Teletubbie

I found a high-pitch rattling sound near the passenger door in just a few days after I took delivery of my new 2009 RX. The sound would come on when I would go over a speed bump or if when I would take off from a stop light. But it was kind of erratic and I never found how to reproduce it. I took the car yesterday for the 1K service and the service foreman took for the test drive, and he could reproduce it by going over those metal squares that they put on highway dividers. Later he found out he could just put the car in park and accelerate it to 1800 rpm and the sound would come from the inside of the passenger door. They took it in, found out a clip that holds some part inside the door was broken and they replaced it. Here is the bummer. When I picked up the car, I found out they scratched the wooden trim on the passenger door. The service tech. is going to call me after he speaks to his manager to see how they can fix the scratches. He said they may have to replace the entire inside of the door since it is sold as as one assembly.

I got a new 2009 RX a couple of weeks back and I received an online survey from Lexus Corporate regarding my purchase transaction. Is the survey response anonymous or is my identify revealed to the dealer? How safe is it to give the rating they deserve versus being honest and face the retaliation (like the BMW thread posted above)?

What brand film did you get? What was the coverage and the price?

The $5000 incentive is extended. I got a promotional email today from a Lexus dealer: We at Lexus understand that the current economic downturn has created several amazing opportunities, especially if you want a "Big ticket item". We want to jump in give our "two cents" with an AMAZING opportunity of our own!!! On the eve of the 2010 RX350 we are prepared to offer $5000.00 off 2008 models AND $5000.00 off 2009 RX350 models!!!

Thank you all for the input. I cancelled my maintenance package.

I called the service department and got the exact amounts for each scheduled service. All services at 5K intervals upto 50K are the same except at 30K. The 5K services are nothing but oil-lube-filter and tire rotation. The 15K is the same but they clean air filter, but the charge is same as 5K. The first dealer quote me $172 for the 5K service and the second Lexus dealer quoted $187 for the same service (both local.) I think both of them are high for a simple oil-filter job and tire rotation. I asked the break down for 5K: $115 (labor for 1 hour) + $66 parts + $6 tax. I am not sure now if prepaying is really a great deal even if I get the services at the dealer. So I called the Finance Manager to decline this deal. He said right now is the deadline to sign-up so that he can get it in Janurary month's accounting. He talked me in to purchasing it and I can cancel it anytime in the first 60 days for a full refund. So I just took it. To top that, the FM challenged that the numbers that I got from the service department are inaccurate. According to him, the 30K service will cost $750 and 15K will cost $350. He said he can provide me the service receipts from other customers. He asked me to call the service department and check with a different service advisor. The total according to him will be greater than $2500 if I pay as we go. To top that, he told me that the package is good for 45K and not 50K as I originally thought (perhaps I mistook the first time he told me.) For people who were asking what if the car gets totalled or you sell the car before the package expiry, you can get prorated refund for the unused portion. So here is the costs if I pay as we go: 5k-Free 10k-$172 15k-$172 20k-$172 25k-$172 30k-$425 35k-$172 40k-$172 45k-$172 TOTAL: $1629 I am seriously thinking of calling him and cancelling it. What do you think?

OP here. This maintenance package covers all the scheduled services up to 50K/4 years as recommended by Lexus in the owner's guide. It does not cover wear and tear items such as brake pads but the air filter and cabin filter is covered. I try to take my cars to independent mechanics but the service seems to be always a hit or a miss. This being my first Lexus I am leaning towards taking my RX to the dealer for all the scheduled services. Hence I am trying to price this package and compare it to the expenses I would have paid the dealer if I had done pay-as-you-go for all the scheduled services up to 50K. If it is a significant savings by prepaying, then I may as well buy it now. I don't have any hard numbers what would be the dealer charges for pay-as-you-go services upto 50K for a RX, but looking at SW03ES's numbers, it seems like a good savings by going with the prepaid package. I am a frugal and pretty hands on guy. I have changed oil on my cars, even replaced a transmission gear sensor, and exchanged tranmission oil on my Honda Odyssey, but due to family committments, I am not very prompt on the service schedule. Another incentive by prepaying I will be more committed to keeping up with the scheduled service. I am not overly concerned with the dealer going out-of-business in the 4-year timeframe. Anything is possible, there are no guarantees in life; unfortunately if it happens, so be it so and move on.

I just purchased a new 2009 RX350 and the dealer offered me a maintenance package for $1200 that covers all scheduled maintenance for 4 years/50K. This package is dealer exclusive and not the one offered by Lexus which costs around $1900 for the similar coverage. This dealer package is valid for service only at our two local Lexus dealers (both have the same ownership.) I have until Monday to purchase it. I plan to keep this car for a long time and would like to know if this maintenace package is worth it? Thanks.

I will primarily be my car.

...it was the "girly car" line wasn't it? Seriously tho, congrats! Did you get it yet? Which options did you end up getting? Where are the PICS? No it was the not girly comment. I just went with your earlier advice and my wife picked the Mica color. I don't have the car yet. Check my other thread on my new issue?

I have decided to go with Smoky Granite Mica. Thank you for the responses!!

I am planning to purchase a brand new 2009 RX350 tomorrow. The salesman has kept it ready for me to pick it up. He sent me the vehicle inquiry report and I found out that the invoice and ship date for this car is Feb 2008. Should I be concerned because this has been on the dealer lot for about a year and barely been run. What about the mechanical detoriation due to non-use plus the weathering of the car being out for so long? I am guessing the oil has not been changed for a year too.

OP here. Yes it is a great time to buy. Almost $10K off the MSRP. Just found out they have another color available: White with ivory interior and maple wood. Between the exterior colors, Smoky Granite Mica and White, which is easy to maintain? Thanks!!

Newbie here. This is going to be my first ever Lexus, having owned Honda and Toyota before. I am close to purchasing a new 2009 RX350 and need your opinion in choosing a color (for demographic I am 40ish male.) The following choices are available: 1. Smoky Granite Mica with gray interior and walnut wood 2. Classic Silver Metallic with gray interior and walnut wood 3. Obsidian Black with ivory interior and maple wood 4. Breakwater Blue Metallic with ivory interior and maple wood 5. Golden Almond Metallic with ivory interior and maple wood I am trying to decide between the Mica and Silver. I like the Mica but I am worried about having to wash it frequently to look clean (I am not good at washing it regularly). Any thoughts on this? So I was leaning towards the Silver. But the problem is our other car is a Honda Silver Odyssey. Would it be funny to have two cars of the same color in a family?