Rezman

So you didn't specifically have the H/L 422 Ecopia (this tire has only been out for about 2 years.)? There is a big difference in construction between these and the Bridgestone H/L Alenza.

How many miles did you put on the Ecopias? How was the ride, handling, traction, road noise? What kind of Hankooks did you replace them with?

2002 RX300 FWD - I'm replacing a set of BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A Touring that have about 62,000 miles on them and are just about bald. They had a somewhat rough ride but great wet traction for the first 20k miles or so, then the wet traction started to have problems. There's an intersection I have to stop at everyday right outside my neighborhood, where there's an uphill grade. Starting from a stop on the uphill with a wet road was very difficult - I started having to put on the ECT/SNOW to get traction. Supposedly these tires have great wet traction, so I don't know if the problem was the tires or just my car. I was not particularly a fan of the outlines raised white letters on the sidewall of the BFG tires, either. Has anyone had any experience with the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Ecopia tires? They have a higher speed rating then most tires for the RX300 but they are supposedly smooth, low rolling resistance, good traction, and a fuel saver. They are rated at 103H instead of the 101S or 101T most often used for the RX300. There's a deal on them at Costco right now - $169 each installed minus $70 off the total, $606 +tax out the door.

Got my Rx300 back from the dealership shop today after 6 days. Total price was actually $280 less than the original estimate, minus the $1500 from Lexus, so I was out the door for $2651. The only bad part of the deal was that after six days driving a 2013 RX350 loaner car with 400 miles on the odo, getting back into the RX300 felt like driving a jalopy. But the engine was quiet again and shifting smooth as silk, in fact smoother than the RX350. (Sure did enjoy the XMRadio, the heated/cooled seats, the push-button ignition, and the backup camera though.)

Being polite but firm pays off! They initially said they had no obligation to help. I pressed the issue. If I expected to lose a transmission before 100,000 miles, I would have bought a Ford. They offered $1000. I countered with $2200. They just came back with a final offer of $1500. I'll take it! I'm sure she looked up the Lexus history of my family (I bought the car from my parents.) In the past 22 years our family has bought or leased at least 11 Lexus vehicles that I can think of. Right now my folks, my brother and sister and I all drive various RX models. Next I'll just have to sweet-talk the dealer into upping the warranty from 12mo/12k to 36mo/36k. My parents always taught me, they can't say yes if you don't ask!

I'm the latest member of the early transmission failure club. 2002 RX300 FWD, 94,884 miles, showing code P0770 at the dealership, Shift Solenoid "E" malfunction. Of course I just dropped $1000 on timing belt/water pump replacement which was recommended at 90k miles. I also had the transmission flushed at the same time, because the shifting was getting a little rough and it was hesitating about a second when shifting into drive first thing in the morning. That was the first time the transmission was flushed. The Lexus dealership wants $4431.17 to replace it. The Toyota dealership wants $4209.68 to replace it. Local AAMCO (been there 20+ years) wants between $2200 and $3100 to rebuild mine. I've opened a case with Lexus Customer care at 800-255-3987 and am waiting to hear back from a case manager. The CSR asked what I expected, best case scenario, from Lexus. I said I expected them to live up to the Lexus name and legendary Toyota quality. I said if we had any expectation of the transmission not lasting nearly forever, my father would have never bought the car at the end of his lease, and he certainly wouldn't have sold it to me. I'm being polite and friendly and not angry. I would be satisfied if they would split the cost and maybe throw in a 3yr/36k mile warranty. I don't think that's too much to ask. Heck, if they'd do that, I'd even consider bringing it to them for service at the regular 7500 mile intervals. Good coffee and snacks, and comfy chairs.