draco

Okay I have what they call a Sports Luxury RX330 down here in Australia. That's pretty much everything optioned on the car (save for heated seats). Our model year is MY03 (I believe this is the 04 as sold in the US). When I bought the car it had the following things installed to it (that weren't optioned or available from the factory).

* Bluetooth system (not the best but works okay)
* Rear drop down screen for the back seat passengers (w/t Wireless Headphones)
* IPod Integrated system
* 12v to 240V brick so I can plug in things like a playstation, xbox, whatever

I have been debating with the wife as to whether we should stick with the RX330 or move up to an RX350. My current car has 160000km's on the clock and knock on wood, nothing has gone wrong yet.

The reason I was thinking about upgrading to the 350, was the responsiveness with the engine, a better screen, apparently better economy on fuel (although it doesn't appear to be that much) and better sound insulation.

I have trained my 330 now so that the kick downs are a lot better and to get moving isn't as "laggy" as it used to be, but I know it's starting to get up there in the kilometers and this is where the conundrum has come into it. Do I sell it say at 165k's and get as much as I can possibly get for it, then purchase the 350. Or do I just say stuff it, and drive the 330 until the day it dies (which knowing these cars if you look after them they will just keep going)? Someone even mentioned that drive the existing one and when the engine dies, just slot in another engine later on (whether or not the 350 can be shoe-horned in or not not sure).

Also can the 330 screen be upgraded with the 350 screen (or is that simply asking for trouble) (and an expensive exercise to boot)?

Please let me know your thoughts and the reasons behind them.

veleno

iTrader: (3)

For me it'll depend on how much more you'll have too fork out to upgrade to the 350 as well as how much you'll get for your current 330.

Carver

I faced a similar dilemma with my '01 RX300. I've already owned it longer than any car in my life and about 4 months ago had the new car hots so bad it was painful.

My RX is perfect, it has 75K and has never needed anything but maintenance items but the new car demon was strong within me. I wanted a Mercedes ML350 just for the change and when I finally found the right car at the right price I just couldn't pull the trigger.

Maybe I've finally matured but changing cars just for the change seemed ridiculous in the final analysis. Why was I going to write a giant check for no particular reason? This forum had quite a lot to do with it, it made me understand my current car was barely broken in and change would have more to do with emotion than reason.

So, I decided to run the wheels off my '01. It's in the shop today getting a seats out detail, new headlights and the calipers painted. I put new 18s on it last week and then I'll settle in for the next 75K.

draco

Thanks Carver you make a good point there. The change over (depending on what I can sell mine for) will be an extra $5000-$10000 for the sake of a change over. My current RX has 160000km's on it (so 99K miles) and is still going strong (no known issues as yet).

mandyfig

JM2C:

It has been almost 6 years, your 330 has given you good miles. Time to go to RX350.

Are you looking at the 3rd Gen 2010 RX350? of the 2.5 Gen RX350.

And if you sell your 330 right now, you may be able to get some decent money.

Good luck.

draco

2.5Gen RX350.

mandyfig

How much are they over there (in US Dollars)?

draco

In Western Australia (cause I tend to buy my cars from over east and ship them over) the RX330's sell for about $AUS28000+ ($27,500 US) depending on model year and kilometers (they start at about $AUS23K ($22,600 US) for the RX330 on the east coast). The RX350 (which we would buy from the east coast) currently sell from $AUS36000+ ($35,400 US). So if I sold mine for $AUS28000 it would be a $10000 proposition to get the next model up (given difference in price, transport, licensing, etc).

Bluesjam

That doesn't sound like a bad deal, for a great upgrade.

jmonkie76

draco, are those prices in terms of private seller or trade-in value?

Sounds like a great deal though.

Personally, I like to drive the car until it's done done. My previous car (1992 Nissan Stanza/Bluebird in AUS), which I still have, has lasted me 243000 miles and still running, albeit eats gas like crazy. I've added some aftermarket parts to the interior but that's about it. It's my first car out of high school, so there's some sentimental value as well. Either way, I'll be keeping my RX330 for a long time coming.

draco

The prices are private sellers. Trade-ins in Australia are a joke unfortunately.

MrBruin09

You can upgrade the Navigation system to Generation 5 which will cost you around $1500 dollars.


Remember, you are basically getting the same car with a better navigation,(which you can upgrade) minus 40 horsepower.

I have been contemplating this myself for the past 5 months and I just decided since it is basically the same car and would cost me like $12,000 or more to upgrade to 350 I am just going to keep my car until the wheels fall off.

Now you can make your car a little quicker by: by adding a free flow muffler, a air intake and torquemaster spark lugs. To give your car a little more power.

Also, you will have to do additional maintenance on 350 if you upgrade it, since it will probably have high mileage; at least on your car, you know the maintenance history and the condition of the car better than anyone else.

draco

What additional bits does the Gen 5 Nav System have over the existing one? Does this count for the bluetooth / phone sync as well? Does it allow for the additional guide lines on the reverse camera?

MrBruin09

I don't think you get bluetooth if your car didn't come with it or phone sync. You would get a new upgraded screen plus the generation 5 navigation, which would give you a higher pixel screen and colors from 256 to 32,000.

MrBruin09

I think it does count Blue tooth and phone sync but don't quote me. You would get a new upgraded screen plus the generation 5 navigation, which would give you a higher pixel screen and colors from 256 to 32,000.