Interior issues
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
Just checked mine under the sun light in the parking lot, and by LED flashlight in the garage.
I found out my wood accents on Steering Wheel and Shift **** are the same color with dark Brown Walnut. Then, other pieces of wood on the car are the same color with slightly dark brown walnut. Anyway, 2 colors on my car, but they're almost the same.
This makes sense due to wood steering wheel and shift **** are optional accessories. Other pieces are assembled in the plant when cars are built. The whole walnet tree isn't always the same color based on the environment, sunlight, soil, breed, etc. There is no guarantee of the same part of tree.
I found out my wood accents on Steering Wheel and Shift **** are the same color with dark Brown Walnut. Then, other pieces of wood on the car are the same color with slightly dark brown walnut. Anyway, 2 colors on my car, but they're almost the same.
This makes sense due to wood steering wheel and shift **** are optional accessories. Other pieces are assembled in the plant when cars are built. The whole walnet tree isn't always the same color based on the environment, sunlight, soil, breed, etc. There is no guarantee of the same part of tree.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 1
From: ny
So you guys are ok with different color wood on a $45000 car? To me, thats a sign that Lexus is getting lazy. They didnt QC the steering wheel wood vs the wood trims in the car. There are other models in the Lexus lineup that have optional wood steering wheel and the wood match perfectly.
My car's wood color is almost the same, I don't have problems to it. Otherwise, I really don't know what to do.
How're other Lexus models' situations?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: mb
I was wondering about the illumination of the ceiling buttons as well. I thought maybe I had a bulb out. Yes, it is difficult to find the right garage door button at night. It is also difficult just to find the right button to turn on the light! Is everyone else's like this?
http://shop.ebay.ca/items/?_nkw=glow...dark&_osacat=0
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 1
From: ny
take a look at the following page. Glow in dark tape.
http://shop.ebay.ca/items/?_nkw=glow...dark&_osacat=0
http://shop.ebay.ca/items/?_nkw=glow...dark&_osacat=0
But, I still believe Lexus should make the change in the future. This design is too inconvenient. The small LED will work it out.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: mb
you mean drilling whole through to the main interior light? the subject buttons do have led but it turns on after the button is pressed. i think that same led can be changed with 2 color led bulb. one color stays on all the time and the second color comes on after the button is pressed. same as the blackberry led changes colors to represent different messages. at the same time, all three button can be represented by the different led colors, just to make it fancy. or the existing led can be hot wired in the resting position so that it is on all the time rather than pressing it. however i do agree with you that lexus should have taken care of this quirk, which is minor issue for them but annoying for the customer.
Last edited by flatrocky; May 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I'm glad to find that I'm not the only one bothered by the 2 wood colors in the car. I have the Obsidian with Parchment Perforated Leather with Brown Walnut Accent and the steering wheel and gear shift **** are clearly a different color than the other wood accents in the car. I find it quite ugly and try not to focus on it when I'm in the car. I probably would've gone without the wood steering wheel and gear shift had I known this is what they'd look like 
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
So much for Lexus using the same tree to make the wood panels in a car. It is cheaper for them to contract out the wood in the steering wheel and the shift ****. Lexus use to have the nicest wood panels, now a days, I cant even tell if the wood panels are real anymore.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: CO
I recently purchased a 2010 lexus rx350 with black interior/gray exterior and have come across two issues. I confirmed with a friend who has the same problems and purchased the vehicle from the same dealer so not sure if it is just our cars. The first issue is that the wood grain on the steering wheel and door panels do not match. Thanks
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No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
So much for Lexus using the same tree to make the wood panels in a car. It is cheaper for them to contract out the wood in the steering wheel and the shift ****. Lexus use to have the nicest wood panels, now a days, I cant even tell if the wood panels are real anymore.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
Lexus is using less and less wood in their new design, thats not surprising considering the cost of those wood panels. I prefer less wood anyways, too much wood makes the interior look cheap. Lexus use to have a real nice dark walnut panel, now a days, they just look like the cheap plastic one on the MDX. I know Lexus use real wood but the quality is not what it use to be.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
Lexus is using less and less wood in their new design, thats not surprising considering the cost of those wood panels. I prefer less wood anyways, too much wood makes the interior look cheap. Lexus use to have a real nice dark walnut panel, now a days, they just look like the cheap plastic one on the MDX. I know Lexus use real wood but the quality is not what it use to be.
I agree. The quality has gone down in the past few years. It's not as bad as the Venza but it is looking too plasticy and fake. And I'm glad there is less wood in the '10. But I will probably change out what little there is.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
Isn’t the Venza using plastic wood panels? I can remember my old LS and my old GX, the wood was glorious back then. With the new RX and my 08 GS, I sometimes knock on the wood if see if its real, it sure looks plastic to me.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
Getting back to the RX, I'd say the wood grains in my '04 are ok, maybe not altogether natural looking. Can't remember my '99, which funny enough, I had extra wood trim pieces in. They faded. Don't have my '10 yet to compare. But I think I'm done with the Lexus OE wood trim. At least there is an upside - not as many pieces to replace
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: MA
I was sorry to see the reduced amount of wood in the new RX vs Gen 2. I like wood. In fact, I hunted down an ALL-WOOD shift **** for mine 'cuz I hated the look and feel of the leather-wood combo. Fortunately, all the wood in mine matches very well. I'd be pissed if it didn't match.
