i just picked up my RX 330 two day ago and I opted for the 18 inch wheels. I live in a snowy cold climate. I drove the car today to take my daughter to school and if there is snow on the road (even flat road)the car will not stop even at 5 miles per hr!!! It slides everywhere, anti locks breaks are going off and I called the dealer and they assured me that the tires were all season tires. Anyone else have this problem?? I am scared to drive my car now!!!! I havea three year old and am really, really scared. I am crossing fingers they will give me snow tires. I sure hope it will help! please email me direct if you have any suggestions! Thank you a_song_of_hope@hotmail.com
Any car awd or not with v or z rated all season tires are gonna handle poorly in snow. The tread designs are more aggressive and the tire compunds stiffer that provides the increased dry weather handling. If yo deal with snow a majority of the year I would put on dedicated snow tires.
Our snow and then ice storm here in the great pacific northwest is now over but I can tell you that without snowchains installed on the rear tires (Michellin cross terrains) there were several times when I would have either been in real trouble or a no go circumstance.
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 can assure you that with a set of good winter tires mounted on 18 inch wheels your traction on ice and snow would be drastically improved. As others have stated it's not the car, it's the tires that make the most difference. The stock tires are "OK" in that they are not true summer performance tires, which would be MUCH worse than what you experienced, but as an "all season" tire they are a compromise and will never provide the best of everything - no matter what the season. We have Bridgestone Blizzaks mounted on both our RX330 and FX45 and have been very pleased so far. On the way home from an out-of-town trip this weekend, we saw numerous cars/trucks in the ditch but driving with the winter tires was pretty much a stress-free experience. You still have to drive carefully, but that extra margin of safety is nice to have on the few occasions when you really need it.
... so I have a lease ending in January (and I'd rent a car for a month if needed). I am buying a hybrid next; I don't need to be talked out of it. I am an SUV hypocrite no longer...
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).
Can I ask HOW you are driving the RX? I have just finished a good round of winter driving and had zero problems.
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.
I think that the 17" tires are more of an all season design. The 18" tires although all season have a bit of a performance design. I have the 18" tires and found them to be pretty good in the snow, at least as good as my RX300 was in the snow with 16" all season Goodyears. I have a AWD. I would think that of the two, the 17" tread design would do the best in the snow. I have said this before that I still like the look of the 18" wheels and tires even if they produce a bit more road noise and are not as good in the snow. I agree with others if you spend a lot of time in the snow get chains or winter tires.
In my case I bought an extra set of wheels with winter tires mounted and balanced. It makes it easier and cheaper to change them back and forth each spring and fall - no need to re-mount and rebalance. The cost of the winter tires is very close to the stock 18 inch "all seasons." And because the stock tires are not in use all year around, they last that much longer. On our last car I got 4 seasons of use out of my winter tires, about 30,000 miles. If I lived in a more moderate climate, especially if I leased instead of purchase our cars, I would stick with just one set of all seasons. But I've found that living here (Minnesota) it makes a lot of sense to have a good winter tread underfoot.
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've gone up to Reno or Tahoe and there were stretches with snow and other parts which had been plowed.
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.
We bought at Lujack's and that's where it has been serviced. We live only 35 miles from QCA. It's nearly 150 miles to Des Moines from my house. So, I am pretty much stuck with Lujack's.
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!!).
I have bought Lexus (RX300, GS300) and other auto brands in the past from Lujack. When I got a price from them for my RX330 their price (I had a trade) was $4200 more then Lexus of Peoria in IL. They were also $4000 higher then 2 Lexus dealers in the Chicago area. Lexus of Peoria will valet my RX330. They are about 125 miles from my home. I live in the Quad City Area. Lexus of Peoria was great to work with. They delivered my RX330 and took my trade. They never saw my trade prior to the sale. I have always had good service with Lujack but I have never had problems only scheduled service. I took my RX330 for the 1000 mile check to Lujack but may have Lexus of Peoria do the 5000 mile service. I don't know if Lujack will give me a loaner or not. At the 1000 mile check it only took 15 minutes so didn't need loaner. A friend also wanted to buy from Lujack recently. Again, Lujack was about $2000 higher for a Honda Accord EX with trade then another dealer outside the QCA area. I agree with others I wish there was another Eastern IA or Western IL Lexus dealer. I think Lujack has the upper hand. But if a dealer gets too greedy, with sites like Edmunds and internet that might change in the future. The internet helped me find Lexus of Peoria and save $4000.
Thanks for the info on Peoria. We considered going there but, like Des Moines, we felt Peoria was just too far away. I will keep Peoria in mind when we shop again.
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).
I have a very good friend who just got a price on an '04 LS430 (modern lux) from lujack and betts, with betts $2,000 off msrp and lujack 4974 off msrp. No question where he bought! I am also looking at an '04 ls430, and I am about an equal distance from the two dealers. I have not dealt with lujack, having just bought an '04 RX 330, (for my wife) from betts, plus two previous ls's also. It sounds as if I should get a price from lujack, even though your experiences have not been the greatest. I do agree that the lack of dealerships in this part of the country restricts pricing competition and I'm not sure service would be as good if the car was not purchased from the servicing dealer.
First of all, congratulations on the successful resolution of your dash rattle issues!!
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.
I have had cars serviced at Lujack that I did not buy there. They have always been very friendly and did good work. When we bought a Chevy Truck we even got a letter from the Lujack owner saying "Sorry we were unable to sell you a car but would love to service yours". As for my RX330 that I did not buy from Lujack. I took it in for 1000 mile service at Lujack no problems but check was so short (l5 minutes) that I did not need a loaner. It will be interesting to see if they offer one if I take it there for 5000 mile service. The service manager was very friendly at the 1000 service. I would think any Lexus Dealer would be happy to service a Lexus. Don't they get money back from Lexus for service plus loaner cost? I know when I had an Audi a few years ago they gave loaners but dealer went through Enterprise and Audi payed the cost. That was a pain. In summary, it will be nice to get a loaner from Lujack in the future but considering I saved $4200 buying from Lexus of Peoria I'll deal with not getting a loaner. I also have the option to have Peoria do the service. They will come 125 miles to take my RX330 for service, leaving me a loaner. Only problem with this I'm not sure I like someone else driving my car that far for service. If this Lexus is like the two I have previously owned I only saw the service department for routine service anyway.
On post number 546, newlexer posted about a cargo tray from a company called weathertech. Has anyone here ordered one? Is it molded rubber with turned up edges? or is it kind of dressy as well? How deep is the lip.
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.
I had posted about the clear mats at Walmart. They cost about $7.50 for a set of four. Use them during the rainy season and throw them away, or wash and store for next season. The only complaint is that the rear mats are a tad on the small side but still protect enough. Kragen's has some slightly bigger ones in the $12 to $15 range.
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.
I have clear floor mats over my gray mats and they work great. I even have a clear mat in the rear cargo area. I ordered them online from www.autoanything.com. They custom make them for each model car. They are probably more expensive than those sold at Wal-Mart, but I have been extremely happy with them. They even have holes built-in to anchor the mats over your existing ones. Good luck on your search!
The gray/white floor mats in my wife's RX have turned into dark gray thanks for the wet weather and her friends in the Bay Area. I am thinking about buying the black mats instead of the gray and hoping they will still match the black dash boards.
This is my first post on the Lexus board - interesting to see some of the differences (and similarities) between the Lexus and Subaru "issues"!
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...
I highly recommend the Lexus all weather rubber mats and cargo tray.
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.
Thanks for the help. I will try that this weekend if the good weather holds up. No, I haven't purchased the mat yet because it was like $130 for a set. We should have thought of that before picking this almost white interior. I am going to get a set of black mats from Kragen to see how they look with the light gray interior or I have to ask my wife to tell her friends to take off their shoes before they get in :-)
I've been offered a great deal on a car from a Lexus dealer other than my local one. Just wondering if the great service (free loaners in particular) will happen if I don't buy from the locals. Is it a Lexus policy to do all the nice stuff or dealer discretion?
My Lexus dealer has a policy of providing loaner car only for service over 4 hours. So basically, you won't be getting a loaners unless your new car has some major problem.
I just took delivery on my pre-ordered RX 330 and I love it and am very glad that I waited to get what I wanted. I know this is a first day report but the ride is smooth, very quiet and the fit and finish of the vehicle is near perfect.
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.
for you RX330 owners. Does this car come with a "low" range of any sort? We live on a steep hill and in ice or snow, we really do need this feature to crawl down the hill. Is that snow mode feature I read about a similar thing?
Is your "User" name a tribute to Dan Akroyd and the original SNL skit? That was one of the best commercial parodies I have ever seen!
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".
Here is a summary of my impressions of other SUVs we tested before buying the RX330 last summer:
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.
The dealers that will provide loaner cars from my personal experience are Serramonte Lexus and Lexus of Stevens Creek.
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?
Some cars I tested before buying the RX330 were the Lexus LX470, GX470, Toyota Sequoiah Limited, JGC Limited, Ford Explorer Limited, Mercedes ML320, Acura MDX Touring, Infiniti FX, BMW 3.0 X5, X3, and the Volvo XC90.
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.
I test drove the XC90, the ML320, and the BMW X5. I also drove a Honda Pilot but once I drove a luxury car, I decided not to waste my time with Honda.
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.
Comments
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.