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zembl

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Everything posted by zembl

  1. I was looking into this also. The new 2008 Highlander Hybrid is a thorough redesign and does have some good features that are not available on the RX. For example, the smart key and the mp3 inputs are big things for me. I love the smart key in my prius and hate the half baked solutions for adding an ipod to a car that doesn't have it ready to be plugged in. These are all the differences that I could find between the new design 2008 highlander and old design 2008 RX: the new Highlander has -- and the RX doesn't have: Smartkey third row (can delete if you don't want it) mp3 input more cargo space EV button for hybrid 19" wheels driver's seat cushion extension dual dash LCDs (main one is really large) flip-up lift gate window Auxilary engine cooler fan control on rear vents cruise on steering wheel cargo area tiedowns rear reading lights 95 cu. ft. cargo (vs 85 for RX) 5000 lbs towing capacity (vs 3500 for RX) 59.7" shoulder room (vs 57.9 for RX) 1" (front) 2" (rear) more leg room cheaper But the old RX has (and the new Highlander doesn't have): memory seats/mirrors/steering wheel headlight washers xenon headlights turning headlights real wood trim "retained accessory power" (whatever that is -- I think a power jack in the back if you get the dvd player) auto dimming outside mirrors 4 one touch power windows (vs just drivers on highlander) passenger seat height and lumbar adjustment driver seat adjustable 10 ways (vs 8 for highlander) faster (at least hybrid Lexus is faster than hybrid toyota, and maybe non-hybrid also?) laser cruise rain sensing wipers Mark Levinson stereo better warranty nicer (but more expensive) service dept. Ultimately I decided that memory seats are essential when two different people drive the car and without memory seats I can't buy the new Highlander which I otherwise would have because of the smartkey which is a great convenience but not as essential as memory seats and mirrors which are an important safety feature.
  2. there is a General Discussions forum if you'd like to post information that is completely off topic. People reading this thread have clicked on it b/c they want to read and share information about a new Lexus hybrid. If you don't have anything useful to contribute, please don't waste other people's time with off topic posts. Back on topic: here is some more info re a new Lexus hybrid from: http://www.reuters.cz/article/idUST33122520070629 TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to launch in 2009 the first dedicated hybrid model for its Lexus luxury line, Automotive News reported on its Web site. Citing Lexus UK Director Steve Settle, the industry journal said the model was expected to be priced between the 30,000 euro ($40,310) IS sedan and the 51,000 euro ($68,520) RX400h hybrid sport utility vehicle, making it the cheapest hybrid under the Lexus brand, it said.
  3. From the NYT: "Toyota said it planned to develop a new hybrid-electric car specifically for its Lexus division as well as another new hybrid for the Toyota brand. It said it would unveil both at the 2009 Detroit show. " http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/business...ref=automobiles Anyone else have any more info?
  4. I agree with you on most of those points. although the transmission on the 400h is very smooth, but it is still embarassing to have such a junky nav system and no mp3 input, and no smart key. But the headlights swivel!!
  5. Let me guess . . . pohanka? That may be common when there is a trade in. Once I negotiated a good price on a new acura, then we negotiated a good price on my trade in. But when they did the paperwork, they raised the price on the Acura and raised the price on my trade in by the same amount so that it looked like they sold the new acura at full sticker. (this was in a jurisdiction that at the time only charged sales tax on the price difference -- I think some places don't do that anymore so i only cared about the difference and not the listed sales price).
  6. good job. That's a great way to do it -- Never even walk into the dealership. But I'm curious, when do you (or did you) actually sign the purchase agreement? Ideally it wouldn't be until they deliver it to your house and you can look over the car. And certainly you wouldn't give them more than a nominal deposit before taking delivery. And just to be clear, the price quoted should include the bottom line price paid to the dealer including everything except TTL (the variable (depending on jurisdiction) fees paid to government: Tax, title, license/registration. ) Sometimes they will say: the purchase price for the vehicle is X + Y doc fee, + Z delivery fee etc. when you thought the agreed price was X. and how did you get the MSRP upto 51.6? laser cruise? ML stereo? Rear dvd? I've heard those are all only available by special order in most parts of the country. and how long did it take from order until delivery?
  7. so what was the price? and where? VA and MD lexus dealers will quote about 3-4k off sticker over email. It seems that nearly ALL the 400hs in NoVa sticker at right around 49.9k (with nav, leather, premium plus etc. -- no Mark Lev or laser cruise). Pohanka will do 3.5k off sticker; other Lexus dealers, especially the ones near baltimore (Len Stoler, Towson) will do a little (500-1.5k) lower. Keep in mind, even at some Lexus dealers, they are still a car dealer, and they still try to rip you off any way possible. Trust nothing they tell you orally and make them put in writing anything that is important to you. When you buy they ask you to sign 500 pieces of paper about a bunch of crap about refusing paint protection junk. don't sign any of it. Just sign the sale document, the registration application, the stuff you have to sign. IF they complain when you refuse just get up and walk. They don't need all the paperwork which is just to try to trick you into buying a bunch of crap or getting their financing. They will also pull your credit report without making it clear that that is what they are doing and try to get you their financing even when you tell them you are paying cash. Even at Lexus the car dealers still can't help themselves from being scummy. I had a much better experience when I bought my prius from Koons -- they knew I was no nonsense and didn't try to sell a bunch of crap and waste my time or theirs. Pohanka lexus could learn quite a bit from koons toyota about how to sell a car and how to respect their customers. Pohanka wasted my time to try to scam a few extra hundred and I ended up walking and they lost a sale. Len Stoler was a little cheaper and did a much better job not wasting my time with scams and more than made up for the time to drive out there.
  8. I'm not moderating. I'm making a suggestion that posts in a thread actually involve the topic in a thread title. None of these comments bear even remotely on the new RX 2009. Enjoy the oil discussion free-for-all. The OTHER lexus forum has a more informative discussion that is actually about the *2009* *RX* info. They would stop building them very shortly after WE stop buying them.
  9. please start another thread if you want to have conversation about oil. this thread is for information on the new rx.
  10. Any update on the new RX? It seems to be delayed until 2009. this site below seems to have most info. http://community.myride.com/kickapps/servi...282&as=3898 Some highlights: "The next RX is currently set to be offered in 2 versions, the standard 5 passenger (similar to todays RX) and the long wheelbase 7 passenger version. There are fully produced versions of each driving around in the US today. Next, the 6-Speed transmission will make it to the next RX. And finally, the RX will get a boost in power to bring it around the 300hp mark. This is done with improvements to the current engine of the RX350, not a new engine. "The interior of the RX will be all new – the dash pushed much farther forward to open up the cabin. The LCD screen is also being super sized to a whopping 9 inches! Now that caused a problem – the LCD was too far away to reach. So Lexus did a lot of research and came up with a very Apple like answer. The next RX WILL (yes WILL, not might or should) have a touch-pad located between the front two seats (near todays cup holders) that navigates a pointer on the larger 9 inch main screen. It's like reaching down to grab your mouse on your computer – easy to do without looking at where your fingers are. The RX will also be available with 20-inch tires (smaller 18-inches will be standard)." It seems nice, but I don't know if I can wait that long -- this site says it won't be out until SPRING 2009. http://www.thecarconnection.com/pf/Enthusi...178.A13214.html "The RX will be undergoing a major update for the 2009 model year, with production beginning in late December of 2008, toward an on-sale date of early spring of 2009." and some more info: http://thepassionatepursuit.com/category/rx400h/
  11. Errr, nope/ Better watch the video again. No SKS for either model . . . which ticks me no end. That there key hole (75 year old technology) on the collum is a dead giveaway. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=121374 Errr, nope. Better get information from a source other than the "tee vee" again. Smartkey is available on the Highlander. "Clever and convenient standard features include: a third-row bench seat with foldable headrests for a flat rear cargo area, a rear glass hatch for quick access to the rear cargo area (optional on Base grade), and Smart Key System with Push Button Start for Limited." http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/highlander/pr.pdf
  12. Doesn't seem necessary to quote the entire long msg. but anyway, where wld the memory buttons go -- usually they are on the door panel? And how can I be sure that seatbelts and airbags will all work properly? ripping out the brand new seats and putting in something from ebay doesn't seem like a good solution. memory seats seem to be one thing toyota/lexus use to distinguish brands.
  13. On my treo phone I just hit a button on the phone to switch to phone instead of headset/bluetooth connection.
  14. I was looking into this also. The new 2008 Highlander Hybrid is a thorough redesign and has some features that are not available on the RX. See http://reviews.cnet.com/suv/2008-toyota-hi...l?tag=pdtl-list http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=121374 For example, the smart key and the mp3 inputs are big things for me. I love the smart key in my prius and hate the half baked solutions for adding an ipod to a car that doesn't have it ready to be plugged in. I haven't bought the RX up until now because I've been waiting for it to get the smart key like other Lexi and Toyotas, but am thinking of getting the Highlander now instead of waiting. It seems that it would be a long wait: see http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiast...s_RX_Spied.S178 stating: "The RX will be undergoing a major update for the 2009 model year, with production beginning in late December of 2008, toward an on-sale date of early spring of 2009." These are all the differences that I could find between the new design 2008 highlander and old design 2008 RX: the new Highlander has -- and the RX doesn't have: Smartkey third row (can delete if you don't want it) mp3 input more cargo space EV button for hybrid 19" wheels driver's seat cushion extension dual dash LCDs (main one is really large) flip-up lift gate window Auxilary engine cooler fan control on rear vents cruise on steering wheel cargo area tiedowns rear reading lights 95 cu. ft. cargo (vs 85 for RX) 5000 lbs towing capacity (vs 3500 for RX) 59.7" shoulder room (vs 57.9 for RX) 1" (front) 2" (rear) more leg room cheaper but the RX has (and the new Highlander doesn't have): memory seats/mirrors/steering wheel headlight washers xenon headlights real wood trim "retained accessory power" (whatever that is) auto dimming outside mirrors 4 one touch power windows (vs just drivers on highlander) passenger seat height and lumbar adjustment driver seat adjustable 10 ways (vs 8 for highlander) faster (at least hybrid Lexus is faster than hybrid toyota, and maybe non-hybrid also?) laser cruise turning headlights rain sensing wipers Mark Levinson stereo better warranty better dealers Ultimately I decided that memory seats are essential and without memory seats I can't buy the new Highlander.
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