Jumping in with both feet, again

[Happy John]

Just a note to advise I'm due to take delivery on my 2009 RX shortly.

I've read the majority of recent posts and it looks likely my usage profile means I'll be borderline in terms of warranting a hybrid, certainly next year when I fully retire. Having said that, I find the style endearing, build quality unbeatable and driving position excellent. Plus my wife likes to comfort too.

Looking at prices, high mileages and age appear to mean little to the marque and they'll happily give enjoyment so long as they're well maintained. I guess. My Jaguar XE has given great service and 100% reliable but it's a long way down for my wife post "back op" and has to go.

Maybe I was "fishing in the wrong pool" when looking for alternatives but I'd got bogged down in with Ford Kuga's and Honda CRV's ( petrol auto's - not good apparently ) or diesel auto's. Anyhow, I've bought it now and the cars in great condition - I'll probably get the cambelt / water pump looked at soonest having found a local specialist as opposed to main dealers who seem a little excessive for a 10 year old car.. 

My ultimate concern is perhaps the odd weeks where I go to the station and back - 2 miles, 4 or 5 times a week and other weeks where its 120 miles there  - 120 back. Anyhow, first up I'm looking forward to learning how to drive it, space, parking, hill starts etc.

Thanks for earlier posts, what some may feel is trivia is really helpful for those of us looking out for data and knowledge.

[steveledzep]

Welcome John.  Excellent choice of motor !  I don't envisage you having any problems.

Had mine nearly two years now and its use has been  5 miles to and from work for 5 days with a fortnightly 40 miles round trip for a supermarket shop.  Other than that, 3 or 4 longer trips each year visiting relatives.  It hasn't missed a beat !  I too have a poorly back and I wouldn't drive anything else now.  Enjoy your RX.

[Happy John]

Many thanks Steve, puts my mind at rest.

As always, negatives tend to have a higher profile than positives but I'm sure I'll get to love it with experience.

Can't wait for tomorrow. Funnily enough, the discussion on prices and demand is an interesting one, I was looking and some hang around on sale for ever ( hot sunny day photo's etc ) but mine and a couple of others have been bought/sold in recent weeks hence I'm assuming the demand is strong. As ever, service history is key.

[SDi]

I have just bought one for similar reasons, now retired, my E class coupe getting to much for my back problem. And having similar worries about short journeys. But having read the forum and spoken to a friend of a friend who has had 4 and said he would never buy anything else, it seems we may have made a good choice.

enjoy

[Herbie]

The problem with hybrids is that if they don't get enough use then the 12V Battery can suffer.

The best advice I can give is just to buy one of these or something similar. They're not expensive, they work brilliantly well (plenty of YouTube videos out there to prove that) and they're worth every penny in peace of mind alone. I've never had to use mine yet but I'm more than confident that if I ever need to, it'll get me out of the mire with very little fuss. I try to remember to top it up every three months or so just in case, but they do hold their charge very well.

[GSLV6]

Welcome to the club John and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.  As above, the only thing regularly to crop up with short trips is that the deep cycle leisure Battery life can be foreshortened by half with short trips.  Mine had to be replaced after 3 years and I have been told that with regular longer trips (30 minutes plus regularly) you should expect 5 to 7 years from one of these batteries.  I just look on it as a consumable item, much like the tyres and it's wise to buy one of those Battery testers (not a multimeter but a proper Battery condition tester) which will tell you Battery condition and give early warning if trickle charging isn't doing enough to restore and keep charge.

I do mixed driving with regular short, and one longer trip each week, with one trip of several hours monthly and nothing bar the leisure Battery, has gone wrong.  Replacement from Lexus was quoted as £148 but was covered under warranty.  As far as comfort goes, few do it better.  I have back issues too and wouldn't drive anything else now, so your wife I think will be pleased with it.  It will take you some getting used to compared with the dynamics of the XE but once you do, you won't look back.

[Ian M]

Welcome aboard, the RX is a fine choice and I am sure you'll not regret it.

I have a solution to the short journey to the station problem.................. leave the RX on the drive where it's safe, the diminutive toy motor is my station hack:  

[Happy John]

thanks again guys, this is all reassuring and the Battery charged unit I'll take on board - although  it's having a new Battery fitted just in case.

 

I have a trickle charger for one of my earlier cars which used to lose a charge from somewhere but Herbies recommendation of a Jump Starter looks sound advice.

On another matter, and forgive me if this has been covered elsewhere previously, but a colleague in Holland had his Lexus 400 Hybrid stolen from outside his front window one evening never to be seen again. Hence the question = To Tracker or not to Tracker?

I've got fully Comprehensive but?

 

Arguably with prices firm and demand sound I'm thinking there could be a significant risk - it's parked in the drive as another more pressing auto sits in the garage - but I'm thinking once it's mine and been brought up to my spec ( service/cambelts etc ) it'd be a shame to lose it despite financial recompense being in place ( for the bare car )

Questions questions questions....sorry. And the unforgivable sin of changing the subject of the thread.

 

[Herbie]

 

3 hours ago, Happy John said:

Hence the question = To Tracker or not to Tracker

My take on this is that a tracker only comes into play once the scrotes have got access into your pride and joy. The way I see it is that prevention is better than cure so I have a Stoplock Pro Elite steering wheel lock. I'll grant you that it's not pretty but having a big yellow lock in place will hopefully make them think of going elsewhere for a car with less hassle. That particular model of steering lock took more than five minutes to defeat in tests and that was using hammers, chisels and a saw to attack it with, hence why I'm hoping that they'll move on to an easier target.

[Ian M]

3 hours ago, Herbie said:

 

My take on this is that a tracker only comes into play once the scrotes have got access into your pride and joy. The way I see it is that prevention is better than cure so I have a Stoplock Pro Elite steering wheel lock. I'll grant you that it's not pretty but having a big yellow lock in place will hopefully make them think of going elsewhere for a car with less hassle. That particular model of steering lock took more than five minutes to defeat in tests and that was using hammers, chisels and a saw to attack it with, hence why I'm hoping that they'll move on to an easier target.

 

I use one too, prevention being better than detection.