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exactly. I have friends with BMW and Audi cars. Around 80K big stuff breaks like rear wheel bearings that have to be cut out and expensive parts. Not to say the Japanese are smarter than the Germans since we did beat both of them but the Japanese figured out how to make cars that will run forever with pretty basic maintenance and care. Your Lexus has a great suspension that is barely broken in. I'd suggest maybe a more aggressive tire? My friend who is a BMW mechanic for decades drives a Toyota. when I asked him why, he said, "I hate working on my own cars." Ahhh

Thmsabear, yes the universal u-joints do work. I replaced both on our 2002 RX300 about 1 1/2 years ago. Stopped the vibration. We have put about 15K miles on them since the repair. I purchased the u-joints from a company out of Rockford, IL. In our case, the vibration started after the timing belt and water pump was changed. The engine had to be raised to reach some of the bolts. This caused the problem with the u-joint. Don't waste your money on a new driveshaft. Lexus will tell you that you can't replace the u-joints, that they are staked-in. "Not True" Go to: rockforddriveline.com There is a You Tube video about staked in u-joints. Do a search for: "Staked-in u-joint replacement" posted by bootsnthejeep. Hope this helps, Bill

In order to change support bearings I believe you have to drop drive shaft, that is when it can be checked easily. Don't know anything about serviceable u joints, but that is how they used to be made on cars. (long time ago) Good luck, I know that when I sold my RX300 there was a vibration that I fought, and was about to do the support bearings. The new Owner replaced the two support bearings and all vibration went away.

I personally would suspect the Drive line support bearings...They will create vibration. And they are fairly cheap. But I would call a driveline specialty business, you might find the prices much cheaper.