Roscobbc

Hi All

I am about to choose a company car and am considering the new IS300H Advance Model.

I current drive an Audi A4 2.0 TDie Technik - 2010 plate.

All the online reviews for the Lexus seem to suggest it's the perfect company car due to low Benefit In Kind (BIK). I had an IS300H for 4 days and found it ok to drive. It excelled in urban traffic but I found it a bit mentally exhausting on the motorway trying to optimise fuel economy. On the urban I managed about 45 MPG. On the motorway, I managed about 50-MPG - but at a push. In my current car, I can easily achieve 50MPG when on the motorway, but only about 35 MPG on the urban.

There is also a lot of ant-diesel rhetoric which worries me as successive governments forced us down the diesel route. There is nothing else on my choices list other than BMW and I am not keen in this brand.

Last year I did about 5000 business miles and 8000 personal miles.

Options:

1. Order the IS300h - Advance model - will be stuck with it for 4 years !

2. Choose another car i.e. diesel ( not Audi as not available on my list of choices )

3. Keep the Audi A4 - i.e. buy the current lease car and run it myself

I am not too concerned about the running costs as these will be picked up by the lease company.

Any advice appreciated as I must make a decision very soon.

Nick

My IS300H Exec is a company car - had it now 7 months. Done 15K miles. Its contact hired, as is all our vehicles. It replaced a BMW 120D Sport auto. This in turn replaced a Passat estate (also an auto). I take the tax 'hit' on private mileage. Irrespective of anything (i.e BIK issues, reduced running costs etc) the Lexus is a much nicer place to be in all day. Its so nice to get away from diesel power. Hybrid is so relaxing, especially in heavy urban traffic. My driving is all within London and M25 motorway journeys. IMHO there is no contest.

I suffer from back issues following removal of a lower disc some years ago. I need to sit low with the seat back reclined. Previous BMW120D Sport had superb range of seat adjustment and was 100% perfect for me. Yes, I was a little concerned about the lack of adjustability on my Executive spec. I needed have worried as it is great - the lack of adjustable lumber and thigh support is fine. The only issue for me is if someone else uses it for a few days - or its in for a service is re-establishing the seat settings. Tend to wonder why after a few hours my back or neck is aching - and its only due to the seat needing adjusting.

Very, very good analysis Gang - my 'dailies' are always company vehicles - currently there is no way that a Tesla would financially work for me (and I am 'locked-in' to the IH300H for another 30 months) - operationally, yes a Tesla would work as I travel mainly within the M25. The 'real' game changer will be when Tesla offer their 'promised' £30K car - I can see many, many company car users changing to this. I still have concerns about no's of Tesla's Supercharger stations - can't see them being anything like the size of Tesla's depicted images - the logistics of specific Supercharger stations will be difficult (in terms of no's of charging bays per station) - currently there is one in Bluewater, Canning Town, Heathrow, Brent Cross and Canary Wharf (Portland Square is closed due to the recent hotel fire) I have just noticed that there is now one at Northampton (id that new?) one at Birmingham, Barnsley and Leeds - the Edinburgh one is a 'stretch) There are none yet on the South Coast, East Anglia and West Wales. Perhaps I'm being overly sceptical about this - looking at the number of Supercharger stations in central Europe!

Gang - you are 'so' correct in everything you say - yes, take advantage of these vehicles before the general public 'learn' how good they actually are - the future? - well lets just take it as it comes! - BTW I took an extended test drive some years ago when my son wangled some test drives for me at the local Honda dealership where he had a Saturday job. The Integra was the very best balanced front wheel drive performance car I have ever driven - docile enough for Granny to plod around town - yet enough manic performance and handling to satisfy petrol heads. Also drove the Legend saloon - yet another underrated car that handled far better than it had any right to!

What is fascinating to me about the 'performance' versions of the Tesla is that in the 'States on the drag strips in stock trim they are at least the equal to, if not quicker than other vehicles that are acknowledged as being 'state of the art' performance cars. If only they did a two door coupe version! - it would replaces the C7 ZO6 and Challenger Hellcat as dream vehicles for me!

I am pleased that someone has posted all these figures and comparisions - and yes the 'all electric' vehicle does look like a very sensible purchase formany people. The cost of the Tesla is quite significant - perhaps the new 'smaller' version planned will be better suited to more buyers pockets. Living in outer London and seeing over the years - in this order, firstly the introduction of the congestion charge (and succesive increases) - LEZ zone for commercial vehicles - free parking for electric vehicles (later recinded) - free access to congestion charge for hybrid vehicles (again recinded to electric only and plug-in's) - the gradual reduction in no's of usable traffic lanes coupled with widening of pavements/introduction of bus and cycle lanes - London Boro's with 24 hour 20 mph zones - and now the 2020 plans to heavily charge pre Euro 4 vehicles in the CCZ -------------------- please forgive me for being sceptical about the future benifits of using an all electric vehicle. I can't see any Government in power, after 'giving away' all these 'incentives' to encourage the use of low emission vehicles (free CCZ - charge point grants - free excise duty) and letting it all carry on-------------without there being a future 'sting in tail' for electric vehicle users. If we see the expected significant increase in purchase of these vehicles and subsequent loss in taxation on fuel and road tax for HMG its obvious the implication for the users of electric vehicles. What about the fact that we are 'on the edge' of major energy shortages and no proper government plans to bridge any gap from 'now' to 'when' new power stations 'come on line'. Even if the Telsla 'Supercharge' stations and more 'on street' charge points are installed will they meet the demands of new users? - will there be a tax implication for using them? - will there be effective maintenance of charge points? (currently only a few operable ones in London)..................... seems to me that any taxation and running cost benefits will be potentially short lived and only for the early adopters of the technology.................. my 'take' on it all is good luck to anyone considering these vehicles - enjoy while you are able to.

Perhaps the car maufacturers should be making a point of publishing these figures - they are certainly impressive!

ingThere will come a point (in exactly the same way as what happened to Prius owners in London) where a given number of people will 'shell out' for 'new technology' cars like the Tesla. The government has a habit of withdrawing 'incentives' they previously gave to car users. I wouldn't want to be in the position of purchasing a used Tesla and suddenly getting a bill for Battery replacement. Think about this - mini cab driver bought a new Prius for London use three or four years ago as then it was exempt from congestion charges. That has now been withdrawn (exepting the plug-in version) - three and four years later the car passes MOT's. Fifth year due to continuous usage the Battery finally looses most of its capacity - OK so the car can still be used and currently it will pass its MOT test as this is not part of it. Supposing HMG enforces MOT requirements to include Hybrid Battery condition as part of test (remembering that the car still receives reduced excise duty) - with Battery replacement costs of about £5K the car that may have been worth £7k or £8K will be made worthless overnight! I have heard reports of 3 year old hybrid Porsches and similar hi-end cars being released from contract hire/lease agreement being impossible to sell!

So are the modifications 'plod' related or 'other' emergency service?

Having now owned my F Sport for 3 weeks, am not sure how you guys drive, but I am sitting on the 35mpg.

I am not a slow driver. On motorway I will sit at 85mph as this is the threshold of the speed cameras up the M1 (at least that's my finding).

A road, I don't hang about....

BUT, my last car, Alfa Spider 2.0l would not get about 25mpg. So for me, 35 mpg is great. :)

DC

The same journey travelled in my earlier posting where I noted 'best' economy figures was done a couple of weeks ago in a 'hurry' at similar speeds to yours - economy dropped to 38 mpg. Bottom line is - whatever the vehicle, if you travel faster then fuel economy reduces - exponentially with some vehicles!

The average economy figures of my IS300H are similar to what others have reported here - after 12000 miles I have noticed that there is a 'sweet' spot correlation in terms of speed/type of road/economy - I believe this to be 50 mph maximum.

My Inner city mpg (London) will average about the 42/44 figure. Suburban driving (outer London) will average slightly more, up to 48 mpg, perhaps a little more if keeping speed well down below 50 mph. Motorway trips at 'real' 70 mph (indicated 76 mph) are much the same as inner city, although backing off on gas pedal to indicated 60 mph or so will bring the indicated average economy up over 50 mpg.

I did an experiment today. On a trip back from our works to home (50 miles) today on a fairly clear 'A' road (leading to M25) I set cruise at an indicted 50/60mph on single track road and 70mph on latter part which was dual carriageway. First part of journey, (say 25 miles) on single track road and driving 'leisurely' indicated mpg crept up to 54 mpg and looked to improve had the journey been longer. Went on to dual carriageway at indicated 70mph and had the road been perfectly flat I'm sure the mpg figure just attained would have remained static but as soon as even slight hills were encountered mpg fell and adveraged just under 50mpg. A downward hill would bring it back up again a few mpg. Bottom line was that averge mpg for whole journey was 48 mpg. Had I the patience to have done the journey at, say an indicated 50mph on all sections I'm sure the 'sweet' spot mpg would have been 54/56 mpg.

CT200. Whilst my 300 was 'in' at main dealers several times having audio issues sorted the 'loaner' provided was a CT200. Yes it certainly is an inferior car compared with IS and very 'wooden' in comparison with a poor ride on most roads except motorways where it was more refined and far quieter than on urban roads. Considering the price difference between the least expensive IS version (Executive at £30K list) and the equivalent spec' CT model there is 'no contest' in deciding to pay the small premium for the IS300 with its far greater comfort and performance. Whilst the IS300 does have very good comfort and compliant handling one needs to be 'aware' of the weight and bulk of the vehicle. Whilst I am very satisfied with the overall package it does not have the tactile handling balance of my last vehicle (BMW 120D Sport auto)

Parents bought an 8 year old Hillman Californian - pretty 2 door coupe with cream bodywork and red roof. Starting handle was always useful for clearing out the exhaust pipe if you reversed in to a pile of sand!

Ross:

The validity of your closing query merits close consideration, at least on the part of some of us. I have from time

to time noticed how the expressions on the faces of some younger folk change from admiration for the 300h to

mild contempt when they see my grey mane emerge from it accompanied by the sound of creaking bones and

perhaps a groan from the effort. Not that one should get over-sensitive about such unintended displays of

incivility, for, if I might supplement your own olfactory metaphor with another, the ability to appreciatively sniff

the roses, in our case an automotive one, can only improve with age and experience.

Hi Rabbers - thanks for your 'leveller' posting - I am writing this respose listening to a live recording of the late and great (and mis-understood) Frank Zappa's and "Penguin in Bondage" - so apologies if the balance of my mind is thrown askew somewhat. When I need a dose of 'old school' motoring and a breath of (not very) fresh air I can open up my garage and use something with 500+ bhp/tq outputs that will break national speed limit in 1st gear and the very antithesis to our hybrids.

Car went in to Hills of Woodford Friday morning for another attempt to correct the intermittent audio/bluetooth output. Had established that it cut speaker output in car for 4/5 seconds and that other party on phone was still connected and could hear me (I couldn't hear them) - also established that it only ocurred whilst vehicle was moving - stationary and was fine. Apparently Lexus 'tech' have sent them/or instructed them to do latest upgrade. Collected it Monday evening and on the 30 minute journey home the audio seemed fine - will see how it all goes over the next few days.

On a slightly different note - the courtesy car I had over the weekend was a CT200. I have had these as courtesy vehicles before and remembered why I would never choose one for a daily driver - poor boot space - too firm a ride in town, )although fine on motorways and surprising quiet at speed) - rear visibility questionable - some nice little touches like permanently illuminated foorwells and a blue/red LED in the overhead console highlighting the cupholder area. But it was OK and I got used to it over the weekend. It was picking up the IS300H today that made me realise what a wonderfully relaxed, peaceful and pleasureable car this is to drive. For the first time in probably in 40 years and over a million miles of driving I have found a car that is worth taking the extra time to enjoy driving at leisurely speeds. I can relate it many years ago to driving my late father in laws RR Shadow - it was much more pleasant 'wafting' around and letting the rest of the world do their own thing. Or have I become an old fart?

Ok, so I know this question is a personal thing but I thought I would ask those of you out there who own these cars if you would recommend one to me......

At the moment I drive an Alfa Romeo Spider 2010 2.2JTS and I am looking to change vehicle soon..

These Lexus IS has caught my eye and I love the styling.

I am turning 40 this year, love a dynamic car but also like something that moves well. When I put my foot down I expect it to go. Not something that thinks about going, complain about it then try's its best to go.... when your overtaking does it do it with ease? I usually sit at 70-80mph on the motorway, can it cope with this ok?

looking at the performance it says they're in the 8.3secs 0-60, which is similar to my Alfa (slightly quicker) but do they feel like they are moving or are they a more of a gliding car??

Anyway, thanks for any responses....

DC

Hi Dustcap - perhaps I can help? - I tend to drive 'very hard' (even though at a 'pensionable' age - I do have a 500+ bhp classic for 'fun' weekends). My previous 'daily' was BMW 120D Sport. This had an 8 speed auto gearbox - arguably one of the very best auto transmissions currently available (must be really efficient as auto is lower on CO than 6 speed manual) - this was a great town car (and open road/motorway car), very much a drivers vehicle with 0-60's a second or so less than IS300H. However 0-60's are not always an accurate reflection of performance. 50 mph to 80 mph is more representative of real world driving.The Lexus IS300H at typical 70-80 mph motorway speeds has 'significantly' better acceleration, up to and past 100 mph than my BMW. OK so you are always aware of its bulk, not in terms of actual handling but in rapid transitions of balls out, flat to the floor stuff and subsequent heavy braking - there is a lot of spun-up inertia in the power train to reel in. In terms of traffic light grand prix stuff it certainly won't be as fast a some - BUT with the hybrid drive train it will actually be the quickest away with seemingly the least effort. DO NOT take any notice of magazine road tests telling you that the car is unresponsive - NOT true - using 'sport' mode the car is extremely responsive. Lexus's best kept secret!

Well done - good vid!

Car went in to main dealers (Hills of Woodford) for the day on Thursday to sort the intermittent audio output. Diagnostics told them there was a continually repeating fault code occuring. This was showing as an earth fault. They 'pulled' the radio unit and found the earth connection to radio was appearing not to connect properly. Re-assembled and fault code cleared and radio/cd/aux/bluetooth ran all afternoon in workshop and worked OK when I was taking it back home - credit to the guys - thought they had 'cracked; it. Today however - all back to normal with the random cutting out for 3/4 seconds at a time as before. However I have realised that it only does it whilst the vehicle is moving. If the car is stationary then all is fine. So there is a clue for the technician on the cars next visit 6th March!

Mine is also an Exec Edition. I choose black (initially with great reservation - didn't want to be in car wash all the time) but am happy with the colour. Interior is black - (which is really a very dark grey - black is not the correct description) - INHO the grey leather looked too incipid - and the ivory also - but just my opinion. Shame the red interior is not avaialable - thany would have been a good choice.

Sorry, I meant to say is there an auto-electrician in the house! lol

I have a question for him/her.

Although the 300h's only have one reversing light and I think, only one rear fog light, there are two lenses for each but only one of each working. My question is therefore, is it possible to link the non-operational one/s to the one/s that do work so that we can have the more sensible setup of two of each which, in the case of the reversing light would give much better illumination, particularly for those drivers who are flexibly challenged as regards owl-like movements of the head and neck and rely totally on the wing mirrors for their reversing manouevres which become particularly difficult in poorly lit areas and, in the case of the rear fog light, having two of them eliminates the thought that you might be following a motorbike in heavy mist or fog.

One further question that I don't know the answer to is, when you are driving in daylight with your DRL's operating, is there anything on at the rear or, do you have to switch on your sidelights which automatically includes your rear lights.

I would have thought that there's no bulbs in the one that doesnt light up - Its probably just some sort of filler panel but If you did manage to get hold of it, I cant see why you wouldnt be able to wire it up.

As for driving in daylight, there is nothing on the rear - you would have to switch on your rear lights for it to light up in the back.

Perhaps 'handed' for RHD and LHD markets?

Edward, I wasn't meaning a full heated windscreen. On my previous IS250 SE-L there was a button that you could press and it just heated the bottom couple of inches of the screen to ensure that the wiper blades didn't get shredded if they had been frozen to the screen. It is an option on the 300h but as I've alread said, it really should be standard.

I have a button on my IS300H Exec (which was almost the least expensive version) which operates the fan at full de-mist speed - irrespective of whether engine is cold on start-up or warmed up.

If these are yours, it looks like you are an ex glam rocker Ross !!!!

No but I can recall a funny story from the mid '70s when these were in fashion! - Was at the local 'flicks' with either 'the lads' or a 'squeeze' (can't remember which!) on a Sunday night watching some reallyu 'pony' Hammer horror film or something similar and as we were up at the top part of the cinema (can't remember what you called it) it was quite a steep angle (35 degrees or so) and with multiple layers of carpeting added to the stairs over the years quite a health and safety hazard. Anyway a young trendy guy wearing a pair of platform boots decided to leave his girlfriend and go up the stairs in the centre of the seating area to the toilet. Unfortunately he chose to do this during a really quiet part of the film so that his 'clumping' up the stairs in three inch platform boots was heard all over the cinema, spoiling what was most possibly a meaningful part of the film. When he returned from the Khazi he started down the steps and back to his seat (in what was a totally silent and fully occupied cinema remember) and it was the same thing again, 'clump', clump', clump' - but he then lost his footing and fell bang, crash, wallop all the way down the stairs, head over heels to the very edge of the balcony (fortunately he didn't go over the top!)- the whole cinema was in total uproar for ages - funniest thing I experienced for many a year. AND NO, I DIDN'T WEAR PLAFFORM BOOTS!

Alternatively -

Did a 85 mile trip on M25/M11/A1 this morning at a speedo indicated 60 mph (approx 56/57 'real' mph) and keeping 'speed limited' HGV's company. Quite relaxing on cruise control (except when overtaking) Indicated MPG for outward bound journey showed 48. I'm sure another 20 miles or more and it would have topped 50 mpg.

Return trip, and I was in a hurry, not attempting for economy and keeping up to speed with all other traffic (like a typical work trip) - this showed 42 mpg on the return journey

I thought back some 30 old years when was using a Mk1 manual 2 ltr injected Cavalier GLS. Fuel economy would average out at about 35/36 mpg and would actually improve the faster you drove. Economy 'sweet spot' was 42 mpg at a constant motorway 85 mph. Some things haven't changed that much!

If you turn off Auto-Zoom in the Nav settings, you will get full screen Lane guidance on the motorways.

Thanks for that - did this and Lane Guidance is very clear - good call!

Ross, by any chance do you have front and rear dash cams installed ? . There have been some instances of the signal from the front to rear interfering with DAB reception.

No camera's!

Original post -

Had my IS300H Executive about 3 months now and I think its a great
relaxing place to be - except for an intermittent audio system. My
useage is outer/inner London within M25 so DAB signal should not be an
issue - however at times DAB, CD, Auxillary input from Android via
Spotify and most irritatingly 'hands free' phone go intermittant on
totally random occasions. Some days the system is fine - other days it
drives me crazy and whilst on phone I'll get 10 seconds of conversation -
then 5 seconds where I can't hear other party - and they can't hear me -
not good for customer relations! - Its exactly the same with DAB, CD
and Aux. Took the car in to main dealer for a couple of hours and, sods
law it didn't play up. Too busy workwise to waste time and put the car
in for a day or so with the Lexus dealer to try and find the issue so
will will now probably wait until first service in a month or so to
hopefully get resolved - didn't see anyone else with this issue on this
forum - is this just an isolated event? [end quote]

Update.

Had the IS300H Exec' some 4 months now and took in today to main dealer a little bit early for its first service (8700 miles) mainly as I wanted to get the audio problem sorted. Had the key fob set to close electric windows when locking (good) - wanted the car set-up so that electric mirrors would retract when ignition is turned off - but told that setting is not available on this model - but really wanted to get the intermitent audio sorted - that didn't happen (irritating) was told that they made sure software had latest updates but will need it in again for a full day to devote more time to it (inconvenient). No one on here seems to have experienced this problem which was still quite noticeable as I took the car home after the service visit (and even more noticeable as the CT200 courtesy car's audio and bluetooth performed perfectly) Just to re-cap all audio output sources cut-out for 2 to 4 seconds randomly. Some days it is more or less continuous - other days infrequently. It effects sound output of all functions, DAB - radio - CD - Aux - bluetooth phone. All audio systems function perfectly normally otherwise - no auto re-booting. When using the bluetooth phone the other party seems to be able to hear me when the cutting out occurs - but I can't hear them when it cuts out, resulting in confused conversations (really annoying). Any 'tech' guys with ideas?