Losiho

My ears & senses tell me otherwise. Couldn't care less what the brochure or Lexus salesman says.

From what I've read & understand, the 2nd Gen IS350s have shorter gearing (ie, better acceleration). Otherwise, no diff in engine output. I feel the same sensation whenever I get the (just supersceded model) RX350 as a loaner - the extra lard it carries makes it feel like a slug. (btw, a few weeks ago I got a GS250 SL as a loaner while the LS was at service. Even though it's decades newer in design & construction / materials, it's still noisier & not as smooth as the LS).

The new interior is an improvement, I don't like the exterior - too much NX in some areas of the styling. Someone on the net compared it to the Pontiac Aztec - enough said. As for mechanical specs - the North Americans have had the 8 speed in the F Sport for quite a while. I don't think it's a given that it'll be standard down here.

And btw, also based upon previous experience yrs ago with another make of car - I would absolutely NOT recommend BMB. Blackburn Lexus are just around the corner - they still use & highly recommend stylemaster panels. Enough said.

Good luck trying to arrange your own repairer with AAMI - when I was insured with them (many moons ago) they insisted that I drop off my car at their assessment centre, and they would arrange for the repair of the car (I had no say at all with the choice of repairer). Anyway, a great panel shop I recommend - stylemasterpanels.com.au Not strictly Lexus-approved, but they deal with so many different Luxury makes I doubt it's a problem. Did a superb job on my LS (insured with Lexus insurance)

Search in the forum here. One of the members here installed an ipod / usb cable link to the factory head unit. And yes, that's another major advantage of a 350 SL v a 330 SL - no Bluetooth or voice dialling in the 330, unless you use an aftermarket system (eg, parrot).

I had a 2003 RX330 Sport Luxury (bought used with 42K on the odo) and I swapped it for the 2008 RX350 SL. No comparison, 350 is so much better. I didn't have my 330 long before I traded it, but some "issues" I had - Rear quarter window (behind rear door) simply popped out and started flapping in the wind while driving. Lexus dealer said early 330's suffer that problem. Water leaking in the rear boot area underneath the rear spoiler (apparently another problem for early models. Not much else to report, other than the weight of the RX means you'll be replacing brake pads / tyres more frequently. Someone in this forum posted problems with wheel bearings - never, ever heard that before. The 350 engine works so much nicer with the (exact same) transmission than the 330. The extra torque is just so much more noticeable. I'm not the best person to ask about fuel economy, as I work only 9km from home, in heavy stop start traffic, and traffic lights kill fuel economy - I get around 16L/100Km, this easily drops to 11L/100km if I can get some freeway running. There's a near mint RX350 with 200k on the odo over at carsales for about 18K I think. Bargain. Looks in great condition too. I've had more than a few current shape 350s and 450h's, and I'm still not found of them - the extra weight and physical size turns me off. I prefer the touch screen nav of my RX - the first Gen current model's "mouse drive" just plain sucked, the current update model is a little better. Hope that helps....

Cheers Paul.

Paul, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you more questions on the Vais system - Unlike the newer IS and RX courtesy cars I've had, my RX doesn't have an "Auxiliary" button or mode on the radio - is the ipod played using FM modulation over an FM frequency ? Can you make song & artist selections on the sat nav touch screen, or can they only be made on the ipod itself ? Thanks again.

Thanks Paul. FWIW my Lexus Dealer quoted approx. $700 supplied & fitted for the Vais system.

To those with the Vais system - how do you find it ? I'm looking for an ipod solution for my 2008 RX350, something that will display song titles, artists, etc on the sat nav screen. I asked my dealer, who pointed out the Vais system to me, but told me they have stopped installing them as they have found them to be "unreliable". (btw, they didn't quote anywhere near $1,000 supplied & fitted). Any input and opinions would be appreciated.

I'm on the OEM Potenzas. They are reasonably quiet, but I wouldn't call them silent. When the time comes, I'm considering the Michelin Latitude Tour HP.

Has anyone purchased one, or obtained a quote ? I was quoted a price for a 3yr/100k warranty, and almost burst out laughing when I heard the amount. I was expecting a couple of hundred dollars, not thousands. An awful lot to pay for a cup of coffee and a car to use for a few hours while your car is being serviced. I also do not like several terms and conditions in the PDS - basically, you need to obtain approval to repair/replace any warranty item during the term, and the warranty is not transferrable unless you sell your car prviately and you obtain their approval beforehand. No thanks.

"Running boards" = another name for side steps.

You wipe with a dry cloth only ? I'd be using a soft microfibre towel with a quick detailing spray. In my experience - Best polish products - Menzerna Best leather care - Swissvax, followed by Zaino (or Pinnacle is a great substitute) Best wax - depends if you wish to use a carnauba paste wax or a sealant. Currently I'm either using Swissvax or Zymol Best shampoo - this is purely individual preference, as there is no "wrong" brand. Currently I love Eimann Fabrik which I purchased from the USA, but unfortunately that dealer no longer is in business :( Best polishing machine - Flex 3401 forced orbital, or a DeWalt rotary if you're confident enough to use one Microfibre - It's just a matter of finding the softest, best quality out there. You can't skimp here Other than that, stuff like tyre black, sponges, etc is just personal preference. I use the least greasy tyre black that doesn't "sling" too much. Use the two bucket method, rinse all the time, and always leave wheels and underbody last, and clean with a different sponge. I mostly dry with a synthetic chamois, but I ocassionally use a microfibre drying towel. Some good sites to source detailing products are - http://www.waxit.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/ If you want to look o/s, http://www.autogeek.net/ Where in Victoria are you located ? The best auto car wash I have found is this place - http://www.watertunnel.com.au/Default.aspx Although admitedly, I only use them infrequently when I'm busy/lazy/tired to wash myself. They have never damaged any of my cars. If it's good enough for a Gallardo, it's good enough for me.

You can take it to any Lexus Dealer during the warranty period.

I have to be careful what I say on a public forum, because my experience with "the other mob" down south involved many letters back and forth with Lexus Australia, and threats of legal action (by myself) before Lexus Oz gave me a refund for the cost of my service.... I bought my LS400 from Brighton in 2003. The car was fantastic, and, at the start, their service was ok. At around the 140K mark, my LS developed a squeak in the left rear suspension. I took it to my dealer, they told me, 1st, that they "couldn't find any noise", 2nd, that they lubricated all suspension points, and, on the final visit, that the shock absorber was "no longer serviceable" (ie, worn out) and needed replacing. I was furious that it took them so many visits to diagnose what should have been a simple problem. Seeking another opinion, I drove to City Lexus. I was given the brush off - "we need to drive the car to diagnose the problem - come back another day and then we'll make a booking". So in other words, I had to waste 2 more days driving all the way to Elizabeth St just so you can diagnose and make a booking. By this stage, the shock was so bad, it was squeaking loudly whenever you pressed down on the rear suspension with your hands. I finally drove to Blackburn to see what they would say. The made an appointment for me the following day, and on the day of the service visit, they rang me 30 minutes after I dropped the car off to tell me the shock absorber required replacing. Amazing what a competent mechanic can do. The communication with Lexus Oz was a separate issue. I made the mistake of purchasing a used RX330 from Brighton. During the test drive, I noticed that the brakes were not good, and there was a bad vibration from the front rotors. I told the dealer when I signed the contract that I was not happy with the brakes on the vehicle, and that they needed to check/rectify before delivery. When I picked up the RX, I noticed when I drove away that the brakes weren't touched, and they were just as bad as they were during the test drive. I took my RX to Blackburn for them to inspect the brakes - the report was, all brake pads require replacing, front brake rotors below minimum thickness and require replacing (bear in mind my RX only had 42,000Km on the clock when I purchased it). After many heated letters between Brighton and Lexus Oz, I finally received a refund cheque from Lexus Oz for the cost of repairing the brakes as a "goodwill gesture" (in other words, to stop me from suing Brighton). I had a sour taste in my mouth with that 330 from the beginning. The writing was on the wall on the day I took delivery of it. The dealer whom I signed the contract with was apparently "too busy" to even put in an appearance and shake my hand and congratulate me on my purchase, and I was fobbed off to someone else to sign the papers and get the keys. Bear in mind that until I discovered the brake problem on the 330, I was always on good terms with everyone at that dealership. I'm so glad I got rid of that 330...... Oh, and to further add to people's amusement, when Brighton did the 150K service on my LS (timing belt service), the bright spark who replaced the timing belt did not attach the hose clip on the bottom hose to the radiator properly when he re-installed the radiator. The result - the hose clip popped off the radiator, dumping all of the coolant. Thank god it happened literally just as I drove into my garage, leaving a big puddle of coolant on the garage floor. There were stunned and shocked looks on the faces of the people in Brighton Lexus the next morning when my LS arrived on the back of a flatbed, with me in the passenger seat of the truck Regarding Blackburn, I have no hesitation recommending them for service. Ryan and Des are mechanics, and are straight shooters who know what they're talking about. Nothing annoys me more than the "computer operator" who knows how to print out a service invoice, but has never touched a spanner in their life, and still talk down to you and treat every customer like an idiot. Ryan and Des are also "economical" with their advice, and won't insist that you change a part unless it's absolutely necessary, even though I have spent more than the market value on maintenance on my LS400 (because I love it). Blackburn have never "missed" anything, giving me a poor repair, they always keep me up to date via phone, and the cars have always been ready when promised. Finally, there's also the issue of convenience. Blackburn is about a 10 - 15min drive down the Eastern Fwy from my home, depending on traffic. City Lexus is at least 1 hour in morning traffic, Eltsternwick is more than 1 hour. I don't drink coffee, couldn't care less about the sweets, and my courtesy cars have almost always been RX350s and 450s, with the ocassional IS250 ;) I didn't intend to be controversial in my post, but thinking back to my experience still brings back old wounds. The above is a long-winded explanation as to why I won't "take my cars to the other mob" :)

Three words - Lexus of Blackburn. I won't take my cars to the other mob.

Just smack the top of the dash to "wake up" the tacho needle. Only seems to play up in summer if left outside in the sun.

11.2L/100Km is the COMBINED city/highway fuel figure. I drive short distances to work, in heavy traffic, roughly 150-200km per week as well. If I drive "economically", fuel consumption is around 13.5 - 14L/100km. If I drive with a lead foot, the worst I have got is about 17.5L/100km.

Can you swap the radio head unit with an aftermarket unit ? Yes, I've seen it done. Can you swap the RX330 sat nav system / screen with the RX350 ? No, cannot be done. The CAN network / system in the 350 is totally different.

Any interior pics ? Is that an F Sport model ? I'm not a fan of the GGL15 RX for a number of reasons, even though my Lexus Dealer keeps hassling me to trade up ;)

Looks a little better than the current/supersceded RX (imo)........

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