We wanted the new RX450h so bad when it first came out that we had it shipped from California (July 2009) to our hotel in Arkansas. Baum stadium (University of Arkansas baseball) is in the background across the street. The dealers in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Shreveport, Dallas and St. Louis all couldn't come up with one for us at the time, as the early release 450h was almost impossible to get without having a preorder. We chose the RX450h as the perfect companion to start our retirement travel. We have since traded in the 2010 for our current 2013 back in July 2012, and both have been perfect for all our many miles of retirement travel, without a single problem.

 

I gotta ask: What's so special about your special-order car? As for being retired and wanting a better ride, my previous ride was an '07 RAV4 and I have felt your pain.

 

I was a bit surprised that the LED headlights, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Heads Up Display would require a special order, but it turned out that they do. I also wanted a trailer towing package which also required a special order. I get the impression that many people do not prefer to wait 3 or 4 months when they make a decision to purchase a new car so these items are passed up for what is available. I don't like to wait, but I dislike compromise in such things even more. Once the wait is over, I will have what I want.

If we are fortunate, we get old and with that, usually there are creaks and groans. It helps to count our blessings!

 

We were first-time Lexus buyers (by stopping by the dealership on our way to HomeDepot to pickup a bathroom vanity ... never made it there that day). We really didn't know what all these options were except what the salesperson pointed out during our test drive.
Would have preferred not to have paid for the Towing Prep or Roof Crossbars that we will never use, but oh well, close enough.

Congrats and good luck with your new RX.

 

Dynamic cruise control, H.U.D. and blind-spot monitor are all great additions, I agree. Our barely driven, like-new CPO '10 RX 450h with the comfort and premium packages does not have them, but it does have the headlights that illuminate slow turns and I find those somewhat helpful. Better still is the parking assist. I have to park the RX in our driveway (no garage) close to a retaining wall and I've learned to do it just right to make room for our TCH just by the frequency of the beeping. We have a blind-spot monitor in the Camry, which is very helpful.

How did your Volvo treat you. I'm guessing pretty well if you drove it for 15 years. I've had three Volvos -- an '82 240 DL wagon (stick) that I drove for 15 years and 285,000 miles, a '97 850 and a 2000 S70, both automatics. I liked all of them well enough. Reliability-wise the 850 was the best of the lot.

I've never had a car as nice as our RX 450h, however, and like you, I feel lucky to have it (and fortunate that it's paid for). We are just coming up on 20,000 miles on it and I expect it's the last car I'll ever need or want buy for myself.

Steve

 

I'm surprised as well. On the 2010, you could get dynamic cruise control and the H.U. display with the luxury package. The blind-spot monitor came later but was still included in a package. But I don't know if dealers were selling many new cars with those packages in the first place. All the used CPO 2010s I've seen for sale by SF Bay Area dealers seem to be optioned like ours, with the comfort and premium packages but none with the luxury package and HUD or dynamic cruise control. Maybe the dealers decided they couldn't sell enough of them new off their lots fast enough to justify the flooring costs of having them sit there until somebody bought them.
Steve

 

This is how my Volvo looks today. I admit to mixed feelings about parting with it. I casually mentioned that it was for sale and the person I was speaking with replied SOLD! without hesitation or bargaining over the price. It makes me wonder if I should have asked more.

 

The photograph didn't make it the first time

 

Looks like you took good care of it. How many miles did you have on it when you sold it?

 

Steve, it had just turned over 111,000 miles which,I understand, is not high for a 15 year old car. My wife gave it the good Swedish name of "Helga" and has been a good sport about the new RXh. But from what I have heard her say to others, she will miss the Volvo.

We thought about that dark red color which was in those great photos just above in this thread. But we chose the satin cashmere metallic because it is rich and not so dark.

 

An old thread from way back but still a good question.

Why did I choose an RX Hybrid? Mainly because I wanted a vehicle that has technology in it to help improve mileage, and bridge the gap between traditional ICE and pure electric vehicles like a Nissan Leaf or Tesla. I liked the idea of battery power but wanted the comfort of having the range if I needed to use it for a long trip. I could have gone with a diesel SUV to achieve the mileage, but the local pollution it generates is a concern in underground carparks and traffic jams, where I frequent.

I could have gone with a Toyota Prius but the RX had a bigger dose of feel good factor when I'm behind the wheel. I like the soft touch finishes and the good road noise isolation of the RX, as well as the higher driving position.

Those were the reasons why I went for the RX hybrid.