MM Full-Review: 2021 Toyota Venza
09-30-20, 10:43 AM
#76
My last 4 cars have been Lexus when our lease was up on our RC 350 three years ago we looked into a suv as we are into flipping houses and airbnb's. I looked at the NX and RX 350 they lacked performance. So we became a one car family with my original Lexus 2006 IS 350 and just renting pick ups and trailers when we needed it. I was excited about the RAV4 prime and 2,500 towing capacity, plug in hybrid but at $50k and lack of availability and so so interior, we became disenchanted with it. Reading about the Venza and its availability and lower price we were willing to forego performance but it is not rated for towing at all. So we had to cross it off our list. Lexus for 2021 is supposed to have an updated NX, based on the RAV4 prime, hopefully my 06 IS with 200k miles can hang on for another year.
10-01-20, 02:55 AM
#77
My last 4 cars have been Lexus when our lease was up on our RC 350 three years ago we looked into a suv as we are into flipping houses and airbnb's. I looked at the NX and RX 350 they lacked performance. So we became a one car family with my original Lexus 2006 IS 350 and just renting pick ups and trailers when we needed it. I was excited about the RAV4 prime and 2,500 towing capacity, plug in hybrid but at $50k and lack of availability and so so interior, we became disenchanted with it. Reading about the Venza and its availability and lower price we were willing to forego performance but it is not rated for towing at all. So we had to cross it off our list. Lexus for 2021 is supposed to have an updated NX, based on the RAV4 prime, hopefully my 06 IS with 200k miles can hang on for another year.
10-01-20, 01:17 PM
#78
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Sounds like you lead a blessed life! 
In my case, I do all scheduled maintenance and repairs for a family of three, with five vehicles. My newest vehicle is a 2011 and the oldest is a 1985. So having all Toyota/Lexus vehicles is one way to minimize my time in the garage. Too, when working on Japanese vehicles, I find the engineers have put effort into designing them to be maintained with a minimum of special tools and specialized knowledge. If I had five MB's, I'd shoot myself!
In my case, I do all scheduled maintenance and repairs for a family of three, with five vehicles. My newest vehicle is a 2011 and the oldest is a 1985. So having all Toyota/Lexus vehicles is one way to minimize my time in the garage. Too, when working on Japanese vehicles, I find the engineers have put effort into designing them to be maintained with a minimum of special tools and specialized knowledge. If I had five MB's, I'd shoot myself! you must buy oil filters by the case
OK, perhaps this article will explain it better than I can.
https://itstillruns.com/do-ford-rang...r-7887342.html
https://itstillruns.com/do-ford-rang...r-7887342.html
The Ranger's suspension was designed to be somewhat stiff, which allows the truck to tow a trailer or carry a heavy payload in the bed. When the truck is not loaded or towing, the stiffness of the suspension shows up in the form of a bouncy ride.
OK, Sorry, I thought you had one of the newly-designed unibody/FWD models. That one stuck in my mind because that-generation Explorer was brand-new back around 2010 or 2011, and it was the first full-review, I think, that I did after my December 2010 heart-surgery. I thought I remembered (perhaps not) you said you were looking at one back then, after the Miata, and that was one reason I did the review. I don't remember exactly when you replaced it with the JGC....but it was a few years later.
anyway, off topic here.
i assume the venza rides very comfortably.
10-01-20, 04:10 PM
#81
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
you must buy oil filters by the case
thanks, that article said essentially exactly what i said, and nothing about weight 'underneath' the suspension, etc. from the article:
you have a good memory,
but i got the explorer ('06) before the miata ('07). the explorer replaced my glorious modified gs400 because i needed more cargo space after moving to a rural spot. a year or so later i got the miata because the explorer was as interesting to drive as watching paint dry. i sold the miata in '10 due to divorce, and the explorer in '15 to get the JGC. so yes, i had that explorer for 9 years and over 100k trouble-free miles.
anyway, off topic here.
i assume the venza rides very comfortably.
Last edited by mmarshall; 10-01-20 at 05:21 PM.
10-01-20, 08:14 PM
#82
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
What's interesting is that I write about vehicles of over a half-century ago with a photographic memory, then forget where I put something two minutes ago LOL.
Don't remember the GS400
And CL and local meets gave me the mod bug and i went nuts with it. I still wonder what happened to it.
10-02-20, 09:35 AM
#83
Pole Position
because not everything's about need. If someone wants a hundred cars and can swing it, more power to them. What's good for you isn't necessarily right for anyone else. But yes, you and I don't want a fleet of cars but I think I'm going to go back to two because there's no one vehicle that does it all for me.
10-02-20, 12:21 PM
#84
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
10-04-20, 11:06 AM
#85
Lexus Fanatic
Extra vehicles are a blessing and a curse. A blessing when I need: a truck for hauling (Tundra), a GT for touring (SC430), a sedan for my wife to use around town and for family trips (ES350), a commute-to-school car for my son (Matrix), a memento--my dad's last car, (MR2). But, a fleet is a curse for scheduled maintenance, washing/waxing/detailing, registration and insurance! If I had space, I'd have more, like the ones I let go: '77 Landcrusher (FJ40), '69 Karman Ghia Convertible, '67 Westfalia Deluxe Camper Van.
01-18-21, 03:31 PM
#86
Lexus Test Driver
Bringing up an old thread - wife and I checked out a Rav4 Hybrid today (generally unimpressed, it is unrefined overall - uses its functionality, gas mileage and brand to sell) and the Venza. We haven't been able to stop talking about the Venza since...it was very memorable! Mmarshall said it is what the NX should have been and I agree (it is what the Ct200h should have been too) - it is pretty much a Lexus with a Toyota pad (and without the touch pad interface). It rode well, materials felt very premium and really attractive styling. Wish it was a tad quieter and maybe extending thigh bolsters but for $40k I'd probably buy this than any NX/RX.
01-18-21, 04:26 PM
#87
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Bringing up an old thread - wife and I checked out a Rav4 Hybrid today (generally unimpressed, it is unrefined overall - uses its functionality, gas mileage and brand to sell) and the Venza. We haven't been able to stop talking about the Venza since...it was very memorable! Mmarshall said it is what the NX should have been and I agree (it is what the Ct200h should have been too) - it is pretty much a Lexus with a Toyota pad (and without the touch pad interface). It rode well, materials felt very premium and really attractive styling. Wish it was a tad quieter and maybe extending thigh bolsters but for $40k I'd probably buy this than any NX/RX.
Best of luck in your search for a new vehicle.
We're likely to see a new 2nd-Generation NX next year, for 2022, but, I agree, it is going to have its work cut out for it compared to the new Toyota-badged Venza. A new NX, IMO, is badly-needed......I was not at all impressed with the last one.
Here's Car and Driver's take on the upcoming 2Gen Venza:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...exus-nx-spied/
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