Gojirra99

I was at a Lexus dealer yesterday looking at the new RX330, and was told (info from sales manager)that the Ontario Canada plant is tentatively scheduled to start operation around July for September/October delivery this fall, but the Canadian plant will not be building two trim combinations of the RX330:

(1) The base RX330 with no moonroof
(2) The Premium Package with the Big Opening Moonroof with multi-panels, but no roof rack.

In other words, the Canadian plant will only be building new RX's with the regular moonroof . The above two will continue to be imported from Japan even after the Canadian plant started operation. (Anyone else told the same ? )

I withhold judgement on quality of RX built in Japan vs. Canada, but for those of you who want these 2 combinations and a Japanese made RX for quality concerns need not hurry to order your RX until you are ready.

Just trying to share the info.

laterldf

I traded in a Mercedes ML 430 (2000) for a new RX 330. It's amazing how much higher the quality of the Lexus is. The engineering and performance of the ML was great, but everything else (including the attitude of the dealer's people) was **** poor ! One M-B mechanic actually had the nerve to describe the ML's as "entry level cars, so why expect so much?" (mine cost 52k +). I had to take my ML back to the dealer for repairs, corrections, etc. far more times than ANY other vehicle I've owned (which is a lot). later, ldf

lexuslover

i completely agree with lexguynj's reply earlier in this thread.

the RX is a *redesign* of an existing model, not a brand new model. i have perused through the GX forum several times, and i have noticed a few mechanical concerns that some new owners are having. nothing major like engine failure, etc., but still issues that are causing some concern for the new GX owners.

as a redesign, the new RX330 has retained all the great qualities and mechanical reliability of the old RX300 (which was superb). sure there might be small rattles or squeaks here and there, but those should be corrected very quickly by Lexus.

getting the new RX330 on march 25th was not so much a japanese vs. canadian thing for me. i just thought, you know what, if i'm going to pay sticker price for this car, i want to have it as early as possible so there's some feeling that you are paying for it's rarity and "newness" on the roads. i still have yet to see one driving alongside me in san diego, california! i don't see the point in waiting until next year or two years from now, unless you are waiting for a price drop. i just don't think reliability will be an issue (come on, it's Lexus). so if you want one now, don't wait a year to buy one just before they start discounting - then you might feel really dumb.

as one of lexus's guinea pigs, i have noticed small squeaks and rattles here and there. i will be reporting each one to them to the dealer for repair next week at the1k checkup. very minor, but still irritating, especially for me, a super-nitpicky-freak about that sorta thing. i have no doubt that they will not only correct these things, but report back to Lexus in Japan to apply preventive QC measures on the factory line.

on a side note - in 1998, i bought a '98 GS400, also another first year of *redesign* from the 1st generation GS300. it was a fantastic car, and as a redesign, reliability was NEVER an issue. again, some small rattles here and there, but always graciously corrected by Lexus, free of charge, during my routine maintenance visits.

sorry for the long post, but if you like the RX330 and price is NOT what's holding you back, buy it or order it now. TRUST ME - it won't disappoint!

j4ydubs

I've only noticed a slight rattle (wife couldn't hear it) near the sun roof. I adjusted the sun roof and it went away, but I'll have them check it anyway.

I do think I have a problem with the sun roof controls though. I need to check the manual, but I can't get it to auto open. And closing it is touchy. It starts to open (tilt) right after it closes. In my mind, I should be able to make a solid seal without it starting to open again.

I'm coming up on 300 miles (haven't driven it much yet). I'll report this stuff at the 1000 checkup.

John

lexuslover

j4ydubs - this is not a problem. the RX330's came from the factory that way, it was up to the dealers to program them prior to delivery. i thought it was busted too and that whole tilt thing was weird. my dealer could not figure it out when i took delivery the day after it arrived from port, but he figured it out soon after that. here are the instructions to auto program yourself:

"Hold the slide button and let it open and shut and continue to hold for 10 seconds after and it should program."

I think you have to slide it open, hold for 10 sec, and then slide it closed, hold for 10 secs. After that, let it go and then your one-touch sliding AND your one-touch tilt will be programmed and ready for use. I did it a while back and it worked beautifully!

Hope that helps

j4ydubs

That was it! Thanks for the tip.

John

scalbert

I’m going to go out on a limb here and cast the unpopular vote. Although I am pleased with our recent RX300 purchase, I cannot find one notion as to it being a superior build quality due to its assembly origin.

In fact I find some of the less noticeable aspects to be simple. Lexus has never been known for it thrill factor which in this case (with twins on the way) helped with the decision. But things like exposed hood spring latches, exposed battery terminals, simple wiring harnesses, etc. it appears the most of the engineering went into the areas most people would see. And the areas seldom seen by most consumers left mediocre

Which IMO, is not bad. But from an engineering perspective it becomes a matter of semantics; better overall engineering or just where the consumer notices.

With that said, the design warrants its self to being able to be assembled in a quality manner regardless of location. I have measured gaps between domestic and foreign assembled vehicles and found no difference. Since most large components are assembled by robotic systems then the human factor is eliminated. So it becomes a factor of management issues and where priorities are shifted.

Take for instance the transaxle issue for Honda/Acura which Honda NA has voluntarily extended the warranty on about a hundred thousand vehicles. This transaxle assembly, which is the only problematic part, is the only assembly part from outside the US and comes from Japan.

I’m not knocking any make. IMO, certain components and brands will do better or worse. But broad statement about being made better in Japan is bogus. It is the design and administration which determines the outcome. Not the location. There are many excellent manufacturing facilities here in the US as there are in Japan.

If the (Socialist ) Canadian versions are down on quality, which I doubt they will be, it is not due to the location. It is due to management which normally comes from over seas.

anonymous

I really doubt there will be any problems at the Canadian plant in Ontario. That plant has won numerous awards and with the addition of the RX 330 to their lineup, it'll just make them even better.

02RX

Anyone know if Lexus will continue production of the 330 in Japan after September? I know a previous poster mentioned certain builds (i.e. full sunroof versions) would be manufactured there, but anyone else been able to confirm or deny this? Thanks.

Gojirra99

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/030106-9.htm

RX will continue to be built in both Japan and Canada after September, most likely the Canadian plant for the North American market and the Japanese plant for the rest of the world.

Gojirra99

Another post on Canadian and Japanese production (post #342 in link) :

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/Web...index=.ef13f87

rogerh00

Well, whatever the argument is, it's a proven fact that the first year production model will have issues no matter who builds it. I can't see shelling out 43K+ for a vehicle you know you'll have to take back for issues.
Luckily I'm not in the market for a new vehicle this year and I don't need to be the first one on my block with a new model so I will be able to ride this model year out and watch them refine it. I'm perfectly happy with my '01 rx300 which operates flawlessly and has since I drove it off the dealers lot.