SOMEONE ELSE'S GOT MY NAME

The 400h is designed to run on either (discussed at length in many an other thread ... thus, the search tool is a wonderful thing :D ) . . . that being said, you WILL get slightly better mileage running a higher octane gas. The differenct is just enough to offset the added expense, too.

Never been a fan of wheel spacers. As you know, MT finds Studs to be legal, so once December 1 hits (if we're up there), we just load up the studded set, take 'em down to big 'O' and have them put the studded set on 'till the end of April. Your point is well taken as far as ALL our winters not being in MT in the 400h. We HAVE only done one whole winter there w/ the 400h. The other 2 were in the Ford Exploader. The full winter we did there wasn't the toughest for the 400h . . . rather the MILD one was. That affords the melt-off to re-freez over night. Then, you have that black ice. But with good momentum, even that's ok. Black ice and momentum and then the eventual uphill curves ... THAT can do you in :D

Sounsd like sound advise . . . from a dealer. Actually I take it back ... even a dealer ought not tell you that. So the light is on . . . and no big deal? That light just so happens, to let you know your airbag restraint system is inactive. Would you dole out the same great advise to defective seat belt bolts? Why not? Errr, because maybe you want to know you will be protected? Yes, that light IS for a reason. One of the earlier posts already pointed that most important fact out. It's NOT just a light bulb ... anymore than saying the red "no oil pressure" type lights are "just" lights. Folks, DON'T ignore the little lights ... they ARE there for a reason, and thay CAN save your life.

Get out your phone book. Look up attornies that concentrate on lemon laws in your area. No need to fool w/ it. They'll handle the whole enchelada, and you won't have to deal w/ the dealer any longer because your counsel will handle the whole thing at the Dealer's expense. You ought not have to hear from the dealer (ANY dealer) that this process will take some time. In fact, if you call corporate and tell them of your dissatisfaction ... and that you will be getting a lemon law attorney, watch how FAST the matter will be taken care of! Yes, individual dealerships CAN be real clueless numbnuts. You should have already been in your replacement vehicle.

Usually CA . . . but we keep the 400h up there most of the time, and I think it was 1997 that the Flathead Valley (yes, often called the bananna belt ... but does it really matter if it's -22 degrees in the valley, or at the top of Big Mountain Ski resort / Whitefish? :D ) had their deep snow record: 10+ feet of snow in the low lands ... point being ... deep snow and cold, the 400h has been just as reliable as either of the SUV's we unloaded (4x4 Explorer and our Range Rover). Anywho, we've done 3 winters (all the way thru) there since the 90's and probably 4 or 5 partial. Didn't mean to sound ambigous refering to Glacier ... it's just many folks have at least heard of Glacier. But if you say, Kalispell? ... or Lake Blain? You hear folks say, "where?". Yes, no one in their right mind would try the Glacier pass in Janury (even if it were open). Oh, and thanks for the 3rd degree . . . did I pass? :D

As RX400h aptly pointed out, the topic has been beat to death .... and thus, the search tool is a wonderful thing :D We use ours near Glacier National Park, MT and w/ snow tires your just like down town. What's intriguing is several non 400h folks (some who've never even test driven the 400h at a dealer) are quick to put it down. . . . which ultimately ends up being nothing more than a pee'n contest so to speak. Oh well.

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings Savanah, Everyone's entitled to their opinions, and if you like your MB or BMW or what ever, that's ok. And the pendulum swings both ways, so hopefully we who say we love our hybrids ... that this will be ok w/ you too ... w/o having to hear we're driving a BMW or MB wana be's? Never heard that. Maybe that's what GM used to think about Toyota ... but now toyota is #1 ... so better to work on newer / better stuff, like Toyota is doing ... after all, that's way GM is now #2. As I mentioned, we had a MB and an RR and compared to the reliability of our Lexus, many folks, including my spouse & I found them less reliable. Generally, ... MB's Caddy's etc are getting poorer reports while Toyota/Lexus gets higher marks (owners say so, and CR says so), and generally Consumer Reports (CR) gets it right. CR makes mistakes (like with the baby strollers) but they retract their neg's when someone says their wrong and shows data to back it up their point(s). CR always is willing to take a 2nd look, or a third or forth look at their data. CR made neg's about the Prius a year ago or so ... and folks contradicted their dats with other data ... so CR took a 2nd look, and when their data was wrong, they admit it. Don't know about plasmas, but again, if some one points out bad data to CR, the same thing will eventually come out. Sorry you got a squeeker Lexus, but again, generally the 400h's are not that way. A few, yes. Our neighbor got a squeeker, and the dealer took care of it. The 400h is still relatively new (tho one poster said he condiders it a couple years older a model because it's built off the 330 chassis ... but it is STILL, way different), so even those issues are becoming less and less common. But the beauty of CR is they are NOT sponsered by GM or MB or BMW or Range Rover ... unlike road & track and the like. Let's face it, when you accept $$$ from various sponsers that you'll ultimately have to write about? ... you obviously know what side of the bread the butter is on, right? Like it or not, CR's opinions ARE at lest neutral. THEIR's are the opinions that I talked about, so try not to get your shorts in a bunch if/when anyone quotes a neutral source, or their own experiences. Id DID at least acknowledge BMW handles well, for what that's worth. Oh well.

. Fortunately, you're focusing on the minority when worring about tiny trips and oil acids. Stats show the average trip folks travel to work (the major use of autos) is 19 miles. So yes, PHEV's won't work for the 10%-15% of folks that do the 3 mile runs ... less they do more oil chanages, or keep from flooring it, so the ICE never kick on at all. As for deep cycle batteries, the marine - lead acid chemestry is NOT what will be used in PHEV's. As you point out, they don't handle long term use. New chemestires ARE fit for deeper / longer use, and ther ARE home brew PHEV's already out there that have been in use for years now, and 100,000 miles ... and the chemestries are constantly being improved ... and will continue. So when they hit the market, the bugs will likely be no worse than any other new thing that hits the market. As for worring about excess pull on the grid, the idea is to plug in after 6PM because peak usage occurs between 10AM & 6PM. In fact, after 10PM, the grid is many times 80% under used! Additionally there are other alternatives, to day use plug ins. For example, several rav4-ev users, as well as other full ev users have photo cell roof tops, that not only run their entire need for home use, but for full recharge on their cars as well. It's all how you look at things. We ARE the country that put man on the moon. So filling up at home ought to be a no brainer, if we put even 2 ounces of thought into working out a simple way.

s Doesnt' work that way. The early PHEV conversion show no discernable engine wear / battery wear. Heck, there are rav4-ev's out there with excess of 100,000 miles on them. That's pure EV ... with only minimal capacity loss on their battery packs (I get mail from their list). Our hybrids have basicly the same batteries ... but theirs cycle even deeper. As for oil picking up extra moisture due to insuficient warm up, it's less likely to happen to hybrids because once the ICE DOES fire off, it stays on specifically, just to warm up both oil and emisions components, once they first cycle on. Now if the same person who has both straight ICE vehicles and a hybrid ... and they only drive 2, or 3, miles for the entire 150,000 miles or less that people normally keep cars? What are you gona do ... that person has the same cool oil issue, regardless whether he / she takes the hybrid or the ICE. They simply ought to change their oil more frequently.

Interesting and telling phrase: "I don,t care". Used in reference to a car's mileage, or the ever increasing cost of gas (inextricably related), it's meant to say something interesting. Many here in So. Cal. take their R.V.'s and boats and other toys down to the Colorado river. Gas goes up in price. $2 - $3 - $4 -. but, many folks still seem to say 'I don't care". Typically, after topping off the boat's tank(s) with a $100 bill, the owners will say the 3 words. So, hey, I'm having fun, and I got so much money that it doesn't matter - so "I don't care". Meanwhile, old man Waldon, the founder of Wallmart, and others who are VERY well to do, and others like him, that have his mind set, drive around in old beat up pick ups - or, like us in our family, we still clip coupons ... even though we certainly don't have to, and we have been blessed w/ hundreds of thousand in income per year. By "caring", we will have more to pass on to our kids, our charities, our family members in times of need, etc. It dawned on me one day, that when the likes of Mike Tyson, or some hoytie toytie football player, or an up and coming rap star spends money like it's going out of style, they're proud to be saying "I dont care" because it's a form of bragging ... because in essence, they dont have to concern their self with the trifles of keeping track of the coins. Suddenly, when these folks end up broke, they want to blame it on the manager, or someone else, rather than simple foolishness. We bought our 400h because it IS more economical than other pricy cars, and we DO care about mileage. We got rid of our Mercedes and our Range Rover because as consumer reports points out so well, the Lexus line makes the reliability of the Mercedes and the BMW and the Land Rover lines look like poo poo. Similarly, another article recently pointed out (Road & Track? . . . can't remember) that more folks with 6 figure incomes and above, are now buying Lexus, rather than BMW's for the simple fact of 'the bottom line' ... which means that many well off folks are NOT saying "I dont care". We DO have to schlep customers around in our lines businesses, so we need to have SOME kind of a nice car (no old beat up pick ups) that our customers would expect. But it's ok to factor other things into purchases of gas, or cars ... things like reliability, the value of a dollar, impact on the environment, funding al queda, and other intrinsic motives. Sure, fit and finish are greater on this car or that ... and a such and such type cars can really plow through cornering ... (heck, indy cars do that ... but when they hit oil or debris it's all over) ... and some Lexus' squeek ... botom line, it's still the best thing going right now, for what it is.

Doesn't matter . . . whether you drive 10, 20, or 50 miles prior to ICE fireing off. As soon as the vehicle hits appx 31mph, the electric motor 'spins-up' up the ICE, to a matching speed, so that when the ICE finally does fire off (which will always happen by 41mph on flat ground - no head wind) - the ICE, though not yet burning any gas, will be sufficiently lubricated. Gotta give those toyota engineers credit ... they thought of everything ;)

No one w/ decent snow tires has ever needed to disconect their T/C. That being said, it will be disabled if the speed sensors are disconected ... but you didn't hear it from me.

Maybe someone dropped a cel phone down between the seats? Some phones have that sound when they give off reminder noises, that a call came in.

When the light comes on, it means the system is disabled . . . a 'major' system failure, for purposes of California Lemon law. Tell your dealer, this is your third time (if I read your posts properly) and now it's time for them to GIVE you a new car ... because they definately don't want you to go to a lemon law attorny. Because if you do, they have to pay him/her, AND give you a new car. Or, at your option, you can continue to let them fiddle with it, until your patience has run out.

Many states have Lemon Laws, modeled after Californias, where if your car has a major item (including lurching) go bad, they get 3 chances to make it right. After that, you get a full refund or new car. Check to see if Mass. has lemon laws, then bring it up with the dealer. You'll be surprised how fast they'll jump. ;)

Being only about an hour north of you (and reletives in San Diego), I'm fully aware how nice and mild your weather is. Only Hawaii has a warmer - mild year-round temperature. That being said, why would anyone in S.D. want to run multi vis oil? You say you want to run your oil for extended mileage, but the multi vis factor is one of the things that breaks down over extended time. That's another reason to NOT over-run your oil. As to multi vis oil, on the other hand, WE travel from here to MT a few times a year. THERE, one could justify multi vis oil, because the temps run from minus temps, to 95+. But when we bring the 400h down to so. cal permanently, expecially here, where our temps are so mild, the low vis factor is simply a waste . . . even if your just going up to the local ski lifts, the temps are seldom lower than 20+. IMO.

You can take comfort in the fact that there have been NO reported cased of the supposed RFI (radio frequency interference) that Toyota/Lexus warns about. In fact, a typical cel phone only puts out about 250 miliwatts. That's virtually NO RFI. I run a ham radio that put out over 200 times that much power (100 watts ... now THAT'S RFI !!) and have never seen any interference effect ... and that's typical. The only gripe (if you can even consider this a gripe) has been if you're standing real close to the car, the system may still think the fob is in the car, and won't let you lock it. Solution: Quit leaning on the car when you lock it Count your blessings that you've never had the smart fob. Man o man, I have yet to talk to anyone who'd prefer to go back to mechanical keys, once they've used a smart fob. As for more gizmos in our cars? If you want more display info, try the CAN-VIEW (do a google search). It wont be heads up, but it'll turn your MFD into one major source of info. More data than ought to be legally allowed :D I've seen the sterio removed and swapped out for one of those DVD sterio aftermarket devices. That way, the CAN-VIEW screen will display on the DVD screen, while you still have access to the MFD. TWO data screens ~ for sensory overload ;) edit: whoops! Probably should of put an example link ; http://www.hybridinterfaces.ca/graphics.html

Kinda curious. Why is it good news that a 'Luxury' SUV uses the same 60+ year old ignition switch technology? . . . I mean really . . . a mechanical spring loaded ignition? Sheesh. Part of the beauty of the smart FOB is its integrated ignition disabling feature (a key switch is way easier to defeat), where you don't even have to take it out of your pocket to enter the car, or start it. And if you DO leave it in the car, it can't be locked in the car (unless you go through a convoluted process to deliberatly lock it in) . . . so if Lexus wants to tout itself as forward thinking / leading edge, I'd think that they'd WANT to already have it . . . at least as an option, if not standard. I won't buy another 400h until it DOES have smart entry / ignition. The potential for cell phone (or any other radio modulated signal for that matter) interference is printed in all smart FOB literature in the manual. We've had our Prius since '04. So Mr. Late breaking news story Journalist is about three years late with his news flash. :P

That is no true,. but it is what I thought when I first got the car. I all depends on how light your foot touches the pedal. Someone else mentioned they were able to run on battery only at 55 MPH. I didn't think it could be done until I learned how to do it myself and now under proper conditions I can get he car to run on battery only at 55. All you need to do is get the car up over 55 then just back off on the pedal and let the car slow down. It only works if you are on a flat road or a slight downgrade. I doubt if it saves much gas but it is kind of fun to do, sort of like a personal challenge, and . . . . . . . Go to priuschat.com and type in the search term, 'pulse & glide'. You'll find A) That is what you are describing, and that there ARE a number of folks doing it B ) That pulse & glide can significantly increase your mileage. Funny thing is, here on the lexus site ... very few folks care to bother with seeing whether they can achieve 40mpg. Rather, it's all about the comfort ... all about the power, etc. But on the Prius site, the folks are more into mileage ... and some, rather than get 60mpg, have gone above 70mpg ! ! My best in the prius has been 61.7mpg on 9.5 gallons (over 600 miles on a small tank of gas) My best in the 400h has been 33.5mpg. One of these days I'd LOVE to find out how many miles I can travel on the 400h's tank. Yes, small things entertain me, too.

That chart is missing THE single most important item to hypermilers (not important to many Lexus owners, but to us Prius owners, more important). "Rolling Resistance" I'm at work, & don't have THAT link at my fingertips. The rolling resistance issue seems to be a closly garded secret between tire manufacturers, because it's not readily doled out . . . and yes, the Hydroedge doesn't come in the 400h size, but there IS a very similar (compound) version of it that does. Again, it's at home. MX4? Something like that.

Hi Skyfish, We've had our Michelin Hydroedge's on the Prius and run the max safe pressure & they're wearing great. Very long warranty, and the wear appears to be right on scheduel. Our 400h Goodyears are shot and will be replaced w/ the same Michelins in just a couple weeks (TWICE A YEAR costco sale ... I've seen several folks here go waaah waaah due to Michelin hig prices ... but costco? during the twice a year sale? Great!). Mileage dropped just a tiny bit, but with the 90K mile warranty (WOW ! !) ~ that more than makes up for it.

That's why no one elected you the end all - beat all of hybrid tire knowledge Our Prius has Michelin Hydroedge's that are warranted for 90K. They're right on track. It's the manufacturer, my friend. The original OP must have been trolling because the tires would still be under warranty w/ only 10K miles on them

Not different, similarly incorrect. Its been widely discussed that the recommended tire pressure is too low. The MAX tire pressure (goodyear anyway) is 46 psi. I've been running the latter half of my tire wear at 46 psi to make up for the uneven wear caused by running them at 32 which the Lexus dealer recommended. Also, I tend to corner a bit harder than most drivers (when I'm alone at least) so that puts extra wear on the edges too. For these reasons I come down on the high side of the tire pressure debate at 40 psi. But If you start there and watch for uneven wear in the center, you can always run lower... in the mean time, you get better MPG and handling. YMMV (litterally) Running 46lbs on tires rated for 46lbs fails to allow for heat expansion. Tires can EASILY expand 5lbs on warm days, and thus one would be asking for trouble. Sure, running higher pressure than stated will benefit you, but too much of a good thing is NOT a good thing. don't take my word for it . . .as your local tire person, & they'll tell you the same thing . . . that running on the harry edge of too many lbs is courting touble. That being said; As for a rougher ride ... sure the stock tires will feel worse at higher pressure. After they quickly wear out, get a nice set of Michelins ... like the Energy MX4's. Not only will they wear 2X better ... they'll handle way better at elevated pressures. ok that's my 2 cents ... after 1.5 years and 17K miles of 400h experience.

Take a photo, time date the imprint with your favorite photo program. A little safer to store the photo than a used filter. Save receipt as well. For me, decades ago when do-it-yourself was the only affordable option, you just saved your filter/oil receipts that you got, every 2 or 3 months. That way, if it were to ever come up as an issue for warranty, the receipts served to show the change happened. Realisticly . . . how many here, have had their ICE freeze up during the warranty period, where oil changes was an issue? I'd guess none. And who hasn't seen crusty thick oil / under maintained filters where the engines continure to run past the warranty period? It's amazing how forgiving the ICE is, when under maintained.

you are one of many. A lot of people dont want to give Lexus 100+ dollars to do something so simple. I still go there cause i dont know how...lol...and dont care to learn any time soon. seems so icky. :P Good Year sends out coupons a few time a year for $12 oil changes. With a price like that ... hassle of dumping, etc ... you'd be nuts to do it your self. Let the dealer do it? Yea, that's nuts on TOP of nuts :P oh! So the speed sensosr disconect is different for the '07? Never heard that . . . but to answer your question about whether it has any other effect, yes. Many consider it a positive effect. Namely, if you're on ice, starting to get wheel spin, the traction control will do a disconect, and many here have bitched bitterly (rather than simply get killer snow tires or studs, if legal ... but that's another topic) about that issue. With the module disconected, you can "spin 'em" 'till you blow the high voltage system, and void your warranty. Now THAT's a down side.