Spacewagon52

The best hybrid driving technique for economy seems be to get up to speed, come off the throttle and then very gently, just reengage the throttle. It will run on electric only. Of course it depends on the road conditions, if you are travelling uphill the ICE will kick in quicker. I enjoyed watching this review below. Not everything he says I agree with and I am not sure about some of his assertions. But I thought it was a good review. He has done one on the 450h but I have not seen that one yet.

Before I get chastised by Royoftherovers, I HAVE read this part of the manual! Question: The gear selector has "B" for engine braking - when you are descending a steep hill. When "B" is engaged, does it charge the hybrid battery more than just gentle braking or "coasting" with no throttle? The 450h does not have "B" - how does that perform engine braking?

To me it sounds like a lion growling - I like it! The way the electric motors and battery work with the ICE automatically is amazing. You have to listen hard to work out when the engine kicks in. Kicks in is the wrong word as you can't feel anything.

The $1,000 question! Which car do I prefer to drive? Well at present ….... to be honest …...... the RX 300! BUT it is early days with the 400h and the gain in economy is very welcome psychologically. The technology is amazing and I am very pleased with the added economy. I can stomach 30 mpg – but 22 mpg – time will tell!

Looking the car over again, I think that one of the rear brake calipers is stuck (common fault) as the brake disc is quite rusty, where the opposite back wheel disc is shiny. Will have that checked. Economy in mpg is far better than my 300 by some margin. Locally I get 22 mpg from the 300, even if I drive like Miss Daisy. The 400 is doing over 31 mpg, so I am very pleased.

What I can't get over is how seamlessly this all happens. Unless you are listening carefully, you would not have a clue which part is working. The energy monitor can be addictive and is a safety hazard! Don't look while driving! Get the wife to do constant read outs … he he! It is driving her crazy! I am still ploughing through the manual and do expect to find new things! The reversing camera and reversing sensors are wonderful. Not worked out how to engage the front sensors yet. Get up to speed and then take your foot off the throttle - car begins to charge battery. Press VERY gently and Electric only will be engaged Brake gently and the electric motors, via dynamos (?) put energy back into the hybrid battery to be used again!

Yellow is power from the electric motor to the wheels and battery Orange is ICE power to wheels and electric motor. Blue is regenerative charging from the dynamos (?) to the hybrid battery as you coast with no throttle.

The CVT gearbox has been criticised by some, as the revs do go high when accelerating fast, but the sound is not hard on my ears. You do hear odd noises from the engine and electric motors but that is normal – nothing wrong here! Braking is odd, as you brake gently at a junction you can hear the whine of the dynamo (?) regenerating energy into the battery. When you lift off the accelerator the engine stops and the hybrid battery is charging as the car slows.

It is surreal when you first experience this, compared to driving the 300. After purchase I filled it up and drove home between 60 to 70 mph. Over 210 miles (on Google maps not the trip) it used 27 litres of petrol. Worked out at 36 mpg! Compared to 25 mpg in the 300. The acceleration is like hitting warp speed if you put your foot down. RX 300 0-60 9 seconds RX400h 0-60 7.6 seconds The torque from the electric motors is immediate.

Starting the car. Turn on the ignition so dash lights up, then turn again. NOTHING! I thought it was broken ….... silence but on the dash it said said “Ready” You can't do anything unless the gear lever is in P. Gear selector into D – nothing, no noise, parking brake off and she glides away in silence until you press the accelerator and the engine seamlessly starts and you detect a very quiet engine noise! I appreciate for you lads who have had a hybrid, this is BORING! But for the uninitiated (me) it is a revelation! Photo below STATIONARY - no noise - silence ...... is it broken? It says Ready! Read for waht?

1) I tried the MAGIC WINDOW TRICK – YES! IT WORKED! All auto now! This forum is amazing! 2) Intermittent wiper …............. to my embarrassment I had it on auto …..... works only when there is enough rain to activate the rain sensor! My RX 300 does not have this feature. What a plonker! But it NOW works on manual as well! RESULT! My remote on the 300 does not work so I use the key …. habit …. 400h alarm went off!

I have already mentioned above, in a previous post, the small flaws I found when viewing the car. Pictures below! And as my mantra, I expected to find a few more! 1. On driver's door all windows are auto but the driver's window is only manual! Intermittent wiper does not work! Possible rear brake calliper seized/sticking Now before John (RoyoftheRovers) gets on his keyboard, I have started to read the owner's manual!

That is where the similarities end. The 400h is a totally different beast to the 300. My test drive was the first time I had ever driven a hybrid. For those of you who have never driven a hybrid, at first, it is a surreal experience. Comparisons with driving a 300 end here, as it is a totally different driving experience. Better? Well, that is an individual question you must ask yourself. The instrument and switch layouts are very different to my RX 300, as my 300 does not have the facelift screen and reversing camera.

RX 400h 2008 SE-L – 50,000 miles First Impressions and Faults! It is very hard to compare this car directly with my RX 300. Firstly I much prefer the colour combination of my RX 300 – blue (grey on the V5!) with cream interior. Overall this 400h is not as immaculate as my 300 but everything is present. The silver looks good and does not show up slight body imperfections scratches / small marks etc. as a dark colour would. I can live with the black interior as there is plenty of silver bling to brighten it up. Apart from colour, the cars look identical from the outside.

It did happen! Though I wish it had not! Another story, nothing to do with the car!

Drool! They are beautiful cars.

This is NOT a car forum! It is Star Trek!

Wow! That is brave! You guys are amazing!

Bart, your GS stolen?

I suppose we need to do the maths to find out if it is viable. Sadly these cars are now dinosaurs regarding the environment. The government will tax them off the road eventually. I believe 2006 or 2007 is the key year when the road tax took a hike. Interestingly my hybrid 400h is only £25 cheaper than my RX 300 2004 vs 2008.

Does anyone know of a website that has a database of new car prices through the years? For example: How much was a new LS 400 in 1998? How much was a Ford Escort in 1972? If you can point me in the right direction - even if it is just for Lexus. Thanks David

You are quite right Michael, they are relatively cheap and I considered one, as it has the more modern 3.5 litre engine. I just could not stomach paying £580 Road Tax each year. Nearly double what I pay for my 2004 RX 300. I do appreciate you can make the figures work in reality, when you take into consideration the initial cost of a 450h and the depreciation. I have JUST been bowled a curved ball by my daughter! My fault entirely! I should have thought things through regarding her potential running costs of the RX 300. She no longer wants the RX 300! So I am now on the horns of a dilemma! I have FOUR cars sitting on the drive (fortunately my drive is large enough) and I need only two! I need a strong cup of coffee and a LONG think now! Buy in haste ............. repent in leisure! Watch this space ........... one or two cars may be up for sale! Gordon Bennett!

I would not touch that with a barge pole to be honest.

Sorry Mike. I know how upset I was when my Labradors, Harry and Phoebe, died. After that I said I would not have another dog, as it was so painful. We were without a dog for 18 months and my wife could not stand it. We now have another Lab - Ludo - who drives me crackers at times but we love him to bits. When the world p***.es you off and people get on your nerves, you can always come home to a wonderful greeting from a dog.

Well it is Motorline!