s10

I had never reset the mpg indicators, so they were still considering the initial 2000 miles... it indicated 24.3. Now the car has 4000 miles, so time to reset... which I did yesterday and am curious to see what the new mpg indication will be like.. if it is near my own (on paper) calculations.

Hi, I'm considering a Lockpick too... but I have the cd/dvd changer and the rear seat dvd system... from what I understood from the Lock pick website, with that kind of set up it is more complicated to install.. anyone with experience here?

Well if it's so hard to understand-When we bought the RX we had one kid-next year we plan third one and need more space. And Year ago it was a different discussion more about options of RX than it's space-options that are still light years behind other cars.

Listen, I'm not a moron.. I can figure out why you want a 3rd row option.. that was not the point.

At least I know how to drive and I'm sorry but driving 55 on the thruways is not for me-not my fault that 90% of my driving is highways and that speed we like to travel at is 70-80 mph. Time is more valuable for me than 2 mpg on average. And why are you all crying about mpg-it's not the reason we have to get bigger car-looks like a lot of people are very narrow minded to just one aspect-MPG. Again and again I need at least 6 passenger car with two back sits for the kids-simple enough or not.

And please with this old story-MB is the least reliable of the luxury cars-BMW also? Well owned both and never had a problem unlike this time-but I guess changing tires after 10k and evaporator after 15k and oh yes battery is normal and doesn't affect reliability of the car.

Again I didn't bring reliability to the table neither-only argument was to have third row option. So far no post suggested any smart option but almost all of them argued about MPG-like it's the only and the most important feature-will those extra 5mpg take another 2 passengers??

Why did you buy the RX400H? I see that already over a year ago you held a similar kind of discussion, with the same manners.

You clearly don't like your RX , so why are you asking if Lexus will come with a 3rd row seat version?

Buy a MB and be happy.

As far as I know, Lexus will bring a Prius based wagon... and if so, my RX will be bye bye.

Well, if you don't believe me, that's fine. But those are the figures I get, without hindering anybody.

I have to agree that 29.3 is WAAAY on the high side. The bell curve top is in the range of 24 - 26 mpg. The computer is ALWAYS 1 MPG higher than actual too. I seem to be getting 27 and that is if I make an extreme effort to get the 27 as well, taking every effort to coax the ICE to stay off by going slow enough to run on batteries for 1/2 mile at a time using pulse and glide methods and keeping highway speeds near 65 MPH whenever possible. It is extremely difficult to do so as not to impede traffic. Short trips of several miles also KILL the mileage since the first 2 -3 miles the ICE runs to get everything up to temperature.

I think the original estimate for fuel savings are pretty much on the money. If I just drove this vehicle without employing any of the fuel saving tricks I would not be surprised at all to get around 22 - 24 MPG. If I were stuck in 20+ miles of peak traffic every day exclusively with little to no "normal" speed driving, maybe, just maybe, I would get just a little better if I were extremely careful. Driving in cold weather or very hot with the A/C running a lot and forget it.

Don't get me wrong I really like the 400h but the cost and complexity of the hybrid drive train for fuel efficiency alone is clearly not worth it. The CVT's shiftless smoothness quiet ride, seamless and abundant power are better reasons. The fact that when I AM stuck in traffic get very good mileage is icing on the cake.

/Steve

My board computer indicates 24.3 as an average. But if I calculate the amount of gallons I tank and the distance I drive, I get the 29.3 average (on my last tank, the one before was 28.6)

That the board computer is slightly off is only normal as it calculates only the amounts of gas consumed while driving, not when standing still. Since I drive mostly stop and go, driving in L.A., and since I prefer not to use the airco and do not carry half my life in the trunk, these figures are completely possible.

btw I know people who get better mpg with their RX, just check this forum.

Now the pat about the RX not worth buying for the fuel efficiency alone. I completely disagree. With the RX you have a comfortable, luxury car with enough space and consumes little when compared to other cars... and the few $ the hybrid costs extra you get back, almost double, when you resell the car... somehting most commenters forget when they talk about "recouping the extra $$ of a hybrid".

Well, if you don't believe me, that's fine. But those are the figures I get, without hindering anybody. It is only slightly above average. I should ad that I mostly drive in city traffic, so stop and go.

In any case, if you get only 22 mpg, it is more than likely that with your driving style you would get 14 or 15 mpg in the MB.

So in that case:

MB R350 - 10.000 miles - average 15 mpg - 667 gallons @ $4 = $2.667

Lexus Rx 400H - 10.000 miles - average 22 mpg - 454 gallons @ $4 = $1.819

Difference in yearly fuel consumption $848

As far as I know no 3rd row version is coming.

MB R350 - 10.000 miles - average 17 mpg - 589 gallons @ $4 = $2.356

Lexus Rx 400H - 10.000 miles - average 28 mpg (personally I'm getting 29,3 now) - 357 gallons @ $4 = $1.428

Difference in yearly fuel consumption $928

For about the last five hours, I've been trying to get my new iphone 3G to connect via Blue Tooth to my Rx400h? Can anyone tell me how to do this? this is my experience so far?

On the RX400h:

1. Press Info

2. Press Telephone

3. Press Settings

4. Press Bluetooth

5. Press Register

At this point, I see a message: Please make a connection from Telephone (what does that mean?)

On the iPhone:

1. Tap Settings

2. Tap General

3. Tap Bluetooth

4. Tap On.

5. Also, under General Settings, 7th row down, you see Passcode Lock.

a. Tap Passcode Lock to view the Set Pass Code Window.

b. In the Passcode Window, enter 1 1 1 1

The "Connect Bluetooth" screen on my Rx400H says "Connecting- Please make a connection from Telephone. I also see an instruction that reads, "Input Pass Key into Telephone." But I've already done this several times. Finally, I see a message that reads,'Bluetooth connection Failed. Please check the Pass Key and the settings of the telephone." Arrrgh

Can anyone help??

Keith G

Have you figured it out? I did set up my partners new iPhone yesterday and it worked just fine. Check if both the Lexus and the iPhone are trying to communicate with each other and not with another bluetooth equipped item in the neighbourhood. Like a headset or other phone.

I have a 2008 RX 400h with navigation. Current miles 396. Bought it July 14, 2008.

It has two mpg gauges; one on the instrument cluster under the speedometer, and the other in the trip information section of the navigation menu. The owner's manual indicates that the former "Displays the average fuel consumption since the vehicle was last refueled." The latter has a reset button on the screen (no comment in the navi owner's manual). My intention is to use the cluster gauge to determine my mpg for each tank and the navigation screen gauge to keep the cumulative mpg.

Despite the words in the owner's manual, the cluster gauge does not appear to reset after I filled up for the first time.

Can I accomplish that with the two read outs some way?

Thanks for your help.

The MPG indicators are not very reliable. Much better to calculate fuel consumption by hand by resetting the odometer to zero everythime you tank...

I am having the exact same problem. Were you able to get it to work and if so how?

Thanks,

Jerome

I just did exactly what I did with my previous iPhone, following the steps on the screen, and it worked immediately.

For about the last five hours, I've been trying to get my new iphone 3G to connect via Blue Tooth to my Rx400h? Can anyone tell me how to do this? this is my experience so far?

On the RX400h:

1. Press Info

2. Press Telephone

3. Press Settings

4. Press Bluetooth

5. Press Register

At this point, I see a message: Please make a connection from Telephone (what does that mean?)

On the iPhone:

1. Tap Settings

2. Tap General

3. Tap Bluetooth

4. Tap On.

5. Also, under General Settings, 7th row down, you see Passcode Lock.

a. Tap Passcode Lock to view the Set Pass Code Window.

b. In the Passcode Window, enter 1 1 1 1

The "Connect Bluetooth" screen on my Rx400H says "Connecting- Please make a connection from Telephone. I also see an instruction that reads, "Input Pass Key into Telephone." But I've already done this several times. Finally, I see a message that reads,'Bluetooth connection Failed. Please check the Pass Key and the settings of the telephone." Arrrgh

Can anyone help??

Keith G

Did you select which phone you want to use on your RX? If you had it set up previously for another phone, it might still look for that phone.

MY iPhone 3G works perfectly with the RX.

The GPS does indeed not show all the street names, in certain areas more in other less... not only to reduce clutter, but also because it is not meant to be used as a map??

If you use the turn by turn instructions to a certain address, there is no need to see all the street names.

Some of the iPod interfaces, like the DICE, also have an aux input.

As far as I know there is no possibility for external video input.

Here my experience at Jim Falk in Beverly Hills:

- They could update the dealership showroom a bit... it is all very 80's design and not very attractive...

- Sales personell should have more knowledge about the cars they are selling. For example, the one I had didn't know the visual differences between the non -hybrid and the hybrid RX when looking at the various cars on the lot. He also said that the blue Lexus logo on the rear meant that the car had laser guided cruise control... and so on...

- The waiting area could be more interesting, free WiFi would be a great feature fro those wanting to work on their laptop while waiting. Some separate waiting boots would be een better for those who need privacy.

A waiting area like an airport business class lounge would be great!

- Instead of an envelope with all the paperwork, maybe a little map with brochure? ( I had this in europe with my previous Lexus, which btw came with a personalised name tag in the glove compartment) maybe an unnecessary but nicer exclusive touch.

Year: 2008

Make: Rx400H

MPG: 28.3

Location: Los Angeles

Current Temp: 70 F

% City Driving: 70%

% Highway Driving: 30%

Average MPH: 45

Gas Type: switch between plus and premium every tank stop

AWD/FWD: AWD

automatic engine start/stop is becoming more and more popular on cars in europe. Peugeot is going to make it available on all their models, most other car manufacturers are bringing out start/stop models. It is an easy thing to ad to basically any existing car.

Of course it only works when the car stops, not when coasting. That would be much more complicated and really not worth it.

The coasting feature on a hybrid should be seen as a nice "extra".

I have spent many winters driving in NY's winter snow, but winter 2006-2007 I spent most of my winter in my TX house, and winter 2007-2008 I sold the TX and NY house and spent almost the entire winter in SC. I was really shocked to see how people in warm ares handle snow. I am not putting down southern drivers in any way because you can't really blame them because they don't get the chance to hone their skills by practicing. But People where I now live go into a panic over a 1/8 to 1/4 inch of snow, TV and radio stations interrupt shows to issue warnings schools and factories close, but that small amount isn't even worth talking about where I come from.

However I don't take even small amounts of snow lightly because as Lauraw pointed out some people with 4 wheel drive haven't learned a simple fact, 4 wheel drive will not help you stop faster and if you take a corner too fast you will spin out of control. And even if you are a skilled snow driver it won't do you a bit of good if someone spins out of control and slides into you.

I may seem like I am contridicting myself but in some casses I think that small amounts of snow are sometimes more dangerous than the deep stuff.

The deep stuff slows people down, but with a 1/4 inch of snow people tend to drive as fast as they would on dry roads and that will get people into trouble fast.

If you don't pratice you will loose your snow skills during the summer so my advice is to find a nice big empty parking lot the first snow fall of the winter and spend time putting your car into a skid and getting it out.

Completely agree with you. Deep snow is not as dangerous as a little here and there, also because you might end up with one side on a stable dry road, and the other side in slippery stuff, causing the unpredictable.

The RX is a heavy car, a big handicap when driving on slippery roads, especially once you are spinning out of control.

The best advise on snow is always slow down (a lot) and don't make any sudden movements (stop, accelerating, turns).

jesus christ paying almost 50k for a toyota!? have we lost our mind here? I got my 2008 RX400h for $4k under sticker, you just have to shop around and know how to negotiate. no comparison between the two SUV's, its a lexus, resale will be much better. if the Hylander Hybrid was $40k then i'd consider it, but not at that price!!!!!!! what is toyota thinking?

Neon, your religious slurs are offensive to me. How about keeping them to yourself?

Tom

Original post was altered.

Neon, I don't want to warn you again - please tone down your language!

Dave

are you guys serious? im not cursing i dont see whats the big problem here

Believe me, go around starting sentences with almost any religious figure's name and you will upset many folks. Maybe you didn't realize this, but I advise you not to get on a public forum and do this. Generally-speaking, Christians are peaceful people; you can't assume the same for some people of other religious affiliations. Be aware.

Thanks,

Dave

That last bit sounds a bit discriminatory to me to be honest and in contrast to what you are preaching.

blah blah blah

funny.

I didn't have so much trouble with mine, but when I wanted to add my wife's as a second phone it was a pain. I finally did it and I am not sure how. I couldn't figure out how to move my contacts either. I guess maybe a razr or something can do that function, but I couldn't get the iPhone to transfer the data.

You can transfer contacts etc only with phones that have that function, the iPhone, currently, doesn't have that function.. but it might come with the next free software update.

The 2 iPhones that are linked with my RX work like charm, unfortunately you have to push a lot of buttons to set the RX from one to another phone.. they could have made this easier.

Why don't you all start looking at environmental benefits instead of money saving factor. Your kids will benefit from choosing the hybrid... Now prove you really care about their (kids) future!

:chairshot:

chopperpl,

That's a good question. Since you asked.... To start, I have no kids to worry about.

I have a problem with the "environmental" aspect of buying a hybrid. The main reason is the "environmental "GREEN" movement" is destroying America. Everything is "going green" thing has almost nothing to do with the facts regarding pollution or supposed detrimental global warming effect, and has practically everything to do with someone making money and more profits. It's more political and marketing hype. Can you, as a US citizen, tell China to stop building new coal burning plants at the rate of 1 per week!! By the year 2020, a mere 12 years, China will put more CO2 into the atmoshere from coal burning plants than the amount of CO2 produced by 3 BILLION Ford Expeditions, each driven 15,000 miles!! The Kyoto Protocol is a joke.

If I were to buy a hybrid vehicle, it would be primarily to save drive time in the HOV lanes, which here in Phoenix, might not be a whole lot. The "payback" time is too long for me. If I look at the actual money savings in fuel, I can predicably make more money (ROI) investing it into a stock, or guns, or some collectable automobile.

That's just my worthless opinion. :D

Indeed.

I'm sorry but I couldn't resist! ;)

Of course it is ALSO used by some as just a commercial and marketing trick, but please explain why polluting less is a bad thing for America?

First of all, China may still be behind now, but is making much bigger steps (than America) to control pollution; in 5 to 10 years from now most hybrids will be chinese. China is also investing huge amounts of money in alternative energies, the 3 Gorges dam is just a start. The chinese government have also introduced many stricter anti-pollution rules lately.

Remember we're talking about a country with over a billion people... America is peanuts in comparison.

As for the economy, because America is in so many ways behind the rest of the world in terms of investments in clean energy (and not just that), the demand for american products will only get smaller and smaller. Heck, even in America they have problems now selling their old fashioned, heavy, consuming cars. Nobody wants them.

And, just accept it as a fact, very soon China will be the worlds most powerful nation economically not because of "the green movement" but because they have the knowledge and the cheap labor... just as it was before when China was the worlds biggest economical power for over a 1000 years. Strangely enough you should be thankful for Communism, without it America wouldn't have had the chance to grow the way it did.

And than you said it.. "If I were to buy a hybrid vehicle, it would be primarily to save drive time in the HOV lanes"... that mentality is exactly why America is lagging behind. Thankfully more and more people, are realizing that it is time to change.

So, stick to your guns if you want, but you're pointing them at your own head.

On the going green thing and pollution and all, Canada & China puts more CO2 in the atmosphere in one day then the entire USA put in the air in a year!

Really?

Anyway, Of course keeping your old 12mpg truck is more ecological than exchanging it for a new 25 mpg one.. the footprint of a newly produced car is huge compared to an existing one... in that sense nature will never get the payback...

If you want to consume less and have an instant payback, then you should buy a smaller car, even better if it is a used one.

But buying a Hybrid is an investment in the future.. into a new technology and also giving a sign (not bragging) that you care, to others and more importantly...to the industry.

And although you might not get your money back so quickly, you do continue to have your driving pleasures while consuming less, making a smaller impact.. isn't that worth the extra money?

And in regard to the airco.. just change that seer pump when it's broken and needs to be changed.

Good luck with your microsoft stock!

From what I understood, the new Rx will come in 2 sizes.. 5 seater and 7 seater.. that would make sense.

Or could it also be that they want to split the RX market into a Wagon and 7 seater... since we know that a wagon is coming.

Anyway, I think the RX is not outdated yet, actually I think Lexii in general age very well. I would have preferred a smart key too, and seat cooling.. and a better designed centre console (that ex-sigarette lighter and cassette machine do look really old) but these are details.... actually I might redesign that little part where the ex-sigarette lighter is myself... it comes of easily..

Get the Dice Silverline interface. Costs $150 and you can install it yourself in 20 minutes... Pretty sure this offers the same interface as the "official" Lexus version. Works both with and without NAV installed (using the Toyota/Lexus radio) including steering wheel controls. Can be connected to CD changer/Md player port or Sat radio port. Offers an AUX input too.

It does work with the iPhone, but only the iPod part of the iPhone, nothing else.