Lexus RX

[V8Smith]

My parents are contemplating buying an RX 4x4, they need a car that will be ok in the snow, they have read they are not good, can any owners give their opinion?

Cheers

Mike

[huwp]

We've had one for four years. The car has been by far the best vehicle we've ever owned. It has been faultless. The local dealer is superb. As an ownership experience you won't get better IMHO.

As for use in snow however don't think it will keep up with a Land cruiser or their ilk. That said the RX will still be more capable than a front wheel drive car. Put winter tyres on it and unless you want to climb mountains it will be fine.

Wouldn't hesitate in buying another.

Huw

[Porkis]

^^ EXACTLY what Huw said .. been there and agree 100% miss it every day

[sparkyhx]

The RX is no mudplugger and must be considered as a softroader, however any 4wd will be better than 2w. Depending where you live, may determine whether the snow is bad enough to need winter/AT tyres, cos normal tyres are pretty marginal in snow, 4wd or not.

No experience of the car itself, but their reputation is good and if its anywhere near like my LS then it will be fab.

Also don't forget if you mainly do town driving then everyone around you is stuck in snow, you ain't anywhere anyway.

[bins]

Hope you dont mind me encroaching on your thread. Im considering a getting Lexus RX 400h.

If I dont get a Lexus, then the only other car I would be okay with and is of a similar price is a 2 or 3 year old VW Tiguan petrol (I know apples and oranges but the Tiguan petrol is smaller for parking, and drives very easily like a Golf)

Could anyone share their experience with the Lexus RX 400h

Thanks

[sparkyhx]

bins said:

Hope you dont mind me encroaching on your thread. Im considering a getting Lexus RX 400h.

If I dont get a Lexus, then the only other car I would be okay with and is of a similar price is a 2 or 3 year old VW Tiguan petrol (I know apples and oranges but the Tiguan petrol is smaller for parking, and drives very easily like a Golf)

Could anyone share their experience with the Lexus RX 400h

Thanks

as with all hybrids - teenie weenie boot in comparison with non hydrid - personally i'd go petrol + lpg = cheaper running costs - however not sure where the tank would go on an RX.

[Studio117]

lexusboy said:

Working for Lexus I feel I have some experience with these (hopefully)

Certain things to look out for;

- they wear the inner edge of the front tyres a lot quicker than the rest of the tyre so always check the inner edge. This is unfortunatly how they are, non-camber adjustable so you will just have to live with it.

- rear calipers like seizing on the sliders and can sometimes require replacing depending on how bad the dirt build up is inside the slider chamber.

- handbrake cables seize up. Noone really knows why they do but we suspect it's just where they're not used and just bumped into park when stationary

- the big services are every 60k which is spark plug replacement where the inlet manifold has to be removed. 100k is the cambelt.

- the power steering pumps are prone to leaking which could involve replacing the pump and/or the steering fluid pipes.

- radiators are prone to leaking on the n/s so look at the coolant level

- there is an ongoing recall on the RX400h which involves replacing the hybrid inverter module but only cars with a certain VIN are affected

Those are the main problems/issues that I can remember off the top of my head.

As for the Mark Levinson stereo I don't think it's standard fit on all of them but a lot of them do have it and you should definitely look to buy one if it has Mark Levinson.

I'm guessing you are aware that there are 3 different models within the 2nd (MCU35 if you wanted to know that) generation. The RX300, RX350 and the RX400h.

The 350 is the only one not belt driven so that won't require a cambelt replacement as it's chain driven. The 350 is also the least economic as it's a 3.5 V6 so if you're after economy then the 300 or 400h is your options, of which I would lean more towards the 400h as, when driven correctly, you will get better MPG with the hybrid.

As for the driving feel, they are you're typical SUV really, high up, rather rolly but that's to be expected I feel.

The interior is a very nice place to be though, heated seats, full-screen sat-nav, climate control, electric seats with memory function, full leather etc.

Obviously I do have bias but I personally can't really think of anything on the used market that can offer what a fully loaded RX can.

Hope that helps dude.

(bloody better I spent ages racking my brain for this lol)

from another thread

[bins]

Thank you. Based on this looks like it might be prudent to purchase from Lexus

[Dr mojo]

Just completing 3 years and 40,000 miles in my RX400h SEL. Overall other than servicing and consumables it has not needed anything other than a wheel arch liner that came loose. Never needed to use warranty which is more than I can say for my previous BMW and Porsche. Not the most exciting to drive and steering feel is light but if you want a 4x4 that is fully loaded, easy to drive and economical to drive around town this is it. Constant 27-28 mpg no matter how you drive.
No problems in the snow last 3 years again far better than most cars but not a serious off roader. I would definitely recommend it.
I am just changing mine now for something different as I never keep cars more than 3 years. Fancy a change and I do not think the new 450h is enough of an improvement over my car to justify the additional expense so will look elsewhere.

[V8Smith]

Cheers,

They have bought a 400h and my dad loves it, thanks for all the advice, cheers guys

Mike

[mph]

bins said:

Hope you dont mind me encroaching on your thread. Im considering a getting Lexus RX 400h.

If I dont get a Lexus, then the only other car I would be okay with and is of a similar price is a 2 or 3 year old VW Tiguan petrol (I know apples and oranges but the Tiguan petrol is smaller for parking, and drives very easily like a Golf)

Could anyone share their experience with the Lexus RX 400h

Thanks

Can't really be compared.

I've enjoyed my Lexus RX 400h. Very comfortable, easy to drive and plenty of go, but it's no sports SUV and the suspension is a bit on the soft side. Personally I prefer it that way as I can't see the point of an SUV that crashes over the smallest bumps.

Reliability is legendary and the dealers are head and shoulders above other brands. Unbelievable service.

I can't see the point of small SUV's like the Tiguan,they don't have the commanding driving position of a full-size job, so why not just buy a car ?

[mad4amanda]

Holy thread resurrection!
Thinking of an RX 350/400h now that they are in my price range want a hybrid model , all reports above look good but what happens as they age or put some miles under their belts ? Does the Hybrid stuff give trouble is there a best buy between the 350h and the 400h ?

Its going to be used as a family wagon to replace my w203 merc estate c220cdi so whats the boot like? are there any rough guides to mpg?

[lexusboy]

mad4amanda said:

Holy thread resurrection!
Thinking of an RX 350/400h now that they are in my price range want a hybrid model , all reports above look good but what happens as they age or put some miles under their belts ? Does the Hybrid stuff give trouble is there a best buy between the 350h and the 400h ?

Its going to be used as a family wagon to replace my w203 merc estate c220cdi so whats the boot like? are there any rough guides to mpg?

The 350 is not a hybrid. Just a straight up 3.5L V6 petrol.

The RX400h came out in 2005/6 and so far I have not really seen any issues with the hybrid side and have seen a couple of cars over 200k miles and still working absolutely fine. Peoples fears over the hybrid battery are very unfounded in my experience.

Not knowing the size of the Merc boot but the RX boot is the same across the whole range (battery under rear seats) and is, I would say, a 5 dead body boot so fairly spacious.

In terms of the MPG the 400h can bring you around 35mpg on a combined cycle and slightly more in mainly urban driving as you will be using the hybrid battery more and of course the 350 will return around 30mpg.

If you're going to get a 400h I would advise getting it from a Lexus dealer as the salesman should have gone on a hybrid driving course and so should be able to show you how to maximise the hybrid potential of the car.

[Challo]

Sorry to hijack but what are the RX300's like in general driving and mpg?

Also are the pre2003 real lexus cars or rebadged Toyota Harriers? They seem very cheap with the early cars around 2k with the facelift cars around 4k for a high mileage example.

[Phil Dicky]

Challo said:

Sorry to hijack but what are the RX300's like in general driving and mpg?

Also are the pre2003 real lexus cars or rebadged Toyota Harriers? They seem very cheap with the early cars around 2k with the facelift cars around 4k for a high mileage example.

We have a 2005 in the family and returns around mid to late twenties on a normal run..so not bad all. I think the early cars are re-badge Toyotas, just go for post 2003.