xsfo

Ugh, here's snippet from a Detroit News preview of the RX330. Keep in mind the Lexus exec was tailoring his comments for the female writer (Anita Lienert, who is one of the most annoying car writers around). I personally think that space between the dash and center console is good for securing take-out food.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/autoscon.../g01-54575.htm

RX gets right prescription
Lexus SUV gets new suspension, sleeker look

By Anita Lienert / Special to The Detroit News

SAN DIEGO -- It wasn't a big deal to me that my chunky, toile-patterned Brighton purse didn't seem to fit between the instrument panel, with its quirky shifter, and the sliding center console in the new 2004 Lexus RX 330.

But it bothered Jim Press, the top U.S. sales executive for Lexus parent Toyota Motor Corp., who was watching from the back seat. When I passed my bag to him to stow in the rear, he passed it right back.

"It's designed to fit," he insisted, barking commands to move the front passenger seat back and repositioning the center console himself.

Once shoehorned into the space, the purse stuck out only slightly from its designated spot. Still, I felt a bit like Cinderella's ugly stepsisters, whose big feet didn't quite fit the glass slipper.

As we drove in this redesigned version of the RX 300, a car-like sport utility vehicle that is a favorite of well-heeled suburban moms, Press explained his obsession with my purse.

"The RX 330 is designed for women," Press said. "It's built around the needs of women, (from) ride quality (to) step-in and step-out height, the purse holder, the sliding console, the turning radius and the new power tailgate.

"We can spend all of our time and effort with fancy technology in the camshaft and engine or whatever and women don't care about that. They want to know: 'How can I use it? How does it fit my life?' Women live in the car. Men drive it."

If you're a woman who does care about more than where to stash purses, soccer ***** and juice boxes, however, fear not. There are plenty of power, size, safety and technology upgrades in this second-generation RX. The popular SUV even gets its first rear-seat DVD entertainment system...

CoachMan

Great. Now I'm going to have to buy a GX470 if I want to keep my manhood intact.

330wannabe

At least the consol adjusts...that way you can make it a non-purse mobile!

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

The article doesn't surprise me... 90% of RX300 drivers I see are women. Not saying there's anything wrong with guys driving them, it's just what I see around where I live and there's TONS of RX300's here.

ecrane

I agree 90, maybe 95% of the RX's I see are driven by women. Usually of a certain age, with frosted hair, and nicely dressed. Sorta like my wife, the RX is hers. The RX is the New Beetle of SUV's, a chick car. Posters here are the 10% crowd!

gsenthil

Maybe we tend to notice female drivers of the RX more and hence the above perception. From Carpoint/MSN Autos, the 55% of RX owners are men, average age is 52, 80% are married; and have an average annual salary of 130k.

BTW apart from being a man, I am pretty far from the above "averages"

ecrane

good point, however the owner of the car may not be the driver of the car...

gsenthil

Assuming all married men let the BOSS drive the car, 80% of 55=44% men let the lady drive the car. Add this to 45% Female owners and you get 89% as women drivers! Matches closely with the estimate of 90% HEHE

330wannabe

ohh well maybe it is a woman wagon...I don't care I want one! Maybe after I get one I should go out and get one of those man bags like on that episode of Seinfeld!!

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

I don't think those stats mean much because it just means who bought the car. Many men buy the car and put it in their name even if it's for their wives to drive.

KayGee

I don't watch Seinfeld, but I do carry my gun in one of those so-called man bags.

YWW

Can I assume the sliding center console in the new RX can be moved back far enough to put a purse in the "slot" like before? It sounds like from the article that Lexus may have reduced that slot drastically in the new RX. I know that slot is a huge success with women's purse. It is so important that my wife says if Lexus takes away that slot or severely reduces the space of that slot in the new RX, she will not buy it just based on that!

330wannabe

Maybe the lady in the article carries a HUGE purse or something!!

Larry99

My other car is an 82 Corvette, which has 171,000 miles on it, but I drive it 21,000 miles a year. It is a daily driver that is fully restored, tight, etc. But it is rough riding, loud, and tight inside. I personally like driving my RX300 at times for a relief. So quiet, I wonder if the engine is even running.