Ala Larj

They used to use urine to soften leather so there may be cheaper ways to get that new car smell!

The Aston Martin Cygnet was wholeheartedly mocked when it was first introduced for many reasons but am I the only one who thinks that maybe they had a point. I’m aware that the reasons for it was more to do about lowering AMs average emissions than producing a serious small luxury vehicle. 
However, had it had an Aston Martin derived drive train it may have been a great little run about. 
 

Anyway, my point being is that I love my GS but feel now that its size is too big for me. I need to downsize. What I want is a UX sized vehicle but with the same quality, especially inside, that I have become accustomed to in my GS. 

Unfortunately all manufacturers seem to think that smaller cars don’t warrant the quality of their larger cars and fill them with cheaper quality materials. 

Can anyone recommend a small car that has the quality of my GS?

Inter what?

A sad indictment of modern society!

Sorry if I’m off topic but it wasn’t me who mentioned lumbar support!

I have a 2014 GS300h premier with 18 way adjustable seats with two lumbar supports! Hated the seats for about the first six months of ownership as couldn’t get comfortable. Thought I may have to get rid of it due to back problems. Anyway took me six months to eventually get it right and now find it the most comfy car I’ve had. After six years of ownership I wouldn’t change it. Thank god it’s got memory seats as my wife is of a different shape to me!

Now you’re talking! 😉

34 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

It may be just general acceleration, because even without the Ludicrous mode it is still low 4s. 

That said I believe it degrades battery, not only tyres and you can't repeat it very often as batteries needs time to cool down.

It is kind of funny to think that I am saying such speed is unnecessary in the car (the same guy who said IS300h is dangerously slow and unacceptable), but I truly think that - even back then I said 5-6s is all I need from the car for enjoyable driving, but when acceleration get's to sub-4s, sub-3s I just don't really see the utility of it. Same as I can't see the utility of more than 150-160MPH on road car. I have gone faster myself, but that is once in lifetime event and you not going to be doing it daily, certainly not something useful. Sure show off once or twice, but otherwise it just results in your passengers shaiting their pants and spilling their drinks on your fake white vegetable leather interior... and things flying around in the car. As well I guess I get it in sleek sport coupe, but in 7 seat SUV?! Or maybe I am just getting old, soon I will be defending IS300h acceleration in other subsection of the forum 😄 

Is the order in for the UX?

It does worry me what will happen to accident rates when these electric cars with such acceleration become cheap enough on the second hand market and available to boy racers with little real driving skills!

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking of using it in my lawnmower. However it have decided it’s more hassle than it’s worth and will just take the loss. 

My moan is that the West Indies never qualified for the odi World Cup.  A sad indictment of the state of cricket these days!

I’d highly recommend a Honda Jazz. Reliable, economical and amazingly spacious. 

Thanks Linas. That’s kind of my thoughts. It’s a full tank and about two months old so thought I could use it in my gardening equipment (wouldn’t put it in my GS!). Was wondering if it could be siphoned via the fuel line rather than the filling tube. It just seems such a waste as the scrappers won’t give me extra for the fuel. They obviously have a way of extracting it it so just wondered if I could save them the hassle and use it myself. 

Is wheel theft still a problem? It appears easier to just steal the whole vehicle these days!

Our trusty 2008 Honda jazz suffered a catastrophic gearbox failure just after filling it up. The cost to repair is more than the car is worth. Have been offered £323 for scrap value. Before it being taken away I’d like to remove and reuse the pertol. Is this possible as I believe most cars nowadays have anti siphon systems in place. Is there a safe way to remove the fuel or should I just take the loss?

Thanks. That makes sense. Am wary about some of the hand washes as not sure what products they use and how grit free their rags are! The automatic wash I used was an IMO one which seems to get good reviews.  

I thought about that but the sign also says keep engine running! Not sure why. It’s actually the hybrid Battery I’m worried about. 

Due to a recent operation and unable to wash my car I decided to use an automatic one. I’ve never used one before and it was only when I was about to embark on the ‘journey’ that I saw the sign saying to disengage handbrake and put car in neutral. I am aware that it is not a good idea to use neutral in a hybrid due to lack of Battery charging. I had a tense 10 minutes worrying about whether or not I’d be able to drive out at the other end. Fortunately my fears were unfounded but it got me thinking that I was lucky and my Battery had enough charge in it before entering the car wash and wondered what could have happened if I was low on charge. Does anyone know how long you can keep it in neutral for, or what would happen if it ran out whilst in the car wash?

Buying anything is subjective or we wouldn’t have choice. My wife is a dyson fan but I think the shark vacuum cleaner is better especially when taking price into consideration. 
 

I personally think the ES is overpriced. Am not sure what it is competing with. As a large saloon it is obviously in the same market as e class or 5 series but interior quality appears to be comparable to the class below. 
 

I tinkered with replacing my GS with an ES and took a takumi model for an extended test drive and came away disappointed. As a replacement for an IS it would probably be a good choice with regards to interior quality but compared to my GS there were too many cheap materials which meant it felt like a downgrade to me. My nine year old GS still feels new inside apart from some minor creasing on the outside drivers seat bolster. The GS still feels special with no rattling or any other signs of wear. It is more luxurious and comfortable than the ES and as mine is a premier it has all the tech I need and can be driven relaxingly or sportily in sport + mode. 
 

Obviously, and maybe objectively, the ES has a better infotainment system but that doesn’t bother me. In fact I have the screen off most of the time. For such a big and supposedly luxury car the ES just doesn’t seem to cut the mustard.

The GS was never a big seller so I’m not surprised that Lexus didn’t replace it. To replace the IS and GS with the ES was a mistake. I think they should have replaced the IS with a mark 4 as the IS was a relatively good seller. Most people wanting to replace their IS mark 3 would find the ES to big. 
 

I have decided to keep my GS as I cannot find anything that feels so comfortable and special. 
 

And that’s my subjective opinion!

I have a 2014 Premier and over 6 years ownership and 50000 miles have averaged 44.7 according to the on board computer so probably about 42 in reality. That’s over all sorts of roads and distances. Would definitely recommend the GS over an IS if comfort over handling is more important. Although in sports + mode it is surprisingly agile for such a biggish car. 

I had a Vanden Plas 1300 as my second car back in 1980. Absolutely loved it it. When it went to the scrap yard I kept the front seats and had them in my bedroom!

My first car was an Austin 1300 countryman with a wooden ‘stripe’ along each side of the car!

Hence my dilemma! The GS is without doubt the best car I’ve owned and I’ve owned quite a few. 

Thanks for your input Linas. I think you are right about the subjectivity of ‘comfort’. I am well out of my boy racer years and love the relaxed comfort of the GS and cannot think of a better car to replace it. I’m still toying with the idea of keeping it. However, our other trusty steed, a 2008 Honda Jazz, has finally decided to stop playing ball and is destined for the scrap yard.

 I retired five years ago and my wife works from home most of the time with occasional visits to her office, two hours away, and site visits around the country. The GS is perfect for these trips and occasional social weekends away, whilst the Jazz was perfect for shopping trips, trips to the dump and other short journeys as required. But we’re finding it difficult now to justify having two cars with the extra costs of tax, insurance, mots etc hence the thought of replacing the GS  

I think you’re correct about an RX being a better replacement for the GS than an NX. We live in the sticks surrounded by narrow lanes so need a smaller car which can be comfortably used for the occasional long journeys as well as daily use. This is the thinking behind trading in for an NX. 
 

Thanks. Before Lexus went to takumi was the premier the top of the range NX?

 I fear you may be right about the comfort. The GS is superb and it will be greatly missed.