USED Lexus RX 4x4 (03 - 09)

My car

Last reviewed a year ago and now up to 50,000 miles.First the bad news.Dealers not as efficient as you might think (but like most things it seems to come down to the individuals you deal with ). My car has intermittent fault on stereo - no one seems to know what 'error 4' might mean (CD player freezes ). went 2 months without then suddenly OK ( dealer wanted to take the whole built in unit out ! )Also, seems very sensitive to incorrect balancing when new tyres fitted - I am not convinced it's 100% right so will try 'alignmycar' soon to double check.Big depreciation still ongoing ( what a bargain used ).Mpg down to 19 when not on motorway. Still, can't think of anything to match it - all the superlatives still apply.Have driven down to Spain, Italy, Germany and always felt fresh and relaxed.Needs a bigger boot though when fully loaded. Currently paying £30 a month with warranty direct for peace of mind as servicing costs very reasonable but suspect repairs potentially punitive.No regrets.Accept some intrinsic design flaws with this car ( it's real home is the USA where they are very common ) then drive and buy.

My car

I have had this car for 2 years now and after having the usual suspect of BMW and Mercedes, this car is a gem. Ownership costs are OK when you compare it with equivalent cars. What really makes this car is its refinement, reliability and the dealer network. The germans have some of the worst arrogant dealers in the trade, Lexus dealers cannot do enough for you and live up to expectations of a luxury car dealer.

One excellent part of the service is that you can spread your service costs in affordable monthly payments linked to your mileage.

My car

I have had my 3 yr old 300 SE-L for nearly a year now and cannot find enough superltives to describe it adequately. I have a history of getting bored very quickly with cars and have been known to change after 6 months more than once, however, I cannot think of any car that would meet my requirements of practicality, style and comfort better than the Lexus. It is supremely refined, beautifully made and reasonable to run when compared to its so-called "rivals". Service levels from Lexus remind me of those that used to exist in BMW and Mercedes years ago. It stands up to the abuse of being filled with every thing from the supermarket run to mud covered fishing and golf equpiment and will even cope with the odd piece of furniture, the air suspension adjusts so well that you would hardly notice the difference between being fully laden and empty. If you can afford the "L" package, even if that means you have to buy something a little older, it is well worth it, the goodies that come with it such as zenon self adjusting and corner following headlamps, excellent satnav, superb sound system and air suspension add just that extra bit of decadence to make the car really standout in a crowd.

The age of the car seems to make no impact on appearence or reliability so go for something 2yrs old and get one of the best value for money luxury SUV's around

I may even keep this car for an all time record of over 2 years 3 months.

Well done Lexus!!

My car

I have never owned such a piece of automotive genius as this Lexus. Once i decided (with my heart not head) to buy this i have not looked back.

The driving position is simply brilliant: you can look over the roofs of most vehicles, which gives you good time to read conditions etc. The power of the 3 litre petrol engine is rapid on tap, but due to its thirst you don;t want to use this to often.

This really is the only downside: I return on average 25 to 28 mpg thats motorway at a steady 70/75mph. Around town 18 to 22mpg.

I have to say, though, this vehicle is a pure cruiser and can whisk you with minimum effort to wherever you desire and I guarantee you will arrive mellow. The seats are sumptious, all leather and heated. The sound system is like having a live band in the car its truly worth just sitting on your drive listening to BON JOVI (Living on a Prayer).

Servicing does not come cheap, as you would expect for a Lexus 4x4. But compared to BMW and Audi it is good value.

I would buy another, probably the newer RX350.

To sum up: great toys, great ride (faultless), thirsty (62 quid to fill for 300 miles), servicing bearable, great looks, overall 5 out of 5.