RXREY

That's great Tom, now if I'm ever in Arizona and see those plates, I can say "hello"! Happy trails, Rey

Thanks Dave, thanks Tom...now I'm even more confused! hehee, I'm teasing, I'm more apt to go the "I'll take my chances " route....I pay through the nose for everything that I have no choice about, I too will take my chances and see how it goes. The price is really great at $152 per tire for the Bridgestone Alenzas, I'll just be glad to get rid of the GY RS-A tires that are wearing on the inside like crazy. I left a message with the service manager at Glendale Lexus, he's been great to me, and I will see what he says about my disatisfaction about the OEM tires. Rey

Is the vanity plate going to have a reference to hybrid? I already have vanity plates so I had to go with emblems to show that I care about what I drive. It's the fourth car that I've had with the same plates! So in town the locals know when I get a new car! happy trails, Rey

You're pretty funny! No, I'm safe in that regard, the only vices I have are being too sweet and I do love my morning coffee! I was at a local coffee house here in Pasadena this morning and someone mentioned just what you kidded me about...he said as I got out of my gorgeous RX400h, "Well, it's pretty obvious that your car is a hybrid!" as we smiled. Take care, Rey

Yes, that's pretty funny! I do tend to overdo things a lot...it's why I've been successful in life I suppose. I do get a little passionate about everything that I do or get involved with. Did I tell you I have a HYBRID? Toodle-loo, Rey in L.A.

I think I'll get the Bridgestone Alenzas and I'm glad to hear that the 255/55/18s don't rub. They are a wee bit wider and I do like that...I also LOVE the tile. It's funny how many people will notice that more than anything. it's very foofoo/plush! How lucky your car is! It's like a pet! Rey in L.A.

Thanks Dave, I am feeling better and better checking with all of you before I make ANY decisions! I really appreciate this club. Rey

I'm thinking of getting the Bridgestone Alenzas since the Goodyear Eagle RS-As that came with my RX400h apparently weren't really meant to be on the road, like mortuary shoes. Can anyone tell me if it is smart to purchase the Road Hazard Program, insurance that I see below the price of the tire? It's around $78 on top of the reasonable $152 per tire price. Rey in L.A.

Great to hear you are getting the Bridgestones...the Alenzas? If so are you getting 255/55? or 235/55? Can you get 255/60? and if so what would be the benefit or downfall? Rey

I changed from 32psi which is what the delership had them at, to 34 and may go to 36. I've only been at 34psi for a month so maybe the pressure was too low before? I love the feel and even just a couple of PSIs more has felt differently as far as the ride is concerned. The insides are really worn as if I had the car years. I've only had it 13 months, 1-3-06 to now, 2-24-07 and I am surprised at how thrashed two,on opposite corners,are wearing on the inside. They are almost bare. I'll have to try to get the Bridgestone Alenzas that I keep hearing so many great things about. They are rated #3 with a bullet on Tirerack...must be good. I had Michelin's in the past, on other cars, but I think they are too pricey for what they are, I wasn't too impressed. I'd like to try Bridgstone Alenzas. They are highly rated and much less expensive than the Michelins...no offense for those that like Michelins, there are many types of Michelins. The Bridgestones and the Michelins have to be better than the GoodYears that came with my RX400h! I could make better tires in a high school shop class. happy trails, Rey

BTW, if you look at the first to the second photos, the first is without the mud guards that I put on all four wells, and the second has them on. Rey

I drove too carefully my first year,'06, and now I drive with less concern and just enjoy this amazing car and it doesn't seem to matter that much, not enough to be a nervous nellie while driving, what's the point of that,right? I think that now that I have my tires at 34psi, it seems to make a wee bit of difference, haven't had that change for too long so the verdict is still out. It does seem to ride much better than the 30psi that the dealership had them at. Anyway, relax and you'll see that the loss of MPGs isn't enough to ruin your enjoyment of driving an amzing piece of technology. If you want great mileage,get a Prius but,I don't think any of us want that. Rey

I know that I have these on someone else's post but enough people have asked so here are the pictures. I got three Hybrid Synergy Drive and three Hybrid logotypes all free from my great dealership at Glendale Lexus. I just put up a new image of the rear with an emblem that I got through eBay of a Ford hybrid. Now that many auto makers have hybrids our choices are greater if you want to add hybrid emblems on your 400h...especially if you have an '06 as I have. I also imcluded pictures of the Harrier grille and emblem. I saw this in Europe and loved it! Rey Bustos, Lexus Man in L.A.

My GoodYear RS-A tires have a little over 12K on them and two are wearing down on the inside really badly. Is it the car or the tires that are awry? I am going to get Bridgestone Alenzas by the end of '07. This is ridiculous! I was putting on my mud guards when I noticed and I had been reading from some of you about tires and now I can see why it seems as if anyone with the "Bad Year" RS-A tires bail and look for a better product! Ayayayaee! Rey in L.A.

No noticeable difference in regards to mileage but I feel it is much quieter especially on the freeways without the rack. It's just not anything that I even liked at all and it is an object on the roof, it will make some noise. It creates a little drag and since I like driving over 70 when I can,it does make a lot less wind noise...that's also why the NASCAR folks don't put roof racks on their cars,eh? Anway, just be sure that you want it off becuase it's a scary thing for me to have done...and I don't scare easily! Rey Three months, no difference in mileage numbers that I can tell. I did increase the tire PSI to 34 and feel that the car rides better and perhaps that might make a difference but I doubt that I'd be able to tell. So, no difference as far as I can see. Rey Any difference in wind noice? I am going to take the crossbars off soon.

Three months, no difference in mileage numbers that I can tell. I did increase the tire PSI to 34 and feel that the car rides better and perhaps that might make a difference but I doubt that I'd be able to tell. So, no difference as far as I can see. Rey

I'm pretty fast when I get going, Im like a NASCAR pit crew, so it didn't take long at all. Two hours?! For those of you that read that in jditom's post, I think he forgot to tell you that that included a lunch break! (hehee).. so don't let that stop ya! Anyway, I put an extra screw in the front and yes, I believe I drilled four in the rear. I think this whole post has been really helpful to many people thinking about putting on mud guards. I am so glad that we have this site! Toodle-loo caribou, Rey

Rey Bustos in L.A. back again with the long awaited MUD GUARD photos...now I'm ready for the big L.A. rain that might be enough to activate my auto wipers! lets only hope....You can see on the fourth picture the screws in the wheel well. It was very easy and all four took about 30-40 minutes to install. You can see that they are not huge,for those of you that were thinkin' of putting chrome "Mud Falp Babes" on them, there's no room. BTW, you only need a few tools,allen wrench,power drill, and no need to take tires off. I turned the front tires away to let me in there, The rear, no problem working around them. Happy trails, Rey 2-22-07

Captain's Log, Stargate...well, this is Rey in L.A. and we are due to have a rare rain tomorrow,Feb22,2007...so I just put on mud guards that came in the mail a little over an hour ago! They look great and as has been mentioned above, they are a wee bit meager but I like the look and I am now ready for "STORM WATCH '07"!! as the local weathermen go nuts out here when we get over .07 inches of rain. I will battle the upcoming torrnential L.A. storm tomorrow with the confidence assured by my little additional mud guard flaps. I got them on eBay for about $95, for all four wells and I really like them. They are subtle but other RXers will see them and I see them, which is the important thing. The fronts were very,very easy, using existing allen type bolts already there,matching the holes on the front mud flaps. The rear you'll have to drill. I simply took a Sharpie and dotted the well rim through the holes on the mud guard,that part of the well rim is plasic so I drilled a smaller than usual pilot hole knowing that it's plastic and will need to be snug for the screw...anyway,it took longer but it was still really very easy...even I could do it! It's night time now but I'll post pictures for the awaiting Lexus world to see tomorrow. The rain may even be enough to activate the automatic windshield wipers! Wow, now that's an L.A. storm! Rey Bustos, wet,well kind of, in L.A.

17 just sounds wrong..but for what it's worth, I have an RX400h and I get 26MPG here in L.A. and mostly city driving with climate, well, L.A. weather is very even and nice year round...if I wanted to get crazy mileage,I would have gotten a Prius, Civic or a Focus ( and perhaps a crash helmet). The reason that I got this one is,well, it's a Lexus and I really think they make the best vehicles in the world and I got it because it is environmentally,relatively, clean. It is very efficient when it comes down to, for me, to not polluting as much. These lexus hybrids aren't in competition with the little "econotoys" ,they are the way all cars should be going, using less fuel and running cleaner without compromise. As I've said in previous posts, I had a PT Cruiser for three years...fun, cute car...automatic and it was rated at 26-29MPG. I got 17! I could never get it over 20 ever on one tank. It was also shifting as if I were going over two X fours...the downshifting was especially jarring...OK, not fair to compare a PT Cruiser to a Lexus...a Lexus ANYTHING, but it's made me more grateful. I haven't been rich as long as most of you so to me all of this luxury car business is new...and I love it! For what it's worth...an essay by Rey Bustos in sunny L.A.

It's worth asking the dealer but you might also try eBay. I think that I did that first and I didn't have much luck but that was over a year ago. I know that because the last thing I would do is ask the dealership for a price on anything! I asked how much the Chrome Nerf bars were (the step bars) and they told me $600 plus labor would be an additional $300!...I got them on eBay for about $150 and I put them on in about 40 minutes...that was a good hourly wage for me! I'm not as rich as some of you for Pete's sake! Let me know what you find and what you end up doing. At least if you go through the dealer you CAN get them and at $30 an emblem,just get a couple or three. Anyway, happy hunting, Rey

I love it - any chance you have the part numbers???????????? No, I just called the parts manager and told them that I wanted the emblems and that they were from a Prius and they did the rest. I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't even charge me. The funny thing is is that I bought my 400h in January of 06 and I told them that they were more than likely going to get more requests like mine ( I was proud that I picked the hybrid at such a higher price..I wanted people to KNOW that my "princess" was different!)...the next time I went in...ALL of the 400hes in the showroom had the logotype that I had ordered off of the Prius! So, no part number,just tell them it's the "Hybrid Synergy Drive", "Blue wave" prius emblem and or the logotype from a Prius that reads "Hybrid" in a slant font. I love them and it really jazzes up the "Plain Jane" sides of our 400h. But again, it's all in the personal preference of the owner. I like to accessorize, that was the only thing that I loved about my old PT Cruiser. Take care and happy hunting. Just call your dealer and don't let them charge you..they retail for about $30 EACH!!!yes, EACH emblem and logotype. I spent enough, I wasn't going to spend the $180 that it would have cost to get the emblems that I got. Fortunately they just gave them to me as a gift and they were really nice about it. Rey

Rey Bustos here again...I just looked at my rack in my storage room and the person at Lexus that told you that you can take the corners off and slip off the cross bars was right, but let me add this; take only two of the corners off. As I said, this can be nerve racking (pardon the pun...) when you do take the two off,lets say, the back two, there will be a small 9mm screw facing laterally, the hexagonal head facing you....simply take the screws off, one on each side, and that will allow both cross bars to slide off. You won't have to take the whole rack off as I thought might be the case. Voila! Another case closed. Rey

I got three Hybrid Synergy Drive emblems from Glendale Lexus and three Hybrid logotype emblems all free for my 400h. I put them on wherever I wanted them and they look terrific. Rey Bustos

Respnse to Jim......"Why I removed my roof rack, an essay by Rey Bustos"....It was purely because I really didn't like it one bit, I never used it, can't think of what I would throw up there that wouldn't fit inside the car (moose?). It was a good question and the answer is really just preference. Jim, when I took it off you can take it apart and it stores upright like skies. I didn't take it off to get better mileage, because it won't change that I am finding out. I did though, see a picture of a Harrier/RX330 in Europe that was a little lower and didn't have the rack and it just sealed the thought for me and I was thereafter on a mission to take the thing off. I really think it looks so beautiful "clean" but wouldn't tell people to do it unless they are sure. It wasn't easy to take off and you could do some damage to the rack or even the car and then there's no going back. I have the rack ,will keep it and when RXes are a little older, I have that and two steering wheels to sell. Yes, I put after market wood trim in my car, I bought a birds eye maple shifter and a wood/leather steering wheel for my "Princess". I was told at the time that the 400hes didn't come with the wood trim..which I thought was horrible. I hated the brushed aluminum and made it all wood and it is now fabulous. I drove a loaner 330 with a wooden steering wheel and I almost didn't want my car back after that with its leather only steering wheel so I went on eBay and got a wood/leather one. I am a nut that way. I also love the chrome nerf bars that I saw on on RX at the dealership so I went on eBay...(I have an extra pair if anyone wants them,they are used...I accidentally bid on two pair! silly me, I won both bids! ayayayayee...) . But again, it was personal preference...like the shoes that we buy. I did notice that the car is a wee bit quieter without the rack, a lot quieter on the highway without it, I mean it is afterall a THING on top of the car!.... but again, don't do it unless you were like me and hated the sight of it. So, it's a bit quieter and it looks cleaner....but then again this is such a "Rey" thing... I put a Beatles Sgt Pepper round decal on the back bumper and most people would shudder at the thought of a decal on their 50k car! But it's my "Princess", she's paid for and she makes me smile. Toodle-loo, Rey