Barry14UK

I didn't get on well with the Lexus satnav - it took me off course several times on roads I know well to prove the point. Also it's very clunky. I therefore transferred the large TomTom from my BMW which had worked well and mounted it on the dash of the RX after finding optimum position and making brackets. It's far easier to see and read at a glance and more easy to set than the Lexus one. Updates are regular and it has a number of other features including speed camera warnings. I can even detach it and carry it with me to assist finding my way about a strange town whilst on foot, something you can't do with the Satnav installed by manufacturers. It also has the advantage of my being familiar with its operation, so I can readily transfer it to another car, albeit with a different fixing. See pic in my post of Oct 30 2020 under thread below. I do agree that there are occasions when it is helpful to see a position relative to a much wider area so also carry a large book of maps. It all comes down to what you prefer/find works best for you.

Done the same on several cars. It usually happens because aluminium shield is fixed by steel and there is a reaction between the two.

also doesn't help if your road is punctuated with road humps along its length!

It's true that tax is taken from you for health without choice and indeed you could be extremely lucky and never need to see a Doctor, need medical attention of one sort or another or even need any medication but I think this would be very rare even discounting COVID 19 vaxinations but including those that are generally administered in childhood on the NHS. So even if health contributions were left to choice, how many people would not risk being covered. So look at your tax contributions as relatively cheap insurance. A quick search showed that in 2017 the cost of health care per individual in the UK pa was £2913 compared with £3737 in France and £4432 in Germany although both the latter provide quicker and arguably better treatment albeit using different ways to pay for the cost. If you just don't like having to pay tax consider some people don't want to have children so resent paying so much for education and it's true that those with children benefit most. However, even though you might not have children yourself, you benefit from them tending your needs in old age and contributing to the economy so you can enjoy the things to which you have come accustomed. Of course taxation is a controversial subject and I don't believe any of us would wish to pay so much tax that we could not afford to run our Lexus cars, as would be the case for some of us in certain countries! But don't complain how long it takes to get an appointment with long waiting lists and tardy results, plus being treated on old equipment (subject to postcode), if you don't want to pay more for the NHS or private Insurance cover. In fact you are going to have to pay more to cover the cost of increased care for an ageing population anyway. The fact of the matter is that we as a country and as individuals are living beyond our means, which is also true of a number of western countries where manufactured goods that at one time contributed to our balance of trade has largely gone to China and Eastern countries plus we are having to pay more for raw materials and foodstuff, yet are living longer. Anyway that's far removed from MRI and glad that Piers thought it not so bad as he envisaged. What is really important is what the MRI reveals and I hope that is not something serious. However, should this be the case, I can recommend joining a heath forum that covers the particular problem.

I had no luck with the side rails for my RX45Oh Premier on ebay. They are like hens teeth. I eventually bought from Lexus Direct who are at Swindon and were certainly less expensive than from other Lexus dealers. They also did a deal on sending them to me without additional charge but it helped that I also bought the Cross Rails. The manual is pictural as seen above states suitable for 2008 - so that would be to last 3rd generation in 2015. With the new side rails is included new gaskets and longer bolts. Keep the ones and caps you remove as you may wish to remove and sell the rails separately if when you sell the car the new buyer prefers not to have them in place as a few do.

It is often the case now that a lot of ancillary work in UK hospitals is contracted out rather than done in house, just like a lot of UK companies have done, the company I previously worked for included. My local hospital has for example contracted out the meal service. I don't know about Civil Servants outside hospitals but from observation of managers and clerical staff in the several NHS hospitals where I have been a patient, my impression is that they work very hard and many are overloaded. This is an interesting link on the subject https://www.wbs.ac.uk/news/how-many-managers-does-the-uk-s-nhs-need/ With regard to nurses, the cost to the NHS is increased by employing Agency Nurses at higher rates to plug shortages. GP's in the UK form a large proportion of our doctors but they each serve considerably more patients than in Germany or Italy for example. I was so impressed with treatment I had in Heidelberg that I reported my experience to my second opinion in the UK. He told me that he was not surprised as he had worked in German hospitals and was sometimes ashamed how some UK hospital compared. Mind you he was working at the old Birmingham hospital at the time where conditions were poor, since replaced by a modern Queen Elizabeth hospital at Birmingham. This is the way they do it in Heidelberg on a vast campus with many hospitals that specialize in different parts of the body, including a children's hospital, a women's hospital, the National Centre for Tumour Diseases, and the DKFZ German Research Centre . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRYaIJXbvI

As Piers is now underway with his scan, hopefully encouraged by support from this forum, I feel I can comment on another aspect raised. The NHS has been the victim of its own success. The cost has not just escalated due to advances in equipment but also in the scope of operations and procedures as well as use of prescribed drugs used increasingly as people advance in years. This adds to cost with some elderly bed blocking hospitals or needing more support at home. Alzheimer's/Dementia is an example. There has also been a need to train staff to operate more advanced equipment. Having said that, we still lag behind some European countries both numerically in clinicians and various medical staff and with advanced equipment especially outside London and major hospitals. I could give examples if anybody wished.

Well you insure your car and most probably your house, so how much more important paying for the NHS. You never know when you might need very expensive treatment. If you could opt out of using the NHS and have your portion of tax for this refunded, would you not cover this risk by taking out private insurance so you would pay either way? Actually, private insurance would cost you more, I know I have had both. Furthermore, there are procedures that private hospitals in the UK can't provide so they have to refer patients for these to the wider embracing NHS hospitals. Certainly, the underfunded and understaffed NHS do well with their resources Much equipment is also dated, particularly in many hospitals outside London and major towns. So people should be paying more Tax for a service that is so much in need that it has to employ trained medical staff from other countries to just about cope.

What a let down. Hopefully somebody will respond who has fitted and can recommend alternatives.

Brembo are a leading make and original equipment for some cars. However, it has been suggested that some of those on sale are not genuine and this could account for some unfavourable reports. Also, Brembo may not be the best choice for some cars. I had disc/pad problems with two other leading manufactures on my BMW which was solved by buying OE from BMW. If you can buy either from Lexus or the manufacturer they buy from you can't go wrong but otherwise you have to be lucky, maybe get the opinion from an independent on what they have successfully fitted.

I have lost count of the number of MRI scans I have since cancer diagnosis in 2007 but it's between 12 and 14. This is largely accounted for by my having taken part in three trials which meant preliminary and and regular after treatment follow up in Germany and the UK. I have had scans on both the 1.5 Tesla and 3 Tesla machines (no nothing to do with Musk) and both are noisy despite your usually being given ear plugs and ear defenders where music or instructions can be given. Sometimes you are told to exhale and not to breath in until told to do so and in other scans asked to breath and hold your breath until told to breath out. This is to aid what they call sequencing but depends on the type of scan. Sometimes you can feel a strong vibration through the platform during some sequences. Also, the patient is sometimes given contrast which aides definition. If this is done a cannula is connected to your hand or arm before the scan starts and partway through the scan this contrast (Gadolinium) is released into your system. Some of my MRI scans had this but not all. Where contrast is given you feel a change of temperature in your arm and the contrast is soon excreted through your urine afterwards. Some scanners blow cool air over your head and the table/platform you are on may move between sequences depending on the type of scan and what is being scanned. You need to get really comfortable before the scan starts and try not to move or cough. The latter happened during one of my scans and I was told off as it spoilt one of the sequences. You are given a button to press in an emergency if you have a problem. Just close your eyes and relax and you will find it a doddle.

I like the flowing smooth lines of your car and most of the Aston Martins and Ferraris but I am sure designers struggle to find new shapes within the constraints of low drag, efficiency and cost of production and likely sales. I think there is scope for improvement in the way SUV's look. The Jag 'F' Pace and Alfa Stelvio are better attempts in the styling department.

I am sure such a car would be technically advanced and liked by some, although it looks ugly to me and compares unfavourably in this respect with the Jaguar F type and even my Maserati Indy of the nineteen seventies. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and can be offset by other merits, the reason why I bought my RX despite it's looks. My Masser was later version but very similar to this one, a genuine 4 seater. https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/maserati/indy/indy-4700/1971/191205

True, but I think contemporary Jackie Pallo drew the most animosity from the ladies!

In mentioning that fuel tanks would be too heavy and large for use in a car, I meant as demonstrated in the video as linked to with Lord Bamford of JCB. I differentiated by specifically referring also to the fuel cell alternative which seems more viable. It doesn't get the publicity like BEV but if you look for it you can find the major car makers are developing hydrogen/fuel cell cars and some are on sale in a growing way in some markets.

In relation to cars, hydrogen presents problems with large and heavy tanks. This is overcome with the fuel cell but introduces a lot of complexity and extra cost. Battery technology as a means of propulsion for cars arguably presents greater problems in so far as requiring major upgrade to National Grid, creation of many additional supply points, the cost of and limits to rare materials in batteries and charging time being some of them. So batteries power is not the complete answer that politicians seem to think and hydrogen power needs to be developed as an alternative option.

My BMW E39 3 litre which is only just a little older than your RX has only returned 28mpg at best since I had it with 55K miles on the clock and this keeping close to speed limit on motorways. Yet it is lighter and more aerodynamic than the RX which I am surprised can do as well without the hybrid help.

Most certainly cars have increased in size, equivalent model for model but even the 4th Generation RX has a larger footprint than previous models if not quite so tall, so even the RX is not an exception. It would be interesting to know why people opt for SUV's, just about all of which don't look as good or handle as well as saloons and coupes. My excuse for making the change was because I found it difficult to get in and out of a saloon and found the RX more comfortable on my arthritic back. Some feel they are safer in a larger, heavier vehicle. There is some truth in this. Yet notwithstanding being less economical and being subjected to derogatory comments like "Chelsea tractors", SUV's have become increasingly popular. Maybe it's just become fashionable. It's much easier for manufacturers to respond to a demand than to create one. They have also collected a lot of what otherwise might have been MPV buyers, causing contraction in the market for MVP's.

Just seen this John but my list will be the same as yours as based on recommendations made on our LOC forums I do think it helpful for members to be able to go to one place for ease of reference which purpose is served by this thread. I would therefore suggest that anybody who includes very favourable comment about work done by an independent or specialist applicable to Lexus as part of a general report on their car under a separate post, also adds it to this thread giving very summarised detail of specialization or general servicing.

Well thanks guys, always something to learn with a Lexus and particularly obliged for instructions. I seemed to recall that I read somewhere that the 6 disc holder was under a seat but I must have been thinking of a different car/model.

That's interesting, I was aware that some of the earlier RX's had a 6 disc player but thought they discontinued it for the 3rd Generation and my 3rd Generation only has a single disc player. Actually, I would prefer the 6 disc one as I am old school. I have a spare 6 disc holder from a BMW I broke but doubt this could be integrated into the Lexus system.

So it seems some prefer one way of operating and others another but you learn to live with it. Is it really a deal breaker?

You would think that after so many years of advances in alarm systems it should be possible for the sensors to differentiate between a bug and something very much larger!

I had the use of an almost new UX for the day while my RX was last serviced. I found it very agile but as well as having a miniscule boot, it is very cramped in the rear which made for difficult access/egress for my fairly elderly sister. I also found it rather claustrophobic. It did make my RX feel boat like but I can live with that. I might go for a NX when the new model comes out as I quite liked the current NX loaned to me on another occasion.

I think the significance of E10 fuel is a bigger question https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19447973.e10-petrol-drivers-warned-may-use-premium-fuel-instead/