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Is it just me or what. Seems like every week I notice a new chip in the paint on the hood. I don't believe this paint is very durable. Anyone else having a chipping problem on their '06?

Bought our 20 March 2003 in Nashville. One of the first. Sold it two years later as a "one" year old with 17k miles.

Our old RX-330 had the same issue. The dealer fixed it by reprograming and correctly setting up the sunroof. No problem after that or with our new GS. :whistles:

what do you guys think of removing the lexus gs300 lettering off the trunk?? ← I like the look of the outside. Don't really care for the Gucchi look - keep it though if you plan to lower that beautiful car. That way the whole thing will look getto. Keep the badging...especially if you plan to sell in the near future. I believe people who buy a Lexus want everyone on the road to know they have a Lexus.

Tried that during the test drive. I call it a rolling stop manuever. First impression was that there was major improvement over our RX. Secondly, it doesn't have an issue while manually shifting the automatic six speed and performing this manuever. So, I'm more impressed with this transmission and logic and am really satisfied with the +/- shifting. Therefore, I'm not going to investigate any further. It drives in a manner I can live with. Besides the rest of the car is too beautiful to have a !Removed! in a punchbowl.

Yesterday we bought a black 2006 GS-300 and love it. Yeah, it'll be more work keeping it clean but this one is beautiful.

Yesterday we traded our '04 RX330 in on a '06 GS300 and love this Lexus. I didn't like the performance of the RX transmission for reasons noted in other posts. During our test-drive, I did the rolling stop manuever. This would put the RX into a hesitation while determining the correct gear but the GS went like it should. No issues with this transmission. The manual shift automatic is enjoyable to use.

Just an update here on the transmission. It's gone! :whistles: So is the whole RX-330. We had it for two full years and it was time to go. We were looking at hybrids from Honda, Ford, Toyota and finally went to check on the RX400h. Didn't like the hybrids and Lexus guys didn't have enough info. So, leaving the dealer I noticed they had a new 2006 GS300. To make a long story short we traded up. Bye-bye RX! No regrets. Now, this new GS is awesome. The six-speed automatic with rear wheel drive is the bomb. This one runs terrific and gets better gas mileage than the RX - about 20 percent more. So, don't everyone run to their Lexus dealer and buy a new GS 300 or 430. I want to be the only one in town with one for a while.

Looks like the PCM is up to the task. Anyone using this on their RX? For nearly a 1000 bucks .... is this the answer? I suspect I would have to hear about a few positive experiences before commiting to the PCM.

Well, it happened again. This time merging into two-way traffic the car just rolled as traffic rapidly closed in on us. My wife asked "what are you doing?" :chairshot: Truth is, the RX330 wouldn't accelerate to get going. We were just rolling until it caught. I realize now my wife was seeing traffic getting bigger in her window. So, I have learned to live with the shifting by manually shifting the automatic. I only put the lever in 3rd, 4th and on the highway 5th and first ensure the engine RPMs go above 3k before advancing to the next higher gear. Now, to ensure we never get hit I have to not be in a hurry. My Duramax can get its 7500 pound self out of its own way faster than the RX. Is there a fix out there? I really would like to see a programer on the market. First alter shifting pattern and then allow the converter to lock up earlier. Maybe some engine tuning to boot.

Try this.... http://www.clear-guard.com/productsearch.a...ke=23&model=769

Interesting article. Looks like the issue now has big T's attention.

Does the 400h have fully power-adjustable front seats - with lumbar adjustments on both? What are the claimed mpg #s?

I've been manually shifting for the past few months and like that better. It doesn't require much throttle to keep the RPMs up when running through the gears (3rd through 5th). I can live with that. Haven't had much time to work on the seat issue. I have been checking the car lots for cars that do have fully adjustable front seats with lumbar but they are rare. One was a Bonneville GTP and another was a Ford Sport-trac! Come March we'll have had our RX for two years so it may be time to go. We have nearly 15k on the odometer and really don't want to have to pay to replace the Michelins in the next year.

Been manually shifting between third, forth and fifth. It definitly works better but the question that comes up is "what for?" or "what's the point?" as it is an automatic. Well, I can live with it this way. RPMS are up and the RX is ready to go. Now, I just need to do something with the front passenger seat... Any news of programing updates for the transmission?

According to our tech in Nashville, the correction was intended for the ES and already integrated into the '04 RX330. It didn't make me feel any better about this issue. Amazing, I still have this vehicle. Every other car we've looked at forces us to give up something or has it own quirk. Looks like we'll have our RX for a little longer yet - not more than a year though. Can you try and pry all the info from your tech on this update for us RX330 owners please ←

I didn't really get to drive until I returned from Iraq. As the months went on, the transmission experience/issue prompted us to sell or trade the RX. But, we really haven't found anything that comes close, so looks like the RX will be with us for quite a while. The RX330 has way more room in the rear seating and many features other brands don't offer for the price we paid. One way of dealing with the shifting issue is I just manually shift between 3rd through 5th and don't change to the next higher gear until the engine is at 3000rpms or higher. That technique makes driving tollerable and the engine seems to like it. I still have to ease into the throttle from a stop or rolling stop as the engine RPMs will climb due to the slow engagement of the transmission. I would really like to be able to reprogram the upshifting and downshifting of the transmission. It seems to run better with higher engine RPM than with the programmed lazy, gas saving shifts.

Traded a 2000 Oldmobile Siloquette with 18k on the odometer. Mini-vans for 10 years was enough and were really exicted about the RX330. Didn't need 7-passenger seating afterall. I didn't really get to drive until I returned from Iraq. As the months went on, I have an issue that prompted us to sell or trade the RX. But, we really haven't found anything that comes close so looks like the RX will be with us for quite a while. One way of dealing with the shifting issue is I just manually shift between 3rd through 5th and don't change to the next higher gear until the engine is at 3000rpms. That technique makes it tollerable and the engine seems to like it. ;)

It's not about driving skills but rather the amount of acceptable risk. You may drive 100+ by yourself, or not, but I won't push this vehicle with my family on board. If I need to go somewhere by myself, I take my Silverado with Duramax. :P

I've been to 85-90mph with our RX330 and it seemed light on the road and I wouldn't push one anymore than that. :(

Wow! Just posted a message in the modification forum looking for a way to modify my RX-330 transmission shifting and converter engagement but now I see this is a wide-spread problem. :o My wife and I were at a Volvo dealer this weekend. Now, I believe we'll dump this Lexus and never look back. I'm not waiting for a fix - especially since Lexus hasn't even admitted there is a problem. This drive-by-wire theory doesn't work for me as my Silverado with a Duramax diesel has one and has absolutely no hesitation or shifting problems. It just goes. Oh yeah, this crew-cab Silverado gets better gas/fuel mileage than our RX-330! So, looks like we will cut our loses and disappointments now and get another vehicle. Wished I would have discovered your site way sooner as there appears to be lots of info and knowledgable people on-board. Marc

Looking for a way to modify the RX-330 5-speed auto transmission. It up-shifts way too soon and the computer (ECM?) takes too long to decide what gear to select after slowing the speed and then accelerating again. Also, the torque converter engages too late for me and is not very smooth leaving from a stop. Is a programmer available or does anyone know of a service bulletin that applies to this? The dealer wasn't any help for me and basically told me that's what it is. :( Also, the front passenger seat is uncomfortable since it lacks adjustability and lumbar support. Is there a replacement available that matches the driver-side that will bolt right in? Currently considering selling the RX if I can't get resoulution on these two issues. Any help is most appreciated. Thanks in advance. Marc