Silver Arrow

Thought I'd share a few snippets: Oil Consumption - the car got through half a litre of engine oil in the first 1200 miles, but since then not a drop - pretty much as I expected from a new engine. 2500 miles on and the oil is still clear, which is a good sign (and not something I am used to having had diesels for 11 years). Fuel Economy - this is the one thing that I am still coming to terms with. Cold engine drives yield mid-high teens in built up/traffic light stricken runs - warm engine moderate traffic etc yields low to mid 20's, sometimes 27-8 on an across the town type of run. I was hoping to regularly get high 30's on a run, which is possible, but only with very delicate use of the throttle. the car has a tendency to just drop a cog each time you squeeze the throttle - largely due to a lack of torque and a heavy car. 33-35 is easily attainable on a run without trying too hard. Ride quality - simply superb in my view. The IS 220d had a choppy ride compared to this - which just floats around all day long. The longer wheelbase no doubt helps here. The car mags and reviews seem to suggest that the "ride is compliant enough", but it's much better than that. The E Class Merc is the only car in this class of car that rides better without any electronic or adaptive aids, and even then only marginally (the MB is slightly more wallowy). Handling - this is something you really have to get used to - especially if like me you are used to a rock hard german car. Going into corners at speed can sometimes make things feel nervous as you enter a sweeping A road bend at 60 - but it settles down OK - then as you exit a bend, and straighten up, you get that slight shimmy as the weight shifts around. It makes you realise that this is a heavy car! However, it is very sure footed and Lexus have done a good job overall. It is more cosseting than sporty by some margin. Grip on the 235 45 18 Dunlop Sportmaxx's is very good indeed. If you power and accelerate through bends the car seems more agile as the forces compress it to the tarmac. Engine - this is a bit of a Jekyl and Hide. It's super smooth, and and not at all boomy as some magazines will have you believe. In fact it makes an amazing sound when you kick down - making you think you have more cylinders than you actually do. The lack of torque is the engines only issue or achilles heel. As a result, it drops a gear too prematurely sending the revs up and the economy down. When cruising around, you barely hear it at all - the car is so quiet and the engine so smooth; almost syrupy. Fit and finish - this was one of the areas where the previous GS didn't do well - lots of complaints with regards to rattles etc. The good news is that Lexus have done a much more solid job. Even with the colder mornings of late, as the car warms up, there are no tell tale noises of gaps moving in size as the plastics expand and contract - something my old IS was not good at. The plastic/wood effect trim looks nice, but it seems over engineered and not wood like at all, almost "painted" but the cup holder cubby is well weighted and opens and closes serenely. The external panels are all millimetrically aligned and perfect. The Aluminium controls for the stereo feels well weighted and minimalist look of the interior makes it look clean and modern. Satnav and Multimedia - the mouse/controller is actually very good. I found it daunting at first, but the more you play with it the better and more intuitive it is. I love the way the weighting changes as you navigate the screens - becoming bespoke for each screen you're on. An excellent touch. The nav itself is very good, with 3d imaging, helping you get your bearings. The only really annoying thing is that the TMC just keeps on warning and warning, even if the "holdup" is likely to be less than a 2 minutes. I wish there was a way of adjusting that so that it would only warn you of a better route IF the new route would save more than 20 minutes, for example. The sound system is very good too, but it seems less bassy then the IS was. The sound is crisp and clear, though I have to say a little way off from the £6300 B&O system I tested in an Audi A8 (which blew my socks off). Still, for the extra £1000 at new, the Lexus one is excellent. I only recently tried a good DVD in the car, and the surround sound was amazing. Overall impressions: This is an excellent car; to make it perfect, it needs a few things tweaking - such as stop/start (to improve Co2), and more torque (though without a Turbo that could be challenging). Servicing costs are unreasnable in this modern day and age - being every 10,000 miles. However, it's becoming incrediblt value for money - some of the early ones are now available at lexus dealers for less than £29000 in Luxury spec - that is the bargain of the century. All I need to do is sort out the juddering wiper and get some touch up paint - seems Lexus suffer much more due to soft paint than other car I have ever owned.

lol - I have given the car windscreen a good clean, and tried new wiper blades (at my cost - still used to BMW dealers always making the customer pay for EVERYTHING). The car has NEVER been anywhere near an auto wash (or even an eastern european owned hand wash). I even treated it with Rain-X to see if that would help - but it hasn't. I think a trip to the dealers is on the cards. Thankfully it's only a small problem!! It seems to me that the wiper arm is pressing the wiper down so hard, that the ends are splaying away from the glass!

The car has had this since new (July), and it also seems to "miss" a section of cleaning on the downward swipe on the drivers side in two places - where the "U" is that holds the blade in place, and at the lowest edge of the wiper (in both cases by about 3 inches). I replaced the OEM wiper blades with Retro Aero Flat blades, and whilst they seemed better, it only lasted a day or so. Now they too are showing an identical trait, so it seems it's more than the wiper blade. The passenger side is perfect. So the question is - does anyone know what to do? I've read some forums that mention twisted arms etc - but surely not on a brand new car!!??

Nice review. I concur with everything you've written, except my 2006 model (one of the first) could just about hit 40mpg on a run. The notchy gears won't improve much I'm afraid - it's a common trait, and there was no fix available for the windscreen crack in 2008 when I departed with mine. The 2006 also had a massive flat spot below 1800rpm....

I seem to recall several tests in the past (car mags), all were inconclusive...but we did have that "silicon gate" debacle a few years ago!!

That's why I bought one... ;-) I was really worried with my IS220d - I had that from new but knew it would be a handful after the warranty had gone, so it went after 30 months. I was really worried with the Beemer too. As far as depreciation goes, petrol Mercs and BM's don't suffer well either. I have been keeping an eye on the IS250, and other than a few problems with start rattle, it seemed good. So this time I went for it....but the GS with what is effectively that engine.

Larry, what model?? Other than the new RX, Lexus's don't fare well with regards to depreciation.

Silly silly suggestion, but you have reset the trip computer, haven't you?????

OK - so the 16-23 is based on 2-3 mile runs, or school runs with a totally cold engine. The 525d was about 20% better (19-27), so for that sort of driving I don't think anyone would beat those MPG figures around where I live because it is all stop/start. Seems like your town drives are more "sensible" and give better MPG. I'm sure it would be better than the 300 SEL. The best way to check is to zero the trip computer on a test drive and drive the way you drive - you'll know immediately if it's OK or not.

If you do gor for a brand new one, start at the Broadspeed.com discount price - mine was £3k -which Inchcape (who own broadspeed) willingly just gave me ;-). That was in July.... Right now you should be able to get a little more off I suspect, especially on a 250. Good luck mate. I'm not sure how many of the 250's are actually sold to people....lol I've still only seen one other than mine on the roads. by the way - I bought GAP from www.ala.co.uk for £250 (4 years), and did the paint treatment myself. Used Carlack68 (Klasse) and Carnuba and it looks absolutely beautiful. Treated the alloys to Autoglym Alloy wheel seal, which I swear is just furniture polish (smells like Mr Sheen, goes on like Mr Sheen...must be....). The wheels are powder coated at new now, so hopefully won't just bubble away in 6 months....

Exactly - I had to get rid of the 525d M Sport because the ride was horrific, the seats were uncomfortable (very firm with no lumber support) and whilst the car handled well, it was a "hard" drive leading to back ache. The Audi's are great - if you go for the Stronic versions/Quattro - avoid the Multitronics. The Multi's have a delay at start off too - very disconcerting - you press the throttle and nothing for half a second - which is a long time when you hit the pedal. There are very few SE GS's about, so a Luxury is the one to go for. Considering that there are some demo's just north of £30k, I should have waited lol, but the ML is superb and it's worth finding one with that. Find one with that and you can't go wrong.... I did take a long hard look at the XF, but I didn't think that the interior was made that well. It looked nice, but the hatch on the cup holders felt very cheap....

That's why I avoided the GS450h though the performance in terms of speed in a 450h will be much better. The smaller boot, £10k premium etc make it a tough choice and as you say a lot of petrol and VED can be had. I get the whole thing about economy, but if you buy a diesel it's still much cheaper overall as a 530d or a MB 350CDi has similar performance for £000's less than a 450h (though less toys) and depreciation on a Lexus isn't exactly brilliant. If you don't want a german luxury car, then in the UK you don't have much choice. I just hope they don't stop the 250. It'll plummet in value like a stone :-( On a run the GS250 easily manages 33-37 - it's around town when the extra weight and lack of torque make the economy head downwards so fast it's unbelievable. Don't get me wrong the GS250 is fantastic as a car, just the economy is something I am getting used to! In town I'm not bettering 16-23 mpg, but that's stop start and largely on a cold engine. Other than that I have no regrets, but I came over from a BMW 525d M Sport Auto, 3.0ld which was faster, much more economical etc. But I only do 8k a year too now, so it's not too bad and I knew what I was getting into as I drove everything in the price bracket. For a private buyer the Lexus is a brilliant car!! It's so much better in many respects, and the dealers are superb. You really should do as I did and drive everything in the price range - especially as it's your own cash - that way you will know immediately what feels and is right. A 1 hour drive in the Lexus sold it to us, so I don't regret it all.

Mine was an impulse purchase, if you can call it that. I think I mentioned before that I had totally overlooked the GS after my bad IS220d, which had put me off Lexus altogether, with that experience playing on my mind. I had an appointment at Audi Derby, to test drive a A7 Sportback quattro, but we got there early. The Lexus garage was across the road. We went in to kill time and booked a test drive of a GS250 Lux for later that day. Went back to Audi, and the silver A7 had a faulty drivers seat, and only 4 seats even though they said it was a 5 seater over the phone! The PEX price for my car was way too low and the Audi was overpriced. Went back to Lexus, test drove it....and fell in love! We were flexible on the colour choice, and there was one in "transit" which seemed to have a good colour combo (Silver/Black leather), due delivery in about 2 weeks and the garage knocked £3k off - which we bought, collected as promised etc. The car had 5 miles on the ODO at collection, totally fault free and still is. The service at Lexus Derby was amazingly good.... So come on - do reveal!! lol

I still think the 3m Clear Vinyl is the way to go - just need time to get a quote!!

Self healing paint.....

Klasse on mine (Carlack 68 in the UK) which I did myself - first AIO (All in one), then 2 coats of sealant glaze (24 hours apart, car garaged), then 3 coats of P21s carnuba. And it's still becoming swiss cheese lol Am seriously considering a 3m film bra. Not one available yet for the GS in pre-cut form as far as I know. It's like a clear vinyl wrap, though most vinyl wrappers should be able to get it, cut it and stick it!! Need to investigate....even just for the front bumper where mine is getting peppered!

I've been looking at eBay and there is so little available....and what is available is £00's abroad! I can't see the car selling well here at all. There is such a focus on low Co2 and diesel cars here - also the PCP deals on new GS don't stack up. The deposits are way too high - largely because the GFV is so low - someone has to pay that shortfall!! The good thing for us is that the car will be rare, intriguing, and there will be a good demand on the 2nd hand market from Gen2 IS owners who want to upgrade. So it might hold it's value better between years 3-6.

Nice update - mine is on 3 months now, 1800 miles, and I too have a slight passenger seat rattle - only when no one is sitting on it. I reckon its the seat belt buckle striking the B post cowel. I know guys on here rave about how quiet an IS is, but I have had both - and the Gen2 IS is no where near this quiet....and other than the minor seat rattle this car is totally silent! It just feels so well built -compared to any Lexus I've had the pleasure with! Fuel economy is the one area where I am slightly disappointed - driving in ECO medium congestion, normally, I cannot get higher than 16mpg urban, compared to 22 officially. On a run mid 30's is easily possible. The only areas where the car is a Toyota are on labels in the fuse boxes, and one or 2 minor switches, plus the cruise control stalk. Straight out of an Avensis, but other than that it feels almost German.... Slight wallowy ride, but excellent otherwise. I too have 6 or so chips already :-( the one area where Lexus is bad compared to the german marques - the paint is too soft. It scratches so easily. my IS suffered terribly and this will fair no better. My E60 was newer than the IS but the paint was much harder, though didn't have depth/lusture. I know about water based thinners etc, but the germans' use the same rules and do not have paint this soft!

Nice colour - I had an IS220d in that colour!! Welcome! Just prise off the speaker grill - sick some felt around the edges and fix the speaker gril back again. Common fault.

The serene quietness is what helped sell it to me. The pillarless Audi A7 was too noisy around the B Post and the 5 series just rode too hard. The Merc was closest, but the E Class didn't seem that modern or well made. Where Audi are gunning for BMW, it seems Lexus are gunning for MB

Just rip the original CD onto your hard drive (Computer hard disk, not a CD) using iTunes, Windows Media player, or Roxio etc, then using windows explorer just drag and drop the whole folder/Album with the MP3/WMA files in it onto the memory stick. Simplest way. The MLS will read all your folders.

Finally - I make it three owners with the new GS on here or so. OK - so mainly motorway, not hard driving and 38 is lower than I would have thought...mine is averaging 32-34 (actual at the pumps), on a mainly motorway run but of course I have much less performance as well.... I found that just getting a micro USB stick is perfect for music, like THIS which works perfectly. It's as good as a hard drive. It's so small that it takes up no space in the arm rest - just the rubber flap stays slightly ajar. Just copy MP3's, WMA's etc onto it (and in folders etc) and they work really well. The system allows you to sort into Album, Artist etc and the speech recognition allows you to just say "Play album Thriller" and hey presto! You get Jacko! The door locking thing or lack of is really silly on a car like this. I was told you could too....but alas NO! You can also connect to the internet by creating a dial up network account, but I can't still as I am with EE (Orange). Vodafone and O2 are a doddle to set up. How good is the adaptive suspension???? My budget wouldn't stretch to the Premier, which is what I really wanted!!

Well it might. I've seen Sytner and Inchcape quotes and when one was cheaper, the other followed suit, which makes me think they are taking the michael..... Both are trying to sell me their own plans, but I wanted to compare prices to the Lexus official plan. I was told the prices haven't been announced yet by Lexus. If the pukka Lexus one is similarly priced then I would take that as it means I can go to any franchise. One thing is for sure - Lexus are horrendously expensive to service compared to any of the german cars.

Anyone?

I have read some topics about this, but is it better to buy a Sytner or Inchcape service plan, or the Lexus own one? I'm being told that the Lexus one is likely to be more expensive, but it means I can use any dealership, rather than being tied to a franchise. Anyone with any experience on this?