Lexus GX 460 Overlander

In late 2019, I attended Lexus’ Experience Amazing Drive Event.  It was the last car event I attended before the pandemic struck, and until that point, surprisingly my first experience with the Lexus marque, despite all my other involvement with the auto enthusiast world.  This event was geared toward their luxury, sport, and daily-driver / grocery-getter offerings, so the GX was notably absent.

Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Lexus GX brings the luxurious comfort and attention to design detail to the a formidable off-road abilities of the N210 and later N280 chassis.  Because of that one-two combo, the GX is a popular choice among overlanders, who modify their flagship Lexus SUV to handle even rougher terrain when the dirt road ends, camp out under the stars, and do it all in comfort regardless of how far away from asphalt you are; The Lexus GX lets you explore and always feel at home.

This particular Lexus GX 460 is currently for sale on Expedition Portal (at time of writing).

You can visit the sale page here, and read a piece from its feature on Expedition Portal here.

(Please do not contact J. David Buerk - Photography for vehicle sale inquiries - I am not the seller.)

This 2012 example has been heavily modified to increase functionality and endurance, but has in no way impacted the comfort or space for you and your passengers.  Notable modifications include lift kit, skid plates, auxiliary fuel tank, rooftop tent, solar panel, refrigerator, front and rear bumpers, winch, floodlights, ham radio, and more.  You can find a full list of modifications from the seller below:

Interior:

• A-pillar Tacoma RAM mount/sPod touchscreen with 8 slot controls

• RAM accessory rail

• Yaesu FTM 300-DR, includes GPS and APRS

• Orangeboxx Fabrication rear MOLLE panels

• Fire Extinguisher & mount

• MSA fridge slide

• Ironman 50L refrigerator

• Goose Gear rear plate

• QuickFist axe/hatchet mounts

• Custom rear battery box/dual battery with 100aH Duracell AGM battery which includes:

  • 2 cigarette charging ports (Fused to Blue Sea block)

  • 4 USB ports (Fused to Blue Sea block)

  • REDARC 1225BCDC solar controller

  • REDARC SBI Smart Battery Isolator 12v/100A

  • (2) 8AWG Anderson plugged-leads for external tent power/heater, etc.

• Custom “Jump” button to use house battery as starter for emergencies

Exterior:

• Bush Company Alpha RTT with dual ladder mounts which are configurable Driver/Passenger/Rear

• Merlin Solar Trailblazer TBS 180R 180w solar panel

• Prado 150 rocker panels

• Dobinsons IMS 3” lift and BMC. Front springs are Dobinsons C59-329 with Dobinsons PS59-4030 ¼” spacer and OME 2899 rears with spacer

• Timbren rear bumpstops

• (5) SCS SR8 wheels with Kenda Klever 35x10.5” tires, 5 tire rotated

• Ironman forged upper control arms

• Ironman front recovery points

• RAD Rubber fender flaps

• ARB IPF Series 2 driving lamps

• Superwinch Tigershark 11,500 with synthetic line and control box relocate

• Dobinsons rear bumper, dual jerry can swingout and spare tire holder

• Ironman front bumper

• Compactennae ham radio antennae

• ARB single compressor to Blue Sea fuse block

• Rigid Industries Side Shots ditch lights with amber covers

• Baja Designs rear 2” flood lights – tent mounted

• RSG sliders - Rhino-lined

• RCI steel skids (Front, t-case, and fuel tank)

• LRA tank 33 gallons

If you are interested in this Lexus GX 460, you can visit the sale page here, and read a piece from its feature on Expedition Portal here.

(Please do not contact J. David Buerk - Photography for vehicle sale inquiries - I am not the seller.)

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If you are interested in this Lexus GX 460, you can visit the sale page here, and read a piece from its feature on Expedition Portal here.

(Please do not contact J. David Buerk - Photography for vehicle sale inquiries - I am not the seller.)

Jaguar Alive Driving Experience

After getting exclusive access to the new Jaguar F-Type at the 2013 Washington Auto Show, my friend Jake and I were invited by Jaguar to a track day in which we could test drive all of Jaguar's top end and most recent models, including the 550HP, $155,000 XKR-S, and the pre-production XFR-S, among others.  Unfortunately the F-Type was still unavailable to drive, although a beautiful orange example from the Paris Auto Show was on hand to demo under the reception tent. Events we took part in were a Timed 0-60 / Top Speed Run, Autocross Circuit, Traction Control Demo Circuit, and Free Drive of any of the available lineup (the XJL was VERY well appointed).  As Jake later pointed out, we drove ~$1,000,000 worth of cars in just a few hours time.

The day started out with being greeted by showcase Jaguars, including a 1967 Jaguar E-Type, with DC plates "ELATED".  The event attracted plenty of exotic cars in the parking lot, mostly Jags of course.

Not far away was the Orange F-Type V8 S, and one of MANY XKR-Ss (actually there AREN'T many; the XKR-S is a limited production run vehicle with only 100 examples being sold in the United States).

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Our driving experience started out by road testing the XJ, which was very responsive, although the Eco feature that disables the engine in stop and go traffic was a bit strange (we later disabled it).  All the Jaguars had very sensitive brakes - not a bad thing, but something that took a few minutes to get used to.

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Next we were briefed by Lorraine McKiniry, host of Velocity Channel by Discovery Network's "What's My Car Worth?" who gave a history of the Jaguar brand, culminating in the 2013 lineup, and discussion of future plans for the carmaker.  Then it was out onto the track, where first up was my 0-60 / Top Speed run in the XKR-S.  I reached 90MPH with a 5.5sec 0-60 time (unofficial - official times are forthcoming).  The track was uphill on cold, hard tires, so the XKR-S' specified 4.0 - 4.2 sec range wasn't possible given the conditions.  You can watch my runs and see the live telemetry below!

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Next it was on to the Autocross Course and Handling Tests.  I had a more strict course instructor than Jake did, so I wasn't allowed as much freedom on the course as Jake was which was somewhat disappointing.  The result was a top time of 39.6sec compared to Jake's 37.something sec time.  The Handling Course in the XFR-S was much more fun however, mostly because I startled and impressed the course instructor with a massive drift - he wasn't expecting it, but he was shocked that I maintained full control around the entire turn in a textbook drift without the traction control engaged.  His reaction after I snapped the car back in line for the straightaway was "WHOA!!!... OK.... Um... I didn't know you could do that.  That was very good...  Wow!...  You handled that.... really well!..."

Unfortunately I don't have many pictures from this or the rest of the day... because I was too busy driving!!!

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It was an amazing, fun day!  I wish we'd had more track time!  I think our performance on the course would have improved dramatically with just a little more time to become more acquainted with the cars; but this goes without saying!  I also had two people, one of them a Jaguar representative, ask me who I was writing for - I apparently looked like an automotive journalist for this event (not paparazzi, like so many other occasions - I'm so happy!).

Loved it!  I can't wait to do another track day like it!  Now we're looking into other events sponsored by Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and others to experience more!