Gryphon

I tried nitrogen, added for free at Costco, in two RX400h's and a Porsche 968, and monitored the cold pressures closely. In all three vehicles (12 tires), I lost about 4 psi in about 2 months. I found this unacceptable. I couldn't adjust pressures in my garage and didn't want to make monthly trips to Costco so I dumped the nitrogen and went back to good old air. Tom

Unfortunately, dear, I suspect that the damage may already be done by the solvents in the nail polish. Testing an inconspicuous area is a great idea. Second would be to make a test "spot" of nail polish and try various solvents. Don't underestimate things like Goo-Gone etc., when left for a period of minutes/hours. Tom

What else do the speed sensors do, should one "inadvertently" disconnect them? Tom

Aren't the 2007 side mouldings physically different from the 2006? If so you would need to buy the entire 2007 mouldings. Another solution would be to order a custom license plate frame. I saw them marketed at a local UPS Store this week. Tom

I doubt that you will hear anything from Lexus about fixing "little quirky things" before they have sold out of the 2007s. Tom

I don't know how much of Arizona's reasoning stems from Federal guidelines but here is the official announcement from February: " Several types of fuel-efficient “hybrid” cars will now be allowed to use the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Arizona’s highways. Typically, use of those lanes is restricted to vehicles carrying multiple passengers, but under the new Energy Efficient Pilot Program, qualified hybrids – even with a lone driver – will also be able to occupy the HOV lanes. The pilot is part of the Governor’s Clean Air Initiative and begins immediately. Vehicles that are able to achieve a 45 percent increase in combined city/highway fuel efficiency are eligible to participate in the program. Currently, three types of vehicles qualify: the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. Owners of those cars will need to apply for the program through the Motor Vehicle Division of ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation). Once admitted to the pilot, owners will receive a special license plate, as well as a special sticker indicating the car is a part of the pilot. The program is limited to 10,000 vehicles on a first-come, first served basis. There are currently approximately 9,000 of these types of cars registered in Arizona. The pilot program will remain in place while the EPA continues its long-term rule-making process for the use of HOV lanes." Tom

I have no quarrels with your octane data, but I was not aware that Lexus changed the engine specifications between 2006 and 2007. For that matter I'm not sure I have ever read any horsepower ratings for the RX400h. I do know from hard experience and several conversations with Lexus engineers that I was probably unwise to use regular fuel in my 91 LS400 for several years. Tom

I wound up ordering an 08 RX350 because I only drive 6000 miles a year and it made no sense to pay a premium for a hybrid. I figured I woud have to drive 25000 miles a year to break even if I went green and besides by driving the limited mileage I am already green. Does anyone know how I can change my personal profile in this group? I'm not sure why you thought that the RX400h requires premium. The owner's manual clearly states that the 400h requires 89 octane fuel. In my book, that's midgrade gas! Most new vehicles have knock sensors that will essentially communicate to the engine control computer that timing needs to be dialed back a bit. This is also true if very warm weather causes the engine to knock. Therefore, you can actually run regular gas in an RX400h, although power will be a bit lower. Dave I'm not sure what manual you have but my 2007 manual clearly states "premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher." Tom

Following is a letter to the editor of Car and Driver magazine a few months back. I think it states the case for choosing a hybrid quite well. "In your long-term 2006 Lexus RX400h AWD story (April 2007), you use a common financial argument which suggest that buying hybrids often doesn't pay. In doing so, you miss a huge point that does our nation and our troops abroad a disservice. You write, "Assuming premium gasoline stays at $2.39 a gallon, it would take more than 91,000 miles of driving the RX400h to recoup that $3800 difference in base price compared with the RX350. That's a lot of driving. Purely on a financial basis, it doesn't make sense to pay the extra money for the RX400h, unless you're thinking it will help save the planet." No! The issue is not just how much money one saves or spends but also where that money goes. In other words, even if I don't drive 91,000 miles, I'd rather give a little extra money to a hybrid automaker, realizing that in doing so I'm sending less money to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Environmental issues aside, any effort that saves gasoline reduces the money we send to the largely unfriendly countries from whom we purchase oil and the anti-American cause they often fund or support."

Mark, the starter battery in the RX400h is somewhat small but I assume adequately sized for it's purpose of starting a small V-6 engine. The correct way to diagnose the condition of your battery is to fully charge it (best done with a AC charger, not by driving) then do a load test. Almost any place that sells batteries has a load tester, although many have inexperienced kids working there who are not well trained. Tom

Righ-o....the shower will be the first stop after getting home. In Northeast Ohio, especially in the town I live in, there are few to none at peoples houses. The emergency dip is not an option :P Might this be dancing attire? LOL http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=38434

Wahoo! Thank you for not thinking of us as sweaty! Our BIG show is tomorrow.... outside...88 degrees is the forcast. We've been practing 8-10 hours extra a week & even inside in this heat... well it's not preety. :cries: Naw, that's what they make showers for. :whistles: Of course, here in Arizona, virtually everyone has a swimming pools for emergency cooling off. Tom

I have always found dancers to be VERY sexy.. Tom

I agree, my RX has the first radio in years that has decent AM reception. Tom

Does anyone have the actual alignment specs for the RX400h? Tom

I think its because usually anything that is pretty: house, car, boat,etc., is referred to as pretty and of course females represent beauty. Tom

GASSIPR?

As far as Arizona goes, the RX400h does not qualify for the HOV lanes. Tom

This is the most comprehensive article I've read on the RX400h. Thanks for finding it, Bob. Tom

Such a a great forum. I had the same symptoms on my 91 LS400 and found two broken wires under the trunk hinge. My car again has 4 gears instead of two. Thanks, friends. Tom

Both manuals spoken for and off to new homes. Tom

That's faster than Kawasaki's claimed top speed for the 12R. Is it stock? Tom

I ran across this brand of cargo liners, considerably cheaper than Weathertech and Lexus. (FYI, I bought and returned the Lexus liner because I was not particularly impressed with the quality, nor more important to me, its anti-skid characteristics.) http://www.highlandusa.com/category_produc...p;template_id=7 Has anyone heard of this company or seen it's products? Tom

Randy and Neel, you have emails. Tom

Bump.....I really hate to just throw these manuals away. No interest? Tom