ljbad4life

Well I have found a tesla forum and non tesla forums and I have yet to run into anything of the sort. I don't care if some singularly comes along and does what he/she wants to. It's bad when someone from the outside looks in and gets that impression. I am even on other non-tesla specific forums and I have not run into one person that acts the way a good amount of people do here. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back maybe you can sleep better at night because you own a Lexus. Maybe you need to take a step back and look at the cause. Or maybe you should save your words and use that to help the new Lexus owner with a RX 450h that won't go into EV mode, oh wait I did. I bid Lexus forums goodbye.

I can't believe that you are letting postings on an internet forum sway major decisions in your life. I would think one either likes a car for what it is and buys it or one doesn't like it and doesn't buy it. What your perception is of current owners of a vehicle/brand should have no bearing on the purchase. BTW, no need to call Lexus about that 50K, because they'll get it from someone else. Yes it is a major decision in life. There are short comings to any automobile. Lexus is going to have a fight on it's hands for the luxury market when there are so many alternatives coming out in the next couple of years. I have decided against buying a Lexus not only for the sort of attitude of people that have bought a Lexus, but I was always on the fence about my purchase of the GS 450h and quite frankly the car is not up to the standards of this year let alone next year. This is just a wake up call for me. If a label makes someone buy something that's absolutely vapid and shallow. I have checked other forums such as club lexus, and mb forums and I have stated that I don't like that attitude and don't want to be associated with it. I can 100% agree that it is over the top, and that's why I have had my little mini rant. If someone is unhappy with their car (yes people do have the right not to like their Lexus' and express it). People jumped all over that other guys back for suggesting that the op (who disliked his RX) try the same path he did. I have made it a point to be as helpful as possible in my posts. I give credit where credit is due to what ever manufacturer deserves it. I am sure another car company will be glad to jump at my 50k one less sales is one less sale. Next saturday I have a date with Tesla Motors. I would gladly wait two years for the car I want than have to compromise on the things that matter most to me.

Well my experience with the EV button has been with the 2010 Prius so I think everything will apply the same since it is the same HSD. There are several different requirements that have to be met for the car to drive solely on Electric (through the ev button) As far as I know, they are: Battery charge state, engine temperature, speed, and acceleration. If one of those requirements are not met the EV mode will tell you "no". The "default" ev mode is what many people call stealth mode. The engine will turn off when under 42 mph and while coasting. Using the EV button the car has to be going slower than 25 mph and will only stay on for the most a mile 9no matter how slow you are going). I hope that helps.

The cheapest GS 450h I've seen was 38k with 43k miles on it. When we are talking about whether people are comparing the Murano to the RX and if you insist they are, then why are so many more peoplen choosing the RXs? Of course, you can't always equate sales to quality, but many sales trends do point to this as being the case. The Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, etc all show very high sales figures, and for good reason. Many are choosing the RX because they want a Luxury Crossover. And you get all the loaner cars, more warranty, and stuff that comes with a Luxury car. Nissan, Toyota, and so on you do not. Plus the RX is the cheapest of the batch if you compare the other Luxury crossovers, so yes you will get more people buying them. That is what I was trying to get at. many people will see the price tag between the two and say I can get a Lexus!!!!! many people do the same between a g35 and a (new) maxima Same here. I looked at the Maxima, and a full loaded one was like $40k. I was like forget that. I can get a Lexus! Reason why we are looking at a new ES350 and a slightly used GS350 for me. what year GS350 are you looking for? You could get a G37 brand new with awd for the same price as a used GS350. If you haven't test driven a G37, do it before you make your decision

When we are talking about whether people are comparing the Murano to the RX and if you insist they are, then why are so many more peoplen choosing the RXs? Of course, you can't always equate sales to quality, but many sales trends do point to this as being the case. The Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, etc all show very high sales figures, and for good reason. Many are choosing the RX because they want a Luxury Crossover. And you get all the loaner cars, more warranty, and stuff that comes with a Luxury car. Nissan, Toyota, and so on you do not. Plus the RX is the cheapest of the batch if you compare the other Luxury crossovers, so yes you will get more people buying them. That is what I was trying to get at. many people will see the price tag between the two and say I can get a Lexus!!!!! many people do the same between a g35 and a (new) maxima Same here. I looked at the Maxima, and a full loaded one was like $40k. I was like forget that. I can get a Lexus! Reason why we are looking at a new ES350 and a slightly used GS350 for me. what year GS350 are you looking for? You could get a G37 brand new with awd for the same price as a used GS350. If you haven't test driven a G37, do it before you make your decision

When we are talking about whether people are comparing the Murano to the RX and if you insist they are, then why are so many more peoplen choosing the RXs? Of course, you can't always equate sales to quality, but many sales trends do point to this as being the case. The Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, etc all show very high sales figures, and for good reason. Many are choosing the RX because they want a Luxury Crossover. And you get all the loaner cars, more warranty, and stuff that comes with a Luxury car. Nissan, Toyota, and so on you do not. Plus the RX is the cheapest of the batch if you compare the other Luxury crossovers, so yes you will get more people buying them. That is what I was trying to get at. many people will see the price tag between the two and say I can get a Lexus!!!!! many people do the same between a g35 and a (new) maxima

I know what loyal is and I know what an elitist attitude is. There are plenty of other reliable car companies out there. Loyal is understanding that. Elitist is blindly following the mantra and not realizing that every manufacturer has it's sore spots. Yes even the mighty Lexus has it's mess ups. The GS sedan is one of them. It's at the point where I can say I won't be buying a Lexus. So you can call up Lexus corporate and tell them that they lost 50k+ because their clientele misrepresents their brand. So I guess Lexus is the new d-bags of the auto world that BMW was 5 years ago. congrats on your crown.

I leave this thread for a day and it hits the toilet. At this point I think some people need a reality check The RX is not perfect nor near perfect, no car is. The car maybe a great fit for you doesn't mean its a good fit for someone else. The RX does have it's faults (it's awd drive system in snow more than 3 inches or a little bit of sand) and the ergonomics are weird to some. the EV switch being near the left knee of the drive is an odd placement. Sales do not equate which car is "better" it could all be a matter of perception. The RX is one of the cheapest luxury SUVs you can get(the non hybrid model). The high end highlander (hybrid and non hybrid) sells more than the RX, so does that mean that the Highlander is better (edmunds thinks so). The OP was/is not happy with his RX, guess what it happens! the Lexus elitists are out in full force and it's sicking.

I am getting cold feet about purchasing a Lexus. After reading this and other forums, I am really starting to feel that Lexus has become the elitist *expletive* that it set out to never be. Rewind the clock back just 15/20 years and Lexus was sitting in the same spot as the other car cos that Lexus Owners now snub their noses at and look down on. Many look down on Infiniti and Hyundai Genesis. Those companies remind me so much of the early Lexus years, it's not even funny. Luxury cars are about a statement. I thought Lexus was about quality (which it is to a point), but I refuse to be defined by the haggard masses that pick up a Lexus because it has Lexus on it. It's sad to see that the first thing out of some people's mouth's is "it's not a Lexus". Well a Lexus is not a Mercedes Benz, no matter how much Lexus tries, they will never have their look updated. Lexus quite frankly still looks the same since 1995 (the RX with holding) and they handle like slugs compared to the germans, but you dare not utter that on a Lexus board. Or the sheer fact that Lexus takes a cheap chasis and tries to pass it off as a Lexus.That is really "GM" of them. The Elitist attitude doesn't feel good when you are on the receiving end of it. I simply will not purchase a BMW because of the type of people that drive it. I don't want to be associated with that type of attitude (check out a 3-series board if you think I am joking) Many may have questioned why I haven't bought a GS450h yet... Well up until 2010 model year the GS450h had the oldest Nav in it of any 30k+ car. Didn't even have traffic or anything else that the sub 40k cars are providing. I refuse to plunk down 50k+ for a car with 10 year old tech in it. It does not even have Bluetooth audio streaming (a2dp). You can get that on a Ford! Lexus leather seems cheap to me. It may be because of the ventilated seats, but the leather doesn't feel durable. Too thin at points. I don't think that belongs in a 50k car. Sit in a MB E- Class or BMW 5- Series and tell me that leather doesn't feel better. Then on top of that can I get more color choices (even on the non hybrid GS there are few color choices). Can you guess one of the most comfortable cars I have ever sat in?... A Hyundai Genesis. that almost 30k less than a Lexus and looks better too. Sorry for the rant, ban me if need be, but I won't take back my feelings on the state of Lexus and it's owners.

While you may feel that 23 MPG in the city is incredible, it is a far cry from the 28-30 MPG that hybrid SUVs, such as the RX400h and RX450H have been achieving. And high-traffic, big city environments are where hybrids have always excelled. If you have been perusing this forum for any length of time, you'd know that many of us will advise newcomers who are interested in a hybrid Lexus that unless they spend an ample amount of time driving in city traffic, there will not be a large difference in fuel savings over a gasolene-only vehicle. I believe the Toyota RAV4 boasts similar numbers as the Murano. But you glazed over my other point - Nissan service. I was told very bluntly by more than one Nissan dealership clerk that if I needed a ride more than 10 miles away, I was out of luck. That was just one part of the overall Nissan experience that turned me off to the brand. It's somewhat like comparing Honda to Acura service or Chevrolet to Cadillac - huge difference and a big reason why the RX-series are the best selling SUVs in the US - far outselling the Infiniti SUVs and even anything that Nissan has to offer. Nissan makes the only Japanese car maker that doesn't have any cars in the top ten list in reliablity. I'd stick with Lexus. In about four years the Murano will more than likely have issues like any other Nissan product. I agree on the reliability issues of nissan. The quality has improved in years, the infiniti's don't seem to have wide spread issues. Lexus can't be beat when reliability is the topic. I have notice that the GS line seems to be a weak spot in Lexus perfect reliability. Really? Which is the GS? The big family SUV? the GS is a sedan (gs 350, 450h and 460) the 6 cylinder in the GS 350 has some issues with value timing and sticking (take a look in the non hybrid gs forums),some odd tire wear (on the awd model), ABS issues, and the occasional transmission issues. The engine in the GS300 seems to be horrible( compared to lexus standards) I think the second largest Lexus suv is the GX (why a company would name two of their products so closely is beyond me). It seems to me that the hybrids (of the GS or RX so I have no doubt the HS will last) seem to really stand up to the test of time (plus you get the extra warranty for the hybrid components).

While you may feel that 23 MPG in the city is incredible, it is a far cry from the 28-30 MPG that hybrid SUVs, such as the RX400h and RX450H have been achieving. And high-traffic, big city environments are where hybrids have always excelled. If you have been perusing this forum for any length of time, you'd know that many of us will advise newcomers who are interested in a hybrid Lexus that unless they spend an ample amount of time driving in city traffic, there will not be a large difference in fuel savings over a gasolene-only vehicle. I believe the Toyota RAV4 boasts similar numbers as the Murano. But you glazed over my other point - Nissan service. I was told very bluntly by more than one Nissan dealership clerk that if I needed a ride more than 10 miles away, I was out of luck. That was just one part of the overall Nissan experience that turned me off to the brand. It's somewhat like comparing Honda to Acura service or Chevrolet to Cadillac - huge difference and a big reason why the RX-series are the best selling SUVs in the US - far outselling the Infiniti SUVs and even anything that Nissan has to offer. Nissan makes the only Japanese car maker that doesn't have any cars in the top ten list in reliablity. I'd stick with Lexus. In about four years the Murano will more than likely have issues like any other Nissan product. I agree on the reliability issues of nissan. The quality has improved in years, the infiniti's don't seem to have wide spread issues. Lexus can't be beat when reliability is the topic. I have notice that the GS line seems to be a weak spot in Lexus perfect reliability.

We had both a Maxima and fully-optioned Quest before buying our RX400h and to us, while the Nissan's were well-built to some extent (I say this because there were some problems with each.), they really were not in the same class as the Lexus. Perhaps the Infiniti SUVs are there when performance characteristics are compared, but as far as amenities, reliability, fuel economy and dealer service are concerned, there is just no comparison. I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure, as they say. (This is not to say that Nissan's are trash!) It is obvious you haven't checked out the new Murano as the interior really blows any other car that Nissan makes away. It is like a Infiniti but with a Nissan badge. Like I said, check one out before making comments when you haven't even seen one. We also get over 23 city and we have hit 28 highway in our Murano. Your right, it doesn't compare since the Murano performs better. I have driven a RX 400h (07) and I have driven an fx35 (08). there are good points to both. Driving dynamics(better awd, tighter handling, much faster), navi, and tech (better sound system, ipod intergration, better voice recogniction, better nav, and a 9GB music box with flash expansion slot) really are done well in the infiniti (it took lexus almost 3 yrs to get hdd based nav, it took lexus 4 yrs to get nav traffic into the GS450h! and some cars still have cassette players!). Service and luxury are definitely on better done in the lexus' (heated & ventilated seats, quieter). Infiniti typically gives you a roomier car for the money, a G37 has the same interior space as a gs450h (and the same 0-60 time) for 20k less(with awd), but the refinement is not there. That exhaust note is a burly one on the infiniti and can get pretty annoying after a while. Now that Infiniti is bringing to market their own hybrid system to be introduced in the new M sedan, I want to see how that plays out (the Infiniti hybrid system is supposed to be more robust than the HSD, can carry the car up to 67mph on battery alone) Nissan has done a lot to the murano and the maxima to bring them upmarket (the maxima needs to go). The quality of the materials are much improved and I don't see anything from toyota that matches except the land cruiser. Anyway back on topic, If you are unhappy with the driving dynamics of the RX or the tech in the RX, the FX is in the same price range and will fit the bill. If you want something a little bit cheaper but almost as good as, go for the Murano. If you are unhappy with your RX don't snub nose Infiniti, take a good hard look and you might like them.... follow my insane test driving scheme and you will never go home with another unwanted car!

Keep Us updated on you new rx 450h, congrats by the way. Black looks beautiful when clean, but gets dirty quickly.

I honestly don't like the idea of test drives the way they are. I will test drive a car four to five times before I buy it. yes I am a nut, but can you really discern if this car is right for you in 15 minutes that you are going to keep? Short test drives do give you a feel for the power train, but it doesn't give you everything. Here's my special process for buying a car: 1) first visit don't test drive anything. Sit in the car and give it a good once over. Look between the seats (for those gaps) sit in the back seat. open the trunk. Play with the audio system and other features that don't require it to move. open the hood. look at the paint. (i really prefer not to have a sales person present even visually) Adjust the seat and so on and so forth. i try to imagine what I will have with me(ipod, cellphone, etc). Look in the storage bins and locate all the power outlets. 2)Second visit test drive the car. try to go on a varied route. some highway, some back roads, some stop and go (the stop and go will really give you a feel for the brakes) at the end of the test drive play with the a/c and heated seats. See how long it takes to warm/cool down (this will serve as a comparison later). Do not play any music while driving. listen to the engine and the road/wind noise. It's the perfect way to hear rattles and squeaks (a sure sign of poor quality interior). Don't be afraid to hit pot holes or bumps. Don't wreck the car, but i don't go out of my way to avoid them. 3)third visit test drive the car in different weather conditions (rainy and/or dusk/ dark). Before you drive, start the car and turn on the a/c and heated seats. see how long it takes to cool or warm up when the engine is cold. This test drive I can get a feeling for how the car handles in adverse conditions and I get to see how the headlights illuminate the road. get to see how the cabin looks like after dark. For me, at least, certain color combos hurt my eyes (like that red and blue instrument panel of VW). Play with the navigation system, bring your cellphone and try to pair it to the bluetooth system and make a call. If it's raining try the different settings for the wipers and see if the rain sensing wipers fit you (some people hate it). Bring a couple of your cds or ipod and play it. 4) Fourth visit see if you can test drive the car alone (many dealerships will let you if you went there for the previous test drives, makes you seem serious about the car). Once you have the car, really push it. gun it a couple of times from a dead stop (see if the car pulls to either side) go to a parking lot(an empty one) and do some quick stops and other maneuvers (s-turns). go to a street and make a u-turn. Get on the highway and drive it like you drive normally. My OCD(ish) system really makes learn your potential new car and the breaks in between test drives prevents those impulse buys. I am very similar to the op where little things in the interior will drive me insane, so I understand his pain. I am a very tech orientated person, so I do need a good integrated audio system. Lexus does have a short fall when it comes to ipod intergration. Many other companies do it way better (Infiniti, Ford). The Nav is in the middle of the pack (Acura is so horrible it's not even funny) out of the luxury market. Op, if you dislike the car that much you might want to consider selling quickly so you don't loose much money on it. If you have another Lexus in mind that better suits your need, go back to the Lexus dealership and press them to take back your RX 450h and give you something else.

So I took the hs 250h for a test drive yesterday (sunday). I must say the looks will make the majority of people love it or hate it. I didn't particularly like it the color (it was like powder blue I think Lexus calls it sapphire mica), but the exterior styling to me was ok... that's it. It does look very normal so if you are the type of person that wants the car to look like a Lexus you better look to another car. I think if you like the ES model then the HS will be perfect for you. It rode much like an ES with very similar handling, maybe even a little tighter. I have to fault the HS for it's powertrain. I am an avid hybrid lover, but the HS does not live up to what you would think it should be. The acceleration is far better than a prius, but the HS is out done by some non luxury hybrids. Same goes for handling in comparison to other non-luxury hybrids. The ride was whisper quiet, but when i pushed the car (getting on the highway) the engine sounded very un-Lexus like. It groaned a little too harshly. The tech in the HS is top notch. I did use the Intuitive parking assist which was pretty cool. I must say they need to migrate some of this tech into the GS hybrid. the remote control worked really well. it applied feedback when passed over a button on the navigation screen. The Heads up display actually was visible in the day time, which i didn't expect it to be. My other major sticking point is the interior(mostly the dash). It's laid out very logically but I feel like it was Lexus quality wasn't even a factor. the dashboard is absolutely cheap looking. The eco plastic really gave the hs a cheap look, but the eco plastic didn't feel cheap. I wish Lexus would have thought about bamboo paneling to class up the dash. The "pop" up navigation does not look good to me. The screen itself is crisp, but the way it comes up looks so not Lexus if you know what I mean (as if someone was building it, finished and looked and saw that they forgot to put the nav screen in , then just bolted in on top). When the navi screen is down the dash looks particularly cheap and plain looking. The seats are great ( the Hs I drove was loaded so I don't know if seats are different without the heated/ventilated seats). There was plenty of room front and back. Good amount of knee room in the back (unlike the IS). And the trunk is a decent size. I personally wouldn't purchase an HS, but I can see who this car is aimed at. I just felt it fell short on somethings I can't compromise on. Exterior looks I can compromise on to a point, because I don't see the outside of the car when I'm driving it. The interior i see all the time. Fuel economy is good, but not great considering faster hybrids exists that are more fuel efficient. *edit* The color of the HS is "Silver Opal Mica"