jgr7

Well we bought the RX350 on the way back from Reno today. Paid 42K with Nav,bluetooth/voice-activation rear back up camera, 7 spoke liquid graphite wheels, heated seats,rain-sensing wipers, headlight washers and the luxury value edition premium plus package also tow prep, cargo mats wheel locks. The sticker was 38.8 + the add ons got it to 45.8K. We got the breakwater Blue with tan leather.

Jeff

I bought my 08 RX at Lexus of Roseville and live in Vacaville, too.

Look for a salesman by the name of John Miller. He is a bit hyperactive but will deal and wants to sell cars. The Costco price is 5% over dealer invoice but you don't have to haggle. The pit boss is a bit of an arrogant pain in the *** but that is usual at a dealer. He will try to wring 10 cents out of you. Stand firm and be ready to get up and walk out. Tell him you want the offer written so you won't have to go through this again at the Elk Grove dealer (or Concord dealer). That will soften him a bit. If they don't want to lower the price enough then be prepared with a list of extras for them to throw in the deal like tow hitch, mud guards, floor mats, upgraded rims, or anything else you can think of.

I got mine for less than the Costco discount price. Shop on the last day of the month for the best deal.

Think twice about the Nav. Aftermarket is portable and much more precise. I can program my Garmin on my computer and transfer routes to the device. Then there are the yearly and costly Lexus updates to the nav. Check out the forums for problems with the nav - there are plenty.

Thanks for the info. I have a portable nav but the wife won't use it, I thought with the built in she might try it. How do you like the 350 so far? Have you had any of the rattles that I have been reading about?

Jeff

Going to look an a new rx350 on sat at Roseville Lexus, going to see what kind of deal I can get with the Costco rep. Any advise for me? looking for 1 with nav.

Jeff

I'm seeing a fair amount of Transmission troubles, not what I want to have to deal with. I am still reading on fourms and web sites thanks. Any other thoughts from any one are welcome. I'm still trying to get her to take a test ride on the new RX350.

Jeff

My wife looked at the 2008 Volvo XC90 , she wants to trade in the 2000 RX and get one of these. My question is has any one here had anything to do with this model of Volvo? What are your thoughts? It seems a little big for her but she really likes it. Around 46K + T&L pretty well loaded.

Thanks Jeff

Take a look under the car for a drive shaft to the rear axle.

Jef

When I changed garage openers I could not get the first button to take to the new opener. It would clear but try as I might it would not link with the new opener. I changed to the middle button and it worked the first time I tried. Go figure. So I use the middle button now.

Jeff

Thx for the feedback.

Honda dealer wanted to do intake cleaning for wifes Odyssey at 60k service.

Got me thinking about using one as preventative maintenence - better to slow/prevent any buildup than try to get rid of it.

I do use costco gas quite a bit - generally costco products are pretty high quality but not sure if that applies to gas as well ...

SO recommendation is to just use a good brand of gas - any preference ?

I'm a Costco gas user also and never had any problems on any of my cars.

Jeff

Did a search and did not find info much besides the seafoam cleaning.

Was considering using gumout all-in-one.

What is general opinion on effectiveness of fuel additives like Gumout/STP/etc in cleaning the fuel system, intake and engine ?

Anyone else used this or similar products ?

Do you have a problem or do you just want to use something for fun?

Most all gas companies add there own fuel system cleaners and unless you are using really cheap off brand gas or are having some kind of fuel problem you are just wasting your money and if not done right you could be causing more problems then you started with. If you do use a tank additive make sure you put it in at the gas station and before you add the fuel. Never add a higher concentration then the mfg. recommends as these are strong solvents and WILL ruin your fuel pump and injectors if not used correctly.

Jeff

No thoughts on this? Any one?

Jeff

Just did my 60k maintenance and the scheduled maintenance log book mentions that at the 60k miles or 48 months service the torque sensing type LSD oil should be changed. What is this? Also I have seen you guys talk about when you change the trans fluid you also open the 10 mm plug just behind the trans pan to get another qt of fluid out. Just what is this other part that is being drained? The manual mentions 4.1 qt for four-wheel drive. Transfer case gets 1 qt of Hypoid gear oil either 80wt or 90wt depending on temp of operation. The differential gets 1qt of the hypoid oil also. The 60k also mentions to change the trans, diff, and transfer case oil if the vehicle is primarily operated while towing a trailer or using a car top carrier.

What are your thoughts.

Jeff

I changed openers and had trouble getting my home link to clear the old opener. It looked like it was working but would never take the new opener program on the old button. I tried again on a new button (the middle instead of far left) and it worked just like it was supposed to.

Jeff

Please let us know how they work. I have a Honda that needs some lifts for the rear glass and would like to know how this company is. There prices look very good.

Jeff

Try spraying some WD-40 on it and then taking it off. WD-40 will take off almost anything, it works very good on road tar, any of those sticky labels you get on stuff you buy, bubble gum, ECT. You just have to clean the WD-40 residue off before applying the new double sided tape.

Jeff

I will try the X3 before I buy in fact I will most likley wait for the next years model as I have a feeling that a few of the things missing may turn up on next years model, like memory seat and mirrors, power passenger seat and LED tail lights.

Jeff

I was at Auto Zone today and saw that they are now selling cabin filters made by Bosch for the RX300 for $15. I just thought I would let everyone know you don't have to get it from the dealer any more. They also have them for other cars and models.

Jeff

I took an RDX for a test drive today and having not driven the RX-H I can not compare but I will tell you that the RDX is very impressive with the turbo. It is very smooth and not much turbo noise at all. It looks like I may be getting one soon. We looked at the MDX and FX35and 45 but my small wife couldn't see that well out of these. I still like the RX300 I own but I am getting a little worried about the problems that the 2000 AWD RXs can have. I will get rid of it before something major happens. I am looking at the SH-AWD with the Technology package.

Jeff

Jeff

I'm not sure of the cause but I would drive it to the dealer when this happens before shutting it down if possible. This has to be under warranty.

Jeff

OK I'm going to bring this up to the top again as my 2000 RX just started leaking at the rear main seal, 50450 miles and guess what I just put semi synthetic oil in at the 50K oil change. I have had this car since 17500 miles and always used Castrol GTX 5W-30 and a Mobil 1 filter never a drop leaked. This time with all the talk about sludge I decided to go with the syn blend from Castrol in 5W-30 and the same Mobil 1 filter. Now I have a leak about the size of a half dollar the last 3 times I stopped on the driveway.

My question is will Lexus cover this under the 7 year 70K mile power train warranty.

Jeff

It sounds like your dealers service manager is doing what he is there to do. The problem is that is to make money for the dealership. I have never heard of a power steering flush unless it got contaminated from a bad pump or a bad rack. The trans flush IMHO is the worst thing you can do to a transmission. If you want to get crazy do a complete fluid replacement not a flush or just change the pan fluid and transfer case fluid about, 5 qts total and then have it done again in 15-20k miles. That is unless your having some kind of transmission problem.

Jeff

I went to Reno this week and it was pretty cold low 30s, after the car sat all night outside the e brake indicator light would not go off. The brake was not on (coasted with out any drag) I parked the car and went to the movies, when I came out after the light was off. I did not use the e brake at the movies. The valet took the car and used the e brake last night and this morning it is stuck on again. It didn't go off until I had driven about 50 miles then it just went off. Temp this morning on the road was about 28F.

Is there some place I can clean and lube to keep the cable from sticking and keeping the light on. Fluid is full also.

On another note anyone that is going to the cold areas from a warm climate should make sure you put the anti-freeze windshield washer fluid in your car as the wipers freeze up and don't work to well when you wash the window, then the washer nozzles will freeze and you have nothing.

Jeff

mbraat, I just saw a news story on flood cars from Katrina. The crooks are cleaning them up and some how getting out of the flood title and selling them for a nice profit at someone else's expense. One of the things that they said to look at is the condensation in the lights. I would make sure you get the carfax and see where this car has been. If it came from down south you might want to look a little harder at the whole car. These guys are very good at cleaning up high end cars and unless you do some digging under things like trunk carpet and in the engine compartment, like looking inside of fuse boxes for a little silt that they missed you could get stung.

Jeff

Check this link, and about 7 posts down you will find your answer.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...&hl=antenna

Jeff

My 2000 RX works with my Genie but it wouldn't work with the button that had already been programed with a previous opener, my old sears. I did the delete just like the manual said but no go.

I used the middle button and it worked right away. It is awesome it will open the door a block and a half away. The Genie opener will only work 100-150 ft away.

Jeff

This aids in warming the engine up to operating temperature faster which reduces exhaust emissions.

Jeff