Give you some info. Better than expected. In some respects. You shouldn't see it on dealer floors until this time next year. As you know the HP (close to 400), but mpg is estimated in the low 40's. That's what I got so far. I'll keep passing along info as I get it.
1. It opts for local roads rather than highways. Note that I have not set it up with any restrictions. 2. Some addresses (esp. restaurants) are not listed AT ALL. 3. LOVES to go around in circles for some areas. 4. Lists some business areas on the wrong side (eg. lists my office as being on the left when it's actually on the right side of the road.).
Never had a NAV system in any of our automobiles. Based on your feedback, I'm thinking I can find better things on which to spend the money. In a pinch, if we're taking some long interstate trip away from familiar territory, I take along a small ETreks GPS and my laptop. It's basically a backup system in case we need to find our bearings, but it can also be a fun "toy" while the Mrs. is driving!
Just curious -- does the RX NAV ever instruct you to pull into the corner gas station and ask for directions? ;-)
buffnbou: I was also told the ECM update cannot be reversed. Even though I am skeptical of that statement, I haven't heard anything official to suggest otherwise.
From the feedback I have seen, I have confidence the update will be an improvement, assuming you are not satisfied with the current shifting at lower speeds. (I'm not.) Lovemylexus has mentioned in a couple different posts how much of an improvement the update made with the shifting of her RX330. There is also a poll on another Lexus enthusiasts' forum that clearly suggests the update made an improvement. Last I saw, only 1 out of, say, 20 owners felt the update did not improve the shifting. Give the update a week to re-learn your driving habits after the update is performed.
Well, yes and no, when it gets itself lost (mostly out in the toolies), it often does say something to the effect, "sorry, you're now on your own, use the compass".
But take a poll of folks that have a decent one - like the Lexus version - and I'd bet more than 9 out of 10 would vote to never buy another vehicle without Nav. Unless you go over the same route and never vary destinations...
It's a Great Toy that is extremely useful and could even save your life...unlike a paper map.
Very similar to the airbag options that people didn't want to pay extra for years ago; after all, they already had seat belts.
Jeffmust2: You're right. Once you go nav, you never go back. We're on our 3rd & 4th vehicles with nav units. Before that, we used a Garmin unit. Are they perfect? No way. BUT they are a great help in a number of ways, especially when you're travelling. They'll only get better and better, and more common. later, ldf
Needless moving map displays are very distracting. I rarely use my Nav but when I do I set it up and then turn the display OFF. Rely on voice only.
And no, I will not buy another one unless the design is modified such that I do not have to take an action simply to see the condition of the cliamte control system or the OAT.
...for those folks stuck in the late 19th century...
a) Delete option, ignition switch. Replaced with Front Grille Crank Starter for those that find the ignition switch too distracting (those keys dangling right in front of the driver are an Invitation to Kill).
b) Delete option, inside rear view mirror. At night, inside rear view mirror can reflect headlights of vehicles to the rear. Replaced with black electrical tape covering mounting hole and a legal disclaimer decal that reads "If you want to see what's behind you - turn around and take a good, long look."
c) Delete option, dashboard lighting system. Can cause "Night Blindness" in drivers of a certain advanced age. Replaced with Outside Wind Gauge that howls like a banshee when safe speed (15 mph) is exceeded.
Saab provides two of those new features on their current models:
- The ignition switch is down between the seats, so that the key chain is out of view. No more key-induced hypnosis.
- The "Night Panel" switch blackens out all dashboard lighting other than the speedometer (under normal conditions). No more night blindness, as long as you can avoid any extended glances toward the speedometer. (Yes, this switch is an actual standard feature in the Saab models.)
Saab hasn't yet found a solution for the rear view mirror dilemma, but, hey, you have to admit that 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
The nav system is not going to be a great aid traveling along the interstate or in areas that one already knows. However, when one gets into a town or an area one does not know it will eventually get you where you want to go. We recently were in Hilton Head and travelled around in my kids' Sequoia (without nav)--it would have been a lot easier with the nav, especially at night when one can't see road signs.
I'm slowly getting to like this vehicle. It is really comfortable on long trips, but I still find that it "wanders" too easily if the tires don't have the correct pressure. I found that it tracks better at 30 psi cold, but took advice from someone on this board to set it at 32 psi cold for better mileage. On the trip back and forth from Hilton Head we averaged about 21 mpg with the car pretty loaded down with gear.
Now I'm just waiting for the first snow to see if it will get up my steep driveway. My MB280 (with traction control) had real trouble last winter while my wife's ML320 had no trouble at all.
If I drive at night for an extended period I find that I can prevent eye strain by running on cruise and turning all interior, instrumentation, etc, lights off.
Maybe I'm just getting too old to be driving with all these new-fangeled gadgets that do nothing but confuse and distract me. But then again trying to understand their workings sure keeps my mind "alive" and somewhat ahead of some (most??) of these young whipper-snapper know-it-alls.
This is my first post and I just wanted to post my comments on a few items.
My wife’s RX 330 has the Laser Cruise Control. The laser cruiser control works very well. The only problem is that while it does maintain a safe distance it leaves plenty of room between your car and the one in front and other cars move into that space. Then the laser cruise control slows you down. I find that there are times I need to switch to the normal mode to make it easier to keep up with the flow of the traffic and pass other cars. I think it works best on single lane roads.
In order to get the Laser Cruise Control we had to place a special order to get it along with the performance package, navigation, and the color that she wanted. It took 4 ½ months from the time the order was placed until she got her RX 330. But it was worth the wait to get it equipped the way we wanted it. It was a real hassle to get the dealer to place a special order. They wanted to push the units that come in on their allocations and told us that the laser cruiser control was not available at that time. I had to call Lexus customer service and complain before the dealer finally acknowledged that they could place a special order for us. Needless to say I was not very impressed with my first dealing with Lexus.
The navigation system works pretty good probably 80-90% of the time. However, it has done the same dumb things that others have complained about. Things like: 1. Telling you to make a legal U-turn than 1 mile later telling you to get off at an exit you had just passed. 2. Telling you to make a legal U-turn than about a mile later telling you to make another legal U-turn 3. Getting you close to a destination then telling you to follow the map on your own. 4. Likes to route you onto an expressway even though the back roads are shorter and quicker. 5. Even when you tell it to use a specified road it still tries to route you the way it wants to go.
Overall I really like the navigation system and find it very useful. It works pretty well most of the time. However, I do not trust the Lexus navigation system as much as I trust the system in my Volvo.
The week after we took delivery of my wife’s RX 330 we took it on our vacation and put about 2000 mile on it. It was great on the trip and we are extremely happy with it. It was definitely worthwhile placing a special order to get exactly what we wanted and not accepting the Lexus salespersons crap about only being able to get what was allocated to them.
You can special order them pretty much any way you like them, but it takes 4-5mos. to get it. The salesmen's "crap" was the truth. They only get nav. and RSES as options. I have to stick up for my fellow cohorts.:)
Please, please.... do not do this... I've proven one too many times that this can be confusing. Furthermore, Lexus' NAV manual clearly states that the voice guidance should be used as a "guide" and not to be solely relied on.
I only stated those issues about the NAV simply because they could get irritating. But, I as others have said and testified - once you go NAV, you never go back!
No more... - nagging from that lady that sits shotgun! - paper maps - confusing internet-based directions
The NAV does work well 95% of the time and is GREAT for traveling to uncharted areas and RE-ROUTING past traffic jams!
To avoid eye strain, the lighting on the instrument panel (at night) should be at the same intensity or slightly lower than that of your headlight. This allows your eyes to get used to the same level of lighting regardless of what you're looking at. Truly eases night driving, based on experience.
Seems like there have been a lot of negative comments about the Nav in this forum lately... And I had to give some countervaling opinions.
I picked up my RX330 (Flint Mica, Performance, Nav) on 10/1, and it already had the ver0.31 Navigation DVD installed... this is the same as the update DVD that dealers could start ordering on 10/1.
When I was test driving at the dealer, the vehicle I was driving had the previous Nav DVD, which didn't show my newly-built neighborhood. My vehicle, with the update, showed the neighborhood. I believe there were other updates to the Nav, though--it allegedly contains millions of additional POI.
Anyway, it gives you a choice of three routes to most destination--"shortest" is usually surface roads, "quickest" is usually freeways, and "alternative" is some combo of the two. I have used it quite a bit, just to see how it tells me to get places I'm familiar with.
NEVER have had it take me in circles. NEVER have had it tell me my destination is on the wrong side of the road. I had it give me directions from the west side of Portland, OR, across the Ross Island bridge (one of the most impossible routes to write directions for) and the voice and map guidance were incredibly accurate.
Additionally, you can set up preferred roads or intersections to avoid if the nav is telling you to go a way that always has bad traffic.
Assume at night and a busy intersection and the voice directions confused you as to which way to turn, or not.
1. Getting confused via the voice guidance only thereby being "forced" to take the most obvious and safest path, intuitively or instinctly, forward, and then pull over and do the necessary "reseach".
2. Or would you rather have all those other GPS/Nav equipped drivers around you in traffic getting confused and then leaning over to focus exclusively on the moving map display as is necessary to clear confusion from the voice guidance?
I'll take the time to pull over, every time, I do like living.
Your position is one I would have taken maybe for the first 4 to 6 months of owning an RX w/Nav.
My advice to you would be to be sure and verify the route guidance independently, say mapquest, each time you travel into an unknown area for the next 6 months or so.
Especially so if you plan to travel out of the PDX urban area and off the Interstates.
If you ever happen to be in the Seattle area I'd be glad to demostrate on your own system the shortest time route to Condon OR to be over an hour longer than the shortest distance route.
I showed your post #2245 to Mrs. Rogers. She just laughed as she read, "Gotta get me a younger one that still has some circulation I guess." She suggested that you wait a few years. After thirteen years of marriage and always being cold, Mrs. Rogers is going through the change of life. Now she is in short sleeves, and I need bomber jackets, heated seats, hat, gloves, and maybe a heated steering wheel. She actually runs the AC when I need the heater. Even my dog is wearing wool. Just be patient, and your problem will take care of itself.
...with 25 year anniversary coming up soon...and she's about half-way thru that change of life thing and Dear-Lord-It-Doesn't-Seem-to-Matter!
It is (of course) My Fault...she was always cold when I met her and it's just the last few years she stopped that accomodation thing so now... "that 68 degrees F. setpoint must have been dreamed up by a guy."
Right - the same guy that dreamed up high heels...there's no winning this argument.
cotmc: Thanks for the feedback. My daily commute involves almost all surface streets vice expressway, and the more I drive my new RX 330, the more I am inclined to have the ECM done at the 5,000 mile service. Although, not severe, the transmitssion does clunk and jerk more than I would expect of a new car, especially a Lexus. Thanks, again!
Try autotoys.com. I have ordered from them and they are very good to deal with. I believe, you may get a discount if you fax in the order, but you can call to verify this.
I saw it once on a car. I believe it is made by 3M. It's a clear adhesive that goes on the front of your car. Good for two reasons. One, rocks and dirt don't get underneath it. Two, it is clear so it looks like there is nothing on your car. Someone should know what I'm talking about.
And you're right, it is made by 3M. I had it put on my black RX330. Expensive (about $600) but I hope worth it. Here are a couple of links to get you started. Good luck.
I had ours done by a custom installer for $139. Also had him do my other car (FX45) for a similar cost, and am very pleased with the results on each. On the RX he just covered the front end including about a foot up onto the hood. Did not do the plastic front bumper - only the metal surfaces.
Try autotoys.com. I have ordered from them and they are very good to deal with. I believe, you may get a discount if you fax in the order, but you can call to verify this.
I just received a copy of the invoice for my yet-to-be-delivered RX (with nav). I just found out that we're not getting the Mark Levinson sound system because we didn't want RSES.
Apparently, Lexus is building only two configurations of the navigation-equipped RX: one with ML and RSES, and the other without. My irritation at the way Lexus is pre-packaging "options" is growing. I could care less about having a tow package or the larger wheels. If they want to package everything together, fine - I just wish they would make it clear to the consumer what their configurations are.
The sound system on my 10 year old ES 300 is just okay. Not great. Does anyone have any comments about the standard RX sound system?
to JBaumgart mind sharing the location of your custom installer of the clear vinyl. Hopefully it might be near me because I would like to have it done as well but the two prices I've received were $500 and $600 and I don't want to spend that much. thanks
The location of the installer I used is in New Hope (Twin Cities), Minnesota. My Lexus dealer also quoted something in the $500 - $600 range, which I knew from my experience with our Infiniti just a few months prior was grossly overpriced.
One thing you should be aware of especially if you live in a colder climate is that ideally you want to park the car facing a warm sun for at least several hours immediately after install. At this time of year we would have a difficult time doing this here in Minnesota!
That the sound system in my 01 RX300, given the environment, is excellent. ML isn't worth the extra money in a car unless you plan to spend a lot of time listening while parked.
I agree with wwest, the sound system in my 01 Rx is absolsutely excellent especially with cds. The radio sound in my 01 and 03 es is medicore at best, absolutely no comparison.
There's good separation of all channels (midrandge, tweeters, bass). The bass response is very good and there are no vibrations whatsoever from the body.
Personally, I set my tone, bass, and mid to +4, +5, -2 respectively. This seems to give the best sound for all sources (CD, radio, and cassette).
I have the standard sound system. It sounds great compared to the 2000 Ford Explorer I used to own. There is no comparison between the two. The RX330 is in a totally different league...
Comments
1. It opts for local roads rather than highways. Note that I have not set it up with any restrictions.
2. Some addresses (esp. restaurants) are not listed AT ALL.
3. LOVES to go around in circles for some areas.
4. Lists some business areas on the wrong side (eg. lists my office as being on the left when it's actually on the right side of the road.).
Other than these... it's fairly acurate...
Never had a NAV system in any of our automobiles. Based on your feedback, I'm thinking I can find better things on which to spend the money. In a pinch, if we're taking some long interstate trip away from familiar territory, I take along a small ETreks GPS and my laptop. It's basically a backup system in case we need to find our bearings, but it can also be a fun "toy" while the Mrs. is driving!
Just curious -- does the RX NAV ever instruct you to pull into the corner gas station and ask for directions? ;-)
From the feedback I have seen, I have confidence the update will be an improvement, assuming you are not satisfied with the current shifting at lower speeds. (I'm not.) Lovemylexus has mentioned in a couple different posts how much of an improvement the update made with the shifting of her RX330. There is also a poll on another Lexus enthusiasts' forum that clearly suggests the update made an improvement. Last I saw, only 1 out of, say, 20 owners felt the update did not improve the shifting. Give the update a week to re-learn your driving habits after the update is performed.
But take a poll of folks that have a decent one - like the Lexus version - and I'd bet more than 9 out of 10 would vote to never buy another vehicle without Nav. Unless you go over the same route and never vary destinations...
It's a Great Toy that is extremely useful and could even save your life...unlike a paper map.
Very similar to the airbag options that people didn't want to pay extra for years ago; after all, they already had seat belts.
Needless moving map displays are very distracting. I rarely use my Nav but when I do I set it up and then turn the display OFF. Rely on voice only.
And no, I will not buy another one unless the design is modified such that I do not have to take an action simply to see the condition of the cliamte control system or the OAT.
a) Delete option, ignition switch.
Replaced with Front Grille Crank Starter for those that find the ignition switch too distracting (those keys dangling right in front of the driver are an Invitation to Kill).
b) Delete option, inside rear view mirror.
At night, inside rear view mirror can reflect headlights of vehicles to the rear. Replaced with black electrical tape covering mounting hole and a legal disclaimer decal that reads "If you want to see what's behind you - turn around and take a good, long look."
c) Delete option, dashboard lighting system.
Can cause "Night Blindness" in drivers of a certain advanced age. Replaced with Outside Wind Gauge that howls like a banshee when safe speed (15 mph) is exceeded.
Happy Thanksgiving!
- The ignition switch is down between the seats, so that the key chain is out of view. No more key-induced hypnosis.
- The "Night Panel" switch blackens out all dashboard lighting other than the speedometer (under normal conditions). No more night blindness, as long as you can avoid any extended glances toward the speedometer. (Yes, this switch is an actual standard feature in the Saab models.)
Saab hasn't yet found a solution for the rear view mirror dilemma, but, hey, you have to admit that 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
I'm slowly getting to like this vehicle. It is really comfortable on long trips, but I still find that it "wanders" too easily if the tires don't have the correct pressure. I found that it tracks better at 30 psi cold, but took advice from someone on this board to set it at 32 psi cold for better mileage. On the trip back and forth from Hilton Head we averaged about 21 mpg with the car pretty loaded down with gear.
Now I'm just waiting for the first snow to see if it will get up my steep driveway. My MB280 (with traction control) had real trouble last winter while my wife's ML320 had no trouble at all.
Maybe I'm just getting too old to be driving with all these new-fangeled gadgets that do nothing but confuse and distract me. But then again trying to understand their workings sure keeps my mind "alive" and somewhat ahead of some (most??) of these young whipper-snapper know-it-alls.
My wife’s RX 330 has the Laser Cruise Control. The laser cruiser control works very well. The only problem is that while it does maintain a safe distance it leaves plenty of room between your car and the one in front and other cars move into that space. Then the laser cruise control slows you down. I find that there are times I need to switch to the normal mode to make it easier to keep up with the flow of the traffic and pass other cars. I think it works best on single lane roads.
In order to get the Laser Cruise Control we had to place a special order to get it along with the performance package, navigation, and the color that she wanted. It took 4 ½ months from the time the order was placed until she got her RX 330. But it was worth the wait to get it equipped the way we wanted it. It was a real hassle to get the dealer to place a special order. They wanted to push the units that come in on their allocations and told us that the laser cruiser control was not available at that time. I had to call Lexus customer service and complain before the dealer finally acknowledged that they could place a special order for us. Needless to say I was not very impressed with my first dealing with Lexus.
The navigation system works pretty good probably 80-90% of the time. However, it has done the same dumb things that others have complained about. Things like:
1. Telling you to make a legal U-turn than 1 mile later telling you to get off at an exit you had just passed.
2. Telling you to make a legal U-turn than about a mile later telling you to make another legal U-turn
3. Getting you close to a destination then telling you to follow the map on your own.
4. Likes to route you onto an expressway even though the back roads are shorter and quicker.
5. Even when you tell it to use a specified road it still tries to route you the way it wants to go.
Overall I really like the navigation system and find it very useful. It works pretty well most of the time. However, I do not trust the Lexus navigation system as much as I trust the system in my Volvo.
The week after we took delivery of my wife’s RX 330 we took it on our vacation and put about 2000 mile on it. It was great on the trip and we are extremely happy with it. It was definitely worthwhile placing a special order to get exactly what we wanted and not accepting the Lexus salespersons crap about only being able to get what was allocated to them.
No more...
- nagging from that lady that sits shotgun!
- paper maps
- confusing internet-based directions
The NAV does work well 95% of the time and is GREAT for traveling to uncharted areas and RE-ROUTING past traffic jams!
WOOHOO!
2. Dual HVAC controls - Mine & Hers
3. Heated Front Seats
I did a Stoopid Thing and didn't get the heated front seats - so now I get to buy that dumb 12v blanket.
Or I guess I could just build a fireplace.
What is it with the male vs. female, whatever-temperature-you-set-is-WRONG! thing?
Gotta get me a younger one that still has some circulation I guess.
I picked up my RX330 (Flint Mica, Performance, Nav) on 10/1, and it already had the ver0.31 Navigation DVD installed... this is the same as the update DVD that dealers could start ordering on 10/1.
When I was test driving at the dealer, the vehicle I was driving had the previous Nav DVD, which didn't show my newly-built neighborhood. My vehicle, with the update, showed the neighborhood. I believe there were other updates to the Nav, though--it allegedly contains millions of additional POI.
Anyway, it gives you a choice of three routes to most destination--"shortest" is usually surface roads, "quickest" is usually freeways, and "alternative" is some combo of the two. I have used it quite a bit, just to see how it tells me to get places I'm familiar with.
NEVER have had it take me in circles. NEVER have had it tell me my destination is on the wrong side of the road. I had it give me directions from the west side of Portland, OR, across the Ross Island bridge (one of the most impossible routes to write directions for) and the voice and map guidance were incredibly accurate.
Additionally, you can set up preferred roads or intersections to avoid if the nav is telling you to go a way that always has bad traffic.
The Nav is one of my favorite things about my RX.
Assume at night and a busy intersection and the voice directions confused you as to which way to turn, or not.
1. Getting confused via the voice guidance only thereby being "forced" to take the most obvious and safest path, intuitively or instinctly, forward, and then pull over and do the necessary "reseach".
2. Or would you rather have all those other GPS/Nav equipped drivers around you in traffic getting confused and then leaning over to focus exclusively on the moving map display as is necessary to clear confusion from the voice guidance?
I'll take the time to pull over, every time, I do like living.
My advice to you would be to be sure and verify the route guidance independently, say mapquest, each time you travel into an unknown area for the next 6 months or so.
Especially so if you plan to travel out of the PDX urban area and off the Interstates.
If you ever happen to be in the Seattle area I'd be glad to demostrate on your own system the shortest time route to Condon OR to be over an hour longer than the shortest distance route.
It is (of course) My Fault...she was always cold when I met her and it's just the last few years she stopped that accomodation thing so now... "that 68 degrees F. setpoint must have been dreamed up by a guy."
Right - the same guy that dreamed up high heels...there's no winning this argument.
http://www.xpel.com/
http://www.stongard.com/sgcontent/sgdetails.asp?id=3531
Katherine
Apparently, Lexus is building only two configurations of the navigation-equipped RX: one with ML and RSES, and the other without. My irritation at the way Lexus is pre-packaging "options" is growing. I could care less about having a tow package or the larger wheels. If they want to package everything together, fine - I just wish they would make it clear to the consumer what their configurations are.
The sound system on my 10 year old ES 300 is just okay. Not great. Does anyone have any comments about the standard RX sound system?
Sheri
mind sharing the location of your custom installer of the clear vinyl. Hopefully it might be near me because I would like to have it done as well but the two prices I've received were $500 and $600 and I don't want to spend that much. thanks
One thing you should be aware of especially if you live in a colder climate is that ideally you want to park the car facing a warm sun for at least several hours immediately after install. At this time of year we would have a difficult time doing this here in Minnesota!
Personally, I set my tone, bass, and mid to +4, +5, -2 respectively. This seems to give the best sound for all sources (CD, radio, and cassette).