Ken Crawley

I have been towing with RX hybrids since they were first introduced into the UK in June 2005 and have clocked up well over 60,000 towing miles. My total milage in my first RX400H was 195,000 and currently tow with a 63reg Gen3 RX450H Premier. Superb tow cars to say the least!! I currently tow 1450 kgs and return about 23MPG, previously towed 1650 kgs returning 20/21 MPG and towing 1750kgs returning 19/20 MPG (through the French Alpes once almost down to single figures). May be selling my Premier soon if likely to be of interest, FLSH and 101k miles.

Thanks Barry - I too have a Gen3 Premier and I didn't know there was a lock button on the tailgate, now I know there is one I will use it.

You have probably looked at the cost at Lexus (£1200ish), but if you look around, there are independants which are much cheaper. I had mine done by P F Jones last year for £640 fitted, including 13 pin dedicated electrics. They have mobile fitters across the UK. The detachable towbar is a Westfalia - Westfalia supply Lexus this bracket for the RX450 with a Lexus name on it, and yes the bumper does have to be cut.

Hi I believe the roof rails were a cost option on all 2009 to 2015 RX450's as part of a pack, so you should be able to retrofit. Saying that, I have never seen roof rails for sale on Ebay etc. Speak to a parts dept at a Lexus dealer and see if they are available and if they are - search breakers. They were a 'must have' when I was looking for my Premier.

I have a 63 reg Premier with air suspension and I would confirm it makes a superb tow car, I tow a 1600kg Caravan effortless. P F Jones fitted mine , a Westfalia detachable with dedicated 13 pin elecrics for £ 642 this time last year. Yes the bumper has to be cut but almost acceptable. one gripe is where the eye for the breakaway cable is fitted, it's a lie on the floor to connect it. You could ask them for the piece they cut out and try and find some way of attaching it when towbar is not in use. I didn't think of that at the time. Incidently Wesrfalia make the towbar for Lexus, all Lexus do is put a Lexus sticker on it and charge £200 more.

Any evidence of the door hinges bolts being disturbed which would obviously point to the door being repaired or replaced?

Lexus Bootle

Hi John If your car was serviced at Lexus within the last 12 months, then the Hybrid Battery check would automatically have been done within that service, all routine services include the Hybrid check. Have you purchased Gold Membership with LexusOwnersClub (£59 for 2 years membership)? Gold membership entitles you to discounts on Lexus servicing and service plans. If you are looking at future services at Coventry for instance, you should get about 15 or 20% discount off your services. Well worth it!! BTW, My RX400h was one of the first batch of retail 400's into the UK in 2005 and I recently sold it to a very good friend having done 186,000 miles. Friend is still a friend and car still going strong!!

I owned a RX400h for 15 years and 186,000 miles and most of the time I could return around 32-34 miles to the gallon. Lexus quote 34.9mpg combined. I changed to a Gen3 RX450h Premier 6 months ago, expecting better fuel economy, my journeys and driving style have not changed and yet I can't get above 30mpg (I know its winter and the engine is working more than summer, and I know the car weighs over 2 tonnes). Lexus official mpg is 44.9 but 30 is disappointing and a very long way short. Does anyone achieve anywhere near 44.9mpg or is this a case of inaccurate information or misrepresentation on the part of Lexus?

AA's quote of £541.17 - now ring them and negotiate, you may well get it for under £500. Give it a try.

Try getting a quote from The AA on line, then ring them to speak to a living person and ask if they can give you a better price. It worked with me - it seems they have access to another group of insurers they can call on - I ended up paying just over £400 for a 63 reg RX450 Premier 14yrs protected NCB and business use, drivers 72 and 68 living in Staffordshire, originally over £500. Also, the earlier you get quotes before the renewal dates, premiums tend to be lower than just days before renewal, it appears the insurers consider you a lesser risk???

Did I just notice you are looking at RX450L? A far as I am aware, a towbar cannot be fitted to the L version. You need to check before commiting to buy !!!!!!!!!

Hi Steve I tow 1650kgs with Gen3 (2013) RX450h Premier and it is a brilliant tow car, ample power, stable and of course sheer luxury. Fuel low twenties per gallon. Good job your potential RX already has a towbar - saves you around £1200 after market fit on a Gen4. I use cruise control as often as possible because it can be easy to exceed limits without noticing but probably not so much with another 250kgs behind. I assume you will be towing a twin axle caravan and at 1900kgs fuel consumption will probably drop to high teens. Over the last 15 years or so, I have towed our various caravans all over the UK and Europe with a Lexus RX400 and now RX450 totalling around 50,000 miles with caravan in tow. My RX400 was one of the first batch of retail RX Hybrids imported into the UK in June 2005 and I had done 186,000 miles when I sold it still going strong last year. Any specific question let me know - I wouldn't tow with anything else but I am biased.

Hi Brian I bought one of the first batch of retail RX400's imported into the UK in June 2005 and in July this year, I sold it to a very good friend having driven 186,000 miles in 15 years. Obviously the car was and still is in very good condition and going strong or else I would have part exchanged it. In my ownership, other than tyres, discs and pads plus one rear slider replaced on a caliper, I replaced a radiator, although that could have been repaired, one headlight bulb, one sidelight bulb and earlier this year - two front wishbones. Some corrosion was starting to show in places underneath and I had a leak on the exhaust welded. I think I only had 3 discs/pads on the front and 2 on the back. Tyres aren't that bad if you shop around. Also, I never had to top up engine oil between services. (17 Lexus stamps in the book although I have a V good independant to replace the above - I buy genuine Lexus parts and he fits them). I am now on my second Lexus, a very nice RX450h Premier. In my experience dont worry about milage, I am pretty confident my 400h could easily do another 50-100000.

Don' forget to ask for Gold Membership discount.

If it fails again, DO NOT TOW it to your mechanic. Damage can be caused to the Hybrid/ generator system. Hybrid driving wheels need to be off the road if towed. Refer to your handbook.

Looks as if you have your servicing done by an independant garage, do you have an annual hybrid check done by Lexus (£59) which warrants the batteries for a year? This can be done up to when the car is 15 years old. If the current problem isn't hybrid related, may be worth an annual check just for peace of mind.

Nick - A few months ago, I changed my 15 year old RX400h to a late RX450h. I bought the 400h new (which was from the first batch of retail cars imported) in June 2005 and did 186,000 miles in it. In my experience, driving style is critical in a big hybrid - it is very easy to drop to high teens/low 20's especially when annoying boy racers in Golf GTI's when traffic lights change green, but with inteligent and predictive driving and keeping within speed limits, mid to high 30's are easily achievable. If I was driving your typical journey, with my RX400 experience, I would easily achieve 35MPG+ in summer and just under 35 in winter, but any hint of a heavy right foot or harsh braking, then knock 10 MPG off. Where you gain when travelling in free flowing heavy traffic is every time you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal, the petrol engine in a hybrid stops (no fuel being used) and starts again when neeeded. You should equal or better your current MPG in your VW - in my experience. My milage was made up of a lot of motorway miles plus mostly congested stop start miles in the Midlands and the North, a lot of the time averaging less than 10-15 miles in an hour. Hope this helps you to make up your mind besides being totaly cosseted in sheer comfort and luxury.

Hi Marty Just sent private message. Ken.

Hi Marty Well if you want ultimate safety and security for your dogs (and your car and back seats) my dog guard is up for sale, its obviously in perfect condition. Its the kind of thing that if by any chance it doesnt work for you and your dogs, it will be easy for you to sell on at a similar price as what you pay for it. Let me know if you want it. Thanks Ken C.

Hi Marty Sorry for delay in answering but in a very dodgy wifi area atm. No it won't fit behind the front seats because the dedicated mounting points are just behind the rear seats. I don't know of any dog guard that can be modified to fit behind the front seats in a RX to be able to give the safety and the security of any dogs carried in the boot. With the proper guard your car wont suffer any damage - worth the money. Just as a matter of interest, what kind of dog do you have? Thanks Ken c

The oficial Lexus dog guard is bolted to the floor behind the seats and into the load cover side supports, goes from floor to roof, and the rear seats can be folded leaving the dog guard behind. It is a substantial piece of kit, but expensive - Lexus Parts Direct price £251 discounted from £314. https://www.lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-rx/lexus-rx-phase-iii-2009-2015/lexus-rx-3-accessories/lexus-rx-phase-3-dog-guard/ I have recently purchased a 63 reg RX450h which had a Lexus dog guard fitted (by Lexus Tunbridge Wells) in 2018 which I won't be using so will be willing to sell, so if of interest please message me (I won't be asking £251.00). Quite sure the Amazon one is not designed to fit and won't fit behind the front seats.

Hi The latest nav 2020/21 update is now available. Has anyone updated theirs and have any links or is this a dealer update? My system is LEXUS 11HDD GEN7 and map version is as the attachment. Any help appreciated.

I've just sold my 2005 RX400h with 185,000 miles. I had the car new in June 2005 and it was one of the first batch of retail cars in the UK. (the first ones a few weeks earlier were the demos). I have now upgraded to a RX450 Premier. It has gone to a good friend and I am confident it could easily last another 5-10 years and 50000+ miles.I have had no problems with engine, hybrid batteries and system - just what I would call normal wear and tear items. I have always had routine services at Lexus, but other items such as discs/pads etc I have purchased OEM parts from Lexus and fitted by an independant garage owner (the friend who has bought the car for himself). Also glad to say that 15 years of Lexus assistance has never been needed, but of course I continue paying the premiums. Number plate RX5 4OOH for sale.

Just about to have towbar fitted at PF Jones - Westfalia detachable tow bar (Westfalia manufacture the same bracket with Lexus logo) with dedicated 13 pin wiring kit for a 63 reg RX450h Premier for £641.00