LenT

So right, Malcolm. It’s astonishing that having spent a substantial period of time as the Shadow Minister, the first decision that Reeves makes appears to be so flawed. Unfortunately, it highlights the general lack of expertise on the new Front Bench. For example, have any of them actually run a successful business in a competitive market? Certainly not the boy Streeting, now in charge of the NHS - the UK’s largest employer and currently the world’s fifth largest, just ahead of Amazon! Apart from that omission, quite how studying History as opposed to, say, science or medicine, is considered an appropriate knowledge base I have yet to hear him explain.

No Linas, I haven’t! As I say, the accompanying invitation details all the current and relevant Lexus models to which the ‘Event’ applies - none of which appears to offer me any benefit over my current car. I could go just to do the usual tyre kicking and wheel twiddling and indulge in a bit of pampering by the Sales Staff. On the other hand, I might have encountered the same appalling behaviour that you’ve detailed here! Clearly, these ‘Events’ are organised centrally by Stephen Eagell but they are personalised to the extent that they claim an exclusive ‘Manager’s Offer’ that will only be revealed upon my attendance. I’m always surprised that it doesn’t require presentation of Birth Certificate and/or Passport as well! But all this faux image of exclusivity is damagingly counterproductive if incompetent administrators haven’t organised the local Dealers involved! I had just such an Invitation quite recently, which I simply binned. But now I’m tempted to accept the next one just to see how the experience compares. What deters me is that selling cars is not the easiest of ways to make a living and I would feel guilty taking up Sales Staff time. When I first bought the car, Lexus MK used to do a full complimentary valeting with the service - and a very good job they made of it too! They have their own car wash on the premises. But then I had it Detailed and to protect the ceramic finish that was a no-go area. That meant that it came back with only the interior done - which was fine by me. Until…a couple of service’s ago when I reiterated the No Car Wash request when the car was collected from me. Later in the day I had a very concerned call from the Service Manager explaining that the message hadn’t got to the Car Wash Executive in time who had proceeded to do their stuff. He asked that I checked the car specifically for any marking on its return and they would undertake to rectify it. Firstly, I was impressed that he made the call. If there was no marking then how would I have known? To then accept responsibility in advance was equally impressive. Now how this compares with other Lexus Dealers, I have no idea. It’s all so dependent on the attitudes of individuals - and your experience suggests that even Lexus has a way to go in this regard.

MrsT and I have always been in this fortunate position - and yet have always received it! When it first arrived I contacted the Pensions Department and informed it that we don’t need it, save on the admin and send it to someone else. If our circumstances changed, I would get back to it. A protracted debate then ensued because the Civil Servants involved apparently couldn’t accommodate this request. So rather than spend any more of our diminishing lifespan arguing the point, we just accept it with good grace and pass it on. I’m much more concerned that the various personal arrangements we made to provide a modest but comfortable retirement after long working lives will be targeted by a Government now desperate to buy off those who funded it and who wish to impose their version of social equality and freedom. As one pundit recently pointed out, the Labour Party has formed four Governments in its hundred year history. All but one have ended with higher unemployment and a reduced economic situation than when it entered office - the exception being the very first because that only lasted seven months! Unfortunately, it appears that this is a lesson that has to be relearnt every couple of generations.

Unfortunately, my only experience of Lexus main dealers is with Lexus Milton Keynes, so I’ve no idea if it’s typical. But ever since I bought the car from them when it was less than three years old, they have been nothing less than excellent! The car’s rarely been back for anything other than a regular service and MoT, which is always organised very efficiently - and sometimes I’ve used their Collect Service. Everyone I’ve met has been welcoming and a pleasure to deal with. Lately the Services have been accompanied by a video walkthrough by the Service Mechanic to highlight anything of particular interest I get regular emails from the original sales guy to check if I’m still happy with the car - and ‘special invitations’ to sales events. Unfortunately, there isn’t a better Lexus for me than the one I already have. So if anything, I’m a bit of a disappointment to them!

The dealer was correct! Remove them if you wish, but be prepared to face retouching out stone chips as a result. I attach three shots of my Lexus. The film you CAN see was replaced with new film when I had the car detailed by a professional who applied fresh Paint Protection Film - PPF. That’s the shot in which you CAN’T see the film! If it worries you I would suggest finding a Detailer who can replace the PPF. The last shot illustrates the result of a couple of hours driving through busy, wet roads. I fitted mud flaps and now no longer get that spray result. Why Lexus don’t fit them in the first place is a mystery!

Welcome to the family Lexus. I hope you’ll both have a long and fruitful relationship. 💝

Really! 😄😄😄 No, just kidding. I’m sure you’ll be delighted with it. You might be interested in a modification I made to mine. To save the heavy metal bar marking the steering wheel cover, it came with two hard rubber blocks shaped to fit around the wheel that were simply pushed onto the bar. However, I found that these blocks tended to twist around the bar - and even fall off - which sometimes made it difficult to position the lock. My solution was to secure each block to the bar with a couple of cable ties. I attach a photo which I hope explains this. The result is that they don’t move at all and fitting the lock is very easy. I hope this helps.

Just a thought, Paul. Considering the age and mileage, it’s possible that not everything in the car’s past has been faithfully recorded. Is it possible that the steering wheel has been off at some point and simply not correctly replaced? Or is that too simplistic an answer?

Well, I can’t vouch for it fitting an LBX but I can vouch for the substantial quality of the Milenco steering wheel lock. I bought mine at the recommendation of an LOC member. It certainly fits across the wheel of my IS250, with the clamp straddling one of the spokes. And its high visibility and obviously sturdy construction is a very effective first line of defence. I note that the Milenco outlet is currently out of stock of both the yellow and silver versions, but you can get it elsewhere. Or wait! https://www.milenco-outlet.co.uk/security/milenco-high-security-steering-wheel-lock-yellow-motorhome-car-van.html

I would suggest that a substantial and highly visible steering wheel lock - eg a Milenco - is always a useful additional deterrent.

You’re quite right Sean, it does. https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/browse-tyres/by-vehicle/lexus/is/is-250/2013/2.5 V6 208/225---40-R-18-88Y_255---35-R-18-90Y But by the time I get around to replacing my Goodyears, that may have changed. Subjectively, I prefer the directional tread pattern of the CCs to the asymmetric pattern of the Pilot. Logically, I regard an All-Weather tyre as being more appropriate to my driving conditions - and style - to one that Michelin firmly describe as a Summer tyre. I also note that 93% of buyers would recommend the CCs as opposed to 88% for the Pilot - for what that’s worth! I also note that if you drill down into the tyre details, Michelin effectively makes the claim that the CC has ‘class leading wet road performance as the tread wears’. I take this to be a reference to the different long term characteristics of the tread patterns, so that’s another factor that may influence my choice. Frankly, by comparison, it was a doddle choosing the car in the first place. 😊

I think it’s certainly the case that here - in and around Northants - we don’t get the extreme snowfalls we used to. But we do get plenty of rain! It was the wet weather performance of the CCs that appealed to me and I put them on a Suzuki 4x4 we have. Such was the excellence of their performance that I would have put them on the Lexus - except that at the time Michelin only made one of the two sizes I required. If I get the current Goodyears down anywhere near 3mm, I’ll certainly be looking at the latest CC Version.

I would agree with this completely…with but one proviso. If the repair was primarily bodywork - and more than just replacing a panel - then I would take it to a bodywork specialist. Indeed, I have done! Even the best Dealership is not going to match a specialist body shop. In fact I’m pretty sure that many of them contract out this kind of work.

You’re not the first Paul - and you’ll not be the last! I occasionally come across reviews of electrical items by people complaining that they were faulty on delivery - only for it to transpire that they hadn’t appreciated the significance of the little red pull tag sticking out of the battery compartment! 🫢

Hmmm? Now you’ve made me wonder about the authenticity of Messers Ben Dover and Ivor Bigun! Still, the principle is what matters!

I see from McKenna’s profile that ‘they’ are an ex-nurse who became more involved in the management and political aspects of nursing and refers to himself as ‘their’. Just my guess of course, but when it comes to relating to the problems of many OAPs, McKenna may prove to be more ‘woke’ than awake.

As Frankie Howard used to say : It’s rude to mock the afflicted! But like all generalisations, there are exceptions.

So here it is Stephen…save it for a rainy day! I recall it at the time and I think it pretty much marked the beginning of the end of Diane Abbot’s political influence.

I fitted the Osram Nightbreakers four years ago and felt they were a dramatic improvement over the original D4S bulbs. The main beam was certainly improved but that wasn’t the main benefit for me. The dipped beam was far better controlled and illuminated the left verges far more effectively - a considerable advantage in spotting the potholes that decorate the edges of our country lanes around here! Here, I hope, are a couple of night shots I took about four years ago. They show dip and main from the same location. I don’t do that much night driving, so I can’t really comment on longevity! In short, I would certainly recommend them. ps. Turns out three photos were loaded! I think the middle one is main 🤔

I think you’re being a bit hard on yourself, Pavan. I would have said that applying a ceramic finish yourself certainly is taking care of your car. Others may disagree, but I think it’s a lot harder than wiping on a wax finish - mainly because the prep work has to be better to avoid sealing in any paint imperfections. Only problem is….you’re now going to have to keep up the car washing yourself, because garage car washes risk putting swirls into the ceramic coat. Or find a good mobile Detailer!

Hello Pavan. I appreciate your post is ten months old and you’ve probably solved your dilemma by now, but having just come across your post, I thought this comment might be useful to someone! You’re quite right that effective ceramic coating should be done by a professional Detailer in a controlled, dust free environment. Otherwise any wind borne dust is simply going to be sealed into the finish. But there is another point! Professional Detailers use infrared heaters to bake the ceramic coating to harden it - which is obviously better done in a proper workshop. I would be inclined to go this route first - and once you have that initial ceramic finish a mobile Detailer using good quality products should do a very good job of maintaining it.

Polaroid sunglasses should cut out that kind of reflected glare.

Me too! I certainly wouldn’t let the gauge drop below 1/4 full. However, my Lexus - like my two previous Hondas - has the little display window on the dash that presents the remaining estimated range. I actually find this more compelling, so anywhere between 100 and 80 miles will mean a fuel stop.

That Reading may now feature among worthy winners of Darwin Awards may be some small - albeit sad - consolation.

Of course you may just have been unlucky with that particular local technician (I use the term loosely). Personally, I have always only regarded Halfords as a possible source of branded items that I will fit myself. I think there are two basic LOC rules regarding Halfords: 1. Never let them touch your car. 2. Never ever let them touch your car.