Leaderboard

Lexus NX300h Luxury - Petrol/Hybrid. Style. ***** Interior and Comfort. ***** Practicality and boot space. ***** Engines, and performance. **** Ride **** MPG. *** Reliability. ***** Verdict. ***** Style. The NX is the best looking SUV on the market right now, in my opinion. Although not all would agree with that statement as it is too much for some, but I think it looks stunning. Interior and Comfort. The interior is one of the best in its class. The leather seats are superb; in fact they are the best seats I have ever sat in, I wish I had them in my lounge. The driving position is easy to get right. The cabin is well laid out and in general it's a very nice place to be. Practicality and boot space. Compared to others in this class, the NX may be slightly smaller,but not by much. That is because it has a spare wheel! Yes, it is true, a car with a spare wheel, something of a rarity these days. The rear shelf is easily taken down and there is a space to store it away just above where the spare wheel is, a nice touch that. The seats easily fold down and the loading space is flat. The back seat legroom is good, so is headroom. The back doors open nice and wide, making it easy to get in and out, it is also easy to get young children in and out of child seats. Engines, and performance. In my opinion the 2.5 Petrol/Hybrid engine copes well on our UK roads. However, compared to a normal petrol car with a turbo, or a diesel, some may feel it lacks power. I don't find this, but maybe it is because my previous car was also a hybrid, so I am used to the power provided. There are three driving modes to choose from. 'Normal' is what I use mostly and I find it is not lacking. In fact compared to my old CT, it appears to have slightly more pulling power. Even the 'Eco' mode seems better, as I found the CT 'Eco' mode made the car a bit sluggish. I do get slightly better MPG when I use 'Eco', but it is so minimal I rarely use it. The 'Sport' mode makes the car slightly more responsive. I used 'Sport' mode quite a bit in my old CT, mainly to give better acceleration when overtaking, but I find in the NX it copes well enough in 'Normal' mode so have not used it as much. I understand that when fully loaded the 'Sport' mode helps the car on steep hills and when overtaking. As I have not had it fully loaded yet I have not tried this out. Ride. This is the one area I was disappointed in on the CT. Lexus gave the CT a sporty ride, which means it is quite firm. Some like this, others, myself included, did not. So I made sure the NX had a softer ride, it does. It is fair to say it is not the softest riding SUV, the Range Rover Discovery Sport is softer, but it also has a lot of body roll, which the NX does not have. If I was being really picky, I would say it could be softer, but I think the ride/body roll balance is not far off the mark, about the same as the BMW X3 and the Audi Q3. MPG. The official government figures published by Lexus and used in all the advertising states this car achieves 54.3mpg. This is not possible in real world driving. My average is about 34mpg, so well down on the official figures. On some long journeys I can reach the high 30's but on short trips to the shops etc it barely reaches 30mpg . This is still not bad for a car of this size and comparable to diesels on short journeys but lower than diesels on long journeys. I knew the real world figure would be mid 30's so it was not a big issue for me. Reliability. In my four and a half year ownership, covering 40k miles, I never had a need to take my CT back for any fault. Says it all really. Lexus dealerships are the best. I expect no difference for the NX Optional Extras I added the following: Protection pack - The rubber mats are very nice, especially in the winter months. The rubber boot mat and net is also very useful. Not sure if I like the mud flaps, but I am sure they help keep the car clean. Illuminated Scuff Plates - A bit pricey, but I must admit they do look nice, so I am glad I had them fitted. Panoramic Roof - You loose the roof rails, but as I would never use them it was not a problem. The interior is nice and light, even on a dull day. I understand some say the it can make the car noisier, but I have not found this. Passengers in the back seats love it, my grandson especially thinks it is great. 'It's like having a convertible without the wind' a passenger said. Sat Nav - Very overpriced, but I had it anyway. I have not used it much, but it seems to work well enough, albeit a bit complex to work. There is no way to turn off the voice easily without going back to the menu, which is daft. Convenience Pack - Power Tailgate, lazy but nice. Smartphone charger, only works well with some smartphones (not Apple iphones), so a bit of a gimmick really. Other Positives. I like the way the fog lights come on when cornering slowly, it illuminates where you are going, very handy. Reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors. A 'must have' in a car this size. Excellent. Smart entry is really nice. Adaptive Cruse Control is wonderful, not used much, but very useful on long motorway journeys. Electric Parking Brake and 'hold' button. Both are brilliant. Other Negatives. The bottoms of the doors (inside) get very dirty, especially the back doors which seem to attract the dirt/mud/leaves. I've never had this in a car before, so it needs regular cleaning. I think it must be a design fault. Hard to reach when cleaning the roof. Verdict. So far this car has been a dream to own. I love it, so does my wife. I look forward to driving it, which says it all really. I was concerned after reading various reviews, but I need not have been worried, as the NX does everything so well and in style. Only 2000 miles covered so far, which is not much, but I know the NX will serve us well for many years to come. I can't help but look back to it as I walk away. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I doubt I would find anything better than an NX. It does everything I want it to, drives well and looks stunning.

So this last weekend I picked up the ISF from a friend. Basics are black with black, with valved cat back. Currently ticking over the 55k mark. Some photos for perusal... If you look at my other thread, it's currently stuck in my garage due to DVLA / weekend / public holiday leading to inability to tax the car. I'll be on the phone at 0800 tomorrow, rest assured, as I need to give my wife her car back and be at work. So, I took the opportunity to give it a bit of a clean. And add a sticker.. Then there were some (GibletPH being one) who wanted some photos of the exhaust. I don't have the name of the garage / fabricator to hand, but could get it I'm sure. So here are the photos. And all together on the car...

My fiancée and I bought our gleaming 02 Scarletti Red SC430, 46k miles, and fsh,with cream leather interior, last weekend. Wow, we are so impressed with this car, it goes like a train, surprisingly good on mpg, (238 miles on a half tank of fuel) Also having sat in an Audi TT, a Porsche Boxster, (neither which would accommodate us) as we are both over 6ft, The SC 430 had loads of legroom. Hopefully a couple of photo's we took will upload.

Hi Everybody! Last week I've finally sold my previous car (2013 BMW 528xi) and became happy owner of brand new 2016 Lexus GS300h (EU version). I'd like to compare both cars from my perspective, as 5 series is still alive in my memory and producer's lineup. First of all i have to mention, how excellent reviews of 5 series there are and how mostly bad reviews of GS i have seen across internet. Reality is "slightly" different. Both cars i purchased have the same pricing - 54000,-€ but very different equipment. BMW i owned was very basic. There are only two things my GS is missing - AWD and High performance. Performance and top speed of 250km/h is something i can't legally use, so it's not issue. Xdrive was great, but had almost no snow past 3 winters. So not a problem. In GS i got much more comfort and safety features which i missed in BMW: 1, Metallic paint 2, Leather 3, Sat navigation 4, not Mark Levinson, but much better audio system 5, LED headlights, much better than BMW xenons, automatic high beam 6, Full power front seats 7, Driver's memory seat 8, front seats heated and cooled 9, Huge screen 10, Auto folding mirrors 11, Dimming inside mirror 12, Keyless entry 13, power trunk 14, Lane Keeping Assist 15, Adaptive Cruise Control 16, Pre collision system 17, Rear Cross Traffic Alert 18, DVD player 19, DAB tuner 20, power steering column 21, reverse camera 22, Traffic Signs recognition It is clear Lexus gives much more for the same money. In the showroom among neon colored cars, the GS was little disregarded. Parked on street it makes heads turning, especially gentlemen. Getting in Lexus is much different than getting in new bimmers. Nothing cracks, squeaks... You just feel that fine touch and nice flavor of smooth leather. I had no leather in 5 series, but i have Dakota leather in 1 series, which looks like leatherette beside Lexus leather. Seating position was good in 5 series, but is better in Lexus. Steering wheel was better in BMW, this one is great in size and shape, but could be softer. The biggest critics I've read were all about infotainment. I have to say, it is different than BMW but really not bad. It IS intuitive and equally easy to use. Plus here is much bigger screen. Remote touch Joystick is nice and accurate. Another usual critics are about drivetrain. 1, Engine is smooth and quiet, much smoother and quieter than petrol BMW 4 cylinder. I can ride windows down without any rattling sounds coming from outside even when before engine warms up. 2, Engine is powerful enough. Despite I don't fell any force, car accelerates very nice and smooth, almost noiseless. 3, CVT is very different than standard Auto. For cruising it is great. For racing maybe not. But GS is cruiser, not racer 3, Fuel economy is great. 528ix took 8,1-8,2 l/100km GS300h takes 5,5-5,7 l/100km. It is about 29 US/34 UK MPG vs 42 US/50 UK MPG And finally, everybody who tried both of my cars, likes GS much more than my previous car.

I second that!!

I agree the Updates should be part of a service, where the Dealer says would you like your Map update for a small charge of £20 maybe Then i am sure People would have it done also its a way they can update the operating system for the Audio/Nav unit

For a long time I just totally ignored Lexus as a brand albeit I knew the original LS set the world alight back in 98. My working life was spent in the motor trade, in particular body shops as an insurance Engineer and my first real passion was for the 3 Bentleys I had over a 10 year period. Then 3 Jaguars, various models and finally last year saw the light and started looking at the LS460 and only the LS460. I could kick myself for not having this car years ago. I handled a number of insurance claims for the LS400 and was always impressed in the way it was put together. I bought mine used from a dealer and paid out £1700 for an extra 2 years warranty and yet don't expect to make a single claim based on the last 7 months use of this remarkable car. Apart from the common glove box lid issue where the swage line didn't line up, although I fixed that quite easily and a lot of excess folds in the driver's leather seat cushion, again fixed that by removing the seat and handed the cushion to a trimmer who removed the excess folds of leather this car has been the best car I've owned. I don't normally have need to use the kick down function of the gear box but every now and then I use it just to put a smile on my face. Buy the 460 or 600 I don't think either will disappoint

I tried pumping tyre up with this and it let air out, so I opened it to see how its connected, the bottle takes the pipe from inlet and outlet, doesn't look like it can bypass the bottle and use as a pump, most rubbish idea these pumps and goo. Least I found out when I did and not when I was stuck with a flat tyre

Beauty! The work on that exhaust is incredible, I'm jealous of your exhaust and your garage.

Welcome to the LOC. We just got back from Cornwall on Saturday after a fab week in the Cot Valley. I only saw one other Lexus LS and it was the same model, year and colour as mine. How weird would that have been to see them both in the same car park.....apart from the fact I was in my Volvo! Yours looks brilliant in red, they'll certainly see you coming!!

Hi Phil, Thanks a lot for the advice (and the welcome). I would imagine the discs are something that needs to be done ASAP to avoid over-wearing the pads so I will do so; are the rear ones likely to be affected as well? I knew about the exhaust problem being common; the chap I bought it from had a minor leak last MOT but only needed a little paste to fix. Still I'll get it checked. It also had the suspension bushes done as that was noted on the MOT as well, so I didn't mind buying it with that history. Piers, Many thanks for the recommendation. Before buying my car I just happened to see a Lexus Soarer in my local supermarket car park. I got talking to the owner and he said he uses DS Automotives in Aylesbury but they are a bit further from me than Japex so I may well try Japex first. You may well have saved me some fuel! ;o) Mike, Again, thanks for the welcome. You do seem like a friendly bunch. I think I am giong to enjoy being a member almost as much as I enjoy my new motor! Ha ha, yes I often used to have a bit left over. I believe it's called an 'Exeter'? Regards to you all and thanks again. Rob.

You're not alone with the mpg, 6.3k on the clock and 34.6 mpg average since getting the car end of Sept. 90% of my journeys are less than 5 miles so it's no surprise and taking into account the differences in weight, aero dynamics etc where I'd expect it to be compared to my IS300h. Driving is a pleasure and passengers love being in it, the pano roof is a big favourite. For the odd longer motorway type trip I love the adaptive cruise control. The list of 'must haves' just gets longer with each car I get lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi and welcome to the LOC, we are a friendly bunch and some of us even know how to pull them to bits and put them back together again, with of course the one bolt and washer left over. Great looking car. Miles and miles of smiles ahead of you both. We recommend you spend a couple of mins looking over the rules of the LOC, we will be asking questions later. http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/terms-conditions/ Regards Mike

Wonderful.Welcome to heaven on earth ! Regards John

When I had a CT200 in 2013, I tried topping up a tyre pressure with pump but it let out more air than put in, so like you mention I went down route of getting 'space saver' and bought a little tyre compressor from Aldi, which I use regularly.

Yes, short trips, or motorway journeys do reduce the MPG. Long trips on A and B roads at 30-50 MPH will increase the MPG by a significant amount.

I have seen a video on utube re-diamond cutting wheels by a company called "mint alloys"

Gonna say, the seats look awesome. You are doing a hell of a lot of work and sharing which is something i think we are all grateful for. Keep up the good work!

The new seats look awesome, the CF rear just completes the look and ties in with the skimmed stuff. Very nice indeed.

John, I would suggest sending Paul above a pm to see what he suggests, he seems to know his stuff. And isn't it amazing that his car has covered such high miles and still works perfectly. A positive one for those who knock the LS430, especially those who knock it without even having sat in one!

A lady walks into a Lexus dealership. She browses around, then spots the perfect car and walks over to inspect it. As she bends to feel the fine leather upholstery, a loud fart escapes her. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and hopes a sales person doesn't pop up right now. As she turns back, there standing next to her, is a salesman. "Good day, Madame. How may we help you today?" Very uncomfortably she asks, "Sir, what is the price of this lovely vehicle?" He answers, "Madame, if you farted just touching it, you are going to s**t yourself when you hear the price.",!!

When it comes to try and sell these modified cars they hang around for ages, alot of this can be put at the price people ask for them but most LS owners tend to favour cars being as original as possible and the huge cost of putting these cars back to a stock condition are all reasons to make them unappealing. Mike.

Oh please don't, she looks beautiful, same colour scheme as mine. I am old though. Mike.

If it were me a 460 would be the thing to go for. Had a few mates who used to be BMW fans but the cost of gearbox issues steered one over to Subura (he likes noise and paying for lots of petrol) and the other over to Lexus. Had a chat with a gear box specialist recently, he does Jags, Audi, Merc, BMW mainly, but he said Lexus (esp the LS range) were always the ones that he never had any problems with. Over 90% of the gearbox rebuilds he did were for German cars, and mainly because they were trying to be too clever with the design rather than sticking to the first principles of engineering that the Lexus is built around. He was kind of happy as he made a nice business out of repairing them, but he would never own a modern German car.