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Why not buy in the US and "export"?
RX300 pricing... Go to autotrader.com and search for USED (you'll still see new) throughout the county. I think I have seen 2001 FWD RX300's there for as little a $30,000 with 45 miles OD.
It is a great vehicle.
Mark
New Hartford CT
AT Italia Riva with Michelin Cross Terrains.
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?autoMake=Lexus&autoModel=RX300&autoYear=2000#
This discussion group is awsome. While the Mercedes group is complaing about how many "rattles" and problems their MLs have and the MDX group is talking about how much over sticker, forced options and months to wait before delivery we are praising our RXs and looking for ways to make em look sharper.
I am kind of torn between upgrading my 2000 RX or
Trading in for 2001. I would like the HID, VSC, Wood Steering and integrated thethers and Monotome of Silver Sport. I don't care to much for the rear lights or Black interior. So do I upgrade my 2000 or Trade-in. Anybodyknow the Trade-in value for 2000 w\ 6K ? What about the taxes will I have to pay on the 37K of the 2001 or just the difference ?
Funny, the AT Italia 5 Razze look just like the stock Rex wheels?
By all means trade up to the 2001 RX, I did, but try to avoid the Nav system. Now only is it flawed in a way that makes you not trust it, but the human engineering of the method for displaying the other functions, Radio, HVAC, etc, just SUCKs, big time.
Before you buy one with the Nav rent or borrow one, an RX with Nav, for a day or so.
Had I not already painted the bottom of mine to match the top I would probably to trying to figure out some way to trade it out for a non-Nav one.
When my wife and I went to test drive one, the dealership only had a non-Nav demo. We drove it at night, and boy, the screen just looks plain dumb (again, IMO). They could have designed something that looks much more elegant.
The Nav screen, even when off, looks much more in place in a vechile of this caliber. And the navigation itself, for me, works most of the time. It got me from my house in Ashland, MA to the Bay Tower Room (State street in Boston), even through all the "Big Dig" construction going on. Not too shabby.
The resolution of the Nav screen (and colors) make the other functions much more pleasant to look at as well.
As for usability. Within a few days of driving the car, I've mastered all the functions so that I can use it "safely" while driving.
I would never buy an RX300 without the Nav option.
-Craig
But my MAJOR complaint (I can certainly do without the Nav, if I know in advance not to rely on it) is the extremely poor human engineering of the other uses of the Nav display.
The use of "soft" colors between background and text/icons degrades the contrast severely, and the actual size of the text and icons is needlessly too small. They never use more than about 1/5 of the screen for displaying these other functions, why not use up more of the otherwise blank screen.
And when I'm not using the Nav (never do) why can't the entire information display, as in the non-Nav LCD, be continously displayed. Why do I have to "hit" a radio, HVAC, info button in order to see the current status of these functions?
Look, "glance" at the clock display at night to get an idea of text and icon size as it should/might be (the LCD screen is actually smaller and has less resolution than the Nav screen) and that the outstanding contrast of the clock display allows you to glance and read it with lingering to decipher it.
Now have a quick look at the OAT indication in the same manner....
Oh, I forgot, you MUST adjust one of the HVAC functions in order to bring up that display... distracting isn't it? Why?
Could you read the OAT indication as quickly and as easily as the clock?
We don't need elegant, we need functional!
But my wife will never drive a vehicle again without it. Here's why:
1. She doesn't have to call her husband and ask a dumb question (usually of the "Which way is home from where I am now?" variety).
2. Her husband doesn't have to miss the Laker game to figure out an answer
3. Her job takes her into unfamiliar areas of So. California. The Nav has reduced her fears about doing this on her own.
I have no doubt that in certain cases, the RX Nav (or any other brand) won't do the job. In fact, the Lexus RX system seems to like one north-south freeway out where we live more than another -- to the point where it insists that we make a "legal U-turn" to find the one it favors....for about 2-3 miles, then it gives up and re-routes us correctly. Weird.
But, on a lease, the actual expense after the residual is about $33/month. And if I deduct the cellphone calls I previously received, asking for directions, I'm probably ahead of the game.
Discovered a few new back-country roads that way, some running exactly parallel to a freeway.
I can't imagine and body or structual changes in the RX for the next few years, maybe 17' wheels and wider tires.
"Software" changes are another story, they need'em.
I think the widespread availibility of good RX deals is the result of the highlander availibility. If you don't want HID and/or Nav then you should look sriously at the HL.
Many of us here who bought a Rex first got some preliminary quotes from local dealers, then went to Priceline and set a price even lower, yet still allowed for dealer profit. If a participating PL dealer has the car you want in stock, they usually accept all reasonable offers.
He was a happy man today driving his new RX.
Tell why other than lexus quality service i should buy a rx over a HL (i don't need nav, or can add it)
RX more luxury (comfort and quiet) ride over the HL. You have to drive both back-to-back to feel the difference. You also have to make sure that each dealer has properly inflated the tires before the test drive.
Luxury features not available on the HL:
Passenger side power seats.
Driver seat memory.
Auto down/up all windows.
Remote open all windows and sunroof.
Second row fold down arm rest.
Navigation system.
LCD vehicle information system (maintenance, etc.).
Better grade of materials all around, real wood, etc.
Safety features not available on HL:
High Intensity Discharge Lamps.
Pinch protection on all windows and sunroof.
Proven safety testing (though the HL should hopefully do well once tested).
Vehicle performance:
RX has higher towing capacity standard.
RX has almost 1/2 foot more ground clearance.
RX has protective skid plates (has already saved my [non-permissible content removed] when running over road "debris" at high speeds).
Intangibles:
RX has better warranty.
Lexus Customer service is #1 in the business.
Free Lexus loaner vehicles, even for an oil change, or they'll pick up and drop off the car.
Good resale value.
If none of these things mean anything to you, then the HL is a better value in your situation. Also be aware that most features (including all safety systems) are standard on the RX, to fully load up a HL will bring it close to a RX price since Lexus dealers are discounting now.
Good luck with whatever you decide, both are fine vehicles.
RX has protective skid plates (has already saved my [non-permissible content removed] when running over road "debris" at high speeds)."
The RX300 has 15 centimeters more ground clearance than the Highlander? That would make it more than a Hummer, I think ;-)
The 2nd point is new to me...I'm curious, where are these skid plates? I didn't notice any the last time I looked underneath an RX300. Are they new for '01?
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
The system no longer comes up and asks that STUPID question, and now the default mode is screen completely OFF except temporarily for the non-nav functions.
I'll return it to "close" only if I happen to really need the NAV and am willing to go through the tedious process of varifying its routing validity.
Or until Lexus issues system software that more completely debugged and actually works.
Skid plates: I didn't believe it either at first, and thought I'd have to go out and buy an A-bar with a skid plate option (like the gawdy looking Jaos, which I don't like. I think I would like it if they just took their name off of it.), but sure enough, there be a skid plate in the front of my RX. On the NY/NJ highways where I drive, there is frequent road debris, the most common being 18-wheeler tire remants. These large chunks of tire remains can rip apart an underside if they catch at the right angle.
Thanks for catching my math faux pas.
1) Any good/bad experiences with White Gold Crystal or Burnished Gold Metallic?
2) Dealer has cars with Bridgestone or GoodYear tires?
3) Would leasing be too costly overall (10 or 12k lease) if I only drive 3-4K per year? If I like the car, I probably would purchase it at end of lease.
#2 Stay away from Goodyear tires. Most who have them and post here, do not like them at all. I have Bridgestone, and I like them. Most people who change, go for the Mich's.
#3 I cannot comment on the lease. I tend to keep a vehicle for years and years. Although, I would think that purchase would be the way to go.
Hope things are better today! Happy Mothers Day
Anyway, good luck whichever way you go--you'll love the Rex!
As far as leasing see what's the lowest milage allowed(That suits your needs) I've seen 10k/yr. See if there's a lower milage option. One advantage could be that at some time during your lease the car could be worth more than the buy-out thus trading it in before the lease expires could net you some $$$. Believe it or not it does happen.
You'd probably be better off to buy avoiding the lease/rental fees/end of lease fees/acquisition fee/security deposit/you get the point. Than sell or trade in the car later.
#1785- Lexus dealers will lease through various companys, not just LCF. Used leases, from personal experience never make economical sense. What is the purchase price of the RX your looking at? What are the lease terms, monthy payment,total $$$ out of pocket, miles per year, etc?
If you decide to go the route your looking at now. Check with a Lexus dealer and see if they will certify the car for you, even though your not buying it from them, the Lexus certification is just an extended warranty.
The deal is that a customer of this leasing company is trying to find someone to take over the lease on a '99 with 31K miles and 31 payments of $522 left. That includes the whopping PA 9% tax. I think I would be better off buying or doing the lease directly with a dealer.
4yr/50000 mile basic coverage
6yr/70000 mile powertrain coverage
6yr/unlimited mile corrosion perforation warranty
1yr/12500 mile service adjustment protection
a used purchase on the open market would entitle the buyer to any unexpired coverage remaining, clock starts on date of delivery to original owner
Pete
Also when do the 2002 models arrive. Should I wait? Can I expect a better than average deal? Is the factory already shut down and retooling for 2002?
Also I notice in the brochure a picture of the screen in the RX when a CD is in showing the track and time ect of that CD. Is this in the non Nav model as well?
Anyone out there able to give me some tips, tricks, issues with trailering with the RX?
thanks in advance.
Anyone know the tax situation regarding trading in ? Will I have to pay the full 6%(NJ) tax on the full price (36G or 37G) ? Anyway to pay just on the diff in price ?
I am not going to dish out another $2100 in taxes for the 2001. If that is the case then I getting some PIAA bulbs, 17in Michelins and staying with my 2000
You can sometimes do better working a deal in a nearby state that doesn't have sales tax but still "register" the deal in your home state.
I often wonder how much money could be made by locating people moving from a sales tax state to a non-sales tax state and doing a "virtual" trade to keep the "residual" value of the previously paid sales tax.
One such example of these aftermarket kits can be found here: http://customautotrim.com/wood-dash-kits/dash_sp1302.htm