Habu

On 10/22/2020 at 9:51 AM, Navnan2 said:

The dealer wants £399 to ceramic coat mine when it arrives, Not sure what they will do for that. Anyway I'm going to do it myself with Meguiars ceramic wax. Worked a treat on my other cars. £28 from Halfords..

I’ve used Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax on 2 previous cars and it’s very good.  Good on wheels and glass too but my current 2 cars were treated at the dealers during the PDI stage with Gen 3 ceramic coating. Thankfully, the dealers have moved away from flogging Supaguard for a now much better quality product and a ceramic one too, not a glorified wax.  Gen 3 is a ceramic glass topcoat that provides 5 years protection to all external parts of the car. You get epic beading with it.  It’s best done at the PDI stage as the bodywork should require minimal paint correction.  Yes, it’s £399 but you do get a nice small suitcase of Gen 3 products like glass cleaner, shampoo, bird poo remover, etc. Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax is about £22 at the moment (less 15% with my Gold LOC membership) and you could probably do a car with one to two bottles of the stuff.  So about £40 (Meguiars) versus £400 (Gen 3).  The £400 ceramic version does include a small suitcase of products including the awesome bird poo remover so let’s say that’s £60 worth of products so now it’s £40 versus £340.  The Gen 3 ceramic application is generally a better product and will certainly last longer (5 years guarantee) whereas the home applied ceramic waxes much less so and will require topping up periodically.  However, I’d recommend both products. I still buy the Hybrid Ceramic Wax as I’ve done the house windows with it (rain just runs off) and the en-suite shower cubicle.🙂

18 hours ago, Habu said:

I pushed the button today for an RX Takumi in Sonic Titanium (I’ve had the colour before on an NX) with rich cream leather and dark brown shimamoku inlays (same as my current ES).  Hopefully should find out the boat details over the next day or so so I can track it.

Apparently the one I reserved has just landed at Portbury Docks and is now in transit to my local-ish Lexus Centre.   Sooner than I thought.👍

2 hours ago, Tel said:

Lexus have told me that A.C. Play will be linked to my HUD----excellent.

Tel

Really!?!  That would be a world first, I think, for AC to be mirrored on multiple displays. Brilliant if it happens but I’ll wait and see.  It doesn’t work like that in my wife’s Mazda nor an MY20 RX I had for a couple of days but🤞.

20 minutes ago, Fatts said:

Hi Habu, I ordered the Takumi in Sonic Titanium. The interior is Ochre leather 

I pushed the button today for an RX Takumi in Sonic Titanium (I’ve had the colour before on an NX) with rich cream leather and dark brown shimamoku inlays (same as my current ES).  Hopefully should find out the boat details over the next day or so so I can track it.

Well, I had a good look at the MY21 Mercedes E Class Coupe today.  It’s a stunning car and inside it is absolutely beautiful with amazing tech albeit without ventilated sears.🤔 The finish looks very good too but...all things considered...I’m going to go with a brand new RX Takumi.🙂

1 hour ago, Fatts said:

Interestingly I’ve been told my RX Takumi is also arriving in 3 weeks time. I can’t wait hopefully all the Apple CarPlay software will have been installed from the factory. 

Almost certainly will be on the same boat.  It lands on Friday 13 November!  If I push the button tomorrow to get the car (it’s on reserve for me until mid Monday morning) then I’ll find out which boat it’s on.

Yes, AC and AA are factory fitted for MY20 RX models.

What colour and trim are you going for?

Sorry, but what’s the scheduled auto-navigate?

24 minutes ago, EvilRacer329 said:

Here's a question - I've got the 10" screen in my UX and am getting the CarPlay upgrade next week. Will I be able to still run the main screen in split-screen mode, with the hybrid/battery info in the small panel and the map on the large panel? Or does CarPlay take over the entire screen no matter what? That would be a drag...

Nick

CarPlay takes over the whole screen.  It’s one or the other I’m afraid.  

4 minutes ago, Tel said:

I have rang Lexus & someone is going to come back to me with the answer as I too love the HUD Nav facility that is perfect for driving in busy City traffic.

Tel

Fingers crossed, Tel but I’m not hopeful given how late to the party Lexus were with AA and AC.  Would you use AC for Nav if no instructions were available in the HUD or just resort to the original Lexus system for Nav?

1 hour ago, Barry14UK said:

Interesting what you guys do, I guess many just use water in a bucket, maybe with just something in it to help float off the dirt. I have a clay bar but haven't used it yet but will do so and follow up with some Meguiars preparations I have.  I have only ever used water and designated glass cleaner on my front screen as the advice I saw (admittedly a long time ago), said to keep waxes off of this.  It would seem that an appropriate wax can now be used and I will have to consider this.  I suppose it would also help stop squashed flies etc, sticking to the windscreen which the wipers and windscreen wash do not always fully remove when you are driving.Yes, I was hesitant about applying anything to the windscreen but I’ve had no issues with the wipers being noisy or ‘grabbing’ the glass.  I’ve also applied a ceramic coating to the wheels which makes them so much easier to keep clean.

Make sure your car is thoroughly clean before claying and, good news. you don’t need to thoroughly dry it afterwards either.  You need liberal amounts of a lubricant (I use Meguiars Quik Detailer) and work the clay in your hands beforehand to warm it up and make it soft.  Spray lots of detailer onto a panel or glass pane and lightly work a piece of clay up and down and left to right.  If it starts dragging, spray some more.  Wipe off with a clean micro fire cloth.  Now feel the difference!  Whilst it’s clean, shiny and uber smooth I’d be applying some Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax.  Super easy to apply.

40 minutes ago, Tel said:

The best Nav feature I have on my car is the HUD.

Assume if I have the Apple Car Play the Hud Nav System will still work but is this correct please?

Tel

The recent-ish update to CarPlay allowed the map to be displayed on more than one location - the one location currently being the infotainment screen.  The CarPlay software now permits multiple display options such as the HUD or things like the Audi display in front of the driver.  The onus is now on the car manufacturer to initialise this or not.

I love my HUD - all 10.2” of it - but I’ll only use CarPlay for messages and music and generally not Nav as I’ll miss the directional instructions in the HUD.  I even have the map instructions on for places I visit frequently or where I know the route inside out.

A car I’m going to look at this Sunday doesn’t come with HUD or ventilated seats and both of these are important to me so it would need to be really good elsewhere for me to consider it.  In the meantime my Lexus Centre has reserved an RX Takumi in my spec that’s currently on a boat sailing from Japan.  I need to decide by Sunday.  The boat lands in Bristol 3 weeks today.

For cars older than 12 months it’s worth claying the glass too.  It’s makes the glass super slick so water just slides off plus it makes it less likely to get ice building up on it (or it’s a lot easier to remove).  A coat of Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax on the glass afterwards really boosts the slickness.  I rarely use my wipers now.  Get to 30mph and - whoosh - water gone.

For me, it’s:

- rinse off dust with rainwater from water butt.  If really grimy I snow foam the car with Meguiars foam and Karcher pressure washer

- 2 bucket method to wash with Meguiars Gold Class shampoo or NXT.  Meguiars wash mitt for bodywork and glass + proprietary wheel brushes for wheels and tyres.  I try to avoid wheel cleaning products.

- rinse with rainwater

Both of our cars were treated to G3 glass coat and that really speeds up the washing process.  G3 also applied to glass and wheels.

Thanks Zotto.  I had a GS300h F Sport and it was superb.  Fit and finish plus quality of materials was way in front of any other Lexus I’ve owned including my current ES Takumi and previous NX Takumi.  Overall, the most accomplished to date is my current ES.  Packed full of tech, auto everything, amazing seats and 60+ MPG plus it’s super quiet but I’ve been hankering after an RX for a long time despite it feeling more old fashioned inside than the ES.  Plus, there’s one matching my spec that’s on a boat having left Japan just a few days ago.  

I’ve just been sat in a new RX to see what I think and I’d forgotten just how flipping huge it is both inside and outside.  It’s like a main battle tank.  You could definitely tell / feel it was an RX due to the squishy seats and materials. 

9 minutes ago, rayaans said:

The RX refinement personally is on another league compared to the other vehicle in the Lexus lineup you mention

Feels much more solidly built too. 

Like the E class to Merc, the RX has always been and probably always will be one of their best vehicles

Good to get first hand experience from a long-standing RX owner.

8 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

Seems to me Peter that the dilemma is entirely of your own making.

I`ve had 4 MB`s and am fully aware of its Dealerships. Caveat Emptor.

That’s probably my main concern with buying a MB.  Will the experience be like my local Lexus centre and will the insurance on the MB be crazy due to perceived desirability and potential for jealous vandalism?

Thinking about changing my car (again) and I’ve narrowed it down to:

(i) keep my current 2019 ES Takumi, (ii) get a 21 ES Takumi with digital mirrors, (iii) get a new RX Takumi, (iv) look at the 21 MB E Class Coupe.

My head says keep the current car, my heart is torn between a new RX or an E Class Coupe. I’ve always wanted an RX though and there are some very good deals at the moment, something the MB won’t have.

Is the RX really something special?  I had an NX Takumi and that was ok but, apart from the size and the ICE capacity what makes the RX special to you LOC owners?

Oldish news as I reported this to LOC in July 2020.  Dealers are now being pushed to clear out their CT, IS and RC stock.  It’s frustrating for the dealers as they’ll just be selling SUVs and the ES.  Dealers, like me, wished they’d get the new IS plus being able offer the 3.5 V6 on the NX and RC.  Imagine a 3.5 V6 RC here in the U.K.😈

2 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

Are they tempting because they are MY20 models Peter?

That’s all I can think of too but how different is a MY21 RX going to be against the big change MY20?  Surely not too much?  The only thing I’d like to see on the RX is the wooden steering wheel from my ES (the RX’s wheel is the old style) plus the rear seat control module from my ES Takumi.

Hello all.  We have no doubt seen that Lexus U.K. have made small differences to the ES and LS models for the MY21 year.  The 21 ES is out now.

Has anyone heard anything about a MY21 RX both in terms of what are the changes and when it’s due out?  Personally, I wasn’t expecting an update for MY21 given the big changes for MY20 but my local centre is expecting MY21 models soon but he’s not aware of the changes.

I’d love a new RX - and the prices I’ve seen on carwow are very tempting - but if there’s a MY21 RX ‘just around the corner’ I’ll wait and see first.

Regards

Peter

18 minutes ago, Ian J. Parsley said:

I have "PUSH" on my MY20; don't see much difference at all, actually - the charger looks the same size as mine too.

Does your charger have the rubbery cover that’s easily removable as I think the rigid hinged affair is new to the MY21 models.

On 10/15/2020 at 3:14 PM, m4rkw said:

Anyone know a good source of used OEM wheels other than the usual places like ebay etc?

Have you tried Lexus Parts Direct?  They have very competitive prices albeit new OEM products.  They are part of, I think, Lexus Swindon.

Thinking a little more about this change to the USB cover it has taken away the opportunity to use a shallow 90 degree USB cable as the USBs new height and non removable cover prevents this.  The current USB cover is a removable rubber cover.  The new MY21 cover is thick, hard and securely attached.  

Cars ordered from September 2020 will be MY21 models assuming there’s not a 2020 in Lexus stock somewhere that meets your requirements.  MY21cars for showrooms started arriving October.

I had a look at the MY21 today.  Nothing much to write home about.  Changes included some bright work to the window switches, brushed metal effect to the rotary volume dual, larger wireless charger (=smaller cubby), ‘Push’ written in white writing on the adjustable cup holder (really!?!) and a still hopeless USB position.  Same location but a rigid cap that hinges same way as main cover.  Missed opportunity to stick a USB in the cubby.  Cubby is about 40% smaller than the current model.