quantfutur

Mechanic just told me may soon need to replace struts. Cost would be $1100 for front and rear? Before this vehicle I had the '99 RX300 and had to replace struts on that one, too. Is this normal wear and tear at 105k miles, or have there been problems with this model? And is that a reasonable cost for the job or should I look around?

hypervish

Struts wear depending on the terrain driven in, you can't really give a certain mileage rating, but i think 105k miles is a fair number.
I'm in pothole central (NJ) and I'm on my original struts with 160k and there still good, but the strut mounts need to be replaced, so I might as well replace both at the same time.

quantfutur

Heard noise on highway, went back to mechanic. Now is saying also need wheel bearings - $500. But would cut me a deal for the combined struts and wheelbearings if I do them together... so something less than $1600. Not sure if I will do this or just sell the car and get a Lexus sedan -- alot less wear and tear and this is starting to be like the '99 RX300 where I was at the station every other month.

mandyfig

Always makes sense to get a 2nd opinion. You must have nasty roads up there.

quantfutur

Roads are awful and snow/ice/sand this winter -- more brutal than usual

lexus114

Amen brother!!

mandyfig

ATL getting to be the same. In downtown they still have the freeking sand on the roads. Have not cleaned them out. Potholes all around.

lexus114

well like someone mentioned over on bitog..."welcome to the united bankrupt states of america!"

quantfutur

Am seriously looking at trading the RX for the ES although I love the car (this is my 2nd RX) -- and I know SUV's are more costly to maintain anyway -- but bad MA roads/weather are costing me at least an extra thousand/year.

Anyone have comparison on Lexus sedan vs. SUV maintenance costs?

lexus114

probably just better fuel millage (in the es). not much difference in cost between the rx and es.

quantfutur

Well, my mechanic likes the ES. I asked at what mileage do you need to replace the struts and wheel bearings on the ES and he said 'never'... which sounds good to me! He said the ES just needs tuneups, oil changes, brakes, tires.... Is this realistic?

On the 1999 RX I had every 'modified' (e.g. 'we identified a defect and corrected it; we're sorry it happened to you but it won't happen again') part replaced, plus lots of undercarriage stuff. Got very expensive. '05 better but still seeing the wear issues. Love the car, though.

lexus114

I just wish the RX had a little more power.

mandyfig

The 350 has plenty, 270 HP.

RX330inFL

Engines are of similar spec, perhaps a tweak here and there. However, less weight in the ES to drag around and definitely lower drag.

dcdyd

It doesn't sounds right. Machine fails unless you don't use it.