katzjamr

the nav screen on the lexus also handles climate, phone, and a much better display of the hybrid system, i would not want to be a person trying to resell a lexus without nav even if you dont use it, it is becoming an important option for car buyers certainly in this price range. I have only leased trucks for work, and sometimes purchased them anyway, always buying my own vehicle. However leasing may be more attractive with this model. Not only do you pay less up front, you dont pay all the sales tax up front and for that matter i have friends with leases where they can return the car for a different one under the same lease if you dont like it. While this model has been very reliable, and so far the traction batteries have gone the distance, it is our feeling that repairs outside of warranty to the hybrid system are going to be expensive. In short this is technology that you only want to own for three or four years while it is in warranty, and that is about the period when the next generation will be ready for sale. I agree that the handling will be softer in the 400h, however the power and smoothness of the transmission will keep a smile on your face. There is an intangible benefit that of owning this hybrid. When you are at a stoplight with the engine off using no fuel, or coasting on battery power it brings a calmness and sense of relaxation that cannot be experienced in other vehicles. I did not expect this side benefit as a former leadfoot, however it is a strong antidote to $4.00 premium fuel (its 3.85 for premium in seattle right now).

not to be contrary but in seattle, where we are known for rain, i find the system works well, adjusts well to changing intensities of rain, and adjusts to the misty kind of drizzle that is the chinese water torture of the pacific northwest. there is a sensitivity switch on the wiper control arm with three settings as im sure u are aware. also is the area behind your rear view mirror, where the sensing dots are, clean on both the inside and outside?

the dynamic laser cruise control is an option on the 2008 rx400h so first of all is it included on your vehicle? This option will work at speeds only over 45mph, then push the on off button on the cruise control, both cruise and RADAR READY have to appear on the multi information display, then set your constant cruising speed, and then use the distance switch on the steering wheel to set for long, middle or short. if any warning lights are flashing on the panel, no distance setting can be made. you will have to reset the information each time the car is turned on and off. read your manual because the distance settings are only approximations based on the speed you travel and how fast the car in front of you slows.

just a note to wwest's always interesting post, regarding the jackscrew failure, those were mcdonnel douglas planes that boeing inherited with their merger, not boeing designed. this does not lessen the result of the bad decisions that were made during service or design, just wanted to make that point.

I agree with the last post, my 400h did the same thing until they changed the personal settings at my first service.

very nice, no bars

isnt there a battery in the lexus key? do you see the red light flash on the button side of the key when you press anything on it? If the red light isnt flashing when keys are pushed the battery in the key is dead. There is a good chance you can just replace the battery in the key with the correct size from radio shack, however i have never had to do this. When i called my dealer they said the radio shack batteries will work, however not last as long, and their replacement batteries for about $6.00 cost about the same.

my gauge just reads "too freaking cold" when the temp is below -30

I agree that it seemed like the NYT article was hastily written, however the direct quotes from the Toyota CEO about new battery advances, plug-in capability and the commitment to make new models of hybrids are good news, even if you dont like the NYT.

Toyota chief exec Katsuaki Watanabe announced that they would produce a plug-in hybrid vehicle equipped with a lithium-ion battery by 2010, for sale first to big commercial customers like corporations and government fleets. Mr. Watanabe said he was urging Toyota engineers to have the vehicle ready before that target, even tho he acknowledged it would take Toyota "a year or two" to conduct vehicle tests and assess the results. "Yesterday I said by 2010 we will introduce plug-ins, but before that is my desire", Watanabe was quoted as saying. He added that Panasonic Electric Vehicle Energy, would add a separate line at its assembly plant to produce lithium ion batteries. Toyota also said it planned to develop a new hybrid electric car specifically for its Lexus division as well as another new hybrid for the Toyota brand. It aims to unveil both at the 2009 Detroit show. The new hybrid car would be larger than the current Prius, and Toyota again underscored that the Lexus version would be singular to its division. Toyota market research will try to figure out if consumers would be willing to pay for a plug in, and what effect these cars will have on the environment. Given that, its likely Toyota would offer plug in technology as an option on the Prius at least in the short term, rather than switch all of its hybrids to plug in models. Mondays New York Times was the source for this info.

dude, new lexus and toyota hybrids announced with lithium ion batteries at the detroit auto show in 2010

with all due respect jim i think your post is exactly why lexus didnt provide this feature, they chose to protect the expensive traction battery from people would run the tank too low and ruin it by operating the vehicle with no fuel and no engine backup. Its an expensive battery pack, around 4k from what i can tell and dont you think if the miles to empty feature was available the posts we would be reading here would be more like, "Damn, i didnt know driving to the gas station with no gas engine would ruin my battery, now the dealer wants all this money to replace it...." I, like 'vinovelo' in his post notice when the light comes on, realize that that light comes on at three gallons left in the tank, and do a quick mental calculation based on my current mpg average for the miles left to empty. i never was used to a miles to empty gauge, so its not a big deal to me, however i formerly used to run the tank pretty low and i had to change my habit with this vehicle. also remember the fuel pump is in the tank, and uses the surrounding fuel for cooling so that is one reason to not let everything run dry. just my two cents, dave

in a hybrid car demanding heat in cold weather often will cause the ice to fire up for that purpose alone rather than allowing it to cruise on the battery, in addition it runs longer at startup to warm the cabin. if you combine this with the increased electrical load depleting the battery again needing more frequent engine charging, there is a noticable difference in mpg. On the freeway yes the penality for heat is much less than driving at city speeds. i totally agree with your summer ac comments. the origional post asked if heating cold be speeded up in winter and other than electric socks, heated seats was the only thing that popped into my mind...

altho someone should have already checked this, improper tire inflation will cause pulling on this vehicle, especially if one tire is off from the others. also are you certain no one has hit a curb or otherwise bent something in the front end?

its the combination of the ice (internal combustion engine) running longer and more frequently to produce heat, and the drain on the battery required to run the fans that hurts the mpg, also the battery is less efficient in winter.

yes alignment in my opinion, the 400h can pull to one side when there is a crown in the road or it is not flat, however you should not have to be constantly worrying about a pull in normal driving or on a long trip. is there another dealer you can check with, or someone else at your dealership that will take you seriously. at my dealership we can leave a message with the dealership OWNER who does have his general manager call back that same day if your problem is not resolved. is there an alignment shop that will check your car so you can go back to the dealer with hard information? also i would ask for a different service manager. i go back to the same one everytime, and we have built up a working relationship so i dont get brushed off when i voice a problem. good luck, dave

i turn on my heated seats for immediate warmth, i can often use them on cool mornings instead of any other cabin heat and save 2 to 3 mpg in the process.

i agree that auto locks are annoying and seem prison like to me, however most dealers include a list of personal settings that can be changed to suit the owners needs, i was advised to have it done at the first oil change so i could take some time to decide what i liked. my dealer will change those settings anytime you are in for service at no charge.

it has the second generation bluetooth system that is on my treo 680 so it should work. can you borrow a friends or one from att and see if it wil sync before u buy it. they let me do that with the treo.

to answer the question most of us find that at the point the low fuel light goes on in the 400h you have about 3 gallons left in the tank. u do the math on miles to empty based on your mpg.

you may be able to drive it on battery for a few miles however you risk damaging a $4,000 main battery, and if you cannot get the ice to restart after three tries, the entire system will shut down to protect itself from people like you. It will require a tow to the dealer and a reset to get it up and running. these hybrids were not made to run without the possibility of the ice running when needed. I also used to let the tank run pretty low in my previous vehicles, i just dont do it in the hybrid.

what is the wear rating on thosoe goodyears? i preferr a tire dressing that doesnt look like you used black shoe polish, mothers and mcguiars both make products that make the sidewall look new but are subtle.

check to see that the screen wasnt scratched by an abrasive towel or cleaning agent. can you touch the screen and feel scratches??? i would only use an optical cleaner safe for glasses or somthing non ammonia like stoners invisible glass sprayed on a soft bath towel and then applied to the screen...btw a hate crime targets a specific person for ther race, religion or beliefs, much crime is random or a crime of opportunity (easy access) to get money for drugs. trust me my brother in law was a victim of a hate crime on a univesity campus, and when he was stalked by a fellow armed teacher who was angry because he wasnt given tenure, it was real, serious and scary.

thanks im in the market too, the goodyears have 25K and some tread but more wear on one tire due to alignment. i was gonna just do the michelins but u have me thinking.

the first model prius had a bladder for a gas tank and people had to fill it slowly. toyota solved this problem on the lexus by building a system that vents the fuel system periodically and when the car is parked. i believe this is the hissing sound you hear altho mine has never gone on for two or three minutes, are you sure this sound continues this long? it is totally separate from the whirring cand clicking sounds.