nelmo

Your first mistake - don't buy privately and then go into a dealer (any manufacturer) and expect honesty. I would never trust any dealer to do a 'free' check and NOT find something. Rear brake issues on an RX is common because they don't get used much - the regenerative braking system ensures this. Any garage should charge maximum one hours labour to free up the pads and maybe a bit of wire brush to clean them up. Charging £900 is borderline criminal IMO ...

That sounds a little expensive to me - a quick check on Auto Trader brings up at least 10 others under £10k with similar mileage and good specs, several under £8k as well...

I would have thought the advantage of DAB is more down to the large number of channels available. I haven't got DAB but I was in my dads Golf which has and I found some great stations which I'd love to get in mine.

Good on you for doing all that work - I'm far too scared to look under the car. The few times I've glanced under there, it's looked horrendous. I'll just wait until something breaks :(

Why do you want to? The whole point of the system is to save fuel - sitting there with the engine on is pointless. If you sit with the ignition on (READY showing) and have the stereo on, for example, the engine will eventually kick in when it detects the12v battery charge is dropping. Or if you have the heating set to a high temp and the engine is not hot enough to maintain that temp, then it will switch on ie. when needed.

A thought........do you get "flappy paddles" on the RX450? Its a CVT gearbox, so there are no distinct gears to swap between. I had an IS350 (or something) as a loan car and it had paddles but they were rubbish. I guess the computer tried to simulate gears somehow but it just didn't work - flicking the paddle up or down didn't seeem to actually do anything. I only had it for half a day, so maybe with practice it would have been better...

Interesting - I knew I could close all the windows that way but I didn't know you could also open them...must try that out :)

Very similar to me in almost all respects - bought mine 18 months ago, privately, do a similar mileage with similar mix of conditions. We're a bit younger and I have points on my licence, so insurance is £377. No issues at first MOT and only expense has been a new 12v battery recently. Big difference; mine is a year older and had 100k miles on it ( now 113k). Hence, I paid £5k less for mine although I also had to immediately have a £575 service and cam belt change done (at an indie dealer).

That was the same symptoms I had and replacing the 12V battery fixed it all.

'Classic' car?! :-) Isn't the oldest RX about 15 years old? I love the look of Range Rovers but they are one of the few cars that I have consistently seen being complained about on various forums; unreliable, expensive to fix and maintain and proper gas guzzlers. And, as always, how many owners would ever take them off tarmac, so who cares if it can go up a mountain?

I just went to Kwik-Fit... £76 fitted although no idea what make they put in...

That review is correct about the braking - you can find yourself kangarooing to a stop as the regenerative stuff kicks on and off. Bit weird feeling and a tad annoying sometimes but it's the price we pay for having a hi-tech system. Minor issue IMO compensated for by the great bits of the car.

Now that's annoying. I keep jump leads in the same place and I recently flattened my 12V battery, although luckily for me it had enough juice to unlock the doors. Nothing in the manual?

I had that recently when my 12V battery was at deaths door - the wheel not retracting was my first symptom followed by others. RX400 has a rubbish 12V battery so may not be your issue but thought I'd least provide one reply :-)

Ah genius - many thanks :-) should have done my own search... :-(

I changed my battery last week and since then, the drivers windows controls aren't working properly. I can only open and close my drivers windows but even then only by holding the button all the way - it doesn't open or close with one button press, like before. I can't open or close any of the other windows. I also notice that, when the lights come on, the little light on the drivers windows button is flashing - the other 3 are on solid. It feels like some sort of setup has gone back to a default rather than there being a problem but I could be wrong. Any ideas?

Thanks - I'll give it a go...

Can I ask how you worked out how to remove the trim? Do you have a service manual? I need to fix my 7-pin plug as the main lights don't work on my van (brakes, indicators ok).

I would never want to put anyone off buying an RX if your heart is set on it BUT bit of a jump from a Yaris? If it's just for kids, a Yaris seats 5 just like an RX (but obviously less comfy). If that's the only reason to change, it's probably more sensible (but dull) to go for a Ford Focus, for example, if you want a bit bigger. You'll get something newer that will cost you less in the long run. I love my RX (no rust on mine, by the way, and haven't seen rust on many modern cars for ages) but I have it because I tow a caravan and need something hefty. Otherwise, I'd go smaller and more sensible.... (dull, I know :( ).

Never heard of there being one - why do you need it? I've just had a new battery fitted and even after that, the radio just worked immediately.

Wowsers, when the battery lets go, it lets go! About 3 weeks ago, the car refused to start so had to get a jump start from a neighbour. All fine until yesterday, when the car wouldn't start again. Jump started again and then left it on trickle charge overnight, expecting it to be ok in the morning BUT no, still dead as a doornail! I guess this really cold weather hit it hard and it was already on its last legs...got a new one today so hopefully will be ok for a while now.

I wish I hadn't read this thread because every time I go out, my RX feels very 'floaty' and at 112k miles, my shocks are probably history. I dread to think how much they are to replace. I once replaced the front shocks on an older 5-series beemer and it did make a big difference... Actually, there used to be a test you could do - something like bounce each corner of the car in turn and it shouldn't pogo up and down - is that right?

Obviously not a wide ranging survey but with so few issues, makes you wonder whether its worth paying for an extended warranty?

I test drove an old model Sorento a few years ago and didn't like it much - very floaty suspension (without the caravan) and very plasticky inside. Unless you're looking at a very new Sorento, I would personally go for the more luxurious Lexus which will stay more luxurious and refined long after a Kia has rattled itself to pieces :). I had a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe (very similar to the Sorento) and I swapped to my 2007 Lexus, which was a huge improvement in refinement and comfort. To be honest, it doesn't tow as well as the SF (little bouncier) but I only tow a few times a year for a few hundred miles, so I'm happier to have the better car for the rest of the year.

Who's the 'guy'? Lexus dealer or back street hacker? Personally, I'd get a second opinion as I've never heard of anyone neeeding new cats - I thought they were supposed to last for the life of the car?