But wait - the Chevrolet Traverse/Acadia owner did get a 'smoking deal," just not necessarily in that order. First the 'deal' - the 'smoking" comes later.

As a young man, I would normally do most of my own repairs. I happened to be working on a job that did not give me time to take care of my car, so I took it to a small Gulf Oil Station to get a oil change and lube. I showed up to pick up my car, he was still working on it. I started watching him work, he had a small wooden box of different types of oils and small tubes of grease. He was going around and lubing everything that moved, Hood hinges, truck hinges, Doors hinges and latches. I was amazed, I told him I never seen anyone do that as part of a lube. He told me well, apparently they weren't doing a very good job. From then on out when I do a lube job on my car, I do it all. Next time you pay for a lube job, see if they do what they are suppose to do. They dont.

My favorite is "It's just a broken fan belt. Why do I need new radiator hoses and a wiring harness repair?" Well, because that belt wrapped around the fan clutch when it broke and did it's best weed whacker impersonation. Maybe you should have replaced it the last 3 times you came in and we suggested it.

Being from the northeast, I used to dream of flying out west, buying a cool, older rust free car and driving it back. Now the dream is to stop at the wizards in the way and have it fully serviced first

If hoovie owned a lexus the car wizard would still be in that tiny shop

That Lexus is in great shape and worthy of a $1200 repair.

$1,200 is nothing for this GX. These repairs will last many years, so long the drivers aren't aggressive.

Wizard you are the man! You’re the most honest mechanic I’ve ever seen. 1200 is nothing for such a gem of a vehicle.

Car Wizard, it's called "preventive maintenance" which is something that many people neglect with their vehicles. Your walk-around/through/under inspection is what finds these issues and you are doing your job by alerting the customer that they will have more serious problems if these items are not addressed. Great video, thank you!

Good mechanics are always long winded. I ABSOLUTELY trust The car wizard!

I bought a 2008 Lexus RX350 6 months ago with 151,000 miles, and it runs like a champ. One of the best purchases I made in a long time.

I own 2 of these and a rx350. My 04 gx has 227,000 miles and runs great. The maintenance is easy enough for me to do it (except timing belt and water pump). Toyota dealer did it last time for $900. I recommend Toyota and lexus to everyone! Great video.

I own a 2005 GX470 (178K miles). Solid solid trucks. Absolutely love it. Super reliable. Easy to work on too. Lots of aftermarket parts. Fortunately, I bought mine in June 2020 before prices went crazy. If you're wanting a SUV similar to this size you will NOT be disappointed. Just get a truck with little to no rust. Not even Lexus/Toyota's are immune to the road salts.

I have had a similar experience. As a professional, I am asked to inspect and advise. However the customer is more impressed with the price and color. Even to the point of discouraging the customer on the purchase due to necessary repairs and know deficient issues. Keep up the good work Mr. and Mrs. Wizard. I am proud of you both. The old school guy.

Good advise Wizard. I discovered Lexus over 20 years ago. I have owned four of them since my first. Used ones are reasonably priced and luxurious. minimal repairs needed. I listen to the repair stories by my friends, neighbors and relatives and just smile.

Wizard ! I'm a life long Toyota/Lexus owner and so was my father. Got my little sister a nice 01 Avalon with 110k miles for $3.8k. Everything was perfect minus a simple torn cv axle. Rides and shifts incredibly well.

That’s why I fix everything myself outside of rebuilding engines and transmissions.

I’ve thought about driving my 09 GX470 down to Kansas to star in a Wizard vid. It’s a great example of just how tough and dependable these things are. It’s got 235,000 miles on it now and the last owner abused the hell out of it for years on gravel roads with minimal maintenance before putting it through a fence in a blizzard, which removed half its front bumper, half a headlight, the grille, rear spoiler and rear glass, yet somehow the only mechanical damage was a single bent tie-rod. The gal then continued driving it that way for a few months until the tire on the bad tie rod side was bald (which is super bad for the transfer case). Finally, she dumped it as trade-in at the local GMC dealer. I like to believe that she got what she deserved and ended up in one of those POS Acadias that Wizard loathes. Anyway, I ended up buying what was left of the GX for VERY cheap and then set about getting it caught up on all its neglected maintenance. Timing belt, tie rod, tires, TPMS sensor, alignment, windshield, as well as a gas cap to clear the Christmas tree of warning lights. Then I changed out the front sway bar bushings, flushed the transfer case and did an oil change and replaced a leaking air spring. The total for all that was roughly $1,500 (that’s the beauty of being able to turn a wrench myself). That was 2 years and 30,000 miles ago. Nothing has broken or gone wrong since. I still haven’t fixed the cosmetic stuff, mostly because of Covid and because Lexus parts are spendy AF but I have a growing pile of them in the garage and plan to have it back to looking like a Lexus should before winter. I always thought it’d be a great Wizard vid as it sits now though. The fact that something that looks so bad and has been so beaten and abused yet is mechanically functioning like new with no warning lights or clinks or clanks, perfectly sums up why Toyota/Lexus trucks are worth every penny. Only problem is, nothing’s broken so I have no reason to drive down to Omega Auto! What a glorious problem to have.

I got a 2002 Highlander from my Mom when she passed on last month. I really like it. It’s a base model with the 2.4 L 4 banger but it only has 38000 miles on it and was serviced at Toyota since it was new. Great little SUV.

Being a very critical car/truck enthusiast as well a good mechanic, i could listen to the car wizard all day long! Hes the BEST!!!

Key note to having an inspection on your car, DON’T bring it to it quick lube or Jiffy Lube! not the tire shop!

In this case it's $1200 well spent.

i own this exact vehicle in a 2007. paid 15k cash in 2017 w/115k miles in it. It was in need of deferred maint when i purchased and had it completely sorted - cv boots, all belts, water pump, tires. Virtually every knob, light, switch works on this beast. Yes, even the amazing rear air bags. I keep it pristine. interior and exterior is like new. I could pay cash for any dream car i would want. But, i get more out of value. And i absolutely love these vehicles. Nothing but Lexus, Toyota and even some Hondas for me. Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Wizard. This was a real treat to watch!

If there was a Car Wizard in my area, without no doubt I would have no problems writing a blank check. Thank you for another great video, much respect to you.

Thanks, Wizard and Mrs. Love the Lexus GX470, looks in great shape for age. Oil change, brakes, cv boot, so $1,000 for maint still cheaper than $500 monthly car payment and higher insurance for a new car. Good, we are almost done with the Ferrari - my birthday is coming up 😁

I bought one of these for 8k, drove it for a bit and then resold it for 14k. The guy I sold it to resold it again for 17k. The market on these vehicles is insane.

Couldn’t agree more Wizard. Although it took me owning a VW to finally knock some sense into me I now drive a 97’ Camry and the wife drives an 08’ Lexus RX350. These have been great vehicles. Cheap and simple to maintain as well as work on. At this point, outside of maybe a Honda, I don’t see why I would ever leave the Toyota lineup.

I have a 2003 GX470 with a 3" lift, 33's, sliders, etc. It only has 130k miles and almost mint. The interior is gorgeous and has piano black paint. Even with my lift it rides like a luxury SUV and is nice and quiet inside. I've done some custom interior lighting changes and I am installing a very high end SQ sound system. It is so damn good and I love everything about it. It's the best SUV I've ever owned and I will NEVER sell it.

Mr. and Mrs. Wizard - always happy to hear from you, such a sweet couple.

I bought my 07 Avalon in 09, still in warranty. I've never had to do anything to it other than the scheduled maintenance items. I make one exception, I change the oil every 3k miles rather than wait for the oil change light to come on. It still looks stylish, it rides beautifully, very quiet, the performance is plenty for me. Most importantly to me is everything still works like new. It only has 86k miles on her. I don't plan on ever buying another car.

One time I took my 1994 Acura Integra in for an oil change and there was a small tear on the CV boot on my passenger side. The mechanic said it's fine for now as the grease inside the boot was barely leaking out. I asked him how much to change out the CV axle. He said $180 total with parts and labor. I told him to change it immediately. Was taking no chances. 385,000+ and still running.

First off, this car looks amazing. Second $1200 is likely all they spent on repairs since they bought it.

Love the "cover your ass" video reasoning. I do the same when I rent a car. They've tried the "that ding wasn't there when you left" on me to no avail.

I have this same vehicle (same color, too) except mine is a 2007. Bought it in 2018 with only 130k miles. The owner was asking $12,000 at the time and I was able to buy it for $11,500. I now have 150k miles and it drives beautifully, and is probably worth $15-17,000 now. Truly, this is one of the best everyday vehicles I've ever owned.

The spousal narration adds to this video a lot. It's nice to see successful teamwork.

Thanks for reminding me why I do my own maintenance. I had forgotten how much labor cost is. Same work for me doing if it was my car. $40 oil change. $100 pads n rotors. $10 CV boots. Yeah my labor is free for me and if the joints aren’t making any noise. A clean and regrease with new boots and they’ll go at least another 100,000 miles. $150 total.

Wizard: "Thats the life of a GMC Arcadia..." Me: Wizard can be savage quite casually, sometimes.

While these type of emergent repairs aren’t welcomed, all items mentioned are consumables or normal wear and tear. Still to go from $100 to $1200 would not be a welcomed event; however, if I trusted the mechanic I say ok.

Thanks for another entertaining and informative session. Nice production and execution.

Almost 600k subscribers already congrats mr and mrs Wizard it’s obviously well deserved! 💯 cannot wait until you start a shop in the front range of Colorado!

You do a fantastic job at giving your customers trust. 💯%

I used to have an 04 without nav and I loved that thing so much. Sounded great and never let me down.

I like how straight forward this man does business

Very Well Done! I wish Most mechanics and Shops were just like you. Good work ethic is almost a myth now in days.

Always Great content and Great Advice, Thanks Wizard!

Issues I had with my 2007 Sequoia, which went 265K before I recently got rid of it - rear mail seal went, upper oil pan gasket leaked, steering rack started leaking, lower front control arms were very squeaky and needed to be replaced, OEM cats were stolen and I had to replace with cheap aftermarket ones. Other than that, just had general maintenance items. Was an incredibly reliable vehicle and would highly recommend. Listen to the Wizard, people!

I have one of these myself and I love it. Totally worth the time and money. I'm gonna be doing another timing component change on it soon!!

I’m very thankful to have a good Toyota mechanic. He treats my hooptie better than I do. Called me to ask if it was ok to put a $13 tie rod end on. Makes you really appreciate a good mechanic.

Still daily drive mine. An 04 with only 115k miles on it. Got full trade in on my A4 S-line back when i bought it and never looked back. Luckily I was able to scoop mine up before people realized the value therein and got it for what I'd consider a steal. Absolutely love it.

Good thing we got our 130k 06 GX back in Feb 21 for 10k.. probably get 15 plus for it now

A proud gx owner here, bought mine at 158k, still no cv leaks/problems. I was willing to have the 4wd in return for all the advantages. However i did look at its cousin 4runner which Ive owned several, and it is 2wd OR 4wd, but it was harder to find one in great condition. Thanks for pointing out its value!

Man, I wish I lived closer to your shop. Great videos! Just purchased an LX470 that needed a lot of work (regular maintenance) that was not done regular..ya 😫 I’ve been pretty busy but I don’t regret the purchase one bit, I know I have a good reliable car once I’m done brining it up to date with its maintenance. Thanks for your videos!

Excellent video, love your channel wizard! Having owned a gx470 I can promise you that is not the original dash. Lexus had a full replacement warranty coverage on the entire dashes, due to cracking.

If you want reliable high performance sedans the Lexus products (ISF, GSF, RCF, LC500, IS500) with the 470hp 5.0 v8 are great options. My daily driven 2016 GSF has been a great experience so far. As for expenses - $1200 repair would be $2500 for a equivalent service of a German brand. Worth it.

Car wizard I count on you to bring true and honest info, and you do. Thanks again.

I pulled the trigger on an “06 gx470 in pearl white . Last two winters I never had to lock down 4 wheel drive cause the full-time all wheel drive works so good. I am due for the timing belt change soon. Really enjoyed your video 👍

I am a fan of the 2008 Lexus GX 470, because it is a lot more reliable than any GMC Acadia.

Always loved this gen GX especially with a third row

It’s a good idea to spray all of those rubber boots with silicone spray once in a while like maybe every other oil change. It keeps them from drying out and cracking. Been doing it for years.

Great video! I have a 2008 GS350 AWD with 192,000 miles on it and it’s an absolute tank. Preventative maintenance goes a long way.

I have the exact same car exact same model in silver its an amazing beast ...absolutely loved my decision on this.

I bought a 04’ GX470 with 160k on it and it’s the greatest value 4x4 out there.

I was never a Toyota guy until I bought my LX470. That thing is amazingly reliable. I just did the rear brakes and that has been the only major repair that I've done. 190k on the clock and it's amazingly comfortable and certainly immensely capable off-road. I do my own servicing in my shop and you're right, Toyotas are very easy to work on.

spot on. I drive a GX460 2014 Premium edition and when this one wears out and if I can afford it, a Lexus LX series in about 15-20 years. Then another one for retirement.

Also a good thing to make sure your spare tire actually comes down.

Learned that "air in the spare" lesson the hard way... at least it wasn't raining!

I'd always thought these GX470's would be great for off road once they fully depreciated, much like the early 2k Landcruiser's were a value a few years back. Just did a search and many have a mild lift with 31's or 32's. Still, they are all over $15k, the good ones over $20k.

I looked at a 2017 Tundra last week, already rusting through the bed from the bottom up where it mounts to the frame. Toyota makes some good stuff, but their body on frame vehicles, FJ's, 4Runners, Sequoia's & Tundra just don't last in the salt belt.

It's like when I go in for my 6 month dental cleaning, and next thing I know, I'm getting my teeth drilled.

"Reliable". Brands are not reliable. Certain models usually are. However there will always be exceptions to the rule. You, as a mechanic see the worst of the worst. That alone shouldn't be your standard to judge cars on. Anyway, I appreciate your honesty and the nuance that you see in judging cars.

I love the honesty 👌✌ Appreciated

Ain't nobody got time for that! Thanks for sharing your decades of wisdom!

I must have the Unicorn Traverse. I bought a 2014 new and it now has 144K miles on it and I have had zero issues. Besides tires, battery, fluids, wipers and a headlight issue (covered by warranty) it has been issue free.

Lol like my sister started complaining her hyundai elantra needed alternator first thing to ever break on it after 12 years and 200k miles. Most reliable vehicle I've ever seen haha

Pleased to see you check the spare tyre. I owned a touring caravan business in UK for 40 years and the underslung spare was always checked. This involved freeing and greasing the telescopic carrier as they tended to rust and seize. Trying to fix a flat tyre on a touring caravan can be a nightmare if you cannot get at the spare. Most caravan service agents in the UK take note !!! I always applied the same philosophy as you Mr and Mrs Wizard. Thank you for your professional videos.

It really depends on the effort when building a car. Have a 07 Kia Rondo made in Korea w 148k miles. Still runs like a clock. Did all fluid maintenance myself, only major breakdown was the compressor. Suspension a bit stiff but only paid $19k when new.

Unfortunately GX470s are increasing in value, even before the upward trend of all cars. They are excellent off road and luxury on road.

Owning that exact model, I have 2 comments: 1 - Mobil1 is no longer full synthetic (shocked me too!) and 2 - The reason the spare was full is that it has a TPMS sensor so you are reminded to keep your spare inflated. As a testament to the vehicle, we blew our main alternator fuse over 1000 miles from home, almost nothing worked inside the cabin but by swapping batteries a few times, we still made it home. The GX reputation is well earned!

Yes!! As a GX owner... Thanks!!! Pump up that resale value!!

Hi there , just stumbled onto your channel and was impressed. I agree with you 100% as far as quality of Toyota versus American made cars. I will say, I own several cars and when I want Muscle I do go American (2013 BOSS 302-Laguna Seca) , but then again I have the capability and know how to maintain and fix all my vehicles. I have a SAAB Turbo as well and do all the maintenance on it (now thats a challenge). Back to the Toyota, they are as you say a Pleasure to work on. Everything bolts on and off without breaking. I have performed the following maintenance on my 2006 Tundra w/ 140K miles. Replaced Rotors up front they were warped. Replaced valve cover gaskets they were leaking, they leaked onto the Alternator killed it and had to replace Alternator as well. Flushed completely Auto Transmission fluid w/ filter. Replaced all drive shaft u joints , that job was difficult - the drive shaft U joint mounting ears are "flaired" and difficult using the U joint removal tool cause it kept sliding of the U joint ears. Replaced the Auto Trans output shaft Seal (was leaking). Replaced timing belt at 90K, was interesting due to the VVT cams, along w/ belt tensioner and all timing belt pulleys. water pump and thermostat replaced. Replaced all serpentine pulleys, etc. Can you recommend what next to change , in that I do long 8 hours drives and don't want to break down on the road. I'm concerned about any component breakdown that will leave me dead on the road. Fule pump? Crankshaft sensor? Main power relay that powers the CPU ? wave forms

My best friend has the same car with 500 k miles. Runs and looks beautiful. He is going to keep to one million miles. 2 sets of brakes and tires. THAT'S IT. Oil change every 4000 miles. Bought new.

Those rigs do great off road. Saws all and bigger tire will do most famous trails and drive home.

I really enjoy these videos on clients cars that do the maintenance and repairs when needed. Granted some people might not have that kind of money at hand or aren't willing to make sacrifices to be able to make these repairs....but its cheaper in the long run.

Great video and well stated common sense explanation of how and why you operate as you do.

Im seeing so many trust fund kids convert those in insane luxury off-road beasts now lol

I just bought my first new car, I bought a new Toyota. I had someone offer me a friend's and family discount because he used to work for GM. I said pass, he said you could get so much more from them. 22 years of driving and being aware of what friends, family and acquaintances drive tell me no I won't.

I love my 2005 gx470. 220k miles. Just had the oil pan replaced. Same engine and transmission. I do transmission flushes. And shifts great. I just recently had to replace all o2 sensors and catalytic converters. That was $5k but did it my self. The rotors all ways get that way. I have changed it 3 times.

Good advice as always. It is an unusual failure on the CV boots. Especially being the inner boots they don't really see that much flex. Probably good to swap them if you have the money, the inner CVS are not going to give you much warning that they're beginning to fail. The outers will start to click when you're turning and under load. The inners are more likely to just come apart and do exactly what he said start flailing around smashing stuff.

Lexuses are one of the few vehicles where it's cheaper to rebuild those axles into replace them after working at different dealers for many years it is way cheaper to rebuild those.

@6:37....in other words they don't want to be like Tyler. lol love ya Hoovie!

I truly appreciate your honesty. Great break down, very simple to understand.......

In market for this car and you’re very kind. Pleasant video. Thanks brother & miss

I have an 04 with similar miles and its currently in the shop having the EXACT same work being done, with tie rods on top of it. I'll never get rid of my GX470. As long as gas pumps exist, that truck is in my garage.

I love my 2005 GX 470. Very reliable! And actually not difficult to do most repairs myself.

I have a 2004 GX470 with 277,000 miles on it and I am still happy with it. The black Onyx paint is really good shape like a big black mirror, the engine is still quiet running and shifts smoothly. It doesn't have any leaks anywhere on it and has never been smoked in, every button or lever works, to me I still feel like I am driving a brand new GX....my sister went with the Chevy model and hers has spent more time in the shop for sunroof constantly leaks, electronics went haywire, front tires always flat, tv doesn't work most of the time, bumper sensors going off for no reason while driving it, navigation can't be relied on always places her in a neighboring city....yet she feels she still thinks she got a good deal on it.....I know she puts it in the shop every 2 weeks for the past 5 years and they keep it for a week.

I love the "no BS" brand assessment. 100% agree!

She sucked you right into that, Car Wizard! AND she has a record of it being "her car" now. 😂 Love the videos!

I’m not planning to wait until I’m retired to enjoy my life!

Ive told friends the exact same thing when asked what they should buy. They never listen and end up buying something based on styling. My 2003 4.7 V8 4runner has 226k and I love it. No issues and has been worked so hard it would have killed past 3/4 ton trucks Ive had.

This is the most honest video on you tube that i have ever seen.