Official Response From Lexus Gb

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

Hi All,

Thought this may be of interest to those suffering gearbox clunking/crunching issues and handbrake which is not tight enough to hold cars' weight on steep inclines (220d SPORT). This is in response to a detailed letter from me questioning the engineering quality, not the dealer.

Brian [:)]

And a couple of my car (which I otherwise love):

Brian [:)]

[Scarlet Pimpernell]

A stunning colour combo....

Nice response back too from LGB. I reckon my days driving a Peugeot mean that I think this gearbox is a gem, but I do hear it "grate" between 1st and 2nd and also feel the occasional "baulk".

For the record my old A4 was slightly notchy between 1 and 2, though it was FWD and a different animal...

[Infinity]

Good positive response, hope the resolution is just as good.

Well done.

Mines very light on the handbrake also, you have to wedge the pedal to the floor to get it to hold, i was going to bring it up at my first service as i normally leave the car in Park without the handbrake anyway.

[Scarlet Pimpernell]

Good positive response, hope the resolution is just as good.

Well done.

Mines very light on the handbrake also, you have to wedge the pedal to the floor to get it to hold, i was going to bring it up at my first service as i normally leave the car in Park without the handbrake anyway.

The dealer tightened the handbrake for me on mine, but it is still weak. I know the rear disc brakes mean a dedicated smaller cylinder/drum/shoe for the handbrake, and mine catches adequately on the highest/last notch of the ratchet. Then the wife can't disengage it :o

PS reverted to my old practice of leaving the car in first gear, from my days of driving Ford escorts...

[davepruce]

Surely the technology for disk/handbrake combo is so old now that it should just work, rocket science it aint!

My '93 LS has these (as do loads of other cars) and they work a treat.

I've just replaced my rear discs as they were getting thin, but the parking brake has always worked well and continues to do so.

However hard I apply it, it always just comes off with a pull on the lever with one finger!!

My 2p

[Scarlet Pimpernell]

Surely the technology for disk/handbrake combo is so old now that it should just work, rocket science it aint!

My '93 LS has these (as do loads of other cars) and they work a treat.

I've just replaced my rear discs as they were getting thin, but the parking brake has always worked well and continues to do so.

However hard I apply it, it always just comes off with a pull on the lever with one finger!!

My 2p

Couldn't agree more, you would have thought they could get it right by now...

In the meantime, we've another design flaw!

[davepruce]

Why manufacturers feel they have to change the design of something thats been working for years defeats me.....

hey ho

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

Surely the technology for disk/handbrake combo is so old now that it should just work, rocket science it aint!

My '93 LS has these (as do loads of other cars) and they work a treat.

I've just replaced my rear discs as they were getting thin, but the parking brake has always worked well and continues to do so.

However hard I apply it, it always just comes off with a pull on the lever with one finger!!

My 2p

Couldn't agree more, you would have thought they could get it right by now...

In the meantime, we've another design flaw!

100% - here is a quote from my letter to Lexus GB:

"The handbrake was adjusted, again until it could go no further and I needed the muscles of Arnold Schwarzeneger to pull it on fully, as it is, ridiculously, at the wrong side of the gear stick for a right hand drive car "

And also:

"The handbrake issue is a joke really - if Lexus cannot get a handbrake design right, I am concerned about other problems stored for the future."

My letter, which was very detailed, was straight to the point.

Brian :)