My first post here in this forum. I'm a 98 SC400 owner, love the car. For the past 6-7 months I thought my next purchase would be a 07' IS 350 (still undecided) but the size is the main reason holding me back, there is just no reasonable rear pass room. Everything else I love about the IS and when I see it on the road I keep saying I want one. .

Lately I've been thinking what it would be like to get into an SUV, something I never thought I would say. I've never driven the RX but I have been a passenger in a 2006 before and I've read enough about the model to know about it.

Having also been a BMW owner for the past 7 years, I test drove the 06 X5 4.4 V8 and was impressed with how it handled like a car. I really enjoyed the increased ride height and it felt intimate inside, like a car. My bimmer has never given me any trouble in 7 years of ownership. However with that said, the X5 has NOT had a good record for dependability. That alone worries me enough to not purchase it. I also do not like the rear bench seating in the X5, it is so flat and hard for rear passengers to sit in and really bumpy ride cause there is no cushion in the rear seats.

Getting back to the RX. The interior of the RX is better to me than the X5, I really like the front and rear seats, they are so inviting and fit like a glove, in fact going on a trip or even a few hours is so much nicer comfort wise. However what I don't like about the RX is the shifter configurement, Hardly anyone ever speaks about it. I think because the storage tray in the middle moves backwards and then the shifter area detached, it loses any kind of sport feel/look to the interior. I wished the RX had more of a console built permantely into the shifter area like in a sedan or mimic the shifter of the X5.

I know that in 08 or 09 the RX is scheduled to get a re-design but do you think they will re-design the shifter so it looks more sportier? I remember reading a few years ago that Lexus designed the shifter the way they did because women like to be able to move the storage backwards so they could place there purse underneath it and slide the storage back over it. I think I read that in a car magazine. I just don't like how the console disconnects from the shifter.

Part of me wants to get a sedan, part of me wants to try an SUV, part of me wants something sporty but still wants all the luxury, part of me likes the intimate feeling of a sedan and part of me wants the ride height and more room of an SUV.

Sorry for such a long post, I wonder if anyone else feels like I do.

 

haha, we sure do, tats why we buy SUV's n modify it to be sporty and lowered the ride so it feels like a sedan without comprimising on the luxury and space

 

Doubted they will change the shifter position. RX only comes with auto/CVT, so they can be connected electronically which can save a lot of space from a mechanically linked shifter. Of course they can make something like tiptronic and put paddle shifter behind the wheel.

 

imo...........................

 

same reason for me as well ^^

i love my current rx, but feel it had way too many "problems" that needed fixing. nothing major, but a lot of little things add up! i'll either wait for the second year during the model cycle if i look into the new rx, or buy a total different brand of car.

as far as the shifter goes, as long as it's not on the column i'm totally happy! (big turn off in the pilot) a nice shifter/console set up i like is in my dad's f-150.

 

[QUOTE=XanaduSC]
I know that in 08 or 09 the RX is scheduled to get a re-design but do you think they will re-design the shifter so it looks more sportier? I remember reading a few years ago that Lexus designed the shifter the way they did because women like to be able to move the storage backwards so they could place there purse underneath it and slide the storage back over it. I think I read that in a car magazine. I just don't like how the console disconnects from the shifter.

Part of me wants to get a sedan, part of me wants to try an SUV, part of me wants something sporty but still wants all the luxury, part of me likes the intimate feeling of a sedan and part of me wants the ride height and more room of an SUV.
[QUOTE]
I am afraid Lexus will disappoint you. RX targets a different market segment than X5. It will never get state-of-the-art engine, brake, suspension, exhaust, and transmission. Do you think soccer moms will ever care and pay for high low end torque, bigger brake rotor, larger rear sway bar, low backpressure, or God forbid, a MANUAL 6 speed transmission?

 

Actually the Sequential Automatic Transmission that comes with the Performance Package has a pretty sporty shifter, IMHO, especially when you put a wood/leather combination **** on it.

 

...you will never truly enjoy an RX. The RX is an ES/Camry-based tall station wagon with, at best, slightly awkward looks. The SC is one of the finest grand touring cars ever built...and drop-dead gorgeous. The RS is nowhere near the handler the SC is and nowhere near as refined in powertrain.

Now, if you really don't care for the traits that the SC excells in, if you really like to ride tall in the saddle and care not that it is a mediocre handler, then the RX is a viable alternative for you. But I really doubt that a happy SC owner would have that reaction. I own an older LS and going from that to our RX330 is always painful for me in that the RX drives so much worse. (However, while my wife agrees with me about the RX's relative lack of handling and refinement, she does like the high-up driving position and its "zippiness".)

I personally would not want one as a daily driver and find its cargo capacity wanting. But, you will find plenty of people who love them.

- GRL

 

So, nopcbs, have you ever test drove the RX before you signed on the dotted line and drove off the dealer's lot? What I don't understand is, you keep complaining about the car, from the outlook to the engine to the interior, but still happen to buy one.

I think only the dumbest people in the world will expect the RX or any SUV to handle like an SC or any coupe.

 

It's really kind of sad that occasionally we see posts from people who bought an RX are disappointed that it doesn't handle like their M3, have the launching power of their ZO6, or off-road like their Wrangler. Maybe it's because so many buyers buy for looks or image, rather than real needs or applications. Sure we all want a luxury car that will corner like a refugee from F1, burn the quarter-mile like an A-gasser, haul like a box van, cruise like the QE2, and impress the neighbors like a new Bentley. In the real world, cars are compromises.

Before you make that purchase, first you have to sit down and be brutally honest with yourself. Get a pad of paper and a #2 yellow pencil and make a list of the things you want in a car. Make three columns: requirements, preferences, and considerations. Without any preconceptions, arrange the qualities you need and those you want on the list. Remember, erasers are cheaper than cars - this may take a while.

Yes, you want blinding acceleration, but because that comes at the cost of fuel economy or passenger/cargo space, you are going to have to make some compromises . . . where do you strike a balance? You want a flat-out handler? How much space and comfort are you willing to sacrifice? You want some off-road ability? To get ground clearance, you will have to accept some altitude that may cut into your at-the-limit road grip. If you want a smooth, silent interstate cruiser, don’t expect those macho Bigfoot tires. If you’d rather style with dubs, be prepared to take the teeth-rattling ride that comes with a 3" drop and 20-series sidewalls. The point is you need to find what you want and what compromises you are willing to accept to reach your goal.

Too many people arrive at CL having just bought an RX and are disappointed with the fact it won’t corner at .9 G, or cut a 12-second quarter-mile. Either they had unrealistic expectations, or they simply bought the wrong car. There is very little chance you will be able to turn an RX into an autocrosser, or an SC into a family hauler. If you sit down and carefully examine your needs and expectations you are more likely to be happy with your choice. How do you REALLY use your car? Daily driver, slogging that freeway commute to work and back? Family car for long vacations? Weekend entertainment? Maybe a project car you can mod at reasonable cost with a big of selection of parts and aftermarket pieces?

If you can be honest with yourself and realize that ALL cars are compromises, you can arrive at the selection that will make you happy . . . or at least meet most of your expectations.

 

Yup, that is me. Not saying anything negative about my RX 330. It is just that after selling my Corvette I realize how much I miss it. I now know that I am not meant to be an SUV owner. The worst thing is that it is such an expensive lesson.

Aloha,
Larry

 

imo, the rx is the best of both worlds. it's smooth like an LS, and pretty sporty like an IS (it doesn't float over bumps like an ES) the acceleration is not bad for an suv (it definitely is faster than an IS250!) plus it has the ride height and utility. the mix of wood and silver trim give it the luxury/sport feel. can't wait for the next gen rx!

 

I too never really liked the shifter position on the RX. That is one reason why the center console in our RX330 is always fully forward right up to the shifter for that seemingly one piece look.


IMHO, if you still have some sport driving in you and never really cared for SUV type vehicles before just skip it and get the sedan, unless you really like SUVs or are really starting to like SUVs.

I was in the same boat as you. I was never into SUVs. My part time daily driver was a mid engine sports car. I had a BMW in the past which we traded in for the RX330. The reasons why we got the RX330 was because my wife was pregnant and I didn't trust our 95 E36 BMW. It never left me/us stranded, but I didn't want to take that chance with a newly pregnant wife. We were moving at that time as well. The RX330 was bought new for the warranty and the Lexus reliability. My wife also likes it, and the cargo space came in handy when we moved. All that said, I've grown to appreciate the RX330, but I'm not blown away. I modified mine with A/V gear, lowred it, put larger rims, and I had a lot of fun doing that. However, my heart is still into coupes and at the very least sports sedans. We will probably be selling the RX330 at the end of this year and will try and get a GS350. Don't get me wong. It is a good SUV. The Acura MDX was our other choice, but it lacked the HIDs and power rear hatch. My point is if you are not sold on the SUV concept don't get it as you may end up like me and wish you got a non SUV car. I just miss the handling of cars too much. With the Eibach springs and larger wider rims/tires the handling of our RX330 inproved greatly, but still nowhere near as well as a normal car.

PS. My other daily driver was a 1993 SC400 up until Monday when I traded it in for another Lexus daily driver. A 94 ES300. I just never really liked the SC400 that much and had practically every common SC problem come up with mine.

 

Same here. I don't think it is the case of us having too high expectations of the RX, or expecting to take corners like our sports cars. For me at least it was a premature conclusion that since I was 30+, expecting my first child, that this would be the perfect car for a family man. I had no expectations that it would handle great, but just get me from point A to B safely. The problem is, my driving style is still the same. I jumped the gun and I'm just not ready for that type of car. Maybe when I turn 40 it will be my time I've come to the conclusion that sports sedans like the GS, or BMW 3/5 is more my style. It still hauls the family, handles more like what I want, and I only give up a little cargo space. I never really liked driving that high up either as like you I had a 2 seater sports car that sat about 4" off the ground, and all my other cars where lowered as well. I guess I thought I could be an SUV guy but I'm just not ready for that change yet.

 

I am 58 and still not ready for it!

Aloha,
Larry