RX400h
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Posts posted by RX400h
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The letter I received came from Lexus not my dealer. The process is supposed to be initiated by Lexus from Japan for USA orders.
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.
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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.
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2000 per month for US market only. Each dealer to get betwwen 10-15 per month depending on their sales volume.
Here's the article from the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), so I'm guessing that this figure is for US consumption.
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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?
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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!
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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.
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Pretty much all the standard items on the RX 400 that were optional on the RX 330 are things I want so I will compare the price of the RX 400 to the RX 330 with those options.
...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????
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It is fun LOL. We scared the hell out of a group of girls in a parking garage right after we got the prius.
I guess we may have to crank up the bass and "boom" em out of the way!
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As Most of us here have seen and heard about the RX400h mostly in still picture, photograph and even read a lot about it too. How about see it in action, here's a website with video clips of the RX400h.
http://www.lexus.com/assets/magazine/q105/index.html
:D
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.
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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.
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hybrid in the RX is useless, 3.6L+ twin turbo diesel please....
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!
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Yes, if the dealer told me that the sticker is $60,000, I'd have to back off from the deal. 50K is okay.
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Did any one notice that the mileage numbers in this article seem to be messed up compared to the Lexus press release? It looks like they exchanged city and highway numbers which is perhaps understandable given that the highway is usually the better number for gas cars but for hybrids the city is.
...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.
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Here you go everyone, a first drive of the 2006 RX 400h. B) Click the link:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/06rx400h.htm
"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!
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Wow! .....excellent information - thanks!
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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 $60 per week for gas and now needs a "commuter" vehicle! Unbelievable!
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thanks for responses... :)
I think I can live with it.
Its a strange situation, my wife wanted that car so I went to the dealer auction last Thursday and bought 2002 RX 4*4, fully loaded with NAVI, Xenon etc with 37K for 26800
Today she went to work and took our new lex. An hour later she called me and complained that she was not fealing well after driving it... too soft maybe ...
Maybe it was just a bad day today but now she wants to take my black 02 TL-S and the funny thing is that she hated a black interior but now shes fine with it
So I have two options... try to sell the car that I just bought or live with it for a year or two... ( maybe I can put bigger wheels and some m.guard so it will look more like a boys car :D ) and I will still be able to drive my TL from time to time
Tell me what do you think.
Thanks.
I hope your wife is a model and otherwise treats you like a king because I would not accept that type of attitude. If my wife all of a sudden wanted my Corvette after I just bought her the RX400h, I'd say "No way, Jose!" I prefer a sporty vehicle, but will honor the second half's wishes if she likes more luxury. However, I'd draw the line if she wants my car just because she can't make up her mind. If I were you, I'd be tempted to give her your TL-S only if you could buy a new one for yourself.
IMO, that's perfectly fair.
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if the hybrid was like 1200$ over the normal rx330, it would be ok. but its going to be what 6000$+?!
it does not make sense unless you really want to save the enviroment
lexus where are your v6 and tv turbo diesels?
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)
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Which month of Road and Track??
March, 2005 (the latest issue) on page 53.
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Yes wwest, we've heard how you feel...repeatedly. Useless to argue. I would like to know where all these 2.4l MDXs that are getting these ACTUAL MPG ratings the RX400h "doesn't have" are though? They must be invisible.
Sounds interesting, its good to get a real world acceleration figure. I'm also glad to hear that they've made the transitions smoother than the Prius. The brakes always sound metal on metal and it can be distracting when the motors switch at a redlight or something.
I am looking forward to my own test drive, after which I will report right here in this forum. April 15th cannot come soon enough for me!
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WTF, over.
A supposedly "green" SUV touting "estimated" mpg, 0-60 times and HP/Torque at launch of 3500 ft/lbs.
GEE.
No, thanks, I'll wait for the MDX with a Miller 2.3L I4, 0-60 times with absolutely NO bragging rights, and ACTUAL mpg ratings of 30/26, or better.
....always the bridesmaid, never the bride! Around here, the Honda hybrids are sitting on the lots, gathering dust. Apparently, their decision to go with the smaller electric motors with no ability to self-power at low speeds has cost them dearly.
Oh, and regarding actual numbers: I guess you didn't read about that road test in Hawaii, where the RX400h averaged 34 MPG, city, highway, and everything in between. When it comes to hybrids, Toyota rules the world, plain and simple.
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Finally, the latest issue of Road&Track included a "First Drive" of the RX400h. Here are some of their comments:
"And now comes the Lexus RX400h, a luxury sport-ute hybrid that should run rings around the RX330 at the drag strip yet still return an estimated 28 MPG overall - 30 city, 26 highway. The age of the performance hybrid is here, now with the expected Lexus polish.
The front transaxle uses an ingenious stepless planetary gearbox very similar in concept to the Prius' transmission (albeit greatly strengthened), and houses two of the motors. At the rear, the third motor with its own compact aluminum gearbox supplies electric-only power to the rear wheels. Look, Ma, all-wheel drive without a prop shaft!
Of course, we'll need batteries for this, and the 288-volt DC pack of nickle/metal hydride cells resides beneath the rear seat, which is raised about an inch to make clearance (great for sight-seeing with the kids).
Before it reaches the motor, voltage is boosted to 650 volts DC and then changed to alternating current through an inverter. How powerful is it? ...the total system power is 268 bhp (3 more than is the Acura MDX), with 208 of that produced by the V6. But torque is another thing altogether, as the electric motors generate their peak twisting force at revs far lower than the gas engine's 4400 rpm....try 247 lb-ft. at 0-1500 rpm for the front and 96 lb-ft. at 0-610 rpm for the rear. ......total axle torque at launch (that is, after torque multiplication through gearing) is 3500 lb-ft. Yeouch!
In sheer, away from the stoplight punch, this translates to a 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds, which is a half-second quicker than the RX 330. And you can still tow the race car, perhaps on a lightweight aluminum trailer, with its 3500-lb towing capacity.
The RX400h is a true parallel hybrid, meaning it can operate solely on electric power (up to 41 mph), internal combustion, or a combination of both. Given that, the driving experience is quite normal, with transitions between the systems much smoother, and regenerative braking less grabby-feeling than the Prius. (The "B" position on the shift lever increases the regen further, slowing the 400h on grades in a way that feels like compression braking from a slower gear.
A nice bonus is that the instantaneous torque of the motors gives this Lexus a surprisingly powerful stride in the 30-60-mph range, ideal for passing on a two-lane. Whatever the mode, the driver is kept aware of its very hybrid-ness through no fewer than three displays: a Prius-like powertrain diagram on the center-stack screen with pulsing, color-changing arrows indicating power routing; a simplified LCD display inset within the speedometer; and a tach-like gauge to its left showing kilowatts instead of engine revs.
....at this writing, Lexus was near 11,000 pre-sold orders for the 400h, a vehicle that should be about $4000-$5000 dearer than the old dino-juice RX 330. With its increased power, significantly better fuel milage and technological bragging rights, the 400h seems to be a hit even befiore its on-sale date, which happens to be April 15."
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I had a windshield replaced in my daily driver and since my deductible is only $100, I had the insurance company pay for it. Now keep in mind that this windshield is made specifically for cars with HUD (Heads Up Display), so I was not surprised to see the bill to the insurance company - $1500. However, a friend with an identical car didn't want to go through his insurance, so he found a guy who did the job with the same manufacturer's windshield for $300.
So yes, it does pay to shop around!
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I put a deposit down last April, too. My dealer said that they have no clue how many they are going to get, or when I would receive mine. They assume that some people on the list would not take theirs since it is such a long wait.
What number are you on the waiting list? I'm #30. I understand there are over 120 on this dealer's list. I don't think they are accepting any more. Ironically, some dealers are advertising that they are taking orders.
I am number 15 on the list and this dealership stopped taking reservations at number 79. It appears that Lexus does not want year-long waiting lists, so they will make every attempt to stockpile as many RX400hs as possible before the April 15 release date. How many each dealership receives may depend upon its history of RX sales. I estimate that my dealership will receive 5-10 per month, meaning that I am looking at an end of May - late June delivery if every RX goes to a person on the list. If, let's say, the customer before me does not want a particular option package, then I may get mine slightly ahead of time.
I do have a suspision that if someone drops off the list, instead of bumping everyone else up, the dealership may sell that spot - not sure about this, though.
I was told by the dealership that people would be bumped up. Color and options will bump some people down and others up.
On another note, I spoke with someone who drove one recently. He was extremely impressed. It had a great deal of power, too.
I hope this is the case with my dealership as well. Gas prices are expected to climb once again as we head towards Summer and I look forward to NOT having to stop for gas every week! As far as options, I and my wife can be flexible, although I really need to hear that Mark Levinson setup. A guy at work told me that it is the best sounding stereo system he's ever heard - and he's driven many different types of cars, including many BMWs (He has a 530) and Mercedes.
Rx 400h Ordering And Tracking Process
in 99 - 03 Lexus RX300
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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.