LenT

The general rule of thumb is that cars depreciate by 15 - 35% in their first year - and up to 50% in the third year. But that’s in a normal market. So I wondered if you were getting a newer NX450h, or one the same age, or getting a big discount for the part exchange - or taking a hit on the depreciation? Or something else? Was it really all about a change of colour?

Mmmm… 😀 And I’m betting she doesn’t read your contributions to this website, Steve! 😡👊

A more satisfying headline might be: Lexus driver cleared by Dashcam evidence. If you don’t have one fitted, why not?

These microdot marking systems are very effective and impossible to remove without obviously damaging the surface on which they have been applied. I have them on clocks and expensive electronic equipment - and even if a car was being stolen for parts, the fact that just one microdot detected would identify the source vehicle is yet another worry for both thief and receiver. A good additional deterrent for very little effort!

In which case it will probably benefit from a weekly drive out into the country to get the engine, exhaust system and transmission up to an efficient working temperature once a week. And speaking as a north London lad myself, I always looked forward to getting away at weekends. And what country pub car park wouldn’t be enhanced by the arrival of a nice Lexus?

This clip from what I believe was a documentary, demonstrates the very effective use of a ghost immobiliser.

Well….I do Stephen! I never let my tyres get below 3mm. Apparently that’s the point at which performance deteriorates rapidly. On the other hand, my annual mileage is so low that the problem of new tyres may not be my problem!

An excellent suggestion. If location and budget permit, I think these are a very effective deterrent. When properly installed, I suspect that even ramming them might be ineffective and attract more attention than would be desirable. Apart from which, it would possibly so damage the attacking vehicle that the whole action would prove uneconomical.

Probably deter the casual, opportunistic theft. But many thefts of these cars are targeted, so they would no doubt come equipped with a suitable spare. Well, that’s what I would do…. 🤔

Unfortunately, this is where you may come unstuck…literally! No tyre manufacturer recommends that you mix tyre brands on the same axle. That they must be of exactly the same size is obvious, but it’s equally important that they are of the same compound and tread pattern otherwise they may react differently when under stress - such as cornering - and adverse conditions - such as a wet road. In your case the tyre is nearly new, but you can see how even replacing the punctured tyre with a new Dunlop Maxx could create a performance difference if the other Dunlop Maxx was down to, say, 3mm. This is what Dunlop themselves claim about the ‘superior’ compound and tread development of the Sport Maxx. It’s unlikely that they would accept that another brand would match its performance characteristics. The Dunlop Sport Maxx is developed using motorsport-derived polymers that react to the road’s surface, maximising road contact and grip. This adaptive compound technology not only improves grip but delivers precision and enhanced safety whilst driving. The well-thought design of the Dunlop Sport Maxx is the reason why this tyre performs so well. Enjoy enhanced cornering control due to large shoulder blocks enhancing stability, allowing for a smooth and precise drive on the straight and a bend. The Dunlop Sport Maxx provides shorter braking distances even whilst driving at motorway speeds. The short braking blocks increase contact with the road under braking force to deliver quick, safe braking at high speed.

Interesting question, Malcolm. Perhaps an ex-employee will give us a definitive answer. Having had the occasional car dealer as a client, my impression was that the sales staff worked on basic plus commission. And of course the Dealership gats a sales bonus as well. Fortunately, most Dealers don’t seem to think it would be a good idea to use a cash incentive to get the mechanics to work faster. To see where that can lead, I slightly digress as I recall a notorious German restaurant in Goodge Street, London, called Schmidt’s - they changed it to Smiths during the War! The waiters basically worked for the kitchen - their pay depended entirely on the number and value of the meals they sold. It’s the only restaurant I’ve ever been in where the waiters actually ran from tables to kitchen! Now you might think that would encourage good customer relations. Far from it! Apparently not. If you weren’t ready to order, the waiter would simply move on to the next table. If you weren’t interested in the more expensive daily special, their contempt was palpable. On the other hand, the food was great and every meal was hilarious! I loved it. And there was a great delicatessen downstairs.

Sadly, so often the case. There were times when I would commiserate with clients about how smoothly their businesses would run if only they didn’t have to deal with the Public. Invariably, the irony escaped them! I would despair when presented with the Company’s Mission Statement. So often a string of self-serving platitudes divorced from the reality of their business. Or is that just me being cynical in my dotage?

A perfect demonstration of consumer power, John. Did you get the chance to point out to the Dealer Principal why they had lost your business? It’s surprising how many Company Owners have little awareness of how their customers are actually being treated! Some Companies can react positively to customer criticism; others not so much. I think the problem that you and Colin have described has a lot to do with the internal division between Sales and Service. With the former, customer relations are incentivised by sales commissions so nothing’s too much trouble. But for the Service mechanic, the customer is often more of a pain and certainly not a person to be pandered to - even if they are actually allowed to come into contact with them. I don’t think it’s by chance that I feel well treated by my Lexus Dealer - and that every Service has been accompanied by a video of the mechanic introducing himself and taking me through the service points. Rather than just being an anonymous service monkey, it gives the mechanic a chance to take ownership of his work and to display his competence. And that’s how you maintain high standards.

Of course getting customers on to PCP or HP plans is a good earner for dealers. So it’s prevalent industry wide. When I was buying my Lexus I made it clear that I didn’t require any financing. However, that didn’t stop a staff member elbowing the sales rep aside to ask if he could introduce me to their Purchase Plan. I said he could do that provided he clearly understood that I wasn’t going to use it So we then had a perfectly affable fifteen minutes or so - right up to the point where he tried to close the sale and I said ‘No’. His attitude then became distinctly icy and I had to remind him that I had made my position very clear from the start. I haven’t seen him again and I accept that it can be a tough way to make a living. My criticism is not that he tried, but that he was somewhat unpleasant when he failed - as he had been warned would happen. Every other member of staff I’ve encountered has been exemplary.

That’s been my experience too, Ken. And I don’t think the dealerships are connected.

Damning with faint praise, Colin! 😄

Nice move, Gary. Always fun to scam a scammer! Interesting to know if EBay bothers to track down the advertiser. After all, they took the money that paid for the phoney advertisement so it’s possible to follow the money back to the fraudster. They are also now possibly party to fraud, having been informed of it, unless they take action to check the advertiser’s application details and expose them. They can’t simply rely on the principle of Caveat Emptor to shift all responsibility on to the prospective buyer.

Just a thought - and it’s not something I’ve tried myself - but if you bought your Lexus off a Lexus Dealer, have you called them and asked about who they might recommend for Insurance? If you make the case that exorbitant insurance rates due to a vulnerability to theft has made their cars unviable and you are going to have to exchange it for a more secure make from a different Dealer, it may prompt them to find a solution to a problem that’s threatening their customer base. I can’t recall if Lexus offers anything other than a Gap Insurance but I seem to recall that other Makes may be doing so - for RangeRovers I believe.

No, Joe. My bulbs were D4S type and I replaced them with the Osram Xenon HID Laser bulbs. I found them to be a considerable improvement over the standard bulb - especially the dip beam. But remember, that could just be specific to my IS250. Mind you, that was a couple of years ago and going the LED route might be easier now with new products available. I’d be inclined to check with ABD and see what they have to say that’s specific to your Lexus.

I’ve had very good service from this bulb supplier. And they’re very willing to offer advice. Here’s their range of LED bulbs and I see that there are a few H11s among them. Is this any help? https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/led-headlight-bulbs/

Well…I think we can probably all agree on that! 😊

😄😄😄 Quite right, Linas. That was still a decade ahead - and contrary to common stereotype, we got on very well! I see you’ve expanded your analysis into the ‘best decade’ by including societal changes as well as automotive - and rightly so. But it does complicate matters! After all, why not then also consider the many medical advances that have improved the quality of life? On the other hand, are these counterpointed by the apparent increase in the number of people who appear not to accept personal responsibility for their lifestyle or actions? Or believe their actions are justified by a Higher Being? And how much do the obvious benefits of the Internet contrast with the invidious rise - and so often the negative effects - of ‘Social Media’? Apart from which, I’ve always thought dividing Life into neat decades to be suspiciously convenient! Frankly, it’s all a bit too introspective for me!

Very entertaining to read the reminiscences of all you young folk! My best motoring years were my first motoring years. Back in the early 60s I acquired my first car - a Ford Anglia 100E - which transformed our family life. It didn’t just give me a freedom and mobility that many of my contemporaries lacked, but being the only family member who could drive at that time, it enabled us to visit family members who I had managed to avoid up to that point! 😊

Well - and this my personal opinion - if I’ve understood you correctly, that’s £1300 for 1 main and 2 intermediate services, plus 3 MOTs, by Lexus-trained mechanics using Lexus approved parts. All guaranteed by Lexus and at a fixed price for three years. That sounds like a reasonable deal to me. In fact it sounds so reasonable that I have been on just such a three year deal, renewed every three years, with Lexus MK ever since I bought my car from them. In return I feel that the Dealer reciprocates my commitment to them and responds with an excellent level of service. But that’s just my personal experience! 😊

Doesn’t the Service Plan also include Intermediate Services? Servicing is either done on a mileage basis or annually, after all. Your Service Plan also protects you from any price increases over the three year period. Logically, a car doesn’t really get cheaper to maintain as it gets older. In many cases it’s quite the reverse - it’s just that owners spend less because it’s equated to the diminishing value of the car. Of course a good local independent may be just as competent, although may lack the Lexus support material, tooling and information. This may be less significant for an older car.