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Comments
Question: I firmly believe FWD vehicles are more hazardous on LTS than RWD but how do I properly relate that in a CL post?
"FWD cars will get you smartly, firmly and safely up a slippery incline, but they will often come down slippery inclines BACKWARDS!"
"RWD cars are no threat because they will not get you up the incline to begin with!"
Admittedly a strange but true way of making my point.
The Aztek just looks like a toaster or a microwave or something! I guess some like it's odd-ball appearance - but I just think it DANG ugly!
Besides - it comes as a very basic car to start with. Then a very long list of optional stuff (and we all know how much car companies love to crank up optional stuff!). To equip your new "GE oven" close to an RX is like buying the most expensive house in the neighborhood. You might like the car - but the resale will never match what you ended up shelling out. Blue Book won't consider the increase because of the xtra thousands plowed into it.
I haven't seen much said about it lately - but I think I remember that it had a very disappointing start and GM was thinking of shelving it because of the poor sales (geared up for 60k and only sold 15k or something?). Not sure where that stands now - but I have to assume it's doing a little better. Don't see too many of them around tho.
But if you like the look, it fits your needs, you're are a huge fan of GM - then by all means.
Good luck
I would compare the RX to the GMC ENVOY if I were to compare any GM Truck. The Aztec would probably fair better against the Highlander ( better yet the the Hundai). Pontiac tends to build with a lot more plastic than higher end wood and leather as the RX. They have two different target markets
Thanks for all the tips/advice on the wheel locks. Now I'll stress out about where to keep that key.
laurasdada: Will do on the Westport thing. Not sure if Rocco's is there or not. If not I'll just con my husband into taking me downtown for some shopping. Of course - after buying this RX300 he might ground me from shopping for a while. And - low to the ground? I can't wait to be up high! (We call my current ride, a Honda Accord, the "skateboard" because it's so low.)
danrx: Yep - have been to 2 dealers so far and they each have the color I want (burnished gold) and they both have the premium plus package, wheel locks, heated seats, HID lights, leather and wood steering wheel. One of them has the spoiler - one does not. One has the chrome wheels, one does not. Anyway - I do expect to get all those options and just asked about the wheel locks before I knew how inexpensive they were (relatively speaking, of course).
Have to know all the scoop....hubby says we must have an out the door price of 40K or less. Trying to weigh all my options (pun intended).
Senthil
WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
How about outlet AND downtown.
Christmas time I drove my 2000 RX300 2WD from San Jose to Las Vegas, then to San Deigo then came back. Total is about 1300 miles. I used 87 and 91 from time to time on the way. Average mpg showed 22+. I sometimes hit 90 mph even a few seconds 100+. Most times at 80 to 85 mph.
My (wife's) RX is a '99 bought in September, so really quite early in the first year of intro. Ivory leather. No problems to this point with just a dab of Lexol now and then, as far as cracks or ground-in dirt crap are concerned. Now, we both are pretty careful, clean up spills immediately, vacuum, etc. but we have two young boys, so the car is not kept to concours levels. Again, can't really report any premature wear problems.
And, as far as my original reply to the Aztek question.......it was 430am.......I almost can't believe someone is really cross-shopping the two, but the last time I made any remarks about the Aztek and it's bustle, I got Edmunds-ized, so I responded in reasonably serious fashion. Nothing wrong with manners. Even if I don't have many.
See, not a double entendre to be found anywhere.
Got my evil wife's 10 day old RX washed for free at the dealer. Played in a SportCross, ES300 and SC430 while waiting. Had free hot chocolate, read The Robb Report. Nice way to kill 30 or 40 minutes on the way home... Now her car is clean, mine is filthy from our bit of snow earlier this week. First tank she averaged (according to the computer) 17.3 mpg. Hopefully, that will improve, although it was mostly local driving.
Maybe we need a road trip to DeRosa's to put some highway miles on the RX! With a stop at the casino, of course...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Speaking of casino, I'll be there tomorrow, cha-ching
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. What the guy does is try to find the lowest price amongst dealerships (15 in my case).
DOROTHYCT
If you have the time, don't try and negotiate with just one dealership. The more dealerships you have fighting for your business, the better.
You don't have to go to the dealership to negotiate or purchase the vehicle.
I never meet my salesman except over the phone and had the vehicle delivered by truck to my front door. I live in Las Vegas, and the best deal was found in California.
Don't work for the dealer, make all of the dealerships work for you.
I agree with MVS1 that the method of payment is only discussed once a price is agreed upon. Only compare the "Out the door" price excluding tax and license (So you can see the difference on how a deal stands even though you are comparing dealerships from different states). Tell them that you want their offer to include all dealer add-ons, documentation fees, EVERYTHING.
Good Luck.
I guess I just fess up tomorrow when we see him? Or I fess up if one of these other Autobytel 'specialists' calls me today?
Any advice here??????? Husband is going to kill me.
Steve
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On the other hand, if you take three weeks to get your financing in order, either or both of them may have moved on to another dealership.
My advice is to go with what your gut tells you. Anyone else want to weigh in here?
Steve
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I did go with the P235/70R16 size. (a little bigger foot print and slight diameter change of 29.1 vs 28.3) Stock Lex number is P225/70R16
So far I really like them!
Not trying to disparage the RX, God knows there are lots of reasons to do that legitimately, but this isn't one of them. The RX was not "designed" for the kind of duty you describe.
Good luck, leave some $$$ for me to win!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I'd say "Here's what we've been offered, I've been shopping around a bit and got quoted $X by you, $X by Lexus of X, and $X by Lexus of X.
So, we know what we can get it for, can we wrap this up quickly?"
That ought to cut to the chase pretty easily. When I was a sales manager, I'd often want to know who quoted a customer what. Why? Because I knew my competition pretty darn well.
If a local customer was quoted a dirt cheap price by one of our competitors, I'd believe it. They were trying VERY hard to edge into our territory and would quote cheap deals tro people in our "AOR" (Area of Responsibility or, basically, our Territory)
If it was one of the other guys, I'd tend not to believe it. In short, they know who will do a cheap deal and who wont.
example: When I worked for Lexus of Orlando, we knew that Lexus of Melbourne would almost ALWAYS quote a super cheap deal to someone from the Orlando area (Deals they'd never do for local customers). Meanwhile, Lexus of Clearwater, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville.. they werent the same way, they were pretty close to us on pricing.
So if a customer walks in and says that Tampa Bay offered him $2,500 off on an IS300 (In, say, September 1999) we knew it was bogus (NOBODY in Florida would do that deal then). But if they came in and said "Look, Lexus of Melbourne said they'd take $1,500 off" (VERY CHEAP deal in FL back then) my response would be "OK, we'll match that. (without blinking an eye) Its' well below market, but I dont want to lose a local customer"
That's the key. If you live closest to Lexus of Westport, they do want your business (We do not like losing our local customers over price). The key is to let them know what you can get and what you are prepared to pay and let them know that upfront.
Hope this helps!
Bill
Just kidding ... you should get the best deal you can cuz it's dollars flying out your purse, but I would say that if you can get the salesman (whom helped you out) to match or come very close to their web guy's offer, go with the man! I am not one to defend salespeople by a long shot, but this guy has earned your business more than his associate has. If it comes to a little money (a few hundred dollars over the term of the financing) then you should help feed his children.
Interesting tidbit.
Some more links
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/features/consumer_suv_capacity.html
http://www.epin ions.com/auto-review-227A-395DDC8D-3A5040B1-prod5
http://www.car-list.com/newcars/2000/lexusrx300.html
Senthil
Senthil
Wish this financing nonsense would be settled soon so we could just wheel and deal and BUY. Someone I work with dropped her ES300 for 15K service today and got "MY" burnished gold RX300 as her loaner. DOH!
Senthil
If I were driving a non-Lex and saw a Lexus loaner (regardless of model) with that sticker on the backlight, I'd re-think my current car and get me a Lex ASAP. That's a nice perk ..
Dorothy
If I have any rattles/issues etc, I wait till my car needs a carwash before I take it in so I get a free hand wash and a loaner car
IMHO: IS handles well, but ergonomics are years behind RX. But then I even like the RX audio controls better than that of ES. Maybe I am just accustomed to RX. Still waiting to drive the new ES.
I think all Lexus dealers should give Lexus as loaners- many dealerships (MB BMW etc) give even their high end cars as loaners because its an advertisement for them for their repear buyers.
Senthil
No doubt that the RX's ergonomics reign, despite some complaints about the info display. I got used to it pretty fast, and to tell you the truth, I think the RX's interior is better than all the other Lexus' ... including the LS and SC. The RX's is so uniquely designed and beautiful in IMHO. I wouldn't change it at all - I don't even like the SS interior. I checked out the Highlander, and despite the two being closely related, the Highlander's interior is a second-rate knock-off compared to the RX's (no offense intended for HL owners ...) Having the wood and leather wheel is also a definite highlight - really enhances the overall decor.
I agree with your comment about high-end loaners - definitely a good selling point.
The wash "bay" downstairs at Bellevue Lexus is so small and tight the "gofers" have trouble fitting some Lexus vehicles into it without incurring scrapes and scratches. Be sure and check your "corners" when you pick up your vehicle after this "service".
fasterthanu: Inspite of what all the reviews say about the display, I find it very useful to have al the info in a single corner.
Beauty indeed is in the eyes of the beholder: I have the SS and LOVE it
Senthil
In dealing with the internet manager, there's nothing wrong with letting him know you have already spoken with a salesman at the dealership. They often split commissions this way, though I'm not familiar with that particular dealer.
Also, don't be afraid to walk. If something "don't smell right", use your common sense and take a hike. There are plenty of dealers in the area who you can talk to.
The only downside of Aztek is its contraversial appearance, but some people actually grow to love it.
The interior of the Aztek seems to be put together pretty well, very different from a regular Pontiac. And the materials are better than most GM cars too.
On a trip from Nevada to Maine we called a dealership that we believed we would be driving upon in 4 hours. The dealership was in Ohio and they fit us right in. They gave us a loaner and we went and had lunch. Great customer service, especially with them knowing that they would never see us again as customers.
I don't agree with the synthetic oil. Yes it is a 40k car, but it should be able to handle regular oil.
GIMPY DON'T READ THIS
As for the sludge problem, it had to do with someone changing their oil beyond the recommended oil change schedule described in your owners manual. Keep receipts, follow the manual, and you'll be fine.
Harry