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Lexus RX 400h Accessories and Modifications

60 messages,  Last post on Jan 19, 2008 at 8:33 PM

You are in the Lexus RX 400h Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus RX 400h, Performance Mods, SUV

Messages Page 6 of 6

#51 of 60 Re: Navigation [navguy1] by maxamigo

Nov 02, 2005 (8:19 am)

Replying to: navguy1 (Oct 21, 2005 3:32 pm)
When a system meets your need and you are willing to pay more for it, then there is no worthwhile argument against it. The thing is that everyone's need is likely to differ than another.
 
The larger touch screen is great for the Lexus, but my complaint is that it does not display enough details for me. You'd have to go to a scale of "700ft" or lower to see smaller streets detail, otherwise you'd just see the main street. To some people, that's fine. The existence of smaller roads, if displayed in larger scale, tells me whether a general neighbor/area is well populated or not, with just a glance. This helps when I visit new areas. However, the smaller Garmin screen is tough on older eyes.
 
One Garmin feature that is useful to me is that it displays the name of the NEXT cross street prior to getting there, so I know what street is coming up with just a glance. This is useful when the area is unfamiliar. Lexus system only displays the name of the road you are on, which is redundant when you are already on it and already know its name, whereas the cross street name is sometimes displayed and sometimes not.
 
The Garmin remote control is usefully fit in my hand, so I don't have to reach for the touch screen, at any times. It would be great if Lexus has one, particularly when you pay more for it. I doubt they would have it in the next version because they don't want to take the liability of you messing around while driving.
 
Lexus is an integrated system and it is a factory system. That means it incorporates telephone into the speakers and controls radio volume levels, and harder to steal. That's all positives that Garmin, being an aftermarket system, can not compete with. My complaint is that when I am driving and a call comes in, I want to be able to touch the "answer" button and take the call on speakers. By the time the Bluetooth system recognizes incoming call to answer, my Nextel would stop ringing and I lost the call. In those situations, it is utterly useless.
 
The maps for the entire US & Canada with points of interest is only 1.4G of memory. I use the 1.0G memory card on the Garmin and loaded more than half of the available maps on it. You can always reload it with different maps. I can get a 2.0G card to have the whole database on it. But why? Extra memory is not all that useful, after about 1.0G.
 
For situations where you may lose GPS signals, Garmin does have a higher model that has "dead recon." to take care of that, but it needs to be installed by a pro connecting speedometer input into the GPS. Lexus has the advantage by having it integrated.
 
Other "geeky" info that the Garmin provides but the Lexus does not, are:
-Altitude/elevation: nice when you are in hilly/mountainous area
-SunRise/sunset time: nice when travel because you can time your stops
-Fishing/Tide times: for timing your recreation activities
-Distance from present location to each waypoint: ex. you can click on Home waypoint and see how far away it is.
-Displaying only nearest waypoints, for simplicity: can turn this on/off
-Displaying accuracy of present position: sometimes 12ft & sometimes 100ft but it gives you a clue.
-Rename your waypoints.
-Shows present position and signal from each available satellite overhead: very very greeky...
-Set a waypoint where you DON'T want to be near and sounds alarm when you get close: you input allowable distance from waypoint. (Court Restraint orders ??)
-Record track of your travel, where you've been with time and speed and location (may save a few hundred bucks to show that you did not speed...) Tracking your kids??? Alibi?? Upload it to a map on your PC.
 
In fact, I was disappointed that Lexus didn't have these. For a $2.5k system, you should.
 
I understand that Garmin is intro new models this Xmas season (check their website). One has a very large display (seems tacky in a car), includes XM-radio, XM traffic info, plays music you upload like Ipod. For me, the XM radio would be most useful. Some have a high precision compass, barometric pressure plot over time. Some new units are only about $250.
 
The bottomline is, if a system meets your need and your price point, then it's the system for you. I just show you what's available, here.

#52 of 60 ipod by adp33

Nov 16, 2005 (11:17 pm)

does the stereo in the 400H have an ipod input?

#53 of 60 Re: satellite radio [gunner] by bob259

Nov 17, 2005 (6:03 am)

Replying to: gunner (Aug 26, 2005 9:33 pm)
gunner, Check out this web site. I would think the XM set up for the Highlander Hybrid would be the same as in the Lexus.
 
http://www.factoryinteractive.com/
 
They are great guys to ask, they responded to my questions right away.

#54 of 60 Re: ipod [adp33] by paulblue02

Nov 17, 2005 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: adp33 (Nov 16, 2005 11:17 pm)
no, that feature is available on the 2006 Lexus IS250/350 models.... but, one can use a cassette adapter since the 400h with NAV still is shipped with a cassette tape input..... also can be used with an XM Roady XT, which happens to have a classy brushed metal finish similar to the the 400h dash

#55 of 60 Re: ipod [adp33] by craigwblake

Dec 04, 2005 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: adp33 (Nov 16, 2005 11:17 pm)
The IceLink module for the RX330 supposedly works with the 400h as well... picked one up at Best Buy for $200 and am planning on having it installed by the dealer when I get the hitch installed (it was comped). Not sure if it will work, but if not it's a short trip to return it. Will update when I know for sure.

#56 of 60 neo iON ipod adaptor by wantsrx400h

Jan 10, 2006 (2:01 pm)

Has anyone tried this? It sounds better than the Vaistech because it does not disable the iPod controls.

#57 of 60 Re: satellite radio [oiseauxno] by hdmax

Mar 17, 2006 (7:27 am)

Replying to: oiseauxno (Jul 08, 2005 11:13 am)
You may want to check Internection at www.factoryinteractive.com/highlanderxm. I recently installed one of their units in my 400h. It is a Pioneer which perfectly interfaces with the factory audio. Installation takes a little while since it is under the luggage area. But it works perfectly, with no new stuff in the cockpit. Highly recommend it unless you can find something better. HDM

#58 of 60 Re: satellite radio [suzyus] by 2006noxm

Nov 21, 2007 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: suzyus (Sep 30, 2005 8:24 am)
I just bought a 2006 RX 400H and just found out that an aftermaket kit isn't available. Your installation sounds good. I live in southern Maryland. Can you providesome details on the equipment and the installation?

#59 of 60 A silly question,....maybe. by wwest

Dec 29, 2007 (3:52 pm)

If I had the V6 heads milled to get a 13:1 compression ratio on an RX400h and then restricted the intake manifold pressure via the DBW system such that the effective compression was never greater than 10:1 would I have a "virtual" Atkinson Cycle hybrid engine?

#60 of 60 anyone overide navigation? by dorenescar

Jan 19, 2008 (8:33 pm)

Hi all, I was reading a HH post that was suggesting strategies; has anyone had any luck with overiding the navi shutdown when driving? We had a Pilot that was continuous nav programmable, and we thought it was safer than having to pull over to make changes to the 400h programming. We'd appreciate any thoughts, or referrals to any other posts if this was previously discussed. Thanks!!

Messages Page 6 of 6

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