Wicksy: Was it the AutoExpress review where you read the “whining CVT gearbox” comment? If so, the comments questioning the fairness of the review: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/lexus/is might also help to set your mind at rest.
I’m also well past the boy racer stage and, therefore, maybe our requirements for a car have more in common than those of a young motoring journalist. I’m now tending to place more trust in the opinions of owners and potential owners than motoring journalists. In the coming months I’ll be very interested to hear how you and other early owners get on and I’d be very surprised if many are disappointed with the IS300h. My priorities are reliability, quietness, comfort, quality, etc. Like Exiled in four years and 30000 miles I’ve had no trouble at all with my Lexus IS250SEI whereas my brother’s Mercedes C250D has already needed lots of work and replacement parts under warranty.