Hey guys, my parents are currently looking to buy a 2002 RX300 AWD with 115,000 miles on it for $12995, it is a great price considering the condition and features that the car has, ive already done KBB and TMV and pricing seems right.
However, i have some questions about the car maybe some of you can help me.

1. How do i know if the car has AWD, also how does the AWD work? Is it full-time running all 4 wheels, or is it front-wheel drive based then switched to AWD like Acura/Honda?

2. How can i tell if it has HID's by just looking at pics? Since this generation does not have projectors like the second gen, its kind of hard to tell, but i know that some first gens do have HIDs, i just wanna know if this one does.

3. I know the car has VSC (becase of badging) however it puzzles me that some have the TRACtion button on the center console and others dont, in this case the one my parents are looking at does not have the TRAC button but it does have VSC. Do ones that have VSC have TRAC as well? Im kind of confused on this one.

Thanks in advance

Player4

 

RE: # 1, simply look under the rear of the car and see if there is a rear differential and half-shafts; if yes, its AWD; if not, its FWD.

 

#1 : AWD kicks in when the system sense any slippage in the tires, I think its 1/4 of turn?

#2: I believe that HIDs had the Nakamichi systems only.

#3: AWD does not have a button for TRAC so no button you've got yourself an AWD.

 

Unfortunately, you can't rely on KBB and Edmunds to give you a reliable price any more. For example, take the car on an "extended" test drive and see what you can get for it as a trade in - it'll be half what the KBB trade in values is!

Having said that, the car is worth what somebody will pay for it, and if someone will pay $13000, then that's what it's worth................

 

Check the VIN number (also search this forum)
A quick VIN decode for the RX300:

First 3 digits: Country of manufacture / company / plant code
JT6 or JTJ = Toyota, made in Japan

Digits 4 - 8: Model and Powertrain Options
????? = RX300, 2WD (don't know! I'm guessing it's GF10U, if the pattern is like the 330)
HF10U = RX300, AWD

Digit 9: Check digit - computed based on all other digits

Digit 10: Model Year
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003

Digits 11 - 17: Serial Number

 

I don't recall this being the case.

 

So my parents went today and test drove the car and it drives awesome and all. I checked carfax and ALL of the service has be done at Lexus dealers and also the water pump and timing belt were replaced at 108,000 miles and also the key case was also replaced like 1,000 miles ago. Ive heard that the key case always breaks easily, so im glad it was just replaced.

Thx for anymore info you guys post

 

Glad to hear. What color is the RX?

 

Im pretty sure the AWD is on all the time..50/50 power split..ALWAYS
its not a 4WD system
its AWD

 

Its gold.

Oh so its a always running AWD, always running 50/50? I figured since theres not button inside to engage the system or lock it like Honda Pilot, etc...

 

I belive the AWD is a 60-40 untill it slippes then it is a 50/50.
Also dealers like to tell you "kbb is just a guide kbb does not buy cars"

 

Yeah, they say this when it's time to trade-in your old vehicle and they want to lowball you, but they're quick to quote KBB when it's time to sell you something...

As for AWD, the RX is all wheel drive all the time and it doesn't transfer from the "wheels that slip to the wheels that grip." It's evenly distro'd all the time.

 

And it(AWD) is 50/50 all the time as well. No 60/40.