To All Rx400h Owner

[Fe_La]

Hi All,

Many of you might remember one of my earlier posts in the thread titled "Phone + Navigation Override Tricks Won't Work". Things are going on and we are shortly going to have the opportunity for a meeting with Lexus Europe thanks to many of your's feedbacks and the special efforts of Williz (RX 400h owner from Austria).

Sorry for the length of this post. Please read on, it is going to be interesting for all European RX 400h owners!

Based on earlier discussions in this and the LOC EU forum Williz managed to start discussions with Lexus Europe in order to have a meeting where a few RX 400h owners representing all of the other not completely satisfied European (including UK) owners would be able to sit down with the representatives of Lexus Europe to expect solutions to all of the most important topics causing frustrations around the EU version of RX 400h. These topics are collected from the LOC UK and EU forums and they are also based on our own RX 400h user experience by the three of us (RX 400h owners from Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium) and shared with all of you in this post.

The purpose of the upcoming meeting is not to re-design the current RX 400h but more importantly

- to get those features available for our cars that shipped with the US version despite of its lower price

- to get official Lexus-like solutions for some of the disabled functions on EU version and also

- to get some user feedbacks back to Lexus in order to produce the next RX 400h more up-to-date to our tech-age requirements as it concerns i.e. in-car mobile telephony and MP3 playback.

The following points are the summary of what we have collected and included in our document to be the base of our discussion and to be handed over to Lexus Europe in the following days prior to our meeting:

1. Differences in price between the EU and US model and reversed difference in functions and warranty

2. Functions that come either standard or option on US models and are disabled or not available on EU models:

- Lexus Personalized Settings (Most importantly: auto door lock, turning off lights when ignition switched off in AUTO mode, Power backdoor should be able to open or close (but at least close) even while car is locked or being locked

- Rear entertainment solution (We have to go for aftermarket solution with sometimes non-Lexus quality installations)

- Dynamic laser cruise control (No alternative in Europe)

- Garage door opener (HomeLink) (Aftermarket solution can be installed with not in harmony with interior design)

- Head restraints forward-reward adjustment (Not a big omission, but with the higher price we should expect more function and not less)

- 220V (240V in UK) outlet in luggage compartment is not installed in Europe

- SCAN function of the radio is altered with AST button (a different function than on US model) which disables EU owners to properly install the only iPod integration solution from VAISTECH

3. Functions that are unreasonable solutions and from driver point of view are considered more likely to keep the driver's eye off the road

- Disabled Bluetooth phone while car is in move (The driver is forced to look at the handset's keyboard instead of the dasboard when a call must be initiated to a number not listed as quick access button)

- Partially disabled nav system while car is in move (Forces the driver to set location by browsing the map (more attention drawing) instead of letting to use the quick way of address input while i.e. moving at a slow speed. Besides, for all adult and responsible drivers the warning screen when starting the car should be enough not to "play" with the navigation system while the car is in normal traffic or in a situation where 100% of driver's attention required when in motion but off traffic. Additionally the nav system still has a lot of features that are not disabled and can equally draw attention off the road when driven by an irresponsible driver based on the same but questionable reasons of disabling the most useful functions of the system what we all paid fully and can use it only when the car is parked which is usually less than 5% of total vehicle use)

- On top of the unreasonable and questionable two limitations mentioned in this point EU owners are even disabled from simply overriding them unlike in the US where a workaround is disclosed for those who do not agree having their fully paid car disabled in a certain way.

4. Misleading technical feature is still available on Belgian and Luxembourgian web site now (was also available last year in other EU countries)

- People make their buying decisions on different factors. Those who took into account the pre-crash safety system as plus point when ordered their RX 400h, like I did, must be disappointed when they realize they were misled by the offical Lexus web sites.

5. Functions that are minimum expected on the market from a top of the range luxury SUV in our tech-age for the EU high price

- A Bluetooth phone must be compatible with majority of all handsets released in the last 2-3 years by leading mobile phone producers (Higher quality aftermarket solution is available from 150 Euro up)

- A Bluetooth phone should have Lexus-like calling quality (which is not even the case by fine tuning the voice settings in the hidden menu)

- Bluetooth phone should probably have voice dialling feature using the handset's phone book taking the hassle out of the barely working phone book transfer feature

- Qality iPod integration option should be offered like for many brands (see http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipodyourcar/) or at least no downgraded radio which is allowing the only current aftermarket solution to be installed properly (see in point 2 above)

- In case of omitted rear seat entertainment system and iPod integration the vehicle should feature a neutral auxialary input to make aftermarket installations possible at all in the age of MP3 music and on-the-road rear-seat DVD players

- A large vehicle like the RX expected to have automatic folding side mirrors in the narrow parkings of cities when ignition key is removed from dash or door locked in addition to the hard-to-find-without-looking-down manual button

This list of topics stays open in the next few days before we hand it over to Lexus Europe for all of you to suggest further resonable topics closely related to the subjects. However, the list of different topics should not be too extensive in order to rather focus on a fewer ones and get more solid results out of the meeting.

If you are like us, one of those almost totally satisfied owners of this fantastic luxury hybrid SUV with small but frustrating European omissions and downgrades, then we would appreciate to have your support on the meeting. You can support us either by sending your name and country by Personal Message to me (your name will not be published here, however we have to share it with Lexus Europe) or at least you can post a reply with your nickname and country in this thread.

If you would like to participate on our meeting with Lexus Europe in Brussels then likewise send a Private Message to me. Please note that the cost of travel and staying should be covered individually by each participant.

Important: Please stay on-topic as much as possible while giving your feedback as we plan to refer to this thread also during our meeting.

Looking forward to receiving your feedbacks either by PM or as a reply to this post.

Fe_La

[jpmota]

I totally support your action to Lexus Europe. The topics that you expect to address are consistent and I hope that the meeting with them, where I unfortunately will not attend to, will be fruitful.

Regards

JPM

[Nikos]

I also totally support your action. Unfortunatelly I can not participate as well to the meeting. Here in Greece you could hardly see any Lexus on the road before the introduction of the hybrid but now I can see at least one almost every day, so the only thing I would like to add to your requests is a request for a navigation map for Greece.

[Headspun]

What a great idea, best of luck!

[Loopster]

I'm in support too - I can't make the meeting but you'll get my name in a PM.

Good luck!

[billygarrett]

Hi

I fully support your initiative as I also was misled into believing a lot of those functions were available.

My list of additions to your list is:

Take steps to eliminate wind noise in front doors. This is IMPORTANT. Lexus Newcastle has tried several options without success.

Display should show miles left to go before tank is empty, Engine RPM, TV Tuner Analogue/digital (as per Range Rover)

DVD player instead of CD player.(for use when stationary obviously)

Key left in ignition switch (or Aux position) warning tone (as in Citroen C3 etc) when door opens to avoid flattening Battery in aux position.

Parking sensors front and rear.

Boot floor liner.

Removable tow bar option (Current option is non adjustable or removable)

Bright LED type reversing lights. Present bulbs are useless on a dark country road.

Effective mudflaps. front and rear. Those availble are too small to be effective on muddy road.

Please use your discretion to decide what is likely to be successful.

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me :)

Edited June 11, 2006 by Monster-Mat

[billygarrett]

Hi

I fully support your initiative as I also was misled into believing a lot of those functions were available.

My list of additions to your list is:

Take steps to eliminate wind noise in front doors. This is IMPORTANT. Lexus Newcastle has tried several options without success.

Display should show miles left to go before tank is empty, Engine RPM, TV Tuner Analogue/digital (as per Range Rover)

DVD player instead of CD player.(for use when stationary obviously)

Key left in ignition switch (or Aux position) warning tone (as in Citroen C3 etc) when door opens to avoid flattening battery in aux position.

Parking sensors front and rear.

Boot floor liner.

Removable tow bar option (Current option is non adjustable or removable)

Bright LED type reversing lights. Present bulbs are useless on a dark country road.

Effective mudflaps. front and rear. Those availble are too small to be effective on muddy road.

Please use your discretion to decide what is likely to be successful.

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me :)

I forgot to mention that the Range Rover's towbwr is also removable. So you don't crack your shins on it when loading the boot :)

[billygarrett]

Hi

I fully support your initiative as I also was misled into believing a lot of those functions were available.

My list of additions to your list is:

Take steps to eliminate wind noise in front doors. This is IMPORTANT. Lexus Newcastle has tried several options without success.

Display should show miles left to go before tank is empty, Engine RPM, TV Tuner Analogue/digital (as per Range Rover)

DVD player instead of CD player.(for use when stationary obviously)

Key left in ignition switch (or Aux position) warning tone (as in Citroen C3 etc) when door opens to avoid flattening battery in aux position.

Parking sensors front and rear.

Boot floor liner.

Removable tow bar option (Current option is non adjustable or removable)

Bright LED type reversing lights. Present bulbs are useless on a dark country road.

Effective mudflaps. front and rear. Those availble are too small to be effective on muddy road.

Please use your discretion to decide what is likely to be successful.

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me :)

I forgot to mention that the Range Rover's towbwr is also removable. So you don't crack your shins on it when loading the boot :)

ALSO some more ammo ! The Japanese home market version has extras such as parking cameras on the door mirrors :)

Also I THINK they have repeater indicators on the mirrors too like the Mercs, but I am not sure.

I don't expect to get everything but the more you can throw maybe some will stick :)

When is your meeting?

[a0-0b]

Sure hope there are updates from this - when is the meeting?

I've been waiting since september to but my400h, but until some of these things are sorted, i won't part with the cash.

[bill jarvis]

Hi

I fully support your initiative as I also was misled into believing a lot of those functions were available.

My list of additions to your list is:

Take steps to eliminate wind noise in front doors. This is IMPORTANT. Lexus Newcastle has tried several options without success.

Display should show miles left to go before tank is empty, Engine RPM, TV Tuner Analogue/digital (as per Range Rover)

DVD player instead of CD player.(for use when stationary obviously)

Key left in ignition switch (or Aux position) warning tone (as in Citroen C3 etc) when door opens to avoid flattening battery in aux position.

Parking sensors front and rear.

Boot floor liner.

Removable tow bar option (Current option is non adjustable or removable)

Bright LED type reversing lights. Present bulbs are useless on a dark country road.

Effective mudflaps. front and rear. Those availble are too small to be effective on muddy road.

Please use your discretion to decide what is likely to be successful.

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me :)

What use would a rev counter be in a car in which you have almost no control over the revs, ie, it reaches a peak and uses the CVT to accelerate.

There's no possibility of over-revving and peak power is computer controlled, changing gear isn't an option.

bill

[billygarrett]

Hi

I fully support your initiative as I also was misled into believing a lot of those functions were available.

My list of additions to your list is:

Take steps to eliminate wind noise in front doors. This is IMPORTANT. Lexus Newcastle has tried several options without success.

Display should show miles left to go before tank is empty, Engine RPM, TV Tuner Analogue/digital (as per Range Rover)

DVD player instead of CD player.(for use when stationary obviously)

Key left in ignition switch (or Aux position) warning tone (as in Citroen C3 etc) when door opens to avoid flattening battery in aux position.

Parking sensors front and rear.

Boot floor liner.

Removable tow bar option (Current option is non adjustable or removable)

Bright LED type reversing lights. Present bulbs are useless on a dark country road.

Effective mudflaps. front and rear. Those availble are too small to be effective on muddy road.

Please use your discretion to decide what is likely to be successful.

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me :)

What use would a rev counter be in a car in which you have almost no control over the revs, ie, it reaches a peak and uses the CVT to accelerate.

There's no possibility of over-revving and peak power is computer controlled, changing gear isn't an option.

bill

I just thought it would be nice to be able monitor the revs in comparison with a normal car.

[m'ladys husband]

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me

Hi Billy,

I wish you good luck in getting your money back from LGB!

If you manage it let me know how because they simply ignored our rejection letter with the last of the three Rx300's.

They seem to have a very deep bucket of sand for burying their heads in when it suits them.

That said, I still wish we had gone for a 400h instead of the third RX300.

Best regards.

Michael.

aka M'ladys husband

[billygarrett]

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me

Hi Billy,

I wish you good luck in getting your money back from LGB!

If you manage it let me know how because they simply ignored our rejection letter with the last of the three Rx300's.

They seem to have a very deep bucket of sand for burying their heads in when it suits them.

That said, I still wish we had gone for a 400h instead of the third RX300.

Best regards.

Michael.

aka M'ladys husband

Thanks Michael

I will try to remember to let you know what happens :)

Billy

[billygarrett]

Hi

I fully support your initiative as I also was misled into believing a lot of those functions were available.

My list of additions to your list is:

Take steps to eliminate wind noise in front doors. This is IMPORTANT. Lexus Newcastle has tried several options without success.

Display should show miles left to go before tank is empty, Engine RPM, TV Tuner Analogue/digital (as per Range Rover)

DVD player instead of CD player.(for use when stationary obviously)

Key left in ignition switch (or Aux position) warning tone (as in Citroen C3 etc) when door opens to avoid flattening battery in aux position.

Parking sensors front and rear.

Boot floor liner.

Removable tow bar option (Current option is non adjustable or removable)

Bright LED type reversing lights. Present bulbs are useless on a dark country road.

Effective mudflaps. front and rear. Those availble are too small to be effective on muddy road.

Please use your discretion to decide what is likely to be successful.

My car is with the dealer (Newcastle) for 3 weeks now tryig to find a fault with AWD /VSC/ PS without success.

I have rejected the car and hope to get a new one or my money back It was registered in Sept 05 and has been back 3 times for extended periods.

Good luck and thanks for your efforts.

Billy Garrett. Please feel free to quote me :)

I forgot to mention that the Range Rover's towbwr is also removable. So you don't crack your shins on it when loading the boot :)

ALSO some more ammo ! The Japanese home market version has extras such as parking cameras on the door mirrors :)

Also I THINK they have repeater indicators on the mirrors too like the Mercs, but I am not sure.

I don't expect to get everything but the more you can throw maybe some will stick :)

When is your meeting?

Good luck with your meeeting tomorrow :)

BTW I bekieve Ford are including adaptive cruise control in either the Galaxy or the S-Max. I can't rember which. So our prestige Lexus is being overtaken by Ford :(

Have a good trip!!

BR

Billy

[pdh]

What's the status of this meeting with Lexus Europe?

[Fe_La]

Dear all,

We had our meeting with Lexus Europe on the 21 June in Brussels. On the meeting three Lexus RX400h owners were present with three managers of Lexus Europe.

For most of our questions we have got disappointing answers meaning that they are not able to foresee any change on current cars and maybe just a few of them on future European models. However at the end of the meeting we agreed that Lexus Europe managers will provide a summary of the meeting topics what we can publish here to all of you within a few days after the meeting. It's been more than a week passed since our meeting and we have received no summary whatsoever that we all three participating RX400h owners hoped to carry more positive answers than we have got on the meeting.

Therefore I cannot share any good news with you now.

I do not know what change in responses will be present in the summary if we ever get it from Lexus Europe managers, but one thing is for sure: since I have this car I repetedly hear one thing from different Lexus garages or representatives: "It is not possible".

With this approach I have 100% disappointment of Lexus European customer service and if anyone ever wants to avoid the same mistake what I did when I ordered this car please consider this:

Customer satisfaction and customer care of Lexus in Europe is way below what you can read about it from the US. Basically they cannot be mentioned on the same page. Lexus is a poorly supported and on top of it technically degraded car in Europe at more than one and the half times higher price than in the US. If you want to avoid trouble and hearing the frequent answer from your dealer after you have got the car delivered "this is not possible" then look around good on the market before you settle for the Lexus.

There was a thread in the US forum started last year in the subject whether people are satisfied with their buy of RX400h. That thread played a big role in my decision before I ordered my car. If you are one of those who took the same thread into account and did not buy the car yet, do not do it! American people are satisfied about Lexus because the car is not technically degraded having lack of functions and the dealers are of the highest quality examples of customer care. In Europe we do not have any of these. If the same question was asked from me in the EU or UK forum my answer was: No, I am not satisfied and if I had to make up my mind again I would definitely not buy the Lexus.

Hope this helps to save the hassle for those who did not buy the car yet in Europe. However if you are the type who likes disappointing answers about your problems of your car from your dealer or representative and on top of it you are willing to pay premium money for the car then the EU version of Lexus is definitely for you.

Those who are already Lexus owners in Europe better to start thinking about the second hand value of your cars in a few years when the whole market will be flooded with the information about the technically degraded European versions, especially if Lexus starts improving the new versions of the cars based on our feedbacks. Sad, but this is also part of the game.

I am sorry that I could not provide you with any good news. I wish you a good luck anyway and a happy summer vacation.

All the best,

Fe_La

[billygarrett]

Dear all,

We had our meeting with Lexus Europe on the 21 June in Brussels. On the meeting three Lexus RX400h owners were present with three managers of Lexus Europe.

For most of our questions we have got disappointing answers meaning that they are not able to foresee any change on current cars and maybe just a few of them on future European models. However at the end of the meeting we agreed that Lexus Europe managers will provide a summary of the meeting topics what we can publish here to all of you within a few days after the meeting. It's been more than a week passed since our meeting and we have received no summary whatsoever that we all three participating RX400h owners hoped to carry more positive answers than we have got on the meeting.

Therefore I cannot share any good news with you now.

I do not know what change in responses will be present in the summary if we ever get it from Lexus Europe managers, but one thing is for sure: since I have this car I repetedly hear one thing from different Lexus garages or representatives: "It is not possible".

With this approach I have 100% disappointment of Lexus European customer service and if anyone ever wants to avoid the same mistake what I did when I ordered this car please consider this:

Customer satisfaction and customer care of Lexus in Europe is way below what you can read about it from the US. Basically they cannot be mentioned on the same page. Lexus is a poorly supported and on top of it technically degraded car in Europe at more than one and the half times higher price than in the US. If you want to avoid trouble and hearing the frequent answer from your dealer after you have got the car delivered "this is not possible" then look around good on the market before you settle for the Lexus.

There was a thread in the US forum started last year in the subject whether people are satisfied with their buy of RX400h. That thread played a big role in my decision before I ordered my car. If you are one of those who took the same thread into account and did not buy the car yet, do not do it! American people are satisfied about Lexus because the car is not technically degraded having lack of functions and the dealers are of the highest quality examples of customer care. In Europe we do not have any of these. If the same question was asked from me in the EU or UK forum my answer was: No, I am not satisfied and if I had to make up my mind again I would definitely not buy the Lexus.

Hope this helps to save the hassle for those who did not buy the car yet in Europe. However if you are the type who likes disappointing answers about your problems of your car from your dealer or representative and on top of it you are willing to pay premium money for the car then the EU version of Lexus is definitely for you.

Those who are already Lexus owners in Europe better to start thinking about the second hand value of your cars in a few years when the whole market will be flooded with the information about the technically degraded European versions, especially if Lexus starts improving the new versions of the cars based on our feedbacks. Sad, but this is also part of the game.

I am sorry that I could not provide you with any good news. I wish you a good luck anyway and a happy summer vacation.

All the best,

Fe_La

Thanks for your efforts. At least you tried, and just maybe they will decide to act on some of the suggestions in the future.

Now while I am as disappointed as you are, I have to be fair and give some credit where it is due!

Mike previously asked me to let him know how I got on, so here goes:

I think it is safe now to confirm that Lexus GB have finally agreed after much deliberation to provide me with a NEW replacement RX400h to replace mine which I bought last September. The problems actually started before I left the showroom and despite several attempts at fixing it kept resurfacing as slightly different faults all of which affected the brakes and steering. Lexus agreed it was dangerous to have this car on the road as it could happen at anytime so they agreed to change it. I could have my new 400h now or September, but then it transpired....PAY ATTENTION :) that there will be a GPS & DVD player upgrade around mid October!!! For details look at the RX350 which has it already.

So of course I accepted their kind offer to wait till then.

Lexus Newcastle have been VERY good in arranging all this for me and I have had the use of 3 hire cars for several months while my 400h was in dock! They have fought my corner really well and I am grateful to them for their excellent customer service which I CANNOT fault.

Shame about my lovely car which I really loved , but at least I will have one 12 months younger at no extra cost. So, Thank You Lexus Newcastle and GB!!

Now, LEXUS please can we also have those features we lack in Europe fitted to my new car in October, PLEASE!!! :) Oh well, if you don't ask you don't get :)

Sorry to have to disagree with your comments, but I thought it only fair to share my experiences:

However do keep up the pressure :)

Thanks

Billy

[jaroph]

I fully understand the frustrations from people like Michael and others who have had problems with their cars but some of the things that are the subject of complaints are just comical and unreasonable. Of course I would prefer an MP3 connection in my Lex but I knew it did not have one when I ordered the car, so I do not see the need to complain about it now. Had it been such an important item at the time, I could have ordered another car - the BMW 1 series had one ! But that is not the point is it? Let us blame Lexus for genuine problems; attributing our own failures of judgement in car selection to Lexus does not make sense to me. If other manufacturers have better cars and they are cheaper then by all means change the thing. For me, the 400h is ideal, seat belt beeps and all !

[williz]

As I fully agree with what Fe_La says about the meeting, I like to add that it was especially frustrating to learn that there was no strategy or reason (not even money saving!) behind the disabling of functions in the European cars.

But let’s wait for the official statement from Lexus to see how they will deal with our list of issues.

Besides the discussion of our list of issues, we hade been told three things which might be of interest to some of you:

• Lexus Europe is in the process of selecting a third party company to improve the Bluetooth Hands Free support (compatibility testing) in the future and will come up with a internet information for Bluetooth like on the US Lexus homepage.

• There are Lexus Europe approved “Hands-Free & Bluetooth Complementary telephone kits” (based on Motorola technology)

.

• LHF 25, Full audio system integration with auto-muting radio/CD player, interchangeable cradles, high quality sound with echo compensation, External antenna, PDA/Laptop connectivity, Rapid Charge function

• LHF 35, in addition to LHF 25 functionality it supports up to 50 voice commands for dialling telephone numbers out of the telephone book.

• Bluetooth Complementary Kit, add on for the Lexus Bluetooth node, offers rapid charging, external antenna to improve signal strength, mobile telephone keyboard illumination and interchangeable cradle.

• A Garage door opener will be available around October 2006 which will fit behind the sunshade of the drivers sit. We have seen photos and it looks good.

As soon as we will get more information we will inform you here.

[billygarrett]

As I fully agree with what Fe_La says about the meeting, I like to add that it was especially frustrating to learn that there was no strategy or reason (not even money saving!) behind the disabling of functions in the European cars.

But let’s wait for the official statement from Lexus to see how they will deal with our list of issues.

Besides the discussion of our list of issues, we hade been told three things which might be of interest to some of you:

• Lexus Europe is in the process of selecting a third party company to improve the Bluetooth Hands Free support (compatibility testing) in the future and will come up with a internet information for Bluetooth like on the US Lexus homepage.

• There are Lexus Europe approved “Hands-Free & Bluetooth Complementary telephone kits” (based on Motorola technology)

.

• LHF 25, Full audio system integration with auto-muting radio/CD player, interchangeable cradles, high quality sound with echo compensation, External antenna, PDA/Laptop connectivity, Rapid Charge function

• LHF 35, in addition to LHF 25 functionality it supports up to 50 voice commands for dialling telephone numbers out of the telephone book.

• Bluetooth Complementary Kit, add on for the Lexus Bluetooth node, offers rapid charging, external antenna to improve signal strength, mobile telephone keyboard illumination and interchangeable cradle.

• A Garage door opener will be available around October 2006 which will fit behind the sunshade of the drivers sit. We have seen photos and it looks good.

As soon as we will get more information we will inform you here.

Sounds like you guys have made SOME progress. Well done. Thank you.

So as I understand it in October the cars will have:

Garage door opener,

Bluetooth improvement

DVD player for staionary use

MP3 play ccapability,

Updated GPS disk

and

Updated GPS screen, brighter and faster response

and maybe other features?

I would really love to have the key left in Aux warning to prevent flat batteries!!

Cheers

Billy

[williz]

sounds like you cant wait for oktober?

question is how the rest of us are getting a new car by then?

williz

[billygarrett]

sounds like you cant wait for oktober?

question is how the rest of us are getting a new car by then?

williz

Yeah, I know. That's the bad part :(

I can't see them recalling all the cars for upgrades, but maybe. You never know....

Yeah, this time last year I couldn't wait to get my new car in September.

Now I am doing it all again and waiting till October!!!

In the meantime I have to use my wifes pram..the Citroen C3!!

Oh,... and I believe they willl also have 5.1 stereo sound! :)

Billy

[williz]

sounds like you cant wait for oktober?

question is how the rest of us are getting a new car by then?

williz

Yeah, I know. That's the bad part :(

I can't see them recalling all the cars for upgrades, but maybe. You never know....

Yeah, this time last year I couldn't wait to get my new car in September.

Now I am doing it all again and waiting till October!!!

In the meantime I have to use my wifes pram..the Citroen C3!!

Oh,... and I believe they willl also have 5.1 stereo sound! :)

Billy

and i forgot some thing!

all new models will get "Snow Button" (like the new GS450h) to be able to shutt off "Electronic Traction Control" but i am not shure if this will be alreday in your car when delivered in Oktober.

williz

[billygarrett]

sounds like you cant wait for oktober?

question is how the rest of us are getting a new car by then?

williz

Yeah, I know. That's the bad part :(

I can't see them recalling all the cars for upgrades, but maybe. You never know....

Yeah, this time last year I couldn't wait to get my new car in September.

Now I am doing it all again and waiting till October!!!

In the meantime I have to use my wifes pram..the Citroen C3!!

Oh,... and I believe they willl also have 5.1 stereo sound! :)

Billy

and i forgot some thing!

all new models will get "Snow Button" (like the new GS450h) to be able to shutt off "Electronic Traction Control" but i am not shure if this will be alreday in your car when delivered in Oktober.

williz

Sounds promising. Thanks Williz :)

[billygarrett]

sounds like you cant wait for oktober?

question is how the rest of us are getting a new car by then?

williz

Yeah, I know. That's the bad part :(

I can't see them recalling all the cars for upgrades, but maybe. You never know....

Yeah, this time last year I couldn't wait to get my new car in September.

Now I am doing it all again and waiting till October!!!

In the meantime I have to use my wifes pram..the Citroen C3!!

Oh,... and I believe they willl also have 5.1 stereo sound! :)

Billy

and i forgot some thing!

all new models will get "Snow Button" (like the new GS450h) to be able to shutt off "Electronic Traction Control" but i am not shure if this will be alreday in your car when delivered in Oktober.

williz

Sounds promising. Thanks Williz :)

I was just thinking about this. Why shut off Traction control in snow? I would have thought you would need it for snow? My problem with automatics in snow is that I can't engage a high gear. maybe that is what it does?

Billy