well i'm in the market for the lexus rx400h and i just wanted to see if there were any problems with any of yours or maybe you folks have heard of any problems. The reason why i'm debating this so much is because this would be lexus' first hybrid and im a bit weary when it comes to first generation cars. so any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated. thanks!

 

i'd recommend the 2wd version! better gas mileage. Cheaper too. Plus buy it ASAP as you want to get the tax benefits, which are limited to a certain nu mber of cars from each manufacturer.

 

From a purely financial standpoint are you able to justify the incremental cost ? It will take a lot of fuel savings to breakeven. Also in my mind the jury is still out on resale value. One more comment and I'll shut up, but hey you asked. I have purchased 1st year vehicles before and ALWAYS regretted it. Food for thought.

 

As has been stated, make sure you do the math to see if the hybrid fuel savings is justified by the much higher cost. Oth, some folks like the newest toys. The other thing to think about is that typical hybrid fuel economy is attained during town driving not highway driving. Where is the majority of your driving? One last thing, you are dealing with a very complex mechanism that should be reliable but you have just introduced a whole new mechanical system that can cause problems. What will happen to this hybrid system in five or six years? Who knows.

Gary

 

I dont regret purchasing mine one bit. I am all GM and never thought I would purchase a forein vehical let alone a brand new one. The transmission is pretty much a hopped up vesion off the Toyota Prius and that has been out a while. One thing you have to remember, this is a Lexus we are talking about. There reputation goes with it along with one hell of a warranty. If they didnt have it right I am sure they wouldnt want it out there. I have 2000 miles on mine right now and am averaging around 25 MPG right now. Not bad for starting up cold and running around in 25 to 30 degree weather.

Hope this helped you, Bob

 

This was also my first non american car ever after mostly ford trucks that we use for work. Regarding the Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) really the 400h is a fourth generation evolution of the hybrid vehicle. It was tested in Japan for a year before US introduction. The Prius has proven to be very reliable also. My 400h is quick, with an excellent transmission with good handling for an suv, and a great ride. 7,500 miles and zero problems save for one rattle fixed in half an hour by my dealer. I think it is important to point out that regardless of mpg ( i average 25 mpg) the hybrid cars are always regenerating battery power from the brakes, and are low emissions vehicles. These advantages are present every time you drive the car. If you are worried about resale i would stick with AWD and Nav, more and more people will be looking for this. Lastly it is a great comfort to have the support of this forum for any question or issue you might have with the vehicle. There is no legitimate question you cannot get a quick answer to, and i regard that as a great benefit. We are also the first to hear of potential problems, and i honestly think 90% of us are very happy.

 

There are no "first generation" problems in this car. And the warranty, combined with Lexus' excellent service, is outstanding. There are two or three small shortcomings: a lack of iPod or satellite radio connection (but these can be added after market), a nav/audio system with some other limitations, and no "keyless" entry/drive system like the Prius. I mention these things because you might expect a more advanced total package. If you are concerned about depreciation, lease instead of buying. Don't buy the car expecting fuel savings to pay for the gross cost differential -- it won't. But the tax credits and incentives help. And as othes have noted here, the regenerative system means more efficiency than a conventional gasoline engine offers. You can't get this combination of performance and fuel economy in any other SUV.

 

If you like and need the extra performance the hybrid offers over the RX330 it could be worth it. Just remember, it is not a full AWD like the AWD RX330. If you are just getting it for fuel savings I'd seriously do my research. The two RX400H members above posted they are a averaging 25 MPG with their RX400H's. This is good considering you get some performance benefit. However, for a purely gas mileage point, I'm getting 22 MPG from our RX330 so that is something to think about.

As for first year models, I'm not sure the RX400H is a true first year since really only the drivetrain is different and the body and interior are mostly the same. I do; however, regret getting the first year 2004 RX330. Over all it is a good truck, but the 2005 had more things worked out and more standared options and you can get premium plus packages for about $37K on average now.

 

If you look only at the fuel economy, a 400h is not worth it. However, how many of us have paid extra money to have a V8 instead of a V6. The fuel economy is just an added bonus. I always buy the model with the most power. You can never have too much power, but I have had cars without enough power and won't make that mistake again. I am very pleased with my 400h, but it's not just about fuel economy. If fuel economy is your thing, get a compact car.

 

We picked up my wifes 400h last monday. some pros-

1. She loves the sounds it makes when braking- sounds like a turbine winding down (I know what it is, that's just what it sounds like)

2. estimated $2400 tax credit- puts the car within 3-4k of rx330

3, V8 power, 4cylinder economy

4. SUV at econobox MPG ratings

5. Lease resale is higher as a percentage after 3 or 4 years. (this almost wipes out the 330 difference)

6. When compared ONLY to the RX330, the MPG is not that different, when compared to her old 2002 explorer, we will save about 100 per month in gas. RX330 payment was only 40 bucks less than the 400.

7. Feel a little better about driving an SUV that doesn't spew so much filth. (Better emissions than a Honda Insight).

Cons-

1. Still looking for one....