LenT

I think that yourself and Vlad have summed this dealer/customer relationship up very well. It’s too easy to overlook the fact that loyalty is a two-way street. I suspect that my current good relations with Lexus MK (have I mentioned them before?) may stem from the fact that I have prepaid with Service Plans as a matter of convenience for me. As others have described, I’ve had loan cars for a nominal charge and used the collection/delivery service if it was more convenient for me - despite being some 30 miles away. My last service, early this year, was different because I’d left it too late to arrange a loan. So I had resigned myself to a wait in the Showroom with coffee and biscuits - my needs are modest. However, I got into conversation with another customer who was then approached by a sales lad who was trying to interest him in a newer ES. There then followed a very entertaining tour of the offerings outside, which resulted in my new chum deciding he was happy with his ES - and confirmed that I already had the best Lexus for my needs - which was ready to go by the time we strolled back into the Showroom. Obviously, none of this would compensate for inadequacies in the actual service and I should add that my Honda dealer was just as welcoming. Maybe it’s a Milton Keynes thing? 😊

I’d certainly recommend having a power pack. We have a small 4x4 which is getting very little use lately, and the power pack kicked it into life with no problem at all. But unless I’ve missed it, has no-one suggested a trickle charger? Of course the location of the car may rule one out. Or possibly this is a battery that is unsuitable for trickle charging - glass mat would that be? But otherwise you can leave a CTEK permanently connected and there’s no risk of overcharging. Now I look forward to being enlightened as to why that can’t be done. 😊

I’ve only just come across this thread, Linus, and full marks for your perseverance. As you rightly say, these intermittent faults are a nightmare to diagnose. My starting point would have been to get Lexus to pick it up! But I suppose, as you bought it as a cheap project, you can regard the time and effort as a way of adding to your already considerable knowledge of all things Lexus. As I recall, the IS250 was one of your favourite models. So now I hope anything else you have to do is relatively minor and you can now start to really enjoy the driving experience. 👍

Speaking of Conspiracies….. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61142905 It couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. Nothing to moan about here!

Many thanks for your very prompt response. Perhaps I can clear these further points for you. You know exactly what I meant by building 7 (ah you meant ?) I learnt at a very early age that it can be a mistake to assume that you know what people are referring to. And, frankly, if you knew your subject well enough to dispute the evidence assembled concerning it, then you would surely have known that it’s called WTC7. ...and you have done a quick google for those links, And that would be wrong because…..? There’s nothing wrong with seeking accurate information; it’s not seeking it that causes problems. One just has to be selective and distinguish information from misinformation – of which there is considerably more! I would also point out, VFR, that if you had ‘Googled’ WTC7 in the first place, you would have had access to the same information I have just supplied you with. But as it happens, the only ‘Googling’ I had to do was to confirm that Popular Mechanics was still in business. You will have noticed that the NIST report is dated November 2008. I already had it. Did notice that you also try to imply by association that I must then believe in the flat earth twaddle. Bit of a stretch, I would suggest. But I’m delighted to learn that you don’t. I gave a polite answer why I quoted your post in the first place but it is clear you have an issue with that (touched a nerve I guess) Let me reassure you on that point. Having been engaged in on-line debates for some decades, I have long ago ceased to have nerves touched! As it is, surely it’s yourself that appears to be reacting to the fact that you’ve now been provided with information that will enable you to clarify and – as you put it – ‘explain building 7’. I would have thought you might be grateful?

Oh I see...by ‘building 7’ you mean WTC7. And you ask ‘How do I explain it. You cannot of course.’ and ‘It had people scratching their heads at the time & still does.’ Well, the first thing that comes to mind, VFR, is an activity involving flogging and dead horses! I recall debating all this twenty years ago. In fact I was in my office when one of my Partners called me in to see what he was watching on TV. Two things became clear: 1. One of the Twin Towers had been hit by an aircraft or missile. As we watched, a second object – an airliner – hit the other Tower. 2. I was obviously the only one doing any damn work in the Company! But this gives me the opportunity to expand on my earlier moan and point out that, as well as the inability to apply critical thinking, can be added an ignorance of what constitutes evidence. On this, I can do no better than quote Carl Sagan: ‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.’ For example, VFR, the statements: How do I explain it. You cannot of course.’ and ‘It had people scratching their heads at the time & still does.’ do not constitute evidence and are not even accurate. As the one making the claims, it falls to you to provide the evidence, which can then be falsified. But rather than my spending what little time I may have left rebutting fantasy, I would refer you to this document: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/NCSTAR/ncstar1a.pdf It’s the culmination of six years of research by the National Institute of Standards & Technology and is titled ‘Final Report on the Collapse of World Trade Centre Building 7’. I suggest you digest this first - and a couple of the annexes - before making any more claims. As a more digestible layman’s version, you could also start here. The American magazine Popular Mechanics was among the first to undertake an analysis of the various conspiracies that sprang up. 9/11 Conspiracy Theories Debunking | World Trade Center Myths (popularmechanics.com) World Trade Center 7 Report Puts 9/11 Conspiracy Theory to Rest (popularmechanics.com) So let me expand my ‘moan’ to include those who waste their lives – and delude others – by claiming that: 1. The Earth is only about 10,000 years old. 2. Humans strolled the Planet alongside dinosaurs. 3. You can produce effective medicines by diluting something so that not a single molecule of the original substance remains. 4. Humans have not landed on the Moon. 5. The Earth is actually a flat(ish) disk. ...and so on ad nauseam! As a final thought re Conspiracies, I suggest that one may not go far wrong if applying Occam's Razor to the problem: Namely, the simplest solution is almost always the best!

Well I hadn’t expected the resurrection of a five month old post, but I have to say that your question is a touch too enigmatic for me. I was tempted to suggest it might be the building constructed between numbers 6 and 8, but feared that might come across as facetious- for which I would apologise in advance. 🙂 But if you really think it’s an appropriate question for this Lexus forum, and one for which you think I might be able to provide an answer, then I suggest a little more detail would be helpful to avoid any misunderstandings.

A good point, well made. 😊

My own experience entirely, Ed. During the week, when commuting between offices in London, Leicester and Manchester, I found that driving competence and road manners were noticeably superior to what was on display at the weekends. It was as though there was a ‘Fellowship of the Road’ that had developed, in which HGVs were allowed room to manoeuvre and considerate driving was recognised and acknowledged. Now I often drive through towns with streets constricted by traffic and find that oncoming drivers don’t even apparently notice, let alone show any appreciation, that I have shown them any consideration. And sadly this is no longer confined to weekends!

I agree. I’m guessing that it’s an HB3 fitting for your models Main beam, but I fitted the Osram Night Breaker Laser in my 2015 IS250 and have been delighted with the results. it was like switching from a Toc H standard of lighting - and yet in fact the originals actually were halogens! https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/hb3-9005-osram-night-breaker-laser-next-generation.html Worth a look, I suggest.

I thought so too! But I happened to ring Lexus MK on another matter, having just had a quote for a new set of tyres from a local dealer I’ve used before. I casually asked if they also retail tyres and a few minutes later they emailed a quote that matched that of the tyre specialist. I might well have gone with it, except I was also having a set of Alloygators fitted by the tyre specialist. So it’s probably worth asking if you have a good relationship with the dealer.

Another example of Lexus excellent customer service. 😊

I too like to have the armrest down but I can’t say that the void has ever really bothered me. But if you fill it then I guess you won’t be able to raise the armrest again should you need to sit three across the back. Of course, that could work to your advantage! But the question remains: What goes into the space? Well, how about a drinks cabinet with a drop down walnut-faced door? A tea, coffee, cold drink dispenser? A fridge? A chilled drawer in which to keep pre-prepared sandwiches and panini? Or fruit 🍎? Bird Watcher’s bins, ready for instant use? Games for the children? A Shewee (yes, it’s not all about us!). A powerful portable torch that connects to a recharging point. A small loudhailer for correcting the behaviour of other road users. Recharging points for phones. A small automatic umbrella. A change of shoes. Or underwear. Remember, you heard it here first.

I have heard these claims before, but I have a couple of problems with them. Firstly, if you think they look tatty when curbed, you can smooth the plastic with a supplied little shaver or even a small file. And, as I mentioned, if you’re worried about a scuff on the plastic, just bear in mind what the same impact would have done to the unprotected rim! Even a newly applied Alloygator is considerably less then a rim repair - or a new wheel! Secondly, I’m not sure that there has ever been a properly documented case of a correctly fitted Alloygator parting from the rim. If the jointing piece is undamaged then the circumference of the Alloygator is less than the rim, so it can’t slip over the rim anyway. If the jointing piece has been damaged and the Alloygator is starting to move out of the rim, then that will be immediately obvious to even a casual glance by the owner. If that’s the case, extra jointing pieces and adhesive can be bought from the makers. Deflating the tyre and using a suitable soft-faced mallet is usually then sufficient to get the Alloygator back in place. I hope this is some reassurance.

I sit here humbled, Phil, in shock and awe at the apparent casualness with which you approached the life-changing process of becoming a Lexus owner. I trust that other LOC members will take note that clearly neither of us are fit and proper sources of car buying advice. Still, turned out all right in the end!! 😊

I was most impressed with the way you went about seeking your Lexus. It contrasted sharply with my method. This involved buying the first one I saw, which also happened to be the first one I'd ever driven! Fortunately, and six years later, I am still delighted with it. With regard to the tyres, I personally would not have different brands on both axles. Mixing different tread patterns and compounds is inviting problems if they react differently under road conditions. However, I would agree with the choice of Michelin CCs. We have them on a Suzuki 4x4 and they are excellent. I would have had them on the Lexus, but it came with 18" wheels and Michelin didn't make one of the two sizes they required. The game-style controller does take some getting used to, but clearly it's not something that should be attempted while on the move anyway. Much of the most useful stuff is tucked away behind a series of menus anyway. As you have already discovered, the steering wheel controls are very usable, in contrast. The sat/nav system is - by common agreement - a waste of space. It's clunky to use and even if it can be updated, it'll be out-of-date and expensive. I too use my Garmin and, no doubt like yourself, benefit from four free updates every year. As far as the intuitiveness of the kit is concerned, my Lexus came with two manuals totalling 1100 pages! If you have any problems, most of the answers will be there - together with answers to problems you didn't yet know you had! Glad to hear you're fitting a dashcam. I am great advocate of these and the more there are on the road, the easier it will be to remove bad drivers. I'm sure you will not regret your decision and can look forward to many miles of contented Lexus motoring!

I hope this gives some idea, Bill. I chose black so that they merged with the tyre, but they come in a range of colours if you wish to make a feature of them. I can't say that the joint has ever seemed too visible to me. I think it's the slight bulge at the 1 o'clock position on the front wheel, so you can judge for yourself. I have other wheel pics if you'd like to see more. However, I think the most important consideration is that if you come away from an encounter with a kerb of sufficient force to seriously damage the AlloyGator, it would have quite possibly irreparably damaged the wheel!

Not so sure that ‘stick on’ is such a good idea. What happens if they need replacing? In my first week of ownership, I discovered that low profile alloys and snow-covered kerbs do not make a happy mix. Although our local ChipsAway did an excellent rim repair job, it was clear this could become an expensive hobby. So I had a set of Alloygators fitted. They have proved to be an excellent investment. Now it’s only the plastic rim that’s ever scuffed, which can be rubbed smooth. And individual Alloygators can be easily replaced. I suggest you check them out first before sticking anything on to a wheel.

Well I had to look up Jared Polis and I'm not sure why you chose him to illustrate some point about Covid. I note that you have him exclaiming 'the end of the pandemic' and not the cure for it. But if I accept that your quote, as far as it goes, is accurate, then he is correct - if not a trifle optimistic. Sadly, that has only been achieved in one instance. The last case of smallpox was diagnosed in 1977 and the WHO declared it eradicated in 1980. And the prime reason for that was the vaccination process developed by Edward Jenner in 1796 by means of an experiment on a young boy that would today have landed him in jail! It's because of the gradual elimination of smallpox that it is no longer appreciated as the killer it was. Arguably, it was the single greatest natural cause of human death in the history of the species. Similarly, the transformation in the knowledge of the virus, and the processes by which it can be controlled, may well prove to be the greatest medical advance of this century.

Once again Eric, I appreciate the response to my post - even if you have, for the third time, spurned the opportunity to reconcile your distaste of Bill Gates with the contradictory reality that his support is enthusiastically welcomed by The Guardian - a source that you happily quote. If it's any help, I suggest it's an example of Cognitive Dissonance. Not too sure how the execrable Saville comes into your argument, but if you're interested in ADRs then it may be helpful to consider a more up-to-date report. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting This is the record for last week. It's important to note the second sentence: Vaccination is the single most effective way to reduce deaths and severe illness from COVID-19. All medicines and medical interventions have potential side effects. In the vast majority of instances, they are comprehensively outweighed by the benefits. The list you provide are common, for example, to most coronaviruses; so patients with some types of the common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis and many others, will also present with them. It may be useful to understand that Covid-19 is merely the latest evolution of a virus that has been traced back to 8000BC. In the same way that some people are born with a genetic disorder, so others will react adversely to a medical intervention. But however distressing that is on a individual level, it is not indicative of the reaction of the Species. Trying to extrapolate from the individual to the generic is rarely a satisfactory process.

Oh, very well!! At about the same time, my Dad had developed a similar relationship with the backside of our Milkman's horse in Tottenham. There we part company! The only family car I knew was a London taxi of about early 50's vintage, with a convertible section at the rear, an open luggage compartment at the front on the passenger side and a bulb horn squeezed by the driver. Possibly a cross between an Austin FX2 and FX3. And probably a valuable museum piece now! On the fuel matter, I had a CH Oil delivery last week for a record 98.4 ppl. However, that was an improvement on the 103.73 ppl quoted a week earlier. So moving in the right direction.

Well,you can’t argue with facts like that. 😉

When I did that with my newly acquired Lexus in the first week of ownership, I found that my local ChipsAway guy was able to carry out an excellent repair. Of course, it is a franchise and abilities may vary. But it’s a service that comes to you - so very convenient.

Hello again Eric. I’m obliged to you for replying to my last post of three weeks ago, but I wonder if you have the right poster? I was enquiring as to how you reconciled your opinion that Bill Gates controlled the media, with your acceptance of The Guardian as an authoritative source - having been informed that The Guardian was delighted to have been in a decade-long relationship with Gates. You are, of course, under no obligation to answer – and I see that you haven’t. Instead, you appear to prefer to ascribe to me opinions that I have not expressed and make science-related statements without the benefit of science-based evidence. But while I await the possibility of a response to what is, admittedly, purely idle curiosity, I’ll just comment on what appear to be a couple of points of concern to you. People like you listen to all the biased government and news feeds from CNN, MSN and the BBC. Hard to say, as I don’t really know many people like me! But I can confirm that I don’t listen to/watch CNN, and I have not knowingly interacted with MSN – as I don’t know what it is. I do indeed watch the BBC, primarily because they still insist on pocketing part of my pension in order to bring me such programmes as the one on BBC1 this Friday at 6.30! You probably are waiting for the 6th booster to cure covid right? I’d be very foolish to do that, Eric. I think you have fallen foul of a common misunderstanding about vaccines and conflated them with ‘cures’. Vaccines are used to prevent infections. It’s antibiotics that provide cures. People like you never ask Boris how many are dead from vaccines… And rightly so. I would probably ask a virologist. 🙂

Herbie’s right, of course. Once you entertain the possibility that there’s a fault in the hardware, or even somewhere in the electrical system, then you’re probably better off handing the problem to an auto electrician. Not what you wanted to hear - but it may save time in the long run. 🙁