hendjaz

My guess is that it saved enough so that they could still qualify the mpg they targeted, or not push the car into a higher fuel use category in some states. I had the mod done and the transmission is smooth from a stop, and seems to be smoother through the gears, too. ^_^ There is a service bulletin for this. The transmission software update is TC009-07 so just ask your service department for this transmission update.

I agree with SpeedyG's assessment of the 450h. I am a former 450h owner and only traded it because I moved up to the LS 460L when it first came out. I had the active stabilizer in the 450h and highly recommend it. It really kept the car flat on turns. Very fast and fuel efficient given its power. It certainly will be better than the M45 in the mpg department. I also have a G35 Coupe and expect that the M45 may be a bit better handling car than the 450h as Infiniti seems to place a premium on sportiness even in its sedans. Shepsan, I remember you from your Acura RL days and when you traded in for the M45. Your located in the NW Valley as I recall and we have a home over in Scottsdale where the G35C is kept. I think you will like the switch to Lexus in all regards and the 450h is a great way to go. The only downside as mentioned is the very small trunk so if you don't want to use the back seat for supplemental trunk space then you may be more happy with a standard GS or move up to the LS.

To my knowledge there is no known easy override on the 6.1 from any screen. I keep up with many forums here and elsewhere and this issue is widely discussed. The only found solutions so far involve cutting wires or creating a hybrid dvd disc that includes some of the 5.1 software loaded onto a 6.1 disc. People have looked at various screen options and pushed many buttons but still not found any easy override in the 6.1 as was available for the 5.1 software.

The override function works in the v.5.1 and earlier Nav software, not in the 6.1.

In both cases, the early mileage and that after breakin period, it is the info from the onboard computer.

The low mileage can be expected when the car is new. In my experience I saw a considerable improvement after maybe 1500-2000 miles or so. Started out in the low teens for city driving and now is 18-19 for same driving. I am very pleased with the mileage for such a large car (also have 460L) and engine. When the car is in motion many features of the Nav screen including phone are greyed out by design so its not likely a defect. Many Lexus owners are dissatisfied with this Toyota/Lexus approach, including me. They want you to stop to input information or use voice commands. Ugh!!

The magazines reports, some of which are based on testing preproduction cars, seem to be not very good on the braking. My experience after owning and driving a LS 460L touring edition for over 3 months now is that the brakes are great. I have no complaints in this or any other regard. Best to test drive yourself and draw your own conclusions based on your own experience.

It still works in some 07s (gen 5) and not in others. It seems those with Nav dvd version 5.1 it will work and those with 6.1 it will not. Our several month old 450h has 5.1 (override works) and our new last week 07 400h has 6.1 (override not available). I don't think it is specific to particular models of Lexus, just depends on when you bought it and if it has the newer dvd version. Don't know yet whether 6.1 brings any benefits such as newer information but it does not appear to have the override, at least in the way we have found it in the past. Hopefully someone can find it somewhere in 6.1 and post the new procedure, if there is one.

GS450h, did you get satellite radio installed at the dealer? My dealer couldn't install XM because there is apparently a new very small antenna that is intended for the 450h and other new models that is not out yet. Thus, my dealer could not complete the install due the absence of the correct antenna in the install kit. Did you run into anything similar? Quite a car though isn't it? Ultra smooth and instant acceleration at all speeds with very reasonable gas mileage to make it even better. Now, if only I could only get my XM in it, which I have had for a couple of years already in my prior car and have at home too.

You definately will not be able to deactivate VDIM on the 450h, wheelspin is very bad for the hybrid system. Traction control can be turned off as there is an on/off switch dedicated to it. There is no such switch for VDIM so I don't see anywhere it can be turned off. Fully loaded regular 450h together with PCS and the active sway bar option is about $66K. Not sure what the NM version cost but don't think it has the PCS or active sway bar suspension motors. Those motors occupy my spare tire comparment so there is no spare tire and run flats are thus required with this option.

I agree, pretty average system to my ears and seems odd that it is considered an upgrade. My wife drives the 400h and it doesn't matter much to her but she even commented that it didn't sound any different to her than the system she had in her Volvo. I drive an 05 Acura RL and the standard sound system in the RL is considerably better with all types of music than this Lexus upgrade system. No comparison imho.

"It is locked out for basic legal reasons ,you can;t blame Lexus for that. " Actually you can blame Lexus and Toyota if you wish. There is no law that requires them to take this approach. It is their corporate choice apparently to do it this way. We have a 400h and an 05 Acura RL and with Acura the driver makes the choice of when to use the technology rather than the manufacturer. If the driver uses bad judgment then it will be responsible. Toyota has elected to make certain decisions for the driver and not allow the driver to make choices. Some will argue for the Toyota approach, I would argue instead for the Acura approach. I would rather make my own decisions and be responsible for them.

Katzjamr, I posted some further details earlier tonight at edmunds, so as not to deviate from this thread too much. It was a great road trip and the RX-h quickly proved itself, climbing and descending mountain pass after mountain pass all the way back. Cruised at 75-80 mph effortlessly. For the nearly 1500 mile trip we got about 26 mpg which I thought was excellent given the terrain we traveled through and with no effort made to try to max out the gas mileage. And, back on track, the XM made it just that much more pleasurable. We got the Invision dvd installed in the headrests for the kids so they were in dvd heaven for long stretchs while my wife and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the many XM channels. We could even check in with Seattle weather and traffic from nowhere CO or UT, but mostly enjoyed the music.

Yes, we used the MyFi for a road trip in the RX 400h from Albuquerque to Seattle and it worked great. Just plugged the power cord into the lower plug at the bottom of the center console, put the tape adapter in and placed the MyFi adjacent to the power plug, all pretty much out of the way and sight. The only thing really visible is the small Myfi antenna which we put on the dash as far forward as possible. It picked up the signal great from this location through the windsheild. Running it through the tape unit allows for the volume controls on the steering wheel to adjust the XM volume. The MyFi comes with a small remote so can change channels without picking up or reaching for the unit. We have the MyFi in the house mostly, connected to all house speakers via the home audio system but can take it with in the RX, or other vehicles for that matter, at any time as the connections are very quick and easy to set up on the fly. We use it this way in the RX occasionally so don't use a permanent installation but that would not be difficult to do. I prefer going with a portable unit like this because of all the flexibility it brings with it. Even used it a bit in Alaska this summer on a family cruise up the inside passage. Spotty reception there but could get the signal at some locations.