After reading reports on here, it seems that the Gen 2 might be better quality then the Gen 3. My dealer still has 2009 RX's on site, and I'm considering getting an 09 OR waiting until the 2011 comes out.

I know the obvious differences, but would the majority agree or disagree with the assessment that the 09 (and before) is quieter and more refined? (Less plastic stuff...)

 

Not too sure about that but one thing I dislike is that most RXs are made in Canada
when only a few come out of Japan for us.
The quality is no where near as good as Japanese made.

 

the issue here is that this is the first year model, and the 09 RX has lived through 5 years of improvements.

I would probably get a 2011 model, which should be out very shortly, if not already out. THe RX has always had a life cycle that starts around february

 

That usually only applies to a new generation model change. IE: the Gen III. My best guess is the 2011 RX will be late summer or early fall with the others.

 

im pretty sure in the past, the RX always changed years in Februay/March, and the hybrid always in April/May. However, I am not sure this time around because they did the Enform/safety connect refresh in August so they might push it back to August with the other models.

 

I would think that you could get quite the deal on the 09
Having several preceding models in this lineup does help to sort out the gremlins in "beta versions" of a new generation.

From an above comment...I am sure glad that my 450h came from Japan , which I think all the hybrids do, given all the negative comments throughout the forums and literature that I read on quality comparisons.

 

If I were in your shoes I'd wait for the 2011. The 2010 has been out for over a year now. Just my opinion.

 

It's all about 'WANT IT NOW' factor.
2010 is now, 2011 is sometime in the future(2 months, 3 months, 4 months....)

 

Sounds about right. Pushing the date later would make sense since the RX is popular. Wonder what they'll change for 2011 For us it was killer to lose out on bluetooth in the '04 by a year. Others lost out on Enform/Safety Connect by a few months It's like buying Apple products - do I get it or wait til ...? Oh, the dilemma!

 

haha so true about the bluetooth. However, they also got the newer nav with the green buttons (instead of brown) which I hear was worse than the one we have in terms of menus/ergonomics.

I think, wait I mean, hope, they will add the backlighting to the homelink buttons. Thats partly why I am waiting.