• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

School me: AWD, mid SUV, mid to high end, good mpg

Hmmm
Hendrick's Lexus dealer is Lexus of Pleasanton.
Looked at them per Rob's advice
They currently have 7 used RX450h in inventory with low miles.
Is that a red flag?

Doing a lot more reading on hybrid systems, phev, etc. Lots I didn't know.
Looking at the RAV4 prime, I like the plug in idea.
 
Last edited:
augustiron said:
Hmmm
Hendrick's Lexus dealer is Lexus of Pleasanton.
Looked at them per Rob's advice
They currently have 7 used RX450h in inventory with low miles.
Is that a red flag?
Click to expand...
Pleasanton area is a more upscale/forward thinking area.
Could it be just be a market change of what is acceptably cool?
I got a smoking deal years ago on a nice low mileage Volvo in Pleasanton because it was at a BMW dealer's lot.
They had it hidden on the back lot and acted like they were embarrassed it was even there. It was priced well below book, looked brand new with a clean car fax and one owner.
DT
 
augustiron said:
Hmmm
Hendrick's Lexus dealer is Lexus of Pleasanton.
Looked at them per Rob's advice
They currently have 7 used RX450h in inventory with low miles.
Is that a red flag?

Doing a lot more reading on hybrid systems, phev, etc. Lots I didn't know.
Looking at the RAV4 prime, I like the plug in idea.
Click to expand...

1-2 year old low mile cars are typically service loaners cycling out of a dealership’s loaner fleet. There’s also an off chance that they may have been a fleet of courtesy cars for an event(s) (like say if Lexus was a sponsor of a local golf tournament or something) that were sold to that particular dealer by the manufacturer.

Almost as if they were listening to this thread, here is a pretty honest review of the all new base RX (not the hybrid). Takeaways here is that the base four cylinder is not premium feeling and the electronics, while better than the previous generation, are a bit frustrating to use.

[youtube]JdDepuoZzMo[/youtube]


I’m not surprised by any of this here. I already talked about the industry’s shift to smaller turbo four cylinders. So this is something all brands are doing compared to previous generation versions (like my RDX). And same goes for the overly complicated/layered electronics interfaces they complained about (again like my RDX).

But let’s talk about the UI for a moment here. There’s been an industry wide push to have bigger and bigger screens and eliminate hard buttons. People would compare some of the super button heavy cars of 10 years ago something to like they felt as if they were piloting the space shuttle. Then Tesla came along with the giant ass screen where everything is done through it and set the trend going. Many manufacturers tried to push people to using voice control for many functions, but even up to today the voice recognition is hot garbage. I’m sure Siri even in its most beta form was far better than the crap that’s baked in to every car. So big screens and minimal buttons are here to stay. With screens come virtual buttons to access menus with more virtual buttons. We all are now using iPads while we drive. Maybe we actually are touching the screens. Maybe there is an interface device like a touchpad or wheel. Maybe a little of both. Some execute it better than others. I personally hate the touchpad situation that all current Acuras use. Probably why I think, despite the complaints of complexity with this all new system, this new touchscreen based system on the Lexus is better. Because the last generation Lexus system had a frigging touchpad. Maybe people who regularly use laptop computers like touchpad interfaces better? But I sure as hell don’t.
 
Thanks Rob.

I've been reading a bunch of reviews about the 450 350 and 500 (wow I went through the same dilemma looking at KTM dirt bikes)

22 450h has all the outdated tech and design as the outgoing generation and an interface that most hate for the tech.

23 350h is very underpowered, very boring to drive. Very disconnected feel from the road and driving experience as they call it a cocoon. MPG is great handling acceleration and turning MEH. More storage space than outgoing generation

23 500h brings a better acceleration into the same cocoon and disconnected feeling driving experience. And you lose significant MPG with the turbo engine and bigger electric motors.

500h plug in hybrid Still to come allegedly and not much known about it yet.

None of these reviews excite me. But we are going to Reno today so I'll see if I can stop by and look at a few in person.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the video Rob.
I don't typically watch or enjoy videos as most people just like to hear themselves talk and make outrageous proclamations to get views but those guys seem pretty decent.
 
augustiron said:
very boring to drive. Very disconnected feel from the road and driving experience as they call it a cocoon.
Click to expand...

This kind of sums up most of the Lexus lineup these days. Very much so with the bread and butter ES and RX models.

If you’re looking for more spirited driving dynamics but don’t want to give back too much reliability, Acura will be the way to go. But as of right now, none of them are going to give you the mileage return that the RX350h can do.
 
I have to drive one to see how bad it is.

Again, I drive old landcruisers and a beater truck so I i am used to a very... visceral... experience.

I have driven a lot of various rental cars, even brand new ones, and am aware of what they mean when they describe it though.

I don't need sporty per se, but not "crappy feeling" which is kind of what I recall from the 19 Highlander and 4runner. They felt like a minivan, but not as comfortable. My general takeaway was " this is what a $50k new Toyota limited trim car feels like? Yuck"

It is completely subjective though.
 
Last edited:
With regards to modern UI and tech in cars:

I find it all an inconvenience and distraction. I don't touch computers in my daily life (except I guess this phone in my hands is a computer) and I am not impressed with touch screens and menus and all that crap.
Give me useful dials, knobs and switches that are readily accessable, labelled and make sense.

Having a huge glowing tablet in my face while driving I feel is a negative, but becoming increasingly unavoidable.

Tl,Dr?

Get off my lawn :afm199
 
augustiron said:
I don't need sporty per se, but not "crappy feeling" which is kind of what I recall from the 19 Highlander and 4runner. They felt like a minivan, but not as comfortable. My general takeaway was " this is what a $50k new Toyota limited trim car feels like? Yuck"
Click to expand...

They may share platforms, but there is definitely differences between even a top trim Toyota to a Lexus. Same can be said for Honda to Acura, VW to Audi, and so on. They could certainly just build them all one way (like Mazda), but all the automakers have found by offering premium experiences they can charge premium prices. And it’s separated by the brands and less so with trim levels within a carline. So they dress up the touch points and what you can see in the cabin. Much less of that shitty pebble grained looking plastic panels everywhere and maybe something simple like smooth plastic and maybe with everyone’s favorite “ooo this looks expensive” trim, piano black. It costs them all the same, it’s all plastic. But they purposely make the mass market brand look cheaper. Or maybe they actually use some nicer materials like real wood, metal, leather, and so on. Then maybe we put some money under the skin. More sound deadening like actual paneling or perhaps mass dampers (some even use electronic versions), maybe double pane side glass, or perhaps active noise cancelling through the audio system. Then some upgrades to driving dynamics. Maybe the engine has a little more power, or perhaps there’s an exclusive powertrain (like Acura’s SH-AWD system), maybe fancy shocks, active exhaust, better brakes, and so on and so on. Point is, there’s a difference. I’m not sure what the difference is between a Highlander and a RX is these days. But I know at Honda, it’s roughly a $10k hike to go from the CR-V to the Acura RDX. Is it $10k better? Meh. I don’t think so. But it’s a good sweet spot of what you get for the money. An extreme example would be is a Audi Q7 $10k better than the VW Touareg. Most agree which is why I hardly see any of those new VWs on the road. But is a Bentley Bentayga $120k better than that Audi? It becomes diminishing returns much like just about any other kind of consumer product.
 
I actually like MB's dial/knob system they have to navigate the audio/navi system. It's quick, and simple to use. Ironically their "upgraded" swipe/haptic system is crap, and slows down navigation as you have to wait each interval of say, changing a station, while it gives a feedback pulse per station.

Too bad MB continues to use the stupid plastic coating on trim that cracks and starts to stab your fingers like shards of glass.

This thread has me looking at a vehicle i never thought i would look at in the '23 350h. 36mg combined is nice. If the ride isn't horrible, it could be a winner.

I eagerly await the reviews of the Reno test drive :)
 
Lexus, now if they could just rethink the grill...
 
Trip report:

Dolan Lexus had 3 rx450h left today, one was sold awaiting pickup.

Available:

2022 450hL - the L stands for long. As in, it has 3rd row seats added, and the second row is 2 captains chairs. Overall length is +5" over regular, same WB, they just add it behind the rear wheels. I didn't like the 2 captain chairs idea.

2022 450h F sport - dark blue color was gorgeous to me, 20" smoke grey wheels, panoramic roof, sport suspension and very sporty front seats. Too sporty.... I'm only 170# and they were uncomfortably snug on the sides. They fit my tiny wife fine.
We took this one for a test drive. Nice, smooth, way too much going on inside on the dash, touchpad, touchscreen, dials, buttons, etc. The mixing of new tech big popped up touchscreen, touchpad, along with big dials, normal dials, switches and buttons was too much. One or the other would be ok, but was too busy as it was.
We were short on time so I was the passenger and wifey drove. Accelerated ok, road feel was ok, sound wasn't overly insulated, rear seat room was good, cargo space good. It would take some time to understand all the devices and tech that I couldn't get into.
It was bigger than expected, longer and wider than the gx470, but lower roof.
The grill gives me chills. The idea of parking on the streets of SF for our monthly trips gives us pause as it has zero structure/protection up front.
Sticker $64.3k

What it did was get us looking at the NX350h, the next size model down.
It got the remodel in 22 that the Rx is getting in 23. Went to the large single touchscreen for most controls, so much less busy inside, smaller overall body.
I am doing research on it now as I didn't look at it before as I assumed it was too small.

More TBD as we only had about 45 minutes to be there.

I'd upload pix but Barfs pic uploader hates me
 
Last edited:
Want:

22 or 23 NX450H+ plug in hybrid
- no F sport
- no luxury package
- ext color in preference: white, nori green, silver, black. No red, orange or blue
- palomino leather int, or black

Trying to search for a model across a large region is a PITA.
Don't make me choose each dealer individually to check their inventory on their own website.

Find me all the cars in stock within xxx miles that meet my search criteria.
 
Last edited:
augustiron said:
Want:

22 or 23 NX450H+ plug in hybrid
- no F sport
- no luxury package
- ext color in preference: white, nori green, silver, black. No red, orange or blue
- palomino leather int, or black

Trying to search for a model across a large region is a PITA.
Don't make me choose each dealer individually to check their inventory on their own website.

Find me all the cars in stock within xxx miles that meet my search criteria.
Click to expand...


Here you go. Putnam Lexus in Redwood City. Got one in transit.

https://www.putnamlexus.com/new/LEXUS/2022-LEXUS-NX+450h+-d86d53460a0e087f0db8dbb6ae312ebf.htm
 
Late to the party but I bought my wife a new Audi Q5 TDI in 2014. Sho absolutely loves it, and nothing will persuade her to change it. 8 years and 80,000 miles later, it still feels brand new and has never needed anything but new oil and tires. She gets 25-30mpg around town and up to 40mpg on long trips.

I have borrowed it a few times for trips into the NV desert and it is very capable off-road. It also tows really well.
 
OldMadBrit said:
Late to the party but I bought my wife a new Audi Q5 TDI in 2014. Sho absolutely loves it, and nothing will persuade her to change it. 8 years and 80,000 miles later, it still feels brand new and has never needed anything but new oil and tires. She gets 25-30mpg around town and up to 40mpg on long trips.

I have borrowed it a few times for trips into the NV desert and it is very capable off-road. It also tows really well.
Click to expand...

Didn't that car get dieselgated? We had a 2013 TDI sportwagen we sold back to vw when it all went down as our needs had changed since purchasing new .
 
OldMadBrit said:
Late to the party but I bought my wife a new Audi Q5 TDI in 2014. Sho absolutely loves it, and nothing will persuade her to change it. 8 years and 80,000 miles later, it still feels brand new and has never needed anything but new oil and tires. She gets 25-30mpg around town and up to 40mpg on long trips.

I have borrowed it a few times for trips into the NV desert and it is very capable off-road. It also tows really well.
Click to expand...

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/7545733337.html

Seems cheap?

Kind of open to this idea .
Spending less than the top of the budget will ease the pain of SF trip parking carnage and Tahoe winter abuse.

Similar cargo area to the Lexus NX, while a few inches shorter.
How is back seat room?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top