First_Lexus

Should add, I didn’t get the job. I was rubbish…😂

Slightly off topic, but many (many!) years ago, having just left University and not knowing what to do for a job, I went for an interview with Audi Head Office for ‘corporate sales.’ This was when Audi were pushing their brand upmarket, and company car purchases were still made by individual companies rather than being outsourced to lease agencies. As part of the interview process, they gave us high-level training for half a day on how they approached corporate clients. We then had to role play in the afternoon. It was fascinating. They told us the types of questions to ask senior people to make them - essentially - boast about their lives. The golf club they were members of, where their children went to school, where they lived, notice their watch, their shoes etc. The idea was that by doing that, and linking success and boasting to driving an Audi, that they’d want them on their company car list. Believe it or not, they said it worked really well…people were, and I’m sure still are, so easily manipulated!

Back on topic, I did drive a Hyundai IONIC5 a few months ago. It’s an impressive thing, and would likely be my choice if I went EV. The acceleration on that was instant, but tbh didn’t really leave much of an impression on me. I’m an old codger these days, and prefer to waft and go about things much more slowly. The driving ‘experience’ won’t be the deciding factor. Range at motorway speeds in Winter of 250+ miles is what I’ll need before taking any EV plunge. On the subject of range, a friend with a Tesla Y used it for a holiday to Devon and Cornwall recently. The tales of lack of charging infrastructure and range anxiety after mid-point on the M5 were hilarious - well, hilarious in hindsight! Range would be far less of an issue if the charging infrastructure was consistent.

I agree. Government by consent is fine, but the detail of policy isn’t always clear at the point of election, or it changes. Officials and politicians like to talk about ‘public consultation’ but the reality of these is what I heard described recently as ‘pretend democracy.’ The explanation was simple, and was based on the consultation on closing railway ticket offices. They believed between 80-100k public submissions would be made, and usually these are 95% (or more) opposed. You’d expect the policy to be changed, right? Wrong… It seems they actually use an algorithm to take account of the fact that most people moved to respond oppose the change. Thus, they’re able to assume that the majority who didn’t respond approve! Happens everywhere. We’ve all seen local planning decisions where almost every submission is opposed, but they go through. Same with speed limits in Wales. Pretend democracy indeed. We’re being ‘consulted’ simply to tick a box. The policy will be implemented regardless.

I’ve read this thread with interest. My own perspective is summed up by the enclosed satirical piece. Silly perhaps, but the element of truth - well, make your own minds up. https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/environment/petrol-cars-are-killing-the-planet-says-gen-z-girl-expecting-massive-shein-delivery-20230924240455 We should be trying to do the right thing for our environment, both locally, nationally and globally. That means reuse, recycle and act sustainably. Consumption for its own sake is damaging on many levels. Focussing on one thing - such as EVs - whilst conveniently ignoring other factors will solve nothing.

Time for a grumpy old man moment. I’m not being contrary, but if school is the place to teach basics such as financial management, then in my opinion that’s a failure of parenting and wider family. Such life skills shouldn’t need to be taught formally at school - they never used to be needed, so what’s changed? If you buy things, then at some point you need to pay for them, either now or later. It’s hardly rocket science. Surely to God we haven’t seen the decline of our civilisation to this extent? Or perhaps we have… Imho what has changed is the internet. Buying ‘stuff’ and thinking that you need to buy more ‘stuff’ in order to keep up with peers and so called ‘influencers’ is relatively new. Credit didn’t used to be so easily available, and there was far more effort required to get into a town centre and walk around to find what you wanted. Comparisons were within your own circle of friends only, not the whole world. At University I studied Gandhi (amongst others). He still fascinates me today. One of his famous quotes speaks about ‘restricting voluntary wants and desires’ in order to achieve ‘true happiness and contentment.’ He was speaking about the physical state as much as the need for possessions, but still. That said, we probably do need to teach financial sense to our children in school. But I say again, the fact that we think we do need to use such valuable time in such a way demonstrates a failure in wider society.

I very much agree. We were taught these, as I remember not specifically but more as a teaching aid when studying classics, Latin and Ancient Greek (which was only for one term each year in place of Latin for about three years - I’m going to say ages about 9-12 but it was a long time ago!). The one that has stuck with me over the years is along the lines of; ”It is sensible to endure those things that you cannot change as worrying about them achieves little.” I guess this is the same one that @Boomer54is also referencing! I can’t remember the context, but I’m sure there was also one along the lines of “Destroy that which you cannot conquer.” I’m unconvinced that is especially useful today, but almost certainly made perfect sense to your average Roman General… I’ve probably posted this previously, but speaking to the youngsters who are still in education in my family makes me slightly depressed. The focus seems to be wholly on ‘training’ rather than ‘education.’ For me, school days are about knowledge for its own sake, at least until age 16 and upwards. I think we now specialise far too early and the prioritisation of science and mathematics over the humanities may make sense in terms of a future workforce but I’m not sure it produces fully rounded members of society. That said, science and maths wasn’t prioritised at all when I was at school, so who am I to talk 😇?

I remember my Father - who passed his driving test while in the Army and in either Egypt or Malaya (as was, I forget which it was) - talking about having to use the ‘pre-selector’ gearbox on his Father’s Armstrong-Siddeley. We’ve never had it so good!

They most certainly have! My disability has meant I’ve driven only automatics since I was eighteen (somehow I managed to learn and pass my test in a manual transmission, God only knows how!). Over the past (cough, cough) ‘few’ years, i.e decades, I’ve owned a few Mini autos (the original sort), torque converter three and four speed autos in Montego and Maestro, Nissan Micra, Renault Scenic and various Hondas. The current Lexus eCVT is superb, having now owned three of them. Learn to drive it differently and it rewards you with smooth progress. It’s a big step forward from the (normal) CVT in my 2004 MINI (my second of those). Even so, I’m a convert to CVT generally. The only automatic I’ve ever owned that I didn’t like was the VW DSG nightmare in a Tiguan. Hesitant to the point of being dangerous, it finally exploded at 40k miles on the M1. When it went bang it blew a hole in the gearbox casing (fortunately replaced under warranty, and then the car sold quickly as I established my experience was far from unusual!). I once worked with a colleague who refused to even consider an automatic, as he said “…I like to feel in control.” I’ve never been in a car with a driver who was in less control 😆.

My gut feel - and that’s all it is - is that a detailer applied when the car is washed and dried lasts longer than those designed to be applied wet. The thing is though, the ‘apply wet’ and then dry with a drying towel such as Alien Magic Aqua or Gyeon Wet Coat are so quick that, especially during Winter, applying them more regularly negates the longevity aspect. The above is totally unscientific I should add…but based on years of applying a great variety of products including high-end traditional waxes such as those from Swissvax which cost a great deal of money!

I posted somewhere else on here recently that I’ve abandoned traditional waxes in favour of quick detailing sprays (whether claiming to be ceramic or not) as the finish and longevity is excellent with a rapid speed and ease of application. One caveat - my RX had a pro-applied GTechniq ceramic coating applied when new two years ago. I’ve been especially impressed with GTechniq c2v3, but also with Alien Magic ‘Boss’ and the CarPro product. Also worth trying those applied at the end of the wash, as I’ve been hugely impressed with Alien Magic Aqua and Gyeon Wet Coat (although there are loads available and all seem to do a good job). Even so, the Alien Magic left a finish after drying that was much the same as if I’d used a quick detailer!

I can only comment on my experience but…I contacted my dealer directly once I found out about the plates. They promised to call back but never did, having claimed to know nothing about the issue! A few weeks later, I contacted Lexus Customer Services direct via email, received an almost immediate reply and the same dealer contacted me within a few hours to book the car in for the work. Courtesy car supplied, work all done as required, couple of small free gifts provided as well! Fair to say that the initial frustration was recovered well in my case by both Lexus and then Lexus Reading.

Uh-oh…we’ve moved on from ZZ Top and now @Minceywill have to get onboard the Vengabus 😆

The key question is, have you got legs and do you know how to use them? 😇

He never said it was a rock band. He might be a bass player in a folk outfit…in which case an old Beetle would be fitting! ...turn up in a 300C with blacked out windows and people will think the guitar case is like Antonio Banderas in Desperado 😇 Depending on the venues that may indeed be wise!

Dacia came tenth out of 32 brands in the What Car? Survey last year. Ahead of Honda surprisingly. And Subaru. In the super mini category the Yaris was third bottom! Other than that no real surprises in the survey. German brands generally rubbish, Lexus generally excellent. https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418

I think they make the most sense in the ultra poverty spec - flat white paint, steel wheels with no trims, black plastic bumpers…

Not Japanese, and don’t shoot me, but…for a totally unremarkable and practical ‘gig’ car what about a Dacia Sandero? Old Renault tech, so all of the gremlins long since ironed out. My understanding is they’re robust because they’re simple - Dacia’s business model can’t soak up lots of warranty claims! For about £6k maximum you’d be looking at a 2018/19 car with 40-60k miles, as well as the approval of James May. 😆 I’ll get my coat…

I’ll ‘third’ this. With the ‘magic seats’ from (about) 2005 onwards they’re superb on space and reliable as well. I can’t see one being a theft magnet either, unless there’s an eighty year-old car thief looking for a thrill… 😜

I have another moan. Telephone call centre messages before they put you through. I listened to one today that was four minutes long! First telling me that the wait would be longer than usual because it was an ‘exceptionally busy time’ (it wasn’t - once the automated messages finished I went straight to a human being), reminding me that it would be easier to book online at www.company.com (it isn’t, that’s why I’m calling!), then telling me about COVID restrictions they have in place (really?) and finally reminding me that ‘if I have a pet, it will need to be kept in a separate room when they visit.’ This was my favourite. ‘A pet.’ Any pet? What about a goldfish? Do they even realise how ridiculous these messages are now?

Speaking of ancient languages…😇

I need to moan about the younger generation not understanding my cultural references. I’m quite happy not to understand their cultural references - that’s just sensible - but they should learn Monty Python at school, amongst others!

I was always under the impression that the A30 was a Roman road - well, that it followed the original anyway. If that is the case then I’d suggest the widening scheme started sometime after AD43…😆

That late Summer blast seems to have ended. It’s dull, damp and much cooler here today - it’s not even forecast to reach 70F which will be something of a blessed relief!