Spottedlaurel

When I added my Mk1 LS400 to my combined daily/classic policy that I have with Footman James they were initially reluctant, saying it wasn't a classic, but maybe having four other cars on the policy at the time and wanting to keep my business helped them see sense. Yet you say Saga don't like it as an everyday driver, so how is it meant to be insured?! Last week I bought a 1996 Toyota Carina E. FJ simply wouldn't add it at sensible cost to my policy, even with my 2014 RX as they everyday car, so I had to get a separate classic policy. Again it was in a bit of a grey area, but eventually I got a sensible quote off RH Specialist Insurance. Policy seems to be with ERS. They've been good to deal with on the phone so far and I used to insure with them and had no complaints (but never had to make a claim).

Have you tried the Lexus Roadside Assistance? Daughter's boyfriend took it out on his '90s LS400 for the trip to France they've just started, doesn't appear to have an age limit although I imagine market value will come into play for a recovery back home.

Not in my experience, plugs don't need changing until they've done their full 60k. The schedule says as much, I had mine done at eight years old when it'd done 60,000 miles.

I doubt there's much difference in MPG between any of the 3rd generation 450 models. My 2014 Luxury is currently getting around 37mpg, but that's with 4+ years of hybrid driving experience behind me and wafting around on relatively gentle East Anglian roads. Shorter journeys and/or hillier routes would make a difference. There's a good guide to the RX450 trim levels and their equipment pinned at the top of this forum.

Thanks Herbs, decision made.

Any reason why you went for that one Herbs, rather than one of the full cover types? Price is somewhat in their favour, and it would be easier to store when out of use. I stand to be corrected, but I'm not sure if we have the same issue on the 3rd generation models i.e. 2009-15.

I would say my non-air Luxury model suffers similarly on roads as you describe. It's a tall, heavy car and I presume they gave it fairly firm suspension to limit body roll. I can drive on similar roads in my 1992 LS400 and the ride on that is in a different league. Even the 1999 Avensis with 277k miles that I occasionally drive is better. When I changed to a full set of Continental all-seasons from an aged mix of Dunlops and Michelins the ride got a bit better, but I'd say it's still the thing that's least like a luxury car about it. That being said, it's other qualities of smoothness and refinement are why I still enjoy it after 4+ years, and I have no plans to change it for at least as long again.

Thanks Barney. Your SportCross looked very nice, was it a 200 or 300? An now RX fills the gap left by a couple of much-missed Camry estates - sadly there aren't many big, modern Japanese estates to choose from. By coincidence, the day you posted your message I was at the second East Coast Japanese show of the year. A selection from this time around: Late Mk4 looked tidy. I was pleased to see the other early LS400 and compare it with mine, as suspected it is a Mk2 and I now know how to spot a few of the differences (most of them internal). This particular one is now on coilovers, with air suspension due to be fitted soon. The owner fits stainless steel Powerflow exhausts for a living, it'll be good to get mine along to someone who knows about the LS. Trio of 6th gen Celicas. I'd be happy to have a 2-litre model someday. RX-7 looked smart, certainly good inspiration for a future 1/24 model build. A few MR2s there. Hopefully daughter's boyfriend will get his there at some point. A couple of different Crown estates in attendance again. I had a good look at the other one, certainly something to think about. Modified GT-R another one that is something I'll be recreating at 1/24 scale at some point. I'd have been very happy to take this Prelude home. This one is the 4-wheel steering model. Not just newer/sportier models came along. This Carina dates from 1971, it's platform being shared with the Celica.

My sticker arrived from France today, excellent service as I only ordered it a week ago. Must remind daughter and BF to get one sorted, assuming they can for their Mk4 LS400.

Don't dismiss a late example of the 3rd gen RX, up to 2015/16. I find mine to be very capabale and competent, and I don't believe they suffer with the Canbus theft issue. Apart from the rare SE on 18s, they run 19" wheels which offer greater choice than the 20s fitted to most 4th gen models. I've had no issues with mine in 4+ years and 47,000 miles. I avoided a model with a sunroof or air suspension. The latter can be an issue on the 3rd gen RX, but they dropped it on the 2016-on model.

I don't have plans to enter any of the zones shown on the official map, but we do go close to one or two of them on this year's holiday and for the sake of a few Euros it would be better to have one of these in case we have to make an unscheduled visit. Just gone through the process, commendably straightforward.

Nice one. What colour/mileage? Good opportunity to fit all seasons at all four corners.

Good news! Did you buy it through a dealer or privately?

This isn't something I've managed to achieve too often in my 2014 3rd gen RX, but as I'm dragging my overall MPG up (now at an indicated 35.1) and the weather is getting warmer, helped by some longer journeys, it's happening more often. Ever since I started driving I've always reset the trip meter when I fill up, and that's usually my guide as to when I should next stop for fuel. As I go through the tank I then add that to the cruising range to see what it's predicting. It's starting me off at something like 460-465 miles, but as I drive around at better than 35 then I get closer to the 500 miles figure. I try not to go too near empty, the total usually starts dropping again as I get towards the next fill-up. But to see this figure of 500 at some point is pleasing enough. I have filled-up again since the above shot. When I parked-up it was showing just over 40MPG and 502 miles trip + range, and I think the highest total I've seen so far is 503. Can I make it to 510? My journeys are a mix of Norfolk/Suffolk A-roads, country lanes, towns and villages and the odd bit of dual carriageway. I don't drive particularly slowly, I've found the trick is to carry speed and use any opportunity to lift my foot just slightly. It's surprising how often it will maintain speed with next to no throttle. With that info screen I can then easily see what's happening (more so then the energy screen, or the main dial). The bars are a quick indication of how I've been doing. Tyres are Continental All Seasons all round at 2.3, and the AC is on all the time. I'm usually using E10 fuel, often from the supermarket. Occasionally I give it some E5 but my journeys aren't consistent enough to see if it makes any great difference - perhaps I'll try again on the next fill-up. I had new plugs at the last big service (60k) and the mileage is now approaching 70,000. I don't obsess about this (honest!), it's just something to keep me engaged as I drive around on the work commute, meeting/survey visits etc. As a comparison, my wife's 2010 Toyota Auris 1.6 (non-hybrid) gets around 42-43MPG on similar journeys. I'm sure a newer RX would be even nicer and maybe a touch more ecomonical, but I'm happy to keep this one while it continues to do this and offer such comfortable, relaxing and capable transport.

If I go for a 5th gen model one day I'll try and limit myself to one with 19's, there seems to be a good choice in that size. We've seen 4th gen RX owners on here struggle to find much in 20" (especially All Seasons).

I was in my LS400 last Sunday and exchanged waves with a similar K-reg LS coming the other way. A pretty rare occurence I would says nowadays, but they attend the odd local show and I'd seen it an event a couple of weeks beforehand. Need to catch up with the owner at some point. I wouldn't do it in the RX, although it is pretty rare that I see another one on the road around here.

Thanks! Facebook page here, no sign-in required to view dates etc: https://www.facebook.com/EastCoastJapanese/ Next Sunday meet June 11th at Foxhall Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich, IP3 8JU. No club stands or anything, just all welcome so long as it's Japanese.

Sorry to hear of your problems with that car. I rate my 2014 RX very highly, get a good one and it should give many years of troublefree motoring. It makes for an interesting comparison with this one, similar age and mileage at my local main dealer for just under £15k: https://www.steveneagell.co.uk/lexus/pre-owned/16057545 My RX is now coming up to 70,000 miles and I have owned it for over four years. I plan to keep it for at least another 5-6 years.

I went to the local East Coast Japanese car club meet at Ipswich yesterday, saw a few things which may be of interest (and possibly known) here...... I left the LS400 at home and took my Datsun, along with a load of spare/duplicate kits (I managed to sell a few). The Lexus can have a trip there next time. Had a pleasant chat with the long-term owner of this Mk4 DHP. The mesh grille was nicely done, similar to what Toyota/Lexus UK did on some of their home-grown Sport/SR models in the late '90s. For @Malc1, at least two Mk3s came along. Should have spent more time looking at this one. As a '93 I suspect it's a Mk2 rather than a Mk1 - despite owning one of the latter I can't readily recall the differences (if they're on non-standard wheels at least). VIP treatment is a natural look for these big saloons. A few examples of Chaser/Mark II and Crown to be seen, including this oddity: Blit is apparently the wagon version of the Mark II, it ran from 2002 to 2007. Nice use of the GS300 Sport type staggered alloys on this Crown Athlete. I've probably missed the boat now, but I do like the Sportcross. A shame Lexus didn't persevere with it, or any sort of estate version of the other saloons. Had a good chat with the owner of this GS-F, who kindly let me and my son sit in it and enjoy the V8 sound. He turned out to also have a Gen 3 RX450h, and he's in equal admiration of his. Hello and thanks if you're on here! A friend had this lovely Celica Liftback there. I had a chat with the organisers about how we could try to get more older Japanese cars to come along. Supra was LHD and looked like it might be US-spec. Great to see this rare Lancer Turbo. I had a couple of 1980s Accords and they were great to drive with a smooth, well-engineered feel. I can only imagine these enjoy the same qualities, I'd happily have one someday. The location of the show at an old RAF site which now houses an aviation museum made for an interesting backdrop. ECJ host the event 4-5 times a year here, well worth a visit with the museum as an added attraction. Thanks for looking!

Not on the public highway: My old Mk3 did this with consummate ease at a trackday on an RAF base. Don't know if I'd subject my current Mk1 to the same thing, but driven within speed limits it feels like it has so much more to give and wants to keep pulling.

Having read this I was fearing the worst for my renewal. I have a multi car policy with Footman James for the RX daily plus 1980 Datsun (with agreed value) and 1992 LS400 as classics, no limit on the mileage for any of them, Class 1 business use on the RX and Datsun (for some reason they won't extend it to the LS, which is SDP + commuting). I think it's with Ageas. Anyway, I think mine went down by £10! I seem to remember that it also went down for my wife's 2010 Auris, when her Tesco renewal came through earlier in the year. Odd.

I'd dearly love that, especially with it being on a Norfolk 'CL' plate. It's like an incredibly good version of mine, even down to the colour, but with fewer owners and much lower mileage. Even if I spent £17k on mine I doubt it would be that nice. Day-to-day it might not be quite as useable as a Mk3 or 4, but as a statement of intent of what Lexus were about I find it very appealing.

I don't recall the blind rattling in the four years I've had mine, but I did have a squeaking noise which appeared to come from the tailgate area. I put felt strips on the little plastic flap surrounding the tailgate latch and I think somewhere each side of the tailgate where there appeared to be plastc-to-plastic contact. If the centre rear seat isn't fully clicked into its neighbour then that can make a terrible racket. Soulds like I'm in agreement with Bill. For a company that made a lot of really good estate cars I find the rear seat/loadbay cover to be not so good. I wonder if something is missing on mine as there's a gap between the seats and cover (even my son's 2004 Yaris has something to hide that if the rear seats are slid forwards), and the back of the blind itself would be better attached to the tailgate. As a whole it doesn't seem as substantial as it could do, and any rattles are exaggerated by the ride. On the positive side, as I found when we moved house the RX can take a lot of weight! I ferried lots of cars brochures, books and magazines back and forth and it took them quite happily. The firm suspension doesn't drop too much and there's plenty of power on hand.

Treat yourself, go for the RX. That money should get you a 3-4yr old 4th gen model with low mileage from a main dealer and you'll have a choice of colour/trim level. As you're already used to driving a hybrid you ought to get half-decent economy for something so refined with the V6. I don't seeing anything else of those you mention having the same special feel. I went to my 3rd gen RX a few years ago from an Avensis and I don't regret it at all, I shall be keeping it for a few years more until the time comes to change to a later RX.

Sad news indeed. It won't be the same without him.