NAZTY97

Ok... so I bought the SC400 first, with only 40k miles on it back in 2001, and drove it to 220k.... that car, by far the best built vehicle I've owned. No mechanical failures of any sort. Only parts outside of regular maintenance ( brakes / oil & belts ) bought due to age, which were upgraded were bushings. Every other mod was aftermarket enhancement.

Then I bought the 99 RX300 as a work SUV. It has been solid. It has aside from wear / tear maintenance had to have cam shaft refinished and cam shaft seal replaced that was causing an oil leak, and a transmission beacause the tranny oil pump went out or something to that effect. RX has 280k miles and still running strong.

Now this 06 GS300, bought in 06 with barely 30k.... where do i start... transmission at 130k due to stuck solenoids, I had 3 door actuators go out ( 2 out now ), one already replaced, have a failing cat, which is going to lead to a whole aftermarket exhaust replacement ( same price as one cat / exhaust manifold from lexus ), and there was something else I'd deem that was a stupid repair to be a Lexus.

Seems like the newer the vehicles, the less reliable and long term they are becoming.

Anyone else with similar experiences?

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

In those 3 vehicles the reliable ones have something in common. The common issue is, is that they are not the first year production.

In the first year car makers are always reviving the issues with the cars in the later years.

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

1999 was the very first year for the RX...ever.

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

1999 in the US Market 1997 in the Japan market

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

December 1997 for the Harrier, March 1998 for the RX. Only 4 months difference.

I have a 1998 GS and can confidently say that it's better built than my 2008.

TRD_Power

My '95 SC400 is definitely built like a brick ****** house comepared to my '08 GS460. Though the SC has a blown HG (can thank Toyota of Kirkland here in WA for that), it still drives... Not sure the GS would do the same, but let's hope I never have to test that I know the first 3rd gen GS' are known for some little issues here and there, but it's still better than owning a British car.

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

dang my second gen is nowhere near 200k yet! good to know you actually drive the 3gs

From previous experience though, dont buy the first year production model. Theres always little things that go wrong.

And most of all, door actuators are a common problem on our cars.

Neil4Speed

Better than a British car... now thats a low bar!

I am in agreement about the build quality. I can't speak to the brand new models, but I feel like in the Mid 2000's Lexus took a bit of a downturn in terms of quality. Look at IS250 Sludge issues etc.

Something I noted on my long drive this weekend in the SC was the quality things like the Dash (padded and soft), unlike these days where lexus is using hard plastic much like I notice in a Camry etc.

They are still the best for reliability of the heap, but definitely not the same building mentality as before.