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Everybody repeat after me: read the owner's manual.
quick identification hint:
2 doors = RX7 4 doors = RX300
time for my medicine
TIA.
The RX uses Toyota part number 90915-YZZB9 (made in Japan). An equivalent is the Denso 90915-20003. Some dealers recommend the Toyota 08922-02011 (US made). If you look at the internals of the US made filter, it looks exactly like the Fram and AC filters!
Also, note that the Toyota Highlander V6 uses the same filter part numbers mentioned above.
Be careful when buying from Toyota. When you ask for a Highlander oil filter, the 4-cylinder model uses a different part number, which is 90915-YZZB1. Specify the V6!
If you want more savings, Toyota dealers advertise oil filters on their website. I got a couple last week for $3.27 a piece.
Another change for MY 02 is the demise of the Silversport, but I don't know why. It seemed impressive and was the only model we could find without wood on the steering wheel. My wife was very concerned that the wood & plastic wheel would heat up in the hot sun.
Anyone have a view on the pros & cons of the Silversport? Thanks.
Valencia Lexus in CA still had 2 silver and one black as of a week ago. Keep looking around for one. You won't be sorry as it's an awesome looking vehicle. If you get black, be sure to invest in a California Car Duster. It extends the time between car washes immeasurably.
The SS was introduced in April of the '01 model year, so perhaps they will do the same thing come April 2002?
BTW my dealer is Bobby Rahal Lexus in Mechanicsburg, PA. I highly recommend them.
I'll find out tomorrow because we located a silver one about 50 miles away. Worth the drive, if for nothing else, to see if the dealer is really serious about $4300 off MSRP.
Tony, that would be the very same Rahal, altho at this point he heads up the Formula One efforts of Jaguar. Ford, at this point, has not ponied up the sort of budget that F1 requires for a team to make it to the top tier (Ferrari, Williams, almost-BMW). Toyota is preparing to enter F1 and is fully commited and properly budgeted, by all accounts.
Tron
Read here: http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/01formula1/010829b.html
Tarik
Let's just hope for an enjoyable race in Belgium this Sunday (Speedvision, 7.30 am)!
Tarik
but i'll be watching regardless! may be a parade but i still love to see and hear those cars....
Tom
The car is 1 year old so trading it in for another car that is more stiffer is going to be about $10-15K.
I think changing the struts and coils all around, adding stiffer anti-roll bars, and replacing front seats for something much more firmer should do the trick for about $3-4k.
Does anyone know of places that specialize in making RX300 stiffer? Who makes high-performance seats that fit RX300 perfectly?
Please post here or email rcramdenus777@yahoo.com
Thx very much in advance
Chet
Too bad it only comes with perforated black interior which my better half detests.....back to the drawing board. It is one beautiful auto, and at $4300 off MSRP, one heck of a deal also.
Look under the RX300 and Lexus Electronics forums.
Can u give a short description of how it works (or if it works)? I couldn't find it on clublexus.com. Thanks!
Now, if it's color black your better half didn't like it gets a little more difficult and more expensive to change that.
Since the Rex will be her primary mode of transportation, she gets final veto rights. What she didn't like was the dark black shade and, in her opinion, cheap looking interior. Plus she prefers the two tone colors. She didn't notice the difference in the Silversport handling, but I sure did. The perforated seats would be cooler and the wood steering wheel will be hotter. I would opt for the Silversport, but with....
Discretion being the better part of valor, looks like we'll pick up a green and ivory Rex this evening. And I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the quoted $4300 of MSRP gets adjusted for the "standard $399 dealer prep" routine.
Perforated leather seats will not be any cooler or cool quicker unless there is no "backing" material under the leather or backing material which itself is perforated.
Perforated leather seats are for looks only, except those in the LS430 UL version.
If the first 50 miles is any indication we will really enjoy this automobile. Break-in includes no hard braking, changing speeds, and keeping it under 55 MPH for the first 1000 miles....if that's possible!
Of course a new car needs to be personalized so I am considering the following:
1. Aftermarket rear deck spoiler.
2. Factory match-added wood trim kit.
3. Swapping Goodyear Integrity tires for
Michelin Cross Terrain or Michelin LTX.
Anyone have experience with any or all of these? Thanks again for your most valuable comments. Now pardon me while I drop off the Edmonds Bravada list :-)
Thanks.
Steve
Do you live near NJ? I think I've seen one place mentioned at ClubLexus that does complex (and good) RX300 aftermarket systems.
Has anyone located black pearl badges for the chrome wheels? I could ask my dealer, but I've found the internet to be a better source of cutting edge information....
I'm pretty surprised that this can be done! I live in Los Angeles. I'll ask around and see how much it'll cost. If it's under 1 grand then it's probably a good investment, although I really don't need to watch DVD in my car... I hardly ever watch it at home!!
If that is the gist of your complaint then my answer applies.
Your Climate control system is designed by a company called NipponDenso, in the US known as Denso USA. When you first start up the car and the interior has been heated by the sun then the system will automatically switch to recirc on the theory that the cabin will cool down more quickly that way.
That "theory" holds up as long as the cabin interior is not hotter than the OAT (outside air temperature) which is oftentimes the case.
If the interior feels hotter to you than the OAT then the best thing to do is over-ride the automatic setting by immediately activating the flow-through mode, to bring in fresh, cooler, airflow, until you feel the interior temperature is at or below the OAT.
Then simply depress the "auto" button and let the system take it from there. It will likely return to re-circ automatically but now that will be more constructive.
Just logged onto this site for the first time yesterday, and found a lot of useful info. We're looking at the RX300, BMW X5 and Acura MDX, and would appreciate hearing from anyone who compared any/all of those vehicles. What were the deciding factors, and have you been happy with your decision? Our priorities are safety, handling, comfort/convenience, and reliability. We don't need off-road or towing capabilities, but do have winding back roads and snow, and we vacation with 2 kids and a 50 lb dog. Thanks in advance for your input!
Now, I'm considering have Paintless Dent Repair done since I don't want deal paint mismatch, etc.
I'm wondering if any other owners here have had PDR done on their vehicles and if they're satisfied with the results. And what should I expect in terms of cost for a "half-dollar" sized door ding?
I'd appreciate any recommendations, especially if they're in the San Antonio, Texas area.
Thanks!
MDX has a much better AWD setup, mechanically, than does the RX. Does not have (2001) HID, VSC, nor Trac.
RX is basically a FWD vehicle, mechanically, which can/will automatically bias as much as 49% of the torque to the rear wheels once the front wheels lose traction and start turning faster than the rears. Note that when the FRONT wheels lose traction you have very possibly lost steering control also.
In theory, Trac should alleviate this problem, actually applying the brakes to the front wheels the instant they tend to turn faster than the rears. But then that action would prevent the viscous clutch from "stiffening up" the machanically connection to the rears, so just what kind of vehicle are we left with?
So, for me, being over 60 and losing my color night vision rapidly, the HID headlamps were the deciding factor. The VSC and Trac, if they work as advertised, will overcome the mechanical advantage of the MDX and X5's AWD setup.
I have never believed that it is a good idea to have the majority of the engine's torque delivered to the front wheels. If more than half of the available torque is delivered to the rear in normal Mode then it will be the rear that will lose traction first and the recovery from that can be very quick and instinctive. With FWD once traction is lost there is often no recovery method available.
Or...plan on putting all luggage up on the roof? I think it has a 75-100 lb limit and there ain't no rub strips between the crossbars so count on adding a luggage carrier of some kind and that will limit your actual luggage weight even more. Not to mention the decrease in MPG because of wind resistance and decrease in handling re being top heavy.
Forget the current BMW; it makes the RX look large. Rumor has it that an extended BMW will soon appear but make sure your wallet has at least $50K available.
The MDX, if that's your remaining alternative, is the best bet to handle and carry stuff in a mid-size SUV. First-year complaints have been relatively minor but the MPG isn't great and it does like 91 octane (sister-in-law has one and couldn't fit hubby and baby and all her baby hardware into RX).
We have the RX and love it, but after two trips, it serves us best as an intra-city commuter. The new version coming out as a 2003 model will have more cargo room ala Toyota Highlander - you might check on one of those; it's currently built in the same Japanese factory as the RX.
Good luck.
The BMW was quickly dismissed primarily because of cargo room. The price was also exorbitant in comparison to the other two cars which offered more space and luxury.
The MDX was drove well, definitely had the most cargo room. The interior looked chintzy for a car of its price though. Faux wood dash and console - yikes! Dealers visited were very unwilling to negotiate on price, even on the late Sept and Oct deliveries of 2001 vehicles, very forceful in trying to sell dealer installed options.
After much research and debate, we wound up with the Lexus. We have had 3 of their other cars (an ES, 2 GS(s)). The RX has a fair amount of cargo room, rear seat can more forward 6 inches to expand it further, seats split 60/40 as well. The interior is far more luxurious than either of the other two and the sound system is better as well. I do not plan to do any major off road work, car is fine for my husband, daughter, Labrador Retretiver and I to travel around town or go away for a long weekend. As the car is not in as high demand as the MDX (it is still the best selling SUV in the USA), the dealership was very willing to negotiate price and gave me a reasonable trade in on my 99 GS300.
While my husband liked the looks of the MDX slightly better (a little more truck like than the RX), getting the RX AWD with all options except NAV for over $1000 less than the MDX w/ touring package, we are both confident we made the right choice for us.