<p>SWRCAT, He ordered a Porsche Cayenne, he got an e-mail last week, it’s on the boat to the USA. I have the Mercedes GL450, which I love but occasionally feel guilty about, it is so big for just me and stalkerdog! I had a Beetle Convertible a few years ago, not sure now why I gave it up. I do love the look of the Lexus. I played tennis with a friend who has the Hybrid version today. She says she loves it.</p>
<p>ACM…My really good friend has the Porshe Cayenne…she LOVES it! Crazydad will too!
I went with the Lexus…they are delivering it to me today 
I did really like how the Acura RDX drove, but it was more sporty and I am trying to get out of a sporty car right now…so I chose the Lexus… I know I will love it!</p>
<p>Congrats on the decision!!..</p>
<p>ACM: if you see an 18 yr old girl oogling at your husband, please be assured she is mine and she is oogling at his new car!!!..D2 is car crazy and the new Cayenne is her “crush” of choice right now…haha</p>
<p>Rodney…your D sounds like mine…she LOVES cars and knows the names of most of them on the road…I am like that too. I love getting new cars…I just HATE the buying process with a passion…the nice thing about going with the more upper end brands is that there is very little pressure…I guess they know that your serious about buying or your wouldnt be there…</p>
<p>SWTCAT, enjoy your new car. Good choice. ;)</p>
<p>I forgot to mention one detail: when we were looking at cars, Lexus RX was the only car among comparable vehicles that ran on regular gas (Acura, Infinity, etc. Needed to be filled with more expensive premium gas).</p>
<p>Great choice! We are huge Lexus fans here…in fact I’m the only one in our family who doesn’t have one. Both sons drive used RXs and they are fabulous…you will have a long life with your car…and when you are done, you can get a fab price if you choose to sell it! Congrats.</p>
<p>SWTCAT, congrats on your new car!
Something I should think about, the 11 year old mini-van won’t last forever. </p>
<p>I like being “high up” and I need to haul a lot of stuff. </p>
<p>The new GMC Terrain gets 32 MPG highway, a model I was looking at.</p>
<p>^^^that"s great gas mileage Slumom!! Thanks for all of the good wishes! I am so happy to get back to an SUV…that Audi was just way too low to the ground for me!! LOL</p>
<p>SWTCAT</p>
<p>Good choice…we’ve had four RXs and my son currently drives an IS.</p>
<p>Not sure where in Texas you live, but if in Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston or Austin, your service experience for the Lexus will be better and come with more perks from the dealers than it would have with the Acura. All Texas Lexus dealers are quite good and some are extraordinary…which is not the case everywhere…in SoCal for example, many Lexus dealerships are run almost like Toyota dealerships…if you’re spending $40K plus you should be treated better than that.</p>
<p>Just traded in my 2004 Lexus RX 330 for a Lexus ES 350 because I wanted a sedan (no more hauling and carrying for college, although still gardening), got a great trade in and the SUV was showing its age. Definitely favor Lexus over Acura for brand- test drove an Acura and others. The lift gate feature is invaluable, the ride great, etc with the RX. I sat in the latest RX while at the dealership- go for it. H finally donated his 1991 LS 400 last fall. He had an Acura sedan once, now an ES 350 (debated both owning the same model, but…). We have also owned an MB SUV and an Audi sedan over the years. Definitely like the Lexus brand, and the RX for an SUV.</p>
<p>PS- Matador red is a great color… Oops- just saw you chose the RX. Congratulations! The RX still uses premium unlike the 2011 ES, I believe- although I know someone who always uses regular with their older ES- gets slightly less mpg.</p>
<p>eadad…Im in the DFW area and I have been told that the dealership treats you great! I am hoping I wont need to be there very often though…</p>
<p>I got the pearl white…my last two cars have been black so I am looking forward to something different!</p>
<p>SWTCAT, Enjoy your new car!!! Love that new car smell. We have a 10 year old Land Cruiser, very funky smell these days. H is still hanging on to that as an extra work car but he is selling the 8 year old Mercedes sedan, which actually smells fine! </p>
<p>rodney, if crazydad gets oogled by a young woman he’ll feel better about my teasing him he is having the midlife crisis of a 50 year old soccer mom!</p>
<p>Good thing you didnt want a Chrysler or a Ford in red, wis75. The japan earthquake has caused a sortage of red and black paint [Japan</a> Earthquake Causes Shortage of Black and Red Paint](<a href=“http://www.realcartips.com/news/0429-paint-shortage-japan-cars.shtml]Japan”>Japan Earthquake Causes Shortage of Black and Red Paint)</p>
<p>BB- the dealership tells me to put mid grade or premium in my RX330. I dont. Sometimes I treat it to a higher octane, in the summer. For some reason they say its less important in the cold weather.</p>
<p>DH has the Lexus IS 250 convertible (cute car-- and I bought it and did al the dealing for him via internet-- they didn’t know they were dealing with a female until I picked up the phone to finalize and schedule the delivery of the car). We put better gas in that car.</p>
<p>Got a great deal btw, on one of the last 2010’s on the lot last November.</p>
<p>Enjoy the car!!!</p>
<p>SWTCAT</p>
<p>I’m in Dallas as well.</p>
<p>If Sewell, you’ll never buy a car from anyone else…service experience there is amazing.</p>
<p>You’ll also love the the easier to maintain exterior and what can be a 20 plus degree difference in interior temps (becuase of white exterior) in our summers.</p>
<p>Enjoy the new ride. I also love the new car smell, although after allowing the dogs to ride everywhere with me in my new car this past month, I think it has more of a dog odor 
It did make me feel better when a friend rode with me the other day and said it still smelled like a new car, and she hates dogs, so I know she would have said if it smelled doggy!!</p>
<p>I was just reading about a leather cleaner that makes your car have the new car smell, but it doesn’t last long. I didn’t realize how bad my 12 year old car smelled until I got into it the other day after not being in it for 4 weeks; did I really drive around in that all the time?</p>
<p>^^Snowball, do you know what it is called?</p>
<p>jym626…our dealer actually told us that becasue of the Tsunami, they are not going to have any inventory in a few months…that bascially most Japanese cars are going to be impossible to get… I guess he was telling the truth!</p>
<p>SWTCAT-
They are already having some trouble gettiing parts, from what I hear. And according to this [Japanese</a> disaster set to impact availability and pricing of eco-friendly cars |Sustainable Products | Planet Forward Sustainable products](<a href=“Planet Forward”>Planet Forward) availability, particularly of hybrids, may be limited</p>
<p>Zaino Z9/Z10 leather cleaner and conditioner I have been told has the new car leather smell. I think it is the mink oil that makes one think of new leather.</p>
<p>[Z-9</a> Leather Soft Spray Cleaner: Zaino Store](<a href=“Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner: zainostore.com”>Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner: zainostore.com)
[Z-10</a> Leather in a Bottle: Zaino Store](<a href=“Z-10 Leather in a Bottle: zainostore.com”>Z-10 Leather in a Bottle: zainostore.com)</p>
<p>There is a spray by Griot’s Garage called New Car Scent that I have heard works.
[New</a> Car Scent, 4 Ounces - Interior Detailing - Car Care - Griot’s Garage](<a href=“http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/interior+detailing/new+car+scent,+4+ounces.do]New”>http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/interior+detailing/new+car+scent,+4+ounces.do)</p>
<p>I have not tried either of these products, but have seen both come up often while checking out leather cleaners on several different car forums.</p>
<p>Thanks Snowball! My H needs it for his car :)</p>