We are planning on buying an RX330 (hopefully a RX350) in the next couple of years. Obviously the 350 is going to cost us more to purchase than say a 330, and I understand that the 330 lacks "get up and go". I am still going through the forums an google trying to figure out whether we should get an RX330 / RX350. I have been reading some worrying issues with these cars (particularly on the US forums). Being a Lexus owner (and having owned 5 of them), this is starting to concern me.
What are the bad points of owning the car given maintenance, longevity, reliability?
What are the things that you have gone through to keep the RX on the road? How much has it cost you? I find it slightly disheartening to find that the RX does not appear to be as reliable as say my previous SC's from 1992, and my current 96 ES300.
Dash squeaks from what I am reading, will make me tear my hair out, and I don't want to go through that. The "booming" effect when the rear windows are down is also concerning me. Apparently problems with the diff leaking. Please give me honest feedback. I will continue to read through the other threads, but I wanted to get a snapshot in one thread.
Also from an Aussie perspective can you please let me know how you have found the consumption of fuel in the 330/350's as I have read that city it is about 17.6L/100kms and the country is 9.6L/100km's. I'm not too worried with fuel (as we have to pay it anyway), so just need some honest feedback. I am still making a decision on possibly buying a GS300, driving that for about 2-3 years and then potentially seeing if we can eventually afford a RX Hybrid at some stage.