Steve44

+1 , reason I've kerbed both front alloys is I find it hard to judge exactly where the front of the car is, due to the bonnet sloping away and the dips and swoops out to the wheel arches. Reversing into spaces with the reversing camera I find it relatively easy to park squarely, lining up the various guidelines .

Not tried the parallel parking option. Having Kerbed both front alloys, I'm too paranoid now to do a parallel park. The perpendicular parking using the reversing camera with guides is great though, very easy to judge and works every time.

Try a free software tool like duckcapture which allows you to screenshot an entire webpage and save it as a jpeg. http://www.ducklink.com/p/free-screen-capture-tool/

If it was at the bottom of the rev counter display, then press the right hand up/down button on the steering wheel to cycles through the various display, it should be one of them. If it isn't, press the button on the steering wheel to move the rev counter, then using the same button as above click left/right to get to the settings menu, it's only available if you are stopped. In the settings, you can change which of the mpg displays is displayed in the 4 areas available. Current mpg, Since refuel, Since reset, Since start, range and energy meter are the choices I think.

Buy the Lexus. Drive it on the motorway and don't worry about the mpg being less than a diesel. Price of petrol is less, BIK is less, you get more for money with in car gadgets and it is quieter and way more refined than any diesel. Mine is costing me 11 to 12 pence per mile on fuel alone. My company is paying me the current hmrc rate which is 20 ppm, this offsets any issues on Mpg for me.

It took me about 4wks of fiddling with the seat before I was happy, and I did have some pain to begin with, but that was down to my body adjusting to the new seat and position. Now it is perfect. Benefit of Premier is you have 3 memory positions for the seat. I set mine up as close as I got to fully comfortable and then set it to 1, then if I got a bit of pain, I adjusted till I was comfortable then set to 2 and so on...... Now I have my perfect seating position. Need to wear it in like a new pair of shoes!

The look on the face of a guy driving a new Audi A5 TDI Quattro the other night, when I out dragged him at 3 sets of traffic lights and at a rolling 40mph drag race away from the end of the roadworks on the A46 round Coventry, tells you all you need to know about the performance of the IS300h. Yes the economy took a battering, but that is relative in any car. I totally agree with Ganzoom's view on refinement. A trip in a colleagues Merc Diesel Hybrid had me shuddering from the very start at how rattly and noisy the drive train was compared to the Lexus. If the car fits space wise, I'd pick the Lexus.

Not an accountant, but do run the Lexus as a company car, where my employer pays the full cost of the car, including maintenance, insurance and business fuel. I do about 25k business and about 5k personal miles a year and claim back the business mileage at the current hmrc rate for company vehicles with engine >2000cc, currently 20ppm. I also make a personal contribution monthly to the cost of the car. This affects my personal tax position on the car, 40% payer. Overall, the car is costing me approx £130 a month once I factor in the profit I make on business fuel (costs me about 10-12ppm to run) plus private fuel. It's costing my employer much more. It's on a nominal 4yr/100k lease but I fully expect it to go back sooner to protect the residuals. Surely your mileage is very relevant as this will effect the overall cost as Lexus service intervals are 12k and expensive. On the up side, the Bridgestone tyres are like rocks and crap, 20k miles and barely run in, lol!

+1, pulse and glide getting the ev light to stay on as long as possible. I read that it is more efficient to accelerate sharply to speed then resort to this method, as the elec motor is most efficient maintaining speed, rather than trying to get there. Speed is the killer though, as above 50mph you will get little ev benefit. Above 70mph on the motorway efficiency drops off quickly As the engine works harder. A-roads at between 40-50 is probably most efficient progress, I've had 60+ over 10's of miles even on my Fsport which seems hampered more than the other cars due to either gearing or mapping, not sure which. Don't forget to get your tyres at optimum pressure too, 36-38 is good.

Reviewer is running an Exec model, with std Nav and rotary controller. We don't know which sw version though. I run my Nav with the voice turned to 0 and the audio doesn't cut out.

Go to your local dealer and ask. If their is one it will be done in about 15mins. I assume you have a non SatNav version? Versions with D/E/F were discussing software for Premium Sat Nav.

maybe but plenty of diesels would return 55+ mpg with similar treatment. BMW 320d or 330d M Sport driven enthusiastically are only getting low to mid 40's mpg according to owners forums. Car Mag and Autoexpress both did a hybrid driver trainer day and achieved 50mpg+ in their FSport and Premier models, when driven in eco mode and with a mind to sensibility, but that doesnt make an interesting comparison. I do feel the press spin a good story and manipulate the facts and figures to their own ends.

Hear, hear! However, they were driving an FSport version at above legal speeds up and down motorway in sport mode, thus getting about 35mpg. Kind of biases their viewpoint, very unfairly I would add.

Reason it's hidden away is it is not available for all European countries, so it's almost an afterthought for UK market. Guess it is easier/cheaper to design a single interface for all than have a UK specific one. Still, you'd expect a magazine to check their facts. I've read all the Car Mag entries for the IS, and on a previous one he explains that a reader had emailed in to explain postcodes were on the 2nd page. Poor they don't read their own copy.

Straight from the manual. Suspension is only firmer in Sport+, also stiffens steering. AVS does work all the time though to manage ride comfort and roll. Sport mode • SPORT S mode Assists acceleration response by controlling the hybrid system. Suitable for when powerful acceleration is desirable. When not in SPORT S mode and the driving mode select switch is turned to the right, the “SPORT S” indicator comes on, and the hybrid system indicator changes to the tachometer. (P. 110) • SPORT S+ mode Helps to ensure steering performance and driving stability by simultaneously controlling the steering and suspension in addition to the hybrid system. Suitable for sporty driving. When in SPORT S mode and the driving mode select switch is turned to the right, the “SPORT S+” indicator comes on. Make sure you try out the ASC (Active Sound Control) is both fully on in Sport/Sport+ and off in Normal/Eco to see the difference between growly noise and quiet relaxed comfort!

The IS300h can travel up to 50mph on ev with careful application of the throttle and favourable conditions, but only for a mile or so before the battery is depleted. The C350e is on my radar as a potential replacement, but like for like specification, it is more expensive and probably no more economical either. I'd also question whether the refinement is up to par and also how the integration of the engine and hybrid powertrain works, it's pretty seemless in the Lexus. The C300 BlueTec Hybrid diesel version is less refined and more prone to using the engine over the elec motor. Though it is much faster. It is even more of an electric assist engine than the Lexus. Each to their own really, have you driven a IS300h yet?

Yep, energy screen shows the hybrid battery. The car systems manage all the charge and discharge of it via the engine and regeneration braking. I've only seen it completely full, all bars, on a couple of occasions. The car manages the cycles of the cells to optimise the battery condition, so seeing it only 3/4 full or less is fine. If it needs charging, it will just run the engine.

.....the centre glove box is cooled! Didn't know that, but everything very chilly inside today. Also had the opportunity to get the cooled seats going again, refreshing the places you normally can't reach! Magic.

I'm guessing you are talking about the small 12v battery in the boot which only powers the basic start up system of the car. It is charged/recharged from the main Hybrid battery which does everything else and you don't have access too. I wouldn't worry.

Pics of my Rose Leather seats - 19.5K miles in 8mths. I'm not sure how the other thread of the damaged seat/seatbelt can happen, as my belt hangs naturally away from the seat.

Hi Craig, I have all but one of the options you want (Mark Levinson), here are my answers to your questions 1. AVS makes a big difference, it softens up the normal ride ( ECO, Normal, Sport mode) to almost standard levels, but then gives a stiffer ride in Sport+. It is noticeable even on the motorway, going over catseyes, the car responds with a thud, its too fidgety for my likening for any kind of long distance. But normally, the car rides very well in my opinion even on the rubber band tyres. I couldn't find a test car with AVS to try and bought it blind, as a "well it couldn't be worse than a std car could it?" thought. Very happy. 2. I'll put some pics up of my Rose Leather seats later, but after 19.5k miles in 8mths, they are holding up well, no where near as bad as those other pics. Worst bit is there is a bit of die transfer from Jeans, but I'm doing what i can to keep that down. Some creasing on the bolster as people have already said as there isn't really a way of getting in and out without scuffing across them. Also a weird triangular 3 hole marking at shoulder blade level, where the vented seat blower is! I'll put up some pics later today. Best bit is the proper leathery smell if it has been sitting in the sun for a day. 3&4. The Nav system is IMO down to personal preference. Now I'm use to it, it is fine and the mouse controller is fine too. I don't think the graphics look too out of date, I think they are pretty clear to read most of the time (was in a friends Merc with full Command, little cars drawn on road showing traffic, other colours and navigation system with knob, looked old fashioned to me now). Some of the features are good, some could be better, I've had 3 Firmware upgrades (vers D to F) already and Vers G is out now, so Lexus are responding to fix issues, but the design is as it is. Other manufacturers are having issues to, just go and have a look at the BMW or Audi or Merc forums, they also have issues with phone compatibility, connected services and cost of map updates etc. 5. Can't comment on that, as mine was bought new and as a company car, but my dealer experience has been OK so far.

For what its worth, my experiences with Android phones and compatibility with Lexus Premium Nav system are 1. Samsung Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300) stock Android, latest updates (v4.3 JellyBean) - works ok, phonebook, call history, SMS all work, email doesn't. Traffic data works but isn't stable over either Bluetooth or WiFi Hotspot, car keeps disconnecting with phone on both and reconnecting. Bluetooth audio works too. 2. Motorola Moto G (4G series 1) - stock Android, latest updates (v4.4.2 KitKat) - works OK, phonebook, call history transfer, but often get Can't Transfer message (i think this is phone related, as a reboot often fixes it). SMS doesn't work, despite Lexus site saying it should, tries to connect and fails, nothing I could find could make it work. Email doesn't work either. Traffic data is stable over WiFi hotspot. Bluetooth audio works too. 3. HTC One (M7), stock Android on latest v5.0.1 Lollipop - works OK, phonebook, call history transfer, SMS works, email doesn't. Traffic data stable on WiFi hotspot. Bluetooth audio should work, not tried it yet. On Android, there isn't anything to change in the Bluetooth settings to enable SMS, it either will work or not. Sometimes you need to pair the phone, allow it to connect, then turn car off and oon again, then try to connect SMS in the messages setting. I have found setting the audio device to connect from Phone and not from the car, improves stability of the overall connection. You can find this in the device info setting in Bluetooth settings in the car.

Maybe Toyota/Lexus haven't revised the Safety pack options yet, because they have something new coming............ http://www.autoevolution.com/news/lexus-and-toyota-to-introduce-new-low-cost-safety-systems-on-2016-rx-and-2016-rav4-hybrid-93880.html

nope, not an April Fool! http://media.toyota.co.uk/2015/04/lexus-delivers-higher-quality-and-greater-value-with-revised-is-300h-range/ the price reductions are good, but the CO2 reductions are token, as they don't change the tax bands.

Congrats on having the first Lexus IS Fire Engine!