flipside909

Those wheels are the same from 2008.

The G Man

The MDX is sportier, but if I were to buy a performance SUV, it would not be the MDX. The MDX does not pride itself on luxury, it try to appeal to male drivers with all the high tech stuff. One look inside the new MDX, I knew it wasnt for me. Way too many buttons inside and the built quality was not up to Lexus standards. To me, a push button starter does not define a luxurious cars, its the built material and finish that matters.

cwirth

I haven't bought my Lexus yet but probably will do so in the spring. I looked at the MDX and it is larger than I wanted and did not have have that luxury feel that I want in my next vehicle. Don't care at all for that push button starter either. Key start is just fine with me.

AM1

iTrader: (6)

If someone wanted a smaller SUV they would buy something along the lines of the RAV4 Or CR-V. The RX330-350 is more of a true "crossover" suv in the first place it is very much like other toyota products. Numb overboosted steering, little road feel, lots of suspension squishyness, quiet ride at the expense of road feel, all qualities that the typical lexus buyer likes. The MDX really is similar in some aspects but an entirely different driving experience again similar to most honda products. Sorry to say this but the wood in the RX looks fake or is it fake to begin with? Really until youve driven a car extensively with a push start or keyless start you'll wonder why they havent added it to the current RX350, no need for it? wtf? Lastly, if anyone cares honda is not in some race to sell more then toyota they instead focus on making better cars and cars with better technology.

The G Man

The Lexus sales numbers is a indication of what most people really want in a SUV. In a forum like this, most posters are more focus on performance and technology. In the really world, most people would rather have a car that is built with good material, relieable, comfortable and well built.

AlexusAnja

Last I checked, there is no luxury RAV4 or CR-V equivalent (don't even mention RDX) in the Lexus lineup. Also, the wood in all Lexus' are real. Wood overly glossed always looks fake, with the Lexus wood not being exception.

Ahhh... we should just all buy a Suzuki SX4 wagon.

AM1

iTrader: (6)

There should be an equivalent in the lexus lineup, like infinitis EX35, acuras RDX, BMW's X3, etc. Again, another case of toyota doing whatever it feels like when making cars, and it shows when you see all the models they've killed in the past 7-8 years versus other car makers. Well when all you care about is selling the most cars things like reliability, build quality, just goes out the window. hmm i dunno about all wood looking fake. the wood in the LS430/460 doesnt look fake. Lastly, making fun of the suzuki SX4? The car might not be a lexus, but has always had good reviews in its segment from auto journalists. Get off your high horse a lexus is nothing to brag about, and if you care about that.................................

The G Man

Ther must be diff. grade of wood for Lexus, because the wood on the RX and the ES does look fake even though they are real. The wood on the GX, LX and Ls looks real, but they are very expensive, a little 2" X 10" piece cost like $800.
The market for performance SUV is not that big and its already saturated, Lexus is smart not to invest heavily into it.

rob22909

from the looks of those brochure pics, it appears that the '09 RX still has a useless tape deck in the dash... how much more outdated can you get??? might as well have an 8 track changer in the back!

The G Man

Tape deck is like a floppy disk on a computer. My new computer didnt come with one, I had to install one myself. You never know when you may need one.

rob22909

I don't know about that. I haven't listened to a cassette in over ten years. And in the past 5 years I've been more inclined to listen to my ipod or mp3 CD's vs. standard CD's... Oh well, I guess at 29, I just may be too young to be owning an RX.

AM1

iTrader: (6)

see thats what im talking about......it looks fake in the lower end lexus models but not in the higher end ones. should be the same thorughout the lineup. you would have thought that by now they would have added a aux input for the radio instead of a tape deck, but again thats toyota doing whatever it feels like not what the market dictates.

AlexusAnja

Nahhhh... nahhhhhh... a horse is a horse, of course of course...

I'm not riding a high Lexus horse, it's just that when people start bashing for little things, it's just like "okay, find me the perfect car."

Yes, the wood in the highter end models do look "better" but that's because Lexus actually went through the effort of matching pieces and making sure there is a continuous wood grain that flows through the dash. They're not going to do for a $70K vehicle the same as a $40K vehicle, and that holds true for any manufacturer.

Hey, the only thing I can be blamed for is being a Japanese car lover, I'm not loyal to any particular Japanese make, but I do favor Honda/Acura actually. Lexus, I can actually do without.

encore888

From what I understand, the wood grain is matched across pieces for the new IS. They could do that for other vehicles...

RXSF

about the tape deck. It only comes with the Nav. I recently got an 08 loaner and it did not have a tape deck.

i would actually want a tape deck. i still keep a tape in there...call me old fashioned, but there are some good oldies. However, it is a pain trying to find the start of every song when rewinding...LOL