GDixon

Just an update to my post re: TPM warning light.. The tire pressure in the spare was down to 25 psi. Second time it has happened over the life of the RX. I don't think the problem is justification to junk the car.

I read somewhere that the average life of those sensors was around 8 years. They don't come cheap as you likely discovered. And then there is some sort of matching that needs to be done by computer. UGH. My RX is 8 years old and the TPM light just went on again yesterday. It happened once before and the spare was low. All four tires are properly inflated so dropping and checking the spare is next. I may end up being in the same boat as you. Ahh...as they say, "a misery shared is .... blah, blah, blah."

Two things to try (if they apply to how your IS is equipped). 1. Check the spare tire pressure if it is a full spare. It is monitored. 2. Reset the TPM system by using the button under the driver side dash. At least these are the procedures for an RX. It takes a little bit of driving, maybe 10 to 20 minutes, for the TPM system to catch up to any changes. Try this thread for more info: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/84181-tire-pressure-indicator/#comment-495423

Go to Kelly Blue Book and spec it out. KBB.com http://www.kbb.com/

Also, be sure to check the spare tire. In most Lexus models with full spares, it is monitored also. Just dealt with this issue myself on an RX. As Trevor Catt mentions, most times the TPMS will reset itself after driving around 20 minutes or more. Give that a try before doing anything rash.

Bye.

Of course, you are entitled to pursue your interests. We all have different priorities and that is what makes the world a more interesting place. Perhaps a following of those sharing your thoughts will be developed on this forum.

Hmmm....let's see. Buy a MANY thousands of dollars car and save $2.27 on a tank of gas (with the engine de-tuning itself). Why, with a hundred tankfuls a year, the savings of $227 is astronomical. Makes sense to me.

There was a recall to deal with this known problem. You should have been notified. I took mine in immediately. That was several years ago. The dealer did not try to pull any "up-charge" tricks. If the "other damage" is related to the oil line then Lexus will likely foot the bill. If not, it is your choice to accept the diagnosis or not.

Start simple. First: how old is the battery? If it is OEM from 2003 you have gotten far more life than normal. If it is aftermarket, they become suspect after three or four years. If you have another known-to-be-good battery then give it a try. Even trying a jumper cable from another running vehicle will give you a hint if it is the battery. There are some auto parts places that will check a battery for free. If the battery is proven to be good, then check the battery connections to see if they are corroded. It is possible for the lights to work but not enough amps are flowing to engage the solenoid and turn the starter. Next, check the battery ground cable where it attaches to the frame. You may want to remove it and clean the area. If there is still a problem, try running a jumper cable from the negative battery post to an unpainted bolt on the engine. Remove the negative clamp so you can directly attach to the battery post. That should eliminate all the battery-related issue. Next, the starter/solenoid will have to be tested. Some auto parts stores will do this also. It is possible for you to do it with a known good battery on a bench but that might better be left to experts. Another possibility is the ignition switch. These more complex problems are better handled by mechanics.

Maybe the 7-passenger RX is not out of the picture. Details are in this article about a Lexus pickup truck. http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/buy-lexus-pickup-truck-lexus-may-build-one/

My technique for sparkling interior windows is to use Dawn dishwashing detergent, ammonia, and two sponges. Make a fairly weak solution of detergent and water, then wipe down the windows with the solution and one sponge. A teaspoon of detergent and an eighth cup of ammonia to a quart of water seems to work. Then use a second sponge and a bucket of clean water to remove the detergent. Don't try to use the rinsed-out detergent sponge unless it is really, REALLY clean and detergent free. The water on the glass should bead up due to water tension. If not, then there is still detergent present. Finally, dry the window with a cotton towel. I prefer a towel that has been rinsed out and line dried to make sure no laundry detergent or fabric softener is left over. That has to be done a day before (or a washer cycle run without detergent). It helps to use a warm towel out of the dryer. My microfiber towels seem to leave little fibers on the glass...maybe they are just cheap. Anyway, it seems like a lot of work and a long involved process, but the window stay clean for a much longer time.

I believe the 2014 Sienna I test drove was a Limited Edition but can't be fully sure. The bottom line for me was that the Odyssey is a noticeably better driving experience. As a passenger, my wife also enjoyed the Odyssey more. She is a rabid Lexus (Toyota) fan so her choice was surprising. But we've never owned or driven any other model of Lexus other than the RX. Our 2008 doesn't seem to wander or have the "busy" steering problems you mention. Driving through the Nevada outback at 111 mph (max) on narrow two-lane frost-heaved roads would surely have brought any issues to light. VDIM is interesting and has safety features that likely are attractive to some. But, being a year short of 70 years old and old school, VDIM appears to take the "driving" away from driving. As Ben Franklin stated, "Those who would give up freedom for safety deserve neither". In a different context, of course. In my younger days, a series of Porsches honed my driving skills as my wife and I would search weekends for, and drive, the curviest roads in Northern California. Autocrossing was also an interest. That was before ABS became a standard. Perhaps it is overconfidence, but I'd rather control the vehicle rather than the other way around. IMO, of course.

Yes, I did a test drive in the loaded-out Sienna. It was not nearly a Lexus driving experience. Bells and whistles are nice, but the point of a vehicle is to drive it. Comfort, noise, handling, and engine performance trump any thingamajig in my opinion. Strangely, driving the Honda Odyssey WAS very Lexus-like. It is almost the same driving experience. There is more cabin room than an RX as well. Certainly, the Odyssey is not the overall quality of a Lexus but we have taken many long trips in it. The long trips in the RX350 compared to the long trips in the Odyssey are nearly indistinguishable. Plus, with the second row removed and third row folded, there is an incredible amount of storage space. We don't have to unload the Odyssey to get to our golf clubs like we do with the Lexus RX. We test drove the GX and LX as well. They were a bit too truck-like and handled as such. Not a great deal more storage space or decent fuel economy for a travel/trip vehicle. Our Tundra suits the truck needs just fine.

I think Lexus considers the large SUV market covered by their GX and LX lines. In fact, the introduction of the NX is an indicator of the direction they are taking. One problem with making a quality product is that there is little motivation or need to upgrade to a newer model with marginally better features or styling. With that in mind, my 2008 RX 350 with 50K miles will be my car of choice until Lexus comes out with a van-type product similar to the Sienna. Currently, my "travel" car is a 2014 Honda Odyssey. Had a Lexus van style been available, it would have been purchased instead. Both the Odyssey and the RX will be traded in on a new Lexus van if, and when, it is created.