RX400h

Have you called Toyota Customer Service yet? If not, you might give them a try. If they don't know, they should be able to find out.

Wow, that's pretty close to the $50K I suggested the cost would be without the DVD. Thanks for the update. I'm looking forward to a test drive soon. BTW, I just checked my e-mail and sure enough, there was the Winter 05 newsletter from Lexus. The odd thing is that there is no mention of a moonroof option. I wonder why. I was under the impression that it would be standard equipment.

Quickly, go back and check!!!! Seriously, it is unlikely that the price is on it and are you certain that it was a 400h?

Mmmm, I'll have to look into the tax benefits..... BTW, some tidbits of which I have read recently.....the RX350 with 280 HP and the Prius GT - a sporty economy car? ......should be interesting.

Pat, We do the same. Our Nissan Quest van is now over 11 years old. It's time for a change. I don't think that dealers could get away with bumping list-customers with lease return customers because if word got out, the dealership reputation would be in danger of suffering big-time. Say, for instance you knew someone who was returning a lease RX300 in April and was not on the waiting list. If you saw that person return with a 400h, you'd probably make sure that everyone and anyone were warned to stay away from THAT dealership. SW, although I have a small side business, a vehicle is typically not needed. This is why I cannot justify leasing at this time.

Ah, it could be that I received it, but didn't notice the part about ordering. Still, it doesn't match what my dealership is saying. I guess we'll know more as the introductory date gets closer.

Your letter from Lexus? You didn't mention that in your first post. You referred to your "dealer". I have received a brochure and e-mails from Lexus, but no letter regarding ordering of options.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the dealerships cannot take option requests until they know what they are and the cost of each package. This typically does not happen until the vehicles are on their way (two weeks before April 15th) or shortly after they arrive. Because of this (what seems like senseless) chronology of events, the only reason for our specifying options is so that the dealerships can match incoming 400s to the requests. They will NOT custom-order until the waiting list is depleted. Lexus is not alone in their setup; my Corvette fell into the same boat. I saw a list of dealer-ordered Corvettes and picked the one I wanted when I was next in line.

Here's the article from the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), so I'm guessing that this figure is for US consumption. http://www.aiada.org/article.asp?id=32013

I just read an article that stated Lexus plans to build 2000 RX400hs per month. Assuming that they will be "up-to-speed" in April, each dealership will get an equal allocation, and that there are 180 Lexus dealerships in the US, there should be 11 RXs coming to each dealership per month. Has anyone heard any differently?

The term "Cold Air Intake" is often misconstrued. True cold air intakes draw outside ambient air into the engine's intake. The air is unaffected by the temperature of the engine bay. Vehicle manufacturers typically try to balance low noise with high flow and adequate filtration, so be aware that many "high-performance" intake systems are noticably louder than OEM systems. The advantage is that more air is able to be drawn in, resulting in more horsepower. The intake you mention claims to increase both volume and velocity of incoming air. Increasing the velocity does tend to cool down the air. I installed an aftermarket intake (huge air filter) and fabricated my own cold air inlet and scoop in my Corvette. That and a cat-back exhaust system increased my rear wheel horsepower by 13 (as measured on a dyno). Noise levels are definitely higher, but then again, I figure that's what most expect out of a Corvette!

Good points, SW! I spoke to a Lexus salesguy yesterday and he told me that pricing is normally available while the new vehicles are being shipped or right after they arrive. He just received pricing for the new GSs as they arrived (a bit early, I might add). When asked about the RX400h cost, he replied that if you look at a fully-loaded RX330's price (about $46,000) and add the well-published $4 - $5000, you end up with $50 - $51,000 for the 400h. And according to the document which link is posted above, the only options are the heated seats, DVD, and Mark L. stereo. I'll be looking for a base model, then, since it includes the voice-activated map feature.

...same here. I am especially interested in the cost structure. I really don't want to spend $60,000 on this vehicle, so I'm hoping that the base model comes in at $45,000 or less. Is the Mark Levinson stereo worth the extra money? I'll have to hear both systems (knowing the cost of each) before I decide. Remember, Seven colors are currently available: Black Onyx, Flint Mica, Neptune Blue Mica, Crystal White, Millennium Silver Metallic, Savannah Metallic and Bamboo Pearl. Other options include: Navigation system [1] with a seven-inch touch-panel display screen and backup camera [2] Mark Levinson® [3] Premium Audio System Rear DVD entertainment system The vehicle also comes standard with: Power front-seat adjustment Leather-trimmed interior High-Intensity Discharge headlamps (HID) with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) Rain-sensing windshield wipers 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels The big question is: How much????

I guess we may have to crank up the bass and "boom" em out of the way!

It's going to be fun driving through a parking lot or down a street at 40 MPH or less without producing ANY sound whatsoever! BTW, Car & Driver achieved a 0-60 time of 6.9 seconds. Folks, that's very impressive! Has anyone heard of any firm pricing yet? I guess that's the next big news.

Does the ticking go away after your vehicle is warmed up? If it does, you might want to consider using a K&N oil filter. It flows better than most filters and made a big difference when I installed one in my Corvette.

Wrong! The hybrid RX400 not only trounces any other RX in acceleration, but it gets 90%+ better gas milage in the city. Payback for those who live in big cities (with big traffic issues) can be as little as 3 years. Twin turbos and their required plumbing is much more expensive than the $4000 that the RX400 commands. Who is going to pay $65,000 for an RX diesel? In all probability, not many!

Yes, if the dealer told me that the sticker is $60,000, I'd have to back off from the deal. 50K is okay.

...in the article..."RX 400h fuel consumption is estimated to be 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.8 L/100 km on the highway." This appears to be in the right order.

"Prices for the RX 330 with these option packages are $55,780 and $63,335 respectively. Prices for the RX 400h are expected to be announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto later this month, but buyers can expect a premium over and above these figures for a similarly equipped hybrid RX. " Boy, I'm glad I live here in the states! By the way, the latest issue of Car & Driver includes a road test as well. They achieved 0-60 in 6.9 seconds. One of the electric motors generates 650 lbs-ft of torque! This thing will throw you back in the seat like no other SUV on the planet. I think I'm going to like it - very much!

Wow! .....excellent information - thanks!

A girl at work wanted to replace her Mercedes sedan and wanted an SUV, so I brought in my Consumer Reports Auto issue that showed the RX 330 as the top pick. She was leaning toward the Mercedes ML 350, which has a terrible reliability and fuel milage rating. I warned he, but my advice fell on deaf ears. Two weeks after buying the ML 350, she told her husband that she was going to need a Honda Civic because she is spending $60 per week for gas and now needs a "commuter" vehicle! Unbelievable!

I hope your wife is a model and otherwise treats you like a king because I would not accept that type of attitude. If my wife all of a sudden wanted my Corvette after I just bought her the RX400h, I'd say "No way, Jose!" I prefer a sporty vehicle, but will honor the second half's wishes if she likes more luxury. However, I'd draw the line if she wants my car just because she can't make up her mind. If I were you, I'd be tempted to give her your TL-S only if you could buy a new one for yourself. IMO, that's perfectly fair.

Consider it this way: Let's say that you are choosing between two vehicles, one is rated at 230 HP and the other is 270 HP. The 270 HP vehicle costs $4000 more, but has more standard features, so the difference is really only $2000 between the two. However, the 270HP version also gets 50%+ better gas milage than the cheaper version AND acceleration is vastly improved in everyday driving. If you see plenty of stop and go driving, your cost savings using the more efficient vehicle adds up quickly and within 4 years, the difference in cost evens out. During those four years, however, you not only skip going to the gas station every week, but you also are giddy with the monster-torque that is there when you need it. The longer you keep the efficient one, the more you save AND the more you enjoy. B)

March, 2005 (the latest issue) on page 53.