Ian M

The more SCs I see, the more I want one as a summer classic. Welcome aboard!

A week and a half in, I am definitely pleased with the RX. A motorway trip last weekend was certainly a comfortable experience. This morning, the postman has been so my coffee mug has been upgraded, although the coaster is an old one which I dug out of a draw when I got this Lexus.

The robotised manual gearbox which masquerades as an automatic in the Aygo is simply dreadful. I did try one and it's just as horrible as the original Smart car automatic box. My impression was that the (old shape) Aygo also felt narrower than the IQ and thus felt more claustrophobic in the front. The Yaris, of course, is an entirely different sized car.

You'd probably be OK with the kids, but be warned that your visibility to the left is quite severely compromised by your front seat passenger sitting well forward to create space for the person behind. That, to me, is the only significant issue with Toyota's otherwise clever seating arrangement in the IQ. That said, it's not an issue here since the car has only been in 3 seater mode once.

It's nice to be back, I have certainly missed Lexus ownership. The IQ is brilliant at what it does. That is a 60 plate IQ2, so it has got a pretty decent spec, with the 1.0 3 cylinder engine and a CVT box. It is now at 47k miles, roughly 12k of which have been done in the 3 years we have owned it. Totally reliable, oil change once a year and that is it. Do not even think about it as more than a 2 seater, the back seats are pretty impractical but the front is spacious and comfortable (I reckon you'd be fine at 6ft 4, it is quite a high car and there's loads of shoulder room for 2 people in the front) with a half decent size boot which will take a week's shopping..... more than a Smart car can do! Obviously, it is in its element in town and the turning circle is so tight you can park anywhere. On a dual carriageway, it will keep 75mph easily enough but it is not a quiet cruiser! Go and test drive one (or pop over to Derby and have a look at this one), I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Thanks, guys, I am definitely getting used to it and loving the smooth quietness of the car. Really pleased with the colour too, and I even got a nod from a guy driving another RX on my way home from work tonight! Sunroof was an essential part of my spec, Steve, I wasn't buying a car without.

Sunroof was an absolutely essential requirement, they really are a nice feature (as apposed to the glass panels which don't open and I don't see the point of) but these days not many makes and models offer them. Maybe I just enjoyed being a Triumph Spitfire owner...... before it rusted away round me all those years ago!

The IQ is brilliant at what it does. That is a 60 plate IQ2, so it has got a pretty decent spec, with the 1.0 3 cylinder engine and a CVT box. It is now at 47k miles, roughly 12k of which have been done in the 3 years we have owned it. Totally reliable, oil change once a year and that is it. Do not even think about it as more than a 2 seater, the back seats are pretty impractical but the front is spaceous and comfortable with a half decent size boot which will take a week's shopping..... more than a Smart car can do! Obviously, it is in its element in town and the turning circle is so tight you can park anywhere. On a dual carriageway, it will keep 75mph easily enough but it is not a quiet cruiser! If you can find that low mileage mint car, I reckon you should buy it.

Just by way of update, I got my car yesterday (in the rain), but the sun came out this morning for a few photos. So far, quite happy, lots to learn about how all the toys work and that manual is certainly a thick book. The only disappointment is the sat-nav: the Audi system was very intuitive easy to use whereas this is much more reminiscent of the archaic system in my old IS, which is a bit of a surprise. But I guess I will get used to it. On the positive side, it's had 2 new Dunlop SportMaxx A1 tyres fitted on the front since I viewed the car (during the negotiation, I had agreed with the salesman that although they were worn, they were quite adequate and I would replace them myself in due course, but apparently, their condition failed the Lexus preparation standard so they had to be replaced) and it's got a 12 month MOT in place of the expected shorter one. Once the RX gets my personal plate on it, you'll never know it's a 4.5 year old car As you can see, the drive is now a Toyota/Lexus zone again.

Hi. I'm not really a new member, but I have been absent for a couple of years since selling my IS300 SportCross and buying an Audi. But I'm back with Lexus again after picking up my new (to me) RX450h yesterday. Today's task has been to figure out how it all works, a job which I am making progress with but there's a lot to learn! I know how much everyone likes pictures, but it was raining when I got the car home yesterday, so here's a few from this morning, along with its stablemate from the opposite end of the Toyota catalogue.

It is obviously "new Lexus day". I got hold of my RX tonight, but it is raining so no pics from me yet. First impressions are great, but like you I have only driven it about 5 miles. It certainly has elements of my old 2004 IS300 in the cabin.

You will love the IS300, is an absolute peach of an engine. Welcome to Lexus.

I am really pleased with the colour combination (it's the black interior and I am afraid that none of the other colours looked anything like OK to me). I set out being very clear that the greys and silvers were not for me, so the list was white, black or the Burgundy Red. I was very pleased to find one with the right spec, mileage and price even if I have had to travel to find it. But I guess if you're being fussy about the details, the right car probably won't just come to you. I can't wait until the handover next week. It's got Dunlops on at the moment, the front two of which are pretty worn, albeit just on the limit at which the dealer isn't going to change them. the rears are a bit better, and I must confess that I am seriously considering Cross Climates all round before the winter arrives. The Avons, which a few people have mentioned, hadn't hit my radar so I will take a look at those too. Thanks for the information, everyone.

Yes, in many ways I regret selling the Sportcross, but old age and mileage was starting to catch up with it and it would have needed some real money spending on it to keep it reliable as the daily driver. Correct! family holidays were up there from when I was a wee boy in the 70s and that particular photo was taken on a trip with three generations, including my dad, my brother and my nephews in 2012.

I was a member of LOC for many years whilst I was running my gorgeous 2004 model IS300 Sportcross. However 18 months ago, it was time for it to go and at that time nothing in the Lexus range took my fancy, so I bought an Audi S4 Avant. It's a great car, but perhaps just too sporty for my current needs and certainly too low and nowadays too difficult for my 91 year old father to get in and out of. So, after a bit of looking round, I am back with Lexus, moving to a Burgundy Red RX450h which I will pick up next week. I know it will be a different driving experience to either of the two previous cars, but I am sure that it will do the motorway and town miles which make up most of my driving these days just fine. Definitely looking forward to being back in the fold. So, first question (since I will need to buy 2 in the not too distant future), what tyres do you guys rate for an RX?

I have a white IS300 SportCross, Chamonix White (paint code 040), but have never seen another white 300 or another white SportCross. Indeed white ISs are pretty rare - a member here a few years ago had one, but it was slightly different shade of white.

Here in Derby, the Toyota and Lexus dealers are next door to eachother. The Lexus dealership has a service reception desk but no workshop. I wonder where the work gets done………..

I shall be there too, but on my Honda VFR1200! :D Remember: Think Bike, Think Biker.

I thought the same. My car has a black interior and a black wheel, which I think looks better.

Great news!

Well, it's Wednesday.... how's the car? Any good?

I'm actually in Johannesburg, it's just that my Etios hire car is Indian built. Horrible little thing! Driving standards here are a bit variable, but it's generally not too bad and at least it's drive on the left territory.

Happy hunting, the 300 SportCross is a very fine car and you'll not regret it. If you can find an 05, then it's about the last of the bunch and should be a great car. Mine's a late 2004 (54 plate) and I've put almost 70k on it since I bought it in May 2007. No plans to change it for a few years yet!!

The black interior isn't much better, it shows up every mark too. If only the SportCross wasn't so damned practical....

It looks like you had a great day, I'm only sorry I had to be 6,000 miles away when it happened. Hopefully I'll be there next time, I can assure you that a Toyota Etios hire car (it's an Indian built cheaper version of the Yaris) is no match for my Lexus!!