I have to confess the style of the new RX has grown on me. I'm still not that crazy about the mono-chrome paint; but those 18" wheels absolutely make the vehicle (although they're very easy to scrape on a curb.) The new nose is nicely aggressive and the tail is very cool. The ride is more firm than our old ES (I like that less but my wife prefers it.) Standard sound system works very well, but there's no substitute for an enclosed trunk to make those nice "lows" coming from behind. The power liftgate is interesting but IMHO more gee-whiz than all-that-necessary. Auto-wipers....same thing. Cargo covers are a necessary evil (I suppose), but the RX's version with all the snaps and springs is as low-tech as any I've seen. Interior is great. Detailing is beautiful (other than that cargo cover). Figuring out how to make all the bells and whistle work is simple. Space is "cozy" but very comfortable (I drive a big Chevy Tahoe so I may be not be the best judge of space). Mighty fine vehicle and the perfect 2004 version of the old-world station wagon. Hope it's as trouble-free as our '01 ES300.
I too have had trouble getting used to the HID's. The dealer can and did adjust them upward a a few degrees, and that helped. Initially I had adjusted them way up, thinking they had been set wrong from the manuf. I had tried ordering a Fwd w/o them, but apparently they don't package other options well w/o HID's. (Personally, I think they'll end up in an expensive recall from NHTSA.)
My vote is with Gardencar in terms of loss of vision with HID's. If you are going to encounter hilly terrain outside city limits, be sure to check them out in that environment before buying. The cutoff is abrupt and anything beyond the cutoff point is nearly invisible.
A friend has them on a Mazda Miata and he is pretty frustrated. We tested on his car (his insistence) and decided to forego them on our baby Mercedes. Glad we did.
The brochure showed that the dimensions larger than my 1995 4 door GMC Jimmy. I found that hard to believe as the style makes the RX330 look much smaller. I parked them next to each other and the RX330 is longer, higher and wider by an inch or two. It doesn't have the same cargo space due to the back slant of the roof line but that space usually isn't used anyway.
John, thanks for the vote. The cutoff point of the HID's is abrupt and anything beyond is pretty much invisible. Because the beams are so powerful and focused, manufacturers must aim them lower to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. IMO, Lexus lowered the HID's on the RX330, too much! Will have to get them adjusted upwards like doubletrack did.
Trs23, thanks for the heads up and the parts number on the new tow hitch. I had temporarily stopped looking for a 3500# hitch that fit properly below an 18" spare. I hope the Lexus hitch will fit without having to use adaptors, unlike the Curt hitch. Will be calling my local parts department, ASAP. Much obliged!
After all the discussion about the HID and rain-sensing windshield wipers I am not sure I should get them. I think I will get the towing package mostly since it comes with the heavy-duty radiator, do you think that is a good idea? I don't plan on ever using the hitch. Also, I am unsure if I really should get the 18" tires and navigation system. I would appreciate any input you might give me.
When I first purchased my rx330 I thought that the Nav system was just another fancy tech toy that would give me something to do while my wife and daughter were watching a DVD in the back on the entertainment system while we were on long trips. However, I'm presently surprised how much information is available from the Nav system. The system has an easy learning curve. However, the Nav manual that comes with the car is somewhat overwhelming. I found it easier just to play with the system. So far my only complaint is the Nav startup screen that you must push "I agree" every time the car is started. If anybody knows a work around to this annoyance, I would sure like to hear from you. Donna, If I was to purchase the car all over again I would definitely buy it with the Nav system. But that's just my opinion.
Would be interested to hear from parents of kids in car seats or golfers on what your thoughts are regarding space in the RX330. I.e, easy to get the kids in an out of? Can you lay an umbrella stroller or golf clubs flat across the cargo area?
My wife likes the car, not sure it has enough space for our needs. (she prefers it over GX/MDX, etc.) Not looking to spark a debate on the virtues of the RX over other vehicles, just trying to get a real world perspective regarding capacity.
I realize I could go to a dealer and experiment with all these things. I'd rather get feedback from owners that have actual experience.
Donna, about the 18" wheels that is really a matter of taste. They do give you better cornering performance, but unless you like ripping around turns you probably won't miss them. The 18"s do make the ride a bit harsher, while 17"s are a softer ride. Ask the dealer if he has an RX with 17"s and then drive one with 18"s to see if you can really feel a difference. IMO, the 18"s look too good to pass on.
About the nav system, that depends on your lifestyle. If you plan on traveling through unfamiliar territory more than occasionally, or if you are the type of person who gets lost easily, then go for it. If you plan on cruising close to home, then save yourself $2500. IMO, we have a hand held GPS that can also be mounted on the dash. However, I wish that we had gotten the factory GPS because it has better voice prompts and more stored information on places like gas stations or restaurants. Also, there is the safety issue, because the nav allows you to get Lexus Link. They can track you by sattelite, in case you are stranded somewhere where there is no cell phone reception.
Donkeypunch, my wife and I have an infant daughter that requires a baby seat and it is not difficult getting her in or out. We have a large car seat in the rear passenger side, but yet are able to fit two more adults back there, with plenty of leg room. On trips, we have fit a medium sized luggage case, one 18"x12"x12" dog carrier, a 40 qt. cooler, a folding Combi stroller, fishing rods, and miscellaneous fishing tackle boxes. This needed some arranging, but the RX330's cargo bay easily ate them up. I have also brought back rose bushes and other plants, from plant nurseries. The only time the RX would not be covenient is if you had taller items (bigger rose bushes), that would not fit in the very back of the vehicle because of the raked angle of the rear window. So far, we have found the cargo space very adequate.
You might find it helpful to post the type of car you would be replacing as well as what your cargo needs are at the moment. The RX330 has a respectable 84+ cubic feet of interior space which is nearly as much as my Explorer. So unless you are coming from a full size SUV or minivan, I don't think you will find the RX lacking in interior space.
I now have a 95 Maxima and it has not given me a lot of problems but I will have to take out 10% from my IRA soon (70 1/2)and thought I would get a new car. It was my daughter who suggested the Lexus RX 330. Her in-laws each have one. I hope to do some traveling after I buy another vehicle. I will probably get the 18" tires since they come with the premium package. The internet Westside Lexus dealer in Houston has been on vacation and another salesman went with my daughter and me to test drive it. I am not sure how you neogiate a final price when you are doing it via email. I have gotten a sheet with several available factory combinations from Westside and the amount to the right. How do I email a lower price back for one that has the options I want?
I did a version of this by fax when I got my last new car. I found the car I wanted on the lot and then made an offer. The counter-offer was close and it only took one more fax for my (slightly higher) second number to get accepted.
The Internet vs. Traditional Car Buying process is a bit different, and it sounds like you getting there. (note the paragraph, in Part II I think, about the salesperson wanting to get you to the dealer in person to deal).
Gardencar, thanks for the feedback. Currently our "suv" car is an ML320. it has a nice amount of cargo space, and we've been fortunate not to have any issues with it. ML's changing their look in 2005 and I don't feel like rolling the dice again (or waiting until fall). I do like the "buttery" ride and the world class reliability of the lexus, but I also like the european "5000" lbs of tank feel. My number one vote based on looks/space would be the Volvo XC90, but I can't in good conscious plunk down 45K for a vehicle that seems to be riddled with problems. (per the XC board). The RX is #1 choice right now for the wife...I do like it, just want to make sure I'm not going to feel cramped 2 weeks out of the box. We're not big campers or stuff like that. My wife will drive the car during the week and we'll use it as the family truckster on the weekend. (I.e Mclaren Stroller, possibly light luggage, shopping purchases, etc)
We bought our last 3 cars via email (a year ago for the RX). We emailed our target price to all fleet managers around the area. If they are interested in selling you the car close to your target they would call you or email you back.
I think the only way to get the Levinson System is with the NAV (at least that was the case when we bought ours). So do you need the NAV? Because the stock sound system isn't that bad.
My sentiments exactly, about the Volvo. My wife and I really loved the looks of the Volvo and the space and utility would have been very adequate. Also like you, the problems owners were having on the XC90 board were just too ghastly to ignore. A lucky few did not have major problems. However, we did not feel like gambling with $45K of our hard earned cash! It seems that your roll of the dice paid off with the ML. We also looked at an ML320 and a 350, and my wife really liked them. In the end, the reliability was too spotty. Since we already owned a Lexus and were very happy with it, we chose the RX330 and have never regretted it. Good luck and happy hunting.
I'm considering an RX330 AWD. I just took my first test drive and was impressed by the fit and finish, the feature set, and the overall ride. I did notice one thing, however, and would appreciate any feedback. The car seemed to have adequate power once under way, but I noticed a lag starting from a stop. The throttle just doesn't feel linear... like you have to dig in quite a bit to get it to respond during the first couple of seconds of acceleration. And asked the "less than brilliant"" salesperson about it, and he claimed that it's normal. Can anyone provide any thoughts on this?
First, let me say I'm a weanie...Husband's Yukon has heated seats and I LOVE them. I can't tell you how much I hate the cold!! So, yes, I NEED the heated seats.
We're now being told that there are no RX330s in the southern region with the Nav/Perf. Package - heated seats. We're not interested in ordering one, so we're thinking about going with the Levinson package.
I have the perfomance package that includes air suspension, adaptive lighting, and adaptive cruise control.
I have owned since august 03.
In conclusion, I love the package. I live in west side of Austin, where the hill country begins. Thus, roads are winding as bay area.
The adaptive lighting is a great help when I drive the hilly winding road at 65MPH (speed limit is 60MPH and some of the curves recommend 50MPH). The lights are always projected on the road instead of being projected to the woods.
With low setting of air suspension, I can drive the curves without reducing the speed. Thus, you can easily pass the full sized Chevy's behind.
Among the 3 options, adaptive cruising control is relatively less worth. It works great up to moderate volume of traffic. For example, when I drive from Austin to San Marcos outlets on I-35, I set the desired speed as 75 MPH and stay on 1st lane. Then, my RX 330 runs between 50 ~ 70 MPH by trailing the car before me. However, if there is a stop and go traffic, it is dangerous to use it.
For ths sound system, the stock sound system is OK. However, the BOSE audio of my TL 3.2 sounds better for violin and piano. However, overall concert feeling of RX 330 is par with TL 3.2.
I listened to Mark Levinson on the lot when I purchased my car. However, in my opinion, performance of Mark Levinson cannot be at its best with current version of RX 330 since the interior noise is not shielded as other Lexuses (even RX 330 is noisier than TL 3.2).
I experienced the same lag from 89 Corolla and 99 Sienna. "Off the line lag" seems to be intended to provide gradual torque transfer to transfer.
In the manual mode (sequential shifting mode), you can avoid the lag by choosing the proper gear.
If you hate the lag, you may want to try FX 35. I rented FX 35 for a week when my TL 3.2 was in the bodyshop. The manual mode of FX 35 will makes you feel like driving a true manual. Except that, I did not like FX 35 (It had a lot of blind spots and more louder noise.) Engine rumbling of FX was quite pleasant to me.
wschee, Thanks so much for responding so thoroughly.
Well, now we're considering the Premium Plus Package w/addl. options - Nav/rear camera - heated seats - 18" wheels. I've given up on the Levinson system, as many people have given me the same opinion that you gave. Just not worth it. I don't live in a hilly area (boy is that an understatment), so the air suspension and ALS, aren't that big a deal.
The dealership has found one for me in Georgia, so we're in negotiations now. So far, they've knocked $2,000 off the price, minus the $625(?) fee for getting it here from Georgia.
Husband is bringing our car in this evening to see about trade in.
Again, thanks so much for your response. You've made me feel a lot better about giving up my Levinson package. (By the way, a friend has this package in his maxed out LS430, still doesn't sound THAT great to me.
I am back from my trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sorry for not checking in during the trip. Internet access was marginal, at best...and only when I was in the capital, Kinshasa.
For those of you who don’t know, I was in the DRC to investigate the plight of the millions of residents displaced by the war there. They are known as IDPs or internally displaced persons.
I have tons of stories I could tell but given this is the Lexus RX330 board, I thought I would share my Lexus/Toyota observations.
First, I saw only ONE Lexus during the entire DRC trip. It was an early 1990's ES300 and believe me, it had seem MUCH better days. But, Toyota cars and trucks are as common as lizards. Most are small cars and pick-ups from the 1980's and early 1990's but I did spot a number of new SUV models in the capital (all of which were European models). And of course, you can't go anywhere in DRC without spotting the infamous white United Nations Toyota 4-Runner or Land Cruiser. Have I mentioned that I am SO grateful the United Nations keeps a well-maintained stock of Toyota 4-Runners in East Congo?
Below (between the -0- marks) is part of a message I sent to my family following a field mission near Bukavu. Bukavu is located in the South Kivu province along Lake Kivu which shares a border with Rwanda. I should also mention that MONUC is the acronym for the United Nations Mission in Congo.
-0- Joseph, the local MONUC humanitarian officer, decided to take us "into the field" on Wednesday. We left around 7:30 AM for an area known as Bunyakiri about 60 miles from Bukavu. We were warned the roads weren’t great but I had NO idea just how bad the trip was going to be. The so-called road winds through one end of a national park. In places, you can tell it was paved at one time decades ago but much of it has been reduced to impassable rock, sand and mud. As we jostled along the road at a very slow pace, meandering through the craters in our path, I was beginning to think I was going to get whiplash before the trip was over.
A few hours into the trip (about half-way in terms of total distance to our destination) we came upon a small Toyota pick-up truck stuck in the middle of a large mud hole in the middle of the road. This beat-up truck was overloaded with water and fuel cans and other household items. At least four men were trying to free it from the mud. Joseph, being the great man that he is, decided to stop and see if he could help. He soon learned the group (including two women and a baby girl less than a year old) had been stranded for FOUR days in this spot. Joseph tried to pull the truck out of the mud with the UN Toyota 4-Runner we were traveling in but we didn’t have any rope and the rope the stranded group had wouldn’t hold.
After about 20 minutes Joseph decided there was nothing we could do and we left. About a mile down the road we came upon a band of child soldiers (allegedly now working for the transitional government here) and a few women living in a bamboo hut. Joseph asked them for some rope to help the stranded motorists but they only wanted food and money from us. I was a bit tense at this point since the boys had big guns and did not look very friendly. One spent quite a bit of time staring through the window at me and Keith (my boss) quickly locked the doors. Joseph finally left the area after he couldn’t convince them to give him some rope. But, just a mile later, Joseph was still upset he couldn’t help. At this point he hatched a plan to help the motorists jump-start their engine with the battery from our truck. Thus, we turned around and made our way back to the disabled truck. To get the truck started, Joseph had to remove the battery from our truck and install it in the disabled vehicle. Amazingly, it worked and the truck was able to back-out of the large mud hole. But, while all of this was going on (I stayed in the truck the entire time) the menacing group of child soldiers had made their way to the area. They saw us pass their camp after we turned around. I was really starting to worry at this point especially since the truck I was sitting in didn’t have a battery and thus, no CB radio contact with the MONUC base in Bukavu. But, Joseph kept them at a distance and soon the battery was re-installed in our truck. I guess the other truck was a diesel and therefore didn’t need the battery once it was actually started.
Once we were on the "road" again, it took another hour to reach our original destination, Bunyakira. When we arrived, we discovered an aid agency (International Medical Corps of IMC) was in the process of delivering aid packages to the village of Bitale which we passed about 10 miles back on the same road. We decided to join the aid caravan to Bitale. What a trip! It took one-hour, three UN 4-runners, an IMC 4-runner and one overloaded pick-up truck (similar to the one stuck in the mud along the road earlier) to travel the TEN to TWELVE miles to Bitale to deliver around 170 non-essential food item kits (NFI’s). We had to stop several times along the way to pick up aid bags that had fallen from the truck and one time we had to stop so the truck driver could add water to the radiator to keep the engine from overheating. We did finally make it but the difficulty of this short trip underscores why it is so difficult to deliver aid to this region. Once we gathered all we needed, we strapped ourselves back into the 4-Runner for the nearly three-hour ride back to Bukavu .. I am pleased to report that we passed the truck we rescued earlier in the day in a small village near Bukavu. The occupants smiled and waved at us when we passed and Joseph assured us the group would now be safe. I can’t imagine how they survived living deep within the forest with little provisions for four days. -0-
After all of this, you can imagine how wonderful it felt to climb back into my RX at the airport in Chicago!
Sorry for the long post but I hope you find it interesting. If I knew how to post pictures to this board I would attach a few photos of the stranded truck. I guess I better get caught up on reading the RX messages I’ve missed now.
Pic posting instructions can be found in Town Hall Help, linked on the left. You'll need a place to host them, like a photo album site or a home page from your ISP.
Holy Cow! What an experience. You are certainly gutsy! Thanks so much for posting your message as it had me on the edge of my seat. After reading about conditions in the Congo, I have found that all my problems have disappeared and I am only left with minor bumps. Welcome back and I am glad you made it back safely. Take care.
Sure would enjoy any pictures you would post. We are very lucky to have people like you willing to endure such conditions. Thank you for all you do. I am very proud of you.
Donna ps: my email address is vandeedt@yahoo.com and would love to receive any pictures and more information on the conditions the aid workers are having to face.
trs23, Many thanks for your post on the newer 3500 lb. rated hitch availability. After reading it, I went back to the dealer (in NC) and they put on the CORRECT one (my 330 has the tow package), and removed the 2500 lb. hitch (bought last month at delivery when the car was new). Thanks for the info!!
gardencar and donna...thanks for your kind words. I am probably not as much brave as I am crazy!
Since a few of you have indicated an interest in seeing a few photos from the trip, I have created a yahoo photo account. You can access the photos via this link:
I have been to South Africa and Zimbabwe 5 times as a tourist and can only imagine all the problems you faced. We here don't appreciate all that we have.
My new RX 330 should be in Houston tomorrow. Hope to get it Tuesday and will report how the sale went.
The ad for the RX330 "steerable" headlamps bothers me a bit. In order for the headlamps to know to "steer" I must have first turned the steering wheel. That would, seemingly, indicate that I am already entering the turn BLINDLY! And now as I exit the turn to look down the road straight ahead the headlamps will not return to normal until I straighten the wheel.
Anyone with actual experience at pushing high speed into a tight turn, or an "S" curve, and what was your experience with the seemingly necessary lag in headlamp direction?
That would, seemingly, indicate that I am already entering the turn BLINDLY!
You don't see any advantage of "steerable" headlamps over the traditional variety which give you no illumination on your new course until you've completed your maneuver?
But I was addressing the currently running TV ad with the doe and fawn that implies the lights allow me to see around the corner before arriving at the corner.
And personally I suspect the most benefit will come from tight turns, say into my driveway, at low speed.
It seems to me that once I've entered the turn I have already commited to an "entry" speed, and now suddenly braking severely to avoid a previously unseen object is just as dangerous as without "steerable" headlamps.
So, really, at speed, what good are they vs regular headlamps?
So, really, at speed, what good are they vs regular headlamps?
At speed you will more likely see trouble ahead and be able to react to it than if you had no illumination in which case you have no possibility of reacting to it.
The 3500# hitch I have has a round frame just like the prior 2500. I'm not sure whether the part number on mine matches the earlier post part no. The hitch looks the same facing the rear of the car (different sticker which reads-- 2500 rating w/o towing pkg., 3500 rating w/towing pkg.) Light plug is the same. The only difference to me appeared to be the outer frame mounts may be more substantial (larger, more bolts perhaps?). The round frame itself may be bigger, but I couldn't tell for sure.
And as I come out of a turn at 70MPH the headlamps are still pointed away from the now straight ahead roadbed until I straighten the steering wheel.....???!!!!
Obviously, you're driving too fast for it to matter much. I have something a little less breathtaking in mind like angling down a sharply winding road or turning onto a country road where you may need to avoid elk or moose or farm animals or campers crossing the road or obstacles that may pop up abruptly. Toss in some less than ideal weather conditions and I'll take every bit of help I can get! :-)
I recommend slowing down and not driving beyond what is prudent for existing conditions.
About a year ago I tried to add the Porsche's "tilt" upward feature to my RX300 by injecting an electrical current into the rear height sensor when HB are on. It worked fine at low speed or stopped but not at all at speed. I concluded that Lexus was disabling the leveling function above about 20MPH.
The April, 2004 Annual Auto issue of Consumer Reports® rates the 2004 RX330 as Top Pick midsized SUV. It's the "Recommended√" model that scored at the top of its category in (CR) testing.
about gender colors? There was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about "real cool (alpha type) men" wearing pink. Do you think the type of car you drive or its color is necessary to support your masculinity?
Scottphillip thinks that Flint Mica color appeals to both men and women. Maybe that will work for you.
Is the RX330 prewired for cell phone? I've read some sites that say there is a dealer installed option to have your cell phone wired to the audio system? is that true?
Only time I thought colors might have gender bias was before our baby was born. Then, we were going to buy pink for a girl and baby blue for a boy. Since the RX doesn't come in either color,you won't have to worry about it. Choose whatever color appeals to you<b/>.
Lexus does great colors. All the silvers are beautiful; but, IMHO, black, white, the almost black flint-mica, or mil. silver are gender neutral. Everything else looks kinda like you're trying to match your shoes and purse, lol. Love my wife's white one, but truth is this car is designed for women. The console slides backward to hold a purse. First thing the salesman pointed out when we shopped.
Comments
A friend has them on a Mazda Miata and he is pretty frustrated. We tested on his car (his insistence) and decided to forego them on our baby Mercedes. Glad we did.
If you're still interested in buying a hitch. Lexus just came out with a 3500 lb hitch. According to something i read somewhere else.
Part number PT22848045
Might have to give em a call and see whats up!
Trs23, thanks for the heads up and the parts number on the new tow hitch. I had temporarily stopped looking for a 3500# hitch that fit properly below an 18" spare. I hope the Lexus hitch will fit without having to use adaptors, unlike the Curt hitch. Will be calling my local parts department, ASAP. Much obliged!
When I first purchased my rx330 I thought that the Nav system was just another fancy tech toy that would give me something to do while my wife and daughter were watching a DVD in the back on the entertainment system while we were on long trips. However, I'm presently surprised how much information is available from the Nav system. The system has an easy learning curve. However, the Nav manual that comes with the car is somewhat overwhelming. I found it easier just to play with the system. So far my only complaint is the Nav startup screen that you must push "I agree" every time the car is started. If anybody knows a work around to this annoyance, I would sure like to hear from you. Donna, If I was to purchase the car all over again I would definitely buy it with the Nav system. But that's just my opinion.
My wife likes the car, not sure it has enough space for our needs. (she prefers it over GX/MDX, etc.) Not looking to spark a debate on the virtues of the RX over other vehicles, just trying to get a real world perspective regarding capacity.
I realize I could go to a dealer and experiment with all these things. I'd rather get feedback from owners that have actual experience.
Thanks,
About the nav system, that depends on your lifestyle. If you plan on traveling through unfamiliar territory more than occasionally, or if you are the type of person who gets lost easily, then go for it. If you plan on cruising close to home, then save yourself $2500. IMO, we have a hand held GPS that can also be mounted on the dash. However, I wish that we had gotten the factory GPS because it has better voice prompts and more stored information on places like gas stations or restaurants. Also, there is the safety issue, because the nav allows you to get Lexus Link. They can track you by sattelite, in case you are stranded somewhere where there is no cell phone reception.
Donkeypunch, my wife and I have an infant daughter that requires a baby seat and it is not difficult getting her in or out. We have a large car seat in the rear passenger side, but yet are able to fit two more adults back there, with plenty of leg room. On trips, we have fit a medium sized luggage case, one 18"x12"x12" dog carrier, a 40 qt. cooler, a folding Combi stroller, fishing rods, and miscellaneous fishing tackle boxes. This needed some arranging, but the RX330's cargo bay easily ate them up. I have also brought back rose bushes and other plants, from plant nurseries. The only time the RX would not be covenient is if you had taller items (bigger rose bushes), that would not fit in the very back of the vehicle because of the raked angle of the rear window. So far, we have found the cargo space very adequate.
You might find it helpful to post the type of car you would be replacing as well as what your cargo needs are at the moment. The RX330 has a respectable 84+ cubic feet of interior space which is nearly as much as my Explorer. So unless you are coming from a full size SUV or minivan, I don't think you will find the RX lacking in interior space.
The Internet vs. Traditional Car Buying process is a bit different, and it sounds like you getting there. (note the paragraph, in Part II I think, about the salesperson wanting to get you to the dealer in person to deal).
Steve, Host
Thanks all for feedback.
I'm torn between the Performance Package (which apparently is hard to find) plus Nav. System and heated seats.
The other option is to get the Nav/Levinson package, which doesn't have the air suspension and adaptive lighting that is in the Performance Package.
Are the air suspension and adapative lighting worth giving up the Levinson system?
Help, I'm soooo confused...
Thanks for your help.
We're now being told that there are no RX330s in the southern region with the Nav/Perf. Package - heated seats. We're not interested in ordering one, so we're thinking about going with the Levinson package.
I'm still open to suggestions.
I have owned since august 03.
In conclusion, I love the package. I live in west side of Austin, where the hill country begins. Thus, roads are winding as bay area.
The adaptive lighting is a great help when I drive the hilly winding road at 65MPH (speed limit is 60MPH and some of the curves recommend 50MPH). The lights are always projected on the road instead of being projected to the woods.
With low setting of air suspension, I can drive the curves without reducing the speed. Thus, you can easily pass the full sized Chevy's behind.
Among the 3 options, adaptive cruising control is relatively less worth. It works great up to moderate volume of traffic. For example, when I drive from Austin to San Marcos outlets on I-35, I set the desired speed as 75 MPH and stay on 1st lane. Then, my RX 330 runs between 50 ~ 70 MPH by trailing the car before me. However, if there is a stop and go traffic, it is dangerous to use it.
For ths sound system, the stock sound system is OK. However, the BOSE audio of my TL 3.2 sounds better for violin and piano. However, overall concert feeling of RX 330 is par with TL 3.2.
I listened to Mark Levinson on the lot when I purchased my car. However, in my opinion, performance of Mark Levinson cannot be at its best with current version of RX 330 since the interior noise is not shielded as other Lexuses (even RX 330 is noisier than TL 3.2).
I experienced the same lag from 89 Corolla and 99 Sienna. "Off the line lag" seems to be intended to provide gradual torque transfer to transfer.
In the manual mode (sequential shifting mode), you can avoid the lag by choosing the proper gear.
If you hate the lag, you may want to try FX 35.
I rented FX 35 for a week when my TL 3.2 was in the bodyshop. The manual mode of FX 35 will makes you feel like driving a true manual. Except that, I did not like FX 35 (It had a lot of blind spots and more louder noise.) Engine rumbling of FX was quite pleasant to me.
Well, now we're considering the Premium Plus Package w/addl. options - Nav/rear camera - heated seats - 18" wheels. I've given up on the Levinson system, as many people have given me the same opinion that you gave. Just not worth it. I don't live in a hilly area (boy is that an understatment), so the air suspension and ALS, aren't that big a deal.
The dealership has found one for me in Georgia, so we're in negotiations now. So far, they've knocked $2,000 off the price, minus the $625(?) fee for getting it here from Georgia.
Husband is bringing our car in this evening to see about trade in.
Again, thanks so much for your response. You've made me feel a lot better about giving up my Levinson package. (By the way, a friend has this package in his maxed out LS430, still doesn't sound THAT great to me.
I am back from my trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sorry for not checking in during the trip. Internet access was marginal, at best...and only when I was in the capital, Kinshasa.
For those of you who don’t know, I was in the DRC to investigate the plight of the millions of residents displaced by the war there. They are known as IDPs or internally displaced persons.
I have tons of stories I could tell but given this is the Lexus RX330 board, I thought I would share my Lexus/Toyota observations.
First, I saw only ONE Lexus during the entire DRC trip. It was an early 1990's ES300 and believe me, it had seem MUCH better days. But, Toyota cars and trucks are as common as lizards. Most are small cars and pick-ups from the 1980's and early 1990's but I did spot a number of new SUV models in the capital (all of which were European models). And of course, you can't go anywhere in DRC without spotting the infamous white United Nations Toyota 4-Runner or Land Cruiser. Have I mentioned that I am SO grateful the United Nations keeps a well-maintained stock of Toyota 4-Runners in East Congo?
Below (between the -0- marks) is part of a message I sent to my family following a field mission near Bukavu. Bukavu is located in the South Kivu province along Lake Kivu which shares a border with Rwanda. I should also mention that MONUC is the acronym for the United Nations Mission in Congo.
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Joseph, the local MONUC humanitarian officer, decided to take us "into the field" on Wednesday. We left around 7:30 AM for an area known as Bunyakiri about 60 miles from Bukavu. We were warned the roads weren’t great but I had NO idea just how bad the trip was going to be. The so-called road winds through one end of a national park. In places, you can tell it was paved at one time decades ago but much of it has been reduced to impassable rock, sand and mud. As we jostled along the road at a very slow pace, meandering through the craters in our path, I was beginning to think I was going to get whiplash before the trip was over.
A few hours into the trip (about half-way in terms of total distance to our destination) we came upon a small Toyota pick-up truck stuck in the middle of a large mud hole in the middle of the road. This beat-up truck was overloaded with water and fuel cans and other household items. At least four men were trying to free it from the mud. Joseph, being the great man that he is, decided to stop and see if he could help. He soon learned the group (including two women and a baby girl less than a year old) had been stranded for FOUR days in this spot. Joseph tried to pull the truck out of the mud with the UN Toyota 4-Runner we were traveling in but we didn’t have any rope and the rope the stranded group had wouldn’t hold.
After about 20 minutes Joseph decided there was nothing we could do and we left. About a mile down the road we came upon a band of child soldiers (allegedly now working for the transitional government here) and a few women living in a bamboo hut. Joseph asked them for some rope to help the stranded motorists but they only wanted food and money from us. I was a bit tense at this point since the boys had big guns and did not look very friendly. One spent quite a bit of time staring through the window at me and Keith (my boss) quickly locked the doors. Joseph finally left the area after he couldn’t convince them to give him some rope. But, just a mile later, Joseph was still upset he couldn’t help. At this point he hatched a plan to help the motorists jump-start their engine with the battery from our truck. Thus, we turned around and made our way back to the disabled truck. To get the truck started, Joseph had to remove the battery from our truck and install it in the disabled vehicle. Amazingly, it worked and the truck was able to back-out of the large mud hole. But, while all of this was going on (I stayed in the truck the entire time) the menacing group of child soldiers had made their way to the area. They saw us pass their camp after we turned around. I was really starting to worry at this point especially since the truck I was sitting in didn’t have a battery and thus, no CB radio contact with the MONUC base in Bukavu. But, Joseph kept them at a distance and soon the battery was re-installed in our truck. I guess the other truck was a diesel and therefore didn’t need the battery once it was actually started.
Once we were on the "road" again, it took another hour to reach our original destination, Bunyakira. When we arrived, we discovered an aid agency (International Medical Corps of IMC) was in the process of delivering aid packages to the village of Bitale which we passed about 10 miles back on the same road. We decided to join the aid caravan to Bitale. What a trip! It took one-hour, three UN 4-runners, an IMC 4-runner and one overloaded pick-up truck (similar to the one stuck in the mud along the road earlier) to travel the TEN to TWELVE miles to Bitale to deliver around 170 non-essential food item kits (NFI’s). We had to stop several times along the way to pick up aid bags that had fallen from the truck and one time we had to stop so the truck driver could add water to the radiator to keep the engine from overheating. We did finally make it but the difficulty of this short trip underscores why it is so difficult to deliver aid to this region.
Once we gathered all we needed, we strapped ourselves back into the 4-Runner for the nearly three-hour ride back to Bukavu .. I am pleased to report that we passed the truck we rescued earlier in the day in a small village near Bukavu. The occupants smiled and waved at us when we passed and Joseph assured us the group would now be safe. I can’t imagine how they survived living deep within the forest with little provisions for four days.
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After all of this, you can imagine how wonderful it felt to climb back into my RX at the airport in Chicago!
Sorry for the long post but I hope you find it interesting. If I knew how to post pictures to this board I would attach a few photos of the stranded truck. I guess I better get caught up on reading the RX messages I’ve missed now.
Pic posting instructions can be found in Town Hall Help, linked on the left. You'll need a place to host them, like a photo album site or a home page from your ISP.
Steve, Host
Holy Cow! What an experience. You are certainly gutsy! Thanks so much for posting your message as it had me on the edge of my seat. After reading about conditions in the Congo, I have found that all my problems have disappeared and I am only left with minor bumps. Welcome back and I am glad you made it back safely. Take care.
Sure would enjoy any pictures you would post. We are very lucky to have people like you willing to endure such conditions. Thank you for all you do. I am very proud of you.
Donna
ps: my email address is vandeedt@yahoo.com and would love to receive any pictures and more information on the conditions the aid workers are having to face.
Since a few of you have indicated an interest in seeing a few photos from the trip, I have created a yahoo photo account. You can access the photos via this link:
http://photos.yahoo.com/cg_congo
Once you get into the site, click on the Congo album and then click "slideshow". This will give you access to some descriptions for each photo.
Take special note of all of the Toyota truck products in this album.
Enjoy!
Can you tell me.. Did the 3500# hitch have a round frame like the 2000#? Or is it made out of the square tubing like the hidden hitch?
My new RX 330 should be in Houston tomorrow. Hope to get it Tuesday and will report how the sale went.
Anyone with actual experience at pushing high speed into a tight turn, or an "S" curve, and what was your experience with the seemingly necessary lag in headlamp direction?
You don't see any advantage of "steerable" headlamps over the traditional variety which give you no illumination on your new course until you've completed your maneuver?
tidester, host
And personally I suspect the most benefit will come from tight turns, say into my driveway, at low speed.
It seems to me that once I've entered the turn I have already commited to an "entry" speed, and now suddenly braking severely to avoid a previously unseen object is just as dangerous as without "steerable" headlamps.
So, really, at speed, what good are they vs regular headlamps?
At speed you will more likely see trouble ahead and be able to react to it than if you had no illumination in which case you have no possibility of reacting to it.
tidester, host
GIMMICK only.
Obviously, you're driving too fast for it to matter much. I have something a little less breathtaking in mind like angling down a sharply winding road or turning onto a country road where you may need to avoid elk or moose or farm animals or campers crossing the road or obstacles that may pop up abruptly. Toss in some less than ideal weather conditions and I'll take every bit of help I can get! :-)
I recommend slowing down and not driving beyond what is prudent for existing conditions.
tidester, host
About a year ago I tried to add the Porsche's "tilt" upward feature to my RX300 by injecting an electrical current into the rear height sensor when HB are on. It worked fine at low speed or stopped but not at all at speed. I concluded that Lexus was disabling the leveling function above about 20MPH.
Pete
Is that true that a major portion of RX drivers are women? (I heard like 60%)
Scott
Scottphillip thinks that Flint Mica color appeals to both men and women. Maybe that will work for you.
I wonder if they do a study that delves deeper into what percentage of masculine females like the RX as opposed to effeminite males.
Is there a topic for this conversation?
"Oh, I really like the color of your car"