vartig

Hello guys,
Im newbie here going to buy a RX 350 someday soon.
Is there anything I need to know?
What packages are good to add?
what are the differences between 2WD & 4WD? Isn't RX350 a 4WD (4x4) ?

thanks in advance

Lexus RX 350 - Silver lover

RX330inFL

Welcome to Club Lexus, vartig.

No, the RX comes as either a FWD or AWD configuration. No 4WD, no dual-range transmission. In short, it is a tall wagon.

As for what to get, that is as much a personal item than it is anything else. The 2014 is closing out and the 2015 will be on the lots within days. Best advice is to spend some time reading what already exists here at CL, such as:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...rice-paid.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...015-specs.html

and start at the end of this one and work your way forward:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...t-here-45.html

4482

First of all living in La you may not need AWD. Front wheel drive may be all you need living in that state. You'll get a little bit better gas mileage with FWD. Do you use/want navigation?
The best advise I could give you is to read up all you can on the RX. The more you read the better. Research all the packages. Only you know what you will want, not us RX owners. Read all the threads you can on this forum !

After that go to the Lexus dealer and drive an RX for an hour or two. The dealer may even let you take one home overnight. Have the dealer show you and demo the different packages.

You're going to spend a lot of money, so take your time and get what you want color wise and otherwise. The more homework you do on the RX the more you'll be able to pinpoint your wants.

Of course the bottom line is what you can afford.

corradoMR2

From your avatar, looks like you want an F-Sport which is AWD. AWD on the RX is essentially FWD until slippage is detected and power up to 50% is transferred to the rear. The F-Sport has an 8-speed auto with paddle shifters and standard VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) which helps prevent loss of control incorporating the ABS, TRAC, and VSC. Fuel economy is also a touch better than the regular AWD.

Another alternative to the F-Sport is getting the look with the Sport Appearance Package which I believe you can get in FWD or AWD.

If you don't care for the Sport Appearance Package or F-Sport with the firmer suspension (but better handling and flatter cornering), then just go for a regular 350 FWD as 4482 is suggesting.

Packages are personal but you may simply want to see which 2014s are available and get a good deal on it. Good luck and keep us posted!

raylor4

Hi Vartig,
Welcome to the board. Ask yourself what are you going to use the car for? For example, if you're a salesman in the field, you probably would like the nav pkg. If you use the radio to listen to traffic and weather, you probably wouldn't want the Mark Levinson audio pkg. BTW, Lexus uses FWD for Front Wheel Drive and AWD for All Wheel or All Weather Drive.
The engine is very powerful, so if you don't want the front wheels to spin when you tromp it, you probably would like the AWD.
Talk to a salesman about the differences in the pkgs. Luxury vs. Comfort, for example.
Will there be a child in the back seat? Check accessibility.
Is MPG important to you? You may want the hybrid.
I could go on and on, but if it were me, I say read, read, read up on the various attributes of the packages and talk to a salesman. Let him or her know you're not ready to buy, but are leaning towards a Lexus, have a cup of coffee, and talk about your needs and budget.
Hope this helps.
Ray A.

dwlink

I would definitely argue for having navigation - more for the purposes of the bigger screen and significantly better interface with all of the car's other gadgets compared to the crap screen and controller you get without nav. The navigation system itself stinks and won't let you enter addresses while the car is in motion - we use google maps through the blue tooth interface which actually may have been part of the navigation package at the time. I believe this option also gives you a backup camera which helps out when parallel parking - so that may be useful depending on where you live/work in LA.

Aside of that our only requirements were: (1) AWD because my bimmer is absolutely horrible in the snow (although that probably wouldn't be an issue in LA). (2) There was absolutely no tan on the inside or outside of the car.

Can't really argue for or against the F-Sport. It looks cool, but if I wanted a sporty SUV for the extra premium the F-Sport costs, I would be looking at Audi or BMW instead.

vlad_a

I believe since they switched to electric-operated center diff, the AWD system kicks in as the vehicle starts, so it doesn't have to wait for slippage to occur.

kitlz

vartig, welcome to CL. Have you checked out the Lexus website and tried to build an RX? It's based on your zip code and will give you the most popular packages and features in your area. The website also lists details on the standard features, available packages and options. The more information you know the better. Good luck.

vartig

Hey guys Thanks for all your replies & time!!!
OH Im felling better now to get answers to get close to what I want & need.
Yes I agree with you all about READING & READING. actually this is the reason Im here
Well to be honest
- I dont care much about sport appearance since I found regular RX350 fashion for me.
- as 4482 & corradoMR2 mentioned I may not need a AWD because of living in LA & im not in off-road...
- as dwlink mentioned: I feel I like Navigation package with big screen & tools included. Im an IT man so Im sure I will love it & diffidently use it. Can I connect my phone (Nexus5) to it? you see even my phone is like Lexus I love exus
I saw Bluetooth option on it. if I can connect & use Google Map from my phone with the big screen that's awesome!!!

to be honest I dont like to discuss with dealers cuz they all want to PUSH you to buy which it makes me uncomfortable but I love to be hear & share it with you.

corradoMR2: is my avatar F-Sport? O I just google it, I even didnt know it is F-Sport but no guys Im not going spend that much

raylor4 tnx for your answer about FWD & AWD I will check price difference & see what can I do. but you say its worth?! huh?

thanks for you warm welcome & nice answers...

vartig

you mean I better wait & buy a 2015? oh although I cant wait but if it will worth I will do it.
when is it coming? & what new options it has?
in other hand if 2014 is going to close so I can make a good deal of that. what do you think guys?

ericsan13

FYI AWD is useless in the snow. I got stuck in the snow a few months ago and the front left and rear right tires were spinning. No power went to the front right and rear left tire even with 4x4 mode AND ECT Snow mode on. Don't get AWD thinking you can off-road.

The only time you'd really want AWD is so you don't have to use chains when mountain passes require them. In Washington, we see these advisories: "Tire chains required - except four-wheel/all-wheel drive".

Mors

2015 is very close to 2014. I don't think you need to wait except once 2015's are actually on the lot, you may get a little bit more off of a 2014.

Have you dealt with a Lexus dealer yet? Granted some are pushy, but in my experience, the 2 salesmen I've dealt with are very nice, won't look down to you, patient, and not like ANY other salesmen I've encountered...ever. I have had 6 dealers look for a car for me and 3 of them were pushy, the other 3 were excellent and took their time to listen to me and talk to me for however long I wanted.

As others have said, make sure and test drive one for a long time - don't just take it around a few blocks. Also, while you have it out, look over the interior carefully - you'll find things you like and things you may not like so much (color of headliner, color of floor, etc. Some colors in my opinion clash so make sure you like the color combination you end up with). Of course, some things are nitpicky and you'll find that on any car, but you're spending good money for this car so you want to make sure you are ok with everything on it. Play with the remote touch (not while driving of course) to make sure you think it'll be to your liking. The Nexus 5 should connect just fine (no experience here as I have an iphone. the iphone can connect to siri with a push of a button on the steering wheel - the nexus 5 (and other phones) cannot do the same thing with android's version of siri). You can go ahead and try connecting your phone while on the test drive as it's simple to remove it from there once you're done.

The sales person you have may not end up knowing a lot about options so research them yourself. The lexus.com site does a pretty good job of showing the packages and individual options (head up display, LED headlamps, parking assist, pre-collision system with dynamic radar cruise control, mark levinson stereo, blind spot monitor, heated/cooled seats). NOTE: don't expect to find every option on every car because some you won't find unless you special order a car. Parking Assist seemed to be on about half the cars I looked at. BSM seemed to be on most cars. HUD was on one car (out of 7 or 8 that I looked at). ML stereo is found only on Luxury package. LED is found only on luxury package (which are very limited). PCS is even more limited. Of course, different packages include some of these options.

The salesperson may not even know a lot about the tech inside as they have to deal with every car lexus has so a tech specialist might be good to talk to so he/she can go over some of the finer parts of the remote touch (after you buy, they should go over everything in detail with you so make sure they do, because you may not realize it does something that you'll find interesting).
Make sure and have the dealer set any "only-dealer-settable" options that you don't have the ability to set yourself. I don't remember these off the top of my head, but they'll have a list.

No matter what you pick, you can't beat Lexus quality. I don't think I'll look elsewhere, even though some cars might currently have better tech inside.

vlad_a

You will not be able to get your phone screen to display on the Nav. Although it looks nice on the outside, that's about the only thing good about it. It has very limited usability. Lexus is slowly catching-up with the technology.
First, there's a joystick. We will see a touch pad next. And only then, we can hope for a proper touch screen.

There is one important option you must check. Make sure the RX you're looking at has HIDs. For an unknown reason, Toyota has decided to equip the RX with halogens in many build configurations.

vartig

Thank you ericsan13 for your time & participating...
So I will never use (99%) AWD since Im in CA
now I know I go with FWD

Thanks to all but show is going on... (till I post my RX picture here )

Hey guys I just got, Navigation package adds about 8K to the base price which is really high but I believe its worth! Isnt it? I cant imagine a Lexus RX without a display, but what a minute! does RX350 comes with monitor if I dont add a Navigation package? will be there a standalone display? well if its not connected I guess it wont be there, huh?

vartig

Thank you Mors I guess now I fill ok to discuss what I have in my mind with a dealer in my area.
for sure will update you guys...

guys, I found www.trueCar.com pretty cool do you have any idea?