I took my 99 GS400 for service in today and got a RX330. Here are my thoughts and what I've noticed:

Pro's: The seats are very comfortable, the rear seats are a big improvement over the previous model.

Very load road noise, improved over the previous model.

Power is noticably improved over the previous model as well, as is the shift logic and shift firmness from the transmission.

The standard stereo system is a big improvement, and the leather seems much nicer.

The chassis seems much much stiffer overall than the previous model, it feels much better going over speed bumps and such.

Cons

First and foremost the motor is wayyy too loud at low RPM when accelerating. This vehicle is not a sports car and the engine sounds like that out of a Malibu, so it's not the kind of engine note I'd want to be showing off. It just sounds unrefined.

The transmission, while improved in feel and shift logic over the previous model, still sucks. It feels like it's filled with mayonaise and very layed back. I realize this may be something Lexus does to keep it feeling 'luxurious', but to me it just feels like it's slipping and lazy.

There were several areas in the interior that had some disappointingly cheap materials used. Assembly quality was questionable as well as my model was pretty new and had a couple of LOUD rattles one coming from around the dash near where it intersects the windshield and A-pillar, and then a whole bunch of other small shimmies and noises when going over bumps. The RX300s I've ridden in rarely ever rattled if at all, and the ES's rarely rattle either. One of the most annoying rattles was completely preventable with about 50 cents extra cost to Lexus: the area where the passenger seatbelt sits when not in use is made of a very hard cheap plastic with little to no padding or deadening. This makes the seatbelt tap against it from time to time when going over a rough portion of road.

Lastly, they still haven't fixed the center console. A friend of mine has a Toyota Highlander limited and it has a full center console, so why does the RX330 still have the phalic-looking transmission selector sticking out of the dash and unused space inbetween that area and the center console?

Overall, I'd definitely rather have an ES330 or 4Runner depending on if I really needed an SUV or not. It's disappointing to see Lexus make backward progress while at the same time making forward progress. They will not hold on to their lead if they make this a habit. Hopefully they fix these problems for their second year.

 

Actually, the unused space was one of many reasons that I bought the RX. It's perfect for lady's purse, and our small dog. We can also put a cooler there.

I wish there's no center console at all, so the dog can get to the back and do "business" on its own (on wee wee pad of course.) Having storage underneath the shifter should do. Cupholders can pop out from under the shifter as well.

 

Does the Highlander center console move? I like having the choice of moving it in my RX. It accomodates me and the way I want to use it.

I HATE the transmission in the RX, wonder if Lex engineers have ever driven a GM, now they make a great tranny.

The dash rattle is being addressed by dealers, most of us suffer from it.

I'm just wondering why in a time when everyone plays music so loudly, we constantly complain about little noises here and there. I have the ML stereo and hear it loud and clear. I do agree with you on the seatbelt rattle, my Mazda Tribute did this as well until I attached a bit of velcro.

I do love my RX, but if I want to be really entertained I take my Tribute out. It is noiser but outhandles and accelerates 100% better than the RX does. Just if it had the reliability of the Lex.

Ray

 

Yep if GM does one thing better than nearly every other carmaker, it's the performance of their transmissions. Can't speak to the long-term reliability, but I have owned GM cars before and they snap shifts off perfectly. Better than my current Acura by far. Transmissions appear to be Honda's Achilles heel. They extended the transmission warranty on my 2000 TL to 100,000 mi due to transmission issues, none of which I have experienced to date.
When I test drove the RX330, I really didn't notice excessive engine noise or a mushy transmission. Still haven't decided what to do in terms of a new vehicle. Drove new TL and liked it also, but they shrunk the trunk by 2ft and we have a 1 yr old son . 2 cu ft makes a big difference believe it or not. Hard to believe I rather have it down to two very different vehicles. The MDX just doesn't do it for it me for some reason. The Infiniti is way too small, BMW tooooo expensive and unrealiable, same for Mercedes. Volvo - can't get past the image or reliability. That leaves Lexus and Acura. Yes I can afford either. Yes I can afford a GX, but in spite of what people write about ignoring fuel economy, I still as a matter of principle, look at fuel economy. I've had two pick-ups (and still have one) and always hated paying to gas them up. Not sure why. Since the GX is a dressed up 4runner it's not going to be decent on the gas either. Someday I'll make up my mind. Till then, I'll keep lurking on this forum for anything that could sway my decision.........

 

I got a RX330 a month ago when I did my service at Longo.

I loved it. I even SERIOUSLY considered trading in my GS300 for a 04' RX330 with sports package (gotta love the air suspension). But for now I'll stick with a 4-door sedan. If the RX400h can be ordered with air suspension, there's a high chance I might get that.

I think the interior is very comfortable, the acceleration is more than enough (especially for SUV), and the styling is great also. Love the electric rear hatch and the moving center console and etc. etc.

9 out of 10 on my scale (-1 for eating gas like crazy, RX400h will make up for that)

 

Having owned a 94 Camaro Z28 and a 2000 Silverado, I can confirm that the 4L60E is a very solid-feeling transmission. It just feels precise and efficient yet comfortable when shifting. Its shift logic is also very good.

Reliability on the other hand is more questionable, as they seem to go out between 80,000 and 150,000 depending on how hard they're driven. This is not that bad, but I think Lexus transmissions on average last considerably longer.

What kills me is that long shift times and 'soft' shifting actually wears a transmission out faster. So it's not like their lazy/soft shifting is what keeps them reliable... they'd actually be more reliable if they were snappier with their shifting. Not to mention you'd see a slight (but still definite) improvement in acceleration performance and gas milage.

Beyond that, the transmission in my GS4 is great. It doesn't even seem like it's made by the same manufacturer as the transmission in the RX. It doesn't slip at all, yet it's still very suttle in up and downshifts. The shift logic is also much much better, with one exception:

In my GS4 if you slow down from cruising speed to around say 5-10 MPH, and then start slowly accelerating again, it will always start out in first gear again, which makes the transmission hesitate for a split second while the RPMs increase enough to get the torque converter spooled up, and once it 'catches' it feels jerky and even somewhat strained. Most other cars it would just start off in second gear from any roll unless you were really getting on it. And with the V8, you know it definitely has the torque to do it.

Anyhow... if I had one quibble with Lexus overall, it would be their transmissions. Yes they're reliable, yes they get the job done, but the RX and ES especially feel like they use mayonaise for transmission fluid and greased-down rubber bands for clutch packs. And the shift logic could use a little work on several of their vehicles, although that's not as outstanding of an issue in my opinion.

 

Very good observations - and you are almost completely dead-on.

>>First and foremost the motor is wayyy too loud at low RPM when accelerating. This vehicle is not a sports car and the engine sounds like that out of a Malibu, so it's not the kind of engine note I'd want to be showing off. It just sounds unrefined.

Agree - I've test-driven a new 3.3 liter Camry Solara...absolutely beautiful interior, and the engine is soooo quiet. I spoke to the lead Lexus tech about this, and he said the positioining of the engine in the RX330 is closer than the Solara, which raises the sound level. But to be fair -- compare the RX against its SUV competitors.

>>The transmission, while improved in feel and shift logic over the previous model...but to me it just feels like it's slipping and lazy.

Agree - and this has been beaten to death in countless threads. There's a TSB for this to reprogram the transmission. My own dealership said they haven't had time to apply most fixes to the fleet of loaners they maintain. My RX330 had a hestitation between 2nd and 3rd originally which they said was because its a "learning tranmission". Well, my car never Learned how to shift until the TSB was applied.

>>...LOUD rattles...

Totally Agree -- also been beated to death in discussion threads. My own RX330 has had the Cowl/Wipers noise fixed, driver's side vent rattle, Glove Box rattle, and loose A-Pillar. My dash is quiet now. There is also a TSB for the center-dash vents on early RX330s. First year teething pains I guess...but a little disappointing coming from Lexus. People have also mentioned the seat belt, and some others mention a rear seat noise.

>>Lastly, they still haven't fixed the center console....

I love the center console, and have received lots of compliments. Did you know it slides? And they added some ricey-blue LEDs in the cup holders you can see at night.

>>...Hopefully they fix these problems for their second year.

I think every item you've mentioned has already been addressed and incorporated during the year except for the engine noise item... And noise levels are comperable to other SUVs in its class (X5,MDX, XC90, etc...).

BTW - you missed my personal favorite problem -- the Transmission Clunk. That one is also fixed now with a TSB that came out this month.

 

Hello,

Do you mind if I ask you how you slide the center console?

Tried to push it from the back seats and the front and it just doesn't move.


>>Lastly, they still haven't fixed the center console....

I love the center console, and have received lots of compliments. Did you know it slides? And they added some ricey-blue LEDs in the cup holders you can see at night.

 

there is a squeeze trigger bar in the cupholder (near the top). put your hand in the cupholder and squeeze and it releases the console lock so you can slide it back and forth. multiple positions are avaiable. handy b/c you can move it all the way back when you don't have 5 passengers to allow for extra room. once you add the 5th passenger, voila, just move the console forward to allow that person legroom!

 

I love the interior of my 330. The open space under the shifter I use for a regular size tissue box (gotta love my allergies!?!).

As far as the engine growl, I like it. When I first test drove it, that was the first thing I noticed and liked (my IS had no growl at all).

The ONLY thing I don't like about it is the moody tranny.

But, plans are for an '06 IS, so...................

 

For those of you who like a quiet drivetrain and dislike the shifting of an electronically controlled transmission you will not believe the difference in the new RX400h. It is so quiet all you hear is the interior fans on the climate system and a whirring sound and there aren't any shifts! The 2nd Generation GS had a lot of smoothness issues with the drive by wire and the traction control. The newer 6 speed automatics which began in the 2004 LS430's do not have such issues. The ES330's and the RX330's still have a hiccup or two in the decision making process that is annoying for the stutter effect. I would expect this to change in the next RX350 and ES350s when they arrive in about a year. The best solution is the planetary gear set up of the RX400h which can produce just about any gear ratio needed without jumping from one gear to the next. Some day there will be Hybrid loaner cars and then we will probably complain that they are too quiet and smooth......or too fast.