Got Rx300 Now Want To Upgrade To H

Bob146 · January 24, 2015

Hi Folks

got a 06 plate RX300 late last year so pleased with it I think I want to upgrade.

I have seen a RX 400H 3.3 SE-L 5dr 4WD adverised locally which looks fine (the usual 100K mileage) which gomes with my price range.

What should i be worried about or look out for in the case of a hybrid 9 never ever sat in a hybrid car!)

any help welcome

Thanks

Bob

ColinBarber · January 24, 2015

Hi Bob. Nothing really to worry about, there don't seem to be any common issues other than the 12v Battery needing to be replaced every 5 years to make sure it doesn't go flat if leaving the vehicle unattended for 2 or more weeks.

You want full service history and the timing belt to have been changed at 100k miles. Ideally you want one mid 2006 onwards which includes the facelift items. What age is the vehicle you are looking at?

All the series II RXs seem to have a limited amount of underseal, worth looking underneath especially if you are purchasing one that has been living near the sea. Personally I'd go for the youngest age you can afford over mileage.

Bob146 · January 24, 2015

Thanks colin - probably be something like this but not necessarily from a dealer

http://www.caralot.co.uk/used-cars/lexus-rx-400h-3-3-se-l-5dr-4wd-derby-201501130140297

however, i think i will seach a little more prior to purchase

I now do more town driving and think the h will pay dividends on fuel economy

Kind regards

Bob

nelmo · January 26, 2015

I now do more town driving and think the h will pay dividends on fuel economy

Kind regards

Bob

The H is a great car in its own right but I'd be wary of expecting large savings on fuel.

In town, I'd expect between 25 and 30mpg, which is maybe 10mpg better (or is that a bit optimistic?) than your 300? A decent improvement but it will take a long time to recoup the extra expense of buying the car.

Don't want to put you off (it's a great car :) ) but just to make you aware that economy alone is not IMO the best reason to change.

Bob146 · January 26, 2015

Hi Nelmo

That's so interesting!

I have had the RX 300 for 6 months now and still completly wowed by what a beutiful car it is!

my wife & I actually went to the dealers to buy a Range Rover but were disspointed at the build quality and condition

We sat in the lexus and - SOLD

The reason for looking at an h was the fuel economy as I get 20 mpg on a good day and 18 mpg on others depending on traffic jams in the centre of Derby.

i was suprised by your reports of 25 - 30 somehow i thought it would be much higher

So what's the BEST reason to but an h if its not fuel economy/

kind regards

Bob

ColinBarber · January 26, 2015

It is smoother and quieter than the 'jerky' auto transmission of the RX300. It has more power and whilst economy isn't outstanding going from 18 to 25 mpg is quite a big improvement in percentage terms. Cheaper road tax too.

Around town/fast a roads I'd get around 30-32 mpg. On motorways it is down to 28-30. How you drive can make a big difference on a hybrid. Very short runs would probably mean you are down to 25 as the hybrid system doesn't really get much of a chance to work as the petrol engine is always running to warm up.

Pooh-Bear · January 26, 2015

Completely agree with the other comments. I had an 05 300LE (the limited edition they threw everything into to get rid of old stock). I would average 21-24, mainly motorway driving in that. I did however get 33! mpg on one trip which I got driving with a feather foot - just to see what I could get out of it.

Just bought a 450H SEL Premier (09 plate) and though no motorway driving just shop trips or around Sheffield, the most I have had in 2 months is 24.5mpg. These are all the car readings, not measured readings. With this I have been driving carefully with the hybrid to see how I can squeeze miles out. Not scientific but it shows I am driving more carefully but not getting much more out of it than the old 300. I have a long run on weds/thurs so will do a measured calculation then.

Even though I had an 05 300 so I got the reduced VED (£280ish rather than £400+) the £135 on the 450H is welcome. The 400H will be a little more as it is higher CO2 emissions but still a saving on the 300.

My thoughts are, if you are expecting far better economy MPG wise it is not worth the change. BUT as others have said, the gearbox is FAR superior (IMO), smoother, quieter drive and as I got an SEL P, lots more toys I always wanted (and my Phone BT connection works better!) :D I changed because of the BT issues in the 300 with my phone and I wanted ACC. The hybrid was a plus, not a reason.

I actually preferred the 300 touch screen and interior but overall the 450h is a nicer ride and far more refined (with more toys)!

Bob146 · January 26, 2015

Hi All

I love this forum & can't thank you enough for your help!

I will go away and think about ALL of the comments - totally altered my thinking

thanks everybody!

Kind regards

Bob

DanD · January 27, 2015

FYI I drove from Southampton to Hull and back over the week end. 80% motorway, with some stretches of roadworks and some local traffic. Had the cruise control set at either 75 or 80mph whenever possible. 3 people with luggage on the way up, 4 coming back.

I reset the trip computer leaving.

Read out when I got home was 28.4 mpg, which was better than I was expecting considering the cold weather.

Did the same trip back in September and averaged 29.6.

Boxbrownie · January 27, 2015

Pooh-Bear.....I am surprised by your very low readings in and around town in the 400H, its actually designed to be in its element in town/stop-start driving, my A6 Hybrid gave me around 33 in town and 40 on a run, but then it had a very efficient 2L Tfsi engine rather than a 3L V6, even so when the Battery was depleted in town it only returned about 20 mpg, a big difference from 33 with the Battery getting charged all the time.

Bob......I'd definatley recommend the 400/450H as its a nice refined car and for its size and performance pretty economical.....usually.

Bob146 · January 27, 2015

Hi Daniel

I see from your profile you have a 400h

i wonder what influence you think the fact you have a hybrid made on the fuel consumption on your motorway trip?

I have RX 300 (not h) and I am going down to London (from Derby) and I will monitor the fuel consumption

Bob146 · January 27, 2015

Hi Robert

thank for your input (slightly too technical for me) but you make a good point about the 400/450 being great models - I am unsure at this stage just how much greater than the wonderful RX300

Pooh-Bear · January 27, 2015

Hi Boxbrownie, I was surprised too as I was hoping for around 30mpg average but it has never shown more than 26 at any point (except immediately after filling up and leaving the petrol station at a crawl then it reported 56mpg - but it soon plummeted when I set off). The other factor is Sheffield is very hilly and it is virtually impossible to stay out of the 'power' area when climbing a hill. Sure coming down a hill charges the Battery but it does not compensate for the more gas needed to go up a hill.

I will be back from my business trip on Thursday, ODO/trip already reset and will fill up and give an exact MPG for going Sheffield to Newbury return on 90% motorway. I aim to go ~70-75 with ACC on where possible. My old 300 could never do this particular round trip on one tank unless I drive like miss daisy (have to refuel around 10-20 miles before my destination) :)

Bob146 · January 27, 2015

Hi Chris

i look forward to hearing about your trip - fewer hills around newbury!

kind regards

Bob

stevet · January 27, 2015

I will be back from my business trip on Thursday, ODO/trip already reset and will fill up and give an exact MPG for going Sheffield to Newbury return on 90% motorway. I aim to go ~70-75 with ACC on where possible. My old 300 could never do this particular round trip on one tank unless I drive like miss daisy (have to refuel around 10-20 miles before my destination) :)

The 90% motorway wont do the mpg any good on a hybrid. I can normally get an easy 35mpg out of the RX but last year on a trip to the south of France it was hard to get 30mpg due to all motorway.

Pooh-Bear · January 27, 2015

If I can't expect at least what I am getting now (~24.5mpg) or above then the hybrid isactually less economical than my old 300. I could thrash that and still get 21mpg on the motorway + short trips. As I said in a previous post, I did get 33MPG on a 320 mile motorway trip driving carefully (in the 300). I am driving as careful, if not more in my 450h and getting less MPG than the 300. If you are getting 35mpg in round town trips then either you are an extreme careful driver or there is something seriously wrong with my car (even taking into account the slightly bigger engine in the 450) :)

stevet · January 27, 2015

The 450 is heavier than the 400 but you still should be able to average 35 easily. Remember with the 450 you have the performance of other 4wd's that would struggle to get 20mpg

Pooh-Bear · January 27, 2015

Nope, I get nowhere near that and can only dream of that mpg. This is with keeping the car in the 'Eco' area 80-90% of the time so I don't think it is my driving. Looking around I'm not alone in my figures but some people get considerably better - nearer to your estimate. Honest John's website quotes over all submissions 33.8mpg is the average but I assume my trip profile is not suited to hybrid. I either do long trips on the motorway or very short trips (2-6 miles) urban driving.

Don't get me wrong, I love the car, far more refined than my MKII 300 and I did not buy it for the fuel consumption (if I had I would be extremely disappointed). All I was saying previously to the OP is do not get an 'H' for the fuel savings as you may find it not much better than your current 300.

stevet · January 27, 2015

Warmer weather also helps a lot with the short journeys.

CJHYBRID · January 28, 2015

The Rx 400H is one of the smoothest quietest cars i have ever driven with stunning performance when required to match. The acceleration when the two electric motors kick in with the big V6 is amazing. The fuel,cosumption for the size of car and performance in comparison with others is for me totally acceptable. We have a Shogun Pinin which is fun to drive with real bad weather / off road capabilty which is handy for us living in the Lincolnshire Alps!. The Shogun has permanant 4 wheel drive and a 1.8 mpi engine.The best fuel consumption is around 30 mpg. The 400h averages 31 two completely different cars but the fuel economy of the Lexus for the type and size of car is good. The sporty Range Rovers with the big petrol units in them struggle to reach 20 mpg let alone 30.

Then there is the experience of owning a Lexus Hybrid for the first time. The total silence when setting off on electric power and the smooth take up when the ICE cuts in is unique to this type of powertrain. The power distribution matched with the cv gearbox means the car is always in the right gear at the right time and is the easiest car to drive bar non. Its quirky with little,party,tricks like monitoring the Battery power and deciding to start the ICE on its own if the,battery needs a boost. When you turn the ignition off dont expect tnat the car is asleep,its not you often hear electrical gizmos clicking and whiring away in the background minutes after the door has been closed and you walk away. Its as if the car lives.

Any Lexus with an Rx badge is a great car but if,you are tempted by the 400H and buy one I am sure,it would not dissapoint.

Chris

Bob146 · January 29, 2015

Hi Christopher

Now that is my kinda post - great repect to the more tecky responses but I bought the 300 as a second car - mainly for the toys ride and build quality!

As a result of all the help i have received I have changed my thinking on MPG improvements (great comment earlier h is a plus and not a reason to buy)

so better get saving my dosh and go out and upgrade to a 4/450 h

kind regards

Bob

Paddy Dzell · January 29, 2015

Not sure if this adds anything to the discussion, but I bought my first Lexus RX 400H last March.

Typical journeys are a 20 mile commute each way through Lincolnshire's windy roads, plus the occasional traffic jam and motorway jaunt.

Never been below 33.3 mpg since I got it and during the warmer weather was 33.6.

Just sayin' ! ;-)

Pooh-Bear · January 29, 2015

Back from my 320 mile round trip. After refuelling I have just calculated my MPG and I get 29.5 (the car says 29.8 so near as damn it!). That was M! (with the 50 MPH restrictions), A43 (with the multiple roundabouts) and A34..... and back again. The MPG was improved by some of the slower & standstill traffic and I was driving carefully (keeping in the Eco area as much as possible) - but not slowly. Not bad, certainly better than my urban trips.

ColinBarber · January 29, 2015

Urban should always be better than motorway in a hybrid unless it is very short runs. Requires a change in driving technique to get the best out of it - not just avoiding hard acceleration but when at cruising speed lifting off and then pressing the accelerator down gently to maintain speed which will trigger the use of electric power.

Bob146 · February 2, 2015

Hi All

As i suggested I would respond following my motorway trip I drove from (very) central London yesterday to Derby.

My AV MPG screen told me I had completed the journey at 28.1 MPG

On the motorway I tried to keep the speed around 75 and used the cruise control whenever possible. - Those who know the M1 at the moment will know there are roadwoeks for a considerable distance in Northamptonshire where it is a 50 limit. 1st time I have had the benefit of setting the cruise at 50 - so speed didnt creep up and turn me into speed cam fodder

saw a few shiny RX's around centrel Londen of varying age all of which were h - not unsuprising really.

I am not bragging about the MPG but I was satisfied.....