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Comments
And Willy, I don't think many AWD, four wheel drive, etc. are going to fair well on "oil-slicked streets". This sounds like something out of a Batman movie.
The AWD on an RX300 is designed (obviously) many on-road circumstances. Dry, sand, moderate snow, rain, etc. It is NOT designed to climb Mt. Washington in the middle of the winter. Sorry Willy, but neither of your RX's would make it up.
If the RX is such a compromise on all fronts of life, why did you buy two?
-Craig
By oil slicked streets I mean the first rain in LA after a long dry spell during which all of the oil droppings from the many vehicles traveling the highways accumulate.
And sorry again, I guess after 40 years here in the Seattle area I've grown use to our "extremely severe weather" onditions in our nearby mountain passes and oftentimes here on the eastside itself.
But that's actually okay, I can always put snowchains on the rear drive wheels of my 911 or my GS300 then I don't really need the use of the RX300 if I want to go to Yakima, snow skiing, or even get the five miles to work on a heavy snow day.
Outrun: I can't figure out if you're fifteen years old or just lack any real world experience. The post I was responding to might have been from Alaska and unless you have actually experienced wintertime driving around Anchorage or Fairbanks there is really no way you can appreciate the need for an AWD system that is truly up to the task at hand.
And the RX300 just isn't it.
But with very few design changes it could be...
Redesign the rear suspension so that there is enough clearance for snowchains.
"Stiffen" the VC to make the RX a true AWD and then add an over-running clutch (like the T&C) so the front braking doesn't affect the rear braking.
Chrysler also uses a dog-clutch so to lock the over-running clutch in reverse so the T&C remains AWD when backing up, but I don't care either way about that.
Of course my friends in Fairbanks would say that Anchorage doesn't have "winter". Slow down and drive what you like (ymmv).
Steve
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Updated for February 12, 2002
Good news for Toyota dealers: Finally some warranty work
One of the noteworthy items in a review of Toyota dealer financial statements is the relatively low level of warranty revenue to the service department. That may be about to change, if only for a short time. Toyota Motor Corp. said that it is sending letters to 3.3 million Toyota owners in the U.S. in hopes of resolving a potential engine problem.
Faced with a steady stream of complaints from customers who say their Toyota and Lexus engines are gumming up with sludgy motor oil, Toyota is offering to pay the costs for repairing sludge damage when car owners can provide proof that they changed the oil in their cars at least once a year.
The policy adjustment covers Toyota and Lexus models from 1997 to the present equipped with the company's 3.0-liter V-6 engine or its 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. Those engines are used in most of the factory’s high-volume models such as the Toyota Camry, Solara and Avalon cars, Sienna minivan, Highlander SUV and the Lexus RX300 SUV and ES300 sedan.
A Toyota spokesman declined to speculate on the potential cost to Toyota but said many of the engine problems could be repaired by simply changing the oil several times to flush the sludge (note to Toyota dealers: how much do you charge for an oil change?) "A valve job might be the most expensive thing. An engine replacement would be very rare," the spokesman said.
And how many times each winter do/did you resort to tire chains?
I know Anchorage wintertime weather isn't as bad as Fairbanks but don't I remember having to use snow chains to just get out of the hotel parking lot and over to mcd's for breakfast?
1972...
I'm 30, and have lived in the Northeast for all 30 years. I've never been to California, Seattle, nor Alaska. I have been to Canada a few times.
Once again, the RX300 is not designed to be driven in an "Alaska Winter", as you put it. If you say a vehicle in Alaska must have a "robust 4WD system", then go take your T&C and drive all you want. Just be sure to carry your AAA card so when it breaks down, you'll have a tow.
If I lived in an area where I know I'd be driving in conditions that require chains, I'd sure as heck check before I'd buy a vehicle (two in your case) that it could actually use chains. And knowing that you're the "know all, be all" of the RX300 AWD system, why in sam hill did you buy two of these "junkers" knowing that you live in Seattle, home of the worst weather in the country?
-Craig
Because I mistakenly trusted Lexus not to knowingly and intentionally SCREW me. The RX300 AWD system is now acknowledged as a "simple HACK" by everyone knowledgeable of 4WD systems.
When I bought the 2000 AWD I was told that its "normal" torque distribution mode was 70/30 F/R, and would go to 50/50 under adverse conditions. That of course proved not to be true.
I upgraded to the 2001 RX300 becuase I was told the TRAC would make it equal to the ML series for AWD functionality.
It doesn't, not even close.
And yes, I'm totally responsible, myself alone, for not reading the owners manual more thoroughly, it just simply never occurred to me that a vehicle built by Lexus with AWD would not have the ability to have chains installed and used safely. Actually I was so trusting of Lexus (and/or stupid) that I went out and bought two sets of tire chains before I sat down and read that section of the owners manual.
Oh, Seattle is actually something of a temperate climate, but average snowfall 30 minutes to the east is 200"
You seem like an educated man. You seem like you've purchased many cars in the past. You seem like you're not a young whipper snapper.
You actually TRUSTED a salesman? Not trusting a car salesman is rule number 1. Actually, that's a "given" before the rules of car buying were written.
That's not all. You actually trusted a car salesman TWICE. First for the 2000 RX300, in which you were told the torque split was 70/30, and can go to 50/50. Then a year later, you believed them when they said that the VSC, TRAC, etc. would make it equal to an ML in AWD performance.
First time, shame on them. Second time, shame on you.
-Craig
I had studs for about 12 of the 20 years there. I have chains and only recall two specific times I used them - prolly used them 6 or 8 times total (in 20 winters, not 8 times a winter).
I didn't live on a steep hillside but I did go to the passes skiing a lot (the road to Arctic Valley could get dicey). Maybe the people in your neck of the woods don't know how to maintain the winter roads as well.
I don't seem to have any trouble getting my FWD minivan with all season tires up to the local resort here in Boise though (so far anyway - touch wood!).
AWD/4x4 vehicles are a great tool - years ago I had one. But they aren't a panacea for all conditions.
Steve
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Senthil
Road maintenance is more than okay, we just imported too many californians who don't have a clue, they think the throttle is the answer to everything. You often need chains to get around them after they spin out in the road or in the ditch.
If you live in Alaska you don't have any choice but to know what the wintertime driving rules are, regretably not so in Seattle.
outrun/salesman.
I bought my first Lexus in late 91, a new 92 Ls400, stayed with the same salesman until he recently relocated to Oxnard, none of this was his fault. Regarding Lexus' supplied information on the RX300, reminds me of my USAF recruiter in 57, didn't lie, but certainly with held some of the important details.
Damage to roads is extreme with the frequent and rapid freeze-thaw cycles characteristic of the more temperate climates and virtually impossible to maintain. Anchorage doesn't have that rapid variation.
tidester
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Steve
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danrx, I have not checked Ray Catena yet, going to stop by on this long weekend. Which Ray Catena did you use? I think they have two locations. The $36200 I got was at Difeo in Bridgewater, NJ and Bay Ridge Lexus in Brooklyn, NY.
Rpawlax98, Bay Ridge lexus might be closer to you than NJ dealerships. You might want to speak with them on the phone before, ask for Mike Pecorino and tell him the price you want to get before going there.
I hope to own a new rx300 this weekend. I'll post here to let know how the transaction went.
1st, the 2002 NAVTEC nav system uses data from 2000.1. This is very old and has one-tenth of the data that NAVTEC puts on the BMW system, which is Version 2001.2)
2nd, it depends on what one's purpose for the Nav system is. If it is just to amuse the driver, that is fine. But, if one wants to use it to find addresses, it is not very good.
It will serve to weed out those that try to use it while driving and regrettably some innocents will also not survive.
Updates will be useless without some serious firmware attention.
=P
Sure wish the RX had the ML drive train.
A Light off-road event in Southern New Jersey! Come enjoy the trails!
-mike
http://WWW.AUTO.COM/targetnews/articles/Automotive/02_12_2002.reutr-story-N12210903.html
If Bay Ridge is giving you $36,200 that sounds pretty good to me but then again I am out of the pricing loop since I am not a shopper. Make sure you find out and compare the TOP (Total Outta Pocket). I went to difeo also, they were extremely professional and treated me well but they did not match Ray Catena's price and I live 20 minutes from Ray Catena (Oakhurst, NJ). Positive things have been posted about both RayCat locations. You can call Mike Barrone @ Ray Catena and chat w/ him tell him Danny R sent ya. Honestly I don't know how much further they will come down from your price.
Good luck this weekend
And how about rear suspension clearance for snow chains, will they fix that?
Am I correct?
How else could you explain the pocket book holder below the shift lever?
-Craig
Hate to say it, but it's a chick car...Lexus/Toyota designers hit the nail on the head with this one.
$36,200 sounds like a very good price to me! I wish I had done that well!
D'OH!
'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...)
Thanks,
Service has been very good, except for their 4 attempts to fix my clicking sunroof, which still clicks. Service is also very expensive like most Lexus dealers.
However, the picture was proven to be a "photoshopped" image - a fake.
Toyota salesman just told me that the highlander was a replacement for the discontinued Camry station wagon.....
It's all in how you package the feature. Think six pack holder from now on...
As to the RX being a chick car, my husband and I discussed this a while back. He thought only women drove them. When it was put to the test, we saw A LOT of men driving them.
There's not many segments of the car market that are truly macho male type vehicles. My husband's Grand Prix qualifies as a guy car. A lot of trucks still holler 'guy'. But even that is changing with lots of chicks driving trucks now.
I know there's other 'guy' cars out there. You know, the ones we chicks haven't infiltrated yet. muwahahahahahahaha.
I found one place through a quick net search for $397, what's the best price you guys have seen?
(Now I will be kicked black and blue by a women with left legs made strong by use of a clutch, but in general, chicks and sticks don't mix.)
I would never buy an RX300. It's just too feminine for me. Cushy ride, pocket book holder, cute looking, etc. Not that a '96 Accord screams "I am man". I inheritated that vehicle from my wife when we got married, although my next vechile is probably going to be a Subaru WRX (wagon, of course).
During the week, if I have to go to the supermarket, I take the RX since it's much easier to pack things in the back as opposed to stuffing it in the back seat of the Accord (the trunk is full of junk).
Also, there are a ton of guys driving "minivans" to work. Does that mean that a minivan is a "guy" car? Hardly. Not even a silly Caravan Sport. Sport? Minivan? I think Chrylser needs to wake up.
-Craig
thanks for your tip to contact Ray Catena. I did call the guy you pointed out and he said that they'd give me a price under $36 K which is even lower than what I've got so far. He does remeber you (he actually asked me who gave me his name).
They seem to be less flexible about my trade-in though but at least they were sincere to tell me that and they gave me prety tight price range for my trade-in. As soon as I figure out how to get rid of my old car (hate to go through selling on my own ) I'm going to Ray Catena and making my purchase.
Thanks again,
VadimZ.
If you need the wiring harness www.toyotaguys.com sells a connector that plugs into the existing harness in the black plastic housing under your spare tire. There have been some previous posts about some problems with this connector on pre 2001 RX's. Don't know what the deal is there.
Here it is 2001 and I drive my wife to work every day and take her home at night in the vehicle of her choice, a 2001 AWD RX300. But, that's not to say that I wouldn't make the same choice most of the time.
Times have changed, she is just as willing, or maybe even moreso, to drive the 78 flat out across Montana or Wyoming. As the SP goes by the other direction "signing" her to slow down she gives them that friendly wave and gets away with it every time.
Sorry guys, I think the only GUY vehicle left might be a Cat or Dozer.
Guys:
LS430 (stuffy old men)
SC430 (stuffy old men who pretend to be young)
GS300/430 (middle age men)
IS300 (young men)
Girls:
RX300
ES300
Gender Neutral:
LX470
-Craig
All this talk of loaded AWD RX300s for ~$36k is killing me! I thought I had a good deal beating Edumnds TMV and carsdirect.com. Guess not.
D'OH!
Our RX is my wife's. I only drive it when it needs service as the Lexus dealer is on my way to work. The evil wife did drive a stick for 10 years ('92 Nissan Sentra SE-R, '95 Saab 900s), but she said she had grown weary of rowing her own boat and the undeniable cuteness (to her, at least)and slushbox of the RX made it a fait a compli...
Funny story: The evil wife goes to Germany on business for two weeks (during Octoberfest. Life is tough). She is travelling with 4 guys. They have a rental car in Germany. Turns out to be an Audi A4 manual. None of the guys can drive a stick, so my wife is the chauffer for the whole stay! Which was actually fortuitous as five had to stuff into an A4!
She actually loved the A4 but when it came time for me to buy a new car and I had decided on the A4, she declared it too small and used her veto power. I, happily, ended up with a Chrysler 300M which is FAR from too small!
Evil.
'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...)
-Craig