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Lexus RX 400h vs ?? Comparisons

69 messages,  Last post on Apr 21, 2007 at 10:43 PM

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#64 of 69 Tests in various German auto mags.... by birger Apr 09, 2007 (3:35 am)
Hi,   I think you're getting very heated up - and you're at the same time barking up the wrong tree   AutoBild is generally not considered very serious. It's a weekly auto mag published byt the editor of Germany's biggest sensation tabloid.   Auto, Motor und Sport is Germany's biggest auto mag. They are serious, and can now (finally) also see when Mercedes is doing things less than perfect.   Auto Zeitung is also serious, and have no relation to AutoBild.   Currently, since an unloved government minister has publicly suggested people to buy Priuses instead of German vehicles, there has been a hectic activity in German auto press, particularly AutoBild, to prove that hybrid vehicles, particularly the Prius, are not the answer to all prayers. Some of the arguments are so far-fetched that it makes you laugh - but this is a politically dictated thing. I guess the UAW would also make a fuss, if George W. Bush wanted the Lexus LS600h as his next official vehicle......   To get back to the subject: I've had a ML320CDI for the last 16 months - it's a very, very competent and nice vehicle, but it's been in the shop for more time than I liked , it emits 256 g/km CO2 (which makes it expensive in taxes) - so by mid-June it will be replaced by a:     which hopefully will be more problem-free, comparatively economical, certainly less expensive in taxes - and a "friendlier" vehicle overall.   I will miss the ML's absolutely perfect cruise control, though, and we'll have to learn to limit our luggage needs slightly.   Birger Replies to this message: gagrice (Apr 09, 2007 5:16 am)
#65 of 69 Re: Tests in various German auto mags.... [birger] by gagrice Apr 09, 2007 (5:16 am)
Replying to: birger (Apr 09, 2007 3:35 am) Do you use your vehicle on high speed highways? I would be curious as to how the two compare mileage wise at high speed. Good luck with your purchase. What kind of problems did you have with the ML320 CDI? I did not know they were built in Germany also. I tried doing the European delivery on either the ML or GL diesel. I was told they were made here in Alabama.
#66 of 69 ML/RX in Europe by birger Apr 09, 2007 (7:40 am)
Hi, Gagrice   Yes and no - I drive very little in Germany, so it's quite rare to go beyond 130 kph/85 mph.   On one of our very frequently used routes, traffic conditions may cause us to go via Germany and not France - and this does include some portions of unlimited Autobahn, where, traffic allowing, we usually travel at 160-180 kph, more for the fun than for real time savings. Probably, I'll have to resist from this with the RX - not really a problem. In that one respect, the ML CDI really excels. You can drive indecently fast without paying any real fuel consumption penalty .   Our present ML is - like its two W163 predecessors - 'Bama built. Due to high demand, the W163 CDI versions were assembled in Austria, but this was temporary and has ended quite a while back.   The ML320CDI was built during hurricane Katrina, and despite assurances that this could in no way affect the vehicle, it obviously has. Not maybe in technical damage, but the people assembling it clearly had other things on their minds..... The problems have touched almost every element of the vehicle, from engine thru transmission, suspension, steering and electrical system. When it was 1 year "old" it had been on the road only for 10 months - the remaining 2 months in the shop with us driving a great variety of replacement vehicles, ranging from "A" to "E"-Classes - thus the change to Lexus.   Birger Replies to this message: gagrice (Apr 09, 2007 8:20 am)
#67 of 69 Re: ML/RX in Europe [birger] by gagrice Apr 09, 2007 (8:20 am)
Replying to: birger (Apr 09, 2007 7:40 am) Thank you, that is interesting. I never think of the US as a vehicle exporter. Mercedes has had some reliability issues in the states also. It gives me cause for concern. I did have a Sprinter diesel van for a short time that ran like a clock and got great mileage. Not practical for my needs so I sold it. Have fun with the RX hybrid.
#68 of 69 Re: Lexus RX 400h vs ?? Comparisons [randyl712] by maximafan Apr 21, 2007 (10:30 pm)
Replying to: randyl712 (Jan 20, 2007 8:23 pm) Well said, Randy. I purchased the '07 RX350 back in August and my decision was based just like yours. Before the '07 came out with the increased horsepower, that was the only thing that was causing me to pause on the RX, but then they bumped up that horsepower and I pretty much knew that would be the incentive for me to buy this wonderful vehicle. I'm a happy camper so far and I'm not looking back!!
#69 of 69 Re: Performance: Lexus RX 400h versus RX 350 [kris17] by maximafan Apr 21, 2007 (10:43 pm)
Replying to: kris17 (Jun 07, 2006 8:22 am) kris, I'm driving the '07 RX350. I've had the chance to drive the 400h twice as a loaner car while getting my regular maintenance done on my car. From my personal observations, that initial starting off at a light, the 400h doesn't feel as powerful as the 350 (The CVT tranny may play into this as well.) But when I'm on the interstate going well over 65 or 70, the 400h has impressive acceleration for when you have to make a sudden lane change or get on the on-ramp on a busy interstate. With the RX350, it sometimes feels like I'm driving a turbo. I might not feel the extra horses under the hood initially, but if I pop that accelerator pedal, the car will kick into gear and go!   With the 400h, I liked the idea of the engine turning off when standing still at a light. I thought that was pretty neat. But I don't like when I'm applying the brakes, such as coming to a stoplight, and the brakes make a whining noise of some sort. It reminded me of the brakes on my 2002 Maxima when the rotors were warped. I didn't care for that. If you can, you need to spend a day in each model before you buy, because in my opinion, as far as the gas mileage goes, I'm not sure if there's a big enough difference between the two to justify the price difference, although I will say, I like the wheels on the 400h better than the 350, and there's a slightly different look on the taillight treatment at the rear of the two cars, which I think I like a little better on the 400h. Oh, and the fog lights on the front of the 400h are different from the 350 also.   So good luck on whichever one you choose to get. I still don't think you could go wrong on either one.

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