Art3

A couple of weeks ago, I was expecting a new red RX and asked you all for some thoughts about how to handle the early miles. I got some excellent feedback and discovered Sewell from whom I ordered a cargo liner.

The red car never happened, however, so I had to settle for dark red - really dark ... you might even call it Stargazer Black. As most of you know so well, this is one beautiful automobile. In fact I’ve been rummaging through my vocabulary for the appropriate superlatives to describe it - how about sensational or even perfect. Ours is AWD, Comfort, Premium, and Nav packages, along with parking assist, remote entry, and some other minor goodies. Oh, and it also came with good power, fine handling, a quiet ride, a make-you-swoon-new-car-smell, and fit and finish that is as good as you can get. I actually got to thinking that the car was underpriced!

To be fair there are a couple of things that could be improved. The boxes in the console are a bid clunky, 1200+ pages of manuals is a bit much, the nav system is too complicated, and I could use a tad more headroom. Many Forum members have already addressed the MPG issue.

Finally, a tip of the cap to the dealer, Berlin City in Portland, Maine. This was just exactly how we want to be treated by our car company. They gave me a fair trade, fair discount off MSRP, fair price for an extended warranty - all with no haggling - and they had to swap for my car. In fact I never set foot in the dealership, much less be ushered in to see the “finance guy.” My salesman met us for a test drive, handled all the paperwork to register the vehicle in our home state of Tennessee, delivered the car to us (90 minutes away), and spent THREE HOURS going through the feature walk-through, syncing the phone, and setting up the garage door opener. He knew the RX cold.

If you’re thinking Lexus and are anywhere near Maine, check out Berlin (BER-lin) City. I can recommend them without reservation. (And no, my brother-in-law doesn’t work there - I’m just a retired, run-of-the-mill customer.)

lamar411

Congrats on the new car, post up some pics, bet that black looks stunning.

mac12

Congratulations on the new ride. I know you are gonna love it.

07LexusGuy

Congratulations on your new car!

I also bought a Stargazer Black w/black interior about 3 weeks ago. I LOVE that color, and outside in the sun is where it really stands out and dazzle

BTW, what are you doing spending time posting on the forum? Get out there and enjoy the new toy! J/K... Happy driving to you!

RXSF

I too have stargazer black and the color never gets old. I took a chance on it because I special ordered it 1 year ago before I or the dealer even knew what it looked like

cafpaf

Congratulations on the new RX. Let me sure I understand something. You live in Tennessee, bought a car from a Maine dealer, and they delivered it to Tennessee. Is that right? How did they do that? Did you test drive it in Maine? We you there for some other purpose? Did they ship the car/ did the salesman come from Maine to Tennessee? I am confused (but I am old).

Mdkellys

Congratulations on your new vehicle. You will find the feedback and responses from this forum are terrific.

Mike

Art3

I wasn't clear (I'm old too!) - sorry. We live in TN but are in Maine for a few months. All the back and forth was here in Maine; the paperwork and sales tax was for TN. Hope this clears it up.

It's 38 degrees here at 2:15pm ... we'll be heading South soon in our new, already beloved, RX 350.

happy1977

Congrats on the new RX.

kitlz

Art, congrats on your new RX and save drive back to TN.

InRBigness

My 450H is Starglazer Black as well.... oh wait, they call that Starlight Mica Black up here in God's country. WTF is with that? Why not have the same names? The paint code is 0217 so it is the same color. Designed differences from the factory so they can say "Oh that is a different car, our's is right and thats why it cost more"

Enjoy the new ride, I sure like mine.

cafpaf

Art, thanks for clearing that up. I know that Lexus will pick up my car for service if I want that done, but Maine to Tennessee was a bit much for me to comprehend.

Art3

Many thanks for all your congrats and good wishes. Seems like one of the key "take-aways" is the enthusiasm for Stargazer black. Reading about it, I thought it might be dorky - sparkling and all, but it is stunning and beautiful in the sun especially. Oh, and that's Starlight Mica in Canada, as InRBigness reports. BTW, if you've not read his "first service visit" post, do so. Absolutely hilarious!

happy1977

Black is beautiful and elegant. Good choice on the color.