Roger Bill

Also interesting in the context of price negotiations is the fact that the pound has done surprisingly well again the Yen over the past couple of years, as shown in this graph. Inflation in Japan is low and they are still holding their interest rates at a really low level while the UK, USA and others are raising theirs rapidly. I'm no expert but I assume this will result in continued weakness in the Yen.

Interesting UK car sales data: https://www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-data/car-registrations/ and in the attached. Year to date Lexus sales are down 38% on the same period last year. Unless that decline is due to supply constraints, it might suggest dealers will be willing to offer some reasonable discounts. Lexus-Sales-Report-February-2022.pdf

Congratulations, you'll be among the first to get a MY2023 UX. Will be really interesting to hear what you think of the touch screen and whether the changes to the body rigidity, new Bridgestone runflats and suspension tweaks make any noticeable improvement to the ride quality.

The Mercedes software is also poor and, after the first three years, the annual subscription is expensive given the limited functionality. It has the hallmarks of a prototype system and in some respects seems like a solution searching for a problem.

Good advice, thanks @rayaans but unfortunately my gut feeling is that my current car would require some expensive repairs in that timeframe.

Thanks @RXtoNX I'll certainly enquire about the PCP alternative to see how it stacks up. In fact based on my recent experiences it's hard not to as the salesmen are clearly incentivised to sell PCP, GAP insurance, paint protection, etc. 😊😊 @Joseph Bill @royoftherovers Sorry to have caused confusion but my name isn't Bill it's simply that I don't like to use my real name when posting on open forums.

Thanks @RXtoNX that's useful info. The Lexus document I got dated March 2022 stated "we will apply price protection against inflationary price increases. We will not price protect the specification increases" I feared that this sort of undertaking may no longer be given with the current extended delivery times and higher inflation. The What Car magazine website is currently indicating a cash price target of £3,340 saving on the £45,500 RRP for the Takumi UX. Come the time I'll enquire about PCP deals but my experience to date is that I've always got a better deal paying cash.

I'm hoping to get a short test drive in MY2023 UX as soon as they arrive in the UK and, if that goes well, place an order. It'll be a cash purchase with my current car taken in part exchange. With previous car purchases I struck a deal using best price data from sources such as Broadspeed and What Car magazine for the new car and Parkers Price Guide for the trade in value of the old. I've always found local Lexus, Mercedes and Honda main agents willing to match these prices, but that was when delivery times were no longer than a month or two. With the current long delivery times for the UX will this approach still work in negotiations? Or is it no longer possible to fix a deal because of all the uncertainties of inflation and currency exchange rates over an extended delivery time?

Hi @Neville Gardner The MY2023 UX was due to enter production in August. Do you know whether yours is MY2022 with the touchpad or MY2023 with the touch screen?

A guy in the USA has posted his initial impressions of a test drive in the 2023 UX on the Facebook Lexus UX Enthusiasts group.

Seems odd if demo cars will be available in Sept or Nov while production doesn't start until January. I've done some design and production work in the car industry but that was many years ago so things might now be different. Back then prototypes for development, testing and early promotional activities were produced using low volume production techniques which were very expensive relative to the series production techniques used for volume manufacture. Once the design and volume production techniques were approved the model would enter series production and then only minor changes to account for component shortages or fault fixing would be allowed. I guess Lexus has a few hundred dealers around the world and that each dealer would need at least one MY2023 UX demonstrator and one showroom model. This would imply a production run of >1,000 which I would have thought would be much more than would normally be made by prototype manufacturing facilities. Admittedly the MY2023 is "just" a facelift. But the new screen, dashboard change from touch pad to touchscreen and repositioning of the heated seat switches would amount to quite a significant change to the visible parts and to the wiring harnesses, connectors, etc.

The F Sport Takumi Pack includes AVS.

One point to consider is the reduced headroom 908 vs 947. With a sunroof there's only just enough headroom for me. Also I've just noticed the F Sport has 18/19 mm less headroom than the other models.

The online configurator and other info on lexus.co.uk has now been updated to 2023 specifications and options.

@duotone Hi David, while the number plate on your bike rack is obscured, the spare number plates in your garage are visible. I only noticed because I zoomed in for a closer look at your nice bike.

AVS = Adaptive Variable Suspension. A short video of the claimed benefits: Not a silly question at all, acronyms are too often used without definition. I'd really like to compare a UX250h F Sport with AVS with a Takumi for ride comfort. I suspect the F Sport would have a firmer set up such that even with the claimed benefits of AVS I'd find the Takumi more comfortable and better for my aging body on long journeys. If so, it's a shame AVS isn't offered as an option on the Takumi as well as the F Sport.

Hi @Tel Is there an online system which has a list of new Lexus cars that are actually in stock or in the delivery pipeline? I know some are misleading. For example, Lexus Cambridge have had a new UX250h Takumi listed on the Autotrader website since at least February when I was told it'd been sold and during this time they've even updated the price inline with the price list increases. I think Lexus Birmingham and Wolverhampton may also do something similar on Autotrader. The latest I've seen is April 2023 delivery for orders placed now.

@Tel Sounds like I was luckier with the sales guys I spoke to at Lexus in Cambridge and Milton Keynes about the 2023 UX250h. With my last few cars I've researched the best deals I could find online for the exact model I wanted to buy and the trade-in price on my old car. Because I found at least one local dealer who was willing to match the prices, I've not yet bought a car online. But I wouldn't be averse to trying it as I know a couple of people who bought online and were happy with the experience.

Excellent point. I look forward to seeing road tests especially if they compare non-AVS 2022 and 2023 to see if the extra spot welds and chassis stiffness plus suspension tweaks have improved ride comfort and bump suppression.

The configurator on the US lexus.com website is now setup for the 2023 facelift model. The photos show the new larger touchscreen. Otherwise the configurator isn't of much interest because the model variants and options here in the UK are very different to those in the US market.

You were lucky to get the Dunlop run flat tyres as most UX come with Bridgestone which are noisier and reputedly give a harder ride.

Crikey UX delivery times seem to be getting even longer. I guess component and staff shortages are causing an increasing order backlog. Perhaps the Lexus price increases, higher level of inflation in the general economy and rising interest rates will lead to reduced demand causing delivery times to go back down to more normal levels.

One of the most sensible reviews I've seen. The first two of his five negative points regarding the infotainment system should be overcome by the midlife update scheduled to go into production in August. His negative point about resale values not being so good as larger models might not be so relevant over here in the UK. However the overriding positive for me are his comments about quality and expected reliability.

The www.lexus.co.uk website still has the following notice: Specifications shown are for model year 2022 UK vehicles, and subject to vehicle production lead times, the model ordered may be built according to model year 2023 specification. It is anticipated that your Lexus Centre will advise you of any changes in specification, and any price implication once your ordered vehicle goes into production (at the latest), at which point you have the right to accept such changes, or cancel your order and have any deposit returned to you. Because the UK Lexus document listing the 2023 changes states the model will enter production in August and delivery times seem to be six or seven months, I'm wondering if the production schedule has slipped.

Check out my post dated 24th May in this thread. The Toyota configurator states the bZ4 range to be a combined WLTP of 270.92 miles. I believe the 317 mile range figure is either just marketing speak or it might refer to a future model.