Comments: 1-15, 16-30
I am fed up with Lexus! I purchased my 99 RX300 just under 2 years ago. With in 2 months, 2 back brake lights had blown. That cost $100. Then, less than a year after I purchased the car, the engine started ticking! I took it to Lexus, and they told me to change the timing belt. That was $1000.
8 days after that, my engine and transmission blew up, and left me on the side of the road 280 miles from home. After 6 weeks of calling the dealership, Lexus covered a new engine and transmission, so I felt pretty good.
When I picked the car up, there was vibration, and my car would not stay in the road. I turned around and took the car back. They took care of that, and I was back on my way.
3 weeks after the engine incident, I had an exhaust leak. I took it to the dealership, and again, spent $1000.
3 months after that, time for a new exhaust manifold. $750.
OK, so now I am fed up. 4 weeks to the day after I picked my car up, I noticed a weird grinding noise in the front end. Went back to the dealership, and needed new struts and shocks. $1500.
I have had constant problems with electrical problems, and POOR SERVICE!
I just spent $2200 getting bulbs replaced in the front and rear part of the vehicle, as well as tire rotation and oil change. The day I picked my car up, it blew a fog light! So, I went back to the dealership. They covered the cost. Apparently, when they pull the bumpers off to change the lights, they don’t check for any other blown bulbs except for the ones you told them that needed changed! COME ON NOW! Ford always checked my bulbs! 6 days after I picked up my car, my check engine light comes on!! AAHHHHHHHHH!!
Time to replace the knock sensor! That’s another $1000. I had that done, and have had my car back for 3 weeks now.
Last night, by car started shifting funny!! When I give it gas, it either takes a minute to catch or it revs up to the point where it sounds like it is going to blow up and then shifts gears when it should be accelerating!!
I have had it! I would never EVER buy another Lexus. The service department is horrible, and they do not stand behind their products. I have had Fords, Honda's and Acura's, and never had a problem... even with the ford!
The Lexus RX300 and RX330 is the best looking car on the road, but the poorest built! If you are planning on buying a Lexus, you can look forward to electrical problems, Transmission problems, Problems with LEXUS and their service staff, problems with the front end that can be diagnosed, $75 per hour labor rate, gas surcharge on all loaner vehicles, and a possible engine blow out (IT HAPPENED TO ME. My car has never missed an oil change, and I only take my car to the dealership. At first, I thought I bought a lemon. After talking too many Lexus owners, and doing online research, I have found that these problems seem to be pretty standard.
My car has brand new EVERYTHING (engine, transmission, front end, lighting, nock censor, exhaust, exhaust manifolds, tires, timing belts, serpentine belt, muffler, EVERYTHING, and everything keeps going wrong).
Good bye Lexus!! I am going with Acura. I have owned Acura’s and Hondas in the past, and never had any problems! I will say this, LEXUS has the best looking cars on the road... Too bad they are built with the same quality as a Daewoo!! DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU PURCHASE! I have always supported LEXUS, and am very disappointed in them!! I hope you found this helpful! I wish someone would have given me a heads up.
Beautiful car, poor quality!
I think all the problems with the 99 has to do with it being the first year. I own a 2001 RX300 and have had nothing, but good luck. I bought the car new with every option. Paid for the extended warranty, but never had to use it. Donated the car to charity with 135000 on it. I just purchased an 06 RX400h. Amazing suv with great gas mileage.
Lets just talk about bulbs... You paid 2200 $ to get the burnt bulbs changed??? If you change all (and I mean all) the bulbs buy yorself it will cost you about 100 $. You have been robbed brother.
If you're going to buy an old Lexus, BMW or Mercedes, you need to get it maintained by a specialist, not the main dealer, as they charge top dollar for everything.
And they lie and cheat you.
Better to buy a nice old Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis or better still, a Lincoln Town Car and forget about these pretentious, overpriced cars.
Do yourself a favour and forget about showing off by driving a "Premium Brand."
Is there a troll on this site?
Just about every poor review is followed by a comment suggesting the reviewer to go out and buy a Mercury Grand Marquis.
For Pete's sake, NO ONE currently behind the wheel of a Lexus RX300 will EVER consider an "old Mercury Grand Marquis" until the social security checks start rolling in. Talk about comparing apples and oranges.
If I owned a Mini Cooper S, should I dump it and hop into a Grand Marquis, too? They're practically the same car!
Haha I agree with the comment above. Its true. I've noticed every Mercedes review says to look at a Lincoln Town car. Come on who would drive that unless you 60 and over. I would never trade my RX300 for a Town car even if the dealer does rip me off.
I would urge the original reviewer to reconsider trading his Lexus in for a Honda... the problems he lists are universal among Japanese makes... Buick and Chevy have many models rated best in initial quality... The new Impala SS has a standard V8 that would blow the doors off your Lexus and is priced thousands of dollars less!
Yes, if you owned a MINI Cooper S, you would soon get fed up of the cramped cockpit, stiff ride and noise on long trips and wish you were driving a wonderful Mercury Grand Marquis or luxurious Lincoln Town Car.
And with the bigger car, you would have a decent space in which to bring along a few suitcases or baby paraphernalia.
Sorry, but the MIni Cooper does not have a cramped cockpit. I am 6'2" and easily and comfortably fit in one with a sunroof. I cannot say that about many "larger" cars.
The rest of what you say is true, but in reality the cars you are debating about serve different purposes.
I'm not an Lexus owner, so you can take this for what it's worth. The repair costs indicated seem blown well out of proportion. I'm tempted to call Lexus and ask them how much it costs to have the knock sensor replaced on a 99 RX300. I've broken off the part before on my Integra, and had to replace it. Not that expensive, not that hard to replace. I would say $100 for the part, plus an hour of labor. Basically just screws in. Obviously could be different on the Lexus. $1000 for an exhaust leak? PLEASE. Maybe Lexus owners don't do this or see it as below their level, but instead of taking it to Lexus, take it to some place like Joe's exhaust and have them put it on the lift, and see where the leak is and WHAT is leaking. You can almost always just replace a certain part of the exhaust and not the whole thing. They must have replaced the ENTIRE exhaust system with a 24k gold plated one. $1000 for a timing belt? Probably wasn't just the timing belt, but the 90k mile service that probably also included coolant flush, oil/tranny fluid/brake fluid/power steering fluid change, new spark plugs, distributor, brake pads, machined rotors, etc. Timing belt at a dealership is usually no more than $600. By the way, next time you need BULBS replaced, I'd think twice about the $2200 you say you spent. Tell you what, I'll make you a deal. For only $1100, I'll come over there and replace them for you.
I am the one who posted the original review. Just to add to my story, the $2200 I spent on bulbs also included an idle arm valve. I can't believe how defensive people get on here. I DID NOT blow any of the prices out of proportion. Go ahead an call the dealership, they will quote you the exact price that I quoted.
And for whomever posted to comment about getting into a GM, PLEASE!! I would drive a broke down lexus before I would ever drive a GM! They have horrible electircal problems. Everyday, I see at least 5 GM's with faulty front lighting. And for the Ford Grand Marquis... this is the most LOW BUDGE luxury vehicle. You couldnt pay me enough to drive that hoopty!! AMEN!
I am working with the dealership, and they have admitted fault for most of the service problems! They have found problems with the transmission, tires that they put on, as well as many other repairs that they had done. The dealer has been great, and has worked with me 100%. However, this may be because I have threatened a sexual discrimination law suit against the dealership. They are working to get my vehicle apprased, and then they will make me an offer to get into a new lexus.
I also found out that the "new" transmission that was put in my vehicle was not new at all, but rather reconstructed. This upset, and I told the GM of the dealership that I was lied.
BEFORE YOU BUY A VEHICLE, go to dealerrater. com and check out what the Better Business burea has to say about the dealership.
More updates to come. Please get off the Fords and GM's. They are junk, and have horrible resale value. My car has 172,000 miles on it, and is still worth close to $9000.
After all this you're really going to buy another Lexus from the same dealership?
You're crazy, lady.
Everyone knows women get ripped off by dealers.
You're like a lamb to the slaughter.
Baa Baa Baa...
The last writer mentioned that Ford and GM have much lower resale value than Japanese makes... At the risk of stating the obvious, the truest gauge of value is NOT short term resale value... it is long term resale value. I would encourage you to compare the resale value of a 1969 Mustang or 1969 Camaro with ANY 1969 Japanese model!!! I have done so by studying collector car auctions and the resale value of the Ford and Chevy would be many times that of a Honda or Toyota of the same vintage!!!!! Score one for Detroit!
I guess that $9,000 retail value includes the $2,200 in bulbs?
Um, well, you are talking about collector cars vs. everyday cars. The MAJORITY of American cars from that era are worth ZERO.
But if you want to compare apples to apples I suggest you look at the collector pricing of the Toyota 2000 for one (as seen in the James Bond film) or the values of a Datsun 240Z.
And I guarantee you that 20 years from now some Chevy Suburban with spinners isn't going to be on the auction block for $100K.
I considered Lexus new and used, but went with another Acura a TL. It handles better,270 hp and is by far the best luxury value I could find. I do not like hanging out in repair shops even if a loaner was available! And I also like GM. I bought a (2004} Silverado pickup which has not had any issues at all. Its been extremely reliable. I feel that there are good vehicles both import and domestics. The Lexus to me was more of a status car not an enthusiasts car. I am glad I have not faced your repair expenses!