By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Anyway, hope the anticipation doesn't drive you nuts. You'll enjoy the ride.
As for the MDX, that was the other SUV I was seriously considering before buying the RX300. The MDX is very wide and that made driving and parking it much more difficult than the RX. Also, the service I received from two different Acura dealers was terrible. The ride of the the MDX felt just like a minivan.
00'RX AWD, has traded in their vehicle for a '01 FWD RX. Can somebody post their experience as to the difference between driving AWD vs FWD, other than fuel economy and nimbleness. How does the weight distribution feels??
We've had one on order for about a week. Can't wait!
I know, I know, this discussion software sucks.
I really don't agree with this, and share your view. If you're gonna a buy a SUV, make sure all four wheels work. Just as an FYI, check out the QX4 discussion and how many folks there buy 2wd versions. It amazes me.
I saw a BLACK one recently with chrome wheels that would catch anyone's eye. BEAUTIFUL, but not practical!
Oh, I haven't towed anything for many years now but it seems to me that towing ANYTHING would put more weight on the rear wheels. At the same time if the correct hitch (something more than the regular run-of-the-mill stuff supplied by the dealer/factory) is not used weight is actually shifted OFF the front wheels. If I wanted to tow a "boat" I would certainly want something with driven rear wheels.
"Maybe people with more cash than brains are buying the QX4 for the exterior LOOK."
Bingo! You can get a loaded Pathfinder with almost exactly the same options as a QX4 for less money. QX4 owners seem to cringe whenever I bring this up. Nissan gutted their own product line by allowing Nav, memory seats, entertainment system, etc to be available in the PF. There's nothing to really distinguish the Qx4 from the PF except more insulation and longer warranty.
At least Toyota was smart and didn't allow all the luxury features of the RX300 to be available in the Highlander.
The bottomline is this: If you want the best sport handling vehicle, get the X5, no question. If you want an all around good mix of luxury, safety, ride comfort and $9k cheaper, get the RX300.
I had a question about the location of the in-dash CD changer on the 01 RX. From what I remember the dealer showing me, the changer unit appeared to be in the glove box. I don't believe that makes it a true in-dash changer. I thought by "in-dash" they meant CD feeder that was located just above the tape deck. So in other words, you can't feed 6 CD's continuously in to the dash right - you have to load them into a magazine? Is this correct?
Since I will be picking up my vehicle this Saturday, I was also wondering about the TRUE gas mileage that some of you owners have experienced on long highway trips. Is is anywhere near the 22 mpg that is published in the brochure? What about city mileage - does it drop significanly below 19mpg for the FWD model?
Lastly, just curious as to whether anyone owns the Siversport Edition RX with the Millenium Silver body panel and side fenders. I really like that color scheme but unfortunately I have not seen it at any dealership.
Thank you for the insight.
Arnab.
tnx Mark
I also get noise from the deflector that is exposed when the sunroof is open. It keeps the wind off rear seat passengers but adds a lot of noise. I sometimes hold it down with my hand when riding with the roof open. Has anyone figured out how to clamp down that deflector when the sun roof is open??
Since 87 I have owned two Jeeps (2WD, AWD, 4WD modes) and two RX300's. I can't really say that I have put either of the RX AWD's to a true test. The Jeeps on the other hand were well tested.
In the past ten years we have had only two really serious snowstorms, Decenber 18th 1990, and between Christmas and New Years of 1995. In 1990 the roads and freeways quickly become blocked with vehicles which became stuck and the owners simply walked away from them. It is an exceedingly interesting experience to see FWD vehicles throw a (cable) chain and spin, often into another vehicle or off the road. It took several days for the roads to be cleared, first of vehicles and then of snow and ice.
I spent the first evening shuttling employees from the office to their homes, many times leaving the roadbed briefly in order to do so. I had REAL chains on all four wheels and was continously in AWD, and occassionally in 4WD mode.
The 95 incident wasn't near as traumatic, we were already at home nestled by the fire when it started. About mid-week we needed to make a grocery run and again, out of absolute necessity, I out-fitted the jeep with four chains.
So, as you can see, in the clear majority of times one does not need AWD or 4WD, but there are times when it can be of great value. Since you live in the snowbelt I would wager that the AWD RX would pay for itself over the long haul.
Let me relate some recent experience. We've had really bad weather in the northeast today and yesterday. Heavy, heavy rain and extremely high winds. There are a number of curvey on- and off-ramps I have to drive through various bridges and freeways. In my V6 FWD Grand Am (which is setup for handling rather than comfort) I can go so fast on curves with a certain amount of "feel and confidence". It handles pretty good. This morning in the RX300, I'm on some 2-lane ramp curves and I decide to "push it". I actually have less lean in my Rex and go faster than my GA. Because of the full time 50/50 torque split, the Rex has a very neutral feel and inspires complete confidence. I was blowing by everyone else without feeling I was going to tip over or lose it.
The AWD adds minimal weight to the Rex and MPG doesn't suffer that much more. My car isn't even broken in yet and I'm getting 20mpg in mixed driving. Most SUVs with Auto-AWD (normally one axle) only get 19mpg on the highway.
To me the permanent-AWD is totally worth it for the handling improvement. YMMV, but I'm extremely happy with my choice.
The RX300 uses a viscous clutch with normal torque distribution of, approximately, 70% front and 30% rear. If there is a differential speed between the front axle and the rear axle then the viscous fluid thickens and increases the torque coupling coefficient from the front to the rear axle so the rear wheels get more of the available torque. The Chrysler T&C AWD Minivan works exactly the same way.
The Jeep's AWD also used a viscous clutch but either axle could get the full range of engine torque.
You might say that the Jeep uses TWO viscous clutches with the engine torque delivered between the two while the RX and the T&C only use one viscous clutch with the front wheels directly driven, coupled, and the viscous clutch to deliver torque to the rear axle only on an AS NEEDED basis.
As noted in the owners manual, disparate tire circumferences front to rear can cause serious damage to the viscous clutch.
Even so, I suspect that lowering the tire pressure on the front tires TEMPORARILY would help to distribute the torque more evenly, constantly, if one needed to do so to get through a serious road condition.
But are these REAL AWD systems and if so what constitutes a non-real AWD?
You might note that this very same car (replica thereof) is coverted to rear wheel drive for true (race track type) handling charactoristics.
Real Four-Wheel Drive, Made Easy: The transmission in the four-wheel drive RX 300 features an integrated transfer case and a viscous center differential that provides a 50/50 front-to-rear power split. The system requires no activation by the driver. If slippage occurs at the front or the rear, the viscous center differential automatically and transparently directs power to the wheels with the most traction.
Auto-AWD is on the majority of the vehicles out there, like the JGC, Pathfinder LE, GM Blazer/Jimmy/etc., Acura MDX, etc. These are vehicles that normally supply torque to only one axle until slippage is detected and then transfer torque as needed. The JGCL (Quadradrive)takes this one step further by putting georotor couplings on each axle which allows side-to-side torque transfer independent of the front-to-back transfer.
Auto-AWD systems are reactive, permanent-4WD is proactive. The reactive systems will help you get "unstuck", the proactive systems will do this plus contribute to handling stability. Don't get me wrong, the Quadradrive system is the best off-road system in the world, but it doesn't out do the RX300 when it comes to highway stability.
The confusion on the different system names is a direct result of the "geniuses" in marketing ;-)
For a good explanation drew_ "4WD & AWD systems explained" Feb 5, 2001 8:24pm
All consumer GAs are FWD, they haven't made a RWD in a long time. I guess your reference is to the Nascar setups? All they are using is the shell once they gut these things!
There is NO viscous coupling between the transmission and the front axle, it is directly driven, ALWAYS. The viscous clutch "input" is from the front axle drive "shaft".
Absent differential axle turning rates front to rear, the inherent, or latent viscosity, of the viscous fluid determines the level of torque delivered to the rear axle.
If there is a differential axle turning rate front to rear the turbulence created in the viscous fluid by the differential turning rates of the interspersed clutch plates cause the visocous fluid to rise in temperature, dramatically increasing its viscosity and thus increasing the torque coupling from from to rear. Hopefully causing the rear axle to reach something very close to the turning rate of the front axle.
If the differential turning rate does not abate due to the tighter torque coupling the viscous fluid will quite quickly overheat and the clutch will fail.
Once the rear axle returns to a one-to-one turning rate with the front axle the fluid will cool and the system will return to the latent torque value.
Please take note that in slippery roadbed circumstances the turning rate of the rear axle must lag, by some small percentage, the turning rate of the front axle in order to maintain the viscous fluid's temperature/viscosity at an elevated level.
Thus technically speaking the amount of torque delivered to the rear axle can never actually reach 50%, but it will be close enough not to matter.
The RX's AWD clutch is a multi-plate clutch, with every other plate DRIVEN, and OUTPUT clutch plates very closely interspersed with these, suspended in a unique viscous fluid that increases in viscosity with temperature.
With the even and odd plates only separated by a few molecules of viscous fluid, the LATENT viscosity of the fluid is what determines the coupling coefficient in normal use.
But I suspect that Lexus "marketeers" would willingly overlook the necessity of saying "maximum" torque distribution ratio of 50/50.
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
Mark
Has anyone changed out their own bulbs? One would either have to remove the entire front light housing it looks like to gain access. The other option is to remove the covers underneath the front end.
The bulbs I interested in changing are the 9006 fog lights to a whiter bulb to better match my HID.
It did make a difference.
Domed grey plastic cover behind the bulb just twist and remove for access.
PIAA 9005 replacement, item #19605
I had a question about the location of the in-dash CD changer on the 01 RX. From what I remember the dealer showing me, the changer unit appeared to be in the glove box as a CD-magazine. I don't believe that makes it a true in-dash changer. I thought by "in-dash" they meant CD feeder that was located just above the tape deck. So in other words, you can't feed 6 CD's continuously in to the dash right - you have to load them into a magazine? Is this correct?
Since I will be picking up my vehicle this Saturday, I was also wondering about the TRUE gas mileage that some of you owners have experienced on long highway trips. Is is anywhere near the 22 mpg that is published in the brochure? What about city mileage - does it drop significanly below 19mpg for the FWD model?
Lastly, just curious as to whether anyone owns the Siversport Edition RX with the Millenium Silver body panel and side fenders. I really like that color scheme but unfortunately I have not seen it at any dealership.
Thank you for the insight.
Arnab.
The cd cartridge is in the glove box. Not as convenient as in the dash but better than some that have it all the way in the back. I think the Mercedes has it in the back.
On mixed city/highway, getting about 19.5mpg. And this is on an AWD model, so I suspect that a FWD could do even better given the same altitude, climate, etc.
I was a BIG fan of cassette players in my autos until the advent of CD's, now I have no need for ANY cassette player. Maybe Lexus will eventually replace the in-dash cassette player with a single CD slot.
Highway mileage for my 2000 RX was in the range of 22 MPG and that seems to be holding true for the 2001 also.
You can go to the Lexus site now and choose the Silver Sport black and siver versions to see what a monotone Rex looks like. It also has the "horizontal" grill like the one from RMM. I happen to prefer the traditonal grill, I little more classy in my opinion.
I'm actually thinking of having the side-steps and rear bumper guard I'm getting painted to match the lower body panels. Should be nice.
I bought a 2001 Gold RX-300 fully loaded with everything except the phone in December. I bought it with the dealer installed Running boards as well. I know Tonychrys was looking for info on these in a post a while back, so, what exactly would you like to know? I'll take some pictures if you like.
Also, in post 1163, downbucket mentions a clicking noise when the car is turned off. This also happens to my car. I thought it was the car cooling down or something. It happens for about 10 minutes and then stops. The car has 1100 miles on it and I'm scheduled for my first checkup so I'll definitely bring it up.
Everything with the car is wonderful except for two things (besides the clicking):
1) The chrome on the factory wheels seems to be gettin little bumps. Should they replace them? I used wheel cleaner because I thought it was dirt but it wasn't.
2) The stereo pushbuttons on the dash stick badly. This I'm sure they'll fix with no problem.
Anyway, my wife and I love this car! I'm now a loyal Lexus customer.
Mark
They really look great. They are the same burnished gold color which makes them really look like they're part of the car.
I would like to Tonychrys and spakchar for the excellent information regarding mileage and the stereo questions I have posted earlier.
In reference to the monotone, I also have no idea why lexus decided to go with the two toned color of the vehicle. However, since I just purchased a silver 01, I am looking forward to getting the low fenders repainted to look similar to the Silver Sport edition which is due out this fall, but will cost $2500 above MSRP for the monotone coloring.
A Lexus representative also stated that instead of wood, the Silver Sport edition comes with aluminum panels and perforated leather seats. Not too attractive in a mid-size luxury SUV in my humble opinion.
However, if any one can suggest who or where would be the best place to get my fenders repainted to match the body color of the vehicle it would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Arnab.
See if your local Lexus dealer will do the same.