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Comments
I've always heard that if you use a higher octane fuel than your engine needs, than you're wasting money and could even damage your engine. But, I don't want to go to the other extreme and use a fuel mixture that's too weak.
So I thought I'd put the question to some of the RX300 fanatics here and ask- what grade of fuel do you put in yours? Did you notice improved performance or mileage over reg. unleaded?
Thanks!
In your postings you say that you paid "$36.5K driveout, including TT&L". Does this include tax as well?
Thanks
ranjithw
Kimwipes, I'm just about to hit my 7500 schedule. I live in Los Angeles, and I personally think the 6 month schedule is good enough for city driving.
The manual also suggests oil changes every 5000 and 7500, depending on your condidtion of driving. Some lexus dealers suggest oil changes at 3K, just a money making scheme. There's no need. I get mine done at 5K due to a lot of city driving.
Does anyone know if the out side temperature reads beyond 99 deg in the screen. Mine has gone upto 99 deg only. It sure feels hotter than that.
ranjithw: $36.5K "driveout" means that was the total price I paid, including all taxes and fees. "TT&L" means "Tax, Title, and License", by the way. Sounds like you're looking at a pretty much identically equipped vehicle to mine (FWD, Premium Package Plus [which includes the wood/leather steering wheel, moonroof, etc.]), so $39.4K does not not sound like a good deal to me. That's $3K more than I paid 6 months ago, and I'm sure prices haven't spiked that badly since. Keep after 'em!
My previous post said TT&L would be added on to this price. Tax is part of TT&L (tax,tags,&license(I think??)).
rraby's post said the price included TT&L. I think his quote is for a FWD and your's an AWD would make both your quotes about right.
It's best to quote prices without tax because it varies by state.
mikey00,
I plan on ordering the hitch too. Can you tell me what bike rack you went with, cost, etc #.
Thanks much
(mnovak999@yahoo.com)
I relocated my 92 LS sensor into the front of the right fender well becuase in the wintertime this radiant heating was causing the A/C to run even with the outside temperatures below freezing.
So mikey00's RX300 is a FWD. The car I am looking at is an AWD with the same goodies!. Therefore, dealer is charging me extra $ 3K for the AWD.
Thanks
One thing that I would definitely do if I were you... call around, and let the dealers know that you are shopping. This brings them to 'reality'. Also, you may want to check Carsdirect.com to see what their price for a similarly priced unit would be. I beat their price for my market by about $1,600, but did so by offering to buy out of state and drive to pick it up.
Hope that helps.
mikey00, heated seats are standard, therefore every RX in Texas has bunwarmers, just as does every one of North Dakota. I agree that you can't compare prices and deals between regions (or even one state to the next) but it ain't so much because of equipment differences.
bird38 speaks wisdom in nutshell.
So let it be written, so let it be done!
JFetter
-----
"Here's my problem. After installing the wiring harness and plugging in the 20amp fuse, I still don't have power to the harness! The only thing I didn't do was disconnect the neg. battery terminal before starting as I thought that this was simply precautionary. I've got power at the fuse panel and the fuse meters out okay, but still no 12V at the harness with the engine running and the lights turned on. The negative pin on the harness shows a dead short to the frame (a good thing), but I can't get 12V on either of the 3 remaining pins with the park lights on."
My dealer warned me that the wiring harness would be the cause of concern if I went with an aftermarket harness.
This more or less proves that he was right. Potentially shorting out the electrical system in a new RX is NOT worth a few hundred dollars to me.
-Craig
I'm hoping to find a Nav without these two options, but don't think I will.
I'm hoping to find a Nav without these two options, but don't think I will. "
C'mon folks, this is basic stuff. Check the Lexus website, or RX300 sales brochure, Edmunds, etc. Part of the Navigation package is HID, and heated seats can only be ordered with an option package, hence their inclusion by default many times.
Bottom line: Go to Lexus.com, click build your own, type in your zip code. If you can't build a certain configuration on the web site, then more than likely you'll have a hard time finding that particular configuration at your local dealer. If one desires a "non-popular/custom" configuration, then you have to get your order in sometime at the beginning of the model year. It's the end of the model year now, shipments have already been allocated.
After awhile, all the awards get boring. ;-)
If you read the thread carefully you will see some folks adding the after market hitch not because it is cheaper but because it looks nicer than the Lexus OEM hitch. Also, in my case, the hitch was NOT on the vehicle I purchased and was told Lexus will not add it after the fact, it must be done at the port. This, along with the fact that the Lexus hitch is kinda' cheap looking and insubstantial for the estimated $500 - $700 fee installed seems to make an after market option very attractive, not solely based on price.
I have no issue paying for the options I want but Lexus seems to have changed the policy regarding adding a hitch after purchase with the '01 model RX. One dealer says they are not allowed to install the Lexus hitch and suggests after market while another quotes a quite high $700, ouch!
As to the wiring harness, it is absolutely ridiculous to say that adding a wiring harness will "short" the electrical system! The harness is nothing more than an extension of the existing 4-wire harness already pre-wired into the '01 RX. No wires cross, there is nothing that can go wrong. Besides, the FUSE in any automobile will blow (as in any well-designed electrical system, especially one that is intended to get WET) if a short is detected, it will certainly not short the vehicle electrical system.
Our '01 RX *HAD* to have the hitch (which looks classy, substantial, and appropriate IMO) installed at the dealership (Lexus of Norwood, in MA), as the Port (in NJ) doesn't perform hitch installation anymore. Cost $565 installed. And fully covered under the vehicle warranty.
To each his own. I'm happy with my hitch. Hopefully you'll be happy with yours once the wiring harness works.
-Craig
Please! We are using the OEM wiring harness extension sold by Toyota. It's the same part used by Lexus! We've done NOTHING to skimp or save money here except do it ourselves! The potential to short out anything on the electrical system is NONE! Once we find the resolution, I'll have a beautiful looking hitch and a working OEM wiring harness. Plus I will have saved mucho dineros! :^) Have a nice day..
I've been driving my 2001 FWD RX300 for about 3 weeks now. I live in Texas where it is hot, hot, hot. Shortly after I start the car and the air conditioning kicks in, I hear 3 to 4 pops from the area of the sunroof. They are about a minute or so apart, and they stop after about 5 or 6 minutes.
Anyone else have this problem, and what was your fix? I'll go in for the 1k service soon, and I'd like to know how others have fared. I've driven cars with sunroofs in Texas for many years and have never had this problem, so I've got to believe there's a fix.
Many thanks.
I am about to purchase an RX300 on Saturday. I've been reading this group to decide what to do about the hitch, so let me see if I have it straight:
The hidden hitch for a Highlander will fit exactly on an RX300? The simple wiring connecter from toyotaguys will plug right into the RX300 wiring, but we're not sure if it actually works.
I am very interested if anyone gets the wiring harness to work before I head off to negotiate on Saturday!
Thanks!
Dale
Anyone from Atlanta: What is the BEST Lexus service in the Atlanta area ?
When I took it in for 1k mile service last week, they said they couldn't figure out what caused it. But the dolts barely looked at it, I could tell from the timer on my CD player that they only drove it for like 3 or 4 min, hardly adequate time to duplicate the problem. They said they lubricated it... like that will fix a problem that occurs while the sunroof remainings motionless and shut. It hasn't been doing it as much, but as soon as it starts doing it frequently again I will be down at the dealership.
StStephen, regarding best Lexus service in Atlanta... I'm going to avoid Nalley. I found in the car buying process they were just GREEDY. "Well, we can sell you a '99 RX300 2WD for $34000." I think that probably extends to their service department too. Hennessey gave me a good deal on the price, but my first impression of their service dept. is that they're a little lax. One of my coworkers recommended a place where he gets his GS300 serviced, said they specialize in Lexus/Infinity, lots of ex-mechs from Nalley & Hennessey. They're called T3 something, maybe T3 Automotive, and they're in Smyrna area. Supposed to be cheaper than dealerships, but high quality work, if you want to go non-dealership route. I'm considering it.
--Jason
Am I missing something that happened in the market, something regional, or is this dealer just marking this up on their sticker?
I bought my RX at Hennesey off 285, and had a great experience. For some reason many people feel uneasy about Nalley, but they have a very nice service dept. Some people even take the time to travel down to Butler Lexus in Macon.
About that popping noise. Some people on ClubLexus had that problem too - me included. It is SO loud but noticeable. I think it has something to do with the extreme temperature changes and flexing in the sunroof area...not exactly sure though. Nice to meet you guys - and have enjoyed the information here in your posts.
This statement is true. However, even if you can configure the RX that you want, it doesn't mean that they actually make it. For example, you will not be able to get a White RX with black leather anywhere in the U.S, although you can easily configure one on lexus.com.
If saving a few dollars on a $40k vehicle is worth all your time and effort on getting a "Toyota harness working on a Toyota-made Lexus", great. Maybe the time spent on something as remedial as this isn't worth much to you, but mine is.
Let me guess. You do your own oil changes too, right?
Happily driving an '01 RX with fully functioning and fully warrantied hitch,
-Craig
Just knowing I'm not alone gives me more leverage when I go for the first service.
ststephen0 and ucsdsig, I especially look forward to your updates. Thank you.
My '99 AWD with the rear LSD is coming up on 60,000 miles... Besides the maintenance required at 60,000 for the RX, what sort of maintenance will be required for the AWD and LSD part of the vehicle? Any parts needing adjustment or replacement? Fluids need changing?
I don't have a owner's manual handy, but I'm sure the informations in there, right? If someone could help me out with some answers, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
My AWD Porsche manual says the viscous clutch can be permannently damaged if there is unrestrained differential wheel spin for as little as 20 seconds. Differential turning rates between the front axle and the rear axle causes extreme turbulence in the fluid separating the two sets of clutch plates resulting in heating of the fluid and dramatically increased viscousity. If this increased viscousity cannot, for any reason, bring the rotation rate into synchronization then the fluid will continue to heat, overheat, and become "damaged".
I have driven two Jeeps, and 85 and a 92, with center differential (dual) viscous clutches and LSDs each for over 100K miles in Pacific Northwest wintertime climates, Skiing, and didn't notice any degradation in the AWD performance throughout their use. The 92 has been "retired" to a cattle and wheat ranch in North Central Montana since we bought our 2000 RX in Jan 2000 and it still seems to be performing well.
Oh, and if anyone advises you to change out any fluids besides the engine oil ask them for a thourough explanation as too why. Engine oil is specifically formulated to hold "particles" in suspension so they will be drained when the oil is changed out. Transmission oil, on the other hand, is formulated to allow "particles" to settle into the bottom of the oil pan.
Waste of Money...