malibu

You've probably viewed the RX400h by now, however if you haven't decided to buy, I recommend that you test drive more than one to get a feel for the car. I viewed one that under hard acceleration veered violently to the left; so much so that if I hadn't had a strong grip on the steering wheel we would've ended up in a hedge! I had read that there is some torque under acceleration, however test drives of subsequent vehicles revealed that the one I'm referring to had excessive torque. I'm not sure if this was a 'real problem' or not but it didn't feel good to me. Check that the powered rear door functions silently and without hindrance.

If your leather is black and the paint is overspray, as opposed to spots, and a lighter colour, maybe some shoe/leather polish and copious amounts of elbow grease may disguise it and make it less noticeable. Over time the paint may even absorb the polish to a certain degree and the marks may disappear. However, if your leather is a light colour and the paint a dark colour, you probably won't be able to remove it without professional help.

Congratulations! I've had mine for a little over two weeks now and am still amazed by the pure luxury, power and comfort of this vehicle. I had a rattle too, however it was more of a metallic rattle and I discovered it related to the rear seats. I moved the seats forward and back and the rattle ceased, occasionally it returns though.

Probably it would only be necessary to incorporate a solar panel into the top of the black boot spoiler. Blimey, I think I've just invented an after market idea. Remember, you heard it first here folks; now where can I find me a Chinese manufacturer? Patent applied for :)

So Derek, was that your black 400h I spotted at Lexus Plymouth the weekend before last, parked up with the solar charger on the dashboard, plugged in and trickling?

If you're not too fussed about purchasing a pristine model, you might consider buying at auction. At auction, there is a possibility that you could get a lower mileage one cheaper, but the body work may have dents, scratches or paint problems.

Interesting link, it works fine, however I still wouldn't swap for a RX300; horses for courses, I suppose. The new sensation I'm experiencing of gliding silently around the country lanes of Cornwall, windows down, (sun) moon roof open, traversing on battery power only, whilst the air is filled with birdsong is most pleasurable.

In my search for a RX400h, which took an number of months, I recently spoke to someone in the Midlands who had one for sale. He mentioned the same type of damage to the dashboard as you describe, who knows, it could be the same vehicle (silver). I didn't bother to travel from Cornwall to view because I thought it may be difficult to repair. I hope you find a solution. With regards to the boot issue, hopefully, as Colin states, some lubrication may sort the matter out. I know it won't solve the issue but, if you stand to the rear of the vehicle, outstretch your hands and run your fingers down the gaps either side where the boot meets the body work. Unequal gaps would clearly indicate that the boot is off centre and might have been removed or even replaced. If the boot isn't correctly aligned, I presume it may not operate smoothly.

You just wanted to show off your 36.3 average, come on, admit it....... :)

I've just acquired a RX400h and I'm fully aware of the battery issue and was wondering whether it would be okay to attach the battery to a charger to get the vehicle to start should it fail one morning outside my house. Of course should this happen a couple of times it would be a sign of a failing battery and probably wise to replace as opposed to continually charging a failing battery. In addition to this I can only assume that one doesn't get any prior warning that this battery will fail or is starting to fail. Am I correct in thinking that a garage could do a 'health check' on the battery so, at best, I'd have an indication that the battery is nearing the end of it's life? Finally, if I were to replace my 12v with a brand new battery, then leave the vehicle at the airport for a month, does anyone know whether this new battery would fail to start the car, or should I conduct my own experiment on behalf of LOC?