LenT

Always reminds me of the Marx quote (Groucho, of course) while addressing a Board of Directors. ”And those, Gentlemen, are my Principles. And if you don’t like them,,,,well, I have others.” However, it does occur to me that anyone aspiring to become - or to remain - a politician is unlikely to achieve it by expressing an unpopular opinion. If the only vision of the future that a candidate could offer was, for example, a period of blood, sweat, toil and tears, would that be a vote winner? Politicians are in an invidious position. They are not too dissimilar to Priests in that they both have to offer the prospect of a glittering future in order to obtain any following in the present. But that’s not the end of their problems. Under our current democratic system, they are faced with having retain their following every five years. And yet it can take easily that long to effect fundamental changes in a broken system. That’s why dictators have such an advantage in that they can remove the opposition and gain the time they need to make dramatic social changes. But we currently have a very good example of where that can lead! So perhaps, John, there might just be an argument that voters should share the blame for installing ineffective Governments. Perhaps they should be more critical of unsubstantiated assertions based on prejudicial attitudes, rather than verifiable evidence. And perhaps simplistic characterisations (eg all Tories are evil) should be confined to the playground, where they belong. 😊

Thanks Eric for taking the trouble to respond to my post. It strikes me, however, that reading my post and then your response below it, that I don’t actually detect any answers to the points I raised. These points, you may recall, were seeking clarification of the various claims you had made regarding the FOI reply you had discovered that referred to the charitable donation made by the Gates’s Foundation to another charitable organisation called BBC Media Action. No doubt this post will irritate those who wonder what it has to do with ‘Fuel Panic’, but I think if you’ve gone to the trouble to comment then I think you deserve the courtesy of a reply. 1. Denying everything is fine, but I prefer to question everything. I think most people do, Eric. But questioning is pointless if you pay no heed to the answers. 2. The mere fact Bill Gates funds the british Government should set alarm bells going off anyway - no matter what his 'noble' cause is But it’s not ‘a mere fact Bill Gates funds the british Government’. As the FOI reply you cited confirmed, it was a donation to an independent charitable organisation (BBC Media Action) which was a BBC initiative with the aim of using media development to support marginalised groups around the World. You asked the question, Eric, but you’ve denied and ignored the answer! To suggest that this ‘funds the British Government’ is, frankly, risible. On that basis, my annual BBC Licence Fee – and possibly yours too – are even more egregious examples! Makes you wonder why elements in the Government want to get rid of it! 3. If your contention is that Gates is ‘buying’ undue influence with the British Government by means of this BBC Media Action funding, then he’s not making a very good job of it. As I pointed out, at least four other comparable organisations outspent him in 2019/20. Even stranger, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donation of £1,569K was handsomely topped by the £7,645K that came from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Or is this an example of the British Government funding itself? 4. The BBC are funded by the British Government in the same way the climate scaremongering articles are funded by Governments I suppose that well-know climate scaremonger Sir David Attenborough is yet another Government lackey? 5. The director of the BBC is a Tory, And this discredits him, does it? Prior to being appointed DG in September 2020, Tim Davie had also been a successful Director of various broadcasting divisions within the BBC for the previous fifteen years. Conceivably this may also have had a bearing on his appointment. If I were to criticise him, it would be over his defence of the salary of the BBC’s highest paid presenter - Gary Lineker. 6. Would you walk backwards if told to do so by the Government? Politicians and Governments all over the world are crooked - how else do you think they have disguised covid so well and have got off scott free, and please dont tell me it was about a virus - otherwise I will have to publish the tens of millions of people dying of various diseases around the world each year, of which no body was told previously about. It may be just me, but I’m not too clear what you’re getting at here. But it seems far removed from the subject of this post - in itself far removed from the subject of the thread! 7. ...millions of people dying of various diseases around the world each year, of which no body was told previously about. Again, not too clear to what you allude. Covid-19 is an example of a potentially fatal virus about which ‘no body was told previously about’ mainly because it hadn’t evolved! Once it had evolved – and escaped from its origin in Wuhan, China – its existence became rather well-known.

Thank you for this, Eric. I have two main problems with it: 1: It seems to be primarily opinion, not evidence. 2: More importantly, it appears to be in response to questions I didn't actually ask. For the sake of clarity, this is the content of your original post that was the subject of my question: In reply, as evidence of your claim that 'Bill Gates funds the British Government (and therefore the BBC)' you have offered this: This is actually an acknowledgement of a charitable donation to what is called BBC Media Action. This is a link to the current Annual Report. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/annualreports/2020-2021.pdf As you will see, it is an international charity working in international development and supporting independent media to further democracy across 23 countries. In 2019/20 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated £1,569K to this charity. Although very welcome, I hardly think it qualifies as 'Funding the British Government'. In fact, on that basis, you should be more nervous of the donations provided by: Global Affairs Canada (£1,642K); UN Development Programme (£2,402K); European Union (£3,199K) and that hot-bed of intrigue, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (£3,383K). I suggest that this hardly supports the claim that the Gates' Foundation is supporting the BBC or - indeed - 'all the covid stuff on the news'.

For those of us - possibly the majority- who have so far managed to remain untouched by these claims - or facts, as you style them - I’d be obliged if you could provide the source evidence for them. By ‘evidence’ I mean the original documentation or video, rather than someone simply repeating the allegation, which is sometimes confused with ‘evidence’. Many thanks.

Sensible advice. Another Costco offer will be along shortly. In any case, General tyres seem to be a well-regarded mid-performance brand, having been acquired by Continental in 1987 and now being made in Germany. The usual recommendation is to replace at the 3mm tread mark. You don’t say how long you’ve had the car, but by then you’re sure to have a good idea of the particular aspects of tyre performance that are most important to you. Costco also do offers on Goodyears. I’m a fan of both brands and you’ll not go far wrong with either!

Apart from age, you’ve only averaged 3,500 a year. Now if that’s been a lot of very short journeys, then the exhaust system hasn’t been getting hot enough to eliminate the water condensation produced inside it. So it just sits there, quietly corroding the metal from inside. As John has pointed out, in such circumstances you’ve probably done quite well to have it last as long as it has! If you can restore it for just £200, I’d say that was a something of a result!

I don’t know this model, but it does sound like you have a plug misfiring. Now that could be the plug itself, or a loose plug lead or an ignition problem on one cylinder. I would check the plugs and leads first, as being the simplest option - if they’re easily accessible.

Mr. Hindsight strikes again! 😊

I may have completely misunderstood you, David, but this seems a very jaundiced view of a Dealership. Or is it just Lexus dealers? Firstly, I've always been able to match the MoT with a Service. This is because the Service intervals are either 10K or 1 year. As I have always done less than 10K in the Lexus, it's very easy to arrange both on an annual basis and thus co-ordinate them. As it happens, the average UK mileage for 2020 was 6,533 - down from 7,559 in 2010. On that basis, far from being rare, the average UK motorist would be having their cars serviced on an annual basis, not a mileage one. So it could easily be co-ordinated with an MoT. I'm not quite sure how you are defining a Service. By using the phrase 'box ticking exercise' I presume that you are suggesting that it is conducted in a perfunctory fashion. On what basis do you make that allegation? I've just had mine Serviced and the Report does indeed consist of many ticked boxes, with the occasional added comment. But our Suzuki dealer used the same method . It ensures that the Service is conducted in a methodical fashion, as per the Manufacturer's specifications. Frankly, that seems to me to be more reassuring than, perhaps, an Independent who is untrained in that specific Marque and may therefor not be so disciplined. In any case, if Lexus MK had been guilty of such behaviour, they would hardly have bothered to open the bonnet or put the car up on a ramp - both of which were confirmed by my dashcam! I would also observe that a Lexus Dealer is obliged to use Lexus approved parts and fluids; an Independent isn't. This is obviously one area where savings can be made. These non-Lexus approved items may be perfectly satisfactory. Or there may be good reasons why they are cheaper. The problem is that these reasons may take many miles to make themselves apparent! Somewhat puzzled why you think a Lexus mechanic is not a 'professional'? To become a Lexus Dealer - indeed to acquire any Dealership - requires a considerable financial investment in, for example, premises, branding, tooling, training, marketing and spares. Now that may well mean that such overheads make such as Servicing more expensive than an Independent, who has no such investment in the Marque, can offer it at. But then the mere fact that it has been such an investment means that the Dealer may be more committed to maintaining high standards in all aspects of Customer Service. It's all about Customer Retention and it's not by chance that Lexus regularly tops the annual table for Customer Satisfaction. It may also account for the fact that last year Lexus topped (again) the MoT Pass Rate for cars up to five years old with 94.1%. Yes, you may well save money. But what evidence do you have that saving money this way will give you a longer period of repair free motoring? Absolutely agree with this. And as a car gets older - and loses market value - so owners may choose a cheaper Servicing regime. Or maybe not bother to Service it all!

A very pertinent observation Philip. I do so little mileage that I have an annual service which is easy to combine with the MoT. But you have identified why it makes such sense to have a Lexus dealer MoT a Lexus, even when a Service isn’t involved. An independent MoT centre would probably not even go anywhere near the a/c condenser, so the potential problem would not be identified. And as it’s a warranty job, it’s not simply an attempt to extract more cash from you, as some cynics might suggest!

I can’t help feeling this is a slightly odd question. If I didn’t trust the Lexus dealer to do an MOT, I would have even greater concerns about their ability to do a Service. In fact, I probably would not have bought my Lexus from them in the first place! As it happens I have never had any concerns about Lexus Milton Keynes and co-ordinating the Service/MOT in one visit I regard as a much more sensible use of my time. Indeed, on occasions when I have had other things to do, they come and collect the car from me. As it happens, I have had a Service Plan with them since buying the car, so when it was all done a couple of weeks ago, it was only the MOT that I had to pay for.

RF or not, that would render the tyre irreparable in any case.

It occurs to me that depending on the deal you negotiated on the Lexus, there may be enough in it for them to make a ‘good will’ contribution towards a replacement tyre to establish their relationship with a new customer. It also occurs to me that picking up a wood screw in a tyre is a rather rare event. I don’t imagine that you know when it happened, but you might reflect on where you’ve parked it. Sadly, propping a screw against the tyre tread will be seen by some as a justifiable punishment for someone who has the temerity to buy a nice new expensive car! …and another thought! Do you have a dashcam fitted? If not, you should have! One of those operating in ‘ Parking Mode’ will pick up such misdemeanours. Lexus do do one for the car - a Nextbase- or they’ll fit one of your choice. Or you could fit it yourself!

How irritating! If it is indeed RF, then it’s not considered repairable because of the potential sidewall damage that may have been caused by running the wheel rim on the deflated tyre wall. This article by Kwik-Fit covers this - and other tyre-related matters. https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/can-my-punctured-tyre-be-repaired I suppose the first possibility is to check your Insurance or Lexus cover. I don’t know if it’s the kind of accidental damage that might be covered by means of a replacement, but it costs nothing to find out. Otherwise, it would seem that a new replacement is the only option. I did once get a quote for new tyres from my Lexus dealer and - some what to my surprise - they matched the price of a tyre specialist. So again worth a phone call, I’d say.

If you’re considering fitting new tyres on just one axle, have you considered the potential problems that might be caused by mixing different handling and performance characteristics caused by variations in tread pattern and compound? Personally, I always fit the same tyres all round.

Be interesting to learn if that resolves your problem. If you’ve already been using a CTEK to no avail, then the battery is probably an ex-battery as there’s none better. And for the sake of historical accuracy, when I apparently previously referred to ‘dead calls’ I obviously meant ‘dead cells’. 🙂

I'm sure you're right. And I notice that What Car has tested the hydrogen fuel-celled powered Toyota Mirai which is apparently based on a shortened Lexus LS. Toyota Mirai Review 2022 | What Car? Well if Wikipedia is to be believed, the first hydrogen engine was demonstrated in 1808 by a François de Rivaz. And by 2026 Airbus plans to use an A380 superjumbo to test hydrogen-powered jet engines. So we've come a long way - and yet still we wait....

True enough, Linas. But in the years it’s going to take to engineer an effective, cost-efficient fusion process it’s entirely possible that battery development will also make remarkable strides. Hydrogen does have all the benefits you describe. But it has been around for many years and has yet to be exploited as enthusiastically as it might. Primarily, I suspect, because it is difficult and dangerous to transport and store. No doubt these too are problems that are currently engaging the minds of such as Toyota.

How old is the battery? If it’s the original, or over, say,six years old, then you may find that a new one will be the solution. If it only has enough power to click a relay and doesn’t hold a charge, then it may also have dead calls. Otherwise it’s always worth trying a couple of concentrated days on a trickle charge - which may do the job. Better still, use a charger such as a CTEK which can run a conditioning programme. Once you’ve resolved the problem, it’s always worth checking to see if there’s something that might be causing a constant current drain when the ignition’s off. Or failing to produce sufficient charging current when the engine’s running.

I’m no physicist, but I would have thought that the future of nuclear fusion in transport is in the generation of cheap electricity with which to charge the batteries of EVs. And even that’s a long way off!

It does occur to me that this is the kind of engine modification that Insurers might use to invalidate cover should their attention be drawn to it. But of course, that’s unlikely. Why would anyone’s attention be drawn to a car whose engine ‘‘pops and bangs’?

No. Does she moan about Betsy? I suggest the poor woman has a lot to put up with. She is clearly a paragon of tolerance. 😇

Perhaps you should name these two companies, Graham? Might be useful local knowledge for other car owners. The one event that might have been of some benefit is losing the metal dust cap. Lexus caps are now plastic because metal ones can corrode on to the tyre valve unless heavily greased. Attempts to remove the cap can result in breaking the valve, which is an expensive event if it’s a TPMS valve. I speak from sad experience!

Not something I’ve tried in my Lexus, but it used to happen in my first car - a Ford Anglia - when I was lad. It occurred when lifting off suddenly after hard acceleration. Or when momentarily switching the ignition off and on. Either method allowed unburnt fuel to escape past worn exhaust valves to then ignite in the exhaust pipe. If the driver was lucky, it resulted in loud bangs that shocked pedestrians. If the pedestrians were lucky, it resulted in loud bangs that blew the exhaust system, shocked the driver and took the car off the road. So a win/win situation, I’d say.

I do hope that’s not a euphemism, John.