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please email me direct if you have any suggestions!
Thank you
a_song_of_hope@hotmail.com
Or move south
Except for the sense to use snowchains the driving experience of many winters in central MT was of no help.
I wouldn't even have taken my 94 AWD Aerostar, which I trust one hell of a lot more than the AWD system of the RX, out in that without snowchains on board for ready use.
I did have the opportunity to stand and watch, volunteered to help, an area where the residential road was sloped and very icy. Many vehicles were able to successfully go up the slope but the only ones that came down successfully, without incident, had snow chains on the rear, "drag", wheels.
It was pretty easy to tell which were FWD and which were RWD, the FWD vehicles were clearly having more trouble. The Police finally showed up and closed the road.
And by the way, if you're ever driving fairly slowly, cautiously(??) on a really slippery surface and apply the brakes without feeling the ABS activity in the pedal while the vehicle is still sliding forward, or round and round, you need to immediately go back to the old method of pumping the brakes to regain directional control.
In these circumstances the ABS can be easily fooled (all four wheels stop turning virtually simultaneously) into thinking the vehicle came to a stop as you applied the brakes.
I want either the Highlander or RX400 and will option either pretty heavily (definitely need navigation and leather and opening roof of some type).
I want to put a deposit down ASAP to get in queue -- which I did with MDX, although I passed on it as I found it ugly.
But how do I choose which one? I need your guys' help. I see:
Highlander
--> Cheaper by $5K or more
--> Cheaper service
--> Bigger cargo area (?!)
--> Fewer useless options I might have forced on me
--> Fewer cool options I might not be able to get
Lexus
--> More $$$
--> Better at holding value
--> Appreciably smaller cargo area (!?!)
--> Some cool options
But I don't know what I'm talking about, nor about any real advantages in the Lexus. I was committed mentally to the Lexus, but the Highlander complicates my choice. Please give me any pros / cons you can think of and also tell me any strategies for getting a dealer to take a deposit and offer me a fair deal soon so I can get in line (a fair deal might be sticker or slightly under; I'm not delusional).
Are you driving all of the time with the "Snow" mode engaged? If so, this is your problem. You should only engage the snow mode when STARTING off (from a stopped position). If you leave the snow mode engaged and brake...you will slide all over the place. There is a section in the manual that explains this a bit more scientifically than I just did.
We had nearly a foot of snow here a few weeks ago and I my RX performed flawlessly. I only engaged the snow mode once to gain extra traction at the base of my drive. And, I only managed to get the ABS to kick in twice while braking. I am drving an AWD model with 17-inch Goodyear tires.
I think the RX is one of the safest vehicles on the road. It is so good in winter weather that my husband is convinced it gives us a false sense of security.
Or do you just keep snow tires on all year round?
Aren't snow tires expensive and wear out more on dry pavement?
I would even go so far as to say winter tires are really useless, if it's so bad that you REALLY need winter tires then snowchains are a MUCH better, and temporary, option.
But that doesn't apply to anyone using chains, or studs, or winter tires, only on the front. That's asking for real trouble.
I guess the snow plows don't get to some of the smaller roads right away or not at all.
But I put on chains, took them off, put them back on, all in the space of a couple of miles. Didn't want to keep chains on the plowed roads because I didn't think it was good for the tires or car and I couldn't drive as fast.
That's when I envied the 4WDs zipping by on snow tires.
I asked my dealer to review the TSB (and listen to the dash on a test drive) at my 5000 mile oil change. The service person I talked to said he was aware of the rattle issue because a number of the RX's they have sold are coming in with the same complaint (I live in Eastern Iowa).
Anyway...when the car came back, the noise on the driver side of the vehicle was fixed but the noises from the passenger side were even louder than before. Even worse, the service dept. chose to use cheap black insulating foam that I could see between the dash and the windshield! I did not pay $40,000 for a car to see black foam at the base of the dash. I had that in my 1985 Chevy back in college!
Despite my displeasure, I was going to wait until my next scheduled service to complain but my husband was REALLY not happy. He rarely drives the RX and he was shocked at the rattles when he drove it a few days after the service.
So, we decided to bypass the service department AND our sales guy. Instead, we went straight to the sales manager (in person). We explained our complaints and our RX was immediately rescheduled for service. This time, they agreed to keep it overnight and drive it cold. Normally by the time the valet gets the RX to the dealer, the car is warmed up and the dash rattles weren't as bad. I should mention they did give me a new RX to drive while mine was in the shop.
To make a very long story a bit shorter, the RX came back and ALL of the problems appear to be fixed. The service manager told me they worked on three separate areas. And I can tell you that the dash profile itself looks different at the point where it meets the windshield. They definitely added more insulation. And, I don't hear the engine noise as much.
Lesson of the day: complain to the sales manager. If he/she wants to sell you another car they will do whatever they can to make you happy.
The service folks did tell me after this last trip to the shop that Lexus is very aware of the complaints and has been helpful to the dealer service centers in identifying ways to fix it. So, if your service department claims no knowledge of how to fix your dash rattles... you need to find another Lexus service department.
I really wish there was another Lexus dealer in Eastern Iowa (say Iowa City/Cedar Rapids). If it wasn't for the fact that I wanted a Lexus...and valet service...I would have driven to Chicago to get a MUCH better price on the RX. Lujack's won't valet unless you buy your vehicle at their dealership. We bought our Mercedes in Chicago (at invoice!) and Lujack Mercedes doesn't want to service it...so the Benz goes to Cheezik-Sayer in Iowa City now.
If I have to fault Lexus on anything it would be their dealership structure. If you live in a large city you have options. If you live in a small state, you are stuck with dealership monopoly (and all of the very unfriendly customer service issues that come with being the only guy on the block!!).
Lujack's is always high on their prices. We shopped them in the past but always ended up buying vehicles elsewhere. I was able to get a small discount on my RX since I had quite a bit of cash down (and no trade) but nothing like yours. Since we did so well on the Mercedes, we were willing to pay slightly higher...all the while grumbling that we wish there were more options in Eastern Iowa.
On a side note, when we first went to look at the RX at Lujacks, we drove my 2001 Honda Accord to the dealership. It took 20 minutes for anyone to notice my husband and I were walking around the lot. We drove the new Mercedes the second time we visited Lujacks and the Lexus sales staff were practically tripping over themselves to greet us before we even got out of our car. I think that experience alone speaks volumes (not only about this dealership but discrimination towards potential buyers in general).
But I have an off-topic question from your post #2496: Are you saying that Lujack Mercedes will not provide valet service and/or car loaner service for you? Or are you saying that Lujack doesn't want to provide maintenance and warranty services on your Mercedes?? If the latter, then I cannot believe the arrogance of that dealer!! We have purchased several new cars (including two Audi models, a BMW, an Acura, and now a Lexus) from dealerships far away from home, and the local dealer has always been more than willing to service our vehicles; take our money; and replace the license plate frame with their own dealership advertising!
Lujack's won't provide valet/loaner service for the Mercedes since we didn't buy it there (the same would be true for the Lexus if we bought elsewhere). And, they told me any service we wanted done on the Benz would have to come after "their" current customers. I translate this to mean a long wait in line for routine maintenance. And if that's the case, I'm not sure I want to take it there in the first place.
You hit the nail on the head: Lujacks is arrogant. And they can afford to be because they basically have the entire luxury car market in the QCA tied up. According to JD Power...Lujacks is the largest privately held auto mall in the US.
Went to WalMart looking for some clear floor mat covers (as recommeded here) but they didn't have any, I'll be driving through lots of other towns in the next week so I'll keep looking.
Any ideas on a cargo net, other than the dealer?
Thanks
About the cargo net, I found something that I like even better. It is in the auto accessory section of, you guessed it, Walmart. It's called a StorageMaster, Model No. TRUBLA, made by Hoppy.
Their website is www.hopkinsmfg.com out of Emporia, Kansas. It can fold out of the way like a cargo net and can be adjusted to fit the back cubby in the cargo bay of the RX. Because it has a frame, it can hold heavier objects and is divided into three compartments. I'm not sure if you'll be able to use a cargo net when using the cargo tray because some of the anchors will be covered. However, the StorageMaster will fit just fine.
I like it so much, I bought one for each of my vehicles. I have it in the cargo bay of my RX330, in my Explorer to hold some heavier boat stuff, and in the trunk of my LS400 to hold miscellaneous objects that would otherwise roll around and make annoying thumps every time I cornered. They work so well, I have one of those heavy emergency power/roadside battery boosters in each of them, and the StorageMaster holds them steady just fine. The best thing is, they don't even cost $14 each, while the dealer is asking upwards of $70 for a cargo net! Good shopping.
Anyhow, Tomtomtom, if you haven't already purchased new mats for your wife's car, you might try the following to clean them. I have followed this "routine" for the last 6 cars and it works like a charm. (Although I've never tried it on a Lexus - MB, BMW, Subaru, Ford, but never Lexus!) Don't be afraid to SOAK the mats. You might want to do this at your local car wash where you can use their heavy duty wet/dry vacuum cleaners.
1) Vacuum the mats thoroughly for dirt etc
2) Spray generously with Fantastik to loosen the dirt and grease and let while you do other mats
3) Return to mat #1 and with a "sudsy" mixture of laundry detergent and warm water, use a soft scrub brush to scrub the mats clean
4) Vacuum out the water & soap and let dry in a warm place
5) Once dry, rub each mat with your hand to bring back the "plush"
Hope this helps - I just did my wife's driver's mat over the weekend...
Pete.
I purchased the Lexus rubber all weather floor mats and the deep dished rear cargo tray when I first bought the RX330. I no longer have the RX330 but kept the mats and cargo tray. Any one interested in them give me a post. They are gray in color and as new condition.
Also, my Lexus dealer beginning with the salesperson and including the new car sales manager and finance associate were fabulous and very customer focused. The final sales transaction and delivery of my RX was streamlined, easy and smooth. If anyone is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and wants more information about my experience, please e-mail me.
By the way, just to clarify, I am in healthcare administration and have no friends or relatives in the car business. I am just very happy and pleased with my experience.
Thanks so much.
To answer your question, no, the RX330 does not have a "low" gear range.
Living in southern Arizona, I plead ignorance on the ECT/snow mode feature. I believe this function causes initial take offs (from a stopped position) to be in 2nd gear instead of 1st gear, to provide for gentler starts; but I don't know for certain. (And I don't have the manual or the RX330 with me here at work!)
Again, I am no expert on this issue, but based on your description, you could probably greatly benefit from a feature equipped on some other upscale SUVs called "Hill Descent Control".
Infiniti FX35:
Pros: good acceleration, awesome handling, "sporty" look inside and out, pleasant dealer experience, solid feel.
Cons: reduced cargo room, loud "throaty" engine, stiff ride, lack of interior/exterior color choices unless Sport Pkg with 20" wheels included (for '03 models), lacked some of the off-road and foul weather utility offered by the competition.
Nissan Murano:
Pros: good acceleration, good handling, good fuel economy rating (similar to RX330), price.
Cons: Interior looked cheap, wife didn't like "minivan" look of interior, small cargo area, forums indicated many owners had problems with interior rattles, warranty and dealer not up to par with Lexus/Infiniti/Acura etc.
Volvo XC90 2.5:
Pros: Nice conservative design, sharp interior, very solid feel, free maintenance thru the first 30K miles, good cargo capacity, excellent safety features and crash protection.
Cons: 5-cylinder engine is a little underpowered, slow acceleration - especially at highway speeds, handling was so-so (although slightly better steering than MDX), major concerns with reliability, no discounts off of MSRP.
Acura MDX:
Pros: Good acceleration, great cargo capacity, standard split 3rd-row seat, good reliability, good crash test results.
Cons: Outdated design, handling so-so, interior looks inferior to other $40K SUVs, not as many safety features as competition.
Toyota 4Runner:
Pros: Price, utility, "true" off-road SUV.
Cons: "truck-like" handling, exterior design (especially at the wheel wells), V6 acceleration not up to par with these other V6-equipped SUVs, fuel economy with V8, seats not as comfortable.
After considering all these SUVs, we have no regrets with our RX330 purchase. If I was asked to write a detailed pros/cons on our RX330, that list would be heavily weighted toward the "pros". Obviously, we were not needing an SUV for towing or for off-roading. If such was the case, our priorities would have been completely different.
Too bad about the absence of a low range. I doubt that 1st. gear will get us down to the speed we need.
The Lexus GX470 and the LX470 both have low range gearing, but are both more pricey. For the price range of the RX, the VW Touareg has low range gearing, but read its Problems boards before you buy. The Forerunner also has low range gearing but is not a luxury SUV, even in Limited trim. Other choices with low range gearing in this price range are the Land Rover Discovery, and the JGC Limited, but both have reliability issues and the designs are long of tooth.
Unless I missed a few, your choices for low range gearing and RX value are not many without spending a fair amount more money.
Why exactly do you need low gearing? The RX is capable enough in snow and sand. Are you thinking of offroading?
The one we first really liked, was the LX470. It is beautifully made, wood, leather, everything is first class. The ride was as smooth and quiet as our LS400. We put in an offer on one and almost bought one but the dealer we worked with was not forthcoming with pricing on some extras, so we ended up walking out of the dealership. We also looked at the GX470 but was not as impressed and my wife really did not like its looks. In the end, we decided we did not really need the space or towing ability of a large SUV. This also ruled out the full sized Toyota Sequoiah which also wasn't luxurious enough.
We decided to keep our old vehicle while getting a newer, more comfortable SUV when we realized how much our V8 Explorer had depreciated. It was this very reason that ruled out the new Explorer Limited. I liked it just fine, but my wife abhorred the interior materials and finish.
She has very discerning tastes. Since we were going to keep our Explorer for towing and hauling, we now could look at other smaller luxury SUV's.
We passed on the MDX partially because it was now just too big and cumbersome, although handling was good for such a large vehicle. It does not look that large, but it is as wide as the LX470 and longer than our Explorer. Mostly we did not like the Acura treatment and arrogance of its dealerships, since at the time they were not budging from MSRP. At present, I have heard of $1500 discounts. Also, the interior, although attractive, was full of hard plastics. Real wood inlays were and still are not available and the leather was not of greatest quality for a $40,000 car. The dealers were also price gouging on the accessories. As an example, a wood simulated steering wheel went for $600, while at Lexus, it is a $350 or so option, for REAL wood. A tow package went for $1100 while the RX's is less than $400 total if the hitch is obtained aftermarket. We didn't feel we were getting the best value for our money (sorry, cotmc.)
We really liked the ML320 and the dealers were giving huge discounts, plus it had third row seating and a nice star on the hood.
In the end, we decided the reliability was too big a risk, even for its 5th and 6th year of production, and we were right. The ML continues to be plagued with reliability gremlins (Thanks, cotmc.) For this same reason, we passed on the Jeep GC Limited, even though we thought it looked good. The ride was also too bumpy.
The FX35 was really quick, and the FX45 just screamed down I5. In the end, the fun factor just didn't outweigh the lack of utility or future resale value. Also, the ride was too firm, since it is built for sportiness. Interior trim wasn't up to RX levels either.
We really liked the Volvo XC90, but were a mite disappointed in the acceleration of both the 2.5 and the T6. Also, we no longer needed such a large car. The XC90 is now having some serious reliability issues.
Finally, the X5's price didn't justify lack of cargo space or lack of reliability, either. Also, in two years or so, it will be due for a face lift. The X3 was as cute as a button and handled like a dream, but interior materials and reliability were iffy.
In the end, since we did not need seven seating capability, and no longer needed towing, or huge cargo space, we felt the RX330 was the best buy, especially in terms of reliability, service, and longterm resale value. As far as interior fit and finish, only the other Lexus SUV's came close.
If you aren't towing anything over 3500#, or don't need to haul more than five people, or a ton cargo, get the RX330. Like cotmc, I have never regretted the decision. If the fun factor is more important, get the FX with the 20" wheels. It does look pretty. If you need extra space or power, get the GX, LX, or MDX, in that order. Any other make of SUV, make sure you get the extended warranty.
cotmc and gardencar both have excellent comments on various vehicles. Here are some additional thoughts for what it is worth.
XC90
pro: cool green color choice, standard warranty
con: above invoice pricing, 6-month waiting list, drove like a truck, cheap interior fake wood trim, underpowered engine.
Overall...I REALLY thought I was going to buy a Volvo because it was always my dream car. In the end, I was "underwhelmed."
ML320
pro: good cupholders, good standard warranty and nice leather. Otherwise, I can't think of any (and my husband has a new C230 sport sedan and we love it).
con: drives like a truck, outdated styling, CD changer in the trunk, option packages are pricey and overall price still more than Lexus even with discounts.
I was also concerned that the ML is due for redesign in 2005...and Mercedes was unwilling to tell us what the new body-style was going to look like and what new options there would be. And despite the good luck with our C230...reliablity was a concern.
X5
pro: fun to drive, peppy engine, heated steering wheel option and cool color choices
con: uninspiring and uncomfortable interior, less interior room, amber displays were difficult to read, CD changer in the trunk, and FAR more money than the XC90, ML or Lexus
Overall...I couldn't justify spending another $10,000 for a vehicle with less options than the RX330.
The RX330 is, by far, the best choice for the money. I have had the transmission update and am very pleased with the driving performance of the car. I have had trouble with dash rattles... but my dealership worked to correct the problem and I suspect there will be a few more dash tweaks that Lexus will want to perform on my RX during my next routine service.