Newlexushybidguy

Hi: End of lease coming up on my 07 RX 400h. I'm okay with miles, but wife and kids have been a bit rough on the car, so I'll probably get dinged pretty good if I just turn it in and walk away. Considering trading in for a new 450h but don't want the increased payments. Are there good deals now? What are people paying for it? My cap cost was about $43K for the 07 (loaded) and I won't be wiling to pay much more for the new one. I am also considering buying my vehicle. How negotiable (if at all) is the residual price? Does Lexus offer financing for buying your leased car or do you need to finance it like any used car? I think my preference would be to extend the lease for about a year. Does Lexus let you do this? If so, how does this work? Does Lexus set a new residual value and you pay the difference between the old and new residual costs plus interest (good deal) or do you just continue with the same payment for the extended period (bad deal)? I'd really be interested in hearing from anyone with knowledge or recent experience regarding these options. Thanks.

I love our 400h FWD. We've had it since May and its been great. However, I've noticed that after stopped at a red light on a hill, once I let go of the brake the car will start to roll backwards. I also noted while parallel parking on a hill, that the car started to roll forward while in reverse. I almost hit the car in front of me! I've never experienced this in an auto tranny before. Is this normal for this car? The dealer says yes and acts like its no big deal. I find it quite disconcerting.

After leasing my new RX 400H last week, I was very surprised to receive a credit card from Lexus Financial with a large credit line. I never applied for the credit card. I immediately canceled it, but it really *BLEEP*ed me off that I was issued a credit card I never requested. Has anyone else heard of this practice? Is this even legal?

Expecting my 07 RX 400h tomorrow. Any advice, pitfalls, cool hints?