RXinMN

Hello - I'm looking for an 02 to 04 used SC430, and wanted to ask for any feedback or recommendations regarding any differences in these model years. From what I can tell, there were few if any changes during this period. If that's indeed the case, the differences for me will be in cost and wear-and-tear. I will stay away from the run flat tires, and eventually get a set of snows for our Minnesota winters. Other than that, I haven't heard of any persistent issues or problems with this car. I expect to pay somewhere between $35k - $42k for good condition under 50k miles. Is there real value in paying a few extra thousand and buying a CPO Lexus from the dealership? I've been comparing the SC430 to the Mercedes SLK 350 and 280 -- I know the Mercedes is completely different from the Lexus, but it is not without appeal. It's a sportier model, and for the same $$ I can get a new SLK 280 (stripped) or a used SLK 350, but the reliability factor of Mercedes is worrisome. I think I'm better off with a 4-year old Lexus than a 1-year old Mercedes. We've had our RX330 for over a year now and love it. Any thoughts you can offer are appreciated.

I've had my 05 RX330 for just over a year now, and while it's not what I'd call a fun or exciting car to drive, it is extremely luxurious and reliable. No problems whatsoever. This car has every single option that was available except for the rear seat DVD. Like others have said, there is quite a blind spot from the rear pillars, but the backup camera does help. Overall, I'm very happy with it. And I've never had it over 4000 rpm either!

Does it matter whether the numbers are stored in the SIM or in the phonebook? I just bought a Motorola V330 and haven't been able to transfer any numbers yet. The Bluetooth links is established and I can dial manually and receive calls using the steering wheel buttons, but I think without phonebook entries I cannot assign any quick-dial entries yet.

When we bought our RX330 a few months ago the salesman actually didn't recommend the tire pressure monitoring system. He said that they're prone to false alarms, especially when you garage the vehicle and then drive it outside where there's a significant difference in temperature. Apparently, a change of a few degrees is enough to trigger the alarm. I can only assume that if it's a gradual change over time it will not trigger. Sounds like a design flaw to me...

The lacquer is so thick it makes the wood feel like plastic! I do like the look, however. We test drove a GS300 before buying the RX, and the wood inside comes from the same tree. Matching grain and color... unbelievable!

I'd never had wood on the steering wheel until the RX330, and really didn't think I'd like it. But it really is a nice look, and suits the car well. I don't have any problems with grip, as the AC is on when the humidity is high. Ours is a medium-dark wood color, and my wife loves it.

I had a similar situation recently with our 05 RX330 - a young girl backed into us in a parking lot. It was clearly her fault but no witnesses, and no police involvement because there was no personal injury and no jurisdiction in parking lots. Fortunately, her own insurance (Geico) caught her lying and assessed it as 100% (her) fault. The claims adjuster gave us checks for the repairs and rental, and sold their own shop as "the best". They didn't do a very good job of explaining why they were "best" so I called my Lexus dealer. They have a nearby bodyshop do all of their work, and said that all they do is Lexus bodywork. I ended up taking it there, and they did a fantastic job. The rear bumper and one lens was damaged, and you simply cannot see any evidence of it anymore. In my case, cost was the same regardless of where I took the vehicle for repairs. With this kind of vehicle, plus the fact that it's new, I wanted the best job possible done on it. Repairs came to just under $700. I hope your repairs were done (or will be done) as well as mine. Good luck!

With the sunroof open, the sky reflects directly into the Nav screen making it nearly impossible to see. If only the angle were a little lower... I've also found that polarized sunglasses can blank out the screen completely. If you turn your head about 45 degrees to the left, it will blank out... and it's also pretty hard to drive straight, too. I don't recommend it.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone! To answer your question, Blake, I'm 5' 11", medium build. It wasn't a snug fit, but it is a fairly small vehicle. I think what matters isn't how much room you have on the inside, but the construction of the vehicle and how it's designed to absorb energy. When I think of how fast I decelerated from 60 mph to zero in just a few feet, I'm amazed that I wasn't seriously injured. Those airbags do their job. And, they're hard on the face, too! (really abrasive) Who's doing the seat relocation on your LS400?

The Audi saved our lives... of that I am certain. We went with the Lexus because this was to be my wife's primary vehicle, and she was never comfortable driving the TT. While it was a fantastic driver's car, it wasn't practical as a family vehicle for us. I loved the A4 Cabriolet, but it was pricey at $48k, and still has the "old" 2004 styling (the new A4 sedans sport the controversial single-frame grille and revised bodywork, plus the new FSI engines -- it will be another year or two before the A4 Cab catches up). Audi and Lexus are both exceptional, but Lexus has the upper hand when it comes to reliability. I think we made the right decision.

We picked up our new RX330 last night, and it's a beauty. I came from an Audi TT, that was destroyed by a man driving a Crown Victoria who ran a red light. I had it for one month and hadn't even made the first payment. With an eye towards safety, we chose the RX330, which is perfect for our needs. We also drove the new '06 GS300 AWD, but I didn't like the way it drove; too isolated from the driving experience. I was a short-term member of an Audi TT club, but I'm glad to see that there are fellow enthusiasts for the RX models, too. I'm looking forward to learning a lot about the Lexus from everyone here. If anyone wants to see how a TT holds up in a head-on crash with a Crown Vic, with a combined impact speed of approximately 80 mph, check out this link: Audi TT Collision with Crown Vic