Linas.P

Yes, road tax kind of cements GS250 fate. As much as I don't like 300h, but 2013 IS250 was already too old, because it received no improvements since 2005. GS250 is even worse from the perspective it is heavier. Still I feel there is less to go wrong with GS250 compared to 300h and V6 sounds is massive improvement over 300h, but even I agree that paying £300 more for that doesn't make sense in car like GS (not meant to be sports car).

Then there is GS250... some can be had for very attractive prices... faster than 300h and certainly more reliable. There is simply nothing to go wrong on that car. Obviously, you won't get any fuel economy improvements and I don't believe they were available in 2016, so no facelift. Besides reverse camera was and still is considered extra in IS. In mk3 sub forum there is thread about guy who just bought 2020 IS300h without electric seats keyless entry, folding mirrors or reverse camera. But admittedly on Lexus that is rare. Where on BMW and MB - "poverty line spec" is popular.

I will let the OP to answer the question, but even I was surprised that basics like electric seats, reverse camera and keyless are not standard on 2020 car. Sure I expect to look if it has Sunroof, ML, Premium navigation. I was aware that mk3 initially (early models 2013-2015) had cut some base options compared to mk2 e.g. keyless entry or reverse camera if you have sat nav. but I thought facelift had it all. Although, I never look to any other trims except of F-sport... so probably I have not noticed how poor the base specks were. @Stevenis300h - I know you said you thrilled with the car, so I doubt it would be something you would be interested to do. But just wanted to remind you about your rights in this situation - note that when buying distantly you have further protections. Please correct me if I am wrong, but it is 14 days return. Besides I believe even Lexus policy allows returns now (not because they are nice, but because it is a law for distant purchases). In short - the only way of fixing your issues is replacing car altogether. You can retrofit aftermarket speakers, you can retrofit reverse camera, there are great aftermarket android satnavs which looks OEM, but you can't retrofit electric seats or keyless entry... at least no way to do it in economically sensible way.

Actually I agree with all of your point, we clearly have different opinion on how luxurious car should drive, but that is why opinions exists. Isn't it. Secondly, I just pointing out that if we want to make "apple to apples" comparison, then 300h is not competitor for the other two - the 450h is. 300h is deliberately named confusingly to imply it is equivalent to 3L car which it isn't even when freefalling of the cliff. I just wanted to make sure this point came across correctly, because for many people just from first look at the established nomenclature it seems that BMW 530e = 3L and Lexus 300h = 3L... in practice BWM is 2L+Turbo+hybrid and it does deliver performance of ~3L, whereas Lexus does not. If you like you can look into it this way - Lexus allows you to have half as powerful car for less... and indeed - if that is what satisfies you then fair enough. Beside I pointed out as well that for lasting reliability Lexus is leader, BUT for free journeys up-to 15 mines and on power BMW/MB are better.

Actually amazing that they still had very very late cars without electric seats and basics like keyless entry or reverse camera. Hope the deal was that good. And indeed, sadly no retrofitting possible in Lexus - you pretty much need to get all the option you want to begin with.

1. could be insulation in the tunnel or exhaust scrubbing. That would be my first guess. 2. yes that sounds about right, this is not turbo car - you get instant response, but not that much power until it really wakes-up ~3000-4000. In other hand you can drive this car very economically as if you accelerate slowly enough and not exceed say 3000rpm it doesn't waste fuel like turbo cars (which pretty much just spills it on the road as soon as turbo kicks in). The great part of that - the more you rev it the more powerful it gets, and sounds better. I would say they just like to be revved. Even has like "VTEC" (VVTI is basically works on same principle) kick when cams changes.

Or you just mash the pedal on GS450h with confidence and in complete luxury... Especially if we go back to other options 530e and E350e - GS300h is not in the same ballpark and not even close. GS450h would be more comparable to the other two. Vlad - GS300h and IS300h have absolutely identical drivetrains and engines, GS just slightly heavier. So no ponies to be found in GS.

Yes Mecs were good back in the day... I would argue that Merc downfall was around that time ~1995-1999 was switch over period from old overbuilt and over engineered cars, into something what become "merc in the name only". Release of A-Class was the end of that switch and all the cars after A-Class release were the new crappy generation of mercs which lasted nearly 20 years. I would argue that lasted until ~2015-2018 and since then there was switch over period again. Obviously, even new mercs are nowhere as good as Lexus, not even as good as old mercs, but they are past their worst cars period. I would avoid anything made by MB between 1999-2015 and there are few models preceding that time.

I guess the only reason for 300h... is that I was surprised to see 2016 FL 300h now going for under £15k. Sure higher mileage cars 90-114k miles, but that still means you won't even reach 200k in 7 years. The nice thing about FL is that they get LED lights and F-Sports have nice dials like rest of the range. Pre-FL models dash looks a bit dated to be honest. Not sure if that swings me towards the lacklustre performance. IS250 was right on the edge for me in terms of performance, just little slower and it would have been too slow (that is considering IS250 is realistically 7.5s to 60). GS300h is slower than IS300h, which is obviously slower than IS250. Obviously, each to their own but I never felt like 300h has enough power to make car accelerate effortlessly and feel luxurious. I would not mind to see 300h powered taxi picking me up from airport, but for driving it myself I don't like it.

I don't understand that as well. But I think the reason is that not many people actually cares about handling of the car. Where for me that is like most important thing and then I can make compromises, for most people I know handling and performance doesn't even come in top10 important things about their cars. Besides there is no punitive tax on SUVs in UK, so people get them because they can.

maybe it was the estate then? Because not so much use of hatchback taxi

Are we comparing it with 2nd Gen Auris hybrid? Because in my experience they are very similar, little bit softer materials in the interior on Lexus, but I actually preferred Auris infotainment and navigation.

I have seen it few days ago and was rather sad they not rebuilding it. I am happy to see cars ripped apart when they are damaged beyond repair (e.g. wrapped around the tree), but this was fairly complete car and mostly needed bolt on parts, no frame damage or anything.

I actually have whole spare innards (passenger side sadly, but motors may be the same?), for free if you want.

That is partially true. When it comes to Lexus what matter is degree to which they have improved over Toyota cars from the same platform. NX is surprisingly well build and uses good materials compared to RAV4, similar story when it comes to RX. For last coupe of generations LS, GS and IS were just loosely based around same platform, but the materials are night an day. I do not believe Lexus RC or LC has equivalent in Toyota range. Compared to UX, ES and CT... the difference is significant. Because later just feels like no attempt was made past sticking different badge. Another thing - we do not have Crown or Mark X here at least. Whereas we do have Toyota CH-R and we did have Auris, and when you try both cars it is obvious it is same car past few style elements. @Bootleg - I don't blame you, I just been disappointed myself after trying these cars, and having access to same Toyota models I knew how little difference is between them.. shameless really.

and.. nice RC-F... Clearly stolen/recovered: https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/34710701/clean-title-2015-lexus-rc-f-auto-sandwich

Quite sad to see it being cat-s, for what is a repairable damage... probably going to leave the country and will be split apart. https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/60037230/clean-title-2008-lexus-is-f-auto-westbury

If Colin didn't upset them, then you certainly will 😁 I would gladly drive IS250 on ethanol... it even have some additional cleaning properties and higher RON. Sadly, we will have to pay for it like for "proper" fuel despite it being less efficient. The only thing I advice - don't leave it sitting in your tank for long periods of time.

Because it is not Lexus. I have driven Toyota C-HR and UX... and they feel exactly the same. I then driven Lexus CT (Toyota Auris) and UX back-to-back and I can say that at least UX feels 10 times nicer to drive than CT, but in no way on earth it is Lexus... Top of the range Toyota... maybe, better than CT.. indeed. But it is not Lexus and comparing it with proper Lexus car is pointless. Besides I can say same about Lexus ES (Toyota Avalon) - I drove IS and ES back-to-back... IS despite being much older design feels so much better built and solid.. ES just feels like fancy Toyota. Looks nice, but everything you touch feels plastic and cheap (at least relative to Lexus). Don't get me wrong CT, UX, ES are still great quality cars, but they are distinctively Toyotas, not Lexus.

If you just looking for more space/larger car then Lexus GS is certainly good idea. It is class above and has great built quality. Besides it will be cheapest from the cars you mentioned, and you can buy higher miles/older examples with piece of mind (that makes it much better value for money). What are your other needs... you happy to live with 300h lacklustre performance? I assume engine sound and driving dynamics is not important? One thing I would not as well - if you not planning to do a lot of miles, then why worry about economy at all? I would say that if you looking to buy car for 7 years, then it should be Lexus... And if you planning to get Lexus GS, then go for 450h. It is still more economical than IS250 ~ kind off, but it has so much more power and so much nicer to drive, really effortless and luxurious. Besides - by being overall older model (Starting 2011-2012) overall it is cheaper than GS300h, because 300h came out later. From my personal experience MB E class are very comfortable, well equipped and well built - certainly not as reliable as Lexus, but performance is decent. I cannot say anything particularly bad about BMW 530e either... importantly both are plug-in hybrids so you have benefit of driving them basically for free for up to 15-20 miles and if you get them before 2018 as you have mentioned - £20 road tax (maybe less). So that is certainly important consideration from cost of ownership perspective. Obviously, Plug-in hybrids comes with their own caveats e.g. you should have somewhere to charge the car. But on flip side you will be able to park it free of charge in electric car parking spots and enter congestion charge are free. In summary I think all of your choices are good, I would replace GS300h (2016) with GS450h (2011 - 2014) without doubt and other 2 options much more attractive in short term, but may not last 7 years.

.... but going to your previous point (politicians are basically liars and populists) and adding on top that in any country majority people will be ignorant it seems it won't happen at any time soon. Perhaps we need to look in way of replacing "semi-elective semi-democracy" into meritocracy. I am sure that would not be very popular as it means "leaders" like Boris the empty scull and Farage the lying drunk won't get a chance... as frankly they have no merit in anything. P.S. and this is how car forum turns into political movement 😁

No they don't filter the frequencies, that is why I suggested retrofitting aftermarket filter/crossover. If you play very bassy song on standard system it just sounds terrible as all frequencies are sent to all speakers and probably only the the tweeters have a filter. Overall, I think frequency filters/crossover controls are really fitted into mid-range amps or built-in head units. This is kind of feature of high end systems. But in other hand - what is the point, most high-end component speakers usually comes with their own crossover and all decent coaxials have them built-in. High level input is an option, but I hope there is a better way, because rear speaker would have it split into L/R already and that is not ideal.

I didn't say it is good car, nor it is fast of performance car, what I said is that it is smooth - not hunting gears and I didn't feel torque dips or plateaus. It almost feels like electric, as if it pulls from 0 to 200 in single gear. Would I buy it, probably not - not my type of car. But was it comfortable, luxurious and effortless to drive - yes it was. And it was the only car with turbo engine and those stupid "million" gear gearboxes, where I didn't mind the set-up, nor noticed any turbo lag, input lag, gear hunting or other hesitation.

Not sure... it isn't for me... not the sound of vacuum cleaner is that satisfactory compared to magnificent note of V8. The only car where I didn't mind it was new MB E300 (still tiny 2l turbo), somehow 9speed box there managed it in the way that I didn't feel it shifting at all and it was quite effortless. On all other cars I just feel them shifting and kind of hunting for gears, not at all luxurious if you ask me.

Certainly impressive, but what is more impressive is how easily and with how little care these cars gets there.