hdeters

Looking to get my daughter a 13-15ish RX for her first car. Are there issues with the AWD systems at this age or miles that I should avoid and just get a FWD. I believe the weather rarely gets bad enough to need AWD in our area, but there are many more AWD vehicles to choose from and price doesnt seem to be much different.

I will be buying something with around 100k miles I am sure.

Any suggestions on what to avoid or make a must?

Thanks Hans

unreallly

Are you kidding me "the weather rarely gets bad enough to need AWD in our area" I live in Chicago and it gets pretty bad here since you are my neighbor. Yes, the price is not much of a difference but its rare to find a RX without AWD in the mid-west. You will be glad when you do need AWD, a piece of mind for your daughter.

hdeters

Yes Indiana is next to you, but I am almost 6 hours south of you. I am 15 minutes from Kentucky. Totally different climate. You will get in one night what we get in an average winter as far as snow. I would rather get an AWD but dont want to put her in something that has a higher probability of failure. One of the employees at our Lexus dealer told me to get the FWD due to AWD trans pump failures. I respect this person but I havent heard of this issue from anyone else.

raylor4

We have a 2011 FWD in sunny California. If I were to do it over, I would have gotten an AWD because the front end hops and spins when the road is slightly wet, especially on the pedestrian paint at intersections when the light goes green. BTW, we are at 90K and no problems.

hdeters

We have a 2011 Sienna and have the same issues in wet conditions.

Does anyone know of or has experienced issues over 100k miles with the AWD drivetrain, I had not heard of any until the Lexus dealer mentioned it.

RadiantX45

If you are really worried about reliability then get the FWD. Although I don’t think you should be. 2012 RX350 AWD 115,000 miles no issues. 2004 RX330 AWD 200,000+ miles no issues - although the awd system is mechanical not electronic like the 2010+ RXs. I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Just make sure the car as a whole has been serviced regularly and you’ll be fine.

I will say Lexus and Toyota AWD systems aren’t crazy innovative. They’re as simple as it gets. If you get a Lexus AWD it’ll be the most reliable AWD on the market.

dmk720

Volvo and Saab didn’t develop AWD cars till American market demand it. Winter tires are the key to your daughter safety.

Felix

I haven't heard anything like that before, thru all the Toyota/Lexus vehicles.....The 1st gens U140E 4spd had some problems, the 2nd gens went to a U151E 5spd which had no problems, the 3rd gen used a 6spd U660E. The transmission pump is the same for both fwd/awd, so to me that makes no sense. I'd say google ''Lexus rx trans pump issues'' & see what comes up. Like mentioned above, really best to get a awd. What would the point be for getting a cuv/suv w/o awd? I wouldn't have a issue throwing anyone of my 3 daughters in a awd rx w/ some miles on it.