Lexass RX 400h

[Tomtation]

Morning all, thinking of replacing the Venga of boredom with one of these, Lexus RX 400h. 3.3 hybrid motor that does 35 mpeegeees, tax aint bad and 260 horses. WCPGW?

Anyone know anything about them? Only issues i can see that are common are rusty resr arches and fuel filler necks. Batteries are supposed to outlive the car and the engine is supposed to be the cliched bulletoroof.

[wuvvum]

Have a look in the Modern Shite thread - I believe Spottedlaurel has something similar. 

[loserone]

@Spottedlaurel's are quite new, I'm guessing from RX400h that it's a 15 year old one you're looking at.  Again, there are a few out here though.  When I bought my Legacy I was looking for a RX300, and a few folks piped up then with helpful input.  Generally they seem to be excellent cars, still would.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Last year I collided with one (it was about eight years old), and the whole front moulding fell off.

[jumpingjehovahs]

I’ve got a 2010 RX450h with 105,000 miles. Batteries remain in good health and it’s pretty robust. The MPG is good, but not a consistent 35 good.

Over on the Lexus Forum the 400s very popular cars.

There’s a lot of similarities between the 450 and 400 and I’ve given both a go. They’re both comfortable, smooth, quiet things and have plenty of space inside.

They’re very popular for export, so if you buy one of the older ones which are
Just avoid air suspension as it’s a pain in the hoop and many cars with it have been converted to springs. I have air and have recently developed a worrying creak which is making me nervous.

There’s plenty of them out there with full Lexus Service History too, so that’s always worth looking out for.

I found this video/channel useful when shopping.

Not sure how helpful that ramble was, but I hope you get one. They’re great cars!


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[Tomtation]

Ta all, will have a rekky at the video.

Always been wary of air suspension, IIRC only the top spec SE-L had it? Will avoid, Got the BX GT for super comfort trips anyhoo. Likely looking at a 5k budget as it'll be the family car, so 2005 to 2007 with around 100,000 miles, they all look very smart so service history, brake and tyre condition will win. Also want a dark grey one, not that i'm fussy or anything.

carswithnoreservereading, that I know and love, have one on ebay and it is CHEAP, looks slightly tatty compared with the others I've perved at online and also 230,000miles! It needs brakes and tyres according to MOT history. I'm sure I read somewhere these have special electrically controlled brakes, not sure if they are DIYable or require special shit. Will have an internet womble now work is quiet, but anyone on here done their RX 400h brakes and lived?

[jumpingjehovahs]

Dark grey is the winners choice imo



The brakes are just normal brakes (I think) but there’s some regenerative braking in there from the hybrid motors. I was initially told only a main dealer should do the brakes (so discs and pads all round cost me over £600 ) but after the fact I spoke to a mechanic when it was getting tyres (they like tyres) and he said he could’ve done it. Your mileage may vary, but the Lexus forum has some useful tips on that too.


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[Tomtation]

Looking good ? Although I confess to preferring the 400h over the 450h looks-wise.

Post browsing it seems the dealer is required to reset codes or some other electrical wizardry if the brakes are bled, or if the ECU detects the brake fluid system has been 'opened'. Otherwise it looks like a reasonably normal set-up with pads and discs.

 

[jumpingjehovahs]

Looks wise, I agree with you. The 450 has quite an unfortunate chin. A 400 especially in red or olive green is a thing of beauty.

Can’t wait to see what you end up with! They’re fantastic cars.


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[Tomtation]

Ooh Olive green, now that sounds rather lovely. Not seen one in that colour, or red. They all seem to be silver, with some dark greys and a very occasional dark blue.

Quite tempted by the very cheap one as a WBOD (currently £1550, <2 hours left) to see if it fits us, then sell and invest in a better one with lower mileage etc. The OH is quite excited, which is nice, usually couldn't give a flying fuck! The only car that has met approval was my X300 XJ6 a couple of years ago, from the same seller as this cheap 400h funnily enough. An omen perhaps?

[jumpingjehovahs]

That is SUPER cheap! It is a shame it’s silver but they’re so rare in a colour. I’ve seen one red one, that I almost bought but was pipped you the post and 2 in this Olivey green colour. Good luck if you’ve bid on the silver one!




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[Tomtation]

Oh fuck, what have i done...

[loserone]

£1750 is really good value if it's in good nick

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 minute ago, loserone said:

£1750 is really good value if it's in good nick

Hopefully the front moulding won't fall off  ...

[Tomtation]

21 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Hopefully the front moulding won't fall off  ...

That would be a bonus!

[Spottedlaurel]

I like my 450. As it drives a little differently to other things it's an interesting and involving experience learning how to get the best out of it (be that performance, economy, or just relaxed wafting).

The way the engine and electric propulsion merges together is very clever, it's not always obvious when the engine cuts in and out. I'm sure a 400 will offer a similar experience.

Theft of the cat seems to be a big issue with them at present, certainly around London.

There are one or two locally in dark blue, they look good.

[loserone]

On 11/20/2019 at 9:18 PM, Tomtation said:

Oh fuck, what have i done...

Have you collected it yet?

[Tomtation]

Collection over the weekend, will be my 1st collection thread!

I heard of the CAT theft of hybrids on the radio, luckily we live in rural somerset but may have a lookie at anti theft jobbies as the OH and I do trundle up to that there London every now and then for a dirty weekend ?

[loserone]

RX should be big enough for a dirty weekend in the back, no need to go to Londonium

[Tadhg Tiogar]

26 minutes ago, Tomtation said:

Collection over the weekend, will be my 1st collection thread!

I heard of the CAT theft of hybrids on the radio, luckily we live in rural somerset but may have a lookie at anti theft jobbies as the OH and I do trundle up to that there London every now and then for a dirty weekend ?

Friend's wife had the cat stolen from hers a few weeks ago. It was parked at home,  she was in, and never heard a thing. 

[loserone]

They're pretty quiet

This one was a smooth take: https://autoweek.com/article/wait-theres-more/watch-pit-crew-parts-thieves-steal-exhaust-prius

[Tomtation]

So cheap £1750 Lexus refused, we will now look at proper, normal priced examples! That means we'll have to sell the Venga first, so hold your collective breath and keep your socks up for the surely scintillating advert that will appear at a time sometime maybe tomorrow.

Opinion of the car generally though was quite nice, it shifted very well for a car of its size, by the time you've floored it, grinned like a child and lifted off I was doing 45! Made a good noise too when floored, otherwise was very very quiet, even the shit example test driven today. The SE model had plenty of toys, although this one didn't have cruise control (unless I missed it) so will look out for that in the future. Quite excited about getting one now, shame most of them seem to be fecking miles away!

Avoiding the SE-L with air suspension, biege leather and silver colour really reduces the choice. but these four are local enough and look good:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-RX400H-3-3-SE-CVT-HYBRID-FULL-SERVICE-HISTORY-RECENT-SERVICE-MOT/163944535954?hash=item262bdb1792:g:gYUAAOSwKz5dyAUc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-RX-400H-SE-F-S-H-Just-Serviced-Clean-Example/254427661387?hash=item3b3d12044b:g:xakAAOSw~MZd1PGG

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-56-LEXUS-RX-3-3-400H-SE-CVT-5D-AUTO-208-BHP/323941189553?hash=item4b6c6647b1:g:R~cAAOSwovFdm8~U

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-RX-400h-3-3-SE-CVT/193098023030?hash=item2cf58a0076:g:aPsAAOSw6S9dejYB

[GBJ]

Reason for refusal?

 

Ignore this. Just seen collection thread.

Edited November 23, 2019 by GBJ