AlexD

Heh, whoops. Nevermind. Searching is a wonderful thing! For anyone who might be curious, the trailer hitch is a bolt-on affair, and if you've got the towing prep package, it comes pre-wired for electrical back there. Shouldn't be too difficult for even someone like me.

I've got an '05 RX330 with awd and the towing prep package. I was under the impression that that included the trailer hitch receiver, but I guess I'm mistaken. What's involved in getting the trailer hitch on my car? Is it welded on, or is it a fairly simple bolt-on that I could do myself? Or is it something that is done at the factory? Could one of you folks who's got a hitch take a look under your car and see how it's attached? Thanks in advance for any insight.

The dealership. I would have rather bought a Murano...I prefer the style, features, and price of the Murano, but our local Nissan dealership wasn't competent enough to handle a test drive, so I shuddered to think of how they might handle a repair.

Thanks for the reply. It's too bad there's nothing cool like that for Lexus!

I know about hardwiring the V1 radar detector into the map light above the windshield, but is there any kind of product to integrate it into the dash or nav display? I recently bought an E39 BMW 540i, and ordered a system from StealthOne that does exactly this. Is there something similar for Lexus?

Great site, Steven! Thanks very much.

Since picking up an RX330 last week, and with the impending birth of our first baby, I'm realizing that the Lexus is likely going to be the car we take on road trips. Since my family is in VA, and VA law enforcement is notorious, I'd like to be able to use my Valentine 1 radar detector. Has anyone done a hardwire install in an RX 300/330? Any tips/tricks/writeups you can point me to? BTW, I'm well aware that radar detectors are illegal in VA. But I don't really care. It's saved my butt more times than I can count.

Yes, it's real wood, but like lexus411 said, it's just got a heavy coat of laquer. It kinda stinks because that laquer coating is pretty easy to scratch.

Thanks, TunedRX300...I noticed that thread when I was trying to search around. In any case, a guy I know came up with this about the RX330 AWD system. I don't know where it's from; it sounds like some sort of magazine review: "What we did find of real value, especially for those driving in the snow belt states, is the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) that comes standard on all the RX330s. VSC uses sensors on the wheels to monitor front or rear wheel slide and compensates by using engine power and or braking to keep the vehicle on a steady course. The all-wheel-drive RX330 adds to the control and traction equation with a new all-wheel-drive system that is simpler and lighter than the one used in the now outdated RX300. Lexus engineers still employ a center differential to split engine power evenly front and rear during normal driving. But when wheel slip does occur, the RX330 uses the VSC system to divert power front/rear, or side-to-side instead of a viscous coupling, which is a bit slower and uneven in operation."

The guy at the dealership where I bought my RX330 last week told me that it required premium fuel. I haven't had to fill it up yet, so I haven't bothered to check the manual. Does the RX330 not require premium fuel?

Hello folks. I'm new to this forum, as well to Lexus ownership. Last Thursday my wife and I picked up a white 2005 RX330 AWD with nav and towing prep package. Other vehicles we considered before making our purchase were the Murano, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Acura MDX. In the end, it really came down to my wife's preference, since this will be her car. In any case, I was wondering what kind of AWD system Lexus uses. I've got an Audi, so I'm familiar with the Torsen and Haldex system that Audi and VW uses, but I haven't seen any references to the specifics regarding Lexus's AWD system. Is it primarily FWD, until slip occurs? Or does it constantly send some proportion of power to the rear wheels? In a related question, how difficult/involved is it to change the rear differential oil? I was looking through the maintenance manual and noticed that it needs be changed periodically, and I intend to do most of the fairly simple things myself. I wouldn't imagine that it's *that* difficult, but I haven't had a chance to climb under the car to see what's under there. Thanks in advance for any advice/insight.