Sabastian

Beats me why you put up with such slack service. Personally I would have got on to the Lexus Sales Manager immediately I was not satisfied with the attention I was getting and expecting. It works for me and at the very least I would get some compensation (valet or bottle of wine for example) and then good service is always resumed. You should not need to do this of course, but if those in charge are not aware what is going on, those further down the chain of command often seem to become complacent.

I have just changed my 2 year old SE-L for a new one. I never had a suspension problem with the last car and just hope the new one doesn't either. Does anybody know what chassis numbers are likely to be affected by this fault? If a fault is likely to occur I would rather have the sensors replaced now and not when the fault develops.

To quote the Lexus UK Web Site: The RX400h is due to be launched June 2005

Does the in-built Bluetooth features on the SE-L have the capability to send and receive text messages?

All countries get the 3.3l engine with the 400h. ← Specification as stated on the Lexus European Web Site Type VVT-i 3.0 24v Valve Mechanism V6/24v Displacement (cc) 2995 Compression Ratio 10.5 Maximum Output (kW/rpm) 150/5600 Maximum Output (bhp/rpm) 204/5600 Maximum Torque (Nm/rpm) 283/4500 Fuel Type Petrol Electric Front Motor: Power (kW/rpm) 123/4100-5000 Electric Front Motor: Torque (Nm/rpm) 340/0-2000 Electric Front Motor: Maximum voltage 650v Electric Rear Motor: Power (kW/rpm) 50/4610-5120 Electric Rear Motor: Torque (Nm/rpm) 130/0-610 Electric Generator: Power (kW/rpm) 109/13000 Electric Generator: Maximum voltage 650v

The Hybrid was launched yesterday in America with a price of $50863 inluding the optional Mark Levinson Stereo. This converts to only £26659.52. I know that cars in America are cheaper than here, but this is a huge difference. I also note that on the Lexus Europe website it states that the European RX400 only has the 3 litre engine and not the 3.3 as I thought we were getting.

Original Lexus mudflaps must exist (unless discontinued of course), because I had them fiited January 2004, Part No. L08414-48820. However, I would say that being fairly discreet, they are not overly effective, but still better than none at all.

It was Vertex who has ordered a Carbon Quartz RX. I have also asked Customer Services and my dealer about this colour and both claim this colour is not available in the UK, so your choice is, I am afraid, very limited. Good luck with your decision. :P :)

Hi Vertex Intrigued about your colour choice of Carbon Quartz I enquired about this colour with Customer Services who have just advised me that this colour is not available in Europe. Please enlighten me. Sabastian

It is interesting to see the colours that are available in Japan.http://toyota.jp/harrierhybrid/exterior/bodycolor/index.html Assuming the Harrier is produced on the same production line as the Lexus, makes one wonder why the bronze and red colours are not available in the UK.

Thanks Vertex, I look forward to seeing it. Sabastian :mat:

Couldn't agree more. Maybe if enough people cancel their orders Lexus will bring the price down. :duh: And if pigs could fly!

My dealer has just confirmed a definate £5000 premium on the RX400h and that Tungsten Mist and Brechin Slate colours will not be available. As much as I would like to help cut down on polution I am afraid £5000 is to much of a price to pay. Why can't we just have one of the super efficient and powerful diesel engines that so many car makers now fit to their cars?

On my test drive I got 24MPG, and on the SE-L I borrowed for 500miles I got 25!!, and it had the same miles on the clock as mine!, could be a running in thing but I doubt it, what you get at the start is generaly what you end up with. ← Of course it could be the fact that the air susupension automatically lowers by 7mm at 62mph to cut down on drag and aid stability.

These figures were taken from a American Car Magazine. I read somewhere that the 400h is not designed for off-road use and that the first 2 years production has already been sold. 0 to 30 mph: 2.5 secs 40 mph: 3.7 secs 50 mph: 5.2 secs 60 mph: 6.9 secs 70 mph: 8.9 secs 80 mph: 11.5 secs 90 mph: 14.6 secs 100 mph: 16.7 secs 110 mph: 21.9 secs Streat start, 5–60 mph: 7.0 Top-gear acceleration, 30–50 mph 3.3 secs 50–70 mph: 3.5 secs Standing 1/4-mile: 15.2 secs @ 93 mph Top speed (governor limited): 112 mph BRAKING 70–0 mph @ impending lockup: 200 ft HANDLING Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.76 g Understeer: minimal moderate excessive FUEL ECONOMY EPA city driving: 30 mpg (US gallons) EPA highway driving: 26 mpg (US gallons) INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL Idle, gas engine/standby: 40/29 dBA Full-throttle acceleration: 72 dBA 70-mph cruising: 68 dBA

Thats how the Banks made £20 Million last year!

This suspension issue will be the reason I cancel my RX400h, assuming air suspension definately will not be available on the SE-L. My dealer tells me that the specification has not yet been confirmed.

Are you sure it is a full take of fuel? Lexus Exeter only me gave me £10 worth of fuel plus the valet and champagne.

The RX400h will accelerate seamlessly from 0-100kph/62mph in just 7.6 seconds, yet boasts the fuel consumption figures of a 4-seater family sedan, returning 8.1L/100km in the combined cycle. The new Lexus produces CO2 emissions of just 192g/km. As these figures were taken from the Lexus Europe Web Page, I guess they must be 'Official'. I really cannot believe the huge capital outlay in this car would have been made unless there were real benefits to be had in terms of fuel consumption and environmental issues, although the CO2 emissions stated baffle me as potentially the car emits none at all, so how is this figure arrived at?

I would be most interested to know what improvements owners feel could be made to the RX300. Personally I would like self locking doors, all switches to be visible without having to search for them, (namely tailgate, fuel release, etc.), a warning light to show the front fog lights are on, and to be able to disable the rear door 'bleep'. I would also like front and rear parking sensors in addition to the rear view camera. Having owned a SE-L now for 18 months these are my thoughts. Any other suggestions?

It wasn't that the sunroof didn't work, it was just that you had to keep the switch pressed. A previous post on this topic (search 'sunroof') will tell you how to inialise the sunroof yourself, assuming this is the only problem.

If the consumption figures were to be believed there would be little point in purchasing a RX400 other than the environmental issue and slightly better performance, which the estimated premium of £5000 just does not justify . Unless the official figure is considerably better I will cancel my order for the '400' and get the 2005 '300'. Looking at the pictures of the RX400 I personally consider the wood trim of my current car to be far more 'classy' and why is the transmission selector so big? It surely does exactly the same job as the Prius selector which is about 3" long and is siuated in the dashboard. Still early days yet and probably a lot will change between now and the launch date.

I always thought that the 'beep' was coming from the interior cabin!

Does anybody know if there will be any new colours for 2005 spec RX's? My dealer seems to think that there will be new colours specifically for the RX400H but does not know about mainstream RX's.