Ian J. Parsley

That's correct. Connected Services can also give you updated traffic info via your smartphone. No idea how, but it definitely works! I don't know about EE; I'm with O2.

You don't have to have a manual IS to enjoy it either; my point was any claim to be the ultimate driving experience simply isn't going to be widely believed if there isn't even a manual option.

Re economy, that's another thing the reviewers miss. I live eight miles from Belfast. On an average trip in and out, I exceed 50 mpg. In my wife's diesel I exceeded 50mpg driving to Amsterdam, but not in and out to Belfast! Re options, am I right that even options are taxed down there? I noted they have an "Eco" trim level, which looks suspiciously like the bare minimum! I think we've discussed the BMW thing before. I'm not sure Lexus should have led on the "driving experience" thing, not least because there is no manual. Even if it's true (and the Lexus driving experience *is* spectacular), no one's going to believe it, at least not in Europe. The truth is, I was never in the market for a 3-series - for me, the choice was C-class, S60 or IS (or A5 at a push). I suspect I provide a likelier hunting ground than brash BMW thrill seekers... I genuinely didn't think the S80's seats could be beaten - one Dubliner even fitted out an entire home cinema with them! The 3IS beats them. Astonishing.

Thanks. I'll do that, although I suspect it's a design error (no doubt to "correct" what you refer to).

Hitting 55mpg again today, over about 20 miles. One minor niggle: the boot lid. This is not automated (as it is with Jaguar and some of the Germans) and is irritatingly designed in such a way that I rarely get it fully closed first time, always having to press down subsequently from above. Can't quite believe it is so basic on a car which is otherwise so advanced!

Well, I mean, each to their own. But I too had wondered re screen but when you see it in action it makes perfect sense.

I had the precise same thought. Re the screen, like I say, size isn't everything as it were. It is HD and very, very clear - much clearer than the Volvo or Audi equivalent (although I prefer the latter's looks). Re the foot brake, there are two advantages: one is specific to the hybrid, that you do want to maintain the brake pedal on when stopped for efficiency; the second is that the DVD screen's appearance depends on whether or not the foot brake is applied. So again, I thought that would irritate me but I see the advantages.

The keyless entry is standard on all UK specs. I can't speak for IRL. UK reviews, with the very odd exception, appal me for their bias and inaccuracy: - "We only got 40mpg": yeah, in Sport mode accelerating like a maniac; usually you get 50-55 for a short journey and I've already got over 60 for Belfast-Carnlough; - "The glove compartment is small and an iPad doesn't fit in it": no it isn't and yes it does; - "The steering lacks feel": show me a car with better steering; etc etc. The seats are excellent in any version, btw!

When you have the car, you see there really isn't any room, or need, for more. Actually I find the screen notably clearer than on any other car I know, even though it's set back.

The manual is a monster, but if I happen to get a moment I'll have look! Re colours, you should be able to negotiate metallic well down from £610. I actually went for the celestial black over the (non-metallic) velvet. I do understand the greys - one is very light silver, one is almost brown in some lights, and one is gun-metal. The drawback is, ordering blind, you don't *absolutely* know what you'll end up with...

Jeroen, Jouw Engels is veel beter dan mijn Nederlands! The UK/Ireland specifications are entirely different from those in Continental Europe, for fairly obvious reasons. So I wouldn't worry too much about them (although you should be able to have a brochure emailed via www.lexus.co.uk). As you say, they do also differ between countries, even between the UK and (the Republic of) Ireland - for example, the 250 petrol version isn't available at all in the Republic and the names of the trim levels are different. I know Lexus Netherlands has a blog similar to the UK Lexus one, you could check that out for details of specifications there. You may be right, as a slightly larger market there may be more options there, provided there is no cost to import. Michael Welcome! You took a very similar risk to me, I ordered without ever having driven a Lexus before. So basically you've gone for the fully loaded! The one advantage I had going for a more popular version was I got it sooner, ordered mid-May and arrived 31 July. Will be very interested to hear what you make of it including all the gadgets. 57.6mpg over an hour sounds about right to me - which is pretty impressive given these are new cars not yet "run in". David What options did you go for specifically? I wonder why you've had to wait quite so long, though admittedly I've only seen one F-sport even in the showroom.

Hi Jeroen, Well, for various reasons over the past 18 months I've had access to a 2006 Audi A3 1.4, a 2013 Volvo V40 D2 and a 2009 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec. For me, but this is purely a personal opinion, my IS300h is smoother than all of them over rough surfaces (admittedly the A3 and Focus were both previous generation, so not an entirely fair comparison); yet also has more direct steering (funny, of the above, I'd say the Focus runs it closest in that). I have to say I found the V40 a disappointment, having owned four Volvos. The styling is superb (especially in black) and there are some delightful internal touches, so I can see why it is selling, but for me the ride was truly awful. That said, my previous car was a 2008 (current generation) Volvo S80 with chassis settings options, and in "comfort" it was significantly smoother over rough surfaces than the Lexus; on the other hand, the penalty for that was unresponsive steering even in the stiffest setting. So give me the Lexus any day. So, like you, I probably thought the IS would be softer than it is, but I've come to appreciate why it isn't, if you see what I mean!

Yes, it seems to be basically like a tablet without a sim, you can either connect to Wifi or via Bluetooth over 3G/4G, or so it seems to me anyway (your phone connection a d charge is displayed). I suspect this is all part of the nav package, I'll re-check the manual. The welding stuff did interest me because it makes the car look stunning, and I really can't fault my own salesman either with Volvo or Lexus (the latter even re-cleaned my windscreen himself after I'd taken the stickers off), but I entirely take your general point. Knowledge is King but in the Internet age, the customer may well be the one with the knowledge!

Trying to take those in order: Re HDD/USB - no, I haven't tried to connect. However, it seems quite easy. The "audio mode" can be selected either from the centre console and main screen or from the dashboard via steering wheel buttons, cycling through AM/FM/DAB/DVD/Bluetooth/AV/AUX1/AUX2 (I think that's then all). I did connect my iPad today. Re connected services: I appear to have them and have signed up to the "portal" so I can sign in and use them, yet I haven't actually yet seen the need to do so (what a heathen I must appear!) Re Hotspot: I confess I can't understand what the hotspot would be for. If the car is in my driveway, it connects to my home WiFi. Otherwise, as far as I can tell, it connects via my iPhone (i.e 3G/4G). Certainly I got a traffic alert from somewhere a couple of hours ago (it could have been the radio, but it was turned off so I doubt it). As you can tell, this didn't much matter to me but I would suggest this: the chances are your salesman won't know much more about it than I do (tho' will no doubt try to push you on the Hotspot!) so ask to speak directly to someone more senior in Lexus UK or, easiest, contact Lexus via the UK Lexus blog (very fair and knowledgeable in my experience).

A couple of people have kindly contacted me privately to ask about consumption, and specifically whether I know how to maximise it. I suspect people familiar with CTs or other hybrids will know far better than I do! I started getting just under 50mpg all other things being equal. Over the last 100 miles or so I have edged this up to around 54mpg (on around 50 miles/day usually over about four separate journeys). Changes have included: - all but abandoning Eco mode except for heavy urban traffic; - restricting use of EV mode only to entering my own development, car parks, or in heavy urban traffic; - using cruise control liberally (generally at bang on the limit); and - maintaining speed through corners when safe to do so (the superb, direct steering allows this). I don't know which if any of these have helped. Still keen to see if I can go towards that 60 mark!

Bit disappointed today, just 49.4mpg over 40 miles... That said, I haven't done rush hour yet. We'll see tomorrow...

Just one more thing - Lexus Belfast has in a metallic black 300h SE. I must say I was very impressed, albeit merely by looking through the windows, at the "fabric" trim (which actually appears at least to be semi-leather). Unless buyers really want heated seats etc, there is certainly a case for sticking with the fabric. Certainly, it's worth negotiating down the additional cost of the leather.

Roger, Yes, that's absolutely possible. Actually I did precisely that earlier today to move the car out of line of the neighbours' kids' cricket match! What I can't do is make it fully out of the development in which I live to the main road (a distance of about a kilometre) solely on EV from a cold start; whereas I can make it in again (even when just going to the shops).

I've attached for comparison a pic of the 300h hybrid model with diffuser and the 250 petrol model with the normal exhaust. There's as much difference between them, I'd say, as there is between the F-sport and non-F versions at the front. Out if interest, Lexus Belfast seems to think it will sell more with the darker interior - worth considering re re-sale value. Across the UK, I know Lexus expects the hybrid to out-sell the 250 by 3:1 or 4:1. Given the tax differential (and, in my view anyway, the better looks) this is unsurprising. A few points from my own week with the car thus far, at around 280 miles: - consumption is reasonable, but you do lose when you first turn on the car (as EV is initially unavailable, similar to stop-start in other cars) - roughly 40mpg in sport mode, 50mpg in normal and 60mpg driving carefully on longer journeys (25 miles plus); - comfort/refinement are outstanding - the seat envelops you, the car is incredibly quiet even with the petrol engine operating, and although you feel the bumps they are not coarse (and you're supposed to feel them in a sports saloon); - driving is good and in particular steering is phenomenal - I personally find I rarely feel like pushing the car (but the oomph is there if you really want it) but the highlight has been the steering which makes even familiar roads an entirely new experience; - gadgets are good, but do take time to get used to - I like the mouse-style controller (even though inputting from keyboard can occasionally get frustrating), the reverse camera offers a superbly wide view, the DVD HD/surround is exceptional, and CD sound is good (playing music off Bluetooth is ever so slightly disappointing, though I've experienced no "jumping" as elsewhere); - sat-nav is fine, if somewhat unattractive (I haven't got beyond signing up for the Connected Services so I've no idea what they are like yet); and - the lights are great - the headlights are automatic (and come on even going under bridges temporarily or in rain) and the internal lights come on as you approach the car. An ever so slight niggle is that when you use the screen wash the wipers frequently fail to respond. But I've had no difficulty with the indicators (as reported elsewhere), have experienced no sat-nav lag, and would add that, directly contrary to one review, you absolutely *can* fit an iPad into the glove compartment (storage is fine, if not exceptional). Having taken a punt and bought the car before it was even in the showrooms, I took a hell of a risk! But thus far I have no regrets at all.

I'm no expert but I suspect it is all to do with the sound proofing. There is even a ridge on the side which pushes the wind over and under the side mirrors (this doesn't matter much when it's windy anyway, but on a calm day it means literally all you hear, even at 70mph, is road noise). By the way, the synthetic noise available in the hybrid is nothing like as intrusive as in the YouTube clips and only applies in Sport mode - so, to my surprise, I've generally left it on.

I haven't fully explored the Nav system yet, but just a few points: - cars with the Nav system have the "mouse pointer" and those without have a dial; - this means that having "Nav" is about a lot more than just having a sat-nav, it makes a fundamental difference to the car's tech systems and how they are used; and - just to be clear, the "Nav" option also adds a reverse camera and an HD DVD player. My own *opinion* based on limited usage of the actual nav but fair usage of the overall interface complete with the "mouse": - I have had little problem with the "mouse", and in fact find I much much easier than the dial in the Audi (yes very occasionally you overshoot the letter you want when typing, but otherwise I've had little problem); - the actual nav graphics, to be fair, are pretty awful (I like Audi's best, but I also know Ford, Volvo, Jaguar and Nissan and they all look better) but not in a truly off putting way; - the system is not particularly user-friendly, in that usually I can operate such things by trial and error but here I have had to consult the manual a couple of times (that said, that may just be complex modern sat-navs, rather than Lexus' in particular); - to confirm, I have not noticed any "lag"; and - on the other things, the DVD is sensational (and operates automatically with the parking brake applied) and the reverse camera is superb, including a parallel park assist (which, admittedly, I don't use!)

The reason for that in the CT, btw, is that postcodes are only accurate in most countries to the equivalent 4-5 digits in the UK. Only the UK and Netherlands are as precise as they are. But both are fully supported in the new IS. But I still really haven't checked out the system, tbh!

Yes, full postcode. There's a specific option for that on the second nav menu screen. CT is a fine car, but I suspect you'll agree with me that the IS is a class above...

Btw, I personally find the IS to be on a different planet from the CT in almost every conceivable way.