I've been looking at a 1st Gen RX, but I've read a lot of bad reviews -- trannys and engines failing before 200k miles, other problems, etc. Is the 2nd Gen RX more reliable than the 1st Gen?

I've had several Toyotas and an SC400 and I'm used to trouble-free driving, so I was surprised to read bad reliability reviews of the 1st Gen.

 

You'll find the 5-spd is more reliable then the 4-spd. The 3mz is a bored out version w/ a few updates as well. Another option is a 2gr 3.5 which came out for '07. For me 40 more horse & a little better mileage is a no brainer. Yea it is a little more mechanical sounding then the quieter running 3mz. I wouldn't turn down a clean low mileage 330 thou.....I'd say go drive one & then compare it to the gen1.....I find a gen2 is worth the extra money....I've noticed the cost of the gen2's have gone up since we got this one last Nov. '19......w/ 144k.

 

yes the transmissions on the first gens are a very sore point. I had a first gen 300 but then the transmission starting "whining" in first gear which was a known design flaw the sadly lexus didnt do anything about which is why I ended up trading it in for my current second gen which other than parts wearing out(like the then 13 year old radiator which blew up on me last october i think it was) its been pretty trouble free; granted im gonna have to look into start replacing some parts soon that are starting to wear out.