JBPRX400h

The screen flickering could be a sign that your "starter" battery under the bonnet is nearly flat. I was working on the drive one day 2 years ago shortly after I had bought the car and had the radio on for a few hours when all of a sudden the radio began to cut out and the screen started to flicker on and off. I started the car straight away (ie with the ready light on) and went for a drive and all has been well ever since. Hope this helps. JBP

All as above plus the passengers in the rear can recline their seats a bit as well (at least that is so in the 400h)

I was flicking through this month's copy of Top Gear Magazine in the Tesco "reading room" when I came across a comparison article about off road driving. The article compared 3 "soft roaders" in the first part of the test which, although it didn't say exactly what the conditions were, seemed to imply that it was a rough and muddy track with some failry steep entry and exit slopes. The RX400h came out quite favourably with no real adverse comments and made its way through with no drama. (They did mention that the handbook says the car is not designed for off road driving, though.) The BMW X6 was critisized for being too harsh on the throttle causing it to lose grip. The Audi Q7 was critisized for being too cumbersome and for crashing its front and rear on the ground when the entry and exit angles were too steep for it. However for real off roading you do need something designed for the job! JBP

It's also listed on the "official" Lexus website CLICK HERE!! Model Lexus RX 300 3.0 SE-L 5-Door SUV Registration PA03CNK Date May 2003 (03) Mileage 52,902 Colour Brechin Slate Interior grey sussex leather Transmission Automatic Fuel Petrol Price £12,990 JBP

I think the grey key is the "Valet" key and does not operate the glove compartment so you can leave personal items etc in there whilst the car is in for service.

Last September we drove down to Assisi in Central Italy a round trip of 3000 miles. This was a mix of motorways, main roads, town driving and local running about for a week whilst we were there. The journey included a spell on the German autobahns at 100+ mph (max 120mph just to see what the car was like - very impressed!), down through Switzerland and over the St Gotthard Pass (so plenty of up and down in the mountans - again very impressed!), Italian autostrada where the average spped of the traffic seems to be about 90mph! and, as I said, a week of local tootling around followed by the reverse journey home. The average fuel consumption for the holiday was 31.5MPG. (This was with the outside temperature mainly in the upper 20s) Last Sunday we drove over to Felixstowe and back from Milton Keynes in the falling snow and freezing temperatures - a round trip of 240 miles with an average fuel consumption of 27.4MPG. Just popping up to the shops and back in the winter with a cold engine gives about 15-20MPG. Best average consumption to date was a drive from Norwich to Milton Keynes 2 weeks ago (outside temperature about 10 - 15 degrees) using ordinary country roads where possible and a very light foot giving a figure of 35.1MPG! To sum up - it all depends on the type of journey, the length of your journey, the outside temperature (and whether or not you have the cabin heater on or off), and most importantly your style of driving! Overall we have been very impressed with the fuel consumption, especially as there is no compromise with the performance of a vehicle of this size and comfort.

Try Alastair at A-Plan Insurance on 01635 521 818. I found they were very good and very competitive. John

It's a popular myth that you dredge up all sorts of nasties from the bottom of the tank if you run it near to empty. The fuel pick up pipe must be at or very near the bottom of the tank or how else does the fuel get into it even when the tank is only half full or 3/4s full or 7/8ths full? Even if some sediment was picked up there are fuel filters in the pipeline and anyway a Lexus tank doesn't get dirty, does it?!!!!!

Here are some more recent figures. I think the maths is correct. Make of them what you will but don't blame me if you run out of petrol!!!! Assume average fuel consumption of 30 Miles per gallon I travelled 18.10 miles after reserve light came on before filling tank to the brim This equates to 0.6 gallons used after reserve light came on assuming 30MPG It took 53.38 litres to fill up tank to brim Total tank capacity 65 litres Therefore there must have been 11.62 litres left in tank at time of filling up This equates to 2.56 gallons left in tank at time of filling up Therefore there must be 3.16 gallons left when reserve light comes on (Petrol left in tank plus petrol used after reserve light came on) This would give 94.78 possible miles till empty after reserve light comes on assuming average consumption of 30MPG

If I remember rightly we had travelled about 40-50 mles after the low fuel light came on and the needle on the guage was pointing directly at the E (or is it R?). Just checked back in the receipts and found we put in 59.08 litres which would seem to indicate there was another 6 litres left in the tank but that is very hard to judge as it is difficult to brim the tank. It is very slow putting in the last few litres because the petrol pump keeps shutting off. Lucky old Luxembourg. Petrol about 82p/litre!! A further update to the fuel guage thread. Last night the needle was pointing to the top of the line next to the R on the fuel guage (not quite as low as it was in Luxembourg) and it took 56 litres to brim the tank which means there was still a theoretical 9 litres or 60 odd miles left.

If I remember rightly we had travelled about 40-50 mles after the low fuel light came on and the needle on the guage was pointing directly at the E (or is it R?). Just checked back in the receipts and found we put in 59.08 litres which would seem to indicate there was another 6 litres left in the tank but that is very hard to judge as it is difficult to brim the tank. It is very slow putting in the last few litres because the petrol pump keeps shutting off. Lucky old Luxembourg. Petrol about 82p/litre!! A further update to the fuel guage thread. Last night the needle was pointing to the top of the line next to the R on the fuel guage (not quite as low as it was in Luxembourg) and it took 56 litres to brim the tank which means there was still a theoretical 9 litres or 60 odd miles left.

If I remember rightly we had travelled about 40-50 mles after the low fuel light came on and the needle on the guage was pointing directly at the E (or is it R?). Just checked back in the receipts and found we put in 59.08 litres which would seem to indicate there was another 6 litres left in the tank but that is very hard to judge as it is difficult to brim the tank. It is very slow putting in the last few litres because the petrol pump keeps shutting off. Lucky old Luxembourg. Petrol about 82p/litre!!

Just a thought. On my company diesel Vectra the low fuel light comes on when there is about 1.5 gallons left (about 50miles) but then starts to flash when the tank is very low (10 miles left?) Does the low fuel light flash on an RX400h when the fuel is about to run out? Does anybody know? Do Lexus know? (I haven't asked them yet!) In the summer we were travelling down through Belgium late at night when the low fuel light came on. Was going to fill up in Luxembourg anyway as petrol is so much cheaper there but thought we had better put a couple of litres in in Belgium just in case. However, sod's law dictated that there was not another service station before we crossed the border! Managed to make it to the first service station in Luxembourg though without running out but don't know how close we were. Wouldn't want to do that again. Doesn't make for stress free driving!!!!

The link for the LOC USA is http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showforum=79 and the links to the manuals are right at the top pinned under "Important Topics" Regards again and enjoy your 400h

1) There is a push button in the middle of the bottom of the interior mirror that turns off the dimming. 2) There was a link somewhere, possibly on the USA LOC forum. 3) That is probably about right for short journeys in the colder weather as the engine has to run more to bring the catalytic converter up to temperature and also to provide heat for the heater (and your comfort!) You will notice a marked difference in the summer. On motorway runs you should be getting 30-35 MPG even in the cold weather. 4) Good luck with the tow bar Hope that helps.

Bought my '05 Rx400h in May this year. What a great car. Took a trip down to Assisi in Italy in September. 1,200 miles each way. Arrived at destination fresh as a daisy! However, Last Saturdy night I arrived home and when I went to turn onto the drive - no power steering!!!!! Big effort and straining muscles but managed to park on the drive. Rang Lexus Milton Keynes in the morning (Sunday) They arranged for car to be picked up that lunchtime. Went with it on the recovery vehicle and was loaned a GS450h. (Interesting comparisons!) Had phone call Monday afternoon to say car was ready to pick up. Sean said it was faulty sensors in the power steering but they had replaced the complete steering rack under the warranty. (£3,000 worth of parts!) How's that for service? Well done Lexus Milton Keynes.

If you go to LOC USA forum you will find a recent thread about tires (sic)!!! On the last but one posting there is a comment from someone who has fitted 255/55R18s to his 400h Hope this helps