transmission mounts too. Nearly every 55 I looked at when I was shopping had these issues.

dgi

sterz85

What's the issue with the transfer case? That isn't a cheap repair if it needs to be replaced.

dgi

pdeacon

Time to move on...there are too many other vehicles out there that won't present with the issues you have described. Better to spend a little more initially and move up the food chain. The latest model year you can afford is always a good rule of thumb. Nothing can drain your bank account faster than chasing multiple repairs on an aging G.

dgi

Im not so sure i want to dismiss this vehicle yet... It still has a very good service/maintenance history and the service writer for the car was up front about the repairs it needs. I still plan to drive the truck and have it looked at by my mechanic before jumping head first into it. Seems like a great way to buy into the G-wagon group at a discount (if everything else checks out).

Im very prepared to jump ship on any potential purchase if it isnt jiving however.