katzjamr

This was a topic in the rx330 forum a while back. I did a search under 'roofrack removal' and a few posters describe how they removed the rack. They were concerned mostly about wind noise.

Bart if you look at the top of the area where u vote there is 'lotta people complain'. That is a negative comment in an area where people are choosing a selection in the poll. Look at the items in the poll, out of seven less than 2 are positive. What I think SK was responding to also is this person posts negative comments about the 400h, even tho he doesnt own one. You dont see us posting questionable comments about his vehicles in those forums.

I was on a waiting list for about nine months and during that time i vacillated between the need for the 400h and spending more money on a vehicle than i ever had before. The wait gave me time to save money, i do use it for business in sales and light product delivery so i was able to justify it in that respect. My sales person also mentioned as i sat in the 400h for the first time, I could save ten grand and get a RX330 if i wanted. Then i drove the SUV. It is everything the previous posters say it is. Smooth ride, quickness, safe with decent fuel economy, I get 26 to 28 in mixed driving. The CVT is the smoothest thing i have ever experienced. Yes it is noisier under hard acceleration. I agree there is torque steer during harder acceleration, it is mainly a front wheel drive car. The brakes take a small amount of getting used to, they tend to be softer when the vehicle is regenerating power. Love the power as everyone else does, dont kid yourself we are about being green, but when the time comes that you need to move the 400h will put a smile on your face. It has changed the way i drive, coasting and being more aware of everything around me, and to my surprise i am much calmer in heavy traffic as i am saving fuel, its just a whole 'hybrid' train of thot that takes over you. As others have mentioned, there is no drive line, only an electric motor to drive the rear wheels, its not an off road 4x4, however most SUV's are not used off road. Regarding the Mark Levinson, i like it we have extremely few cars coming in the west coast with out it, I did listen to the Bose system in one orphan car that arrived on my dealers lot and that system is very competent, cars are noisy places for stereos anyway. (i almost bought that one but it was white) It is becoming very clear that short trips are a mpg killer on the 400h, so if your driving consists of alot of those be ready for gas mileage under 25. If i had a wish would be for a charcoal interior, ive become a detailing fool but still have some marks that are hard to remove inside the car. Most of us on the west coast paid msrp, so this is a good time for many of you to get discounts where supply is much greater. Gas is only going to get more expensive. I have had none of the other problems mentioned and i use regular gas. Long story even longer... i would do it again in a heartbeat.

It is definately the short trips. I am a creature of habit and drive the same two mile route to starbucks everymorning for coffee. (my commute is walking across the street from my apt to work). This short trip is a mpg killer, even tho i coast and drive back streets the ICE is on longer to warm up the car and typically this trip will cost me a full one mpg over longer more mixed driving. On sales calls and trips of 5 to 20 miles i can usually regain that one mpg. If every trip was short im sure my mpg would be as yours is. I use regular gas, and at 2400 miles have averaged 26 to 28 mpg.

The treo 650 will work with the Lexus bluetooth system. You have to sync it using the instructions in the new car Navigation manuel. The twist with the treo is when you sync it with the Lexus even if you follow the steps exactly it will not say at the end that you were successful however in fact you are synced and you will be able to make calls using the treo and the in car system. My carrier is Cingular, they have a new firmware update at the palm web site, this update in particular improves the ablitiy of the treo to work with the any 'car kit'. The update software for a cingular 'locked' phone is 1.15-CNG Hardware A. If you have a different carrier make sure you have the latest update from them.

I think voice quality does suffer with this system, i have a 400h with im sure the same components as the 330 and many of my calls struggle to hear me, altho i can hear them well. When i use a bluetooth headset with my phone the voice is very clear on both ends. I have a feeling there is a technical issue going on with the Lexus system, i use a treo 650 btw. If people cannot hear me well i switch to the headset, also I think the mic in the vehicle picks up alot of ambient noise and that is also an issue with the voice quality.

You said it better than I, however that is the reason i didnt want anyone else to follow with that type of caustic cleaning. I'm sure the wheel of one of Lex Kid's other lexi will fit on this vehicle...

very nice, all you need now are blue lites and you are set... .. .

gotta love the kids, also 'katzjamr' is german for headache or hangover

Lex i mean no disrespect, with the stable of Lexi that you maintain you have broad knowledge on many issues that Lexus owners face everyday. My concern was to keep anything caustic, high or low in ph off the leather, as i noted Woolite is about the only cleaner i would use that is not a specific cleaner conditioner. Cleaning in general is viewed by people as a sort of 'magic', you really dont know why the result is happening but it does, its really a chemical change occuring. Americans also expect things to happen quickly and proper cleaning sometimes takes time and repeated applications of safe products. I have always been grateful for this forum, it has made the buying and owning experience of my 400h much more rewarding, and to know that there is a community of help out there is a comfort.

This is a forum where all of us try to help each other. When someone posts that they have used all the cleaners in their home, most of them harmful to leather, as a 'remedy' they should be called out on it. My family has been in the cleaning business in seattle for over 45 years, as far as cleaning is concerned his degrees are three degrees below zero.

The first responsiblility a person has when cleaning is to not ruin the item you are cleaning. Lysol, alcohol, and "every soap i had in my house" does more damage than you can ever repair with leather conditioner. Woolite diluted is ok if you follow with a damp clean towel and let it dry, then condition.

Sounds good rex, is that with regular gas and ws the 30 mpg with cruise on I5?. I am getting a consistent 27 mpg mixed driving with chevron regular @2400 miles on the odometer. Short trips have been hurting what is otherwise good mpg. Been trying harder to be good as gas gets more expensive

I am having seat repair done at a local auto upholstery shop. Lexus would have to contract out that work and then put their markup on it. Just go directly to the yellow pages and get some quotes. Many auto body repair shops can recommend someone they trust.

Common lex my dog doesnt smell, and when he saw this post here it hurt his feelings...

I have driven my 400h over 2400 miles and two other demo vehicles. All of them are smooth over 50 mph with or without criuse. On the freeway the ICE (internal combustion engine) seamlessly turns on and off depending on its own needs. No 'stutter'. At low speeds the cycling of the ICE is more noticable but as RX 400h says, part of the hybrid experience. I will ask this question just to make sure. All drive by wire pedals like the 400h to not function correctly if you have your left foot on the brake pedal at all and use the gas at the right. If you drive with both feet it can cause this problem. I know you have had three people duplicate this issue for you and i imagine they dont drive with both feet. Just checking. Please keep us posted with the results of the Atlanta technician.

For what its worth i just picked up the phone and called my salesman at Lexus. He said they would put this vehicle on the lot at only 2000 under msrp, they have three vehicles nearly new on the lot now with under 10K in miles (not 400h's) and all are selling at only 2 to 3K under list. Im sure there is some bargaining room there, however 45K could be fair as much as i would like to see it cheaper. Make him an offer and let him see if he can sell it for more, it could be urs if no one bites.

Is it just me or does this SUV roll farther and faster than anything you have driven. Do you coast to the freeway offramps saving those mpg while people behind you are wishing you would just go a little faster? Were u surprised the first time you coasted down a hill and your 400h picked up more speed than you were used to? Am I the only rolling freak here? I hope not, tell us how u roll... .. .

Welcome to the club, and the best with your 400h. This vehicle has no driveline, only one electric motor in back so channeling a bunch of power back there is not going to happen. I agree that the torque steer takes some adjustment. BTW check your tire pressure, many have come from the factory at 40 psi, not the reccomended 30 or 32 depending on the tires you have. Regarding the phone, with my Treo 650 that is bluetooth enabled I can dial out through the phone keypad at any time and speak through the Nav system.

This chip is less than one eight of an inch wide and so shallow i thot it was dirt at first, my first instinct is to try a Novus or crack repair type of service.

I have a small qouge from the point of a rock that has made about an 1/8th inch chip in the windshield. It is not a star or crack at this point, just a very shallow divot as if an ice pick were used on the window. Should i just have it repaired like any other glass or is there something else i need to know. Thanks

I love the silver metallic and it is very handsome with the black (i have light gray). Im sure you will be happy. I did listen to the standard bose system in a white 400h and it also sounded good, bose makes quality stuff, and you are right it saves a grand. In a moving vehicle with road and engine noise the idea of a state of the art stereo is kind of an oxymoron. Tell us when u finally have it in your garage.

That is all well and good india, however obviously driving styles make a difference even among traditonally powered vehicles. Prius drivers found out along time ago there were skills they had to learn to make their cars more efficient if they chose to do so. I have had to retrain myself when i drive this hybrid, and its made me a better driver in all my vehicles. just my 2 cents.

By locked i mean when i tried to send my category, "contacts list" there is a padlock on the screen on the treo and nothing will transfer. Other than that it works well in the 400h with the latest Palm update. Also, some of the new bluetooth wireless headsets work quite well and free you from the cord, and your voice quality is better with the headset than over the 400h system. The 'locked' terminoligy can also apply to a phone that will only work with one carrier, i.e. locked onto that carrier, or 'unlocked' as in available to work with any local carrier you choose.

Welcome Bruce, if your figures are accurate you may at least qualify for some kind of award for lowest mpg. Seriously, as you must already know there is alot of feedback available to you on the nav consumption screen and below the speedo. Make an effort to modify your driving based on what you see on those meters, there is no reason you shouldnt be getting a consistent 24 to 27 even with ac on.