davefordham

I'm really new to this hybrid stuff, but I have certainly noticed in our new '08 RX400h that if you want the auto climate control to keep things warm/cool, the engine wants to be running most of the time (makes sense with coolant needing to be warm and a compressor needing to spin . . ), and if you keep both seat heaters on (or mirror defrosters, or I suppose any sizeable electrical consumer), again, the engine keeps starting. If you turn everything off though, and stay real quiet . . . . those batteries do a pretty good job! (Pretty neat car, but I still miss my old Scirocco . . .)

If someone knows the wattage of the each seat heater, a very rough calculation could be made to determine how much energy from the fuel, and thus the amount of fuel, is needed to provide this. Lacking this, it is simply a w.a.g.

We just finished the import process with a new '08 RX400h. Bought it in Syracuse, titled it in Arizona in my uncles's name, drove it across at Queenston, took for the RIV check (@ Canadian Tire), and then certified at the dealer. Total savings around 20K. Pretty painless, but lots of faxes prior to the border crossing. I guess we're stuck with the miles on the ODO, but the NAV system easily changed to metric for distances (still degrees F instead of C on the temp display).

The requirement according to transport Canada concerning the instrument cluster is the requirement to show KM/H as part of the display. Then of course there is all the other little things that are pretty much standard requirements like the fact the RX 400H can in fact support a child seat (remember, Canadian standards are different than American standards in this area). Anyhoot, I wouldn't fret over it, because the place you will take your vehicle to certify it according to Transport Canada is an Authorized Canadian Tire store. They pretty much check to see if the vehicle is pretty much the vehicle you are trying to certify, and perhaps, just perhaps will even do a walk around the vehicle. Yes, it sounds and is a joke.

I would do a search in the area you would like to store a vehicle for a "car pound". These places reposses vehicles and or purchase vehicles from the US gov't and are authorized to auction to the public. In other words, you are pretty much getting a local that is pretty secure. I didn't find mine by looking in the yellow pages or google, but rather called a bunch of new car dealers in the area asking them if they could secure and guarantee the storage / safety of my vehicle. All pretty much couldn't guarantee me that, but one did refer me to the car pound / repo man. So, that is what I did, he had a gated lot, and an indoor garage complete with security system. Cost me about a 100$ US for the 10 or so days I stored it before getting the paper work in order for US Customs.

What I did ask the dealer I purchased the vehicle for is a "Transit" pass (that is what we called it in Canada), I don't remember the name for it in the US. This allowed me to drive the vehicle to the repo pound as well as to drive it to clear US and Canadian Customs. Basically it's a card board cutout of a license plate and you fill in the date till expiry required, you better google the term and/or the method of how to fill it in because they (Highway Patrol) are pretty specific on how to blott out the necessary blocks to create the temporary plate.

Good Luck...

MadloR

This is really helpful. Thank you so much. I have another question. Not sure if you purchased new or used. I purchased an '07 so it is 1 year old...I was given a title certificate. It is signed over to me on the front but I noticed the back portion (for registering a US plate) is blank. Any idea if the US border requires this to be completed and signed by the seller?

From what I remember, the title of certificate was duely completed by the "Seller" (aka, purchased from Dealer/Leasing Company) and forwarded to me (delivered within the vehicle when transported to me) and I cannot remember if I signed anything myself. I photocopied it in triplicate and had to forward that minimum 3-5 days in advance to the Border Customs Agency. I know that was in fact one of the papers required, so that they can do a verifcation to see if there is any Lean on the vehicle prior to exporting.

cheers,

MadloR

Has anyone successfully changed their odometer from miles to kilometers?? I've been poring through the owner's manual, and asked at the dealer but still no luck. Thanks much for your time.

shop around in jersey, nyc tends to be more expensive than NJ

Good idea. I'll do just that!

Many thanks,

Gary Bowler - NYC

I just bought a 2008 RX400h in Nov 2007 from Lexus in Syracuse (Burdick). Black, tan interior, nav $45,900 where msrp was $49,600 or $49,900.