cagleman

We have the identical RX300. I bought mine at Thanksgiving in 2003 and paid $28k. I know that doesn't give you an exact value a year later, but...just tryin' to help. Todd

Thanks Tom...now I wonder how to make the adjustment?

Thanks for the response...for the volume on CD's and FM to be the same as AM, the white line on the knob would be in about the 10 o'clock position (the AM would be in the 3 o'clock position). Seems like an overly large disparity.

Hello all...I am a big talk radio listener (on the AM dial) and listen to my CD's at other times. When I have the AM radio on, I have to turn the volume up...way up to where the white line on the dial is at about the 3 o'clock position to hear at a reasonable level. If I then switch over to CD (or to FM for that matter), that same sound level would raise the dead it is so loud. I suppose I can understand a small variation due to (perhaps) the relative signal strength of AM versus FM or the CD player...but the descrepancy is huge! Any thoughts or adjustments I can make to bring things more in line? Thanks!

The DVD NAV system in the Lexus is the same as the Prius (so I am told). There is a vendor who sells kits (or you can have them do it) to upgrade the NAV system to play DVD's and pickup television stations. The link to which is here: http://www.coastaletech.com/viewtech.htm I own(ed) a Prius and considered this...but then I thought...I could get a bigger screen without hacking the system for a little more dough. If interested, it may be worth shooting them an email. I know from second-hand knowledge that their service is very good.

Ahhh 270 HP along with the nice low-end torque provided by an electric motor, that should be a sweet vehicle! I assume the 270 HP is the combined HP of both the gas engine and the electric motor. The Prius had a combined HP of, I believe, 110 HP. Having a wife and 3 kids, I really can't wait for the Toyota mini-van hybrid currently on the road in Japan. It looks really nice.

Honda, IMO, is not true competition...apples and oranges (at least to some degree). Honda uses IMA (integrated motor assist), the car can't run solely on electric power. The engine is always running. Toyota can run on just electric power (at low enough speeds or on the right declines). That's nice, especially living in Colorado going up and down the mountains. I am a little concerned about the HP of the 400h, if it is like the Prius. I suppose you can't have a muscle-car that is also a high-mileage vehicle. Too bad about the HOV exception, I have heard similar issues in other states as well.

If anyone has questions on what the Prius has to offer, I have owned one for about 2 years. Besides the Fed tax deduction, I also received a tax CREDIT from the state of Colorado...total savings about $6,000 in all. If I remember the wording of the Fed tax forms correctly, I wouldn't necessarily say the 400h would not qualify. Check with your tax professional.

I have the Thule racks and one of their hardtop carriers. They are relatively expensive. I think I paid a couple hundred for the rack (the bars and the feet that attach to the vehicle) and about $300 for the hardtop carrier. That being said...they are wonderfully useful and can hold quite a bit of stuff. Once you make the initial investment for the rack...most of the other accessories aren't outrageously priced.

While I agree with your rebel spirit...I was just pointing out that I don't believe the manufacturers intended for the DVD to be viewable while in motion.

I know in many states it is illegal to have a viewable TV/DVD screen from the driver's seat when driving.