egs21

Hello,

I am a member of clublexus and the owner of a 2002 Lexus GS300. I am looking to get a 2010 Lexus RX350 for my wife. We have a 7 month old baby and are needing the extra room a SUV provides.

Being a Lexus owner, I know the quality of the cars is excellent. However I wanted to see if there was any specific feedback of things to watch out for with this particular car. With any car there can be issues that come up over time so I'm trying to find out as much as I can before I go through with my purchase.

Also for those of you who are family guys on this board, do you find the RX350 roomy enough for one to two kids and their stuff?

Any feedback is helpful. Thanks!

JDR76

I have a 2013 so I can't comment on any 2010 issues. However, I can tell you, as a husband and father of a 2 year old, we find the room to be terrific and more than sufficient. The big car seat, the big jogging stroller, toys, bags, it all fits with ease and we couldn't be happier. Good luck on your decision.

egs21

Thanks for the reply, that is very helpful. I wonder if there were any major changes in the RX350 for 2013? I don't believe so, but I'm not sure?

corradoMR2

Mostly cosmetic changes and option/packaging differences with the '13, most notably the front new spindle grill. Also, '10 and '11 RX takes premium fuel, while '12 onward takes regular though as a result, rated hp went down by 5.

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/...motor+show.htm

The one thing with the '10 you'll want to check out is if it has the quieter laminate side glass. Earlier production models did not. One way to check is roll down the window and look for two layers of glass with a thin middle layer. This is the glass you want as it makes the RX quieter instead of one solid glass. In addition to the windshield, this is only for the front-door windows (not rear).

raylor4

We just bought a 2011 RX350 FWD and like it very much. We don't have children, but if we did, I think the unlock feature of the door handles would be very convenient. There's lots of room in the back seat for the kids and lots of room behind the hatch for all the stuff. Car is solid and handles well.
I Googled 2010 Lexus RX 350 problems and got many sites. Here is one. http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-350/...r-reviews.html
Good luck.
Ray

dat dude

Yes it would have more than adequate room for your kids and their stuff. Try your very hardest to get an RX with VDIM, it literally saved my life (check my post for the story). Other than that the RX is an amazing family car. I wouldn't recommended anything else.

egs21

Thanks everyone for your comments.

felix168

The newer RX (3rd gen) isn't as "Lexus quiet" as your 02 Lexus. So if that was the characteristic that you looked for when you purchased your GS, you might be a tad disappointed with the RX. The same can also be said about the materials used on the interior.

corradoMR2

Unless you have metrics comparing the two, that's a big statement to make considering the 2nd gen GS is two generations behind the latest GS and the latest RX while every Lexus generation has been getting quieter than the past.

I have had a Gen 3 GS a few times as loaners and it was a little quieter than the Gen 2 RXs I owned or about the same as my Gen 3 RX.

Materials is debatable. I would not agree that the materials got cheaper (if that's the implication), but at worst quality stayed the same. Where Lexus "cut" was on wood quantity and possibly leather quality in the Gen 3 RX, but plastics and all else is of higher quality and very well put together compared to both Gen 2 RXs I owned.

egs21

Hmm, that's odd that the 3rd generation would be less quiet than the previous generation. That might be a bit subjective, but I appreciate the opinion.

As for materials, the interior seems quite a bit nicer which is the main reason I'm looking at 3rd generation RX's only.

kitlz

egs21, great choice for your wife I only had a car seat in the back once. Fit was fine. The cargo area is also pretty wide with minimal wheel well intrusion. And the rear seats fold down three ways - completely, the right and middle seat, and the left seat. The release handles are located on the side of the seats and in the cargo area.

One thing to note on the 2010, Lexus introduced Enform in August 2009, so there are a few RXs that will have a sunglass holder instead. I haven't found any issues with noise or interior quality. You're right about that being subjective. It definitely has a cavernous feel inside.

Be sure to post up details on the RX you find and we'll let you know our thoughts. Good luck in your search.

felix168

Do you have a 2nd gen RX parked side by side next to a 3rd gen? I do, and the 2nd gen (04) is much quieter in my opinion. And if you have any experience with the 1st gen LS and ES, you should know what kind of quietness I was talking about and they're dead quiet. And I have also driven a previous generation of the GS and I know how quiet that car was compared to the 3rd gen RX.

The leather dash on the 2nd gen RX is much better than that rubber/vinyl dash on the 3rd gen.

benzo555

iTrader: (11)

So true. I had a 2nd gen GS300 that thing is dead quiet. I've also owned a 2nd Gen RX330 and now a 3rd Gen RX350. Materials fit and finish does not compare to my good ol GS300. But the newer RX350 is better than my RX330 hands down. However all the leather across the board is still crappy.

egs21

I second the comment on the GS300. I have a 02 and it is incredibly quiet with just enough engine growly when I push it. Amazing car, however I may be selling it due to the need of a SUV for my growing family.