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Lexus RX 400h and 450h

2363 messages,  Last post on Mar 24, 2013 at 1:44 AM

You are in the Lexus RX 400h Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus RX 400h, Lexus, Hybrid Cars

    

Messages Page 129 of 237

#1278 of 2363 Cost diff RX330 vs. RX400h by rocky7

May 14, 2005 (8:04 pm)

I know there are those “dittohead” curmudgeons out there including on this forum who are discounting the value proposition of the RX400h.
 
Assuming the miles I drive here’s how the numbers RX 400h work compared to the 2005 RX 330.
 
Difference in actual delivered price from my dealer buying a car today. 2006 RX 400h vs. RX330. = $9,431.00 more for the RX 400h.
 
Gas savings over 3 years at $2.09 (Currently $2.25) assuming actual mileage is 2 mpg less than expected = $1479
 
Value of $2000 Clean Air Deduction = $700
 
Amount of trade in value after three years approximately 50%. Normally on the $9,431 difference that would return $4,715. When Lexus catches up demand discounting will occur. Assuming the same discount ratio will be the same as the RX 330, then allow only $2,357.
 
The RX 440h today is a 2006, the RX-330 today would be a 2005 and I understand 2006 RX 330 will not be out until sometime in Sept. Best comp to determined benefit of buying a 2006 RX 400h vs. 2005 RX 2005. Look at value today (5/05) of the 2003 RX300 vs. a 2002 RX300 both with same 36,000 miles. 2003 RX300 is worth at trade in value $2,051 more than 2002 RX300 with same miles base on trade in value today 5/05.
 
Total savings:
 
Gas Savings – 3 years = $1,479
Tax savings - $700
Additional trade in value return based on $9,431purchase difference after 3 years = $2,357
 
Total difference = $4,536.
 
If you do allow allow today for value difference between buying a 2006 400h vs a 2005 RX330 with the same miles at the end of 3 years from today, the 2006 400h will return an additional $2,051 in resale value.
 
Total difference = $2,485.
 
Mercedes and BMW customers pay approximately an additional $5,000 for a V8 vs. a V6. The RX 400h delivers the performance difference of a V8 vs. a V6.
 
If you allow for this $5,000, the total difference = - $2,515. Yes $2,515 less at end of three years for the RX-400h vs. the RX-330.

#1279 of 2363 Re: Power steering underboost? [jdt] by rx400_owner

May 14, 2005 (8:28 pm)

Replying to: jdt (May 14, 2005 11:33 am)
I think there is something wrong with your 400h. I wonder if running with the wrong settings caused some damage or if the car still has something wrong. Ours drives like a dream. It goes straight with no problem. It isn't over-boosted, but it is easy to manuever and about the same as I recall the 330 that we test drove before the 400h came out.
 
Could you ask the dealer to test drive another 400h to see if it is the same as yours? Or maybe try one at another dealer.

#1280 of 2363 Re: Battery Under the Hood [mirex] by headless

May 14, 2005 (10:53 pm)

Replying to: mirex (May 13, 2005 8:08 pm)
That is incorrect...if the car is kept in storage for over a month, you may have problems...but that can be the case for any car....
 
Otherwise, you don't have to worry about it too much...Lexus has addressed this issue and all is good!
 
Headless

#1281 of 2363 Re: Cost diff RX330 vs. RX400h [rocky7] by headless

May 14, 2005 (10:58 pm)

Replying to: rocky7 (May 14, 2005 8:04 pm)
You're forgetting that the RX400h is a better, faster ride too! I recently test drove a 330 just to compare to my 400h...geeeez...no comparison...it was a slug!
 
Headless

#1282 of 2363 Re: Power steering underboost? [rx400_owner] by headless

May 14, 2005 (11:01 pm)

Replying to: rx400_owner (May 14, 2005 8:28 pm)
I thought I had a similar problem with my RX400h...it was pulling to the right...however, I wasn't in the left lane too much when this was happening...due to the banking of roads, the car will deviate based on the slope...
 
I found that, when in the left lane, the steering was a bit more true, or it actually deviated to the left...
 
So, before anyone complains of the car having bad alignment, please be sure to check it in both left and rightmost lanes...if it pulls to one direction both times, you likley have a problem...if not, probably not a big deal...
 
Also, if you brake and the car pulls, this could indicate a problem...I'd be suprised if a new Lexus has these issues!
 
Headless

#1283 of 2363 mpg by krellu

May 15, 2005 (3:16 am)

2nd fillup netted me about 24.23 mpg for 276.4 miles, maybe a 50/50 mix city/hwy.The first fillup was 198 miles which got me 22.76 mpg. Now
after the fillup say 53 miles the computer is reading 32 mpg,about 10city/43hiway.
The car has approx. 545 miles . Tomorrow will be 3 weeks of totally happy ownership.No problems with steering or anything else.

#1284 of 2363 Re: Battery Under the Hood [mirex] by rx400_owner

May 15, 2005 (6:45 am)

Replying to: mirex (May 13, 2005 8:08 pm)
Does anyone know if this is true and if so what does this battery power and what causes the drain when the vehicle is off?
 
I haven't compared the specs to my Camry battery, but the 12-volt battery in my RX400h looks like a regular sized car battery.
 
My manual set says "For parking longer than 30 days, charging of the 12-volt battery may be required." The high voltage battery is disconnected when the car is off so anything that runs then is using the 12-volt battery. For instance, internal lights when the doors are open, the receiver that listens for you key signal, the power door locks and rear door opener, etc. The manual does suggest that if you return to the car after parking for two weeks or longer, you turn start it and get the ready light on before you use the power rear door.
 
It also says that you should drive at least once every several months for at least 30 minutes or 10 miles to keep the hybrid battery in good condition. Since, that is disconnected when the car is off, they must just be worried about leakage there.

#1285 of 2363 Re: Battery Under the Hood [rx400_owner] by headless

May 15, 2005 (7:01 am)

Replying to: rx400_owner (May 15, 2005 6:45 am)
There is always battery drain when a car is sitting....whether it be a hybrid or not...
 
If you take whatever you are driving and sit it in the cold for a month without starting it, there's a good chance it won't start when you turn that key...I guess it would depend on how new your battery is...
 
The hybrid is sensitive to this as well....
 
As far as the automatic back liftgate...that drains a lot of energy...so, it makes sense not to use it if the battery is already drained a little for sitting for some time...
 
I think the precautions make sense....I'm also sure that if you let the car sit for 30 days in the summer as opposed to in the winter, you'd get a different result! As far as driving, the car definitely does better the more you drive it...short trips do not get great milieage as the gas motor is working for the first few minutes you turn on the car...to charge the battery...
 
Headless

#1286 of 2363 Re: Power steering underboost? [rx400_owner] by jdt

May 15, 2005 (7:41 am)

Replying to: rx400_owner (May 14, 2005 8:28 pm)
Good suggestion - I'll ask my dealer to let me drive their demo 400h again this week just to compare handling. At this point, I have to keep my left hand on the wheel at all times just to avoid building up fatigue in my right wrist. This isn't my first SUV, but I don't remember having to work so hard to steer before and it doesn't feel like the 330 loaners they gave me at all.

#1287 of 2363 Underboost.... by wwest

May 15, 2005 (9:25 am)

The power stearing in the RX400h is electrical vs hydraulic.
 
There will be some significant differences in the "feel".
 
Hydraulics will not allow as much "push-back", feedback, to the steering wheel from rough road surfaces, roadbed sloping, or objects. And yes, the electrics will therefore require more driver attentiveness and hand pressure to maintain a good "track".
 
If Lexus even uses differential braking to prevent wheelspin or slip on FWD vehicles, or front torque biased AWD such as the RX400h certainly is, then even lower brake modulation levels will be used on the hybrid because of the electric power stearing.

Messages Page 129 of 237

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