Lexus RX 300

17576788081183

Comments

  • lily15lily15 Member Posts: 4
    I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE THE RX300 ASAP. I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AWD W/0 NAVIGATION.WHAT'S A GOOD PRICE O PAY. I LIVE IN MARYLAND. ALSO IF I DECIDE TO CHOOSE PRICELINE WHAT'S A GOOD BID.
    THANKS. I JUST NEED A FUULY LOADED RX300 W/O NAVIGATION.I NEED HELP FAST.
  • lily15lily15 Member Posts: 4
    BY THE WAY I'M WILLING TO DRIVE TO PA OR NEW JERSEY IF I CAN GET A GGO DEAL ON THE RX300 W/O NAVIGATION. SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY DEALER RECOMMENDATIONS IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I LIVE IN THE MARYLAND/DC/VIRGINIA AREA
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    The olds Alero detects and "alarms" a low tire pressure by comparing the ABS roll rate between wheels, clever.
  • mvs1mvs1 Member Posts: 462
    ravl, I almost never use the auto climate control. My main issue with the system is that around this time of year (in CT) if I were to set the auto to usually Max heat, with the vehicle parked for a prolonged period of time. I'll get that blast of cold air for about that same five miles (see wwest some of us do agree with you).

    ***Although to aleaviate the problem I simply removed the windshield, thus eliminating any chance of condensation.***

    An option I'd like to see on the RX along with the others that have been mentioned, an auto start feature, this would make me take full advantage of the auto climate control.
  • mooretorquemooretorque Member Posts: 241
    I'd expect to see auto locks on the RX soon, since most other Lexi have them, in conjunction with C-BEST.

    Never thought of taking the windshield out; I'll check with the wife and see how she likes the idea, since it IS her car, after all! ROFL!
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,214
    Lily15: Try carsdirect.com to price an RX as you would like. Also, of course, Edmunds T.M.V. You can use these numbers when negotiating. I just bought a loaded 2002 RX (for the evil :-) wife) for less than both those sources quoted. I'm pretty sure I could have done even better, but with the wife giving me the, "cut the dickering and buy me the car" death look, I probably shook hands at least $500 too early! But she's ecstatic which makes me smile.

    Ravl: I was surprised that the RX seat memory system did not include the outside mirrors and radio presets as my 300M does. I also would like the autolocking feature (a la my 300M. Lotta car, not a lotta money!) I'm pretty sure the two biggest selling points for my wife were the styling and the purse holder! At least now her monstrous purse won't be on my lap or under my feet...

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • ges1ges1 Member Posts: 10
    Has anyone experienced a problem with the pinstriping peeling off of the RX300? I have about three areas where this is occurring on a three month old 2001. I live in Alaska, and I wonder if it is due to the cold temperatures that we have had?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    mvs1:

    Which parts are...

    My RX300 (GS, LS, etc.) doesn't turn on the blower in automatic mode even at "max heat" until the engine water jacket temperature is up to 130F...
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Comes to the dealer "standard" kit with any Rx or HL, they should be glad to give you one
  • miker_83miker_83 Member Posts: 2
    I don't have a problem with the auto climate control, either in the winter or summer. During the winter I leave it set at 75 degrees with the AC off and never have to touch it. When I first start up, the fan is off while the engine warms up. As it does warm up, the fan gradually increases speed until it is running almost full blast, pumping warm air into the cabin through the floor vents. Then as the cabin warms up, the fan slows down until it settles on the speed needed to keep the cabin at 75. This whole process happens without me having to touch or think about anything. Suits me just fine.

    Don't know if this helps, but when I first started using the system, I found I had to think about it differently from the manual climate controls I was used to. In a manual system you set the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. In the winter you set this as hot as possible until the car warms up and then lower it. With the auto system in the RX, think of the temperature control like the thermostat in your house. Set it to what you want the temperature in the cabin to be, and the system will figure out how hot to make the air (and fan speed) in order to achieve that temperature and then maintain it.

    I, for one, am very happy with the auto climate control.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Lexus errs on the side of comfort for the majority. You don't say where you live.

    Out here in the wintertime cold and humidity of Seattle we like our cars to warm up (and in so doing dry out) as rapidly as possible.

    When you get into a cold car on a cold day your body's comfort level is affected just as much by the surrounding COLD objects, near and FAR, as it is by warming airflow.

    So part of the object is to warm up the cold interior parts of the vehicle without unduly discomforting yourself with overly warm, HOT, airflow.

    The other reason "WE" can't use the system on automatic is becuase it insists on COOLING our faces and upper body even in the DEAD of winter.

    And if you can keep the A/C from working in the wintertime you are much less likely to DIE from loss of forward vision.

    I have very little doubt that I might be perfectly happy with any Lexus system remaing in fully automatic year 'round in southern California.
  • jeffmust2jeffmust2 Member Posts: 811
    tested the RX AWH drive system on the local dynometer?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    couldn't get scheduled in yet. Filled out the forms early this AM requesting a time period, haven't heard back yet.
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    hey, I was scanning this forum and for a second thought that I had done a www-warp into the 300M forum when I saw your name here. Then I remembered reading about your evil wife back on the 300M forum.

    Hey, one more thing I forgot to tell you about RX300 - the remotes for the door locks do not have the seat memory feature. After my wife drives our RX, when I need to drive it, I open the door and press the #2 button on the dash and wait outside like a dork while the seat is winding into my position. It's OK if it's not raining outside.

    Other than that, it is a nice little truck.
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
    $ave your money.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Why belittle your own voice in these matters?

    The RX starts out with 220HP, we all know some of that will be lost on the way to the contact patches. Or are you proposing 95HP to the rear and the rest to the front?

    We can all respect the fact that you should NEVER have found engine coolant in the crankcase. But that doesn't mean the Lexus has any other "random" problems.

    Oh, and I'm not testing the RX for the ultimate level of HP it can deliver, I only want to know the real world numbers for the torque distribution front to rear. None of us would be so stupid, I hope, as to go WOT if we are in a situation wherein the torque distribution is of importance.

    Speak with/about factual events, you'll get a lot more respect that way.
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,214
    Yes, I've already noticed some of the niceties that came with my 300M that are lacking on the RX. But, it's the evil wife's car and she's mighty happy to have it!
    I'm still waiting for the Lexus hat and t shirt...

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • mvs1mvs1 Member Posts: 462
    I'm pretty sure that everyone realizes that you will not receive any heat until the vehicle has reached the appropriate temp. I should have clarified my statement better. If I leave my auto climate control active, and do not disengage this function. The next time I get in my car and turn the key, that cold blast of air I get is what I was referring to.

    Now come to think of it, there are many flaws with this vehicle, if Lexus would disengage the auto climate once the vehicle was turned off I'd definetly buy another. But because they've decided to not listen to consumers such as ourselves I'm leaning toward purchasing a Ford :)

    Oh, and your right, my tongue does stick to my cheek without the windshield in place.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Maybe its still too early in the morning or I haven't had enough coffee, or maybe both, but I still don't understand.

    When you turn on the key in the morning you get a cold blast of air if you have left the system in what "wrong configuration"?

    And please don't ever go back to Ford except for simple functionality. I have a 2.3L 93 Ford ranger PU.

    I can never forgive them for making the Continental FWD and FORCING me over to Lexus. Now, like Cadillac, they want to move back to RWD but I have lost interest, completely.

    Maybe an American built ML320.
  • raddboy41raddboy41 Member Posts: 249
    We've got about 8 inches of snow here in NC the past 12 hrs. and my '01 FWD RX300 w/VSC handles it all with aplomb. Now, 8" of snow isn't much in the north, but in NC we have very little snow removal equipment and it basically paralyzes the cities. Most of the streets are covered with hard packed snow and the sudivisions are loose snow. The RX300 handles it all with little fanfare.
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
    It's to slow to worry about traction. Or even HP.

    BTW...220hp is a LONG shot. I would doubt it even has 190.
  • jeffmust2jeffmust2 Member Posts: 811
    That's when you go 25k miles between oil changes and two pistons freeze-up from the sludge. So his horsepower is down a bit.
  • mvs1mvs1 Member Posts: 462
    1st just kidding about the Ford. If your engaged the auto climate control and don't deactivate it before turning the vehicle off, say at night, then the next morning turn the vehicle on the auto climate engages again but as stated will not heat the cabin (hot air) until the vehicle reaches a certain temp. My suggestion would be for the vehicle to actually be "smart" enough to realize that the system is in auto mode. When set for a temp at which would be hotter (winter)/cooler (summer) than the vehicle is capable of at that present time, not engage until able to actually send out air at the set point. Got it?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    I went out and tested our RX and our GS. in Fully automatic mode the sysetm blower will not run at any speed until the water jacket reaches 130F, more than high enough to provide a comfortably warm initial airflow.

    What I did discover is if you for some reason "tinker" with the blower speed, manually turn it up or down, while in automatic mode it takes the blower out of the automatic control regime altogether.

    So now when you start the car up the next morning the "system" is in automatic mode but the blower speed is not. If, when you last shut the car off, the blower happened to be manually set to a high speed then just as you have said it comes on instantly, with a rush of very cold air.

    I didn't think to check, but it may do the very same thing if it was left in the defrost/defog/demist position when last shut down.
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
    Maybe even a moped...might be a tight race.

    BTW..Who said 25k & Freeze-up? Not I.
  • nobadeernobadeer Member Posts: 3
    ...I am the (occasionally!) proud owner of an old Explorer, and am thinking of getting an RX300 to replace it...one decent feature in the Explorer is the cargo space, not just in cubic feet, but in square feet.

    The Explorer has space behind the passenger seats that is about 5' wide x 3.5' long, or nearly 18 square feet of space. I haven't measured the rx300, but it looks a little less roomy, esp. in terms of length between the passenger seats and the rear tail gate. I can't find the sq. ft. stats anywhere -- can any rx 300 owners help out? where do you guys put stuff?

    thanks.
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
  • rmnixonrmnixon Member Posts: 21
    Where have you guys bought the end cap oil filter wrench for the RX 300? I seem to be having trouble finding one that fits. Thanks.
  • jeffmust2jeffmust2 Member Posts: 811
    For the right size filter end-cap "wrench" (the only kind that will work in the small amount of space), take a new filter into Pep Boys or AutoZone or similar shop and ask them to recommend the right size. Then you need a socket driver, either 3/8" or 1/2", to turn the end cap.

    As to cargo space, older Explorer vs. new RX - we had a '98 Mountaineer (same body as the Explorer) and there was quite a bit more space behind the seats than our '01 RX300. As The Gimp will tell you, you can't go wrong with the RX - it's a great, great vehicle and Lexus service and support are wonderful. However, it is smaller in cargo room vs. the Explorer/Mountaineers.

    Consumers Reports (6/2000) lists the differences as follows:

    Length behind 1st/2nd row of seats:
    Explorer, 78.5"/42"
    RX300, 73"/37"

    Cubic volume (LxWxH) space behind 2nd row:
    Explorer, 52.0 cubic ft
    RX300, 37.5 cubic ft

    If you go with the RX, just remember to follow the Owner's Manual on frequency of oil & filter changes and use their recommended high-quality oils (not Amsoil). Good luck with you choice.
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
    As The Gimp will tell you, you can't go wrong with the RX - That is WAY Wrong! Stay with the ford.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Have you taken a serious look at the HL?

    It's a bit bigger on the inside and as near as I can see it's only practical short-coming vs the RX is the lack of HID, which you can now get aftermarket.

    Vs the Explorer neither the RX nor the HL will give you the kind of AWD performance, there are both basically FWD and while they do have a VC across the center open differential it never seems to be up to the task at hand.

    My suspicion has been that the VC is very lightly pre-loaded so Toyota/Lexus didn't have to go to the expense Chrysler did on the T&C to make it a REAL AWD.

    But you won't need to under-inflate your tire on either of these to reduce the chance of rollover either.

    If you really do need the carrying capacity of the Explorer then neither of these will be satisfactory.

    Filter socket: I wasn't able to get an exact fit but I was able to get one that would do the job.
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
    You want to see hi revs? Come on down.
    0 to 60 in 4.2 sec..... Come on!

    Gotta be some kind of mentally challenged, I guess.......Come and see.
  • ravlravl Member Posts: 129
    One of the features I really like about the RX is the back seat's ability to move forward and back, much the same way front seats are designed. I don't have the need very often to haul large cargo loads, but do have large teenage boys riding in the back. It's nice they can slide the back seat back to create more leg room for themselves.
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,214
    Evil wife went to Lexus dealer last night to pick up paperwork. They gave her a Lexus hat and very nice golf shirt for me. I win! She gets the car, but I get the shirt and hat!
    Gotta keep telling myself that...

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • sssstevessssteve Member Posts: 49
    Hey wwest:

    You think there is an HID after-market product for the RX? I'd love to have that!

    Any info on this would be great!

    thanks!
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
  • raddboy41raddboy41 Member Posts: 249
    This is NOT a personal attack, but do you have ANYTHING constructive to offer to this forum other than your one or two line regurgitations? We ALL know, many times over, the problems you've had and we appreciate you contributing your experience, but GET OVER IT! Move on, live life! Buy a T&C!! :^) Sorry wwest....
  • lordkamalordkama Member Posts: 23
    Hello!

    What kind of oil do Lexus dealerships use for oil changes? How often do you change your oil? The manual says 5,000 to 7,500 miles but my dealership still recommends 3,000 miles?

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks!
  • melanjianmelanjian Member Posts: 31
    yes, the rx vvtI engine is prone to sludge according to my lexus dealer here in michigan...
    i use castrol syntec 5w-30 along with a castrol
    max pro plus filter (only available at k-mart)
    and change every 5,000 miles... also keep all
    receipts!!!! believe me you will feel the difference with castrol syntec!!!
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Most use inexpensive recycled.
  • doudoudiddoudoudid Member Posts: 76
    when i bought my sequoia (sorry for a difference vehicle) the salesman told me toyota makes people to believe oil needs to be changed every 3k miles, so they can make profit. (he left his job on his own will to help on his father's business after that)
    a friend of mine is always a MB fans, all service included oil change is on the factory, as everyone knows. they recommended him to have a oil change every 10k....
  • wayn1wayn1 Member Posts: 69
    What is wrong with Amsoil??????
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    has absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's the blankety-blanks who want to play word games with "recommended" oil change periods vs REQUIRED!

    If Mobil 1 didn't exist or wasn't available I wouldn't have any problem at all with using Amsoil, but I would still follow my own lifes experiences and change the oil and filter every 4000 miles or so. Really cheap insurance.

    Now maybe if I had started using 7500 mile oil changes some years ago and had by now accrued enough personal experience to know that no detrimental affect would result, I wouldn't have any trouble using that schedule today. But I find absolutely nothing wrong with my personal experience base as it exists today.
  • sssstevessssteve Member Posts: 49
    wwest:

    It's a nice goose chase - but all I can find is info about automotive lighting from Philips in Europe. No indication of availability in the US at all. Also doesn't list a Lex RX-300 on the automobile selection page.

    But if you have any further info - that would be great
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    I was driving home from Orlando and there was this other RX300 ahead of me. He was clogging up the left lane, moving too slowly. Some cars were forced to drive behind him. Finally he decided to spped up. I was amazed to see blue smoke billowing out of the tailpipe as he accelerated. It had to be the Gimp.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    I live in Orlando.. its a "Florida Moron" thing! :)

    Willard.. They buy Brand-Name oil in bulk. Most have overhead dispensing systems. Sort of like a pump.

    Bill
  • fasterthanufasterthanu Member Posts: 210
    For those complaining about the RX's auto climate control system: a good practice in preserving the battery is to turn off all systems (lights, radio and climate control) for about 30 seconds after parking to let the battery charge before turning off the engine. If you do this, you'll avoid that 'blast of cold air' you get when turning the engine on while avoiding dead batteries. This is especially helpful for those of you complaining since you live in cold climates that drain the battery a lot faster.

    As for getting a Ford over an RX: I recently drove a rented Mountaineer and was very pleased with it. It had 3 rows of seats, a leather interior, good ride height, a better turning circle than the RX, and amenities like auto climate control and a 6-disc in-dash CD player. But, it had its downsides too - the ride was harsher, engine noise was pronounced, its fit and finish was of a lesser quality (you could see the metal in the door frame from inside, around the interior panels), and its overall design was more suitable for the rental that it was, albeit a nice one. It is simply not a vehicle I would like to call my own. The Lexus gives you an experience that you can savor everyday without tiring of it. Its design is one you can admire in your driveway for a long time to come. Sure, it has its shortcomings when viewed as a truck (interior space, etc.), but when you look at it as a luxury vehicle, it's superior to so many others you won't go wrong owning it.

    You spend your money and you ought to get what you pay for. We paid for a Lexus and are glad to live with it every day. If you have other priorities such as those that a Ford can provide, then be happy with that too. Just don't buy a Ford because a disgruntled gimp tells you to.
  • jeffmust2jeffmust2 Member Posts: 811
    Wayn1 -

    Much as I appreciate having Willard (wwest) answer questions directed to me...

    For a real answer, check Edmund's "Maintenance & Repair" board under the topic, "Engine Sludge?", post #2780. Bob seems to know his oil.

    Amsoil is apparently a type of pyramid sales plan where you can become a "dealer" for $25 or so, get the oil at wholesale, then persuade your drinkin' buddies that it's the Liquid Lubricant of the Gods and sell the stuff to them at retail.

    Whoop...whoop...whoop...whoop...whoop...there goes the Gimp Meter off the scale again! Expect incoming at any moment...

    Let's make this Easy Math for the one amongst us so challenged:

    Number of RX oil changes under normal driving conditions (every 7500 miles) REQUIRED to keep warranty in force if one doesn't go to the dealer for the free 5k change and one drives 25k miles:

    One (1) at 7500 miles
    One (1) at 15000 miles
    One (1) at 22500 miles

    So your total is.... Three (3)!

    Number of said changes done
    on the GimpMoBile: ZERO (0)!

    And ZERO is the amount of warranty service I would expect Lexus to give the Gimp for any sludge-type problem.

    Willard, you CAN answer any questions directed to me concerning the following:

    a. Why does my RX windshield fog up so much?
    b. Why do Jeeps have more traction than a AWD RX?
    c. Why does my RX hold less than a T&C minivan?
    d. Why is my RX' handling crummy vs. a Porsche?
    e. Why are AAA route maps better than RX' Nav sys?
    f. Why are deers attracted to the RX at night?
    g. Did McGyver ever build an A/C filter for the RX out of toothpicks and brillo pads?
  • gimpyrxgimpyrx Member Posts: 198
    jeff....what an id...! You know NOTHING about Amsoil, or any oil I would say....Jeff can be a bad thing.

    Sure bob is going to talk junk about Amsoil,He does'nt sell it. DUH!

    wwest....IF IF IF!
  • fasterthanufasterthanu Member Posts: 210
    That incoming you predicted came in alright - as effective as a Scud.
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