400h08

it is black mylar plastic with holes smaller than the top of the cell cut out, big maintenance free letters on the top. i can take a pic with my iphone, can someone walk me thru uploading it sorry for the lack of skills there. also am interested in what lexus says and if people really think a more expensive battery is better, my oem battery has no reserve and has left me stranded a couple times the last week. (yes i do travel with jumper cables now and a portable starter) i have a new van for work so with cheap gas ive been driving that more, it sounds like im part of the cheap gas use more problem too! thanks, dave

To post photo's, sign up at

http://photobucket.com/

Read instructions to upload your photo. Then read instructions to link your photo to forum (I think it is the 3rd item down the list)

Thanks for suggestion. I do sometimes go to Buffalo for shopping with my wife, and have some Buffalo wings, too. We only have to pay taxes on our purchases, but most of the time, they just let us through (I don't really mind paying taxes because sometimes things are hard to find in Toronto). May be I should wait till the Christmas holidays and go shopping again.

I noticed that the Blizzak DMz3 is closed out ($149) (what does close out mean?), and the next one up is new LM25 for a big increase to $268 (too much! for just winter use). The next one is Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow for $150 each. The cheapest wheels is $150 each. So, it sounds very economical comparing the price here in Toronto. Does my choice sound ok to you, since I don't really know much about tires and wheels. Thanks.

Thanks for the advice. Too bad we do not have the same pricing here that can match Tirerack. I am concerned about damaging my wheels and beads as well. I may have to swallow the $2000 for an extra set of wheels.

Thanks. I should have searched first. My next problem is that I do not want to pay for an extra set of expensive wheels. Are steel wheels ok or bad idea. I was also thinking of changing tires and balance twice a year, at which rate, it will breakeven in 6 yrs, and by that time, I will like need new tires any way.

Snow tires are in great shortage in Canada this year, because Quebec made it by law mandatory for all vehicles to have snow tire in winter. I called my Lexus Dealer, and they put me on wait list. Today they called back and told me they have 18" Blizzak made by Bridgestone (I think). Are they any good? BTW, I have not used snow tires since 1970's here in Toronto.

You did not mention the 2 side mirrors. Did you like them?

I read on another forum that it's not supported... only MP3s on a CD will play, not DVDs.

Has anyone ever gotten this to work? I tried all manner of different formats, burning programs, physical media, etc. Eventually, I gave up once I read that it's not supported.

(Assuming that's true, it's pretty stupid given that clearly all the hardware and software necessary is there.)

\My bad. I did record mp3 files on cd's and not dvd's. My apologies.

Here ha go friends. My "less than maintenance free" battery. And by the way, there was no tape to remove.

Tom

It surely is very strange. Are you sure no body exchanged your battery without you knowing it. By the way, the little monitor on the top left shows blue, which means the battery is healthy.

I recently purchased a 2008 RX400 with the navigation system. I would like to be able to burn mp's to a DVD (so I can burn a lot more than a CD would allow and at superior bit raes). When I burn the DVD, the DVD changer will not recognize the data on them. I contacted Lexus and they said "your vehicle is equipped with the ability to play an MP3 file from a DVD disc" but offer no more help than that and the local dealer in not much better. The manual seems to be silent on the ability of the DVD changer to play MP3's on DVDs.

Has anyone done this and have you encountered any problems? FYI, I am using Nero 8 to burnt he DVD's.

Thanks in advance for any insight/assistance.

I can play mp3 on my 08 400h. I don't know about Nero 8. I used RecordNow Ver 7 and just transfer the mp3 files into RecordNow and burn data disc on blank dvd. You should have data disc option in Nero 8.

2010 Lexus RX 450h

Thanks for the link. I am not sure I like the body style. But, the improved features are neat, like the shortened heat up time, the side mirror camera. Oh well, I just got my 08, have to wait for a few years now.

I do notice the braking noise but it doesn't bother me. It sound like a plane come to a stop, at the end of the test drive, I don't notice it any more.

Do you remember the vibration vibrates more or less compare to when you first have the RX400h?

No, I do not notice it any more than when it was new, but then I only have a few thousand km on it.

Hi all,

New to this site. I am looking into buy either the 2009 RX350 or the 2008 RX400h. I read a lot of posts here and hoping to swing my decision one way or the other. There are good opinions here but not quite address to my two concerns for the RX400h VS RX350.

I test drive both new RX400h and RX350. I am hoping the existing owners or someone has driven them before can give me their valuable opinion. Here are some of my test drive observation comparing with the two SUV and my questions.

1) I love the RX400h when it is stop at traffic. It is dead silence. I don't like car vibrate when aged. But I notice about 10%-15% of the time, the engine engaged. So I hear/feel small hum and the steering wheel vibrate a bit like the RX350. Does this increase in percentage after awhile? May be because the battery get deteriorated and not get fully charge so to occur more often?

2) I notice when it speed up to 40KM to 50KM, there is a vibration when the gas engine engages. Does this go away or more noticable when the car get break-in/older? Because of the vibration, do you still feel it is as luxury compare to RX350? Or just get used to? Will it go away or get worst?

3) I like the CVT

How do you rate between the two?

I am not concern about the price or the fuel consumption between the two. I just want to get one that I will be more happy with.

Thanks in advance

I did test drive the RX350 before I decided on the Rx400h, back in June this year. The reason for Rx400h choice is mainly on the carbon foot print. Also, there are government rebates, and sales discount is higher, so overall, it is a better deal. I cannot tell the doffernce between the rides, since I only test drove them for a short distance (cannot really call it a test drive). But I do like the cvt, now that I am driving it. 400h does make a strange breaking noise from the motor/generator mode. But I got used to it fast. Also, you are right, I do feel the vibration when the engine comes on, but it is better than having the engine noise and vibration all the time. In fact, when it comes on it gives you the confirmation that things are working properly. If you drive in town a lot waiting for traffic jam, you will feel less stressed out because of the lack of noise and vibration.

Do not buy it based on saving fuel (hardly worth the rate of return). Buy it based on the fact that it has less emission, and do a little bit for the environment. Besides, it has a nice "hybrid" badge on it.

No, I was asked if I wanted the rear monitor, I said no, then he ask me if I want the radar cruise control. There is no mention of NAV system. By the way, NAV system package does not have radar cruise control.

I'm in the Toronto area (Markham), and I'm getting conflicting information here. Is the nav system/bluetooth/rear monitor optional in the '08s, or does it come standard?

My first post here, but long time lurking before I bought my 400h in June this year.

To answer your question, I did not choose the NAV option since I don't need it. I used a hand held gps on a trip, but other than that, I know my way around town. Anyway, after I agreed on a price with the sales guy, I was taken to an administrator to sign up the deal. He asked me if I want to add rear monitor, radar for cruising (forget what they call it, but it is available in Toyota as well), and a bunch of other options. So, this implies that you do not have to buy the NAV package, but pick the individual options you need.

All you have to do is a special order and get exactly what you want. Thats what I did on my 2008 RX400h. It takes 3 months to get it built to your specifications exactly.

When I placed my offer, my car is already on the ship to Canada. So, my impression is that these can be added on by the dealer.

I'm in the Toronto area (Markham), and I'm getting conflicting information here. Is the nav system/bluetooth/rear monitor optional in the '08s, or does it come standard?

My first post here, but long time lurking before I bought my 400h in June this year.

To answer your question, I did not choose the NAV option since I don't need it. I used a hand held gps on a trip, but other than that, I know my way around town. Anyway, after I agreed on a price with the sales guy, I was taken to an administrator to sign up the deal. He asked me if I want to add rear monitor, radar for cruising (forget what they call it, but it is available in Toyota as well), and a bunch of other options. So, this implies that you do not have to buy the NAV package, but pick the individual options you need.