Got the RX350 but...

[nowstime]

Hi~

I had a tread debating RX350 or X3 and decided to go with the RX350 (not me but my wife).

We test drove the X3 and RX350 last weekend and I loved the X3...Wow...what a ride and handling...it hugged the road beatifully. My wife liked the handling and power of the new engine. With prem. package, 18" rim and Xenon headlights came upto $45100 including tax + ttl. ($1000 discount).

While I loved the X3 my wife liked the smooth ride of the RX350 better. It was a little more spacious and more quite than the X3. Also it had more options as standard than BMW. FWD with NAVI came up to $43500 including tax + ttl. ($3500 discount).

Lexus didn't have the car we wanted so we put a $500 deposit for a mid-January delivery. Not having the car yet is making me wonder whether I should change my mind.

My concern is that RX350 will have a model change in early 2008 and a face lift within 3 months for the 2008 model. Of course, the price will not be lucrative as of right now but still kinda makes me wonder if I should jump on it or not. If I take a 2008 or 2009 it will easily take me around upper $40K.

Reasons my wife chose the RX are 1. my wife likes the comfortable ride, 2. Lot of options (Navi.), 3. reliability, 4. a bit spacious than X3, 5. power liftgate (she really loves this feature). 6. large discount ($3500 vs. $1000).

Why I hate the RX, 1. women's car, 2. plain driving, 3. single tailpipe, 4. newer model coming, 5. interior out of style.

Why I like the X3: 1. engine, 2. simple interior design, 3. double tailpipe, 4. full maintenance, 5. BMW!!!


***
What do you guys think about my situation?...I do need a car pretty soon and plan to keep it for a good 5~7 years or more.

Should I wait for the 2008 RX350 or abandon the LEXUS and go with the X3 (I think I already know the answer for this one...)?

Age: early 30's
Budget: $45,000 max including tax + ttl.

[moymch]

If this will be a vehicle that you and your wife share then I would certainly voice my concerns. If the vehicle is just for your wife and you may drive it to the store only because it is blocking your vehicle in, then I wouldn’t be too concerned. That would be a lot of money to spend on something you didn’t like. It could be worse, she could be wanting a mini-van.

[rbensmithX3]

I think you need to consider starting up a new forum--RXWorld. You came here for advice, we gave it to you, and because your wife wears the pants, you went with something you didn't want. If I go to the grocery store to buy chocolate milk, and I know I want the smooth, rich taste of chocolate milk, and I know how much the chocolate milk costs, I'm not going to buy regular milk because it's on sale for half the price of chocolate milk, no matter what anyone tells me.

Do you remember the Lexus commercial two years ago advertising headlights that turn around corners to protect you from hitting deer? There was a mock-panel of german engineers saying, "What are we going to do now?" For all german car owners (even VW), the answer is simple--continue to build the most quiet, powerful and breathtaking cars in the world and not get wrapped up in meaningless options that the Japanese invent to sell their cars every two years before they redesign them. . .

[martz]

Originally Posted by rbensmithX3

.
Do you remember the Lexus commercial two years ago advertising headlights that turn around corners to protect you from hitting deer? There was a mock-panel of german engineers saying, "What are we going to do now?" For all german car owners (even VW), the answer is simple--continue to build the most quiet, powerful and breathtaking cars in the world and not get wrapped up in meaningless options that the Japanese invent to sell their cars every two years before they redesign them. . .

Very well said...need I say more? well then Lexus, Honda....need to advertise that they have adaptive xenons, Vtec engines and what not, while the Germans need not say anything as they know that their products do not need marketing sales pitches of gadgets to get it to sell. Their Vehicles are basically above and beyond the rest of the other non german manufacturers....Plain and simple

[Rick in Prescott]

Advice, let your wife have the RX and buy yourself what you want.
Advice, find a Toyota RX forum and ask them the same question. With their answers you might feel better about owning the Toyota.

[White05X3]

It seems to me that the answer to this question is entirely a values one... Do you value the car or peace with your wife more? This car is not for you, it is for her.

Many years ago I bought my wife an RX300 for most of the same reasons. I ended-up getting rid of it after 6 months because that smooth ride that everybody raves about made the car dangerous IMHO. Smooth ride=soft suspension=bad braking and accident avoidance. After 1 month of driving her BMW (an X5 in that case) she wondered what the hell she was thinking with that damned Toyota. Now she wont drive anything but a BMW!

From my perspective I elected to fight the battle and send my wife running around with my kids in a safe vehicle. Cars are fungible commodities, people are not.

As for the discount...try another dealer. I am confident you could do better!

[canamx5]

Has anyone seen his PANTS?? You must be a newlywed!!!

[canamx5]

Rx350
- R 50
__________
= X3

[White05X3]

Originally Posted by canamx5

Has anyone seen his PANTS?? You must be a newlywed!!!

OK...I am sure every husband in this forum has lost his PANTS at one time or another... or at least every SMART husband. Give the guy a break.

[The Cleaner]

I hear you on this one, you have to keep the wife happy. Word on wisdom from a long time married man. In order to be fair my wife gets to pick a car, then I get to pick and we go back and forth. I am lucky that my wife is in love with BMW’s so it’s not very much of a sacrifice when she gets to pick.