Lexusjohn

GS450h In red driven in kings lynn this afternoon, looked very nice, bigger somehow than the old GS

Another 400h

All,

How about you swap your 3 year old 33,000 mile slightly dented and kerbed 400h SE Sat Nav for a brand new 400h Executive Limited Edition (which has the sat nav, bumper protector, boot liner and 2 years servicing) for £14,750.

The two cars are identical except I get the high res mark levenson sat nav multimedia thing, and new maps!

If you take off the servicing (£360) and road tax (£200), I'm paying just over 14K to swap.

This I think is quite an excellent deal, and as the new RX450h is no real great improvement (and looses the touch screen nav in favour of a 'mouse' thing) I'm happy to stick with 400h.

Food for thought!

Cheers

Jon

The engine isn't the same as in the GS450h. The new engine has an Atkinson cycle design.

The power inventor is also a new design which may explain why it has a higher speed ability on electric power only. I believe it still only uses Ni-MH batteries, Lithium Ion batteries are believed too dangerous by Toyota (certainly if they use Sony ones which seem to set fire to many a notebook computer!)

OK Colin, thanks for the info, just what is the "Atkinson cycle design?"

M cars are not expensive IF they have been serviced right, consumables cost but the rest should be ok, Discs and Pads will cost but if the car is bought through BMW all this will be good after they have given it the once over befor you buy it.

Hmmm, that doesn't sound too bad then :)

Back to the original topic, I read on top gear that the new RX is rumoured to be around 160g/km, which is very low assuming the engine is the same one as in the GS450h. Means there must be a significant upgrade to the electric side of things, so perhaps it now be able to give you what you're looking for.

I was told that the new RX450h can drive up to 40MPH on electric power only, for a short distance, one of the dealership sales guys is going to spain to drive it in april.

True, but what a badge you'll be driving! :D

I know the fuel economy, depreciation, etc are bad but the only thing I didn't want to take on is that people have told me that M cars have far more expensive routine maintenance - they have to be serviced more regularly and the base costs of these are very high.

Essentially I wouldn't want to pay thousands of pounds a year in regular maintenance, as well as parts on top (which with a BMW must be inevitable)

May just have to get an AMG instead - love those engines and definitely the better everyday drivers.........

M cars are not expensive IF they have been serviced right, consumables cost but the rest should be ok, Discs and Pads will cost but if the car is bought through BMW all this will be good after they have given it the once over befor you buy it.

Eh? The X6 corners better than an M6? :o

Do like the M6 (and the M5) think about getting one at some point, do they really cost a fortune in maintenance?

Well a can of worms here.

Maintenance as such depends on FSH mileage and how someone has driven your chosen M6/M5.

Runnings costs are the killer. 15 MPG average open road work, I have seen 7 MPG easily

tank capacity is 200/250 Miles and you are for ever filling it up.

90% of the time you never get to use the performance so it's a badge your driving.

DSG boxs are way better to use IMO and only come on latest models, the old boxs Peed me off.

Service history is a MUST on both and RV plumets regardless of age, so loose loose IMO, give them a miss. :winky:

I'm sorry to say it mate, but based on that type of driving the diesel is always going to be better in terms of fuel economy.

How is the X6? In my opinion it truly is one of the ugliest things I've ever seen on the road but on that same note I love how nuts it looks when you see it on the road - it really is like nothing else at all!

I must say after PXing the M6 for it, the car is absolutly great, the road holding is beyond belief, I came back from the middle east a week or two ago, landing in snow at gatwick, I drove back through it some 4/6" deep, to Norfolk even on the motorways ( nothing else on them) and it was just great no slipping or sliding. It corners better than the M6 and my B7 RS4, so that says it all for me.

Many thanks for the replies.

I have nursed the RX400h and got 27MPG, I had it for the day.

I have the X6 35D now and that returns 30/32 MPG mixed open roads ( I don't live in town as such).

I tend to travel on mixed A/B roads and duel carrageways, so I hope this 450h is better.

PS) I am lite footed on the gas.

I have been away from buying lexus cars for a couple of years now; however I am interested in the new RX450h "Provided it does what it says on the tin" in other words lives up to economy figures.

In the past the economy on all lexus I have bought new have been Poor.

Anyone?

I have been away from these boards for some 2 years now after buying a RX300SE and outing it very quickly due to very poor economy (18 MPG average).

My local Lexus dealer has asked me if I would test drive the NEW RX450h when it arrives as he says "It will be very much more economical than any of the others"................ Well the last RX400h I borrowed from a mate only gave 27MPG nursing it so this new one me suspects will not be much better, your thoughts?.

i appreciate what the review says,i just dont buy it!im still waiting for Evo to test it here in the UK.They give the most honest and non-bias reviews for performance cars.I know one of the guys there and he has told me that from his point of view the IS-f could be beating the RS4 and the M3 around the ring.

I know one of the Guys on Evo, he has bought the RS4 2007 model as I have, I was hoping to come back to Lexus with this model, we will see just how the two compare on Evo.

The guy im talking of is Steve from EVO who frequents bm3w and the porker sites.He defo doesnt have an Rs4 tho.Interesting that you drive the RS4 2007,was it used,or was it an old order?reason is they stopped building a while ago.I do appreciate the vid,cheers for that,its just i really dont rate the American reviews as Parthiban says,prefer uk,less drama normally.

If it's Steve Davis you are refering too then this is his car;Audi RS4 Avant - Mugello, Buckets, Carbon Trim

So I would have another chat too him.

My car was new may 2007 and bought from Ipswich Audi on 30th may, best regards

i appreciate what the review says,i just dont buy it!im still waiting for Evo to test it here in the UK.They give the most honest and non-bias reviews for performance cars.I know one of the guys there and he has told me that from his point of view the IS-f could be beating the RS4 and the M3 around the ring.

I know one of the Guys on Evo, he has bought the RS4 2007 model as I have, I was hoping to come back to Lexus with this model, we will see just how the two compare on Evo.

i didnt mean like that mate.Its just the IS-F hasnt been released yet so the only tests being conducted at the moment are by pro Lexus marketing companies.AMCI is a marketing company FACT and are employed by Lexus.Not a fair test at all,in fact it can only be described as BULL****!!!!!

Watch this and weep;

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/11-13-07...-Lexus-IS-F.htm

WHY?

Because it's another "Lexus Flop", the Hybrids are un economocal and now there attempt at "sports cars" is less than expected, all that tech has gone into the engine and it still falls short of the others

i didnt mean like that mate.Its just the IS-F hasnt been released yet so the only tests being conducted at the moment are by pro Lexus marketing companies.AMCI is a marketing company FACT and are employed by Lexus.Not a fair test at all,in fact it can only be described as BULL****!!!!!

Watch this and weep;

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/11-13-07...-Lexus-IS-F.htm

This could well be my next Car.

Check this link out, looks promising.

http://www.lexus.com/isf/

Just checking the Mercedes web site and was amazed at the information available there. They have an Interactive Owner's manual which explains just about everything about the car you expect to find in the owner's manual with interactive displays. Their site design and presentation puts Lexus.co.uk's web site to shame.

In my experience of contacting Lexus UK, the answer to any question will be "contact your local dealer" . Even if you mention you have asked your local dealer and they have not or could not answer your question their reply will end up the same.

So my situation is that I like my IS250 SE-L but found the dealership to be just average and Lexus UK to be a complete waste of time. Even the little things like contacting you after having the car a while to see how your getting on with it would be nice. It's called customer feedback which is a good for improving the cars and showing some appreciation for the customer who pays all their wages.

Rant over.

Lexus Norwich are the same: don't have a clue :shutit: and give B*ll*hit for answers to simple questions. :tsktsk:

Hi Guys, Anyone had any dealings with Ipswich?, If so any good or not?. :D

Come on guys someone must be dealing with them :winky:

Still a top notch motor and it is just going to be down to personal preference!!

I'd buy an IS-f though :D

I have driven the RS4, It's a quick car BUT old design now, IS-F is for me if I enjoy driving it.

:D The more I see reports on this car the more I like it, I will be considering one when they come out. :winky:

Nope, seen it, heard it, touched it and don't want one..but saving a space in the garage for the LF-A when it goes into production.. :)

What is it that has put you off?. :o

:D The more I see reports on this car the more I like it, I will be considering one when they come out. :winky:

tailpipe,why did you have an e46,if you like comfort?i have one and its certainly not interested in comfort,just wondering.The M3 and M5,drive the way they drive cos you have to feel the entire road,have you ever driven a 996/997 ,i can tell you it drives like a sainsburys shopping trolley on these potholed roads,and thats a porsche,approx £20k more than a brand new e46.my women cantt wait to get out of them.The new m3 and latest m5 are the cars of the future and i would rather put my money on someone who has been doing performance cars for years, rather than a company that is all about luxury and has just woken up to the idea.

and yeah m cars dont wake up until 5000/6000rpm

Not made peformance cars before ??

Toyota have been building performance cars for many years, and have had many wins in top competitions.

And seeing as all performance development work for Lexus and Toyota are done by the same company, i would have thought they would have some guidance on this.

Maybe you should all wait until it is available to test drive before you start condemning the car on its performance, you wont know the true figures until then.

Also isnt driving a Lexus about exclusivity, not driving an M3 thats as common as a Mondeo.

Just my tuppence worth

:winky: Fair comments John, I will give it a test run, My local Lexus dealership want a grand up front to "book one", I am not going for that option, I think with the 8 speed box it could be fast as hell and economical as well on a run. :)

I have to admit I'd take the RS4 over the IS-F, the Audi just amazed me in it's performance and if you go for the estate version you've got a great family car too!

I also like the fact that although the S / RS lines are so quick they don't go for really in your face styling, yes the IS-F looks good but I prefer the toned down Audi!

I'll take another call when I see it in the flesh :)

Sounds like I'm one of the few that has seen the IS-F in the flesh, and believe me it doesn't look or feel as good as the Audi RS4. The IS-F bonnet line just doesn't look right as it's more bulbous than the 250/350 to fit the V8. The side vents look cheap and bolt-on, and the rear pipes configuration also looks like a designers last minute after thought. The general sprinkling of IS-F badges could have come from Halfrauds.

I did like the shape of the seats though Was going to place an order, but after seeing it for real...no way.

Sounds real crap, Disapointed, I will have a look but with fuel prices set to rise again :tsktsk:

i would like to see a redline closer to 8000rpm, not 7000rpm. But, will they do the same to the gs, to try to match the BMW M5?

The M5's Fuel economy is nothing short of Horendous, all I got was 15MPG and that was normal day to day driving, boot it and 9MPG is what you get!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shutit:

I've just had some info on the performance figures for the IS-F.

The latest news is, it will have, for sure, more power and torque than both the RS4 and M3. The performance figures quoted on the launch were not accurate, Lexus are now suggesting performance to be as follows:

360+ ft lbs of torque

0-60 mph - 4.6 seconds

Top Speed - 168 mph (governed)

So on paper it is more powerful and quicker than it's rivals, the inside informatives suggest it will deliver this on the track aswell, we will have to wait and see!

I've now had a chance to see some videos of the IS F and again I must confess the car looks AWESOME!

Apart from one set of shots that are going around, which don't do the car justice at all, all the other pics I've seen and videos I've seen IMO the car looks way better than it's rivals and looks AWESOME in it's own right.

Can't wait to see one on the road.

Lexus changed the history books some 18+ years ago within the motor industry and I believe they are about to do same again!

Hi Just where did these figures come from?, If they are correct it will be a flyer