jbanfie

Hi Rob, It looks like you dodged a bullet there, 3 months from expiry of hybrid system warranty! I plan on keeping my 400h for a while and with my luck the same would happen at 5 yrs and 3 months instead. From what I can see yours seems to be a bit of a one off with an inverter failure, lets all hope this is the case! Cheers Jon

On the 450h, back in 2006 I bought a 400h when they were still quite new to the UK, so it was 3 years old in March 2009. I waited as we all did for details of the 450h thinking it was going to be a big step forward. My thoughts are this: 1. Not really that good looking 2. Not as quick as 400h because: 3. Its HEAVY 4. Price 5. No discounts yet So I decided to stick with 400h and even ordered the extended RAC cover, which is very cheap if bought through Lexus, was going to wait till it was 5 for extended warranty. Anyway, I get a call from dealer saying he's got someone who wants my car, and I do a deal on new 400h Executive Limited Edition for £32,500, just before they put the prices up in April! Couldn't say no to that and 450h looked silly in comparison. I cancelled the RAC thing with no bother. I've just looked, and an SE-I 450h (similar spec to Executive Limited Edition) metallic paint but NO sunroof is £47,490 - wow. Even if 450h does save a bit on fuel and tax, it's never going to be difference between the price of the two. If Lexus had worked as hard on making the car lighter as they do on everything else, then acceleration and economy would be much better. There you go.

So, it's finally snowed in Somerset, wisely I parked my Toyota Hilux and wife's Mini in the garage leaving the 400h on the drive. Thinking, if it really snows, the Hilux won't need to be cleaned off before I get in and lock my diffs!!! Anyway, nip outside this morning and think, I'll turn on car to see just how cold it is - minus 5 being the answer. But, as I turn on the ignition, my smart Lexus thinks to itself - "Do you know I'll just clear that windscreen for you Sir". Oh no you won't, turns out wipers are frozen solid. They move but a millimeter and stop. Oh **** thinks I, that's the fuse blown on that then. Annoyed, I return to the house and tell sad story to wife, "I'm glad that happened to you" came the cheerful reply. To try and save time, I phone Lexus Poole to ask where about the fuse is, girl doesn't know, no-one in workshop, am advised to read manual! I take big jug of hot water outside and defrost wipers - tentatively I start car and switch wipers on - great relief and admiration, they move sweetly across a well iced screen - nice. Very impressive to not have blown fuse, this is my second 400h and I still can't fault them, just a pity 450h is such a let down. Also, I have to say that the car started as if it was a perfect summers day, so pleased not to have an ordinary starter motor, they're so 20th Century. Cheers and happy new year JB

Right then, so to get what was the SE - Sat Nav or now the Executive Limited Edition - with the power boot lid - you have to buy an SE-I, but you get no sunroof, but you add parking sensors front and back! An SE-I with metallic paint comes to £45,830 - wow Now, 5 weeks ago I bought the Executive Limited Edition for about £32,500 including 2 years servicing. Hmmmmm, that be a lot of money difference then, although I wonder what discounts you will be able to get? Will Lexus still be offering the £2500 off?

All, I was very pleased to see a 2 grand price rise as my dealer predicted; makes the residuals on my 4 week old 400h better. Question is, given the RRP on the 400h is enormous, how much is this slightly disappointing 450h going to be? Thoughts? Jon

Economy over the 3 years has been much like everyone says, driving like a Grandad I can get 35mpg, on the motorway 27-29 on a very fast dash to Austria skiing, only 25. I did find it got better after 10,000 miles, summer way better than winter etc etc. It rivals the Diesels, given petrol is cheaper than the sooty stuff, and round town it can't be beat, also gets off the blocks pretty smartish too. I can't really find a better car on the market, and it turns out that it was a smart choice too given residuals at the moment. All round I'm happy to replace it with another. Having been to the dealer on Firday, I also found out that the new Executive Limited Edition model is basically an SE with Sat Nav with an extra badge on the boot - obviously just the same car with one badge and glue required, but for £4,500 less. AND Lexus are currently giving an extra £2,500 discount hence my deal above - all this is due to change at the end of March, weak Yen and all that. Expect to see prices go up????? Cheers Jon

Another 400h All, How about you swap your 3 year old 33,000 mile slightly dented and kerbed 400h SE Sat Nav for a brand new 400h Executive Limited Edition (which has the sat nav, bumper protector, boot liner and 2 years servicing) for £14,750. The two cars are identical except I get the high res mark levenson sat nav multimedia thing, and new maps! If you take off the servicing (£360) and road tax (£200), I'm paying just over 14K to swap. This I think is quite an excellent deal, and as the new RX450h is no real great improvement (and looses the touch screen nav in favour of a 'mouse' thing) I'm happy to stick with 400h. Food for thought! Cheers Jon

yes, sadly for the bank balance, that becomes a bit of a must have impulse purchase!!!

Hi Gazman, I keep trawling the net and nothing new has come out for a while now, I take it you have seen all the pictures of the lf-xh concept, have a look at: http://www.leftlanenews.com/lexus-lf-xh-future.html They keep saying late 2009 for release. My 400h is now 2 and a quarter, so I'm more than happy to run it for another year and a half anticipating the new model, then I'll wait another year so the initial demand has waned and I can get a good deal. You can get 400h's now for a lot less than I paid!!!! Toyota/Lexus never seem to give the game away with respect to new models Cheers Jon

Hi Guys, I'm glad some people have some better news on this. Mine is over 2 years old with 25K on the clock, never missed a beat but it gets used nearly everday, and as we have very small kids we've taken holidays in England and therefore taken the car and never left it. The longest we must have left it is 3 days max. Anyway pleased to hear that this doesn't seem to affect everyone, I can believe that some batteries fitted are a bit duff, we've all heard those stories from all over the place. Cheers Jon

I agree, for stuff like this, that plainly should not happen in the time described, if no easy fix is possible, the parts should come at cost, a wiring loom does not cost over two grand, and a pump not 1700. If this was the case the car would cost about 200K to buy. I had a similar experience on my Jag with an ABS reflector wrapped around a rear drive shaft. It failed, less than 10 pence worth of metal, but a new drive shaft was required. They let me have one "half price, Sir" which was still £250. Car was also out of warranty, hence I wouldn't buy another Jag. It seems we are starting to discover a few more failings than wheel corrosion and lurching gearboxes! Is this a sign of things to come. Trouble is, you then say I'm not having another Lexus and they're supposed to be top of the tree, so now where? My mate has so much trouble with his Supercharged Range Rover - forget it, Jag no, BMW no thanks, Merc - rubbish, Audi well ? So now what, I think you end up with a Kia Ceed and a seven year warranty. There in lies the rub and you end up still buying "nice cars" and paying again and again on faults like these. Disappointed in Lexus UK's view on this, they need to do a better job I think or lots of us will leave the brand. Jon

Never did like the French, we skipped to Belgium as fast as we could, then Germany and on to Austria. 400h was flawless, Sat Nav 100% on the money an absolute breeze. Touched 133 on Autobahn, it wouldn't go any faster than that. Wanted to drop by Nurnburg Ring on the return journey for a laugh, but is only open on weekends and we travelled on the Friday. Cheers

Yeah, Looking at it some more, it's getting on for £40 a month, I try not to put that much petrol in the car in a month. Green taxes or just another excuse?

Well the've done it again, road tax for 400h goes to £250 in March 2009 (£260 for band J less £10 for hybrid). RX300 registered after March 2001 will get clobbered if I read it right, as both the 300 and the 350 have CO2 g/km over 255, those lucky lucky owners get to pay £440 in 2009 and £455 in 2010. Yes he's made it retrospective all the way back to 2001 - not nice at all. If you've got an older one go trade in now, before people work it out! Second hand values are going to plummet. My old mans S plate Range Rover still only £200 because it's before 2001 - love it!

This spooks everyone, the phone and car have to "un-pair" or disconnect in order to transfer the phone book, all you need to do is wait, the book should start to transfer after the disconnection. In my experience this is not 100% reliable, and it may take a couple of goes, but the disconnection is part of the process. Cheers Jon