Okay...stupid question time - but what is the difference between the RX330 and RX350? I know they are still manufacturing the RX330 in Cambridge...but can't figure out the difference. Someone please tell me.

 

They are basically the same car. The RX330 was manufactured from model year 2003 (??) to 2006. It has a 3.3 liter engine. The RX350 is model year 2007 and 2008. It has a 3.5 liter engine and a little bit more horse power. I don't think the RX330 is being manufactured anymore.

 

AFAIK the 330 was manufactured in both Japan and Canada, depending on the trim level of the car. the 350 production probably continues that. the 330 is a 3.3L engine while the 350 is a 3.5L engine. the 350 has about 40 more hp, 9 more ft-lb torque and about 1mpg better fuel efficiency.

the 350s were the first RX's to have the new Gen 5 nav hardware which also means mp3 folders are available, and much fancier graphics.

appearance-wise they are pretty much identical. in the new 08 model just released, there is a slightly different grille design and chrome door handles. and the new 08's suped-up models with Nav/ML get the 18" 7-spoke wheels instead of the standard 5 spokes. 2 new colors are introduced for 08 as well - brandywine red and desert sage (aka olive green). lexus.com has been updated already so you can go on there and take a look at photos and check what trims are available in your region.

 

I believe 330 is 04~06.

Traction Control button is also available in 08 I believe...

 

the rx330 has so little power compared to the 350.

 

So are they still making both cars?

 

I don't think so. Last place that might usuall have it is a place like Europe or the U.K. They got a detuned version of the RX330 (and even RX300) when they were both out.

The 2006 model year appears to have been the last one for the RX330, http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/model...F?modelId=4689

 

Under the same topic.....

Does the RX330 (yr 2004 - 2006) Mark Levinson system plays mp3 CDs? How about if the RX330 is equiped with the nav (technology) package, can it plays mp3 cds?

 

The 2004 ML system does not play MP3 files directly from a CD, although I think that that was added in 06 or 07.

Adding NAV does not add any features to the ML, and although most cars with NAV also have the ML, it is possible to have one without the other.

(NAV equipped 330 and 350 cars can be spotted by the large square screen on the dash (instead of a narrow 2 line LCD display) and by the camera lens above the right hand corner of the license plate. As far as I know, the only way to spot an ML system is by looking for the little gold ML logo on the lower part of the dash, which is very inconspicuous.)

I'd rather have a plug in the dash for an iPod.

 

[QUOTE=

I'd rather have a plug in the dash for an iPod.[/QUOTE]

I can't believe my 07 doesn't have an IPOD plug. How backward!

 

my rx330 has nav but no ML.

 

i believe without the ML...

my 2004 rx330 can play MP3 CDs, if that means the CD's that i burn from my computer from itunes...they will play

no plug in because they would have to change the production of the dashes...they might as well wait one more year to include it into the redesign 2009 version.

as for lexus, they never do ipod plugs, just aux plugs

 

^Interesting.
RXSF, do you have the nav?

 

the rx 330 radio cannot play mp3 cds i've already tried. it is posible to make a audio cd out of mp3's that would work in the radio, but the formats would have to converted. Im guessing thats what he was refering to.

 

i have nav...what i mean is it burn w/e i download from itunes on rewriteable, and regular CDs and it plays perfectly