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Well, after 5+ years with a CT and the same before that with an IS, I have succumbed to the dreaded SUV. A mercury metallic 2018 Luxury has stolen my wallet. It is the first used Lexus I have bought since a not great experience with an IS220d that used to stink of exhaust on the motorway and had a gearbox like a truck. In fact it was from a Toyota truck. However, time passes and my agility is not what it was. The CT is a very good motor but getting in and out had become a chore plus the fact that while I appreciated the economy and cruising around Norfolk is OK, the CT performance is lacking in acceleration on anything like a hill if you want to safely overtake a push bike. The other factor is the CT ride which although it has improved a lot and the car now has better seats, no-one can say it is really good. Let’s be honest, all good valid excuses for looking at a new motor.😀 So, the NX got a test drive. It really is super to drive isn’t it? I just got in and felt right at home straightaway. Dead easy to get in and out and, for an SUV, very comfy especially the seats. I have not mastered the widescreen TV yet but it looks basically similar to the CT Premier screen but in high res. I have never been a great fan of SUV styling but the NX is as good as you will get. The detailing is well thought out. I like the wheel arches for example, they don’t bulge and make the car unnecessarily wider just for fashion. It is BIG after a CT but on the move from behind the wheel it doesn’t feel it. When you get out and have look though - there is a lot of metal and plastic there. I can hear voices saying “Silly devil, why didn’t he get a UX?” Well, the only UX I could get for a little more that the same money I paid for the NX Luxury would have to be a base model. To get this Luxury level of trim on a new UX would be outside my price range, hence the used NX is very good value with less that 10k on the clock even if it is probably a size too big. One other factor is that UX is a brand new model and I have always liked to give a new model at least a year for obvious niggles to be ironed out, even on a Lexus. The ride is good, I love driving it. The steering is light but well weighted. I soon realised this is a very heavy car. It takes a good squash of the pedal to stop the forward motion. Once you know that though it can work to your advantage as a hybrid driver. The coasting distance when you lift off the pedal is huge on a flat road and it goes on forever down even a slight gradient. All that time that little green light is on but you are not holding up the driver behind like people did in a Mk 1 Prius. Economy so far is low 40s, we shall see what happens over a period of mixed Norfolk use. The cruising is quiet at 70+ apart from the tyre noise. I cured this quite well and improved the ride in the CT with some Michelin cross climates. Might try the same here eventually. The acceleration, particularly mid-range, is good too. There is bags of power there to swoop past even an electric bike on the hills. So far I have only done one cross country trip and the car just did absolutely everything a driver could want. Even sitting in a roadworks jam in an NX is a pleasure. 😄

Now with pictures: 4 pictures: 1. To make access easier once the install was complete, I cut the boot liner. 2. Showing the rear camera and how it fits to the number place 3 and 4, showing the setup and the location of where the items are.

Just to let you all know. This is now sold 😎😎

I assume belts started to be used due to noise, lightness and cost but then as all Toyota engines became interference designs they reverted back to chains. Seems the first family of engines that went back to chain suffer from these issues. The following is a good write up on a GR engine, same family as the GS450h engine, just a larger one. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/p0016-chain-stretch-cam-sensor-crank-sensor-ocv-filters-ocv-valve.509102/

I didn’t get as far as driving it...didn’t feel the urge. If it gets off the line my wife will be happy and with a roof down...delighted...I’ll get to drive more of a match to what I’m after...

Well we look forward to the fruit of your search! 🚗. I'd avoid any Lexus V8 be it an LS or SC if the oil wasn't at the top, I've never owned one where the level has moved. What are they like to drive?

^^ A good review, thanks for posting. Having now owned two NXs over an 18 month period, and having been a member here for the same time, my feeling is that real owners rather like the NX mirroring most of your points. It is a well made, comfortable and quiet car. Yes, the navigation system could be better (as with all current Lexus models) and some wish for more power, but we owners are generally satisfied. In contrast, many who have had an NX for a short period - as a courtesy car or for a short test-drive are often critical. I'm not sure why that should be, but it is something I've observed. Perhaps those moving from a saloon struggle with the (inevitable) compromises that come with an SUV. Anyway, having owned and run a number of SUVs from rival manufacturers, I am comfortable that the NX, despite media reports, is better than most as an 'all-rounder.'

Welcome to Europe's Leading Lexus Club! Please Enjoy!

Nah. Mostly because I live in a very safe country (Sweden), and on top of that I live on a dirt road on a mountain in the middle of the forest ^^ And on top of that I've got full insurance.

Not caused any issues on mine, you can always remove. Positioned mine the same.

Here's a 'not so trippy' one I did earlier of the Toyota Celica GT4 Owners Club (I used to have a GT4 and was a member of the club before the Z3). Pity about the birdcrap on the windscreen ☹️;

I ended up going for the Stagg 2 from the US (Ebay). The costly part was the labour.....

Let’s do it! Already registered and booked yesterday. Cant believe there has been no F presence there before especially seeing the number of cars there (541) at last count with paid for tickets. Having two ISFs sounds like a plan. Wonder if we can we get any other ‘F’ers to join us?

You should get Lexus to change one of the tyres to match the other. You mustn't have different tyres on the same axle even if the rolling radius is the same. Surprised a Lexus dealer did this and it can be dangerous with different compounds & treads on the same axle.

Bolton Lexus have never charged me for doing it. (Twice now).