RX Body Shell
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Driver
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 182
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From: VA
RX Body Shell
The other day in a parking lot, someone gave a door ding on my front fender to which I was able to use a dent tool to easily pull up the minor ding dent to pretty much its orginal condition. In do so, I felt the RX shell is pretty flimsy meaning that I can easily push on the fender with my thumb to create a dent or fix a dent if I push on the backside. Is it true that most of the RX's European competitors like BMW, Mercedes, Audi...etc have stronger (thicker?) shells than the RX meaning that they can withstand door dings better than the RX?
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 280
Likes: 6
From: NY
The other day in a parking lot, someone gave a door ding on my front fender to which I was able to use a dent tool to easily pull up the minor ding dent to pretty much its orginal condition. In do so, I felt the RX shell is pretty flimsy meaning that I can easily push on the fender with my thumb to create a dent or fix a dent if I push on the backside. Is it true that most of the RX's European competitors like BMW, Mercedes, Audi...etc have stronger (thicker?) shells than the RX meaning that they can withstand door dings better than the RX?
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 781
Likes: 101
From: PA
Correct. I am not certain of the curb weights of the RX on comparison to the competition, however. Since I am mobile right now I cannot bring that info up without serious effort
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,569
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From: San Francisco, CA
the RX is HEAVY, especially the hybrid which weighs in at 4500 pounds. The Regular RX at 4200 and these are the fwd measurements. The awd is like 200 pounds heavier. You can make the claim that the sheet metal is more flimsy, but the RX is a top safety pick from IIHS and receives high marks for all crash tests, including rear collision because of the WLS (whiplash lessening seats) design.
the ML350 mercedes weighs in at 4700 awd. the q5 weighs in at 4100
the ML350 mercedes weighs in at 4700 awd. the q5 weighs in at 4100
Last edited by RXSF; Mar 3, 2012 at 01:37 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 280
Likes: 6
From: NY
the RX is HEAVY, especially the hybrid which weighs in at 4500 pounds. The Regular RX at 4200 and these are the fwd measurements. The awd is like 200 pounds heavier. You can make the claim that the sheet metal is more flimsy, but the RX is a top safety pick from IIHS and receives high marks for all crash tests, including rear collision because of the WLS (whiplash lessening seats) design.
the ML350 mercedes weighs in at 4700 awd. the q5 weighs in at 4100
the ML350 mercedes weighs in at 4700 awd. the q5 weighs in at 4100
AND safety of the vehicle does not directly depends on its mass... but on airbags, structure, etc etc
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: VA
Thanks for the feedback. My concern was not about the RX's safety because I know there are body sides beams and crumble zones that protects the occupants very well. I was just surprised on how flimsy and dent prone with respect to the body shell.
Are the body shell thickness and rigidness the same between Lexus and Toyota vehicles?
Are the body shell thickness and rigidness the same between Lexus and Toyota vehicles?
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 811
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From: CA
the RX is HEAVY, especially the hybrid which weighs in at 4500 pounds. The Regular RX at 4200 and these are the fwd measurements. The awd is like 200 pounds heavier. You can make the claim that the sheet metal is more flimsy, but the RX is a top safety pick from IIHS and receives high marks for all crash tests, including rear collision because of the WLS (whiplash lessening seats) design.
the ML350 mercedes weighs in at 4700 awd. the q5 weighs in at 4100
the ML350 mercedes weighs in at 4700 awd. the q5 weighs in at 4100
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,676
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From: So California
My understanding is that the standard was increased for all mfgrs as too many had reached the "five star" standard, making differentiation between the best difficult for consumers. Nothing really changed here, and I'd still see our RX at or near the top of the heap.
(Similarly in my business, I increased the target for performance of my team in customer sat and other comparative elements with other groups a few times over the years for similar reasons... Most teams over time were achieving the highest rankings, making differentiation of the best impossible, and I still wanted everyone to keep striving for even better things. By taking this approach of increasing the target, no one "got worse" in what was actually being delivered, but I'm sure no one could then rest on their laurels per se, and the best strove to do even better for our business and clients. I would expect the changes done for car mfgrs in crash tests will over time, make "the best even better", in which case, all consumers will win with less lost lives and accidents.)
(Similarly in my business, I increased the target for performance of my team in customer sat and other comparative elements with other groups a few times over the years for similar reasons... Most teams over time were achieving the highest rankings, making differentiation of the best impossible, and I still wanted everyone to keep striving for even better things. By taking this approach of increasing the target, no one "got worse" in what was actually being delivered, but I'm sure no one could then rest on their laurels per se, and the best strove to do even better for our business and clients. I would expect the changes done for car mfgrs in crash tests will over time, make "the best even better", in which case, all consumers will win with less lost lives and accidents.)
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