...your RX330 has a quiet engine, go take a short ride in a used LS400 that your friendly Lexus dealer has on hand. Your concept of quiet engine is due to be greatly redefined.

We have two Lexi, a '92 LS400 we've had for 12+ years and a 2004 RX330 bought last year. The latter was mostly bought on the basis of excellent experience with the LS400...an utterly superb car...and replaced a 2000 Yukon XL that was simply too large.

The RX330 is my wife's daily driver and she likes how it "scoots around". I drive the LS as my winter car and it is way more refined in terms of powertrain than the RX330. The LS has a better ride, but the RX is a wagon, so I grant that it will not be as quiet or smooth-riding or have as good handling. The RX330 has a less refined powertrain than the Yukon XL had. Toyota ought to be ashamed that in the decade plus since the original LS400 was built they have not been able to provide a comparable drivetrain for their most popular line. It will be interesting to see if the RX350 is an improvement in that regard.

As for the suggest of buying (another) GM, if Lexus can't get the powetrain right on the Rx series by the time we replace the RX330, then I think we will get a Caddy.

- GRL

 

Well ,you're comparing apples to oranges . A V8 engine wil be smoother and quieter than a high revving V6 everytime. The V8 is inherently more balanced and will produce more torque at lower RPMs than a V6 which will have to be revved higher to produce similar torque results.

The sounds of the VQ engine in my Maxima and the 3.3 in my RX between 3000 and 4000 RPMs are pure music to my ears. Can't wait to hear the noises that the 3.5 L will make in the RX350.

 

"I used the fact that the 350 was coming in order to get an even better deal on my 06 330

I enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing this is not a first model year vehicle and has all of the bugs worked out of it

and since the 350 is just an engine upgrade its not that much of a loss"

I completely agree and that is exactly what I did. The car is for my wife who isn't going to miss the extra power anyway. Besides, if I was going to wait and pay extra for the 350 I would have just gotten a 400 instead. Same power but better gas mileage plus a tax break. But my issue with both the 350 and 400 is I'd rather not have to worry about the increased potential for reliability issues that come with a first year model.


" If you think that your RX330 has a quiet engine, go take a short ride in a used LS400 that your friendly Lexus dealer has on hand. Your concept of quiet engine is due to be greatly redefined."

That is a completely different type of car that also cost over $20,000 more. That's like saying you think Toyota Corolla's are bad because they don't have everything you RX330 has.


"As for the suggest of buying (another) GM, if Lexus can't get the powetrain right on the Rx series by the time we replace the RX330, then I think we will get a Caddy."

I have family that works for GM, they've had a wide range of GM cars, and I was even eligible for the GM employee discount but I still decided on the RX330. If you are this picky about and have this high expectations of your RX you will absolutely hate the SRX. I'd love to tell you otherwise (really I would) but a comparably priced GM car can't touch a comparably priced Lexus in terms of reliability, depreciation, and overall satisfaction.