Used RX Reccomendations
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5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
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From: CA
Used RX Reccomendations
Hi. I used to own an RX300 and want to get an older RX again as a second car now. I am considering a 2005 RX330 but I would really rather spend a bit more for an Rx400h but I am a bit worried about repair costs and battery life with the hybrid. So for the experienced RX owners here would you consider a 150k mile ~2007 Rx400h a big gamble as a used second car (so I should stick to looking at RX330s) or am I being unnecessarily worried and should go ahead given that the likelihood of a $2000 battery replacement in the next 4 years is not very high?
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2021
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From: Ontario
I wouldn't bother going from a 300 to a 330. I would avoid older Hybrids due to expensive parts and labour cost if something were to go wrong with the system (ABS, battery, etc). I don't think the money savings from the RX400h is worth the risk of having an expensive thing go wrong, especially since it's used and not new. 400h won't benefit as much from HWY driving compared to city either. I'd go straight to 07-09 350 for the 3.5 engine. No more timing belts, mileage is better, but most importantly power and torque as well. I can easily get up to speed without hardly going above 2500 rpm which leads to better than the estimated MPG by a decent margin.
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5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
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From: CA
This isn't an upgrade for the 300, that car has been gone for 5+ years now. It is meant to slot into the same position in our family though. Looking at fuelly the 350's are averaging only about 0.8mpg better than the 330s so thats not enough to rue out the 330. Since we are talking about 15 year old cars here I think it will just come down to condition and maintenance records not whether its a 330 or a 350. 400h is out of consideration now though.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 2,197
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From: Ontario
I would drive both and see what you prefer, but definitely the better-maintained car would be the winner. The 5-speed auto in the 330/350 make the main difference of MPG improvement over the 300s. The 350 gets more upgrades over a 330 like rollover sensor for the airbags, higher res info screen (or NAV screen if the car has NAV) for AWDs a superior viscous coupling transfer case from the 2001-2003 Highlander that is less problematic than the normal one that comes in the 330 (I have heard numerous complaints from 04-07 Highlander and 04-06 RX330 and 04-10 Sienna about the t-case failing - not caused by neglected fluid changes either).
The biggest upgrade is that 3.5 engine though, for how smooth and torquey it is, I would never want to have an RX330 in its place.
The biggest upgrade is that 3.5 engine though, for how smooth and torquey it is, I would never want to have an RX330 in its place.
Last edited by MattRX; Mar 4, 2023 at 09:40 AM.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,993
Likes: 608
From: The Jet City
I would drive both and see what you prefer, but definitely the better-maintained car would be the winner. The 5-speed auto in the 330/350 make the main difference of MPG improvement over the 300s. The 350 gets more upgrades over a 330 like rollover sensor for the airbags, higher res info screen (or NAV screen if the car has NAV) for AWDs a superior viscous coupling transfer case from the 2001-2003 Highlander that is less problematic than the normal one that comes in the 330 (I have heard numerous complaints from 04-07 Highlander and 04-06 RX330 and 04-10 Sienna about the t-case failing - not caused by neglected fluid changes either).
The biggest upgrade is that 3.5 engine though, for how smooth and torquey it is, I would never want to have an RX330 in its place.
The biggest upgrade is that 3.5 engine though, for how smooth and torquey it is, I would never want to have an RX330 in its place.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 5
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From: CA
Going to go look at a 350 tonight. About the same mileage as the 330's I have tested (145k), but also about 50% more expensive ($11k). From the carfax its had the following done since 120k miles (not incl oil/filter/air filter etc): drive belt, serpentine belt, sway bars, motor mounts, CV boots, hood shocks.
Are there any other things I should be looking at going bad in the next 20-30k miles? I am sort of thinking a car thats 130k miles that has already had the serpentine etc is as good a bet as a 80k mile car when you know those repairs are coming soon.
Goal here is a family car that will see 7-8k miles a year getting groceries with the occasional 250 mile weekend trip to visit friends/family fwiw.
Are there any other things I should be looking at going bad in the next 20-30k miles? I am sort of thinking a car thats 130k miles that has already had the serpentine etc is as good a bet as a 80k mile car when you know those repairs are coming soon.
Goal here is a family car that will see 7-8k miles a year getting groceries with the occasional 250 mile weekend trip to visit friends/family fwiw.
Last edited by tedder; Mar 7, 2023 at 01:22 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 299
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From: Oregon
The cats will definitely go out if they haven’t already.
2nd gen is prone to water leaks from rear hatch and A pillar.
I personally never felt there was that much of a difference between 330 and 350, it’s not night and day - for me anyway.
I’d focus more on the maintenance history / options you are looking for.
2nd gen is prone to water leaks from rear hatch and A pillar.
I personally never felt there was that much of a difference between 330 and 350, it’s not night and day - for me anyway.
I’d focus more on the maintenance history / options you are looking for.
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Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 5
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From: CA
Placed a deposit yesterday and going to pick up a 2008 RX 350 this morning. The PO's wife wasn't home yesterday and she was needed to sign the title. PO has owned it since 13k miles.
$8.4k. 131k miles, folder of work done that is about 1.5" thick. Exterior is pristine, desert sage metallic. Inside is excellent too except for 3 small dash cracks. FWD, has the backup camera, Navigation and DVD player on the ceiling for the rear passengers. Supposedly 'every option but AWD'. Can't confirm that, but the backup camera was the one thing I did want.
Just had new rotors & pads all around and front sway bars done. Tires are 1 year and ~5k miles old. Engine bay is dry, no visible leaks in the bay or underneath and records of oil changes every 6 months (usually at <5k miles). Does seem to have gotten brake work done every 3 years or so, with warped rotors being replaced and the sway bars were done at least 2 times. PO said his wife's driving was to blame, she would rush up to red lights and then brake hard.
This was the only RX 350 I drove, the other 3 were 330's (and I previously had a 300) and I will say its got a LOT more pickup than the 330 or 300. It will scoot quite a bit faster when the loud pedal is used. Otherwise not much different than the 330s.
$8.4k. 131k miles, folder of work done that is about 1.5" thick. Exterior is pristine, desert sage metallic. Inside is excellent too except for 3 small dash cracks. FWD, has the backup camera, Navigation and DVD player on the ceiling for the rear passengers. Supposedly 'every option but AWD'. Can't confirm that, but the backup camera was the one thing I did want.
Just had new rotors & pads all around and front sway bars done. Tires are 1 year and ~5k miles old. Engine bay is dry, no visible leaks in the bay or underneath and records of oil changes every 6 months (usually at <5k miles). Does seem to have gotten brake work done every 3 years or so, with warped rotors being replaced and the sway bars were done at least 2 times. PO said his wife's driving was to blame, she would rush up to red lights and then brake hard.
This was the only RX 350 I drove, the other 3 were 330's (and I previously had a 300) and I will say its got a LOT more pickup than the 330 or 300. It will scoot quite a bit faster when the loud pedal is used. Otherwise not much different than the 330s.
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