GSLV6

Thanks Ed. Yes, he's a big beast. Poor quality photo attached. When I asked if he'd have any issues jumping into the high back of an RX, the owner told me that he was photographed jumping a 5-bar gate the other week. That wasn't what impressed...it was the fact he did that and happened to have a fox in his mouth at the time! I'll be using him as a working dog so will be adding a dog cage to prevent mud splatter! I'll look at a mesh one I think as it will prevent toothy access to leather!

No, they cannot refuse as: 1) legally, the burden of proof lies with them and not you and ; 2) Under the Consumer Rights Act you are entitled to a full refund within 30 days if you are not satisfied with the vehicle irrespective of a fault being proved or not. To exercise that, all you need do is write to them and state that you are not satisfied with the car and under the Act, are returning it for a full refund minus they're reasonable loss due to any mileage being put on the vehicle. This can be calculated as the likely devaluation plus their reasonable administration costs, with the emphasis on "Reasonable". This may cost a few hundred pounds at most. Any more than that, and small claims court beckons... If they then refuse the refund, you can take them to court (or threaten to) and you will win the case and they will be lumbered with all the legal costs. They know this, so there's positive motivation not to mess you about and simply refund you.

We may be taking in a large working dog (German Wire Haired Pointer) which needs re-homing for tragic personal issues within the family that currently has him. Whilst the RX has loads of room for the dog in the back, I'm wondering if any of you have tried one of the various Ebay-sold dog guards and if some are better than others? The Lexus ones are just silly money and we won't be going there. The dog is a powerful beast, and I would be afraid of any leather damage from claws or boisterous chewing! Any recommendations gratefully received but was thinking of something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-RX450H-HEADREST-MESH-DOG-GUARD-/262846929333?hash=item3d32e5d9b5:g:45AAAOSwCGVYBm7f Would prefer a full length one to protect the back of the seats though.

It's down to the tyres though. Range Rovers are great off road with the right tyres and certainly better than the RX. I think that people's expectations with the RX need to consider tyre choice. If you live in a rural area and do need some regular off road ability, then the standard Dunlop 270's wont be of much use. All I know is that mine was next to useless in a boggy wet field with those tyres fitted although it did get me out again with careful throttle control. Some others have not been so lucky in their cars!

Boggy fields, slopes and lots of slippery mud = stuck RX. Snow mode won't help in those situations but all weather or country tyres probably would. I think that the permanent AWD RX350 with off road tyres probably would fare better but who knows. I'll be keeping it on the tarmac from now on

Today, I tried a little off-roading in the 450. Not because I'm mentally deficient you understand, but because I had no real choice... The route to my target club was out as a rail crossing I normally take is closed, so I was forced along a 2 mile rutted track, and onto the range. On arrival, I re-adjusted my spine, and picked up what remained of my fillings, now liberally scattered across the floor....(F-sports belong on tarmac!) It was obvious that the previous few nights heavy rainfall had taken their toll, and rather than lug all my kit across the field, I tippy-toed the RX off the track and onto the rough and bumpy.....and exceptionally muddy field! The moral of this story, is when tempted, don't do it unless in the dry! I managed to get 50 yards before coming to a slippery halt with all 4 wheel spinning and not a lot happening. Careful use of the throttle and some back and forth motion got me going again, so I turned around and made my way back up onto the track. With cross country tyres, it might have been ok. With road tyres, it was just silly. Meanwhile, those in Landcruisers, Jeeps and Freelanders waltzed across without a care in the world.

Your statutory rights are not affected irrespective of how you paid. You are fully protected under the Consumer Rights Act, but as you already note, must return the car within 30 days of purchase (which starts from the day offer and acceptance are made, ie leaving a deposit). The Act states that you are entitled to a replacement or repair, or that you can reject the car; The dealer can though make a deduction (which must be fair and reasonable) for the first 30 days use of the car. You need to write to the dealer and state that you are rejecting the car, not that you wish to have it repaired, and he must, by law, refund you minus any deduction. Failure to do so and he can be taken to court. It is not necessary for you to prove the fault if wishing for a repair instead. In that case, it is for the dealer to prove that the fault wasn't there at time of purchase. Such proof would have to be incontrovertible. Unlike the Sale of Goods Act pertaining to commercial dealers, the above Consumer Rights Act also applies to cars sold privately.

Horses for courses but I actually found the 3RX more comfortable than the 4GS450h (Luxury spec). I simply didn't get on with the newer, firmer and shorter seating of the gen 4 GS nor the firmer ride. I also found the newer GS to be a little more unsettled over slightly rough road surfaces than the slightly softer sprung Gen3. I came from a Gen3 GS which I much preferred and thought a more refined drive over the newer versions, and far from "handling like a boat" as someone remarked quite a few posts back, it was a very sure footed and safe handling car. Seating on that arguably had the edge over the RX, but having covered many hundreds of miles this past month in the RX F-Sport, I've found the seating superb. It is supportive and makes you feel more like you're sat in, rather than on the seating. It is more cosseting. I've had rear passengers fall asleep, and the reclining seats are a great bonus for them along with improved leg room. Must admit, I couldn't get on with the Luxury spec RX. The F-sport handling makes all the difference for me, and cross-country, I doubt that with a hurry-on, there'd be any real world advantage with the GS save for fuel economy of the hybrid versions. I actually reckon that the 4RX F-soprt out-handles the Gen 3 GS (NOT so the Luxury spec RX!). It ceratinly corners flat and with 4 wheel drive to help, has a traction advantage under power.

I'm not sure that I understand that John, as my car cannot be used in EV to move cars about on a driveway for example, unless the engine is first warm. It does not work from a cold engine on my car, as I get the message "EV not available. Engine warming up". Where I do use it is when in slow moving traffic coming through town, I depress the EV button and glide along on electric. The engine eventually has to recharge the battery but the battery never gets much below half charge before the engine cuts in anyway, so there's always enough left in the battery to assist forward motion, EV or not, when the engine does kick in. All that happens is that the engine recharges the battery until it's past the half way mark again before I can use EV. It has limited range, but I've found that using it definitely does help increase fuel economy.

For once, it seemed that there was no initial bias, and the review was very balanced. The more annoying aspects of some of the controls were flagged up, which seemed to mirror what a lot of owners think in general (mouse thingy for example). It seemed to handle better than the RC-F tested previously and the noise from the exhausts was fab. Still not an LFA, but few cars are. I hope that Lexus decide to produce a new electric hybrid V8 or V10 supercar, even if it's a limited 100 built or something. Was also surprised that the M5 was rated a better road car, again, the complete opposite of what I'd have expected. Who'd have thunk it? A Lexus being the more focused track vehicle!

It feels like a bit of a con unless you re-tune your mind to remind yourself that this is a petrol V6 which uses hybrid recovery of energy to help offset petrol costs, rather than a straight EV type vehicle. The EV is nothing more than a delicate tool to be used when conditions are optimal (eg on the flat or downhill, to run on electric for half a mile or so before the engine and hybrid recovery kick in to recharge the batteries). It's very unlike the plug in EVs in this respect as they can be run quite hard on acceleration. A neighbour's family member has a plug in Fiesta, and she can rocket off in that on electric only. Different beast entirely. It's a mindset challenge when acquiring one of these for the first time!

In your position, I would be doing the same thing Jamie. Seems like too much of a risk judging by the possible history.

I had the same issue with mine. No parts may be needed, as if it's the latch not closing the boot properly and intermittent, then it's possible that it's an issue with the ECU controls for the boot. There's a connection to a relay or switch which should be triggered when the boot is most of the way closed, to operate the electric servo in the boot lid which then draws the latch in and locks the boot. On mine, the switch/relay wasn't having the signal sent to it so the boot wouldn't close. They simply re-flashed the ECU or something and it cured the problem. Took them all of 10 or 15 minutes when they realised what the fault was. Could be worth them looking at this. I wouldn't accept the need for parts to be changed unless they can show proof of the fault is related to a faulty part. There seems a trend for many garages just to replace parts as a way of easy (for them) fault diagnosis at the customer's expense these days and I wouldn't have that on any of my vehicles.

I managed about 27mpg average with my 2007 GS300, and 38mpg on the motorway which I thought was superb for such a large car/engine. I'm beginning to realise with the RX that it's all about mass. As soon as you start lugging that 2.2 tonnes up hills, it drinks fuel, and I live in a particularly hilly area. On the motorway, the electric motors don't contribute much if anything at 70mph, so it's down to a 3.5 V6 petrol pushing a large frontal area, hence I wouldn't expect the economy I got from the GS which was lower, lighter and more slippery through the air. The RX over a month has now returned an average of 28mpg and a best on one run of 44mpg. As Rayaans says, once the air temperature drops, you soon notice a big difference with the RX. Mine is only a month old to me and 3 weeks of that have been in very cold conditions, hence denser air into a big engine = lower economy but more power. I don't seem to do well through town, as my EV seems very temperamental. Even if I have plenty of charge, often it refuses to go into EV mode, even when the engine's warm and speed kept below 27mph. Show it anything over a slight incline and the engine kicks in. It's really annoying to keep having to fiddle and press the EV button to constantly try and keep in in EV mode around town, so I hardly bother anymore and just leave it on the standard setting which defaults mostly to electric anyway at low speed and where low torque is needed. It also defaults to engine if you show the EV mode more than even a hint of acceleration. A pedestrian walking from standstill-type-pace seems enough to bring up the "excessive acceleration" message! I will be at my Lexus garage this week for another minor issue to be sorted so will talk to them about that then to see if this is normal.

Well, as mileage grows, my average is slowly climbing up. Best cross-country has been close to 44mpg now (so official figures CAN be had if on the flat!) and overall average is 28.5. We have a lot of hills here though and from cold, it's fuel-sapping no matter what you drive. Our 2 litre Merc diesel estate managed about 36mpg overall and 32 to 36 locally so not lot better. I've noticed that keeping speeds between 65 and 70 om motorways gets best economy. Over 70 makes a big difference!

I almost did book a test drive of a 2012 LS460, and did have a sit in one and a good look around with a view to buying. The best word to describe it was "sumptuous". The one I looked at was in metallic black with privacy glass, ivory interior with every gadget except rear entertainment pack. New cost was probably north of £80K. It was on the forecourt for about £28K. Now that's devaluation! What put me off it were several things. Firstly, boot space (that old chestnut again). You don't buy something like an LS to moan about lack of space, and it's not the sort of car I'd spoil with roof bars and a roof box! Their just wasn't enough boot space for us. It was surprisingly tiny for such a lrage car. Two sets of golf clubs would probably have filled it. The other two off putting aspects were fuel economy (claimed 24mpg...actual probably in the teens) and HUGE running costs compared with say an older LS400 which would still be the one I'd like to own oddly enough! I reckon you'd have to double your running costs (or more) over a Mk3 or Mk4GS. Big car, big bills and later ones do seem to have had their reliability niggles like all large complex luxury saloons, which may partly suggest why so many relatively recent examples (say under 6 years old) have such wicked devaluation. That, and compared with a used S-Class of similar spec, and the S class starts to look like a relative bargain (I wouldn't go there personally, as Merc reliability and build quality simply isn't what it once was). In that market, I'd rather take time and hunt out a minty LS400. We ended up with an RX, and I think this bridges the gap between the GS and LS in some ways (with less gadgets though), such as the room, comfort and refinement but with lower running costs. The seating position I found took a bit of faffing around with to get comfortable, but once set, I could sit in it all day now (and may have to next week!). I find the opposite with seats using lost of adjustment. The more, the better as each person can more accurately tailor it to their needs, then hit the memory button to make sure it stays where they work out the best setting. I preferred the 3GS 10-way seats to the 8-way RX ones, but tbh, the softer RX seats are fine and better than most. The RX has so far, for us, been an enjoyable drive and a pleasure to be in. The largest annoyance has been the poor fuel economy.

The GS is a lovely car, a great place to be in and drive. The only problem with hybrid models is boot space, although for most people it's adequate and there are roof bars and roof boxes if needed for holidays etc. I agree with you James. I've owned both and currently drive the RX. It's not as smooth on bumpy surfaces or refined feeling as the GS due to firmer suspension to cope with the 2.2 tonne mass (F-Sport model). As a driver's car for enthusiastic driving, the GS was more enjoyable, although it still reminded you through some detachment from the road, that this was not its natural state, as it is more about being wafted to your destination in refinement. I really thought that the MK3 GS had the edge on refinement (as a drive) over the 4GS mainly because wheel sizes and profiles plus suspension all added to a firmer ride with the newer model, plus I preferred the older 6 speed auto to the CVT. The GS I had for several years had a character about it that was almost human in it's traits! It reminded me of a posh butler (not that I'd know) which turned it's nose up at vulgar noise or unrefined driving and rewarded smooth driving with the sort of journey that left you as fresh on arrival as when you set out, even over long distances. It was reassuring in road manners, spacious, quiet and never made a fuss. "would sir like to overtake?....no problem...." several seconds later you were gently but firmly whisked past offending traffic with surprising yet refined urge that never and the engine screaming blue murder. It was effortless (3.0 V6). The GS450h that I drove made a little more fuss noise-wise due to the CVT transmission in such situations. On a day to day basis, I preferred my non-hybrid 3.0V6 by some margin but that had to be balanced by the lower fuel economy (the Mk3 did 27mpg average although motorway runs saw 38) and higher taxation costs, plus increased service items due to age. On the whole, the comparison between IS and GS, to me, is that the GS is a "grown up" IS with more room, more refinement, and in the case of the 450, more performance. It retains some, but not all of the best aspects of the Mk3 GS300, and for refinement and comfort, it's as good as anything on the market at the price and probably a lot more reliable. The RX shares more in common with the GS than the IS...a lot more. It is higher (obviously) but the advantages and the experience of being higher up are not apparent until you drive one, and is a strong draw with its good all round visibility and road presence. It has good performance for such a large car, and in real world terms and not brochure figures, out-paces a surprising number of vehicles. From a standstill the acceleration is almost breathtaking for a 2 tonne monster and I think betters the older GS300 to 60. It is very large though and would become a pain in the derriere for regular town driving as the length and the width preclude it from many parking spaces, if you wanted the side panels to remain un-dented or scratched by the more thoughtless (and sadly plentiful) car park users. The NX would be a better town SUV if you needed the space that the GS lacks in the boot department, especially as the seats fold down. The RX has cavernous boot space, almost 1.8 cubic metres with seats down. It is very refined to drive, and like the GS, it wafts you to your destination in luxurious comfort. It is a more expensive proposition to run as it average less mpg and decent tyres can set you back a few hundred a corner. It is a mnore detached drive which makes you feel like every journey is like a simulation where the requirement is to arrive silently, saving fuel (using a smooth driving style) and in total comfort. It is genuinely calming and you feel less wound up or threatened by the behaviour of other road users because driving it is such a pleasure, that speed is irrelevant in some ways, as it's the journey that matters. Rear passengers especially benefit with great legroom and no transmission tunnel plus reclining seats. Horses for courses. If you want to chose on a general run about in urban settings and need more space potential than the IS or GS has, the RX would be my choice. If you do a lot of commuting and mixed driving, the GS300 or 450h would be my pick. For young families, the GS or the RX. For load lugging, some off road potential and shear practicality, the RX wins hands down without sacrificing too much in performance for things like overtakes. They're all different but in some ways complementary choices (ie GS and RX V's IS and NX). They're all smart choices given you pick the right one for your needs. You're unlikely to be disappointed whatever your choice.

Wow...some dealers take the biscuit with their pricing! £730 excluding tips and fitting seems very steep. I know that Lexus set a lot of these prices and that with some parts (eg TPMS valves) there's not much in it for the dealers, but a price differential of close to £300 for the exact same part shows a little too much greed on the part of some.

I bought a rubber boot protector from Ebay for about £47 delivered and it fits exactly. Well worth having. Looks like a tidy RX, enjoy! (is that a metallic Polar White?) If, like me, you're a little surprised with poor fuel economy, it 's a bit of an education with these as they deliver the reverse of what you'd expect of a smaller non-hybrid, in that best mileage seems to come from medium speed cross country where the hybrid operates frequently, and around town, and worst from motorway runs and A-road runs, where the speeds mean it's on the petrol engine all the time (or most of it). Get used to that side of things and it'll start to feel like a favourite pair of slippers in no time!

Yes, good point. Tax is currently £495 for all post 2006 models I believe.

I think that they changed the "modes" between models Edward. With the 3RX, "normal" is just the start up mode, "Eco" has to be enabled via a button on the steering wheel, as does "Sport" which is also only available of F-Sport/Premium models. Eco just switches things like air conditioning off to save a little more on fuel, especially from cold, but as you inevitably need to to de-humidify the windscreen these cold mornings, AC just ends up being used anyway.

Yes, I know that it runs as a 3.5l without batteries at motorway speeds, but was comparing it with your figures as you said you'd achieved 35mpg. If yours is a 4RX, I'd understand and say that's about right as an expectation of the differences between the two. If yours was a 3RX, then there's something amiss!

A GS300 is possibly....no, definitely the very best car I've ever run in my life. Go for a tidy low miles Mk3 and you'll have change from £6K and a car that will run on for years with good economy compared with an RX, possibly better comfort, certainly better road manners, better performance and more excitement behind the wheel if and when you want to use it. Oh....it ought to be reliable too with the main niggles being limited to exhaust and shock absorber replacements, usually within 80 to 90K miles, sometimes sooner. Besides this, they are genuinely bomb proof and the real gems in the Lexus used line up....imho anyway.

Given your location, I'd say you're doing well! I'll have to re-visit the basics as I'm not at all happy with 31.5 on Motorway trips, where speeds are between 65 and 70mph. With the GS, having a lower profile meant it mattered less on speed and it delivered great economy on motorway mile munches.

Forgot to ask other RX owners if I may, what you are getting in real world combined driving, plus also motorway only? Is it possible to also have two other bits of info?: 1. Tyre pressures being run and 2) whether you're getting best results in ECO, Normal or Sports modes? (or does it matter at all in fact?). I use the EV whenever possible, brake gently and early, pulse and glide where possible, avoid accelerating when going up hills, and build speed up gently when on the flat. Whatever I do, mixed driving in 10 plus miles is mid-30's if I'm lucky and longer cross country, about 37, but M-way is never more than 31 to 33 depending on gradient. If this all sounds low, then perhaps there's a running issue that I need to address with Lexus, but when I mentioned mpg after shortly picking up the car, the usual party line of "book figures are never achievable" was All I could get from them. I'm not daft, and know that, but real word overall average of 28 to 31mpg seems pretty poor.