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Comments
of the instrument panal at the base of the windshield? My 2 month old RX330 does this especially when the weather is cold and going over any little bump. The NHTSA lists a TSB NV00603 (8/03) that adresses this problem. Sounds
like enough people must have complained for Lexus to issue the TSB. Thanks!
Security - PASSIVE MODE - ON
Wireless Door Lock - WIRELESS BUZZ VOLUME - MIN
Illuminated Entry - LIGHTING TIME - 30S
Note that the PASSIVE MODE only activates the alarm but does not lock the doors. You'd still have to lock the doors via remote or key.
I also wanted the following done but the service manager suggested against them inciting security reasons (e.g. car jacking).
Door Lock - ALL UNLOCK/OPN-CL - ON
Door Lock - UNLOCK/PARK - ON
The service manager suggested not to get them installed because apparently, they cause the harnesses to melt.
I've experienced this on my previous car but the problem was solved when I used the correct voltage/wattage.
Has anyone else installed aftermarket bulbs on their RX's? Any suggestions/comments?
I too have this problem (I have mentioned it an earlier post). And cold weather makes it worse but I could also hear it in very hot weather when the air conditioning was on. The noise seems to go away, for the most part, after several minutes of driving.
My dealer took apart my dash at my 1000 mile service in September (when I had the transmission TSB update installed). The service manager told me he wasn't aware of any TSB's for dash noise but he "worked" on the assumption the noise was similar to problems in the dash of the ES. Whatever they did, it did not fix the noise. I will have to ask about the dash TSB at my 5000 mile service.
I have had dash rattles on previous cars and most of the time dealers have been able to solve them (although it normally took several trips). I hope Lexus can do better.
I wouldn't suggest using REGULAR Armor All as it causes the leather to become slippery. Has anyone tried the Armor All Leather Cleaner?
I saw some LEXUS Interior/Exterior Cleansers at the dealership. Has anyone tried them?
Now if I could only solve the dash rattle....
For leather care, I am using Blue Coral leather/vinyl cleaner and leather condition (both in spray bottles), not 2-in-1 formula. No chemical smell, no plastic look on leather and no slippy surface. The cleaner really works as I can see the result on the white towel and sponge. And the conditioner provide the same protection like skin lotion for human. I wouldn't use any Armor All products on my cars. No! No!
Is there proof of any Lexus RX 330 Flipping over? If so, please cite it so everyone can benefit from it. Thanks!
With regards to leather care, I will keep your suggestions in mind. Thanks!
Is that good or bad, and why?
I just took delivery of a RX330. My RX330 was made in Japan and I was happy about that. Prior to the RX330 I had 1999 RX300 then an GS300. Both were great. I appreciate the up grades in the RX330 vs my RX300. The power rear door, 18" wheels, head lights, auto tilt steering wheel (GS had that). My Lexas' have been problem free and very impressive over time. I don't think any mainstream car company has better quality materials in the interior. Lexus owners seem to report minor problems in the Edmunds discussions. Overall the majority of Lexus owners seem quite happy. I'm not sure you could say that about Jeep's. Go to the Edmund Jeep discussions and read for a while. I think many of you will agree. Jeep owners seem report more major problems, transmissions etc. But each to their own. We can always trade and go back to the brand we are comfortable with.
I'm always a bit amused when I read of somebody's "bad" experience at a Lexus dealer...of course they are not perfect...but, by far, I've had more positive experiences at the three different Lexus dealers I've purchased vehicles from the last ten years than any other brand.
Predicted Reliability: worst rating possible
Owner Satisfaction: 2nd worst rating possible
Predicted Depreciation: 2nd worst rating possible
In sum: "Reliability continues to be poor"
Enjoy.
I also find it strange that a dealer would demand full MSRP for an RX330, unless it is a special order.
Of course, why consider any SUV if you don't need the added capacity, utility, AWD capability, height, etc; especially if you find such fault with an SUV's handling? Oh, I almost forgot... You might also consider the Lincoln LS instead of the RX330 if don't need resale value.
Scott
I thought I read somewhere that the Lexus leather cleaner is actually made by Lexol, but I can't say for sure. I have never tried the "premium" brands, such as Leatherique or Zaino Brothers, but I have previously tried Meguiars and Armor All. I recommend the Lexus brand over either of those two products.
Pose this question to your sales person/manager: "Why would Lexus recommend regular unleaded fuel if it would cause adverse effects on their product?"
Personally, I use 89 octane because it's a little cleaner than the regular and allows for better performance. Yet, it isn't as expensive as a 91+ octane. I'll be using 91+ once a month and after every scheduled maintenance service.
I suppose it's a matter of preference and budget at this point...
out of pocket is 1462, which includes 1st month, MV fees, bank fee(bogus fee), documentation fee(bogus fee)
or 582.00 for 15k miles. To purchase he said 39000 plus ttl. He said no one else is doing this and he wants to earn my business for the FOURTH TIME-I figured I would get some advantage of being a four-timer, but he said no incentives, just that he would do 39k
This is over 100 more per month than my rx 300 lease from 2000!
Any suggestions? Any other deals out there
Or you can purchase an adapter from performance products.
Regarding price, I don't know the story on the east coast, but I DO know that there have been several dealers, especially in southern CA, who are ultimately selling Premium Plus packages at about $3K off MSRP (after negotiation). If I lived in a region of the country in which all the dealers were insisting on selling at/near MSRP, I would strongly consider contacting the internet sales departments of some other dealers and enquiring about shipping costs.
Regarding gasoline, I agree with myk_a. Lexus clearly states that 87 octane may be used. If 87 octane could cause any problems, I believe that Lexus would have taken a similar approach as Acura did with their MDX. Our '01 MDX owners manual stated that 91 octane should always be used except in emergencies when only regular octane gasoline is available. Definitely not the message here with the RX330. I've also had two different dealers tell me that 87 octane was perfectly fine, although 91 would probably provide increased engine performance. I don't see how 87 octane would mess up the computer?? You might want to contact the service manager and see if he agrees with the salesman and sales manager on that assertion.
about this. I will probably try 87 or 89 if I am convinced it will not damage future performance.
Both sides? What could be the other side? I went shopping for a RX330, they said there was a waiting list, they said they order all the cars pretty much loaded because there is a demand and the price is MSRP. End of story. Maybe the problem is there's only 1 dealer in Baltimore. Maybe things are different a few miles down the road around D.C.
<><<<<<>>>>>
Nope. Not a special order.
<<<<<<<<Of course, why consider any SUV if you don't need the added capacity, utility, AWD capability, height, etc; especially if you find such fault with an SUV's handling? Oh, I almost forgot... You might also consider the Lincoln LS instead of the RX330 if don't need resale value.>>>>>>>>.
To answer your "question" and scarcasm I started out thinking it might be nice to have an AWD vehicle around as a second car. Then I decided we really don't HAVE to go out in the snow.
As far as resale goes I see that the RX300/330 has a good resale value. 2 reasons. First, because the car has been written up as having great reliability in that magazine that people buy who need help buying breakfast cereal. I guess they don't read these boards and see the problems owner's are having. Secondly, it's also because of the fact there are a bunch of morons out there who are stupid enough to pay a high price for a used car just to be seen in it or they don't want to wait for a new one. I saw 2002s priced within a grand of a new one with the same equipment. They had 30,000 miles on the odometer. Who would buy such a deal? Just wait until Toyota/Lexus decides to ramp up production after they are done playing the artifical "limited production" game just to build demand. See where depreciation is then. It's a Japanese car not an Italian exotic.
The LS does depreciate but the king of depreciation is the BMW 7 Series.
Don't get so defensive about my post. I drove the RX330 and I thought it was a nice car. Weak motor but nice car. Best feature, quiet for an SUV wannabe. By the way my coment regarding off ramps was just to indicate that I consider handling to be an important attribute in a piece of transportation. I don't know how easy it would be to flip a RX330 but would assume it would happen at a much slower speed than the LS. The LS Sport has a Formula 1 inspired suspension using forged aluminum unequal length A- arms and coil over shocks not those silly struts that the RX 330 uses. Have a nice day.
My wife and I while shopping for a vehicle back in april went and drove the RX330 to see how we would like it. We took it for a 30 minute test drive. Upon returning to the dealership we were YELLED AT by the salesperson for taking too long. I was so upset but held it together and left. I wound up buying an FX35 2 weeks later that I absolutely love.
I have experienced awesome service at a lexus dealer in chicago when we went to test drive an ES300 when we lived there.
So All lexus dealers are not great. My infiniti dealer I bought from is excellent the one that services my car is pretty good. Both way outclasss My closest lexus dealer.
Otherwise, I've found both the Lexus and Infiniti dealerships, both sales and service, to be top-notch. And the vehicles themselves have been a real joy to own thus far also.
Just wondering.
Y'all go country bash somewhere else. We're talking cars in here.
Steve, Host
I didn't know that Ford had stakes in Mazda, Land Rover, and Jaguar.
"As far as resale goes I see that the RX300/330 has a good resale value. 2 reasons. First, because the car has been written up as having great reliability in that magazine that people buy who need help buying breakfast cereal. I guess they don't read these boards and see the problems owner's are having."
I don't know how everyone else feels, but I consider the problems mentioned within these boards to be relatively minor compared to any of the other luxury SUVs, especially when you consider all the new gee-whiz gadgets that were recently introduced for this model.
Also, I'm not aware of the RX300 model having many problems. Correct me if I'm wrong...
By the way, that issue on breakfast cereals was a classic! ;-)
Very good article. Another example of why America's former leadership in manufacturing is being overtaken. It's only a matter of time when Detroit auto manufacturing will die.
My wife is thinking we made the mistake getting this car. This is my second Lexus and fifth Toyota cars/trucks in my life and the quality on this RX is the worst that I have experienced on Toyota. Do ya'll think we made a big mistake and also, do you thinking the rattle noises from front and rear could fixed.
thanks,
tony
Well I wouldn't call removing dashboards as something "relatively minor" That's one of the most common problems I've read about. Todays dashboards are pretty complicated. I wouldn't want a car that's had it's dashboard removed and put back. But that's the way it goes these days. A Mercedes driver posted on another board that he had a terminal engine failure at 280 miles and Mercedes wouldn't replace the car.
After 600 miles my only problem it with the Homelink. I can only program the 1st button. The 2nd and 3rd buttons will not program my other garage doors. I will have this checked at my 1000 check. Anyone had a homelink problem. I can program any of my 3 garage doors with button 1 but again, button 2 and 3 do not program. I went through the same process with each button. I have a rolling code on my garage door openers.
Thanks