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Comments
craignhp, did you get 18 or 17 inch wheels?
I think the ride and handling is VERY good for an SUV. Much better than our RX300. The ride is very well controlled and quiet. I did make sure the tires were at 30 psi (recommended inflation). I'd stick with the 18's. They look SO much better than the 17's. Plus, if you got the 18's then changed your mind, I'm sure you'd have NO problem what-so-ever trading somebody for the 17's.
Anyway, I do not sense any improvement or change on acceleration or noise at all after the service except maybe a little increase on gas mileage. I used to get about 20mpg in town, and only 22.1 during a 540 mile round-trip from San Jose to Yosemite. It may be 0.2 or 0.3mpg more now.
Regarding HID, I told the dealer that the cut-off lines from the left and right light do not align with the right projects further, but was also given the answer that the HID lights are automatically aimed, and no adjustment is needed. I am going to ask again at 5000 miles service. This is my first vehecle with HID. Contrary to another poster's experience, I found the HID much brighter and providing better visibility at night.
Actually, on many European vehicles sold in the U.S. with xenons (e.g. Mercedes, Saab), the right headlight will indeed be aimed somewhat higher. This for the simple reason that the left light is closer to oncoming traffic and has to be aimed more conservatively. The right light isn't aimed at traffic in the same way so it can be aimed higher.
I think the RX330 drives a little quieter (less grunt or engine noise from stand still or going uphill) after the new manifold. Also it seems slightly smoother. Maybe mine was leaking more to start with. Supposedly the problem with the old manifold was that it leaks, or can leak. Service manager said problems exist for all RX330 made up till last months production.
Also, I am seeing 17-18mpg. I hope this improves. My friends who are into hot-rods tell me a new manifold should get me more mpg. We'll see. However, service manager said 18mpg is about normal...
I noticed HID does tilt up and down at start up at night, I beleive that is the self leveling function.
Thanks.
With the 18" wheels, make sure to check the tire inflation after taking delivery. Our vehicle had tires inflated at 38 psi, which made the long trip home rather choppy along some uneven road surfaces. Lowering the tire pressure down to 30-32 psi made a very significant improvement with the ride quality.
As far as interior colors are concerned, a separate poll shows the Black and the Light Gray essentially tied at about 39% and 37% respectively, with Ivory (24%) bringing up the rear.
It's probably safe to assume, however, that visitors to this site tend to be "enthusiasts" so these results probably do not accurately reflect the tastes of RX330 buyers generally.
Apart from whether you think these are worthwhile or useful options, what is the reasoning and meaning behind these discontinuations?
Does it mean problems ... hopefully being corrected? Is there some connection with the manufacturing switchover to Canada? Are the discontinuations permanent? The assistant sales manager didn't know, or wouldn't say.
For me personally, the camera, cornering lights and adaptive cruise control were the three very features that made the 330 uniquely outstanding this year. I think they all three were given prominent mention in the catalog.
Could/would any of you contact your local dealer and ask more about these features' status in your locality? (As I said, I'm not sure about whether the nav with camera was one of those now said to be "discontinued", but definitely the other two were.)
What a revolting development!!!!
These "allocated configurations" change every so often as Lexus marketing and the dealers figure out what is selling in their respective regions and what Lexus should build as standard options/packages. It's not like walking into a Dodge or Chevy dealership and picking options off a list and 6-8 weeks later you have the Vehicle of Your Dreams (or in my case, the Dodge Not-so-Grand Caravan and Chevy Impala Wagon with the Chevette Transmission That Nightmares are Made Of...).
My 2001 Acura MDX advertised 0-60 in 8.5 seconds. I could do it in 8.6.
My 2003 Acura MDX advertises 0-60 in 8.0 seconds. I can do it in 8.2.
The 2004 Lexus RX 330 AWD advertises 0-60 in 7.8 seconds. I can't do any better than 8.8.
bmwbob27 is right on the mark when he describes the RX 330 as stepping on a sponge. The handling is fine for a vehicle in this class (BMW X5, Infiniti FX, Porsche Cayenne handle better at the expense of ride. Driving position is a little disappointing - even with the telescoping wheel it's not as good as the MDX. Braking is excellent. Very good choice. As usual, Lexus errors conservatively on the side of comfort over performance. But come on. 7.8 seconds!?! Let's be real. Any car magazine that gets under 8 seconds is just lying.
What are the pros and cons of FWD versus AWD on the RX 330. I don't need AWD, as I live in sunny California and our other vehicle AWD anyway. So I plan to go with FWD unless someone can convince me otherwise. Lexus say you lose 0.1 seconds (0-60) and 2 MPG with AWD. (How can believe their numbers anyway - see #1206 above). Is handling, noise or anything else affected?
Still seems pretty speedy for an SUV.
Doesn't sunny California have a lot of traffic? Where do you need to or have the chance to acclerate from 0-60 like on a road test?
BTW, I live in northern CA where 0-40 or 0-50 is more likely. And even then, no real need to floor it from a stop light.
I do find it interesting that they would say that package wasn't available anymore. That package has most of the new features that are touted in the brochure and advertising.
Seriously, are you timing yourself while you put these cars through their paces? Or do you have a few friends with stop watches and radar guns? Since in the RX the passenger really can not see the guages in the instrument cluster, I don't guess there is someone sitting there with a Timex.
Since you don't own a RX yet, is someone really letting you rag thiers out?
I am not sure about the poor seating position - I'm 6'2" 185# and have no trouble. In fact I think it is quite comfortable. Why would you consider getting an RX after citing the poor performance, conservative "errors", and the poor seating position? You might prefer the MDX with the all familiar Honda components and faux wood trim everywhere.
The RX 330 is a great vehicle - possible the best we've seen in this class. Just because there is room for improvement, doesn't mean we should pretend that it is perfect.
Getting back the the point in question....the acceleration seems to be overstated - more so than some of the competition. Times from 0-60 are always a source of argument because nobody in just about any car is able to get the times the car magazines, let alone the manufacturers, supposedly achieve. The times are, however, often used to compare vehicles - even by those who refute the numbers. In this case, a comparison of the RX with the MDX would lead one to believe that the RX does 0-60 faster when, in fact, it is actually noticeable slower.
I am not a race car driver. If I were, then maybe I could get the RX to go from 0-60 in 7.6 seconds like some magazines. My time (8.8) is over a full second slower. I don't think that is splitting hairs or talking about tenths of seconds. With the MDX I am closer, but still over what the car magazines get.
The RX has the best fit and finish in the class and it handles well to - better than the MDX. I already own a 2003 MDX (for my wife) and am looking for a vehicle for me. It would be nice to have two vehicles that we both really like. However, for those who believe pointing out shortcomings of the RX means I think the vehicle is inferior over all: The RX will make a good second car.
If you want fast, you'd buy FX35.
I agree that the RX 330 throttle seems a little more relaxed, but when pushed, I think it is slightly faster than our former MDX. I emphasize that it seems only "slightly" faster. I doubt this would be true against the new MDX. My test drive of the new '03 MDX (260hp) led me to believe it would probably out-acclerate the RX.
I also look at manufacturer's 0-60 times as relative data for comparing the different vehicle's acceleration capabilities. (A standing 5mph start, which some magazines perform during their car reviews, seems to more accurately reflect real world capabilities.) If the new 260HP MDX is rated slower than 7.8 seconds, then I would agree Lexus might be more aggressive, and less realistic, then Acura.
On the other hand, maybe the 7.8 second specification might be more realistic after the engine is fully broken in?
Regarding FWD versus AWD, I was happy to save the money and weight on the FWD model. For sunny California, you shouldn't see much of any advantage with AWD, unless you plan to take it on dirt, or if you plan to drive aggressively and take some hard corners. I suspect the AWD model will provide a little better grip on turns? (It is a full-time AWD system, isn't it?) The RX leans a little bit more than the MDX, and so I don't know if any added grip from the AWD system will ultimately help matters that much.
By the way, I find the seating position slightly better in the RX 330 than our previous MDX. I missed having a telescopic steering wheel (which has been a common feature in European automobiles for many years) when driving that MDX. Also, I thought the minimum seat height setting in the MDX was too high. There were times when I wanted to adjust the seat a little lower.
From a safety perspective, the MDX is behind the curve, especially considering they haven't yet incorporated head-protection airbags.
No problems merging. EDIT: Around here, at rush hour times, the on-ramps are metered anyways, so you don't have to go 0-60 in as short a time as possible.
0-60 times under 9 seconds is fast by most standards. Not sports car fast but you're talking about a high center of gravity SUV which weighs more than sports cars or performance sedans.
Don't worry about on-ramps in the RX 330. It can quickly leave many other SUVs in its rear window.
The Enzo was a LOT faster on the demo and it whooshed and zipped thru curves a LOT faster - who would want an RX? Hey, I know the payments are probably higher but you gotta be kidding me.
As for AWD, I dunno about the RX 'cause I forgot to look but the Enzo had All Wheels-Dubs so it passes, right?!
Next, I checked the most important feature - Navigation. I mean, if you get lost downtown when you're trying to find that Special Someone, if you catch my drift...well, that's gonna be one shaky shaky night at the ol' ER! So Nav be very important to me that's for sure. The RX had a decent system - but hey, the Enzo beat it hands down with NEW, voice-activated technology!
Just push one little button labelled "Many Objects to Buy" (MOB) and this Italian guy comes on the speaker asking how many grams, how much cash you got - everything! Wow wow wow!
I can't believe that anybody would buy an RX with that Enzo right next door - you gotta be kidding me.
BTW, Motor Trend was not complimentary in its assessment of the RX's handling. They said there was lots of body roll and pitching motions. And they were testing one with the sport suspension too.
It'll be interesting to see if the hybrid performs like a V-8 while achieving V-6 or better fuel economy as Toyota claimed.
I know it's no surprise that the MDX with 260 HP is quicker than the RX. But C & D had earlier tested the RX at 7.8 which seemed to defy the laws of physics. So I was just trying to say the Motor Trend results seem more logical.
Checking this month's issue, here are the results:
........'04 RX300..........'03 MDX............
0-60.........7.8...............7.8..............
1/4 mile...16.2..............16.1...............
Top Speed.110 ..............119...............
70-0........176 ..............200...............
Skidpad...0.75 .............0.74...............
EPA City...18 ...............17...............
Pretty close, I'd say --
Joel
'04 RX330
'03 FX45
Ok, I'm done.
A note about a possible road noise. The cross bars on the roof rack (sorry multi-panel owners) can rattle. I found the rear most bar was not held tightly and could be shaken and then it makes a rattle. Solution is to remove them and cut down on the wind noise also.
Now, I'm really tired of this quality vehicles "climate control" system. I've talked to 2 Lexus' service managers and received the same answers. Seems like Lexus has prompted the service departments with the explanation to the owners. Their instructions are to always leave the AC on and the system on Auto. Set the tempeture above 78 degrees and then there will be heat mixed with the cold AC air until it reaches your comfort level???? What the hell is wrong with all of my other vehicles system when you set the desired tempeture at 72 and if it's colder inside the vehicles the heater comes on and raises the tempeture. If hotter, then the AC cools down the interior. DuHa!!! Why do you want the AC constently running and pumping cold air into the vehicle with a very slowly entered warm air mixed in? If I want noticable heat I have to select "Hi" and them it runs you out of the car whith the fan running wide open. The reason stated that you have to leave the AC on is that the interior of the vehicle will "Fog up" unless you do. What a bunch of crap. This system sucks!!! As stated before,"the engineers are rethinking this one". Does the old 300's have the same system? How does it work? I'll be damned if I'll go down the highway with the AC on when the outside temp is 55 degrees with cold air and ice cubes spitting out of the regesters. Set it on 78!!! Bull Spit!! A word of caution to you future buyers: Take a long test ride and have the saleman demonstrate this disasterous climate control sysyem to you. Take your time and let me know if I'm wrong. I hope that someone can enlighten me because if I have to live with this "BS" then this RX330 is for sale with 1500 miles on it.
Sigh.
Yes, the oozing sarcasm was quite funny, but I'll bet you a dozen rear-seat DVD systems there are MANY potential buyers who have an interest in reading what RX 330 owners think about the vehicle's on-road performance. Hey, some may even want to know how it compares to the competition. Most understand that the RX will not have any problems merging onto the shortest freeway onramp. I'm also thinking that most people understand it is not a BMW 330i, much less a Bugatti.
Back in 1999 I made the mistake of purchasing a new ES300 for my wife (which we both drove from time to time). Edmunds and the magazines gave it reasonable 0-60 numbers, so what's the problem?? It had a 4-spd auto tranny, and 2nd was geared way too high, imo. That thing was a complete dog when turning out of intersections, or anytime we had to brake below 15mph. It resisted downshifting to 1st, and there was little low-end torque at 1400 rpm as it tried to pull its way through 2nd. The magazines never mentioned this, and we didn't catch it on the test drive. We traded it in less than a year later! Sorry for the rant, but this is one specific example of why people may have an interest in hearing performance feedback before making their decision between an RX 330, MDX, FX35, Murano, XC90, XC70, etc. On-road performance feedback may not be as important as an ergonomic design flaw with the climate control system, but it's still worth discussing, isn't it?