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Comments
Pete
VSC, Vehicle Stability Control: Uses steering wheel position sensor and yaw detector to "sense" if the vehicle is over-steering or under-steering and attempts to forestall such activity by reacting with braking even before your human sensor, your butt, senses an "out-of-whack" movement, momentum.
TRAC, Traction control: On my just departed RWD GS300 if the drive wheel(s) started to slip due to low traction or too much power (leadfoot at the wheel) for the road conditions then it would apply the brakes. If the slipping condition persisted after a few seconds it would also begin to dethrottle the engine (over-ride the leadfoot).
I can't say for sure about the FWD RX but friends have told me that it simply dethrottles the engine if either (front) drive wheel slips. Makes sense since differential braking of the front wheels would feed back to the steering wheel and might yank the steering wheel out of some unsuspecting driver's hands or even break a few knuckles or fingers.
It has additional duties on the AWD RX in that it is supposed to apply the brakes to any individual drive wheel, of four in this case. My own suspicion is that it will do that in the case of rear slippage, right to left or vice versa, but any slippage in the front would most likely mean immediate engine dethrottling for the same reasons as above.
I now have 15k miles on my 01 AWD RX with VSC/TRAC/ABS and I think I may have encountered one circumstance wherein the VSC activated. The AWD RX is predominantly a FWD vehicle, 90/10 or thereabouts normally, and as much as 75/25 under extreme conditions.
In two years, winters, it has not yet seen any serious, or even slight, on-road low traction conditions so I don't know for sure if any of these features actually work. Here in the Pacific northwest we often need tirechains to travel in the wintertime and since chains should never be used on the RX I have been reluctant to take it out into wintertime conditions.
Its a SUV? No way. There is nothing sporty about it. My friend has a 325 and I cant take corners in my RX the same way as my friends car. If you are considering the RX, consider buying the MB SL500 (or SL55). Very powerful and loads of torque at a very low rpm, and you can take corners like never before. It is a roadster so you no longer have to open the moonroof- just oush the button and the metal top folds and disappears into the trunk. It has more storage space than most convertibles, but a bit less storage space than RX but it shouldnt be of much importance as you probably spend most of your time driving alone or trips to the grocery store. It starts at a bargain price of $85k but is a very good value for money than the RX300 which costs half as much but doesnt do what it supposed to do.
Mercedes Benz SL 500
I just think the added maintenance of a belt is unnecessary in a vehicle in this price range.
In fact, there's LOADS of things that the RX can't do well - here's just three:
1. Passengers. My immediate family is comprised of 13 members. Normally, we travel in a 15-passenger Dodge van. We traded that in for the RX because the Lexus salesman told us we could all fit. Guess what? No way! 8 of us have to ride by hanging from roofrack straps on the outside. Call that convenient, Lexus? I don't think so! Strike One.
2. NASCAR racing. Salesman also said if we wanted to go on the NASCAR circuit, we could install a turbo system and racing slicks no problemo. No problemo my you-know-what! Sure, the turbo went in OK from Toyota's TRD group and we found that our OEM Goodyear tires had gone bald in the first 3000 miles from all the passenger weight so we used them as racing slicks - but do you think after all that work and expense we were competitive with Jeff Gordon? Not a chance! Dead last my friend, dead last. Strike Two.
3. Towing. When we ordered the Lexus factory tow hitch we asked our salesman - again - about towing capacity for our boat. He replied, "Tow a boat? - no problem! With this baby, you could tow an aircraft carrier out of the mud!" Right, like we'd have an aircraft carrier! So do you think it was able to tow our 55' tugboat up small 20 degree grades? Guess again, Lexus Lovers! Strike Three.
Not enough room for a few passengers. Can't go fast enough around a circle. No guts for towing small boats.
Why does ANYBODY buy one of these?
If Lexus were to clone the Chrysler T&C LXi, like they did the MB with the LS400, I would be one of the first ones in line to buy one.
So don't feel too bad about the "extra" work you did over the years - some of it probably was a good idea.
Steve
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Unless someone comes up with a damn good definition as to why, my brake fluid, transmission fluid, diff'l "fluid", anti-freeze, etc, will never be touched except for a true repair.
The rep said they do not clearcoat any black vehicle they make. I must have missed something in chemistry class. Is black resistant to scratches? What gives?
Senthil
Steve
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The only real difference between H2O and antifreeze is the addition of glycol and likely some rust inhibitors thrown in for good measure. If it's a Lexus you own then the engine coolant system is quite well sealed from contaminants and that same sealing means no leakage. The factory antifreeze on my 92 LS with 80k miles is still about the same shade of red, is not murky, and tests to -10 degrees F.
Now, I would not have said this before ever owning a Lexus, maybe some of my earlier cars, Fords all, could have gone the distance without changing out the antifreeze, I'll just never know.
Speaking of Fords, I drove two of them each for over 250k miles, a 68 and a 75, the only time the transmission fluid was "touched" was when I over-hauled the 68 at about 130k miles and on the 75 I switched in a tranxmission from the wrecking yard at about that same mileage.
I had never, ever, heard of changing out the transmission fluid, brake fluid, diff'l fluid, on any scheduled basis less than 100k miles or a necessary repair until the Lexus dealers started doing it.
They said that the RX would be more practical than a Beechcraft King Air C90B.
But dammit I can't shoot an ILS in this thing.. I can't find the flaps, I can't find the landing gear controls.. I have NO Altimeter, NO Vertical Situation Indicator.. NOTHING!
All I can find is a space where a GPS should be.
Im bummed!
Bill
Pretty unusual considering I should be the judge of my time and whether or not I can stick around or need to do something, say, work. Very strange indeed since one of the reasons for me getting a Lexus was their reputation for outstanding service. Service definitely doesn't appear what it used to be... Anyone else run into similar customer service issues? How did you handle it? Many thanks.
To answer the question that was asked !!! You will be most probably buying a AWD model if your buying in the North East.
The reality is that in NJ and most of the North East you will not find a 2WD fully loaded model just sitting in the dealers lot being offered for exactly $2K less than what the AWD would be. You will find AWD models fully loaded with NAV or no NAV. Also might find it very difficult to unload a 2WD in these parts.
I bought my RX, with my family of 3 + 1 future in mind (1 Toddler, 1 Infant) and it has been a great vehicle for us. It is roomy, quiet, great fuel economy. It is not a rocket (Lexus does not claim to be a performance leader) and it does have it short comings, but as an educated consumer who did his Homework and at the time (August 2000),there was not much competition for this market segment, I feel good about my choice (Except for not waiting for 2001 updates, but I have since made modifications for 2001 parts).
Today I must admit there are a lot more choices out there that might make more sense for your priorities (Performance, Room for 5+, True 4WD) The 2002 RX is a great looking and quality vehicle and for my situation I would probably choose it again (It might lose out to something with more power, like the upcoming MDX w\ 260hp).
Not to add fuel to the fire but a salesman's Job be it (Lexus, Mercedes, Kia, Hundai, etc) is to get your A** in the car and as much $$ in his pocket. Lexus salesmen are just a bit smoother. It is your job as the consumer to do your homework, walk into the dealership with a case load of papers, graphs and pie charts and set the tone for the sale. Otherwise the saleman takes control.
By the way I just saw a Honda Pilot downtown, it looks pretty nice !!!
I had an 00 AWD RX and traded up to get the HID, VSc and TRAC, ended up with teh Nav becuase it was part of the "pachage".
The "firmware" (factory programming) in the Nav is so flawed you can't know when to rely on it and when to not.
The climate control also has serious flaws (sudden mysterious fogging over of the interior of the windshield coupled with the non-functionality of the defog/demist mode) but those have been with Lexus from the very beginning and will likely remain.
The VC is almost totally non-functional making the vehicle predominantly FWD, about a 90/10 F/R torque distribution ratio.
You can't use snowchains without seriosuly endangering your life and that of your passenegrs according to Lexus.
I wish I could say that the addition of VSC and TRAC was helpful but I don't really know of any instance wherein they becuase actiavated.
I think that the one Negative on Nav poster lives in the woods with bears and deers and other creatures and, as is well known, they get lost all the time too.
The climate control system works great unless you have bears and deers in the RX breathing on the windshield thereby causing the fogging problem.
To answer your question directly - the HID headlights, the VSC, and the Nav are the major differences that count with some minor cosmetic changes such as the clear rear taillights, etc.
If you can find a low-mileage 1999 that you like driving at a good price ($22-24k?) and it's still within the 4-yr 50k Lexus warranty, you have nothing to lose.
But keep those bears and deers out of it.
Another example of the flawed Nav firmware occurred last evening. We were to drive from downtown Redmond to Gig Harbor. The Rx nav routed us north to the edmonds ferry over to the islands and then south. It would only compute the more/most correct route once we got to I405.
Anyone living in the Seattle area can likely see the Condon Oregon routing flaw for themselves, just check min time vs min distance.
Always cross check the nav against a map before you head out on a trip of any distance.
Windshield fogging and horrid odors: If you browse the net even a little bit you will find loads of complaints in the southern states regarding the foul odor coming from the A/C ducts at startup and it doesn't take much looking to find folks with windshield fogging problems. These are both the fault of Toyota/Lexus' A/C design supplier, NipponDenso and/or Denso US.
There are only 99 other Lexus Nav purchasers?
That's something of a relief to know, but it also explains why Lexus wants so much for the Nav updates, not enough buyers to pay back the developement costs.
We have not had any problems whatsoever with any of these cars in terms of windshield fogging and odors. If these things happen, my family has certainly never been affected.
And our 2002 ES 300 has the nav and it is fabulous. It's probably not perfect, but it is the best system on the road today and has been excellent at finding any destination we have entered near or far.
I'll have to re-check my atlas but.... I...do...believe...Seattle...is NOT...
...in the South!
Seattle/South?
You're referring to something I posted?
Try a re-read, I'm not sure you fully comprehend what I wrote.
But I'm certainly open to more direct criticism if I've made a mistake or misstated something.
Guess my confusion and inability to comprehend the written word has to do with the juxtapositioning of the "southern states" HVAC supposed RX problems next door to your Seattle-based HVAC RX supposed problems.
To simplify, one situation has to do with weather conditions Down South and the other situation that you are drawing a comparison to has to do with weather conditions Up North.
Where Seattle is. Compared to Down South. Where the southern states are. Down there. South. Versus North. Where you are.
But, hey, the sun shines and it rains in both places, so I guess they are really the same.
Dumb ol' me. Durn written words.
Steve
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Windshield fogging has two basic causative factors in the Lexus, the thin film of mositure that remains in the complex and dense evaporator core when you shut it down at night is still there the next morning but "primed" to fog over your windshield when the blower first starts up about 5 miles down the road.
The other factor is simply due to Lexus' stupidity, they simply don't know how to most effectively defog a windshield and furthermore they don't seem to know how best to keep it defogged (unless you live in Canada).
Steve
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If you have anything I should be wary of, please let me know.
Good for you, too bad for her.
My girl friend has one too and she wanted upgrade wheels. Installed HRE 640s on yesterday. We got the 18 inch version. The tires are Michelin Pilot LTX 255x55x18. There is not a lot of room between the strut and the tire, but it worked out with no spacers. Makes the 300 look so much better, especially since the truck is black. The handling is more precise. My wheels are due in next week. I will post pics if anyone is interested.
The committee for a lesser Seattle.
(now there's an opening to drive a mac truck through!)
Back from the gutter here....I'm also curious if you took consideration of Lexus denying any future claims you might have for noisy strut mounts, etc. It seems to me that changing the tire/wheel sizes could affect how they approach warranty work. Can someone clarify how this works?
I have a Silversport Edition Black RX (we are feeling your pain, senthil.) that would benefit GREATLY with a change like you've made. I finally found my SS brochure which showed some serious meats, wider than the size they recommend. I plan to take it into the Lexus dealer and ask them how I too, can have that look without wrecking my warranty for parts associated with the change.
When I look under the wheel well, it just seems that there's no room to spare between the struts and the tires. So, what's the best way to go wider without having the tire constantly hitting the struts when you encounter bumps?
Mr. Wwest, do you have pics of your setup? Care to post them?
tidester
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A little innuendo can go a long way on a board like this....