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Offer Price: $40,518 (excluding ttl)
Total MSRP: $44,786
- Base 2008 RX350 FWD: $37,400
- Destination Charge: $715
- Navi/Mark Levinson package: $6,190
- Towing Prep Package: $160
- Mudguards: $142
- Cargo tray: $110
- Wheel locks: $69
This is actually a special order because I didn't want all the extra options (heated seats, 18" alloy wheels, rear dvd system) that are normally added to a levinson RX. According to the salesperson, target delivery date 4-6 weeks. This is an Atlanta dealership.
I have noticed after filling up my tank with the last couple of fill-ups that my cruising range is only coming up to 290 miles. I was quite dismayed to see this big drop in gas mileage. Now, understand, I do mostly city driving, five or six miles one way to Downtown.
The only highway driving I do is for vacation or visiting family in South Florida three times a year. I live in Tampa, Florida.
My average mpg readout had been reading out at around 17 to 18mpg's. I decided about a week ago I was going to really try and be cognizant of the way I drive. In other words, I would be attempting to drive like a "little old lady." What I've been doing is on take-off at the stop light I try not to accelerate past the Number 2 on my RPM odometer, I try to coast a little bit more when coming to a stop light, try to do less hard braking. Voila! my
mpg readout jumped up to a little over 20 mpg's
today. I was pleasantly surprised.
I admit it's a little bit of a challenge to drive so conservatively, but it's also a fun challenge at the same time. Also, please note that I have been running regular unleaded gas in my RX for just about the whole time I've had the car. Who knows? I might even see even more of an increase if I were to put the premium gas, but until the prices come down some more, I just don't want to do it right now. Otherwise, the car drives perfectly fine driving on regular unleaded.
I do get much better mpg's the few times I've made some trips, but that's not very often. So around town gas mileage has become pretty important to me. Again, it may not be easy to achieve these results, but it can be done! Good luck, everyone! I will continue with my
"conservative" driving to see if those mpg's come up some more!
But as all savvy car shoppers know, you never buy the first production run of any car. You should always wait at least a year before buying a redesigned model in order to allow for production bugs to work itself out. I would take a great deal on a 2008 RX and keep it for a couple of years and then get the new one a few years in. You can use the fact that it's being redesigned as a negotiating tool so that the depreciation won't be too harsh.
Good luck!
I just bought my '08 350. It's a great car and should do me well for the 4-6 years I intend to keep it. By then; who knows. Buying the first off the line will likely entail more $ and you can bet the new version will certainly have more stuff in it.
BTW, the new Corolla/Matrix are apparently going to be quite the piece as well. He mentioned something about a 300HP version?? That would be a real road burner!
I drive about 40 miles to work everyday in LA. All freeway driving. I use premium and my 'readout' shows 22 mpg. Considering that I cruise at 80 for most of the way, I think that is very good and am very pleased .
Have you driven a FWD or F/AWD domestic vehicle with NINE forward gear ratios? Six in the "gearbox" and three more gained via the use of the OD lock-up clutch?
Requires a bit more warming of the ATF wouldn't you think?
"Domestic cars.." "..started up fine..." "..without any funny sounds.."
I haven't driven a domestic car on a regular basis for many years now but the ones I have driven cannot hold a candle to ANY Lexus.
Thanks again!
parking sensors ??
Does anyone know about this?
We would like to get a RX350 but both my wife and I would benefit with this sensors.
Thank you
Lou
Yesterday while going thru the Toyota Highlander website I notice that at the POI they install this option. I would presume that Lexus would do the same.
We have been looking at the 2008 RX350 , for my wife and I this option would be great.
Thanks again for your help.
Lou
Pete
But dealing with damage (as well as my own silly perception of the extra wear on the exterior) is one of the reasons my old RX300 (or any of my other cars I can think of) has never seen a commercial car wash. I understand you folks who get "weather" need to, and get used to the risk of using them rather than the manual bucket method, or risk corrosion. My logic is not likely well supported and generally the risk is probably pretty small - until you have damage of $700 or so.
Thank you for all you contribute to this forum. Good luck with your claim!
several different car washes and sometimes they
even forget to fold mine down, but I haven't had a problem! You're talking about the antenna that's mounted on the right rear of the
car, right?
Pete
I think. The design is 5 horizontal bars of chrome running the width of grill with the Lexus emblem (you remove the existing emblem from your installed grill and install it on the TC) in the center. It fits perfectly and is very good looking. This one is practically new. In fact it will be shipped in the original Toyota box with the installation instructions. Thanks for the inquiry. If you desire you can email me with any followup. My email is listed in my profile.
What I discovered was that while the advertising information indicated that the RX330 still used the viscous clutch across the center diff'l to "stiffen up" the otherwise flaccid coupling to the rear driveline in actually it did not, there was no VC in the RX330 series.
When I contacted Lexus about the "disconnect" between marketing and engineering the information at Lexus .com was corrected.
Now fast forward to the introduction of the RX350 series.
The Lexus.com information for the RX350 indicated that the VC was back in use on the RX350, it still does today.
I recently had reason to rejoin the techinfo.toyota.com information site and on something of a whim looked up the matter of the VC in use for the RX350.
The '08 Lexus RX350 shop/repair manuals indicate there is NO VC in use for the '07 or '08 model year RX350.
I contacted Lexus via the "chat" procedure and at the moment they tell me that they are looking into the matter.
For those of you who have purchased an AWD RX350 thinking you had a more satisfactory F/AWD system than simple TC (Traction Control) "limited slip" (moderate braking of the slipping [front] wheels accompanied by simultaneous engine dethrottling) you may very well have a legitimate claim against Lexus for false advertising.
I'll post when (or IF) Lexus gets back to me with an answer.
The following was in my email archives....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------
...Recently you submitted a question to the Lexus Customer Satisfaction
Department.
We will assume your issue has been resolved if we do not hear from you
within 120 hours.
Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.
You may also update this question by replying to this message. Because
your reply will be automatically processed, you MUST enter your reply
in the space below. Text entered into any other part of this message
will be discarded.
[===> Please enter your reply below this line Please enter your reply above this line http://lexus.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/lexus.cfg/php/enduser/acct_login.php?p_userid=- - west@strobedata.com&p_next_page=myq_upd.php&p_refno=041026-000006&p_created=1098- - 835191
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Response (Richard Hollingsworth) - 10/27/2004 09:41 AM
Dear Mr. West,
Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction regarding the 2005 RX 330. We appreciate your interest in this vehicle.
Per our technical department, the 2005 RX 330 does not have a viscous coupling LSD. The vehicle has adopted a full-time all-wheel drive system. We are sorry for the misinformation.
If you would like to discuss your concerns further, you can also reach the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time.
Sincerely,
Richard Hollingsworth
Lexus Customer Satisfaction
Customer (Willard West) - 10/26/2004 04:59 PM
The current 2005 RX330 e-brochure indicates that the 2005 AWD RX330 has the viscous coupling again.
Is this actually true or is this a typo?
Willard West
I'm sure the next gen. RX350 will have some similar updated features such that the ES350 does.
However, I think the current gen RX350 has a very nice-looking
interior for a luxury SUV and I still like the exterior styling also.
I chose the opposite when test-driving these two vehicles -- actually, I test-drove three Lexus vehicles; the IS250, ES350 and
the RX350. I liked the RX the best and I'm still enjoying it a year-and-a-half later! Good luck and enjoy your Lexus!
I have a Highlander and Pilot, but neither do this, they start with no noise when I put them in gear. I was expecting a notch better when I bought Lexus, but it seems strange that this would be normal? Does anyone else notice this symptom in AM? Thanks.
What options cost more in the 2009 RX vs 2008? The option costs appear identical. The only change is the MSRP of of the vehicle, the price increased slightly. (For example, its only $100 higher for AWD).
The dealer looked at the problem 4 times now. They re-balanced the tires twice, changed to a new set of 4 tires, checked suspension and brake but the vibration is still there. Above 55 mph, you can feel a slight vibration. When I get an incline or decline and over 70+mph, it gets unbearable. Of course, the last time, they claim they can't reproduce it even after my specific instruction. They only drove 5 miles for the entire service; doubt they try too hard.
I am tired of not able to get to the root. I even think there might be a loose screw or some engine or transmission mounts or CV boots that are loose or something. But, dealer said they are all fine.
Does anyone has any similar experience or suggestion?
Thanks for the claification, I thought you were talking about MSRP in your original post, not TMV.
1) Did you rotate your tires, try rotating them back.
2) Did the dealer over torque the lug nuts ?
3) Did you have your brakes worked on.
4) Did you have any flats, especially on rear tires, your rim could get bent slightly.
5) Does your dealer use a road force balancing machine like the Hunter 9700 ?
I had a similiar issue with my RX and it went away after I replaced the brake rotors. I don't know if it #2 or #3 on the list but it got much better with new rotors.
Florida, so it wouldn't be as cold as it is up north. But I do have a
little noise factor going on that goes away once the car has warmed up and then the car is super quiet. None of my other cars, i.e., Nissans that I've had in the past have done this. I think
this is a trait in the 3.5 liter Toyota engines.
I still have a few more years left to go on the lease, but right now,
although I am interested in some new vehicles out there, i.e., Mazda CX-9, or the Infiniti FX, these vehicles are still missing a few little extra accoutriments that I have on the RX, plus the Mazda has a shorter warranty and the RX does better on gas mileage than these vehicles.
So right now there's not a vehicle out there that I would want to switch from the RX to yet. Of course, there is the Infiniti G37 Coupe, which I am in love with, but am a little too chicken about going back into a two-door car - a totally different car from a crossover SUV!!
I also heard that they have a new Matador Red color for '09 - maybe time for you to upgrade again?!?