RX 350 Owners Get Hooped
03-28-06, 06:40 PM
#16
We are discussing what VALUE does one gets out of RX350 for its price beside the Lexus BRAND that keeps people coming to the RX350.
Are you sure RX350's AWD is much better than RX300/330's 95/5 front biased AWD?
http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=27968
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Even a $16840 Scion Tc has the signal light integrated side mirrors as a STANDARD feature, RX350 does not have it, even if you wants as an option. Do I need to go on?
Are you sure RX350's AWD is much better than RX300/330's 95/5 front biased AWD?
http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=27968
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Yes, the RX series is AWD/(4WD) for marketing purposes only.
The initial series was natively front torque biased, 95/5 and has a viscous clutch/coupling mounted across the two outputs of the center differential. The idea was that with slippage at the front the VC would tighten up and partially lock the center differential and thereby raise the torque level to the rear.
The problem was that the formulation of the viscous fluid was such that it remained flaccid and even if front wheel slippage persisted for an extended period would only couple about 25% of the engine torque to the rear. So in the short term, matters of seconds, it had no drive toque to the rear.
In 2004 the VC was dropped, center differential always fully "open" in favor of the use of braking to apportion engine torque front to rear and side to side. In effect the brakes are used to simulate LSDs. Limited Slip Differentials, front, center, and rear. For some reason the torque biasing to the front was also increased in 2004.
The problem with that was that while you had virtually instantaneous torque apportionment from the front to the rear if the slippage persisted the engine had to be dethrottled to prevent the brake rotors from overheating and warping. Not just a few owners were at their wits end trying to figure out how to disable the system so wheelspin, or back and forth rocking, could be used to get unstuck.
Now I see that for the new RX350 the VC is back in use.
Hopefully with a better viscous fluid formulation and an improved method of quickly dispersing the HEAT from the VC once the "event" has passed. And maybe, just maybe, the engine torque is now biased to the rear as it should be, but I wouldn't put money on that.
Try, try, and try again, Toyota will get it right sooner or later.
In the mean time I'm off to see Acura about purchasing the new RDX as soon as it is available. Dynamic, on-the-fly, torque allocation, 70% to the rear if conditions warrant and as much as 100% of that to the outside rear wheel while turning.
Sooner or later the RX series will get the new DFI engine and the absolutely STELLAR GS & IS AWD system. Hopefully sooner rather than later, meantime I'll be enjoying my RDX.
The initial series was natively front torque biased, 95/5 and has a viscous clutch/coupling mounted across the two outputs of the center differential. The idea was that with slippage at the front the VC would tighten up and partially lock the center differential and thereby raise the torque level to the rear.
The problem was that the formulation of the viscous fluid was such that it remained flaccid and even if front wheel slippage persisted for an extended period would only couple about 25% of the engine torque to the rear. So in the short term, matters of seconds, it had no drive toque to the rear.
In 2004 the VC was dropped, center differential always fully "open" in favor of the use of braking to apportion engine torque front to rear and side to side. In effect the brakes are used to simulate LSDs. Limited Slip Differentials, front, center, and rear. For some reason the torque biasing to the front was also increased in 2004.
The problem with that was that while you had virtually instantaneous torque apportionment from the front to the rear if the slippage persisted the engine had to be dethrottled to prevent the brake rotors from overheating and warping. Not just a few owners were at their wits end trying to figure out how to disable the system so wheelspin, or back and forth rocking, could be used to get unstuck.
Now I see that for the new RX350 the VC is back in use.
Hopefully with a better viscous fluid formulation and an improved method of quickly dispersing the HEAT from the VC once the "event" has passed. And maybe, just maybe, the engine torque is now biased to the rear as it should be, but I wouldn't put money on that.
Try, try, and try again, Toyota will get it right sooner or later.
In the mean time I'm off to see Acura about purchasing the new RDX as soon as it is available. Dynamic, on-the-fly, torque allocation, 70% to the rear if conditions warrant and as much as 100% of that to the outside rear wheel while turning.
Sooner or later the RX series will get the new DFI engine and the absolutely STELLAR GS & IS AWD system. Hopefully sooner rather than later, meantime I'll be enjoying my RDX.
03-28-06, 06:55 PM
#17
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People buy it because they like generally like what the car offers, and can live without what the car doesn't offer, at that price point.
If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. The sales figure tells everybody that the RX is a great car. Case closed.
If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. The sales figure tells everybody that the RX is a great car. Case closed.
03-28-06, 07:03 PM
#18
Originally Posted by JZA80MHU38
People buy it because they like generally like what the car offers, and can live without what the car doesn't offer, at that price point.
If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. The sales figure tells everybody that the RX is a great car. Case closed.
If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. The sales figure tells everybody that the RX is a great car. Case closed.
http://www.nizkor.org/features/falla...opularity.html
03-28-06, 07:52 PM
#19
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The beauty of the market is that, there are a lot of alternative products out there for customers to choose from. Since it's a $35,000+ decision, most sensible potential buyers will evaluate the car thoroughly before signing on the dotted line.
Now, the evaluation part. They go to the showroom, test drive the car, probably make some comparisons, and then pick the one that they like the best -- which at least meet and some how exceed their needs, and hopefully it's something that they can afford. It has both subjective and objective sides. It doesn't matter which side supports the other side to come up with the final result which drives the ultimate decision. However, well, there's no point to argue about "subjective opinion". Your "good" can be others "bad", and vice versa.
There are just some people out there who thinks the "sport" in "sport utility vehicle" is the adjective for the noun "vehicle", instead of "utility", and complain that their 6' tall, 4000 lb vehicle didn't accelerate quick or turn flat enough like a "sport" vehicle should be.
Now, the evaluation part. They go to the showroom, test drive the car, probably make some comparisons, and then pick the one that they like the best -- which at least meet and some how exceed their needs, and hopefully it's something that they can afford. It has both subjective and objective sides. It doesn't matter which side supports the other side to come up with the final result which drives the ultimate decision. However, well, there's no point to argue about "subjective opinion". Your "good" can be others "bad", and vice versa.
There are just some people out there who thinks the "sport" in "sport utility vehicle" is the adjective for the noun "vehicle", instead of "utility", and complain that their 6' tall, 4000 lb vehicle didn't accelerate quick or turn flat enough like a "sport" vehicle should be.
03-29-06, 05:25 AM
#20
Lexus Test Driver
The RX series has been a full time AWD...
from its inception. Acura used an on demand power to the rear wheels (real time). When Lexus upgraded to VSC (Vehicle Skid Control) in 2001 they decided to open the rear differential to allow the braking control of individual wheels. Under normal operation the power split was 50/50 yet allowed to change to the traction needs or slippage front or rear. A new traction control program was added in the RX330 for 2004 which gave it quicker response time to changing conditions. I must add that the Odyssey based Acura MDX was struggling with transmission failures and braking ability at the time. The new RX350 has a limited slip center differential for the first time. The GS and IS use a planetary gear center differential that apportions 70% power to the rear wheels but can adjust forward if rear wheel slip is detected. The RX is designed for maximum traction purchase and the Sedans for handling. The RX is based on a transverse FWD architecture and the IS-GS on a RWD type. Further the RX400h is a FWD with an electric motor alone at the back wheels that chimes in whenever necessary. It also has the superior VDIM stability control that is so far unmatched in the marketplace. The RX350 engine can be driven on regular gas with a drop in performance the trade off. The engines in the GS300, IS250, and IS350 require premium octane only.
Not only is the RX a perrenial winner in volume, it is very strong on the pre owned market. It is clearly the reason that Lexus is number one in the Luxury market. The RX350 is a significant upgrade from the earlier models. If you get a chance go test drive it but be prepared to want to buy it.
Rock
Not only is the RX a perrenial winner in volume, it is very strong on the pre owned market. It is clearly the reason that Lexus is number one in the Luxury market. The RX350 is a significant upgrade from the earlier models. If you get a chance go test drive it but be prepared to want to buy it.
Rock
03-29-06, 07:43 AM
#21
wwest is going to have a field day with this one
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=204368
This is just too funny, externally powered AWD
Afterward, I read the manual and also learned about the giant eye bolt that's in the toolkit. It can be screwed into the front bumper behind either of two little plastic doors. You could hook a rope or something to the bolt to pull the car if you had to
http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...pic=27968&st=0
Last edited by TunedRX300; 03-29-06 at 11:27 AM.
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