Gary H

Yes Nick - I mentioned the passenger seatbelt retraction ‘quirk’ on a different thread only the other day. The buckle does have a habit of wedging itself either sideways or diagonal between the seat bolster and the plastic-covered B-pillar...which of course causes that annoying ‘rattle’ until it’s set parallel again. I’m on my third set of wiper blades at the front (the rear is still the original). I think I either have a minor fault on the driver’s side arm pressure or the windscreen itself, as the driver’s wiper always leaves a sweep 'smudge'.

Hi Peter! For me, the first thing I'd do is go into the auto lights sensitivity screen and lower it to '-2' - which is the lowest setting. The factory default/'o' setting I feel is wayyyy over-sensitive in my humble opinion - to the point mine was putting dipped headlights on whilst simply going under road bridges or passing close to a few buildings or trees. Mine has spent almost all of it's life in 'eco' mode, too. There's still enough power there for me, personally. The only thing I miss is the rev-counter of the sport mode, which I wish could also feature in 'eco' mode. I've never found a way to make this possible... When it comes to accessories, my UX was fitted with the 'adventure pro pack', which I believe is now simply referred to as the 'protection pack' but I'm willing to stand corrected on that one. That basically gives you rubber mats, a rubber boot liner and small mudflaps. The mudflaps aren't much use to be honest, but the boot liner and rubber mats have proven to be brilliant in colder, winter months. Other than that, enjoy!

Unfortunately I haven’t a clue whether mine will be a MY24 or not, given the lack of dealer information. I can only assume it will be. I suppose I should consider this to be a positive. I’ve opted for the Hazel interior but I have to admit looking at the picture on the previous page of this thread, I’m not entirely sure if I like it having a beige glovebox lid or not. Also, the longer we have to wait, I only hope they don’t add/remove little bits and pieces from the car I ordered (and sat in - the showroom one was identical) last May... In a way, it reminds me of Rover’s final days where there were reports of people ordering certain models of 25/45/75, only to find that specifications seem to slightly vary from one car to another.

Tyres are what keeps you on the ground and cornering, so that’s certainly one aspect of maintenance I’ve never personally ‘scrimped’ on. I’ll admit I’m a bit of a fussy so-and-so when it comes to tyres. On the new cars I’ve owned, whatever it left the showroom/factory on it what they will be replaced with. Alternatively, if that exact model of tyre is no longer available, I’ll replace it with the nearest equivalent of the same brand. I also replace tyres in at least pairs on the same axle, wherever possible. If I had to, I would happily consider a cheaper tyre (my father has bought a few in the past to compare) but I would have to do some research on them first.

Well, it’ll be two weeks on Friday since I e-mailed Lexus customer services and other than an automated response back to confirm receipt of my e-mail, they’ve not been back in touch with me. I can only assume that the one minute video-link text I had from my salesman the following Monday advising me of my third delay (estimated mid-August) was initiated my Customer Relations... If that’s the case, I wonder how long he would have gone until he actually told me, or as usual, would it be me having to do all the chasing again? I’ll try not to think about it, as it just winds me up. I’ve been in touch with Lexus Finance today to see if I can extend the contact I have on my UX beyond it’s expiry date in September. Fortunately they can which takes some pressure off, but they need to know how long to extend it for... It really is one of those “Well, how long is a piece of string?” moment. I did jokingly tell them could they contact the dealer or the factory on my behalf and find out what’s happening, because they want to know the same information. I think that’s a path I’m going to have to go back to around the end of June/early July and then take a wild stab in the dark if the dealer maintain their ‘radio silence’ with myself. Totally understandable. You’ve been waiting longer than me. My order was placed towards the end of May 2022, so I’ll be at the 11 month mark in about three weeks give or take a day. The latest information I have, as I said above, is a rough estimate of mid-August - which would take it up to 16 months for me. However, judging from others who have a Takumi on order (like myself), I fully expect that date to be pushed back even further. Hi Michael. I'm basing a rough lead time on yours - as we both have the same spec on order. If yours is estimated in October with mine ordered three months later in May '22 - it could be a possibility I might not even see mine until new year... I predict that when I phone them up in June/early July for another update (as evidence shows my dealer certainly won't do it of their own backs...), I suspect my mid-August estimate will be either the same as yours or worse. Oh, you can order one again as far as I'm aware and leave the necessary deposit with them to secure it... It's just receiving one which is the problem...

It's exactly the same thing with the UX! As the B-pillar is mostly plastic, if the seatbelt buckle isn't lying parallel/flat to the pillar/passenger seat, it can cause rattling if you find it slightly 'out of position'. I discovered that reasonably quickly as I drove to work one Monday morning wondering for the entire nine mile drive where the rattle was coming from - then I discovered the belt buckle (I had a passenger in the car the previous day) was twisted and was vibrating against the B-pillar on anything other than the smoothest of surfaces. A quick re-adjustment and all was silent again! Agreed. I think it's only reasonable to expect no squeaks or rattles for at least a year. Possibly two. It all depends on mileage covered and how the car is treated, regardless of brand in my opinion. I don't think I've ever had a car which has remained completely rattle or buzz free after the two/three year mark. There's always been some sort of very minor 'foible' to be heard somewhere after that time. As someone who doesn't often listen to the radio in the car (barring long journeys), I pick up on pretty much anything. For instance, I've detected a very minor 'buzz' located behind the passenger side of my dashboard when the engine is at a certain rev-range. I can actually manipulate it by dropping the revs or rising them below that 'fixed point' and the buzz disappears. It's been doing this for at least the last six months but it's so minor that few fellow passengers have picked up on it even when I've pointed it out! I've never bothered taking it back to the dealer because I suspect it would involve a 'dashboard out' job, so I've lived with it.

Yes, I recall those warnings about Rain-X a long time ago! My father started using it on his car and there was no effect. Shortly later I started applying it to my own and I think I've now applied it to three(?) previous cars, at least two for sure, without any effects at all. The 'smear fault' on the driver's side my windscreen was apparent within a few days of the car being collected - which of course it remained near enough 'showroom fresh' and at that point hadn't been cleaned by myself - so I'm reasonably convinced, if not sure, whatever this 'fault' is hasn't got anything to do with Rain-X. I'm very much leaning along the same line as something to either do with the wiper blades themselves (of which I'm on my third set - all produce the same 'problem'), something in the mechanism/pressure being applied or perhaps a very minor fault in the windscreen itself which I can't personally see. There's no issue at all with the passenger side. It's not something which is bad enough to warrant further investigation in my opinion and two separate dealers have now replaced the front blades - so I think it's just 'one of those things'.

I completely understand your frustration, callynred. We're both in a similar boat, although with me I'm waiting on an NX350h Takumi. I'm approaching the 11 month mark (it'll be 11 months in about three/three and a bit weeks time...) and like yourself, I've had no news at all over how it's progressing. Never mind a build date. The latest information I had was last week...and that was the first time the dealer contacted me without me having to do all the legwork first. I'm told I'm now looking at no sooner than mid-August - which is the forth estimated date I've been given. If that stands (which I highly doubt), that would mean me collecting it in September for the new '73' plate - bringing my own wait to 16 months. I recall reading a newspaper article right at the end of last year which someone from Lexus (I can't remember who...) said they're hoping 2023 would be a better year when it came to the silicon chips business. Unfortunately from what we've seen so far, if anything, the situation seems to be just deteriorating. For those waiting, like ourselves, we appear to be on an indefinite waiting list. 😕

Hi Ammu. I can only echo others here, really... To answer your first point, this sounds pretty normal to me. My engine usually kicks in when the hybrid battery monitor shows it down to three blocks. I've had it a few times not kick in until it's dropped to two, but that isn't very often at all. You'll also notice the engine will usually run more before kicking into electric mode when it's cold too (for instance, setting out first thing in the morning). With regards to your second point, this sounds normal for almost any car I've ever driven with an automatic transmission. With the clutch always being engaged, it will naturally pull against the brakes. I think the only time I've not heard any 'binding' types of sounds if I'm not pressing the brake hard enough whilst coming to a stop or just releasing the brake pedal slowly from a standstill is on a genuinely brand new automatic car for the first few hundred miles or so - probably before the brakes have had a proper chance to bed-in. Other than that, I hope you enjoy your UX! I've had mine for just over three years now and it's been a very good car indeed. Of course there's a couple of little things which nag me a bit with it, but overall it's proven to be quiet, comfortable, well equipped and well built for the sector it's set in.

I'm very sorry to hear about this. What a horrible thing to have to discover. I don't know what I would do other than feel sick and cry if someone stole my car. It's genuinely one of my worst nightmares. Has there been any update on this? I'm assuming not. I'm seriously considering investing in a new crook lock. Today's 'computer wiz-kid' criminals are unlikely to carry hacksaws around with them...I'd hope.

I have a mildly embarrassing confession to make, here... I adjusted the sensitivity down to -2 (the lowest setting) about a week after I collected the car. Well...I thought I had. 😳 I've been back into it after your post (and after a quick 'google' as I hadn't been back into that sub setting for so long to remember where it was) and for some reason it was on the standard '0' setting. I suspect what's happened is that I lowered it down and then exited the screen without depressing on the pad to actually save it on the lowest setting first... That would go a long way to explaining why I thought it had made no difference at all. It hadn't... It was still on the factory '0' setting! Oops... Fingers crossed that's solved that issue!

It's an odd one, isn't it?! I know the only treatment on my windscreen is Rain-X. My car was the showroom model at Liverpool Lexus, so unless they put treatment on it whilst it was in the showroom, no other product has ever been used on it. I've used it on my previous cars without any issues. A new application seems to reduce that 'smear' left by the driver's wiper quite significantly, but like with the wiper blades themselves being replaced, it's usually back after a few days. Maybe a week if the weather has been good and not had to use the wipers as much.

I'm pretty sure the rear wiper on my F-Sport only automatically operates if I'm in reverse and the front wipers are on (i.e - the stalk is at least one click down from the 'off' position). I don't think it makes any difference if the lights are on or off. Not that I've noticed anyway.

It is indeed my first Lexus, Colin. It's just over three years old now and proven to be pretty much faultless. On Monday, I completed a 384 mile round trip in it (to the North East) with the parents, which I've had to do three or four times in it now. I've arrived back home feeling almost as fresh as I did when I set out. They're very good seats - up front. My only real reservation with the UX is the poor boot space. I can generally cope fine with it but when it comes to the weekend, the occasional overnight stay away e.t.c, it's often a case of also utilising the back seat! I do have an NX350h on order. My previous posts will tell you about all the ongoing saga I have with that...

Yes, this indeed the relay for the auto lights. I remember tearing that little 'tick' sound from the glovebox area on a few occasions wondering what it was. It was only about three or four days into ownership did it dawn on me that it coincide with the lights symbol on the dashboard showing up and going off! As a side note, does anyone else find the auto lights in their UX a touch over-sensitive? 😕 I do wish there was an 'off' setting.

I was 35 (well, a month short!) when I collected my UX. 👍

Well, something odd happened this afternoon. For the first time in ten months since I placed my order, I actually received a text-video thingy from the dealer. The first ever time they've actually contacted me about the NX350h Takumi I've had on order since last May which didn't involve me chasing first... That's the good news. Well, I could say it's good news but it seems rather co-incidental that I e-mailed customer relations on Friday...to which they've not responded to me. (I've no idea how long they take, or whether they've just passed it onto the dealer...who haven't been giving me any information or faith in progress of my order in the first place... 😕) Anyway, I received some predictably bad news today. My May 2022 order has been delayed once again...quelle surprise. I think that's now the third time the estimated date (not even a build date...) has been knocked back. So far, I've had: 1) May 2023 (at the time of ordering) 2) May/June 2023 (around Christmas/New Year time...when I chased) 3) June/July 2023 (as of only the start of this month...again, when I chased) 4) Mid-August 2023...as of today - and that's still just a basic estimate without a build date. So, as things stand my order will be dragging out into 16 months - as I'll wait until September for a '73' plate. Oh yes, that's only if Lexus will extend my current contract on my UX - which ends in September. I do apologise if any of this comes across as being blunt. I really do. I could very much go on about this but I'll leave it there for now. I can't deny that I'm feeling pretty fed up about the whole thing at the moment and it's certainly making me now consider a 'Plan B' as I have no faith in any of these estimated dates.

I changed mine yesterday. I quite like seeing the clock move an hour forward/back - depending on the time of year. Little pleasures and all that...!

I'm on my third set of front wiper blades (the rear is still the original). Both sets replaced under warranty. Ever since the car was new, it's always had a weird 'smear' on the drivers side sweep. Not enough to cause great annoyance but it's...'there'. They were replaced by two different dealers without questions asked to be fair to them. However, within days of them being replaced, this 'smear' comes back again. It's as if it's missing part of the windscreen or there's an 'arc' of grease on the screen. It certainly isn't contamination on the screen as I'm someone who cleans a car fortnightly! I can only assume it's either something to do with the wiper arm/mechanism itself or perhaps some tiny manufacturing fault with the windscreen - but it looks perfect to me... Very odd. 🤔

It's been quite a long, drawn out winter. Therefore I do expect poorer consumption. In recent months, going back and forth to work I've been getting anywhere between 48.1mpg and 48.5mpg. You have to account for the use of lights, heated seats and occasional heated steering wheel into that mix - so I don't think it's done too badly at all to be honest. I'm reasonably happy with that. 👍 The only slight disappointing figure I've had over this winter is when I had to head down to Suffolk to visit my brother - so in the region of 230/235 miles from where I am. Whilst it did include some use of heated seats - I'd be surprised if they were used for more than 30 miles in that trip (setting off from home and after our half-hour or so stop...). I'm quite a relaxed driver who'll quite happily sit at 60-65mph. It only scraped above 50mpg. I can't remember the exact figure, but it was something like 50.5 or 50.6mpg. I honestly thought it would be a little better than that - around 53/54mpg given the distance and gentle driving. On the same trip around four months prior to that, it was somewhere in the high fifties so I'm not sure if I just had a bad batch of fuel or this winter in particular was particularly harsh on economy figures. I have another distance trip to do on Monday, up into the North East and back again (something I've done four or five times in recent years. It's around a 340 mile round-drip). I'll be resetting my average mpg count and see how well I do, hopefully getting it comfortably above 50mpg given the weather should now hopefully be starting to warm up a little!

Fortunately I've been in a position to have not needed one during my three years with Lexus so what I'm saying here is with other marques I've had. I've noticed this has become much more common over the last decade or so - either a reluctance to provide one, or if they are available you're looking at a month, if not longer, in terms of notice required. This never used to be the case. Another common trend is now there are a number of car dealers (across the marques) where you have to pay for one - which in my opinion contradicts the word 'courtesy'. If that's the case, then surely it would be best to re-name them as hire cars, rather than courtesy cars. I'd understand the lack of courtesy cars if it was something only just happening over the last couple of years given the short supply of new stock but from my experience, as I said, this has been going on for a good number of years now.

I wasn't aware of any offer until now, no. The dealer hasn't mentioned anything to me. I hope they do, because that would pay for the rubber mats and boot liner I'm kind-of regretting not going ahead with, now... (I have them with the UX I have, as part of the Adventure Pro Pack). I can't even receive a build date for my May '22 order, so I won't be holding my breath on any goodwill gesture...

I remember when I first started driving some 20 years ago, one of my biggest motoring 'pet peeves' were people driving around with their front fog lights on for no apparent reason. I'm assuming it was a 'fad' as whilst I still see it from time to time, it doesn't seem to be quite as prevalent as it used to be. Either that or I've got so used to it, that it no longer registers. I can honestly say that on all the cars I've had front fog lights, I've literally used the switch/button to make sure I know where they are and that they work on purchase and...that's almost it. I think I can still count on one hand the amount of times I've actually felt the weather conditions have warranted the need to use them whilst driving. Not for my own benefit as I don't really see any, it's mainly so others stand a better chance. Oh yes - people who drive around with their rear fog lights on for a day or more after some fog. That seems to be quite a common one.

Still no news on my NX350h Takumi that I ordered towards the end of May '22. No build date, no nothing... I can't say I'm surprised, given it's me that's had to do all the chasing with regards to receiving any information. As I said in my last post, I'll be contacting Lexus Customer Services (on that cr@lexus.co.uk e-mail address) either at the very end of this month or the start of next. That's very much worrying considered I ordered mine three months later in May and the dealer told me at the start of this month it's still estimated, on their computer screen that I saw, to be here in June (he did slip up and verbally say June/July). If that October date for yours is looking more realistic, I could be looking at new year - which would be a total wait of 19 months for a Takumi-spec model. I won't say too much about my feelings about that just yet as I'm 'only' approaching the 10 month waiting mark and everything is of course subject to change, but lets just say it's not overly complimentary! Like what others have said - given you've waited so long like we all have, then I'm sure another few months isn't going to make much difference! I absolutely would not be wanting to pay more for a 'lesser' grade, that's for sure. The only way I'd accept that dealer's option would be to take that alternative car at the price it would have been at the time you placed your order - and that would only be if you weren't that fussed on spec. Otherwise I'd politely decline it and continue to wait. I wonder if these cars are other people's cancelled orders? I'd suspect so, because if they were just building random NX models ahead of customers who have ordered theirs, handed over deposits and been waiting for a very long time - questions need to be asked.

I've twice been told by my dealer that mine is also price-locked to when I ordered it at the end of May '22. I'm assuming (and it is only an assumption) that this would only refer to those who didn't place an order before Lexus suspended sales? I'd imagine they would see an influx of cancelled orders and very upset customers if they decided to backdate this, because the price I agreed to pay was already at the top end of my budget. I saw that article too and I have to admit I just rolled my eyes at what they said. 'Fluid' and 'timings can change regularly' to me basically says they don't really have any idea. I have had to do all the chasing so far. Not once have I been contacted by my dealer with any news, updates or reassurances. As I've said in previous posts, I'm not expecting them to provide definite answers, but it would be just nice for them to keep in touch to show they've not forgotten customers who have been waiting for practically a year (and upwards in some cases, now) and advise at least some sort of estimation of where folks like us are in the 'queue'. I'd be in agreement that head office needs to not only keep their dealerships informed, but ensure those dealerships pass on the information to the customers, rather than the existing 'radio silence' unless the customer chases. My NX 350h Takumi was ordered towards the end of May '22 and was initially told twelve months. In recent months this now seems to be more likely the back end of June/into July according to the dealer (despite my salesman telling me he's only had one customer who has had to wait more than a year 😕)...and that June/July estimate is only if they get build date within the next few weeks...of which that was told to me almost week and a half ago. Needless to say, still no news.