I have an '01 RX (Silversport edition) with 117,000 miles. I've had almost all of its service done a local independent shop and it's running very well. I did the same with a prior RX (a '99) and kept it for six years, 110,000 miles. (Likewise with my '95 GS300 Touring @105,000 miles.)

The couple of times I've had to go back to the local dealers (Pohanka of Chantilly VA or Lindsay in Alexandria), the service experience has been very good, but you pay for it. I can buy a lot of "free" snacks and wi-fi and even a nice rental loaner for the premium you pay for service at Lexus. I needed a new sunroof last fall and the total set me back almost $1800. Only three new car payments or so, but it still pinched the wallet. Still, some things you want to go to the dealer for.

I hope to replace my '01 with a '10 or '11 later this year. I'm thinking that getting dealer service included as a deal-closer, perhaps as they look to clear out the remaining '10 inventory this summer, might give one the best of both worlds.