Duncan Roberts

If you are worried about the support from an independent vendor, why not wait until a Lexus dealer has an RX400 that you can afford, preferably with lower mileage? RZ300, 16-22mpg (sometimes better on a motorway if you are slow, RX400 28-34. Averages 20 and 30 respectively about sums it up.

Hi Damer, Thanks for the reply, I'd be a bit worried that the trick suspension could land me in with a big repair bill (My folks have had Range Rovers with air suspension problems and the bills were huge!) So you know when the RX300 became the MkII? I think from my research it's 2004 as on the Lexus website in the used section the cars that are pre-2004 have a 4 speed gearbox listed that I take is a MkI. Petrol - yeah that's a worry, most of my driving is motorway mileage so hopefully I could achieve nearer 30mpg but to be honest the difference between say an RX doing 30 and something else doing 35mpg isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things. It's a shame Lexus don't offer a diesel RX but then it might encroach on Landcruiser sales I guess? The Landcruiser is another one in the running but reading the owners club website some of the D4D diesel engines are going bang because of bad fuel injectors!! That's very worrying to say the least! Thanks, Dan You will struggle to get near 30mpg out of an RX300, I doubt an RX350 is that much better. RX400 will achieve that consistently.

using the parking brake (note spelling) is surely a legal requirement not a choice?

I tried it with my old RX300 without any obvious benefit, so no. RX400 seems perfectly OK with 95 RON BP fuel. The only occasion with mpg fell off markedly was using cheap supermarket petrol.

That was more thn two weeks ago, do you plan to report?

Why not try it and report? I can't recall what my RX300 measured - the RX400 ehich I have now of course has coil springs.

Surely very reasonable to alert anyone who might be looking for a new car that walking into the showroom to order in August might not be very successful. The tsunami is a fact of life, now everyone else must get on and deal with the consequences.

Scrap yard?

There are many threads on here about the RX400 auxiliary battery problem, it is a well beaten subject. Suggest you search to find them.The traction batteries are looked after by the computer system. They are in constant use and so do not remain fully charged for extended periods.

Local dealer would be a good start.

Follow the handbook.

Speculation is a absolute waste of time but if you had looked down the front page you would have seen this:. http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=69404

You speak of getting rid of it - how old is this conveyance? As an RX300 it must surely be f or more years old?

Very likely to be RX400 'normal' torque steer. Try not pushing your foot through the floor and it should be OK.

eBay or an American dealer on line?

That term is not uncivil - strong maybe but stays on the correct side of the line. Had I suggested that only a fool could have that opinion then I would agree - I forebore so to do.

RX400 for economy. RX350 rather than RX300 though if you must stay with a pure petrol-powered car.

A new one or second hand? second hand, not from lexus garage either. Some 'perk' to try to persuade you to buy the car then?

I know petrol is expensive but I doubt it was that much - try £1.27.9 per litre

A new one or second hand?

The best thing that I can say to you is to learn to be civil in a public forum: Clearly civility is not a strong point. In any event offering you thoughts on the desirability might well be useful to many - whose thoughts may not have encompassed your obvious superior intellect. New members would do well to consider the manner of their conduct and adapt to the environment.

I'm confused by your attitude to this, the technology exists (at quite reasonable cost) to alleviate this problem without the "workaround" you posted. It is used successfully in many parts of the world to great effect. I'm not sure why so many seem to think technological advancement is a bad thing - I assume you don't use satnav either? I got around fine with maps before it came about, but now I prefer to use the nav - I don't need to but it's much easier. It's the same with remote start, I honestly can't believe some of the responses in this thread. What arrant nonsense. The debate here is whether remote starting is even needed, simply because it can be done does not make it necessary to do it. The technology exists for electric chairs but most people eschew having one of those. I have been using satnav for at least twelve years, used intelligently but not slavishly it has a useful place.

If you enjoy standing outside in the freezing cold defrosting your car, and then sitting in it freezing, that's fine. Or even if you enjoy sitting in it waiting for it to defog - great. I prefer not to, especially when I am trying to get out the house with a one year old I do think that you are overstating the case, rather defensively. Defrosting takes little time, especially if you spray on de-icer then go back for that last cup of coffee. The one year old can be brought out last when you are ready to set off - hardly old enough to create mayhem if left for a couple of minutes. If you dislike the cold so much as you represent why are you even going out? You can hardly wear a hot water bottle when walking down the street - or maybe you do!

If you look at the power display you will probably find that it is charging even when coasting.

But does this not risk upsetting your insurers? Unattended car, engine running, some little oik might well try to have his way with it - steering lock not withstanding.