Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
SUVs Lexus RX 300/330/350 2010 RX 350 Features, driving experiences and Problems
154 messages, Last post on Nov 24, 2009 at 6:43 PM
You are in the Lexus RX 300/330/350 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
|
Replying to: rparis (Aug 31, 2009 9:26 am)
|
|
|
Seattle. It seems to me that a FWD or F/awd such as the Venza, Highlander, Sienna, and Lexus RX series would be highly inappropriate for most Canadian drivers. The poor safety record of FWD in adverse wintertime roadbed conditions is bad enough but then throw in the unwarranted additional confidence, over-confidence, level of F/awd drivers and you're asking for real trouble. Kuddoes to Toyota for adopting a more appropriate F/awd system, virtually an exacting copy of the Ford and Mazda F/awd system, and now the Porsche 911 R/awd system. But. The only time the rear driveline is to be engaged usefully is under initial acceleration from a dead stop. This is to alleviate, pre-emptively alleviate, the potential for engine torque at low speeds resulting in front wheelspin/slip. Loss of directional control leading to an accident. Otherwise the engine torque will be primarily routed, 95%, to only the front wheels and TC, Traction Control will rule. If front wheelslip/spin should then inadvertently result then TC braking will be INSTANTLY used to regain traction at the front as quickly as is possible while at the same time the engine gets dethrottled and the rear drive clutch fully engaged. Get that..?? Dead in the water, right..?? Unless you can disable TC... But then with TC disabled will the system still automatically couple in the rear drive or will the owner need to provide a manual switch with which to engage the rear drive clutch...? The Mazda CX-7 uses water cooling of the PTO such that the rear drive can be engaged, sometimes fully engaged, somewhat continuously. Ford, on the other hand, chose to revise the firmware to reduce the functionality of rear drive coupling in order to alleviate driveline component overheating (once it was discovered to be happening), primarily the rear drive clutch and the PTO. Given the history of Toyota and Lexus F/awd systems, all mostly non-functional, designed only for marketing purposes, I would put my money on the Venza not having enough F/aw functionality to suffice unless you live well SOUTH of the snow zone. |
|
|
Replying to: sxylxy (Oct 02, 2009 8:26 am) Do you know the octane of the Costco gas? In the past, I always thought using a higher grade of gas would not change mph. What type of driving do you do and how many miles per gallon are you now averaging. How do you like the vehicle in comparison to your 2007 model? Thank you.
|
|
|
Replying to: rparis (Oct 02, 2009 10:54 am) |
|
|
Hi, I am noticing that my rx450h is not showing the past record values correctly for fuel efficiency history. For "Today", It always shows a fixed ~25MPG, regardless of when I reset and even after several days, it does not show any readings for past days other than "Today" (Which is also incorrect) Anyone else noticing this?
|
|
|
Replying to: wwest (Sep 17, 2009 9:37 am) I saw where someone else drove from North Carolina to Florida  70-75 mph and got 25 mpg. My only trip to Florida from Birmingham (260 miles) resulted in 24 as the best.
|
|
|
|
We take our Mercury Mountaineer to Outerbanks beaches and drive down to the shore by letting air out (from 35 to 20 PSI) and putting it into 4W-high. Before buying the RX350 AWD we are trying to determine if we can do the same with it. Believe we understand the AWD Lock feature, but wonder if the combined drivetrain, ground clearance and 235 wheels will support this activity. We have noted the marketing brochure fine print "The RX350 ... is not designed to be driven off road." We don't plan on any heavy duty offroading, only an occasional trip to the beach. Anyone have any actual driving experience on the beach?
|
|
|
Replying to: juschecking (Oct 08, 2009 3:44 am) That being said, clarified, in order to replicate the Mountaineer's 4WD-high capability you would need to add a manual switch to the 2010 RX350 with which you could LOCK the rear driveline to the front when conditions allow or warrant. Prior to 2010 there was NOTHING to be done to the RX350 (totally OPEN center diff'l) to replicate the mountaineer's 4WD-high capability. There is an assumption that while the beach sand was reasonably highly tractive on the "average", especially with the deflated tires, there were occasions of POTENTIAL loss of traction where not at least two wheels (three with rear LSD) being driven simultaneously. Engine torque being "delivered" over a wider tire traction area. The second assumption would be that the beach drive never involved enough speed to do damage to the driveline during the highly tractive periods. "... Believe we understand the AWD lock capability..." With the RX350 prior to 2010 there was no "pre-emptive" AWD lock capability. Absent a modification, the manual switch, even the 2010 RX350 does not have a "pre-emptive" AWD lock capability. Much like the earlier versions of the RX using TRAC as a reactive process AFTER, only once loss of traction was detected, the 2010 RX350 will only engage/lock the rear driveline to the front AFTER loss of traction is detected. And then only for the next 15-20 seconds unless/until the loss of traction is repeated. Due to widespread owner public outcry Toyota and Lexus were forced into providing a modification so the owners could manually disable TC/TRAC. IMMHO it will only be a matter of time until owner outcry will again rise due to the lack of true 4WD capability in the new Venza and 2010 RX350. The problem then becomes "will Toyota and Lexus be willing to trust the owners to only switch the system into 4WD in appropriate conditions..?". History indicates NOT.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: wwest (Oct 08, 2009 9:51 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: juschecking (Oct 08, 2009 11:23 am) The Lexus RX series, along with the Toyota Highlander & Sienna, always was, is, and remains primarily a FWD or F/awd system. A F/awd system that is just plain PATENTLY dangerous when the roadbed, surface, traction is questionable. The problem with EVERY F/awd system in the market today is that at their "base" they are truly only "PART-TIME" 4WD systems, much like your Mountaineer. The difference is, GREAT difference, is that with the Mountaineer "you" are the determining factor as to the appropriate use, PRE-EMPTIVELY, of locked mode. Recognize that the long term reliability of a 4WD system such as the Mountaineer is determined by YOUR judious use of locked mode. Use it inappropriately on a regular basis and you will soon find yourself argueing with the dealer service manager over driveline warranty issues. With these modern day F/awd systems those dealer service manager arguements are eliminated. You do not have the ability to put the driveline under undue stress.
|
|
You are here:
Forums
SUVs Lexus RX 300/330/350 2010 RX 350 Features, driving experiences and Problems
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2006 Lexus RX 330
2010 Lexus RX 350
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
