tonyricha

No exhaust gas test on hybrid vehicles, mine has had 2 MOT tests and there is no analist of the gas required because the vehicle is able to propel its self using electricity.

HI, my 450h SE L will play DVDs but only when parked with the parking brake applied. I tried a VAISTECH unit from USA but it would not work in my car, when connected I lost all audio output and is is not possible to connect it wrongly. I even employed a specialist to install it with the same result. I then had Lexus MK fit a i pod adapter into the centre box which works really well except you must create only 6 playlists and you can not view the titles when moving, and no shuffle mode. Vaistech could not explain the problem but it seemed strange 1 model fits all given the M. Levison system has a seperate amp in the boot Good luck Tony

you avoid those cars with lorry engines, buy a hybrid and feel that grin spreading all over your face. I drive about 60K PA, always had a diesel but never again !!!

Hi, have you thought of a GS 450h? all the toys, goes really well, great economy and low RFL. Mine is hitting 36mpg of every fill up. Last time it was in for service they lent me a 220d, quite horrid and I could not get it to 40mpg even driving like a vicar. Got to say though the 300 Sportcross is still the best drive, it feels proper without all the computers running the show. Good luck with your decision, will watch with interest.

YUK !!! how to make a smart car look awful

Hi, with the car stopped but with the nav system on press the Talk button and say "help" it will list voice command functions on the screen

When I use mine for work (all over the country ) it is never below 380 and up to 411 before the light comes on, using cruise as much as possible, but nothing like this when the wife uses it locally ! The hybrid allways hits 400 with a slightly smaller tank or the light comes on earlier.

Sorry if I was a little blunt, I can never forget the nightmare I had with LPG on a Lexus and so hate to think of anybody else suffering the same, previous car, an Omega V6 auto ran for 200 000 on gas with few problems and so I thought Lexus would be the same but oh no it just would not work ( as Lexus told me after paying £2000 conversion )I then spent another £5000 re building the engine twice all to save a few hundred quid on fuel, not to mention endless breakdowns and downtime. YUK !!! Tony

it will not last 12 months before your 1st head re build which will cost many times more than you can save, if it works Lexus would offer it as an option. Be warned and ask Lexus what they think. I tried it because I do 50K per year and killed my engine twice in a year and yes I did fit flash lube, if you want to travel this cheaply buy a Fiesta diesel. Your engine is so complex a bloke in a shed can never improve what it is designed to do and make it cheaper to run, no matter what he tells you. When it blows up you will be caught between the LPG company and Lexus each blaming each other.Keep it standard and it will run reliably for ever.

Hi Rod welcome back, usual tips, high spec as possible, 450h SE L with adaptive cruise is entertaining and easier to sell on,must have leather and multi media. Check recall on steering rack and rear calipers has been completed and I think with so much technology it pays to stay covered by Lexus warranty. They do depreciate like crazy so good deals are out there but enjoy looking around. Regards Tony

Hi again, service costs seem a bit varied across the dealer network so I bought a 40,000 service contract with Lexus Milton Keynes which conbined with 12 months extended warranty cost me £2000 (including breakdown cover for both of us in any vehicles ) May seem a lot but compared to how much she depreciated before I purchased seems good value to me, worry free motoring like having a new car and they will cover it up to over 200,000! All I buy is tyres(about £130 each) and brakes. Regards Tony

Hi and welcome to LOC, great choice of wheels for your mileage. I drive 40 to 50 K per year year and will never consider another diesel after 14 months in my 450h. Mid 30s MPG is spot on so you are driving it correctly. I leave mine in std on the power switch but set the suspension to sport as this slightly sharpens throttle responce but not as much as PWR. Sat nav , just keep playing with it, not as easy as my Garmin but you will get there. Ignore the tyre pressure warning system, it will advise you of a flat if it happens but if you have metal valve caps put a little grease on the threads as the corrode on Voice commands, when stopped press Talk button then say " Help " for a list of functions but it is a bit of a toy, I only use mine to increase on reduce temperature. Tyre wear is the only issue with mine but that is expected with power and weight. Enjoy ! Tony

Interesting point this, with this adaptive cruise sysyem the car slows by lifting off and braking for you when it detects an obstacle within the pre selected range which can be further than you can see, especially in fog so how is this dangerous ? Keep those rear fogs off and switch the wiper control to slow and you are safer by using the cruise except in very heavy rain but every time in fog for me !

My 450h drives me crackers in the snow, not a traction problem as the weight seems to help, the problem is the radar sensor collects the snow so it can not see out then we get endless warnings of PCCS system and cruise control not available, just wish they put a heater element it the sensor and leave me in peace !

ahh good point, having killed a GS this way I feel strongly about it.

PLEASE DO NOT DO IT, it does not and can not work, you will cause unlimited problems and endless grief, with a auto box it is even worse as you cant save a failing engine making the car dangerous, you will spend far more on repairs than you will ever save. No bull I treid it and got in SUCH a mess. My previous Omega did 200 K on gas with just a few issues but the GS300 Mk2 never ran properly on it and cost a fortune in repairs and killed the car. PM me if you are not convinced. Regards Tony

That is why Lexus say no to LPG and they are right I tried my MK2 GS and WHAT a disaster, ruined a decent car. and yes I did use 20% petrol and flashlube and yes I had the head re built and yes it did it again ! I still go cold remembering the ordeal, it does not work on VVTI engines.

This makes sense too! If it starts ok in the morning then I think it must have been flooded from the night before. It has run all day and started ok since this morning. Pay close attention to cranking speed on the starter motor, when mine is having on of its "moments" it really spins over at high speed and pitch coz it has no compression without the valves closing, that aint flooded !

Hi, my 300 Sportcross does exactly this if I shunt it about in our yard and switch off before she gets any real heat into the engine. I am told it is caused by not enough oil pressure in the hydraulic tappets but when trying to start it does sound like little or no compression, no sure if the V6 suffers this like the straight 6 but it does sound rough when it starts till it settles down so if I have to move it I let it idle from cold before switching off, a common problem with Toyota engines I am told. May be barking up the wrong tree but worth a mention Tony

Yes spot on ! was trying to compliment Mat55 on his purchase. Sorry to confuse

Yes looks very nice, good luck keeping those mats like that and the fence soon needs re painting !!! :winky:

What sort of price do Lexus centres charge for tyres? my 450h is happily consuming 4 rears and 2 fronts yearly, Lexus have the service contract and extended warranty but I buy tyres ( Pirelli or Bridgestone 245/40 ZR 18 for about £170 ) never thought of asking Lexus. My local tyre company understand these valves and so are carefull, even down to a smear of grease in the dust caps and just tightned with a 10MM spanner to prevent theft. No monkeys employed here !

Hi and welcome, great choice for your 1st Lexus, that tick may be the injector nozzles, does it rise with RPM ? Steering, I think is rubbish on every GS I have owned or driven, they follow the tramlines on motorways and every road repair but that is just the way they are, every time I drive my Sportcross after the GS it feels really good. Sorry hit the wrong button I dont thing the leather is a problem, some conditioner will help 6 CD are held in the head unit, on the IS range these players are near usless so make sure it loads and plays before buying the car My Gs hybrid was subject to a recall for steering rack and rear brakes, would pay to ask if this one was subject and if so was it completed Dont know about a download but brouchures are usually available on e bay for a couple of quid. Let us know how it goes please