Used 2008 Lexus RX 400h SUV Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Great Hybrid SUV
Loved this car from the minute we bought it new. Nearing 80,000 miles and no complaints! Only some paint chips on door edges. Not buying a new one though. Don't like the new design and new screens. No more touch screens - uses a mouse! OMG! They went backwards!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love Hate Relationship
I have had my RXh for 4 months and I love it, and I hate it. It is comfortable, safe, easy to drive, quiet, stunning Levinson audio system and more but mine has problems with the regeneration. My regeneration worked perfect until the battery pack showed fully charged. Ever since then the regen works about 60% of the time. Two dealers have looked at it and found nothing. Now I have video proof I will take in this week to see how they will ignore my issue. If you get 19-22 mpg in the city your regen is also not working well. When it is working and you drive responsibly you will get 27 in the city. The RXh is wonderful and smooth and safe, but I bought a hybrid and expect it to work.
- Base Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $9,90047 mi away
- Base Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,984204 mi away
- Base Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,684204 mi away
Wonderful Car
My RX 400h has been the very best, most reliable vehicle I have owned; buying my first car in 1967. Gas mileage has been super, averaging 28.5 MPG since day one. it is solid, very comfortable, has lots of power and a joy to drive. I recommend this car to anyone who wants a quality, energy efficient hybrid!
I bought it used...
I purchased the car three weeks ago with 127k miles on it. It has clearly had very good care taken of it and is in excellent condition. It is hard to believe that a car can have 127k miles on it, and still look, drive, ride and feel like this one. I am very used to Toyota's hybrid system as we have had 5 Prius in the past. Yes, they are much smaller and get amazing mileage, and I know how to squeeze every mile out of a gallon of gas with a hybrid. But I am not getting quite the mileage I was hoping for out of this RX. I am averaging in the mid 20's range. Not bad, but could be a little better. The technology, body construction, interior finishes and running gear on the car are all nothing short of amazing. It is definitely the nicest care I have ever owned. I'm hoping to drive it a a couple hundred thousand more miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Holding steady at 170xxx 24mpg avg
So my RX400h has reached 150xxx, things are starting to go bad like wear out, after all it is now 10 years old (2008 model). Regular scheduled maintenance has been done like water pump and belt at 70000 etc. The front shocks and struts changed at 148000 . The stereo ML amplifier is on its last leg, it cuts out a lot rendering the sound system inoperable (no music)at 145000. The telescopic steering wheel quit at 149000, Lexus dealer said the upper column has to be changed 149000. Id say about $3000. Should get it all fixed but at this mileage it would be a loss since the resale value isn’t there. Engine and the CVT transmission is holding up very well with excellent performance and no fluid leaks .
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Excellent Vehicle
I bought this vehicle with 64K miles on it. Now I have 102K. My worse tank was 24mpg and the best was 29.25mpg. I seem to average between 25 and 27.50 with mixed driving. High speed highway (75-84) is only around 22. When I get the higher mileage it's usually when most of the driving is at lower speeds as you would expect. I noticed a review of this vehicle by someone stating poor mileage. There was either something wrong with the vehicle or it was due to poor driving habits. Way too many people blast up to the light and hit the brakes. Then they hit the gas hard taking off. Dumb-de-dumb. If you use softer driving habits you will get 26-28. You have to be thinking hybrid. Smart drivers will see the good mileage. Navigation works well with two exceptions. First is it's incredibly dumb that a passenger can not program the vehicle while the car is in motion. Second is the warning notice which displays for 5 or 6 seconds everytime you hit the NAV button. There should be a way to stop it from doing that.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Made for royalty the Lexus rx400h
This is a reliable, dependable, fuel efficient, beautiful inside and out, comfortable, dependable, reliable (it's worth to mention it twice! ). I would say that over all this is a great automobile! If you are looking for a overall a great car, buy it, you will not be sorry! This is an update after owning and using the car for a couple of years. I'm still have the same views and opinions that I've stated in my original review! After owning and using the car for at least two years, I have been offered more money for the car than I've paid for it. This has to tell you something about this excellent automobile! I love it!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The Current Logical Choice
Lexus has always been cushy rides, but definitely not on the sporty side of the equation especially since our everyday vehicles are a C230 and G35. The steering is a little vague steering into curves. Acceleration is good at all speeds, but you'll need to get used to the way the engine buzzes from the CVT. Gas mileage has averaged 27 mpg w/cruise control active even around 70 mph on the freeway. On a recent road trip on very hilly terrain we still averaged over 27 mpg, light on the gas. Brakes are a little difficult to modulate because of the regenerative system. We preferred the ML styling and driving dynamics to the RX, but so far find that the RX400h is a very nice ride indeed.
Great Vehicle, fantastic mileage
I bought this used about a month ago with only about 60 K km. (less than 40K miles) on it. After much research I decided to use only REGULAR gas in it since it seems that Premium is more about performance than fuel economy. I'll probably throw in an additive every three months or so. Having driven it about 2500 km. (about 1500 miles), I'm averaging 8.6L / 100km. which is just over 27mpg. And that's on REGULAR Gas. My 2010 2.4L 4 cyl. Hyundai Santa Fe could not even begin to to approach these numbers. Couldn't be happier because I got a great deal on a car that was just inspected by Lexus and had all the brakes done by Lexus, and is practically new. My best vehicle ever!
Gread deal on a rare find!
The reason because it's hard to find a used Lexus in this model is that they are such good and comfortable cars that who buys it, keeps it. I was lucky enough to put my hands on one of these, kept almost immaculate. Looks and runs great, I bought two years of dealer warranty in the hope that the batteries will need to be replaced soon, as they have a 10-years' expected life. The only thing I am not completely happy with is the gas mileage: in two weeks, 500 miles the average I could get to is 23 mpg (factory indicates 26/mpg), which is poor for a hybrid car. Might have to do with older batteries or my driving style. Overall, I'm very happy with my Lexus :)
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I Love This Car
This is an SUV that rides and performs like a luxury sedan. It also gets great mileage. I averaged 27 mpg for my first 1000 miles and over 30 mpg on my daily stop and go commute into Boston. I am tall and this is the first car that makes me feel comfortable getting in and out of the drivers seat. The car has every bell and whistle you could want and some you may never use. I love this car!
Great performance and mileage!
Broke this car in on a trip through the mountains. At 200 miles, it averaged 25.1 MPG, 72 MPH. Town driving at average 27 to 29 MPG. Latest trip (Interstate and mountains) averaged 26.1 MPG., again at 72 MPH. Acceleration is both excellent and fun. This is our third Lexus (2nd RX) and it's by far the best. If your gas mileage isn't AT LEAST as good as the EPA estimate, work on modifying your driving style. Build quality for this Japanese-built example is flawless, and dealer (Classic Lexus) is extremely 'hybrid knowledgeable'.
Best of the best!
I’ve got my RX 400h in 2016 with 59,000 miles on it, and it was the best purchase I’ve ever made! It’s a great car for daily commute. It looks AMAZING and it has most of the options on 2017 models! The mpg ranges around 25-31, which is fairly well for a SUV. I really recommend purchasing an RX. The difference between the 2006, 07, and 08 is that the 06 & 07 take in regular gas while the 2008 is premium. The 07 comes with the wood interior as an option. The 08 has chrome handles along with a newer navigation system. GREAT CAR!! Update: I bought another 2008 rx400h with 104k on it and it’s amazing. I would recommend a rx400h for the rest of my life!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Safety
My wife and 18 month old were just in a severe accident an run off the road into a telephone pole that completely crushed the car. My wife and baby left with only a slight bump on her head. We are going to get another one immediately. Safety is everything.
This SUV almost got us killed several times
So there is something wrong with the brake actuator in these models which will DEACTIVATE YOUR BRAKES AT ANYTIME SO BEWARE!!!! I called Lexus in July 2016 to tell them that while driving on the freeway, my ABS VCS light went on, I heard a high pitched sound that went on continuously and I lost my brakes. I was with my 8 year old daughter. She was very frightened and thought we were gonna die. I called Lexus Jim Falk Beverly Hills service department and they said this was normal. They said to just turn off the engine and wait a few minutes because the ABS needs to reset. So after this incident, it happened to me 3 more times and I just did the "normal" procedure of turning the engine off and waiting 5 minutes. But just last week, I was driving my pregnant wife to the doctor and this thing happened again and we almost hit the car in front of us. So I brought it to Longo Lexus service department immediately and they told me that my brake actuator needed to be replaced and that would cost me $4,000 to fix!!! They also told me that this is a known issue with the Lexus RX400h and that they had a campaign that replaced these for free in 2016 and this campaign had expired December 31, 2017. It is March 2018 already so obviously I can't avail of that free replacement. So I called Lexus corporate office and told them my story about losing my brakes, not knowing about the campaign, and Lexus telling me this was normal (They actually verified that phone call in their records). They said they would escalate this to the highest manager in Lexus. So now, they just got back to me saying that even with the record of that phone call to Lexus, there is NO PROOF that the car did lose its brakes because no one inspected it at that time it happened. Let me get this straight LEXUS, YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE A CAR WITH NO BRAKES TO A LEXUS DEALER WHICH IS 10 MILES AWAY??? All i could do at that time was call. And to tell me that this is a normal thing, I believed you, because YOU ARE LEXUS! So now you want me to spend $4,000 for your own mistake?? Gosh, I would never recommend a LEXUS because THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT SAFETY AT ALL!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
298,000 miles and going strong
I have 298,000 miles on my 2008 Lexus RX 400h. Got it with 114,000 for $15,900 in 2013 at a Mercedes dealership in Tysons corner VA and never had a major problem with it. Took it to Michigan and drove from Kalamazoo to Flint and back several times a week racking up miles. It’s seen the worst winters. The AWD kept me safe in a few situations. I easily could have died at least twice on the highway but this Lexus was so agile I was able to escape unscathed. I’ve just done routine oil changes, brakes and a few small other things. My Aunt and Uncle bought a new BMW and when I picked up my grandpa he said don’t tell my aunt, but my Lexus was a smoother ride. And I have to agree. This thing is like your on a cloud. And the power is instant. The only problem I’ve had is my wife likes it so much she keeps taking it to work and leaving me with the Mini Cooper. I caught her getting in on my day off and confronted her and she said she needed to make calls on the way to work and it’s so quiet. That’s her excuse I guess. Anyway love this car. I hope to hit 500,000 miles. But I hear on the internet the hybrid battery won’t last. But they also said it wouldn’t last past 200,000 and here we are. Getting my Lexus for roughly $15,000 and putting nearly 200k miles on it already is an unbelievable value. I started the Dave Ramsey plan the year after I got it and have been payment free for 6 years now. Every time I open the garage I want to give my Lexus a hug and say thank you for giving me your best years. I love this car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Lexus RX 400h Excellence
While the RX 400h comes standard with Goodyear RSA tires, it is best to negotiate for Michelin Energy MXV4 S8, b/c of ride improvement, superior wear, better gas mileage by 5% or more. Michelin Energy on the RX make a big positive difference in ride quality and quietness. Don't bother with the Mark Levinson stereo; but do opt for the built-in GPS with Bluetooth and rear view camera. Acceleration at all speeds is impressive; w/a light foot, gas mileage can be 29 mpg+ in city and on a good day 27 mpg+ on the highway w/cruise control active. Expect 25 mpg+ avg. Very nice set of wheels.
Great Investment
Having owned my RX400H now for over a year, I can say that is a fantastic vehicle to own and drive. I drive over 1000 miles a month and average 24-28 miles per gallon. If you don't get this type of mileage, you are not driving it the proper way. It took me over a month to get used to the subtle changes you need to make to maximize your fuel economy. It is so quiet for an SUV and very comfortable. Whether I am alone, with my grandchildren, or my parents, everyone raves about the comfort of the ride.
Best Car Buying Decision for us
We drive this car on bumper to bumper traffic daily about 30 miles round trip. We are averaging about 28 MPG on it. It has been a real pleasure to drive. We currently have 5000 miles on it and use it almost exclusively anytime we need to go anywhere. Has good pep and the gearless transmission is very smooth. Lexus provided the first 2 maintenance free. I looked at the book however nothing needs maintenance other than the traditional engine. The batteries are warranted for 9 years.
Lexus rx400h
I have a 2008 Lexus rx400h I have had it for about a year has to be one of the best drives around I can describe it as flawless mines done 185000 miles and drives like new. The only thing I would caution about is the catalytic converter it’s below the drivers seat it’s easy prey for criminals to cut of. I recommend to buy a cat guard and cage apart from that a brilliant vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
RX 400h Review - Great Car
Very happy with this car after 2500 miles. Fast, responsive, luxurious interior, great build quality, very comfortable. Great mileage if you learn to drive it properly. So far getting 29.5 mpg in town, 27 mpg on highway/freeways. I pulled my 2500 lb boat for 700 miles on the freeway with no problem and still got 20 mpg. Seamless transition between gas and electric. Plenty of fun gadgets.
New to us
We purchased a 2008 pre-owned certified 400H with 18,100 miles on it. It is pristine. Have driven it a week now and am getting 28.2 MPG around town and on the highway combined. Have had no problems. It is fun to drive and is very comfortable. I see some reviews stating poor mileage. Not here. If you want to drive it like a regular car, quick acceleration, high speeds, you will get the performance of a regular car. I had to learn to drive the hybrid properly and it is great. It has plenty of power, amazing actually. The only down side so far is the audio on AM stations. FM is excellent. AM sounds "tinny" though. So far, e love the car.
Combination of fun and milage
Great for long rides and everyday drives. Absolutely love the feeling of CVT and can see the vehicles on the other lanes disappear in my mirrors with out the feeling of gear change.
Exceeded My Expectations
Extraordinary would be the best word that describes my driving experience in the Lexus RX400h AWD. It came with all the bells and whistles that one would expect from Lexus. The vehicle is exceptionally comfortable, fun, and easy to drive. Although this is my 2nd SUV and 1st hybrid, it is by far superior to the 16.5 MPG Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer that I use to own. What's truly remarkable is the outstanding power performance when you need it, and the equally outstanding fuel economy in stop and go city traffic. Knowing that the 400h is very quiet in the hybrid mode has heightened my situational awareness when people are nearby on foot, as it's almost as loud as an electric golf cart.
Disappointed
Purchased this vehicle because it is a hybrid--low emissions and better in-town gas mileage than our MB E320. We do most of our driving around town. We are very disappointed in the city gas mileage which is 21 to 22 mpg. Not the 26 mpg we expected. The dealer and Lexus blows our complaints off. We live in a coastal area meaning the closest we come to a mountain is a bridge. Our city driving meets Lexus' statement for the 26 mpg. However, we do get 26 mpg on the interstate. Go figure. Otherwise, we very much like the vehicle.
A Luxury SUV with Great Gas Mileage
This is an incredible car, granted it is expensive, but well worth every penny. I don't understand the complaints about gas mileage. With a little coaching from the onboard "consumption" feature in the navigation system I am routinely getting between 29 and 30 mpg. 24-26 is a high speed highway average, 28-30 around town, and 30-33 in stop and go driving.
Surprisingly Great
Didn't expect to like it as I really wanted an LX or GX but my wife fell in love with it. And now I have too. The hybrid is very peppy with the electric assist. Absolutely elegant inside and well built. Larger than expected inside with lots of nice touches - adjustable console and rear seats that slide.
Great Vehicle
This vehicle is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. Perfect size for active sports oriented people who need an SUV but drive alone with occasional passengers. Gas savings is a plus but the real perk is the V8 power with 4 cylinder mileage. Lots of personal storage space and excellent ergonomics. Nav and stereo system are great. This car will retrain you on how to drive properly. I came from a BMW 550 sedan and GX 470 and didn't realize how wasteful I was on the pedal. Highly recommend this vehicle. Great for long distance travel with small family. Best commuter car I have owned. Engine stops from 0-30 mph so no wasting gas but AC keeps running cold as ice.
Moving into the future
Fun to drive, elegant, don't forget to brake, or at least put it in "b" if you want to get some help stopping.
Good Hybrid SUV
I love mine so far. Got before Thanksgiving and drove through the mountains. My husband was heavy on the gas pedal the whole time and still averaged just under 26mpg which is great since most cars and SUVS get 15-20mpg. On my daily business driving, I average 27-28 mpg and have gotten as high as 30 mpg. I'm careful to not be heavy on the pedal or breaks and coast as much as I can. This doesn't mean I have to stay at the speed limit, you can still average 70 mph.
Great value, great car!
I am a first time car buyer so I had my brother- in -law help me look for a bargain. I bought this car for a good price. Wanted to finally get a big car for myself because having a small car, I am limited in buying things. For the snow too of course. I'm just glad that this car is not a gas guzzler. I was afraid of that. So overall, I'm glad I made this purchase also because I get many compliments with this car. Lexus surely is luxury!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Car
Best value for the money, now looking to buy another 2013 Lexus with around 50K miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Works Fine, Last a Long Time
This was my first luxury SUV, and I really enjoy driving it. Although it doesn't have the bells whistles of my wife's 2013 GS 350, it drives great, is easy to maintain, and gets great mileage. Of course, I've had the Oil and Filter changed, and tires rotated every 5,000 Miles, plus any other factory recommend maintenance items. About six months ago, I was with the Director of Aviation, and the Chief Pilot of a well known German Automobile Company. I asked the Director of Aviation how many plants they had around the world. He counted them up and said, "I think 13." I then asked him which one had the best quality control. Without blinking, he responded, "LEXUS." I traded this puppy for a 2017 Lexus RX 450h last year. Same concept, with extra updated features.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2008 Lexus Rx400h Review
Purchased a used 2008 Rx400h AWD a few weeks ago with about 40k miles. I had a 2003 Lexus Rx300 which was nice, but I needed an upgrade. The Rx400h is definitely an upgrade as it has many nice features. The 0-60 time of ~7 sec is very good for a v6 SUV, and the acceleration is very quick. My only complaints are the lack in seat comfort and lack of advertised gas mileage. I'm getting around 23mpg combined vs the 30 as advertised. Also the fact that the car doesn't have the new "smart key" feature as the rest of the 08 Lexus lineup has. But other than that, i am very satisfied!
248700 miles with original battery
Just drove it from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucus with 247900 miles 2 days trip. Drives like brand new. Just doing the synthetic oil changes, air filters, and brakes. Original battery. Everything works. only con is getting only 22.5 total average miles per gallon. Mine is 2007 AWD model with mark levinson heated seats and no dvd rear player. Got my check engine light on from dirty throttle body, afs light on, low tire pressure light on. but drives like a beast. air suspension is amazing.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great overall
I bought this 2008 400h used, the Cvs system lights are on, it’s not the brakes, but so far so good it has 120840, and it still drives like it’s new. I’m hoping to get up to the 300k on this.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Lexus RX 400h 2008
On the road it is a master. Complete grip on the road. Very quiet except for small tire noise. Variable transmission system does not gives a smooth takeoff from stop.
RX 400h
Excellent overall quality. I've had no problems with the car. Gas mileage for hybrid is less than advertised but still I average 26.4 miles per gallon in mixed city and highway travel. Ride is smooth. There are some quirky noises which I attribute to the fact that the gasoline engine is not on all of the time. Interior electronics and controls are easy to use.
sad
It is unfortunate that the new Lexus gets nothing near the promised gas mileage. you will be lucky to get 17/22 with the hybrid. I wonder if the non-hybrid gets worse gas mileage? Also, the battery and engine make a lot of noise. The CVT is awkward at best, and not a luxury item. Kinda of like calling a dude ranch luxury hotel. It still a ranch and smells like a ranch no matter how nice the beds. I am not even going to mention my unhappiness with the lockout function on the nav and blue tooth. If I could do over, I would save 15 grand and buy the 350 or the Acura RDX. I feel like such a sucker for buying the "hybrid."
Not worthy for the money you paid!
Driving this car is fun and comfort. Operating the functions are most difficult certain times. No voice activated dialing. Cannot dial phone numbers on the move. No override function.
Poor Gas Mileage
We like the SV, but we expected more MPG than 22. The car drives nice and handles nice and of course Toyota quality is everywhere. Just hate the gas mileage for the price we paid.
Hopeful
We purchased this vehicle in October, 2008. We love driving it. We are very disappointed with the gas mileage so far. There is something wrong with the regeneration. We are getting better gas mileage on the highway than in the city. We are hopeful that this will be addressed when we take it in. We were waiting until we had about 2500 miles on the vehicle.
Going Green
We enjoy driving our new RX 400h. However, we have not experienced the gas mileage we expected. We are averaging 22 mpg in the city and 26.5 on the highway. This is backward for a hybrid. This is after putting 2300 miles on the vehicle. We hope this gets addressed better by the service folks than we did by the sales folks.
Reliable but the buy a self-battery jumper because the starter battery will die on you
I bought this used and the hybrid system was not explained to me at the dealership. I had to go to another dealership which took the time to explain the hybrid system to me. (I stayed a customer at that dealership) The starter battery dies in cold weather on a regular basis and also will die if the vehicle has not been driven for a week or so. Do yourself a favor and purchase a chargeable self-battery jumper, which will save you a lot of time waiting for AAA. I bought the hybrid to get better fuel economy. I haven't seen the fuel economy of the Rx400h go above 26. The features and gadgets are simple and easy to use, and the seats are super comfortable.
Best car I ever bought
Outstanding car always did exceptional maintenance I don’t remember any repairs other than maint
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Relentless Pursuit of Perfection - Indeed!
Simply the most intelligently engineered, reliable, comfortable, and efficient vehicles I've ever owned going back 35 years. The build quality and reliability put Mercedes, BMW, and Audi to shame. But the performance combined with fuel efficiency were completely unexpected. This is truly a gem of a vehicle. If you can find a low mileage well cared for example - grab it. You too will likely reach the same conclusion I have - simply the best designed and built vehicle ever made.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Driving around in it puts a smile on my face…
I moved to central Florida in the US during May 2023 and was looking for a cheap car that offered some style, creature comforts I’m used to, a really good a/c, a sunroof and power everything. Back in Australia I had a 2004 RX330 AWD Luxury Sport version. She always drove very well, took us on many interstate road trips on Australia’s rural roads in crazy weather conditions. The venerable V6 always roared to life when I needed it — until my last day with it by which she had done 236,000+ kms/140,000 miles. Then I crossed the Pacific Ocean — and my hunt for a car in Florida began. With cars, a big factor is where you buy them from e.g., auctions, A-grade dealers, B-grade dealers, private sellers, mechanics etc. The service departments in many dealerships presume everyone is an idiot and ‘erase’ or ‘cancel’ error codes or dashboard warning lights. I found my car at McGrath Volvo Cars of Fort Myers. My salesperson Alex was excellent and I do appreciate the management for keeping their word e.g., the day I went over to pick up the car the service department hadn’t serviced it or done it up. So I had to stay over for a night to drive the car back the next day. Alex organised it and made sure I received a check for my accommodation expenses incurred. So anyway — the car was a crystal white pearl 2008 RX400h with 185,000 miles on it. It had had only one owner and the Car Fax report had its service history. It had been mostly serviced at Toyot/Lexus dealerships. Finally, on day two the service department had given it fresh oil and a filter and also fixed up a broken oil plate — the lower pan on the sump that has the oil drain plug in it, I think. I was tired and just wanted to drive the car out of there — I think Alex was tired of it all too. He brought the car to the parking lot, finally. We were both surprised that there was liquid rubber dropping from the registration license plate light fixture on to the rear bumper — but I was too tired to care and told him not to worry about it. I had a vague notion that some careless mechanic in the service area had kept a hot object near the rubber or heated up something next to it — annoying, but not a show stopper. The detailers had cleaned up the rear seat which I’d been a bit concerned about — it had had some black residue all over it, but now the interior of the car looked clean enough and I told Alex I appreciated what they had done. The steering listed a bit to the right and I reckon it is because the front end is shod with two different brands of tires — Good Years on the left and Bridgestones on the right. The left-hand (driver) side headlight had water droplets in it — I’m just glad it wasn’t clouded over. It worked fine for two days, then stopped working one rainy night. I considered replacing it with aftermarket stuff, but those were not functionally good enough. As I mulled over options, the car must’ve felt something for me — the light magically started working …water droplets and all. It works to this moment and has an excellent beam. As expected, the dashboard warnings started popping up one by one as I drove back to the Orlando region. The car seemed to be doing ok and returned around 22 mpg on my drive back. It averaged around that for the next few days — we drove around a LOT — we were still staying at a hotel and were glad we had a car to go and find my partner a car of her own as well as find a rental house to lease — none of this is easy when you’ve just arrived in the country, have no American ID, bank account or credit score. But not having to pay for taxi cabs was a good step forward. As we set about joyously hunting for her car and a house, I plugged in a good OBD scanning tool and found that the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor was filthy and that at least one of the TPMS sensors had run out of battery. The dealership service mechanics had temporarily gotten the TPMS error to not show up on the dash by flicking on the second tire set option in the car — this confuses the car because it presumes the lack of transponder signal is because you’ve put winter tires on… anyway, I wasn’t too concerned because I’d correctly set all the tire pressures. Over the next few days, I put in a new engine air filter (the one in there was filthy), fresh cabin a/c filter and cleaned out the mass air flow (MAF) sensor with a can of good cleaning fluid from eBay. Gave the leather seats a good wipe and then basted them nicely with some Maguere (dunno if I spelled that right) treatment spray. Looks great now! Last week I took her to a hybrid specialist for a tune-up — fresh spark plugs, brake check/adjustment, a full scan of the hybrid system and overall health scan — the mechanic was all praise for the car and assured me that I needn’t worry about either the hybrid system or the mechanicals at all. She already runs like a dream and even the original music system sounds great 👍🏽 I’ve driven around 3000 miles so far and I get around now get 26 miles/gallon, 11 km/l or 9 litres/100 kms in mixed city/highway/stop-and-go traffic conditions. Mine has the navigation screen which means I get a lovely animation of the hybrid system in action, or a graphic of how many kW the regenerative braking produces or other A/C, sound system and service info on the reverse camera screen. I got a pressure washer and gave her a couple of good washes — she’s looking great now and most people won't believe she’s done the mileage she has and is fifteen years old!! Got her an alignment check to be sure about the little right tilt on the steering — looks like it is the different tires at different levels of wear. She gets a pair of brand new performance tyres on the front this week and I’ll take her back to double check the alignment too. Now that my partner has her own car — a Toyota RAV4 hybrid, nothing less — and we found a house, the car is driven a little less. The amazing a/c worked wonders on HOT days when we had to park the car in the sun and do stuff around the place. I’ll continue to enjoy nice sunset drives around these roads with the sunroof open, the windows down and good rock music blasting through the wind… Lexuses are built solid and beautiful — like 1930s Rolls Royces or 1960s Mercedes Benzes. This one’s no exception — I’ll keep her as long as she wants to stay with me …and I might even change the busted TPMS sensor one day! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update in 2024: still going strong, Continental tires all around now -- great wet grip for our sudden showers in Florida, haven't changed the TPMS sensors yet, same fuel mileage =)
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Poor gas mileage
This is a very nice car, but I challenge anyone out there to prove they are getting better than 22-24 mpg. Better, I challenge Lexus to prove it. My fiend with a V8 truck gets better mpg. Shame on you Lexus, shame on me for buying.
Good deal
The car is a very trustworthy and dependable . Still looks good love driving her!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love my Lexus
Nothing beats the smooth, quiet ride of a Lexus. 2008 and still loving it. Very little aging and repairs after all these yrs.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value