Opinions on the RX450h
Opinions on the RX450h
Author
Discussion

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
My mother newly retired is looking for another car. Coming from a Outlander PHEV which for reasons I'm not entirely sure of she wants out.

She likes the raised seating position and needs enough space to do Grandma duties. Budget is 20k ish.

She never listens to me and invariably ends up in poverty spec cars that the dealer has talked her into and then has the audacity to moan about the lack of heated seats, slow etc etc.

Never owned an RX myself but admired from afar for obvious Lexus qualities. Suggested one and she's worried 3.5 litres is too big and thirsty (I doubt she'll do more than 5000 miles pa) she's in the mindset from the 80's where displacement is literally the only metric you measure an engine by.

Anyway, would be interested to hear owners opinions. Is a £20k RX450h at circa 7 years and 80000 miles old a decent bet?

She had a Volvo XC40 company car which is top of her own list so it it may not be worth trying to dissuade her for an older, higher mileage Lexus?

raspy

2,714 posts

121 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
If she never listens to you, why are you bothering to suggest the lexus, when you already know she won't listen to your opinion?

QJumper

3,238 posts

53 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
I bought an older (2009 & 96k miles) RX 450h about 18 months ago and am very happy with it.

It's probably the most comfortable car I've driven, and I've done a few several hundred mile trips across Europe. Regarding mileage, I've averaged 31 mpg since I've had it. Generally it gets around 30 mpg in mixed driving and up to around 40 mpg if you stick to 60-65 mph. I think the newer ones get a little more.

One of the main reasons I bought it was for reliability, and so far have had no problems, with only consumables needed like brakes and tyres. Main dealer servicing is reasonable, especially with a service plan, and extends the warranty to 10yrs/100k miles. Beyond that Lexus sell an extended warranty for up to 15yrs/150k miles for around £550 a year, which includes UK and European AA cover.

edc

9,571 posts

278 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
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My folks do grandparent duties for toddlers in a Honda Jazz. What car does your mum actually want?

Easternlight

3,896 posts

171 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
edc said:
My folks do grandparent duties for toddlers in a Honda Jazz. What car does your mum actually want?
This is Pistonheads remember, no grandparents could possibly cope without a FFRR at a minimumlaugh

Alickadoo

3,434 posts

50 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
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She hasn't listened before, is she going to listen now?

Why are you suggesting an RX? What about an NX, or a UX? Why are you suggesting Lexus? Yes, good, reliable, well made cars, but the infotainment controls are, as the bloke on Caerwow put it - crap.

If she doesn't take your advice, it can't be your fault, can it? Mums are funny things.

Snow and Rocks

3,356 posts

54 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
Alickadoo said:
Why are you suggesting Lexus? Yes, good, reliable, well made cars, but the infotainment controls are, as the bloke on Caerwow put it - crap.
It's a bit depressing that infotainment controls are deemed more important than reliability or quality. No wonder we put up with the crap churned out by JLR.

Rx450h is definitely a good choice if that's the type of car she's after - bulletproof reliability and low maintenance requirements, strong wafty performance and about as comfortable as it gets.

ZX10R NIN

30,399 posts

152 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
ChocolateFrog said:
My mother newly retired is looking for another car. Coming from a Outlander PHEV which for reasons I'm not entirely sure of she wants out.

She likes the raised seating position and needs enough space to do Grandma duties. Budget is 20k ish.

She never listens to me and invariably ends up in poverty spec cars that the dealer has talked her into and then has the audacity to moan about the lack of heated seats, slow etc etc.

Never owned an RX myself but admired from afar for obvious Lexus qualities. Suggested one and she's worried 3.5 litres is too big and thirsty (I doubt she'll do more than 5000 miles pa) she's in the mindset from the 80's where displacement is literally the only metric you measure an engine by.

Anyway, would be interested to hear owners opinions. Is a £20k RX450h at circa 7 years and 80000 miles old a decent bet?

She had a Volvo XC40 company car which is top of her own list so it it may not be worth trying to dissuade her for an older, higher mileage Lexus?
If an XC40 worked for her before then why not show her the NX 300h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301063...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303064...

Or the UX250h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303135...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303315...



keeling54

231 posts

196 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
We have the older Rx400h, it's now on 132k miles and has been brilliant.
It's on 06 plate so being that old has needed discs and pads and rear shocks, the only fault in 5 years of ownership was a failed coil pack. Fortunately was it was one of the front bank so an easy fix.
I plan to get another when this one eventually expires.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
She bought a diesel XC60 for 5k over her budget.

She really is a salesman's dream.

It's typical journey will be no more than 5 miles, but hey I tried. Not that the XC60 is bad car, it's quite nice but if it doesn't have DPF issues within 5 years I'll be surprised and I doubt it has an auxiliary heater so it'll never get warm.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
edc said:
My folks do grandparent duties for toddlers in a Honda Jazz. What car does your mum actually want?
Bit moot now but a double buggy, 2 car seats and a few bags of toddler associated crap dictates atleast a C segment car IMO and she wants the raised driving position.

I've no doubt you could do it on a Honda Cub if you really had to.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
QJumper said:
I bought an older (2009 & 96k miles) RX 450h about 18 months ago and am very happy with it.

It's probably the most comfortable car I've driven, and I've done a few several hundred mile trips across Europe. Regarding mileage, I've averaged 31 mpg since I've had it. Generally it gets around 30 mpg in mixed driving and up to around 40 mpg if you stick to 60-65 mph. I think the newer ones get a little more.

One of the main reasons I bought it was for reliability, and so far have had no problems, with only consumables needed like brakes and tyres. Main dealer servicing is reasonable, especially with a service plan, and extends the warranty to 10yrs/100k miles. Beyond that Lexus sell an extended warranty for up to 15yrs/150k miles for around £550 a year, which includes UK and European AA cover.
Thanks, as expected really. I'll be suggesting one to the OH if she gives up her job and has to hand back the salary sacrifice lease, she does actually take on board my advice, sometimes.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
Snow and Rocks said:
Alickadoo said:
Why are you suggesting Lexus? Yes, good, reliable, well made cars, but the infotainment controls are, as the bloke on Caerwow put it - crap.
It's a bit depressing that infotainment controls are deemed more important than reliability or quality. No wonder we put up with the crap churned out by JLR.

Rx450h is definitely a good choice if that's the type of car she's after - bulletproof reliability and low maintenance requirements, strong wafty performance and about as comfortable as it gets.
Agreed, depressing, ICE controls would be set to Radio 4 once probably. HVAC controls a bit more important but doesn't trump actual engineering quality, not that crappy perceived quality the likes of JLR foist on us.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Monday 3rd April 10:46

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
She's complaining it doesn't have a reversing camera hehe

Surprised actually that a 30k car doesn't have one.

edc

9,571 posts

278 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
I'm sure it can be retrofitted easily enough.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

34,954 posts

200 months

Tuesday 4th April 2023
quotequote all
edc said:
I'm sure it can be retrofitted easily enough.
£650 to you madam, unlikely she'll bother i think.