mrfunex

Not an ISF, but I bought carbon caps for my GSF from Toms Racing in Japan. Expensive, but high quality and, crucially, available for RHD.

It’s a funny thing, a Lexus V8… they’re the halo car, but Lexus has never really seemed that bothered with them in the UK (or buyers weren’t…) I’ve had my GSF for 6 years now - it’s my daily driver and I can’t think what I’d ever replace it with. I’d probably choose the GSF’s successor but… there isn’t one! Bit of a shame the IS500 never made it here, but I’m not sure that’s quite what I’d want. Makes me laugh the occasional mailshots from Lexus telling me that “there’s never been a better time to trade up your Lexus..”! The sting of the annual VED of around £700 lasts a few minutes, but the GSF has been my ideal car since I first sat in one in Hedge End showroom whilst my ISF was being serviced. A sad, but inevitable end.

My GSF has turned out to be one of the cheapest cars to insure that I've ever had. I guess thanks are in order to every one of you for not crashing, so there's very little data for them to go on regarding repair costs!

Happens in my GSF and my Boxster too. Doesn’t happen in my wife’s NX300. I wouldn’t worry.

Thanks @Killysprint - I've gone for the Yellowstuff as I think they cover the use they're likely to get according to the manufacturers blurb. Even if they're not suitable, I can nearly get 3 sets of EBC pads for the same price as a single set of the OEM Brembos... certainly worth experimenting. PS - everyone knows black GSFs are the fastest!

I’ve never had a problem with my local Lexus garage fitting bits and bobs, but in this case, I’ll be changing them myself.

Thanks @hockeyedwards, that's exactly the kind of advice I was after. I think I'm going to go for the Yellowstuff pads - from some reading, it'll mean that a trackday is always possible, but there might be a bit more brake dust than the reds. Still, can't possibly be dustier than the OEM pads, can they?

The NX300h is a superb car, the higher specced ones have all the toys, are quiet, comfortable and relaxing places to be. We’ve had ours for nearly 5 years from new and have been very happy with it. The only place it’s a little out of it’s element is at speed on the motorway - fuel consumption isn’t fantastic here, and up long inclines, the engine can get a little thrashy. Luckily for us, this kind of usage happens rarely. We average about 40mpg in summer, and about 35 during winter for mixed-urban driving. Cruising at 80+mph (where allowed) seems to deliver 30mpg, possibly slightly less.

Hi all, I’m in need of new front brake pads. The existing ones (Lexus OEM) started squeaking badly. I’d only been pootling about for several weeks, so thought that driving it more, and harder would be the answer…. (Which has always worked before!) It appears there was a stone or some other debris lodged in the pad material, which has broken up somewhat and developed a groove in the friction material. This seems to have caused a slightly raised area on the disc. Unfortunately, it took me two weeks (work, other duties, and very poor weather!) to get round to jacking the car up and taking the brakes apart to have a look. The raised bits on the disc are light at present, hopefully with new pads the disc will even itself out, and all will be well. As it is, i gave the pads a good going over with some sandpaper to remove any debris that might remain, and put everything back together again. Lexus OEM are currently around £450 for a front set, which is quite high. Anyone got any experience with other brands? I’m thinking EBC Yellowstuff (£145) might be what I’m after - usual commuting driving, with a few spirited journeys thrown in.

I replaced the Michelin Pilot SuperSports on my GSF with PS4S. The grip in the dry is about the same, but the grip in the wet is a lot better; cold performance is about the same. I’ve done several track days, plus usual driving about and they seem to be wearing really well.

It'd only ever be a couple of people moaning - I suspect everyone would just get fobbed off. The car's not in production any more, they never sold many, and it's only a bit of trim; so unfortunately I'd imagine the chances of Lexus UK making a big issue of this is zero.

This just goes to show the hilarity of the current vehicle tax system. Just load the amount onto fuel, ensuring that those who use the roads more / emit more pay for the privilege and be done with it.

Nice post. I've had my (black as well) GSF for just over 5 years now, and it's been wonderful. Apart from the usual servicing, it's needed a new rubber sunroof seal, a new battery (think it expired after wearing flat whilst my dad and I fitted the sunroof seal!), and several replacement carbon dashboard bits. That's it. Our local dealership in Hedge End (~Southampton) is consistently excellent. Despite the ever-increasing road tax (£630 now 😬), I don't want feel the need to replace it. It's been a constant companion through road trips, track days, and is my daily driver. We have other vehicles, but every journey in the GSF feels a little special, and too few cars are like this. Long live the GSF!

The heaters on my GSF aren't too powerful either. I can happily leave them on maximum all journey - if I tried that on my Boxster, i'd boil!

Non-AVS 2016 owner here - the ride is firm, but very rarely is it harsh - it's certainly a lot more grown up than my 2008 ISF was. Perfectly fine for longer journeys, and the seats are still some of the most comfortable I've ever sat in!

Interesting to know. I've got a few more bits that have been affected after Lexus insisted I've used inappropriate cleaning chemicals on them the cold weather spell. It's a shame that the next bit to go is the section that surrounds the gear change, ash tray and up to the arm rest. Looks like I'll be starting at the deep end!

Unfortunately, it’s been like that since I got the car, back in November 2018! 🙄😬

Thanks! Somewhat embarrassingly, yes, I have cleaned them, and didn’t notice! 🧑‍🦯 Think I just found the thread you mentioned @Jgtcracer. Looking forward to seeing how easy they hammer off!

Now, I’m normally fairly observant, but after owning the car for 4.5 years, I’ve noticed that the lower of the two exhaust trims on the passenger side is upside down… how can I have not noticed this? I’m hoping to jack the car up and have a proper look tomorrow - surely the tips aren’t welded on? It’s never had any work on the exhaust in its life! Chances it left the factory like this? 😝

This bothered me as much as the clock in my old ISF not being able to display in 24hr format! Both aren’t possible! D’oh!

@F.A. I'm kind of in the same position as you - these trim parts are HUGELY expensive. I had mine done, but I didn't need as many pieces as you seem to. I have no idea what these pieces of trim actually cost Lexus to make/ship etc, but it's obviously going to be nowhere near what they're selling them at. If it helps, there are plenty of really good quality vinyl overlays that could be cut to size and stuck over - some of the higher quality ones are very close indeed to the finish of the original carbon parts - worth investigating? I think I'll do this for any other bits that start to look tatty. As for sticking with Lexus for my next car; I'm not sure. There's nothing Lexus make that's even comparible to the GSF, and it looks like there's nothing in the pipeline either...

I preferred the brake hold on my SL500. One stationary on the flat, you had to jab at the pedal, then the car would hold until you touched the accelerator. Once I figured out how it worked (and that the car had it!) I thought it was great!

That’s my old one! I owned it from 47k to 59k miles and sold it 3.5yrs ago. It (used to) look absolutely perfect … it seems it’s had a bit of a hard time lately! 😬 It had a H&S exhaust and sounded like thunder, 2013 suspension too, so it rode a LOT better than it did on the 2008 stuff. Even bought myself a 1:43 model of it as a momento!

I can sympathise. I have a GSF and my wife also has a NX300h. The NX is a truly lovely car - great visibility, economical, comfortable, reliable, peaceful - everything you’d really need from a vehicle really. It just doesn’t make loud V8 noises…

That’s what I assumed…