Bill Dawes

Well dig beneath all the media hysteria about Boris's wall paper and how much Andrew's settlement was there is quite a bit of good things going on in UK industry, I wish the media would get behind UK plc and support it, give us some of the good news that is around, you would think they lived in another country and owed no loyalty to us. Still good news is bad news for the media I suppose, headlines matter you know.!! Bill D.

Not had same problem (yet) but I found the way Lexus present the figures on their order form bewildering, figures appear to be plucked from the ether, seemed to add up in the end but not a very customer friendly presentation, assume it makes sense to them. Bill D.

Thanks for all the replies guys, dumped AA insurance, had a claim last year on holiday and their handling of it was abysmal, very frustrating and stressful not knowing what was going on, the repair place my car was taken to in contrast were absolutely brilliant (Cooper Barne in Cambs.)Not what you want when you are 200 miles from home. Of all people you would think the AA would know how to look after motorists wouldn't you. Still having text messages off AA saying approval given for repair, 2 months after I had the car back!!! So gone for Saga, their price for my forthcoming Lexus was reasonable although I accept that is now and could be a different story in May. Oh, and insurance in my wifes name as main driver,seems strange really, better price for the same two drivers, insurance companies seem happy with that so what's not to like. Bill D.

Recently read an interesting article published by Sky news. Google.. 'Humber refinery, British industries best kept secret' Bill D.

Just renewed insurance on my current car, a Kia Niro. Will then need to upgrade to my Lexus UK Takumi when I get it (May time) what sort of figure do you guys pay, I realise this will vary but I am a 'mature' driver, good record 9 years plus NCD. Bill D.

I would add that in considering this I worked on the basis that this would be our last ever new car (but this will the fifth time I have said this!!) Bill D.

John, as another posting I started a while ago I cancelled my premium plus UX and changed it to the Takumi, memory seats were an absolute essential for me as the car will be driven by myself and my wife whose seat settings are very different to mine so being able to hop in for either of us and recall settings, (seats, steering wheel and mirrors I believe) will make life so much easier. One day somebody will design interior mirror to do the same (I am assuming it doesn't on the Lexus) And of course the auto fold mirrors as well as other features so decided to swallow hard and pay the extra for car and road tax. Bill D.

Hi, as a future UX Takumi owner (waiting delivery) I am intrigued by this posting, seems to be different opinions as to whether the kick feature is still fitted or not. The video demo seems to be a USA one. Bill D.

I do have some sympathy with Matthew's argument, I find aspects of the new rules, both pedestrians and cyclists, worrying. I always show great respect for cyclists and I expect courtesy in return. Effectively blocking the road can only exacerbate frustrations, many vehicle drivers are on business not a leisure drive, just imagine the stress on a delivery driver if he has constant hold ups in an already stressful job. My bet is that these rules will be revised at some time due to increasing incidents/accidents. Bill D.

My UX Takumi still a few months off so interested to hear if I have made the right choice (my first Lexus), your experience encourages me so far James,thanks for report. Bill D.

It is not unheard of, people stepping off the pavement without looking and it seems the norm for cyclists to pull out of a side road without so much as a glance because they were a very narrow vehicle and it did not matter, well we all know it does matter when you are welll over to the left to allow a big truck room to pass in the opposite direction. I'm not anti cyclist, I used to do a bit myself and one of my sons is a very keen cyclist so I am always extra careful in giving cyclists plenty of room but they, together with pedestrians have to play their part as well. The overall problem however is the increasingly poor standard of road use, drivers, cyclists, pedestrians. Motorcyclists generally I find ok, an experienced one will have a heightened sense of survival perhaps. Bill D.

But yes, Hemingway's quote pretty much sums it up. Bill D.

Probably more Jeremy Clarkson, I have a quite few of his books but having always considered myself as a fairly innocuous type of person it troubled me greatly when I realised that I agreed with practically everything he said, or Bill Byson. Bill D.

What do you guys make of the new rules. From what I have read they mostly seem sensible enough, what any good driver should be doing anyway, what was called roadcraft when I had my driving lessons many moons ago. However the one that bothers me is giving way to a pedestrian if you are turning left into a side road, we have all experienced i'm sure other cars approach from behind at a rate of knots when we are turning left, suddenly stopping half way through a turn manoeuvre is inviting a shunt up the rear in fast moving traffic, potentially injuring the pedestrian as well, many of those pedestrians, particularly those with a mobile welded to their face, seem to have a death wish anyway, stepping of the pavement without a glance. I know the vehicle approaching from the rear should be driving in a manner such that they can stop safely but my bet is we will see an increase in this type of accident. Bill D.

I must be the black sheeple of the family then, not that I'm anti-social, just don't like people🤣 Bill D.

Parking, Uhh, brings a shudder to my spine when I have a new car. (or even not so new( When I park anywhere I always park, if I can, over the back where few other people park but it irks me no end to come back to my car finding someone has parked right next to me with plenty of spaces either side, why do people do that? do they have to have a target to aim for to be able to park correctly or do they have an innate sense of tidiness. Beats me. Bill D.

Black Country Phil!!!, Black Country folk will be incensed lumping them in with Brummies. But thanks Phil anyway, haven't lived in Brum since 1970, moving to Bewdley, Tamworth, Bromsgrove, Llanelli and finally Somerset where my wife and I reside in surroundings far removed from Brum, very fond memories though of childhood and teen years though (1960's, amazing place to be in those times) Bill D.

I remember a boss of mine always had white cars which I thought strange. My last three cars however have been white, two Kia Sportage and currently my Kia Niro, all look stunning, in my opinion, in the metallic whites available these days, white I find brings out the subtle styling features better that darker colours. Now have a UX Takumi on order and was tempted to go white again but in the end opted for Sonic Titanium, looks good though Chris. Bill D.

Thank you Phil and Nick. I have been a regular reader and poster on an engineering forum for many years and whilst many lively discussions take place with different opinions I can't remember any of them resorting to the sneering juvenile comments I have seen on here from one or two people, takes all sorts as they say. Still, having grown up from a working class background in Birmingham surrounded by car factories, where a spade is a spade and no room for overly sensitive 'Cissies' I can honestly say it bothers me not one jot so thank you to all that contributed sensible comments. Interesting to note that on the Leus site that announced the 2022 changes to the UX there were a few comments in much the same vein as mine. Cars are strange things really, look at all the different makes and models available these days, many of them I would not consider but someone buys them, all of them have their enthusiasts and critics, a very personal subject to most people other than those who view a car as just four wheels to get them about, I always want to love the car I buy and hope I will love my Lexus even more because of its quality, beautiful engineering and not just a clone of the myriad of SUV type cars around at the moment (I put my Kia Niro in that class much as I like it but I do sometimes get it confused with others in a car park!) I shall continue undeterred to follow and contribute where relevent to the posts and champing at the bit awaiting arrival of my UX Takumi (which will be the car to last me the rest of my driving days, this will be the fifth new car that I have said that however!!) Happy Lexus driviing all. Bill D.

David, my Takumi spec I have on order is Sonic Titanium and I also opted for White Ash seats. I wanted a change from black leather, personally I think a light leather interior looks classy, just my opinion obviously. May not suit anyone with kids I suppose, ours grown up and flown the nest (as much as they ever do) Hope my choice turns out to be ok, my wife wasn't totally convinced. Bill D.

Yes I was pleased to see the change to body coloured wheel arch liners but here's a strange thing, one of the things I did not like about the UX when I first started looking at it was the wheel arch liners but looked at my Niro and lo and behold they are the same. Strange how you see something every day but don't see it. Maybe it is just the style that makes them stand out compared to my Niro. Bill D.

Hi James, (Hamish 2015) what's the latest on your UX, I recently ordered a UX Takumi, quoted May/June delivery, seems a lifetime away. Bill D.

Glossy brochures do seem a thing of the past, just ordered a UX TAKUMI and didn't get offered one, didn't ask either to be fair but it's not asking much surely for a £40k plus car. Back in the 50s I was an avid collector of car brochures, works of art, wish I had them now, probably would have paid for my new Lexus!! Agree about the Lexus website, sincerely hope attention to detail is not so shoddy on the car. Bill D,

Phil, I meant to reply to your post 20 December. Nice to hear from a fellow 'metal basher' (a phrase that I think put a lot of upcoming generations off engineering in its widest sense, everything around everybody on the planet involves engineering) Well remember Whitworth threads, I took up model engineering a few years ago so had to get used to imperial everything again, BA, ME threads, inches including fractions of an inch (how on earth did we cope with something like 8 37/64 of an inch). Building a 5" gauge steam loco at the moment. One extreme to the other, from this to the technology of the Lexus. Love it all, old and new. Still don't want to get told off as this is a Lexus forum. Bill D.

That's what I found strange for exactly the same reasons Steve, more important for us was the lack of memory setting on the electric seats. However after much household discussion, looking at a myriad of options, keeping my Niro, buying a new Niro, many other brands, we kept coming back to Lexus so took a deep breath, spoke sternly to my wallet and ordered a new UX Takumi, Sonic Titanium, white ash interior and I believe with body coloured wheel arch liners now which I prefer. May-ish delivery, can't wait. Bill D.