RX400h

I guess I'm glad I have an 06 then!

Again, I'd like to remind everyone that the 2006 and perhaps the 2007 owner's manual clearly states that regular fuel is acceptable. Also, as I mentioned previously the intake air temperature makes a noticable difference as to how well the engine will perform with the particular grade gasolene used. Using regular gas when the ambient temperature is 40 degrees F can easily produce the same performance when ambient temperatures are 90 degrees F and premium fuel is used.

RX400h, so you are saying colder temp helps reduce engine knocking, therefore, premium may not required? I'm currently still using premium, and I'm in MN, so it's super cold with temp around 15-25F this week. I can definitely use mid-grade as some gas stations here priced mid-grade and regular the same. I don't care much about the $.20 different between premium and regular, but if I can save additional pennies, why not? Can you tell me where you get this info from? It's a bit more complicated than this, but here goes: Colder air is more dense in that more air molecules can be "ingested" by the engine for every "pull" of each cylinder. This is why many high-performance vehicles, including the RX400h have CAIs (Cold Air Intakes) to pull in air from outside the engine bay. As ambient temperature rises, so does the intake air temperature, though not nearly as much as does the air in the engine bay. Most vehicles also have knock sensors so that if intake air temperature rises enough so that predetonation of fuel occurs, the engine control unit will !Removed! timing (among other things). Of course, retarding the ignition timing results in a loss of power. Hot intake air and regular fuel will result in predetonation and ultimately, a loss of power, but if the ambient temps are way down - as is the case in your area, running even regular gas should not result in any loss of power or fuel mileage. Things like using the seat heaters and the slight increase of rotating part friction will tend to decrease fuel mileage, but the bottom line is that you definitely do not need to use premium fuel when ambient temps are low. Here's a real-world experience: Back when we had a Nissan Quest van, we'd use the manufacturer's recommended grade of gas - regular, and the engine ran perfectly well here in San Diego. However, once we drove the van to Las Vegas during Summer when ambient temps were over 100F, the engine would ping and stutter, horribly. After premium fuel was used, normal performance resumed. Dave

For the most part, I use midgrade, although during the colder Winter days (55-65 degrees F), I can get away with using regular gas. If I travel to a very hot-climate area, like Las Vegas in the Summer, premium fuel is a must.

While driving on a level road, briefly let off the gas pedal and then slowly depress it only to maintain your speed. You can sometimes be cruising in electric-only mode at 50-60 MPH. Driving around in a large store's parking lot should always be in electric-only mode. Just keep an eye out for startled pedestrians! Dave

Unfortunately, the only way I could do that would be if I drag-raced someone within the last two miles of my house! I typically coast down a long hill and then use the battery for a bit less than a mile before reaching home. The RX's battery is almost always 75% full at that time. Dave

I have the same year and about the same number of miles. We consistantly average 24-25, but that includes my heavy foot on the weekends. Use the momentum of all that 4600 lbs to coast your way to stop lights, stop signs, etc. It really makes a difference when the engine is shut down for as long as possible. I almost always have the power schematic up on the screen so I can use electric-only mode as much as possible. This alone is a very valuable tool. It also really comes in handy when you're teaching a teen how to drive. I can always tell when the gas pedal is being depressed.

I noticed that the statement includes "if necessary". That may indicate that only certain conditions will merit the replacement of the steering rack. Of the many tens of thousands of RX400hs on the road here in the US, I haven't heard of more than one that has had power steering issues, and I've been on this forum for more than 4 years now.

I'm not sure why yours doesn't appear to do this, but my RX's NAV shows the name of the upcoming street on the screen. Maybe yours is not set up this way? I think there is plenty of warning unless you are hurtling along at 70 MPH. Plus, the "ding ding" verifies that the street you see is the actual street that you need to take. Regarding the street name, I can't get the US Mail to send a package to an incomplete street name, so I am used to obtaining the full name before I set out in the car. The Lexus NAV will list the possibilities, but 99% of the time, I have the full address and there is no problem at all in finding it. I guess everyone has their preferences when it comes to Navigation systems, but as I mentioned, I did use a high-end Garmin for 3 hours of driving and I was happy to go back to the Lexus version.

I, on the other hand, think our built-in NAV compared very well against one of the best Garmin NAVs (a year ago). I like the OEM unit's large screen size, the extra window viewing area from not having a large external NAV unit on the dash or attached to the windshield, and the better guidance when it comes to staying on-course while driving on a highway with frequent intersecting routes. Perhaps there are better Garmin and Tom Tom units out there, now, but I hear the 2010 Lexus RX450's NAV is very impressive as well.

Did you ask why the Toyota Collision center recommends replacing a section of the panel? Perhaps if they explain why, you will better understand their reasoning. Give them a call; I'm interested to know as well. I have a hunch that this method is the most likely to produce a perfect result. Dave

After having a truck back into our 400h, the Lexus dealership from whom we bought our 400h recommended the Chevy dealership body shop, next door. However, after checking around, I found out that a Toyota collision center not too far from here was highly recommended for Lexus vehicles. They replaced our front bumper and painted it Bamboo Pearl. I was very impressed with both their repair center itself and the excellent job they did with the repair and paint. So, if you have a Toyota Collision center nearby, I recommend that you pay them a visit. Dave

I would certainly do that for $10. Has anyone found it?

Slide rule chapters were eliminated from engineering textbooks circa 1976. I have one that was given to me by my father, but I still don't know how to use it. My first scientific calculator was an HP-21 in........1976!

Although I don't have direct experience with our RX400h in 0 degree weather, I have used the electrically-heated seats and they certainly heat up very quickly. As far as the heat produced by the heater core, you should know that when the engine is cold, it will start almost immediately when you turn the key. In all likelyhood, the gas engine will stay on for many miles before the oil is hot enough to allow the engine to shut down. I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences........

It's an 11 manual set and is available now at your Lexus dealership! Dang, here I was, requesting something else for Christmas!

Honestly, I find it hard to believe that anyone here in CA would find Carmax's prices "low" by any stretch of the imagination. I see much better prices in the autotrader (private party) and Craig's list. Dave

Are you certain that the trade-in amount will be subtracted from the LS460 cost when the dealership determines the taxable amount? If so, that could be a substantial savings, depending upon your tax rate. I can understand why the dealership needs to see your RX before giving you a firm trade-in amount. I would recommend that you see them, but only after finding out what the tax details are so you can calculate what trade-in value you would need to get in order for the deal to be worthwhile.

What year is your RX? I've found that the best way to determine what your vehicle is worth is to take a look at what others are asking in the Autotrader (www.autotrader.com) in your area. Look at the condition and mileage of those listed. Almost always, dealerships will offer substantially less than the average of those you find listed. After all, the dealership has to make a profit after bringing the vehicle up to full-maintenence status and including a guarantee with it. Some states don't allow the dealership (and you) to get out of paying tax on the full amount of sale.

49K miles is certainly not bad for a 4700-lb vehicle, but as Randy stated, driving style can make a huge difference. I teach my teens early during their driving permit lessons that they should take advantage of a heavy vehicle's momentum by coasting as much as possible, which both saves gas and lengthens the life of the brake pads. Most vehicles' rotors can be "turned" on a brake lathe at least once before needing to be replaced, but honestly, if the rotors are not warped or out of flatness specification, they need only a "roughing up" before the new pads are installed. I would ask the service manager if he can show you how far out of flatness the rotors are, as well as what the factory spec. is. If the flatness is out of spec, then why would removing a small amount of the rotor's thickness NOT be acceptable? Dave

The Yellow top IS a marine-type battery in that it is designed for deep discharges. A standard battery should be okay with trickle discharges as long as they don't occur over too long a time frame. That being said, I must also mention that our 3.5+ year-old OEM battery is doing great. I do not think that the battery is undersized, but certainly, temps in Arizona are not common in most other states or countries.......

Welcome, Brian! We were one of the first group of owners here in San Diego when the 06 came to shore, back in April of 2005. Even when compared to a new RX350, the RX400h really shines as far as fuel economy and seamless transmission feel. Make sure you check your cabin and intake filters every 15,000 miles or less. That's normally when I change ours. and they are fairly used up at that point. Anyway, enjoy your RX and have a great Christmas holiday. Dave

ALL RX400hs have CVT transmissions.........

I guess Consumer Reports CAN be a good guide for tires, especially if you know someone who already has experience with one of the top picks. From my experience, Bridgestone make some very good tires.

Really, where Rey lives, all-season is not necessary unless he regularly heads up to the mountains in January. Consumer Reports does have every tire tested for wear - a big plus in my book.