RAID10

The steering wheel is not heated, he is busting your chops. Wood trim option will appear as soon as they pay for all the aluminum they ordered.

I cannot believe it there is nothing at the Lexusforum no activity at all zero messages

Yes, there is wood kits for the RX330 2005 that will fit most of the 400h. I have seen one on the dealers floor looks great. All real wood.I too, do not like the aluminum trim. Is it really possible to put a wood kit in? ←

The federal tax deduction is good for this year but the IRS lists the cars it is applicable to and of course the 400h is not on the list. Hard to say if the Feds will add this car to the list. Some states let hybrids use the HOV high occupancy lanes in their state with one person.

On the RX400h you have to be VERY careful when letting anyone, and that includes Lexus mechanics, go in the guts of the car. There is 650V AC of electricity surging around even when the car engine is not running.

Of course the cars coming to CA would be just a tad less "snappy" due to stricter emission control (that is still true, right ?). Even so, it's an awsome combination of performance and economy, at any price. Reliability remains a question mark, however; anybody know how the Prius stands in this regard ? ← The RX400h is Calif emissions approved out of the box. It is a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle), the power you see everywhere is the power you will get. You are in for a trill.

My dealer, Ray Catena NJ (1st in the region, 3rd in the world) largest Lexus dealer got their 400h in. The General Manager Tim Horn called last night and asked me to come and test drive the vehicle. Very smooth, no noise even when engine pops in you cannot tell. More insulation than the 330. Got on major highway and put the pedal to the metal, WOW what torque, neck snapping. I believe the 6.9 sec to 60 is high. The only negative I can find is the aluminum trim, don't like it. The wood kit looks sooo much more luxurious. I will put a wood kit in as soon as my color arrives. Believe me you will not find much to complain about with this baby. :D

Check it out http://www.lexus.com/models/rx_hybrid/index.html

Which Dealership in NJ? I ordered through Ray Catena.

The Black really looks good with wood accents, but 400h only comes with aluminum. My dealer has Lexus and aftermarket wood kits that fit the 330 I did some measuring and the pieces look the same size. I think I will have them install a wood kit.

Are you sure the vehicle had 37K miles on it. Did you check with carfacts or someone like that to verify the mileage?

Try here:http://www.l-tunedparts.com/product/?id=736 $299.00 plus shipping. Don't know anything about this vendor. The grill is a Harrier grill with the cool emblem! This is the one that I'd like to see a group buy on! It's really very cool! ← That's it, great, thanks!

The harrier and the RX is the same car.

← It is a Harrier picture, but I was on a website that offered this grill for RX, but I lost it. It has round holes and is black. Looks great!

Does anyone know the website for these custom black grills for the RX?

Navigation is standard so it will be on all of them. The press releases I've seen recently say the only options are Mark Levinson audio, seat heaters and DVD. At least in California, the first two seem to be options in name only. The information mailed by the Sacramento dealer says that the RX 400h will have one of two option packages - 1) all three options or 2) the ML audio and the seat heaters. The DVD appears to be the only real option. This matches the information gtfrench posted. ← My sales rep told me the dealers are supposed to be getting showroom 400h's this month. He is going to call me when they arrive. I will update the BLOG

The picture is from the NYC Auto Show going on this week. I looked under and over and this is the real thing.

Here is the link http://automobilemag.com/auto_shows/2005_n...4_lexus_gs450h/ :D

More Lexus Hybrid SUV News As previously noted in TheCarConnection.com daily, the new Lexus RX400h, in which the "h" is for hybrid, will go on sale April 15 for a MSRP of $48,535. This is nearly $5000 higher than TCC had predicted a few weeks ago, but includes a wide array of premium standard features, including a new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability control and a navigation system. Lexus says the package of features on the non-hybrid RX330 would come to more than $6000. Still, the pricing sets the Lexus apart from Ford's Escape Hybrid, a slightly smaller SUV, which nevertheless carries a sticker bottom-lined at $32,450, including navigation system and other options - and a $590 delivery charge. In addition to the implied prestige of the upscale brand name Lexus, the RX400h justifies its $16,000 premium price over the Escape Hybrid by its trailer-towing capacity, 3500 pounds versus the Escape Hybrid's 1000. Warranty coverage on the RX400h hybrid-related components, including the battery, will be for eight years/100,000 miles. The RX400h also will carry the conventional luxury-vehicle 48-month/50,000 miles basic, plus roadside assistance for 48 months with unlimited mileage, powertrain and restraint systems coverage for 72 months/70,000 miles, and corrosion perforation protection for 72 months with unlimited mileage. The RX400h also has now received its official EPA mileage ratings at 27 highway, 31 city and 29 combined. The Escape's numbers are two miles per gallon higher. The Lexus presents Toyota's fourth generation hybrid system, while Escape's is a first-generation effort. The same hybrid powerplant offered in the RX400h will appear in a Toyota Highlander SUV version early this summer. A fifth-generation Toyota hybrid system will be introduced in a hybrid Lexus GS model early in 2006. It will be the first hybrid designed around a rear-wheel-drive configuration. Lexus officials said production capacity in Japan for the RX400h powerplant will be 60,000. Of this, about 25,000 is expected to be allocated to Lexus customers in North America with 20-25,000 going into Highlander hybrids. The balance? Ah, Lexus is now finally going to become available in its home market. Japanese dealers are being lined up, and right-hand-drive Lexus production will commence this summer, for both the home market and other RHD markets, including UK and other Sterling countries. RHD Lexus production will include the RX400h hybrid. LHD RX400h models also will be exported to Europe and other markets.-Mike Davis

Why does it cost more to insure the 400h?

If you haven't already seen this pdf document, this is a good summary of what will be offered on the 400h. It seems clear that Laser Cruise and Air Suspension will not be options. The other features that appear to be missing are Push Button Start and Tire Pressure Sensor. http://pressroom.toyota.com/presstxt/2006l...lex400h-2_s.pdf Good luck with your dealer. ← The RX330 doesn't really have a tire pressure sensor. It uses the anti lock braking software to determine if a tire is spinning at a different speed than in the past which indicates a low tire pressure. I cannot see why they would not include this in the 400h, it is just software.

Good info, let me threw this back to my dealer and say "What's Up!" I am told Ray Catena is one if not top selling Lexus dealer in the country.

I have not heard about price except that the base price is $48,535, and that Lexus usually does not charge over MSRP. ← Thanks for the info. What dealer are you using in NJ? I've been on the list for April, but I don't have that information. Since I want what is available in April, maybe there is some hope for me. ← I am using Ray Catena in NJ, they sell more RX's then most. The inside story is that the dealer that has sold the most cars will get more 400h's.

I have not heard about price except that the base price is $48,535, and that Lexus usually does not charge over MSRP.

I have had my deposit in since Feb 04 but I have not made up my mind if I want to wait for the Mark Levinson radio and DVD player yet. My rep told me that Lexus is VERY reluctant to have anyone install things in this vehicle other than Lexus (I wanted DVD in the headrests). Because there is such high voltage (650VDC) in the car that they are afraid someone may get fried! ← Oh, I expect my car in April, a sales rep in NYC told me that the dealers will get showroom 400h's in March.