JasonATL

I've been using a Sprint Treo 650 for about a month now. I've probably had 25 or 30 calls (80% outgoing) in the 400h. All have worked flawlessly. I transferred my phone book with no problem -- except that it transferred the first number for each contact, making some of it useless -- I'll re-do this once I reorganize my contacts in the Treo. I've had to reset the bluetooth twice. In each case, it was after I had reset the bluetooth on my phone to add other devices (headset and laptop). But, that was it. By the way, the Treo alone is a great phone. The 400h alone is a great SUV. The two together are greater than the sum of the parts.

A further hint on this is to set the display on the speedometer to the battery/ice display. This helps you see visually when the ice kicks in. On the kW meter on the left, keep it in the white hash marks. This is isn't foolproof -- as others have said, it depends on conditions. But, on a flat road, I've been able to get up to 40 MPH on battery by keeping the kW dial in the dashed area.

Shebco, I had my 5,000 mile service recently and they didn't do anything to my rotors that I know of. My mileage during this fall has been 30 MPG (30.5 over the last 600 miles). So, if they did do the rotors, not all dealerships are doing it pre-emptively. Also, if this is a "fix", then I think I want mine broken unless it is a safety issue.

I would escalate this if I were you. Insist on talking with the regional customer service rep if you are not getting satisfaction from your dealer.

Thanks for posting the CR rankings. I stopped getting CR a long time ago; but, I realize how influential it can be to others. So, it is good to know that Toyota/Lexus and especially the hybrids ranked well. I don't get the 23 MPG. I never have gotten below 24 over a 100+ miles or so range. In my last 1,000 miles (I currently have 4,000 total miles), I have averaged 28.5 MPG. This is, notably, without the AC. With AC, I was getting 26.5, 50/50 city/hwy. All of this with premium fuel. Having just written that down, I now can understand the 23. Turn on the AC, drive it like you would any other car (without coasting or using the cruise control), and use regular 87 octane fuel, and I see how you would get down to 23 MPG. As pointed out above, the apples-to-apples still bests the 330 by more than 25% in fuel economy and more for the other competitors, without considering it has better power.

utlonghorn - glad you got out safely and are okay. I agree wholeheartedly. It is far better for people to evacuate unnecessarily rather than to stay when they should have evacuated. Weather forecasting and storm track projections are fuzzy enough that taking steps to protect family is clearly the winning strategy.

My experience with my 400h tells me that there is a "sweet spot" for a traffic jam. There has to be enough cruising to enable the battery to charge, but enough slow traffic to allow the car to be propelled by the electric motors alone. This happens to me fairly regularly on my commute. Fortunately, it only lasts for 5 miles or so. During those conditions, I regularly get 40 or so MPG. If the traffic jam is too congested and it only goes 10 MPH for a long time (5 or so miles), then the batteries are eventually depleted and the MPG drops dramatically as the ICE kicks in to keep the batteries charged (while not moving). As I've posted before, the battery depletion time is cut dramatically by running the AC. So, these observations are based on my commute recently during cooler weather without running the AC. So, in the 100 miles of a 5 hour jam (where the avg MPH is clearly 20 MPH), then it would depend on whether the traffic ever moved at 40-50 MPH to allow the batteries to charge while coasting to a standstill.

I have experienced the same. I do not know of a way to keep the recirc from coming on. However, you mentioned the cooler air outside than inside. Note that the A/C is an INSIDE climate control system. So, all that matters to it is the inside temp (that is actually an oversimplification). The reason the recirc kicks in, from what I've experienced/observed, is that it senses an extremely warm interior and its default is to cool the interior as quickly as possible using recirc. I agree that the brainy folks at Toyota/Lexus ought to be able to solve this one. In the meantime, I've found it helps substantially to use the remote "all windows open" function as I approach the car. On a breezy day, this will cool the interior enough so that the recirc won't kick on.

I've noticed improved fuel economy with premium fuel for a long time. I would get about 1-2 MPG better on my 1999 RX 300 and performance noticeably improved with premium. I stopped using regular unleaded period.. I've not bothered even trying regular on the 400h. Katjamr's experience is quite telling and I've personally confirmed that running with no AC makes a huge difference. I'm right at 3200 miles on my 400h. For the last 1000 miles, my overall average is 26.9 MPG. But, the last 200 has been largely without the AC (usually with the windows open -- which also probably hurst economy due to reduced aerodynamics). In the last 200 miles, I've estimated that I've averaged around 29 MPG. So, with AC, I get around 26.4 or so and without AC (with windows open) I get around 29 MPG. All of this is a daily commute of 30-40 minutes each way on a roughly 50/50 mix of hwy and surface streets (with some bad traffic thrown in on the hwy). My experience is that the RX 400h's EPA numbers are not overstated at all. The AC accounts for a huge reduction. Now, I wonder if the heater will reduce fuel economy in the winter?

I live in one of those regions/cities where reformulated gasonline is mandated. It is my understanding that reformulated gas has a negative impact fuel economy. While I don't want to debate the issue of whether the "EPA standard" ends up defeating itself on a net net basis, I do wonder whether the fuel economy that we observe from our 400h's suffers from the reformulated fuels. My father-in-law has a Highlander Hybrid and gets much better mileage. I wonder what difference in his mileage is due to the fuel he is able to buy vs. the reformulated fuel I can buy here in Atlanta. I posted now because I just saw that the EPA has suspended certain standards on fuel to aid in keeping fuel supplies/prices stabilized in the wake of Katrina. While I couldn't readily decipher whether reformulated requirements are suspended, I'm hoping that we can use this as an experiment. If reformulated gasoline requirements are suspended for Atlanta and reformulated gasoline is responsible for lower fuel economy, then I should observe higher mileage in the next couple of weeks. By the way, I don't mean for this to sound "oportunist." My opinion is that fuel economy pales in importance to the impact on people's lives in the affected areas from Katrina. My thoughts are with those recovering. I have already visited and hope others will visit http://www.redcross.org to help in any way possible.

I thought that the bulk of the explanation to the increased "rolling" or coasting was due to the lack of engine braking, not just the CVT. But, yes. I consider this to be a huge benefit and feature of the 400h. It is also one of the things that makes this car unique in terms of how it is driven.

I notice you're in Ohio. This actually happened to me... in Ohio (Columbus). Indeed, it happened the only two times I tried to get gas while in Ohio for 10 days. It was extremely frustrating! Here's the catch... I was driving a rental. A POS Chevy Impala. I was ready to reply to this thread, thinking, "Yeah. That happened to me twice recently and it was really annoying." Then I remembered it was in Ohio in the rental car. So, coincidence in Ohio? Who knows!

I strongly endorse the use of a good microfiber towel. I was able to remove bug residue, some of it quite old, off the front of my father's car with just regular car washing soap, water, and a microfiber towel. It took several passes, but the microfiber is great for grabbing onto stuff better than your car's paint and pulling it off. Be careful to turn the towel frequently to keep a clean part of the towel on the car so that you minimize the scratch potential.

Re: "Brake" light. Does the light just say "Brake"? If so, this might not have anything to do with the brakes, but rather it is indicating a problem with the parking brake or parking brake sensor. My wife's 2000 ES had a problem with the parking brake, parking brake light, and parking brake light sensor. As SK said, you should have someone qualified to check this and other issues out. For the body, without us seeing it, there is no way to diagnose it. If the paid just looks bad, a good detailer might be able to make it look a lot better by removing scuff marks, minor scratches, and paint oxidation. If the paint is scrathed to the metal or primer, then some kind of repaint or touch-up is necessary. Again, a good detailer should be able to help you diagnose this. A detailer would probably give you a free estimate and help you decide whether a repaint is necessary.

Here's the Autopia thread. The user was Way2SSlow that said that Lexus has used CC since 02 or 03 on black. I will say that the orange peel look is quite noticeable on my RX 400h -- more evidence of CC.

As posted earlier, I have a black onyx RX 400h and was curious about conflicting reports that it doesn't have clear coat -- a member of Autopia insisted that newer (>2003) black Lexus vehicles have clear coat. So, I filed a question on the Lexus customer support web site asking the direct question to Lexus regarding my black onyx RX 400h. Here's the response: "The black RX 400h does have a clear coat. " Hope this helps to clarify things, at least for the RX 400h black onyx.

Without the A/C on, I can usually (when I try) get up to 40 MPH without the ICE starting. With the A/C it varies between 20 MPH and 40 MPH. Also, the dashed white lines on that gauge usually indicate the range for using electric only, from what I've noticed. However, the ICE kicks on more often in the top of that range if the A/C is on.

The manual looks quite normal for a jump start. So, you can (according to the manual) jump start the 400h. I used my 400h to jump my RX 300 recently. Getting to the 400h's 12v battery is a simple matter of removing the cover by popping several pins -- all spelled out in the 400h manual. Having said that, I accidently left my 400h's dome light on one night. I had done this before on my RX 300 and had to jump it the next morning. On the 400h, it started with no problem. I can't claim that the electric motor's batteries were what helped here, but I was sure surprised when it started with no problem. It could have been because the 12v battery was so new that the dome light wasn't enough to drain it.

I like red on the RX 300. Of course I do, that's the color I bought. But, one of the reasons that I like it is because it wasn't two-tone. Plus, there aren't that many that color -- which probably suggests that I am one of the few who like it. Otherwise, the black combo looks good to me on the 300. On the 330, I think the dark blue and the cashmere (not sure of the official names) are my favorites. Close second is the dark gray (flint mica?). I have a black 400h, which I think looks good with the wheels on the 400h, but not as great with the brighter wheels on the 330. The cashmere on 400h is beautiful and possibly my favorite.

I'm really not trying to be a smarta** here, but you might consider hiring a professional detailer every 6 months (or even once per year) to polish the car and give it a thorough detail. I love detailing my cars. It is therapy for me. It is how I choose to spend "my" time. But, I sometimes get caught in a really intense project in my career where I simply cannot spend the time to keep my cars up. That is when I outsource it, so that I can keep the car in good condition for later (when life's other priorities are less pressing). The pros aren't outrageously expensive. A couple hundred. So, the above suggestion of a one-step product such as NXT makes a lot of sense to maintain the car's look between pro treatment. Deciding between how much you do and whether to enlist a pro depends on your priorities in terms of time and the relative difference between the current condition of your car and the condition you desire it to be. If choosing a pro, references should help. Also, don't fall for your dealership's detail jobs. This is one area in which a good independent professional is heads and shoulders above most dealerships.

No. It does not indicate anywhere (gauge or trip info) how many miles until you are out of fuel. Just a standard fuel gauge.

Just for fun, I just calculated the average from the Poll: Mileage on your RX400h thread. Methodology for calculating the average: I threw out the first and last entries. The first entry had 2 votes for "<21.0" and the last entry had 1 vote for "29.0 - 29.9". Since these are the "catch-all" entries for below or above, they could sway the results depending on what MPG was assumed for these entries. So, my calculated average is based on 40 respondants to the poll. I calculated the average at the low and high ends of each range as: Low: 24.5 MPG High: 25.5 MPG Of course, assuming the middle of each range would give 25.0 MPG. I scanned through the RX 300/330 thread on MPG and, with exception of one person who is reporting astounding 22/28 (city/hwy) on his 330, the numbers are (being generous to the 330) 18/22 or an average of 19.5 MPG if we split city and hwy 50/50. Since that thread isn't in a poll format, my number is not a calculated, but just my impression of what most of the people are posting in that thread. While none of this is scientific by any means, the 400h seems to have >25% better fuel economy based on this forum.

These 400h numbers are not representative of my experience at all. I sincerely doubt that the author's numbers are representative of the average realized MPG by 400h drivers. I can't seem to average less than 24 MPG over a 100 or more mile segment. I can't seem to get over 27 MPG over 100 miles. My overall average is in the 25-26 range. This is all in a mix of city and hwy driving with the A/C on (which I've found greatly reduces by 1 to 2 the MPG). I read this opinion piece (which is written more as fact, but is fiction in my experience) and was dumbfounded. I can't understand how someone could drive 400 to 500 miles on the hwy and get 21 MPG on a 400h. Did this person use cruise control ever? I have a 1999 RX 300 (which has a 3.0 litre engine vs. a 330's 3.3 liter) and I get 17-18 in city and no more than 22 on the hwy (21 with the A/C). My hwy driving is at 75 or so. With 2000 miles on my RX 400h, I recognize a 25% to 40% improvement in MPG over my RX 300. No, this isn't the 70% improvement that I'd have if the EPA numbers were realized. But, I'm using 25% to 40% less fuel. The author also fails to give Toyota credit for other ways in which the Hybrid reduces emissions, through no idling, etc. My guess is that emissions are reduced beyond any realized fuel savings. There are minor things about the 400h that I wish were different. However, to say that Lexus/Toyota has failed here is rediculous. I'm very pleased with the 400h.

I wonder how much of that was stealth advertising? However, you'd think that Whoopi would have the details straight, if so. Then again, maybe they are too clever for me. Signed, Cynic

Since SW03ES has suggested this as a "financial planning" discussion, I thought I'd weigh in. First, my background: I have a PhD in finance and teach portfolio management at a major university business school, which also houses one of the best financial planning programs in the country. I have also consulted for professional money managers and regulatory agencies. Second, my reason for posting: I wanted to provide a bit of a counterpoint to RX in NC. Let me first say that I don't doubt RX's success that he/she has experienced. I also strongly endorse RX's and others' views that financial discipline can be rewarding. The counterpoint is that RX's approach simply is inconsistent with what the overwhelming amounts of research (both theoretical and empirical) tell us about successful investing. One of the few "truths" in investing is that diversification works. Holding/trading 2 to 4 stocks is risky. What is worse is that this isn't a risk that is rewarded over time or on average. It is only in a diversified portfolio of assets (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) that risk is rewarded over time. I know this sounds boring and it isn't as intriguing as there being some secret code that can be disciphered from studying charts and reams of data, but it is what has been established in both practice and theory by minds far greater than mine. Investing and saving (different things, by the way) are marathons. Investing is not a short-term thing. If there was some simple (or, at least straight-forward) way to be a hugely successful trader (which is what RX is really talking about), then why wouldn't everyone have taken this path to riches? The fact is, that for every RX in NC, there is a "Kia in AZ" who tried this approach just as carefully and learnedly as RX and, perhaps just by chance, failed. Investing in a diversified portfolio for the long-term is simple and effective. Will you become an overnight millionaire? No. However, if you keep your trading costs down, diversify your risks, and you don't chase trends, you will match the market and get compensated proportional to the risk you bear. I say this with confidence because I have decades of data and articles from nobel-prize winning economists to back it up. What most have promoted here is saving and financial discipline -- very good advice. What RX is talking about mostly is an approach to investing. No number of book citations can establish the 4-stock trading approach as a sound approach that works for the average investor or even works on average, over time, for most investors. Will it work for some, almost surely. The lottery will work for some. But, that doesn't make it a good investment strategy.