SOMEONE ELSE'S GOT MY NAME

hybrid badges are like your car's chosen paint color ... or your kid's looks, for that matter. You love what you love. To ask someone, "Is this ugly" means you're gona hurt someone's fealings because folks will be on both sides of the fense ... it's like my wife asking me, "how does this make me look". Just say what you gota say in a way that doesn't bury you, and move on. With that in mind? oh yea, I love 'em all ... colors, sizes, hybrid badges, tires, fenders, sterio, you name it. Gutless coward? Maybe, but I aint sleepin' on the couch tonigh, right? :D

I'd agree ... being another 400h upper northwest mountain type snow/ice/slush driver. Tho in Montana, we got a set of studs for all 4 corners. No discernable difference in cars sliding off the road. We turned in our Ford Exploader (studs / 4wd) for the 400h. We've never 'lost-it' in the 400h but DID loose it once in the Exploader. Both did us very well in tough conditions. But to each his/her own.

BTW Hen, I see from your avatar info you don't have a hybrid. The Toyota/Lexus HSD Hybrids don't have alternators. The aux battery is charged off the high voltage traction battery system, which in turn is recharged via the hybrid's electric motor(s). Don't feel bad, as many hybrid owners don't grasp the nifty-ness of the hsd. That said, some folks here have switched over to the yellowtop Optima (we did our 04 Prius when it hit 65K miles), which actually has "cranking amps". The little OEM aux battery isn't designed to do as heavy a work load, so the yellowtop is a nice alternative, even if you're just changing out a defective battery. It'll give you that little extra benefit if/when you're not driving much, or only taking short trips, which doesn't give much time for recharge. The topic has been written here on several other occasions. The search tool can be your friend :D Good Luck!

I respect each member's view, and having said that, I'm presuming you feal that oilman T Boon Pickens: http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/10/t-boon...ghbor/#more-653 . . . . and Shell's premier Geo Scientist Dr Hubbert: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._King_Hubbert . . . . are incorrect when they, as well as our own intelegence bureaus: http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpWESSEX/Docum...lseypeakoil.htm . . . . speak of Hubbert's curve, peak oil, and the like. Personally, our own personal "be safe" philosophy is to hope for the best, while you prepare for the worst. That said, our primary residence is in south O.C. coast ares, while our other home is in the Flathead Valley MT. ;)

Checked your alignment lately? Tire pressure? Many here were lead to believe the door sticker's pressure value, which ended up being incorrect too.

Welcome to the ONLY service going, in the Flathead Valley Montana :P . . . we'd have to drive our RX400h 100's of miles one way, to get to a Lexus dealer. The RX sits on the same chassis as the camry, I believe, and has most of the same components as the highlander, so yep . . . the Toyota dealer is certainly the next best place to go ... if not the exact same service.

I'm going to have mine sewn under my skin :P Actually, for those who can't stand to have just a fob in their pocket, Toyota DOES offer an alternative. For a few hundred extra, you can do THIS: http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/29/toyotas...try-wristwatch/

So you say we can discuss opinions but not taste? So I can't discuss the fact that I don't like the styling of the R class but you can hammer the RXh on...basically everything and thats okay? I get it...we can discuss whatever opinions we want...so long as they're yours. You're a trip lol. I think its an ugly vehicle, sorry. I wouldn't reccomend it to any of my friends (line from your first tirade). No kidding. Man, I never heard someone get their panties in such a bunch just because someone gets 29mpg. God forbid anyone ever tell 'im that some of us here get in the 30's :P . . . even tho it's awd. Drive slow, or drive fast ... but baggin' on someone? What ever floats you gas gauge. You'd think if someone loves MB's so much they'd be posting over on the MB boards. Or writing Consumer Reports to complain about them reporting on MB's low quality / reliability. Meanwhile, Lexus takes #1 in reliability for the year. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=l...one+reliability But don't get me wrong, my wife can get as low as 25mpg by making nothing but short trips & gunning from one red light to the next, like all those folks "whose time is sooooo important" :P

Or, if you want to save a few extra dollars: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Engine-Air-...p4506.m20.l1116 In other words, yes, there's lots & lots of online dealers, as well as your local auto parts joint.

First, your avatar doesn't show what year your 400h is, so there's no way to say w/ accuracy. Best bet? call costaletech's toll free # and ask them. Generally, if you have the DVD screens built into the rear of the front seat headrests, you'll be able to access from the NAV DVD box under the rear compartment ... which is easier then accessing behind the MFD. But even getting behind the MFD really isn't too hard. But don't just presume the 'general rule' applies to you. Check w/ coastaletech.

If you truly want THE killer gadget to moniter (everything from) fuel consumption, mpg (to SOC, engine temps, ad nausium) and more, then get yourself a canview. You can get 'em with a simple led readout, or hook 'em up to a DVD screen as a moniter source: http://hybridinterfaces.ca/trips.html Heck, Ive even seen one geek hook it up so it would read right through the MFD. They continually upgrade their systems, for newer hybrids, and they even upgrade their hardware on occasion. You'll have enough data to destract you right off the highway Enjoy ps, rxrey I find your 3% accuracy about right. But turning on one drive or the other, for us, that 3% might be high OR low. And when you're talking (liberally) 30mpg ... well heck that aint much ... maybe 1/2mpg or less.

There are several companies around that use this product for advertising their business. That way the business can splatter colorfull / loud / pictures all over the car. When it comes time to change adds, or just return the car to a normal paint job, removal (as well as initial purchase of the tape) is way cheeper than if they'd have painted on ads, then sanded 'em off / and repainted. Behold: http://www.efi.com/products/production/sup...cs/images/1.asp I first noticed this on a Prius, since we have one. Then when we got our 3rd bid for solar panels, the rep drove up in another Prius, covered in the material with pictures of the sun, PV panels, company logo etc. Looks pretty good.

Wow, that UK autocar website didn't even bother to paste a less phony picture. That's the old pic being passed around for over a year and a half of the next gen prius ... long before Toyota/Lexus ever considered making a Lexus version prius.

Don't EVEN get me started on THAT CS design . There was NO acceptable excuse, though some here, have tried to rationalize why it was ok for Lexus to use SEVENTYFIVE year old mechanicle key technology (:cries: ), in an otherwise modern HSD system. Suposedly, it'll be in the 2009's.

Many experts (geology / economics) are saying based off the basics of supply & demand say $200/barrel in less than 5yrs ... conservatively. With inflation, that means we'll still be paying less than the EU or asia ... a measly $6.50 ish a gallon. http://www.cftc.gov/stellent/groups/public...rudeoil0708.pdf People get too excited over a little drop in price. (It came about simply because the U.S. finally started serious conservation ... but it only takes a couple months before the rest of the worlds demands picks up that slack) I wouldn't run out and buy back that Suburban. After a bit of downward price drops, we'll go up & up & up & up ... then down a bit ... then up & up & up & up, then down a bit ... and so on. Don't get me wrong, I like paying only $29 to fill the smaller hybrid, instead of $32.

Anyone remember the 1972 coup z honda ? Equally tiny with its whopping 35hp 600cc air cooled motorcycle engine? http://www.ioperformance.com/Honda%20AZ600...01_image004.jpg At 6'-5" you can imagine how much like a clown I looked like as I unfolded to get out of the car :D Actually, with the seat all the way back into the rear seat, it wasn't to shabby. Funny lookin' but not too shabby. I know how Shack must feal.

Equally a blessing for us. The worst on the list was Land Rover, made by Range Rover. 2 1/2 years ago, we traded in our 3 ton monster for the Lexus RX400h. Talk about going from (reliability & MPG) bad to best. woo hoo! If we'd have waited 'till gas passed $4 gallon nationally, we wouldn't have been able to even get $1,800 trade in value for that beast. Dodged a bullet and used up all our luck for this millenium :P

Do you still have your lockpick available for sale? thanks Welcome Irazabul, Don't just presume any ol' lockpick will work for your Lexus. There are a bunch of different models, turning on what features you want to over-ride, and turning on what year your Lexus is, and what version your NAV DVD is. If you simply jump on the first 'deal' ~ used or new, without checking out which features it'll come with ... your experience can go sour. If you plan it out, and know what kind of installation it'll require, the process can be quite pleasing. Good luck! Not only NAV override. Many find the bluetooh phone over ride the biggest plus, because the old fashion menu over ride would only let you access the NAV - and you still couldn't dial your phone on the fly ... whereas the lockpick lets you do both. I love ours. .

Actually, at 36K miles, our 400h's look new. One of the more common issues w/ hybrids has been rust forming on the calipers from lack of use. Unless you request more than a moderate bit of breaking, the regen does it all. We've had to deliberately give a good shove on the break pedal on a couple occasions just to get the oxide crust down. But I'd rather have that issue than shoe wear, personally.

I'm stickin' with a hybrid.

Like it's not sick enough to skim next to the mountain edge, but watch close & you see he'll roll over on his back for a while and fly belly up ... and when that's not enough, a couple summersalts. (shaking head)

Our GoodYears were gone by 12K & we opted for Michelin replacements too. That was nearly 30K miles ago. Our main concern wasn't comfort, but rather wear & low rolling resistance. After Costco (WAY best price during their sale) installed them, I started reading about the benefits of higher tire pressures. The hybrid sights had people in the know saying it isn't a risk ... that you wouldn't cause your tires to do a hindenburg ... and the mpg's would go up. So I raised the pressures ... then raised 'em a little more ... then a little more. Nearly 30K miles later, & you can't even tell our tires are used. I love it. Great wear. Yea, the ride is not as smooth. But being a slow poke, we don't bomb over speedbumps or pile through hairpin corners anyway. Our mpg's went way up - from 26 into the 30's ... and we have the heavier AWD version. Sounds creepy, but we run 47lbs with NO adverse wear. Believe it or not, some run even higher pressure w/ no ill effects ... but that's beyond my comfort zone. I always had tires go bald on the outer edge 20 years ago. I don't know how they make 'em now days, but we just aren't getting any adverse wear patterns. Way to go, Michelins.

Don't expect State Farm to ever write you a life insurance policy, as your odds of longevity can't be too long.

Sorry, but that guy on the side of the building? He aint got NOTHING on THIS way crazy bunch of fellows: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lWF8KV4IW5o I'd put money on their very short life span. All you can say is ... " Woooah !! "

The who thread is a bit of irony. Lexus is a pricy way to go in the UK. So you'd think that folks in the UK that can afford a pricy car would also be able to string a Q together in an understandable manner. So that blows my steriotype. Anywho, I hope the bloke that asked the question has thick skin, because it looks like we're all quick to jump on the whole grammer thing w/ a ton of dry humor. So, in the same vein, here's my attempt to anser the question with dry humor. Ready? OK. Below is the answer to the OP's question: Well ]thatv6thik 230for i mayb2e 3=9yif2,=don't gtknow 96o9Lesu69s Gla2d to ]3=d45=y0-35ityd help!! kofy :P Sorry, but I couldn't resist