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Comments
Thanks Again,
John
As for locating your vehicle of choice have you gone to the Lexus web site to locate a dealer. I believe that you can set a particular distance and they'll pull up the dealers within that radius.
By the way, the smell is mostly outside of the car when idling. It is only detectable inside when I am standing at the traffic lights for a long period of time.
I totally agree that reliability is an issue with any american made automotive product, especially Chrysler. But, how many vans has Chrysler sold versus Lexus' RX300s. Mind you, I'm not making excuses for Chrysler, but the media being what it is I would want to know the percentage of Chrysler T&C failures vs RX300 failures before I make that judgement.
And, I wasn't recommending the Chrysler unless you felt you needed the AWD in the RX300. I am saying that were that the case the Chrysler AWD setup appears to be head and shoulders above the RX.
I just drove our 2001 AWD RX300 478 miles today, from the Seattle area to the Eastern border of Oregon. I went out and bought 2 sets of snow chains before I left just in case we encounter serious weather going or coming.
But I also kept two sets in our Jeep and we occassionally needed them even with its part-time 4WD engaged.
Adding oil or otherwise won't make it budge until you loosen the clamps in the base. It that way, I guess you can say that it is adjustable, just not very convenient.
So based on what you've posted, I can move the crossbars back toward the rear of the vehicle so long as the base is unscrewed, correct?
Many thanks!
Enjoy your RX!
I don't know what dealer tactics ges1 is referring to, I never had a problem with Bellevue. Perhaps we could be enlightened.
I think at this time of the year something close to invoice (if 2001 is still available) should be a good price?
Senthil
I have a coworker who mentioned a few hundred over invoice was possible given his experience in purchasing a 2001.
Given the current economy and the fact there is little to differeniate the '01 from the '02, I will be targeting invoice.
Race cars use them to keep the cars on the ground at high speeds (it spoils the airfoil effect created when air flows over the top and bottom of the car).
Although it has no effect on handling or performance for the RX300 (or any other street car), a properly installed rear spoiler will disrupt the airflow that curls off the trailing edge of the roof and prevent vortices from forming behind the car. This helps to keep dirt and grime off the rear window.
If you must use a dealer here in this area then try any of the others before Bellevue.
Shortest time, 311 miles, 5 hrs 58 minutes
Shortest route, 265 miles, 4 hrs 46 minutes.
I swear!
ges-OUCH! When I was selling cars I'd never have had the guts to try that!
Question
Last evening as I was driving home just after dark a deer ran out across the road in front of me. I absolutely can't remember a time when I laid on the brakes any harder than I did last evening. Afterward I was surprised that the pedal didn't break off. The good news is that the RX300 stopped without hitting the deer. Well, maybe the bumper grazed her butt a little bit, but both my wife and I agreed that she wasn't likely hurt at all.
I was very impressed with the braking action, the RX just squatted and "growled" to a quick and sure stop. Both of us assumed the "growling" was the result of the ABS kicking in.
Which brings up my question.
Has anyone thought about activating the ABS ONLY if the VSC indicates the vehicle is not tracking correctly?
I was on dry concrete pavement last night and I came away not being quite sure that I wouldn't have stopped a mite quicker if the ABS had not interfered. I know that the VSC yaw sensor is very likely much more sensitive to yaw than is my own "behind", but I did not have any sense at all that the vehicle was deviating from a straight line stop. It would be my guess therefore that the ABS activation in this case was needless.
Since the primary purpose of ABS is to allow me to maintain directional control of the vehicle would it not be a good idea to let me have full and complete control of the braking action unless the vehicle is deviating from the desired "track"?
Or is it even possible to change the ABS braking algorithm such that it allows more severe braking unless or until the VSC over-rides it?
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Like that po' deer.
Back when I had the 92 Jeep I would remove the ABS pumpmotor fuse during the summer months.
But to answer clee4's question, the ABS only kicked in for the last few feet, when I was almost stopped anyway, so I doubt if it was any real help.
But, even so, sometimes it's better to stop as quick as possible regardless of directional control. There must be some reason why single vehicle accidents are substantially higher in ABS equipped vehicles vs non.
Of course that doesn't mean some "invisble" changes haen't been made, increasing (or decreasing) the viscous clutch preload and "attack" rate for instance.
Senthil
Go back over these posts, can't you see the trend?
Most of the responders to my adverse posts want to "kill the messenger who brings the bad news".
The best statement I have seen from Lexus on this matter is, paraphased, "as long as all four wheels have traction then the RX300 will deliver torque to all four wheels". And that is a true statement IMO.
That said, I might kill the messenger who tells me I have made a bad judgement in buying my car.
My 2c
Senthil
Personally I feel the same way you do, I weight all my own personal parameters, do some serious research, and then make my decision.
But, once my decision is made I do not close my eyes and ears to opinions of others who may still know more than I do, or maybe only some small facet of knowledge that might be important to me but not to others.
The way I have run my business for over twenty-five years now....
I make no decision until it is absolutely necessary to do so. In the meantime I set about gathering all of the input I can pertinent to my decision making process.
Even if I have made a "final" decision, I am not at all hesitant to change my mind if important new information becomes available before my final decision is irreversable.
When I discover that a decision I have made was wrong, or based on wrong information, or if I am myself simply mistaken, then I most readily admit to it and set about correcting the matter as best I can.
I want to sell my 2001 RX300 SS Black...will consider trade for a 2001 AWD T&C. Anyone interested? LMAO
Senthil
Now, about selling that SS ...I've got a black one too, and just for grins, go out some time and remove the luggage racks. Then, go to the front of the vehicle and tell me it don't look awesome! I'm still deciding on the side view of the car, but from the front, with that SS grill--SWEET!
If that ain't enough, now picture it with some wider, performance tires.
Double SWEET!
From: Customer_Satisfaction_Inquiries@lexus.com
To: Willard
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 11:03 AM
Subject: [Incident 011031-000003] tire chains
Recently you submitted a question to the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department.
Subject:
tire chains
At 11/06/2001 10:49 AM we wrote -
Dear Mr. West:
I am following up with you regarding your inquiries. Customers will elect to install snow chains on the front tires only for short periods of time (ex. a short ski trip). Customers will elect to install snow tires on their vehicles if they will be driving for longer periods of time in the snow.
Lexus does not recommend installing rear tire chains on the vehicle since there is not a sufficient amount of clearance. Installing rear tire chains can cause damage to the body, tires, and chassis.
It the responsibility of the driver to have sufficient control of the vehicle in order to drive in a safe manner.
Your Question:
Dear Sirs or Ms,
Tomorrow morning we head out on our first wintertime trip in our 2001 AWD RX300. We will be traveling from the Seattle area to the eastern Oregon border. Our return trip will be via central Oregon, over several mountain passes.
In preparation for our trip I just reviewed the owners manual regarding snow tires and tire chains, and came away a bit puzzled. On page 283 regarding snow tires you make the following cautionary statement.
"Installing snow tires on the front wheels only can lead to an excessive difference in road grip capability between the front and rear tires which could cause loss of vehicle control"
And on page 284 with regards to chain installation you state, in BOLD:
"Install the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible. Do not use chains on the rear tires."
Since the AWD RX300 has the engine torque biased predominantly to the front axle I can readily understand the need for installing chains on the front wheels, but I cannot understand why you state that they should not be used on the rear wheels also.
You clearly acknowledge, justifiably in my opinion, that installing snow tires only on the front wheels might lead to loss of control. Wouldn't putting tire chains only on the front also increase the potential for loss of vehicular control, rather dramatically over snow tires only on the front?
I have heard many people complain, upon taking their FWD vehicle in to have studs installed, that the shop insisted on installing studs on all four wheels, otherwise they wouldn't do the work at all. My explanation to them has always been along the lines of your own statement, increased traction in the front vs the rear will very likely lead to loss of control, especially in downhill braking circumstances.
Isn't this even more true of the RX300 and your recommendation of tire chains only on the front?
Shouldn't you have an even stronger cautionary note in this case?
But, more to the point, the RX300 is a "luxury", relatively expensive, SUV, I would think the very best suggestion you could make is to advise the RX300 owners to ALWAYS use tire chains on all FOUR wheels.
But my questions are:
1. What harm would be done, if any, to the RX300 AWD drive train if I were to install tire chains on only the REAR wheels?
2. What if I am willing to go to the expense of putting tire chains on all four wheels? What would be your advice?
As for 1, above, I am aware that installing tire chains only on the rear wheels would create a disparate, or differential turning rate, lower at the rear axle than at the front axle, that could not be overcome by the resultant viscous clutch "tightening up". But isn't that also the case with tire chains on the front only, a differential turning rate front vs rear that cannot be overcome and thus the viscous clutch's temperature would continue to climb higher and higher?
The only apparent difference, to me, would be that tire chains only on the rear would result the viscous clutch "tightening up" to the very same level as chains only on the front, but would result in a much safer, dramatically so, overall operational configuration.
But the only question I really and truly need an answer to is number 2.
Thanks,
Willard West
If your issue remains unresolved, please update this question here.
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I agree with you 100%, I just went out and looked and there is less than 1" of clearance between the top of the tire tread and the bottom of the coil spring suspension.
But, given the increased level of traction provided by snow chains only on the front and the much greater likihood of downhill or braking loss of control due to this "reverse" traction "offset", wouldn't you agree that it would be even more advisable, especially for those of us who swicth to snow tires/wheels in the wintertime anyway, to switch to a lower profile tire/wheel setup all around so one could balance things out by installing chains all around, if needed?
I am also somewhat disturbed by your suggestion that "short-term" use of snow chains only on the front wheels is "safe", while at the same time acknowledging that long term use of snow tires only on the front is not. It seems to me that the use of snow chains only on the front increases the potential for loss of control so dramatically over "snow tires front only" that even very brief use might, statistically, even out the safety issue.
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If you have any further concerns, 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, Kevin Saylan Customer Satisfaction Representative
I have been thinking of removing the spoiler...
I think it looks better with the racks on top. I really want bigger and wider tires/wheels. But what do I do with the present ones? I dont want to spend $$$ on new tires and wheels when mine is just 2 months. I asked tirerack.com and they dont trade in old tires/wheels
Last Sunday I washed and waxed it..sunny in Seattle. Then went for a drive and couldnt resist going offroad. Came back home in the night with mud splatters 1/3 the height...I actually take my Lexus offroad...ofcourse it depends on one's definition of offroad
Enjoy whatever you have however you want- Life is too short!
Senthil
If there are other issue with chains on the rear the Lexus rep didn't say.
Senthil
Steve
Host
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As to swapping out tires, if you've got the Integritys, I'd be swapping so fast the credit card wouldn't have a chance. One of my specific requests before taking delivery was to swap chromes with the Bridgestones for the alloyed Integs. I'm going to wait until the Bridgestones start to wear before replacing.
When you bought your SS, did you happen to notice if it looked like it sits lower than regular RXs? My husband and I both think the suspension lowers the vehicle around an inch. I'm curious if anyone knows this to be true. With the different suspension, it's possible. Hey WWest, wanna write Lexus for me?
I was next to an X5 today and I'll betcha the new RX300 has tires *very* similar to the BMW. What an awesome look.
Pete