Thinking of a Lexus RX 350

Sam_Boss260 · 23-07-2011, 05:06 PM

Does anyone have an RX 350 or know anything about this particular model?

We are thinking of buying an 06 model with 91k kms.

Any comments welcomed

blackf6 · 23-07-2011, 05:35 PM

the rear roof line goes back on an angle so restricts the amount of cargo you can carry. dual zone climate control, gps, leather ,wood grain. the worst thing i thought about it was for the life of me i couldn't work out how to open the boot by remote ( it doesn't just unlock it but it also automatically opens it). and the handbrake is like a weird lever under the brake pedal. but all in all a pretty good luxury type suv.

V3RSAC3 · 29-07-2011, 01:55 PM

Congrats on your purchase mate! I was looking at one before I bought the Territory and I loved them! My brothers got an 08' IS250 and they're just a diffrent vehicle the Lexus'. Paddle shift with the 6spd Auto, Touch Screen, Sat Nav, Sunroof. Deffinatly a strong competitor.

How do you find it so far?

Quote:

Originally Posted by teak81

the rear roof line goes back on an angle so restricts the amount of cargo you can carry. dual zone climate control, gps, leather ,wood grain. the worst thing i thought about it was for the life of me i couldn't work out how to open the boot by remote ( it doesn't just unlock it but it also automatically opens it). and the handbrake is like a weird lever under the brake pedal. but all in all a pretty good luxury type suv.

You have to hold the boot button down for about 3-4 seconds :(

Rodge · 23-07-2011, 06:07 PM

I've driven one for a couple of hours and actually quite liked it and that's the 2006 model you're thinking of getting.

Very comfortable ride quality, nicely appointed, very smooth engine and gearbox, good performance for an SUV, Frankly I thought it was a pretty useful peice of kit, with the emphasis on comfort and luxury. With a full service history being a naturally aspirated engine you should still get a good run out of it with 91K allready on the clock. What's the asking price ?

StrokedXT · 23-07-2011, 07:36 PM

Have a mate works for Lexus and brings them home, my honest opinion is they are boring to drive, I don't think the interiors are any more special than a camry and is no where near the euros for quality of materials.

Build quality is good, but they ate expensive to repair and ate not what I would consider super reliable

Just my opinion.

MAGPIE · 23-07-2011, 08:35 PM

There tough...

Google "christchurch earthquake lexus"

it's a 330 but still

yift · 23-07-2011, 10:00 PM

they have the same feel as a territory has to drive, meaning car like handling on a raised platform. personaly i would buy one over a territory any day. i lived with one for a week some time ago and i didnt want to give they keys back.

StrokedXT · 23-07-2011, 11:05 PM

I'd rather get a real wagon or a real 4wd not something that pretends to be both.

GT-E · 24-07-2011, 12:15 AM

Just get a Kluger Grande for 1/2 the price. Same running gear, just different body style and interior. We had a 2004 kluger and the car was boring, but reliable. Typical Toyota, just a Lexus has a premium on everything.

Scott · 24-07-2011, 12:29 AM

I have one Sam (05), great car. We sold the GT and bought it for a baby bus and are very happy with it.

It does have a couple of annoyances, one being the 5spd auto can be a little precious if you take off with very light throttle (like you rolled slowly up to an intersection then took off again). It sort of pauses for a moment and is apparently quite common. It's nothing major, just one of those quirks you come across. The other is that the middle back seat is not a seat by my standard. If you need to use it anymore than "the odd occasion", this car might not be the one.

The auto tailgate is awesome and is a good enough reason for us to not look at trading the car in alone.

Luxury in spades, quite private inside (being high with black interior and black windows), DVD gets a workout, sliding and reclining rear seats get a work out too.

Cheap to service and parts are readily available (Camry on steroids). Lexus service is amazing, they really do treat you incredibly well. If we drop in and tell them a remote isn't working so great, they just replace the battery on the spot, no charge. Our front parking sensors had a minor bug and when I let them know, they came out to the car and fixed it in the car park. When it needs a service, they just come and pick it up.

If it had real 4x4 it would be the perfect car for us. I would have no problem in recommending the car or the company.

Sam_Boss260 · 24-07-2011, 02:28 PM

Thanks Scott. This was the feedback that I was after.

Where do you go for services? Kedron or indooroopilly?

Scott · 24-07-2011, 02:33 PM

Kedron.

Sam_Boss260 · 24-07-2011, 04:56 PM

Yeah ok. The Kedron one is combined Lexus and Toyota right? Where as the Indro one is just Lexus and with our current Lexus, they just charged like a wounded bull to the point where I just stopped going a soon as the warranty ran out. Given that th RX is pretty much the Camry / Kluger platform I am comfortable that it is pretty much a Toyota service, whereasvthe GS300 is not really toyota as much.

Sam_Boss260 · 26-07-2011, 11:33 AM

Well I just put a deposit on an 06 RX350. Navy blue with the cream leather interior. It does have 90K on it, but comes with the 3 year warranty from Lexus, so I'm comfortable with that.

Rodge · 29-07-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

Well I just put a deposit on an 06 RX350. Navy blue with the cream leather interior. It does have 90K on it, but comes with the 3 year warranty from Lexus, so I'm comfortable with that.

Nice colour combo mate, if I bought one, (too many toys allready), I'd be after that combination.
Enjoy

Smoke Pursuit · 26-07-2011, 01:35 PM

Congrats!

You will have fun detailing it when you get it.

Sam_Boss260 · 26-07-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Congrats!

You will have fun detailing it when you get it.

Tell me about it !! There was a silver one there also, and I thought "Yes Silver is so much easier to maintain..." but it had been in an accident, so the blue one it is. I've already identified a few minor swirls on it.... god help me !!

UNR8D · 26-07-2011, 06:24 PM

have had them as company cars and in the family we have a IS250 sport/lux and my current drive is an IS300 sport/lux, never had an issue with either car mechanicaly or otherwise and lexus service is second to none.

I use kedron mostly and my folks use the one up at maroochydoor both are great for service.

Parts are sometimes expensive but seldom do they break and engine/drivetrain is mostly toyota and ive never had an issue with expensive parts hell the oil filter for the IS250 is only $23 so cant really complain.

Good luck with the new pic up, would like to see pics ;)

Sam_Boss260 · 26-07-2011, 10:57 PM

Yeah pics to follow. Should be picking the car up next Tues/Wed. We had several issues with Lexus Indro Service, mainly the pricing they charge and the arrogance. So will be trying Kedron Lexus Service to see how they are. Problem we also had was that we had the GS300 which does not share many Toyota parts.

SumoDog68 · 27-07-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

Yeah pics to follow. Should be picking the car up next Tues/Wed. We had several issues with Lexus Indro Service, mainly the pricing they charge and the arrogance. So will be trying Kedron Lexus Service to see how they are. Problem we also had was that we had the GS300 which does not share many Toyota parts.

GS 300 is a Toyota , there was Toyota Aristo until 2005 in Japan when Lexus brand was introduced in Japan.
RX 350 is no more Toyota then GS series, they are both Toyotas. Maybe you refer to RX being based on Camry platform but even then you ll find not much is interchangable between those two.

Sam_Boss260 · 27-07-2011, 06:33 PM

The GS is the straight 6. Not many straight 6 Toyota's around these days.

RX is the Kluger platform in terms of engine, and drivetrain.

SumoDog68 · 03-08-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

The GS is the straight 6. Not many straight 6 Toyota's around these days.

RX is the Kluger platform in terms of engine, and drivetrain.

The Kluger is built on the same Toyota Modular Platform that spawned the current-generation Camry, released in Australia in the middle of 2006.

GS was straight six until 2005. After 3gen they are V6 or V8 configuration.
V6 is a 2GR series which is also in Aurion ,RX etc.
GS version is FSE direct injection and others are FE port injected.

Scott · 27-07-2011, 09:27 PM

Congrats Sam, nice combo too. I'm sure you'll be happy with Kedron, we certainly are.

SB076 · 28-07-2011, 10:15 AM

I got to race one around Sandown, too be honest I didnt want to race it around, thought it would be very ordinary experiece (thought SUV, racetrack - doesnt quite work and I had just jumped our of an ISF, but I was wrong) The RX really surprised me, it was great with good handling.

Sam_Boss260 · 28-07-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB076

I got to race one around Sandown, too be honest I didnt want to race it around, thought it would be very ordinary experiece (thought SUV, racetrack - doesnt quite work and I had just jumped our of an ISF, but I was wrong) The RX really surprised me, it was great with good handling.

I'm also surprised by this....'

Sam_Boss260 · 29-07-2011, 03:58 PM

Haven't picked the car up yet. We should pick it up around next Tuesday / Wednesday.

We've had several of these as loan cars from Lexus when we had our other Lexus getting fixed, so we sort of know what to expect. So looking forward to picking it and driving it.

Franco Cozzo · 29-07-2011, 04:49 PM

My boss has a 2009 RX350, its a bit squishy in the back with 3 adults in the back but I guess any car would be.

Sam_Boss260 · 03-08-2011, 09:05 AM

Well we picked up the RX yesterday. Very nice car to drive.

Still learning how to use all of the gadgets... like trying to have 2 iphones hooked up to the bluetooth !!

The only issue that I have is that there is like a small rattle coming from the interior that is driving me nuts !! So will have to investigate during the weekend.

But apart from that, love the car and will post some pics up when I give her a nice bath on the weekend

Scott · 03-08-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

The only issue that I have is that there is like a small rattle coming from the interior that is driving me nuts !! So will have to investigate during the weekend.

I have two. One from the boot area that I haven't looked for and one from the roof mounted DVD that I haven't bothered fixing yet.

cheap · 03-08-2011, 10:13 AM

Don't know what your budget is, but maybe you should look at a CX-7 or CX-9.