wharfhouse

LRA can be renewed through the Lexus website: https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/Roadside-assistance

Will be good to hear what you find out tomorrow on the LRA - my 10 Year Plus Extended Warranty renews 5th November - and thanks for clarifying about the change when in Europe.

I'm posting this in the Lexus IS 300h / IS 250 / IS 200t forum but appreciate that it may be of interest across other models too so admin, feel free to move it to an appropriate forum if that is the case. Over the past few months, I have read (and contributed) to a few posts in different forums about confusion over the Lexus Roadside Assistance (LRA) and who is covered for what etc. I about to renew my 10 Year Plus Extended Warranty which had included Lexus Roadside Assistance for both myself and my wife driving any car. Having read the Lexus Roadside Assistance website page and downloaded and read the various documents there is certainly a lot of room for confusion over the wording and potential contradictions between documents. As such, I emailed LRA with a detailed message about my own situation, the benefits I have had to date, and pointing out what the web page and each of the documents stated and why I was confused. Today, I received a detailed answer from LRA - in fact it came from lexusoperations@theaa.com - I have cut and paste it below (with a few redactions of personal information) so that you can read it fully. It answers a lot of questions and clarifies the situation (as of today) - I hope that if you are looking at taking our or renewing LRA you find it useful. Note the sentence which explains what to do when calling in case of a breakdown for me or my spouse - i.e. quote the vehicle registration of the Lexus vehicle that the policy is associated with followed by the registration of the vehicle currently broken down (this ties up with what others have been told). And also note that UK and European cover are different - the latter being ONLY for the registered car (which I think was the case previously). Although it mentions about the 10 Year Plus Extended Warranty (which I wanted to check does still include the LRA) everything else applies to the LRA in general. Good Morning Mr X, Thank you for contacting Lexus Roadside Assistance. Apologies for the delay in response. I understand that there is some confusion relating to the documentation provided on our website and I hope to alleviate any concerns you may have while answering the questions you posed to bring some clarity and peace of mind. Further to your enquiry, I can confirm that both yourself; Mr X, and Mrs X; are both covered as an individual, whether in the capacity of a driver or passenger in any eligible vehicle under the current policy and under a Lexus Roadside Assistance Renewal where in the associated ‘Renewals Customer Terms of Service’ document, both you and your wife are there-in referred to as an ‘Authorised Driver’. The Lexus vehicle that is registered with us; XYZ, is also covered, regardless of who is driving the vehicle, providing they are allowed to drive the aforementioned Lexus vehicle, outlined in ‘Renewals Customer Terms of Service’ as the ‘Registered Vehicle’. Eligibility: In order to provide assistance under the Lexus Roadside Assistance, the vehicle must adhere to the following criteria: In the UK: Legal to drive: Road Tax, MOT (if required) and motor Insurance. Fall within the following dimensions Weight: 3.5 tonnes (3500kg). Width 2.55m (8.38 ft). When registering a breakdown, either you or your spouse would need to quote the vehicle registration of the Lexus vehicle that the policy is associated with. Upon passing the necessary Data Protection checks, you can then quote the registration of the vehicle currently broken down, irrespective of its manufacturer and; providing it falls within the above criteria, service will be provided in line with the entitlements of the policy. This is regardless of whether the ‘Authorised Driver’ is travelling as a driver or passenger in the vehicle experiencing the breakdown. In Europe: Legal to drive: Road Tax, MOT, Insurance for driving overseas. Fall within the following dimensions Weight: 3.5 tonnes (3500kg). Width 2.3m (7.54 ft). Height: 3m (9.84ft). Length: 7m (23ft). Under the Complimentary European cover, service will be provided only to the Registered Lexus vehicle. The ‘Information about your breakdown cover contract’ document refers to the cover levels included within the Lexus Roadside Assistance and their associated Insurer. The product we offer at renewal is an insured product and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. While Lexus Roadside Assistance administer and arrange your cover, the services included in the cover are provided by the AA and therefore are covered by their associated insurer per product; either the AA Insurance Services and/or their underwriter; ACROMAS Insurance Company Ltd. If you were to extend your Lexus 10 Year Plus Extended Warranty, the Lexus Roadside Assistance that is included is complimentary with the Warranty and therefore would fall under the ‘New Customer Terms of Service’ and not a ‘Renewals Customer Terms of Service’ as you have not taken out a renewal direct with Lexus Roadside Assistance, instead with Lexus Extended Warranties. The Lexus 10 Year Plus Warranty is only available to purchase and renew through the Lexus Aftersales network. In Summary, I can confirm the following: That the Lexus Roadside Assistance is still included in the 10 Year Plus Extended Warranty. The same benefits are included in the Lexus Roadside Assistance that is a part of the 10 Year Plus Extended Warranty. This does include the Lexus ‘Registered Vehicle’ being covered and for you and your spouse to be covered in any vehicle that meets the above eligibility criteria. If you have any further queries, please feel free to call on 0800 169 0393 and we’ll happily lend a helping hand. Kind Regards

The Toyota additive says "Created and approved by Texaco Ltd"

Yes I have only ever had a tick on the sheet.

Same on my IS too though I always wonder if they just do a visual check of tyre wear or actually check it on a machine? Every service on mine (8 years old now and 122k miles) has come back saying alignment is OK - and to be fair no undue tyre wear - and so I've never had it adjusted. I did ask a couple of services ago if they could do an alignment as it has not been done before but they reported all was OK and so no need to do one (I would have happily paid had it been needed).

I have a service plan that covers the scheduled services (as per the Lexus service schedule) and which I pay for monthly. When a service comes around this means the cost of that has been prepaid and I then pay for any additional things on the day (like the things you mention) should they be required as most of those aren't particular time or mileage based so building them into a plan IMHO may well mean doing then unnecessarily.

A driver loses the C1 at 70 years old (if they had it - i.e. passed the driving test pre 1997) by default and then they would revert to only having the BE category and so would be limited to 3500kg - in addition to completing the forms to renew the driving licence at 70 the driver can opt (at their own cost) to have an additional medical which if they pass enables then to keep their C1 category (and have to do this every 3 years). Losing C1 may not bother too many drivers when they each 70 but for some motorhome drivers and those with a heavy car/caravan it could be important.

I gave some serious thought to ordering a new NX 350h a month or so ago having driven one as a courtesy car while my car (2014 IS 300h with 122K miles) was in for a service. It was certainly a nice car and since Lexus didn't bring the upgraded IS 300h into the UK it's the first car since that decision that I have thought could be a replacement for my IS 300h. I asked more at the time and was quoted 12-month delivery, reflecting what others have said here. However, with this latest news, and the last list price hikes and PCP APR rises I'm probably one of many who have now decided to stick with the car I have and hope it continues to display the renowned Lexus reliability for a few more years to come whilst I wait out all this madness...

Strangely more expensive on ebay (£14.28) than Lexus Parts Direct (£12.40) or Toyota Direct Parts (£10.99) - the latter two being the same company - which is Fish Brothers in Swindon - a Lexus/Toyota franchise (along with some other brands). They do charge for postage though (which isn't the case on the ebay item) so would need to factor that in unless you live close by.

Lexus/Toyota have their own branded fuel system additive so it's probably this that they are referring to (taken from Lexus Parts Direct website) - I've never been offered it to date on any Lexus service however: Toyota Petrol Fuel System Cleaner Suitable for all Toyota Petrol Engines Toyota part number – PZ463-00PB0-04. Created and approved by Texaco Ltd Improves Fuel efficiency.

Yes C1 by default expires at 70 unless one opts to take a medical (at own cost) to retain it - and then do same every 3 years when reapplying for the driving licence - since some people may be driving motorhomes over 3500kg at that age (and maybe heavy cars and caravans) something to think about when 70th birthday arrives - I've got a few years yet before I get there!

Year by year though, even for stereotypical caravanners ages, more will be brought into the BE trap of 3,500kg without possibly realising...

Apologies, yes that wasn't the full picture as it was also to do with the changes that happened last year for towing. It does still however depend on when one got a driving licence, so: I have C1E on my licence as I have had it since the late 1970's which states: You can drive vehicles weighing between 3,500 and 7,500kg (with a trailer over 750kg), with no more than 8 passengers and a driver. The combined weight of both can’t exceed 12,000kg, but there is then an additional restriction code on my licence of Not more than 8,250kg. For only BE on the licence, it states: You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) with up to 8 passenger seats and a driver, with any size trailer within the towing limits of the vehicle. So, yes, what you can drive/tow will depend on when you got the driving licence - I can tow with a MAM of up to 8250kg so that could be a very heavy car (or even a truck) with a very heavy caravan or trailer (so long as it's within the towing limits of the car) whereas indeed, on your licence you would be limited with only BE to the car and trailer being less than 3,500kg in total. And so yes, I am sure there will be people (younger people especially) who as cars have and will get heavier be driving with MAM over 3,500 kg and therefore driving illegally...! In addition to being stopped by police (if ever) perhaps more importantly they would also be uninsured should they have an accident.

On the gov.uk site: What you can tow You can tow trailers up to a certain weight with your car driving licence. The weight you’re allowed to tow depends on when you got your licence. You’ll need to know the weight of both the vehicle and trailer - also known as the ‘maximum authorised mass’ (MAM). The MAM is listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle or trailer. If you got your licence before 1 January 1997 You can usually drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight of up to 8,250kg MAM. View your driving licence information to check. You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM. If you got your licence from 1 January 1997 You can tow a trailer that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM.

Sainsbury's uplift for E5 over E10 is one of the lowest % I've found amongst all brands and the fuel seems to burn well in my car - better mpg by up to 10% and smoother running - especially at low revs - than their E10. We used to have membership of Costco but flip flopped between not using it a lot and then buying too much (or buying unplanned things) when we did shop there...! Worth a look again with the petrol prices there now though - if we can show restraint doing the shopping...!

I use E5 97 now at Sainsbury’s - the car doesn't require it but it's only around 5% more expensive than E10 and delivers more than that in improved mpg. Will have to see what Costco E5 is and may get Costco membership again...

Looking at petrolprices.com Sainsbury's now stands out being some 6p or more cheaper for E10 than everyone else in the area - will be interesting what impact Costco Reading has as it sits in the middle of so many fuel stations.

I use this regularly to keep an eye on prices since around my way they can vary by 15p+ a litre in just a few miles! It's updated by the public and so works well for areas where there are a lot of drivers filling up cars/vans but it can get out of date by a few days or more in sparsely populated locations. Well worth a look though and there is an app too that makes reviewing prices very easy on the go - not just your local area but anywhere you may be visiting.

On my IS 300h Yokohama tyres (BluEarth) were fitted by Lexus from new so I have kept to them as I've been happy with wear and performance etc.

I had both front wheel bearings replaced on my Lexus IS 300h at 80k miles. This was done under Lexus Extended Warranty that I had paid for prior to Relax Warranty being launched. I took the car in querying a noise on one side - the wheel bearing was replaced on that side and then Lexus checked the other side and took it on themselves to replace that too as they said it was also starting to wear. There was no issue at all with the extended warranty paying for both sides and so given the clause in the Relax Warranty above I don't see why there should be any issue in your case unless you have done something to cause the damage.

If the air con is left on in the winter then other than a slight misting on first starting the car which should clear very quickly the only other reasons I know of why you should get any significant misting up is if you have a) water getting into the car (I had a leak in the windscreen surround having had a new one fitted causing misting up); b) the drain from the air con under the car is blocked (had this on previous cars and needed blowing out); c) possibly when the air con is left on recirculation though if a) and b) are not a problem then this isn't usually an issue on its own.

When I was younger - many, many years ago - I was stopped a couple of times by police cars and given a ticking off for doing something wrong - not dangerous but was wrong - but was then sent on my way with no further report or fine etc. Those times had a more profound on my thinking as to what I had done than the couple of speeding tickets I have received in the post...!

I agree - they often won't stop someone they see doing such things unless they are the actual motorway/highway police - I think the others (normal cars) have a hard time bringing any prosecution for a variety of reasons - I have seen the motorway/highway police pull over cars/vans driving aggressively/dangerously. It's rare though - they only seem to focus on those who are an extreme danger!

Exactly - if a police offer witnesses what they believe is careless or dangerous driving they can stop and report you for this and it will be an appearance in court where they have to present the burden of proof to secure a guilty verdict - there can be no fixed penalty fine as it's too subjective.