flystone

3 weeks into ownership of the new RX350 AWD, really like the car, it is quiet and smooth and the interior design is just elegant..
Other than the obvious design brain fart (missing climate control buttons on panel for model w/ navi, 12v power outlet location, no backlite for overhead buttons, center console only opens 45 degree) Lexus has build a quality car (or SUV as the matter of fact)

However, when it comes to instrument cluster, I just can't understand why there are so little information available via the instrument cluster digital display...

On my other car, a Mercedes C300, I can get trip time & mpg, speed in digital number, compass, navigation direction, radio station info, tire pressure info, basic car setting, maintenance & warning message plus more all from the instrument cluster, yet with RX, Lexus really failed to take advantage of the digital display part of the instrument cluster...heck..even the Chevy Malibu rental I had last week has more info via the instrument cluster like individual tire pressure value...

Yes, I know HUD has some of the features I talked about..but I just thought digital display part of instrument cluster should be more useful..

tkman00

i find it interesting that you feel this way. i myself kinda like the instrument cluster. it's takes a little getting used to, but i do like it. my question to you is, wouldn't this have been something you would've caught on the test drive?

flystone

Well...I was overwhelmed by the smothness and quality of the ride and interior elegance of RX during the test drive...

I was deciding between MB ML350, GLK350, Audi Q5 & Acura MDX..if I have to choose all over again, I would still have picked RX350 (all the flaws still doens't take away the fact it is one fine car) the only other car that gave me 2nd thought would have been Q5..but I just can't find myself spend that kind of money on an Audi especially w/ their reliability issues...

RXSF

I agree that Mercedes does the center display very well, with the trip timer, nav, phone, and audio screens.

However, I just came from a 2gen RX which didnt have an information screen at all. But buying an RXh helped because I get tire pressure readouts (not available on the 350) and with my HUD, I can get nav instructions up front too.

btw, I dont think the C class has tire pressure readouts until the 2010 model year, you and I only have the option to reset the tire pressure monitor

DunWkg

The dashboard is what sold the car to me. Well there were a few other things, but once I sat in the captain's chair and fired up the car and everything started to light up and move. I just thought....Wow! And when the doors open and close on little car icon in the multi-informational display...how cool. Of course that fact blue is my favorite color probably had something to do with it too!

Although I have many things to complain about, this hasn't been one.

Enjoy your new ride!

xfirechief

ALL those extras just add to the bottom line. I think they should be available but at an extra cost. If I will keep buying Lexus the price has to be competitive.

zak21

Personal preference I guess. I like the clean understated interior and instrument panel. We test drove many cars that had buttons, switches and information overload cluttering up the displays and found them to be to busy and actually look like they were trying to hard.

Between the multi-info display, nav and mouse thingy I find the RX very intuitive and easy to get the info I need. I do however agree that the tire pressure info should be part of the display.

LeoDLion

The information in front of the driver is scattered everywhere in the RX. It should be centralized in one location. The rear window has the temperature? I have to hit a button to get to some info. The trip odometer button is placed in a bad location.

zak21

Like I said, personal preference.

rear window has the temp? On our 350 its at the bottom of the multi-display.

I will give you the trip button location but I normally only change it when getting gas so its not a big deal

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

I'd like having the tire pressure number of each tire shown.
On Chevy models but not on every Lexus.

flystone

Mercedes instrument cluster display was not good on w203 but improved drastically on w204..
Basically, the button layout on the RX350's steering wheel is good and easy to use, I just wish they would have more info/page/selection available to scroll through..
I think I will take some pictures of the instrument cluster display from my c300 so you guys will get a better grisp of what I was talking about..

Cruiter

That is one of the up-grades when you go a model up to the 450h.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Jim,I was aware of that.
It's a shame when a Chevy Equinox has that feature and a $15K-$20K more RX350 doesn't.
I feel the RX should have the lane departure warning system like on cheaper vehicles too.

LeoDLion

Opps, It's the jeep that has the temp on rear view mirror, not the Lex.