rchan87

I bought my extended warranty through Lexus at time of new purchase for about $1300 I think. The only reason I bought it is because they offered a $1200 refund at the end of 7 years if I hadn't made a claim on it. This warranty covers me for 7 years or 100K miles, and a zero deductible if I go to Stevens Creek Lexus here in the South Bay (where I bought the RX). The warranty is also transferrable if I choose to sell the vehicle.

I have had my RX330 for over a year now (since 7/03) and do feel the slight "hesitation" in the response time between stepping on the gas pedal and the car accelerating. I did get the ECM update when it first came out last year and the performance improved right away but unfortunately seemed to have reverted back to its orginal behavior. Having said that, I enjoy the vehicle for its ride quality (very quiet), ergonomics, and looks. And I really think it is just a matter of getting used to the behavior of the transmission. At least it is consistent and predictable. For anyone looking to buy this vehicle, don't read too much into all these opininons and just go test drive it yourself. Your own feedback is all that counts.

The TSB I applied is to improve the shifting (especially in low gears). There used to be this annoying lag between first and second gear. Lexus came out with a fix that is supposed to improve the transmission shift. I'm generally satisfied with the results but noticed that the fuel efficiency dropped by a couple of miles for the first 2k miles after applying the new codes. It is now back to normal.

Bought my AWD RX330 back in July 03 and get around 21.8 MPG average with around 50% to 75% highway/expressway driving. On highway only driving (I just got back from Reno this last weekend) I almost averaged 24 MPG. I noticed that the fuel efficiency drops drastically when you drive above 75 mph. I also applied the ECM TSB upgrade a few months back and noticed that the fuel efficiency dropped by around 2 MPG. Since then it has come back to what it was before the upgrade. I have a feeling that the mileage will improve over time, since they claim that the ECM software will "learn" over 5k miles. Don't know about the accuracy of that statement. ;)

I think if you hit INFO on your computer console (if you don't have the NAV system), you will eventually see a readout that shows the mileage to empty based on your current average mileage consumption.

Heck, you think $1855 is a lot? When I bought my 99 E320 they wanted $2700 for it (7/100k). And it wasn't even bumper to bumper coverage. I told them thanks but no thanks. The only reason I bought the extended warranty for the RX330 is because they offered a refund at the end of 7/100k if I didn't use it.

Yeah, 3K or 1.5K off the MSRP is before tax and license. Here in CA, add roughly 9% to your negotiated price and that's probably what you need to pay to get out the door. On the Performance package with NAV, I haven't seen any around here in the Bay Area. But someone on in a different region seems to have ordered one. If you are willing to wait, I'm sure they would offer it throughout the US sooner or later. Another source to try is www.hammerauto.com. It's a car broker that seems to be tapped into the western US. if you live in the Bay Area they are located in Palo Alto. My cousin bought both his cars through this service (BMW 540i and Honda Odyssey) and got a really good price. I think they charge $500 for finding you the exact vehicle that you specify and they seem to guarantee the lowest prices. I personally would write a contract that specifies a maximum amount you are willing to pay. If they can not match, then you wouldn't owe them the service fee. That's how my cousin explained it to me.

I agree with you on the reliability part. I have a 1993 Toyota Camry V6 SE with 155,000 miles on it. That particular model was made in Japan. Never had a single problem other than wear and tear parts. In fact, I'm still on my original clutch. These guys know how to build with reliability. If it wasn't for the refund option, I probably wouldn't have gotten the extended warranty either.

I live in the San Fran Bay Area and just got a Silver with Black interior. Around here that is a very popular color combination and is fairly easy to get. I got mine about $2,700 off the MSRP price. I figure with the Internet Bubble burst, folks around here are just not that willing to shell out much cash for luxury vehicles anymore, so I went in low and stood firm with my offer.

Thanks for you reply. Makes me feel a little better. I figure $1380 is a small price to pay for peace of mind. The warranty is even a zero deductible if I do service at my dealership (Steven's Creek Lexus).

Stephen Chen went over most of the technical things and test drive with me. Also, I read through your post on the other thread questioning the Performance plus NAV option. I am also a little confused now. I destinctly asked if I could get the NAV option but not the Mark Levinson sound system and he said NO. But when I go to the Lexus website, it is possible to get the Premium Plus package with NAV option.

I got an extended warranty for my new RX330 covering me bumper to bumper for 7 years or 100K miles for $1280. Paid an extra $100 for a full refund option at the end of 7 years if I don't make a claim on it. Any opinions if the extended warranty is necessary? Anyone with past Lexus experience? I know it's a Lexus and shouldn't have any problems. However, it is a first year model and all the new features may not be long term tested yet. Thanks in advance for any information or opinions.

Check out the other thread about pricing. I just bought mine at Steven's Creek Lexus this last weekend and got the RX330 AWD Premium Plus package for about 2.7K below MSRP. From the other thread I think 3K below MSRP should be doable.

I live in SF Bay Area and bought a RX330 AWD this weekend with the Premium Plus package (MSRP$41,638) for $39K even. Didn't require too much haggling, leading me to believe you can probably squeeze another $500 off that price. Hope this helps.