daveyboo

The RX is great in the snow but as with any car it simply will not stop on ice unless you are being very careful. The 'B' setting helps a bit but is not fail-safe, just take it easy.

Personally I would not bother with winter tyres in the UK; the RX is very good in the snow as long as you take it easy. Also I would add the Pirelli Scorpion Zero to the list, although not original equipment, and I have 18 inch wheel so I do not know if they come in 19 inch.

got a 400h and have fitted pirrelli scorpion zeros, very good but a bit expensive.

Good to know, I'm looking at the Hankook's Vs The General Grabber UHP's for my RX-350. The Bridgestones are CR$P in anything other than dry conditions.

Cheers,

Mark A

I have got Pirrelli scorpion zeros, superb but a bit expensive. Do not worry about the 400h in snow it is brilliant as long as you take it easy. It will pull out of almost anything but as with any car will not stop on ice. Take it easy guys and enjoy a great car!

Good to know, I'm looking at the Hankook's Vs The General Grabber UHP's for my RX-350. The Bridgestones are CR$P in anything other than dry conditions.

Cheers,

Mark A

This battery issue is well known by the AA & the RAC. My own lexus agent has told me that there is a problem (that has been fixed on the new RX450h) the, basically speaking, allows the charging system on the car to fool itself as to the charging state/cycle of the RX400h.

I've had a new battery & the rescue services have been out 3 times due to this issue.

So far I've been unable to find a larger capacity battery to replace the Lexus original.

There isn't a fix available from Lexus, although there should be & in light of the number of stranded owners they really should be thinking about this as (from my limited feedback) it seems to be a software issue, rather than anything mechanical.

The battery itself only initalises the car's systems, the actual starting is off the Hybrid battery, hence it's small size.

I am looking into a solar charger as a stop gap, although you need to understand things like how to get a seperate feed through the car (the accessory sockets inside are both dead when the ignition is off, rulling out this way back) & the need for a blocking diode to prevent the panel itself discharging the battery. It is also fair to point out that the need for light, even a street light at night can provide a limited amount of power, & that this option may not provide a "solution" as such, more a staving off of the power drain, because..........

........ the bottom line is that the Lexus battery isn't of sufficient capacity for the car to be left parked for a couple of weeks without use to keep it charged.

If any other owners have had similar problems please add your experiences to this mail. If there are enough of us we MAY be able to persaude Lexus to develop a solution, rather than let the word spread through their dealers & the roadside services the the RX 400h has an issue that needs a fix, not a recovery truck.

A solution is, in light of the recent Toyota publicity, in everyone's mutual interest - after all, how do we know if this is an RX issue, or a general Toyota Hybrid issue that affects all but the latest generation cars?

Been on holliday a couple of times and left the car parked, no problem. This morning took it to the carwash, left it with them for an hour came back to a dead car. Dont make a lot of sense!

Hi I just joined the group in hope of help..

I am moving back to Italy with my '06 RHD Lexus RX400h in December. So, I need to change the beam angle on my headlights to LHD from RHD in order to comply with the italian regulations. Is there a swith to flick in order to make the converion? Could someone enlighten me? Cheers

Dont think you need to as the headlight beam is flat, might have to turn off the headlight moving system though.

My 2007 RX400h is behaving completely normally with no discernable problems with the brakes. In the recent icy weather I was impressed with the traction control, four wheel drive and braking....

Yes the same for me, sometimes you can feel a little surge on braking but I have always put it down to the auto gearbox changing down.

Very pleased with my RX 300 in the snow, still need to take care but the car was very assured.

Here's a question for you though: A mate of mine is considering an RX, probably a 300 but maybe a 350 or a 400h. At our local Lexus dealership, i.e. Cardiff, he was told by a Lexus salesman, and I quote that "the 400h is not good in snowy conditions as it is only 2 wheel drive, with power going only to the front OR the back wheels at any one time"

I've told him that I believe that to be a load of rubbish, that the 400h is a "smart" 4 wheel drive. When moving off the vehicle is powered by the front and back electric motors to all 4 wheels, then as speed bulids the fwd petrol engine kicks in on its own until such time as 4wd drive is needed and the electric motors then make the vehicle 4wd. Am I right or wrong?

Agree with you totally, I live on a side street with a hill, sheet ice everywhere; everything was getting stuck in the snow so much so that I could not help them all. However when a tow truck with a car on a trailer got stuck I could not resist the challenge! Hooked up my 400h and dragged the whole combo up the road and onto flat ground, no probs. The car is fantastic!

Dear All,

I have searched the forum and have spoken with Lexus and am aware that the bridgestones and Dunlops are considered OE on the RX.

Thing is, I don't rate the Bridgestones at all (too hard a material which doesn't quite give the grippy drive I like especially when wet) - and the Dunlops, well I've never been a fan of them, but have driven a few other RX that have them fitted and they do seem to offer the grippy drive I like but don't instill the greatest confidence in me at speed :P

My preference is always for Michelin (thanks to Costco) but the 235/55 R18 isn't a tyre size Michelin make...so I am looking for alternatives. my other brand of choice is Continental - who do make tyres appropriate for the RX - so i was wondering if anyone has had any experience of Conti's fitted to their RX (or other brands at all?) that could help me with my choices?

There is a part of me that would prefer the Conti's [over the Dunlops] TBH, but to keep things OE I may g with the Dunlops.

Any thoughts/feedback welcome!

Bit late now but I had Vredestine sportracs fitted on my Subaru Forester Turbo. Very grippy and secure but I found them very noisy.

Good luck anyway