GBR134

What is it that's staggering you GBR ?

Mike

Sorry Mike - I must have been having a really dumb day. Had misread the thread and thought people were saying the RX400 was as bad in the snow as the LS series - it isn't but then 'nor does anyone in the thread claim it was!

I'm staggerred at some of the stuff i read in this thread. Boss drives an LS460 and I drive RX400h - both on standard Bridgestone. His has been useless in the snow and left at home. I didn't expect much from the RX - its not really hard core off road is it - but it has been absolutely brilliant! My only complaint is I can't find a way to turn traction/ESP off when I want to play!

For what its worth Lexus Norwich advised no problem to fitting a towbar to my RX4000H (2007). They explained that if it was not ordered as new they would simply contact the local Towbar dealer to fit a Westphalia or Witter but I was welcome to go direct. Quotes ranged from £230 (fixed) to £800 removable. It was clear that for a detachable both brands required a bumper cut but the Westphalia cut was much smaller than the Witter however @ £100 more. Eventually had the Westphalia fitted in Oct 2009 for £ 530 including all electrics. In the end the fitter didn't cut the bumper but if you look anally carefully there is the faintest of bulge discernible at the bottom of the bumber. Car tows substantial boat perfectly - not sure what immersing the rear wheels in salt water is doing for it but TGF Company Cars!

Model: X5 xDrive 30d SE

OTR Price: £40,100

Fuel: Diesel

BIK (%): 33%

CO2 (g/km): 214

Combined fuel consumption (mpg): 34.9

Performance (hp): 235

0-62mph (secs): 8.1

cant quiet get your comment on the fact that diesels are not ideal for city /town driving - most taxi's are still diesel

rest my case as it is a step forward into developing alternative mods of transport / wonder what your thoughts would be on Hydrogen-fueled car or perhaps the 400h should have a B.M.W diesel engine fitted and now back to the IS forum

Well I was suggesting that, in door-to-door town-in-town driving only, these types of short runs would not be conducive to a diesel engine giving best economy. Taxis tend to spend most of their time running once started.

The 400h has moved the case for alternative fuel cars forwards, and shown what can be done. And I have acknowledged before that speaking from a BIK tax POV, the RX is unmatched in its class. But I am not a company car driver and have to put my hand into my own pocket to cover all costs when it comes to my car. So BIK holds no relevance to me - emissions are important to me as they determine what RFL I pay. With the way the RFL bands are structured currently, other diesel SUVs cost the same to tax as the 400h and do pretty much the same (if not better) job.

As for diesel engine technology, the Germans are leading the way and Merc are licencing BMWs diesel engine technology for their uses.

Hi Ihpj,

last on on the issue of diesel engines,driving our new mini copper diesel and new 320D they both cut out in traffic when you stop and then start when press the clutch in - thus door to door stop start and still get very good m.p.g and both warm up very quickly from cold .

cheers

swager

Yep and my first car was a 1967 850 cc Austin Mini could get 45+ mpg on a good day but was not comparable in any other way! Lexus themselves promote the hybrid as a Luxury Car that reduces pollution where it is at its worst - City Centres. However Luxury and Performance come first. My Neighbour drives a 350 I have a 400H and we often debate their merits. My thoughts are this:-

You want really good economy - look elsewhere

you want really good handling - don't buy any SUV

You only need to accelerate hard when being annoyed by a kid in a Corsa - RX is great

You want to waft round in Luxurious comfort RX is the car

Only race a Cayenne off the lights not on the open road

400h or 350 i use @ 1/4 less petrol than the neighbour which will take an awful long time to break even on @£10 k price difference.

Mine is a company car - 400H is obvious (BIK) his is private 350 wins.

My next car - Probably Audi, Neighbours next car defo RX probably 400H ( he loves the Tesco car park effect in mine!)

I have no idea as to why you have quoted me, I was referring to Max (as stated).

Also I am wondering why you are posting on this thread with 2 accounts, or why you have 2 accounts

in the first place ? Please send me a PM to explain.

I rarely read forums and much of this was over my head - seems like complete Tosh to me, I can't beleive I stuck it to the end! I'm not sure what your role is here DJ but I am frightened you are being a little dubious over your own cycnicism - trust your instincts whole incident sounds like Tosh so probably is. I was sad enough to check out the link to the other site but lost the will to live long before I found out what it was meant to be about. I really hope my visit there didn't generate income for anyone!

Mine is an 07 which I have had for 14 mths. OK so I do the 50 mile round trip to work driving like a Grandad to see what economy I can get but on a long trip I let it go!

Summer average @ 32 mpg Trip @ 30 full tank to and from work in Grandad mode summer 34.5 winter 32.5. My local garage claims a farme always quotes over 40 - my guess is he is misreading it or lying!

Anyway I reckon for mixture of comfort, performance and economy its brilliant - would I buy another - NOT unless they allow overide of the Nanny State electronic disfunctions!

I like the RX400h alot as well as the GS450h. I've not had a go in the LS600h but I'm sure it must be good though. One thing I have found with both the hybrids though is of you drive them very gently on the electric motors through a busy town centre, I was suprised at how many people walked out infront of me. You just can't hear these things when they are going down the road. But, there is somthing rather cool about traveling in stealth mode.

BE WARNED - In my 400H Tesco car parks are my favourite hunting ground in 'stealth' mode - great fun!

Hardware/Picture Brilliant

Software / Input a nightmare to figure out and no Full postcode search! In a perfect world I would run TomTom software on the Lexus installation - if only they would talk!

Does anyone know if the latest update includes full post code recognition? (as available with tomtom and others for years at a fraction of the price!)

I have just read through this thread. I have a RX400H first registered in March 07, which I bought as an ex demonstrator in late 07. I have just returned from a skiing holiday and found the Battery absolutely flat after standing parked for just less than 9 days. The RAC man tipped me off to this forum so I have read the thread prior to contacting Lexus Norwich. In short Lexus Norwich acknowledged that they were familiar with the issue but could do absolutely nothing as it was being investigated by Lexus UK Technical. I contacted Lexus UK Customer Services (01737 367601) and the charming lady there debated for some time whether this was 'an issue' as I had to understand modern cars have such complex requirements these days! I explained after 18 hours on a coach with a wife and two children a further delay of @ 1 1/2 hours to my journey was a real issue. She reluctantly accepted this and said that the only solution she was aware of was a solar trickle charger however she had no idea, which model I could use, or how to connect it. We left it that she would contact the after sales manager at Norwich who would contact me with full details as he "was bound to know".

Initially I don't see how this can be a viable answer as I frequently fly abroad and am extremely unhappy at the thought that I should be buggering about with non standard accessories when I am leaving a car that I paid £36k for with a list price of £42k every time I want to leave it for 8 or more days. This is before we address the problems of multi-storey or underground car parks.

As already pointed out in this thread the Lexus literature says you may have a problem after longer than 30 days - surely this is misrepresentation when they acknowledge, albeit reluctantly, that they are aware the issue can surface after a much shorter period. I await contact from the after sales guy with interest and will pass on anything I learn that may be of interest.