RX400h

First of all, the ML350 IS priced similarly to the RX400h; see:

http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/defa...63&v=m12703

Secondly, when I started this thread many moons ago, there was no hybrid Mercedes. In fact, Mercedes was still in a state of shock at the time.

Thirdly, do you honestly think that Mercedes reliability is on par with that of Lexus? If you do, you may have started your holiday partying a bit too early. get back down to earth! :chairshot:

Congratulations! We've had ours since April of 2005 (one of the first in San Diego) and are very happy with its features and performance, along with the 24-25 MPG average we are seeing.

Enjoy!

Dave

If you are talking about a "plug-in" mod, no, I have never heard of it (for the RX400h) - nor do I think it is a good idea, given the nature of NiMH batteries.

Dave

I would venture to say that a well-placed sound sensor that is activated in parallel with the vehicle alarm (but having its own battery and siren) would at least urge the potential thief to move on. A partially cut pipe can be welded - a much less costly alternative to buying a new cat.

This may be a good business opportunity for car alarm shops.

We are very happy with our lights, especially during rare occasions when high-beam actuation is possible. Then again, we DO live near the big city, so driving on dimly-lit roads at high speeds is not an option.

I often drive a 375 HP Corvette (3200 lbs), yet I, too, am very impressed with the acceleration of the RX. Remember that Car & Driver achieved 0-60 in 6.7 seconds in the RX400h - fast enough to out-accelerate a Porsche Cayenne S! As you have found out, the RX is heavily front-biased when it comes to drive traction. Hang onto that steering wheel when stomping on the gas pedal!

Dave

I think the main reason the gas engine is on so much during warm-up is just that, it's warming up so it can provide heat to the cabin. I expect it will run somewhat less in the summer. With a 3.5 mile commute, even if you only get 14 MPG, over the course of a year it ain't squat.

The oil needs to be warm enough so that a quickly-started engine that "sees" load can be lubricated very quickly. Cold oil doesn't circulate nearly as well as warm/hot oil.

If they had a "switch" which allowed us to govern the use of the electric hybrid drive, most people would abuse it by trying to push MPG to unrealistic levels and would damage the hybrid/electric drive system.

I agree, but primarily, the life of the batteries would be severely reduced to a point where warranty repairs would certainly diminish the stellar reputation that Lexus now enjoys.

We're driving a 4000 lb SUV with a darn good amount of power. An average of 25+ MPG (for most people) is a huge improvement over any of the competition. AND our emission levels are almost nothing.

Good point!

I think the benefits of Techron in fuel are well established. I throw in a can at least once per year.

Gee, what will be next in Canada - full high beams and high-intensity neon lamps at all times? I have to chuckle a bit when I hear these types of things. There IS such a thing as too many lights to a point where it is very distracting to others on the road. Even here in the US, I notice that some LED taillights are so bright, it bothers me.

Does this have anything to do with the 3-ft high stream of water you drove through, last week? :chairshot:

Seriously, we've had our RX since April of 2005 and I've never seen anything like that. Please let us know what the dealership comes up with, and good luck!

Now THAT'S impressive for a $100,000+ vehicle!

ANd, lets' face it, whether it's 25 or 28mpg, we are talking about terribly inefficient vehicles, even the hybrids. This would be greatly mitigated if only Toyota would come out with the plug-ins already. Then you get 50-100mpg and still get to drive your SUV.

BOL to you.

Yes, but you'd also have to replace batteries far more frequently than we will with our batteries. Plug-in technology seems like an easy, slam-dunk but it is far from that, otherwise, Toyota would've had those types of cars on the road many years ago.

From what I hear, gas mileage improves with warmer weather, although theoretically, power to the wheels should improve with colder temps. gas mileage does creep up over time, although one of the problems you have is the short distance. The oil is not getting up to normal operating temps within that distance. Ideally, you'd have an all-electric vehicle, but they are not quite ready for prime time, from what I gather.

Regardless, as long as you are driving this distance, you might want to change the oil a bit more often that what is stated in the manual - perhaps, every 2000-3000 miles.

I believe you're thinking about the batteries that help power the vehicle, not the starting battery.

Daimler-Benz does have some impressive diesels, but up until recently could not get them certified for use in CA. Still, their SUVs that need the technology most critically, have no diesel or hybrid option. I see very few new MB SUVs on the road, no doubt because of both poor fuel mileage and very spotty reliability.

I recall that the last time Consumer Reports came out with an issue that contained undercoating advice, they stated that for car made during the last so many years (20?), undercoating not only doesn't do much good, but also may void certain parts of the vehicle manufacturer's warranty. Maybe someone who subscribes to their website can run a search on this?

Since it is almost Winter, use regular gas. During Summer months, I switch to midgrade to avoid power loss. Premium will provide the potential for faster acceleration (0-60 in 6.7 seconds), but is not necessary.

Congratulations, stevil! If I recall correctly, those M3s required a gas-guzzler tax when they were new. Welcome to the green side.

But after owning one for about 10 months I wouldn't change the ICE / Hybrid combo. I like the fact that I can put the "sleeper" on someone, especially all other SUV's you are most likely to encounter. The 400h takes off and like a run away train, it pulls with a constant level of acceleration. No flat spots.

THAT'S ME as well, Jim! I've had so many Ford Explorers or BMW X5s try to "show me who's speed-superior" by knowingly using the left lane even though they need to be in the right lane at the next light. Boy, are they a bit surprised when the light turns green. Maybe that's why we average "only" 24.5 MPG!

Jim C,

As S.E.G.M.N. has mentioned, Californians can't use their RX400s driving solo in commuter lanes. However, we did qualify for a nice tax break; I believe my "break" was $2000

Dave

Have you had any problems with gas spilling out?

The funny thing is that there STILL is no direct competition in this vehicle segment. The German car companies were really caught flat-footed when the RX400h was revealed to the world.

One of us had left a door ajar (RX400h) for the entire night and the engine had no issue getting started the next morning. Of course, the light was automatically turned off long before battery voltage could drop to dangerous levels. Therefore, I don't think the Lexus electrical system is as simple as you think.

I was reading recently of a couple of cab drivers in New York who have RX400hs. Thanks for verifying the super-reliabilty attribute that these cars possess. You and the cab drivers have some of the highest mileage RX400hs in the country.

Hello, Susan,

If you have questions about the site, ask away!

Okay, I think this thread may be coming to an end. Is there anything else to say that hasn't been said? I think not. Essentially, all the posts boil down to only a few facts:

1. Mburn likes to stretch his oil and filter dollars to the limit.

2. Most of us would rather not risk violating our warranties, so we change or have our oil changed every 5 months or 5000 miles.

3. Thankfully, this "discussion" never turned into a shouting match. That can only be a good thing. Now let's all have a great long holiday weekend!