Good Years For Rx?

[pauljcl]

I have a 1999, AWD model with 110K miles on it. Engine and tranny still smooth. I would recommend in a heartbeat.

Well, back to the original question: avoid RX300s like the plague. People write about the transmission, but you may also encounter engine sludge, leaky rear engine seal, cracked exhaust manifold, struts.... the RX300s generally seem to generate an unconscionable (or it should be unconscionable to Lexus, but isn't) mess. The Lexus foremen themselves admit the design mistakes (== flaws) and recommend only the 2005/6 RX330 for whoever wants an RX.

The transmission weakness is more evident when a transmission has been stressed: AWD or loads. The rear engine seal (which happened to me at 68K miles was provoked by (unknown): car was driven gently always, but maybe the warm FL climate made the engine block too hot and Lexus provided insufficient cooling. Anyway: bottom line is AVOID.

[BillyShaft]

My statement is not an "insult", pal, it is merely an expressed opinion about the reasoning behind this particular subject involving someone I've known intimately for more than 30 years whom you've never even met. My wife knows that I sometimes perceive her reasoning as foolish. I in turn know that she sometimes perceives my reasoning as calculated and cold. We accept our differences, often celebrate them, and remain delighted to be very different personalities - it keeps life interesting....

Perhaps you fancy yourself as Dr. Phil Jr. but your attempts to shove your words into my mouth simply come across as yet another blunder on your part. My response above was to smooth1's direct question about my SUV preferences and why, which he found to be a reasonable and valid answer as he pointed out himself. Your peanut gallery PS comment added nothing to the mix. Perhaps there's a basement-filmed cable TV show out there that would pay to avail itself of your outstandingly acute personal relationship perceptions. Good luck finding it....

Relax, RX in NC...it is obvious that you have a bone to pick with the RX. Without fail, any thread about the RX includes a post from you trashing it, or positing that it does not fit your definition of an SUV. Those of us who have researched and reasoned that the RX fits OUR needs and desires find the threadcrapping to be tedious and I suspect that your negativity generates the responses you get. Our decision to buy the RX is neither shallow nor foolish, it simply differs from yours.

However, the good news is that the wife has "all but abandoned" the RX330 and now you can sell that POS and be happy with the one Jag model/year that isn't a build-quality and maintenance crapfest. Congrats on finding it; it had to have been all but impossible.

Anyway...

The OP has determined that the RX will suit their needs and if I were OP, I would stay with a 2005 or newer RX. 1999-2003 are the old body style with some engine/tranny annoyances previously pointed out (and my own personal pet-peeve: the horrible turning radius). 2004 was the new body style changeover year and I would avoid any car based on that alone. I agree with the other poster that the 2005 and up would be best...and a 2006 RX400h if the budget supports it.

Certainly check out the competition thoroughly...we did. I have owned 3 RX's (99, 03 and 06) and every time we upgrade cars, we honestly look for something different just to mix things up. We find it impossible to get the same features we desire, with the same quality/styling for the same money and end up back with a Lexus every time. Before buying the used RX400h this last time, we drove BMW X3 and X5, Porsche Cayenne, Acura MDX, Subaru Tribeca, Merc ML 350 and 500, Kia Sorento (what can I say? I have read good things about it.), Jeep GC, and the Infinity QX. We went to the Lexus dealer last, and after driving the 2008 RX400h, the wife put the stop on the search and said that was what she wanted. She gave me a color choice and off I went to get her the best deal I could find.

[RX in NC]

BillyShaft,

I certainly do have a bone to pick with the RX300. Ours was the worst vehicle I've owned in nearly 40 years of driving, requiring more than $9,000 worth of warranty work to keep it roadworthy - inexcuseable....

You've obviously missed my multiple posts over the last couple of years stating that my wife's current 2004 RX330 is a better vehicle than her previous 2000 RX300. I've provided credit in the areas where credit is due. But it is still overpriced, underpowered, and far overrated in my opinion. I'm perfectly within my rights to express those opinions here having owned both flavors that I discuss. And I'll continue to do so regardless of your squeaking. Get used to it....

As far as our Jaguar is concerned, I did voluminous research before I decided to make my best-and-final offer. I had the same decades-long perceptions of poor reliability and sky-high upkeep costs as you do. Statistics show that component mix and build quality improved dramatically for the S-Type by the 2004 model year so I decided to accept the risk given the minimal amount of money I knew it would cost me to acquire the vehicle. After 2,500 miles of driving our S-Type, it is still a fantastic car for our purposes. Will I be able to say the same 3 years and 60,000 additional miles down the road? Only time will tell. One thing you can consistently count on from me - I'll be honest about it. If the Jag disappoints and becomes a money pit to maintain, I'll be the first to speak to that, both here and on the Jag forums....

And no, we won't be dumping the RX330 anytime soon. We need it as a dog-hauler. That's the best fit for it in our household - it's been demoted to canine carrier duty. No way are our dogs setting paw in the Jaguar - it's far too nice a vehicle for that....

Good luck with your RX and whatever you choose to use it for....

[BillyShaft]

Squeaking? Simply an observation since you seem to be surprised by people's reactions to your antics.

No one questioned your "right" (I am amused by people who grant themselves "rights" in a private forum) to post whatever you want...I simply question the purpose or need. If you think that the RX is is a dog's dinner of a vehicle, so be it, but at least you could acknowledge that it may be perfect for what others are looking for and adjust your message of hatred accordingly.

Honestly, it really comes off like the wife overrode your desires, and now your mission is to run it down to "show everyone".

There is a positive way of saying things and a negative way. "Hey, I would avoid the 99-03 RX because of..." is much different from a childish overstatement of "fact"; ("I wouldn't drive a $50,000 vehicle if it were given to me for FREE" comes to mind...). Hell, I would even drive your Jag if it were free. Maybe. Talk about a car with limited utility: you can't climb a dirt hill, cant drive in snow and you cant even stick your dogs in the back. By your standards this should have been a crap choice, right?

Good Luck? Please. I have owned 3 of these RX's without any issues other than oil changes and car washes. My current RX400h is CPO and warranted out to 100k miles. "Luck" has little to do with making a good decision. Having read your "squeaking" about the jag modules requiring much care due to expense and all the maintenance stuff you want to get done before the warranty expires, I would say that any "Luck" needs to go your way. Good Luck...you WILL need it.

[lenore]

BillyShaft and RXNC I too am a dissappointed RX300 owner, in that my tranny failed, However other than that it has been a great vehicle. I thoroughly enjoy both of you for your input to this forum and look forward to your future posts. I believe input both positive and negative is great, It gives decision making information available from owners, not some perceived reliability reports. RX and I share our beliefs on the transmission, and I know he is a great guy, does a lot of research, and makes his decisions based on that. I appreciate that, and look for his posts to see whats up. BillyShaft I have seen your posts more recently and welcome your responses. We as a group are creating this data base for future and past owners to fix their cars with hopefully less pain and money. Hope you all have a great day, keep posting, and learn thru knowledge... by the way you both live in some really pretty states, I love NorthCarolina for its southern hospitality, and gorgous beaches, and Utah for its beautiful Salt Lake basin. I will also note the folks in Utah are very conservative and very America first. I appreciate that very much. My first grand daughter was born in Jacksonville NC and I will never forget the wonderful folks in that experience. Utah has been a favorite of mine during the stadium of fire concerts for the last 5 years.

[RX in NC]

I find it highly amusing that BillyShaft is annoyed by my opinion of the RX series and accuses me of being childish by voicing my concerns about it, yet he takes every opportunity to denigrate our new Jaguar even though I've explained my reasons for purchasing it and also acknowledged that there are definitely some risks involved in that decision....

Sounds to me that we've got a case here of the pot calling the kettle black....

And 92es-96es, I certainly didn't mean to annoy you. I agree - BillyShaft and I should take our differences offline at this point....

[tmastres]

Sounds to me that we've got a case here of the pot calling the kettle black....

I agree - BillyShaft and I should take our differences offline at this point....

Yet, there was that burning urge, no, need to get in one more public shot eh? (rhetorical, does not require a response)

Topical content: For a multitude of reasons avoid 99-00 RX's. 01's may be sketchy as well so I'd advise going for an 02-later model.

[BillyShaft]

Could we stay on topic, I'm trying to read a thread which I though was about RX's but I have to read a bunch of crap and listen to people yelling about stuff that doesn't even pertain to the purpose of the club, were all friends now, everyone's got their own opinions, If anyone's gonna act like a child here its gonna be me :D

Sorry :(

Didn't mean to hijack your inner child... :D

[lenore]

I agree, 2002or 2003 RX300 would probably be better. Engine sludge could still be a problem. It was never fixed in this engine....Just good maintenance and Full synthetic fluid would be the fix....