Ian J. Parsley

I've just switched my 2017 F Sport (my wife bought a UX and we don't need two SUVs!) but you'll not regret that buy! Love the colour too.

I had an IS from 2013-17 and warmly recommend them; I think they drive better than the reviewers suggest and they still stand out, particularly in the right colour. The infotainment isn't marvellous tbh, but you get used to it ok. Right now, I wouldn't be too fussy about requiring '17/'18; you may find you can go later. You should find dealers have plenty of shipped in new or just pre-reg stock which may just meet your budget.

Didn’t have any pics without the plate! Think it looks best from side or front. I think all colours are fine on it!

Did you have any luck with this? Usually the dealer can set you up more or less if you just give them the email address you are using for your "My Lexus / Lexus Link".

The tech can be a struggle although also the system in general was down for about 24 hours there - it's working fine again now! My wife has also just joined the UX club, in her case a base model but with Premium+ pack. The spec is astonishing for the money, it is comfortable and, by the way, despite the concerns about size I've just put a set of golf clubs in the boot with relative ease... Health to drive!

I went to my dealer to switch from my NX (which we don't really need any more since my wife got a UX) to an IS, and came away with an ES! This is the first time really I have come away with a car other than the one I intended to buy! Mine is the F-Sport with Tech Pack and Protection Pack. To share some immediate first impressions about this specific car, which are almost entirely positive: - it is *extraordinarily* quiet, especially up to around 50-60mph; - it is a much smoother ride than the 2017 NX F-Sport I had, and also (though the difference isn't as marked) versus my wife's 2020 UX; - the lack of auto-boot lid is rendered close to irrelevant by the fact the boot lid opens fully on its springs anyway; - it is even more evident that any reviewer telling you about a "growl" hasn't actually driven the car (this simply does not exist even under fairly hard acceleration); - I still haven't worked out what to do with the lumbar support... And some impressions about 2020 vehicles in general versus 2017: - the infotainment is still in the "unnecessarily complex" category but it is more intuitive than it was and the graphics are much better; - the adaptive cruise is markedly improved, now operating from 18mph and more readily; - most notably of all, the transition between EV and engine, which was always smooth, is now undetectable other than by looking at the screen; - Lexus Link telling you how you performed at that last roundabout is slightly freaky... As with anything, whether an ES is a good buy will depend somewhat on personal circumstances. It was clear that the dealership wanted me to go that way (the ES F-Sport came in cheaper than the IS F-Sport) and that's fine. If you are looking for a true driver's car, the ES was never designed for that (although it's not bad, tbc!) but if you are in the market for a saloon which combines coupe looks with a bit of luxury, I'd say it's hard to beat.

Totally with @EvilRacer329 - I don't really buy the "competing with" thing. You pick a car based on what you need. Out of interest, my wife's arrived and on the fourth day there was a very minor problem after an evening trip, about which I contacted Lexus Belfast at around 10.50pm. I had an email back from the manager within 20 minutes and he was standing on our doorstep at 8.20am; the problem was resolved fully with the car back on the drive within 12 hours of a night-time email. Not that problems happen very often - the reliability and the service on the exceptionally rare occasions things do go wrong are why I like the brand.

I believe this is the graphite black - almost a lighter shade, if black can be said to have “shades”! You can see a regular black Toyota behind. Hadn’t really thought about the wheel arch thing but I guess this works.

Funny, we had the same problem in reverse (couldn't work out how to turn it off) - it is, for reference, the same on all 2020 models as far as I can tell.

The CT has already been withdrawn from North America. My wife had two and they are lovely cars, but I could never really see them challenging the A3 or 1-series. I am sorry the IS is not coming to Europe at all by the sound of it, but that too is probably inevitable after the withdrawal of the Avensis too. Clearly the “small” saloon is simply not where Toyota/Lexus sees profit to be made in the next decade or so. This certainly carries a risk, however - it was the 3rd gen IS which brought me to the brand and I thought it was a terrific car. Having the UX as the cheapest model will make the brand hard to access but, arguably, therefore also more premium. There are deals to be had on them and you have to remember even the base spec is terrific - my wife’s is base plus premium pack and there is very little you miss. Time will tell!

Not that it should be down, but that’s very useful to know! Thanks.

I’ve just bought a delightful new car but find I can rarely even sign into “My Lexus” or “Lexus Link”, no matter how I try (online or via app). To be frank I’ve never *not* had problems connecting since I first came over to Lexus seven years ago, but this is the worst case as I can so rarely even sign in. Is this a common problem or is it a current outage?

Ultimately I'm with @Shahporhere. People are allowed to move away from Lexus and explain why! It is true that I don't recognise many of the criticisms, partly because I just don't have the same issue (I actually find the NX supremely comfortable) and partly because some of the things stated just don't bother me (I rarely if ever get the drone and it just so happens that it doesn't bother me in the slightest). I do recognise others. The infotainment is unnecessarily complex - yes, you get used to it, but it's still an irritation because it could and should be better. I do think also that it is unfair to compare what is ultimately a model brought out in 2014 with one brought out this or last year. That's not like with like. (These things are rarely like with like anyway as the way Lexus does equipment is so different from most competitors). It is also entirely correct to point out that we are lucky to be fishing for cars in this particular pond, but I could be guilty too of apparently minor inconveniences putting me off. I really like Volvo (I had four of them before Lexus) but I find the new designs too boxy; I just find the BMW brand too brash; and I think Audis are too common (this has practical consequences, such as a much less personal service at dealers). I can't justify the price of Jaguars or Mercs, nor Land Rovers (which seem to spent half their time in the repair shop anyway). Anyone loyal to those brands might equally well be holding their hands up in horror! To be frank, if I were to go anywhere else it would probably be to Toyota, for familiarity and reliability!

It's a while ago now, but if I remember correctly I was given it by the Connected Services (now "MyLexus") website when I (re-)registered.

Sorry I've only just seen this. Have them in my wife's CT (part tahara/part cloth) and didn't in the previous. Really like them. No issues (at 20k miles).

Tbh, I wouldn't be too quick to look for a "work around". This is a safety feature and an entirely legitimate one. Cruise control of any kind is not designed for heavy rain.

Just to add another one to the "basically ignore reviews because they overstate handling" argument. The infotainment is a pain (but you do get used to it) and I do think road bumps get through the car a little more than they should. But that's it. Other than that it is quiet, it is good-looking, it is supremely comfortable, it is reliable, and it is in every sense outstanding. So if you liked it, don't hesitate!

I have exactly your car minus the pan roof. Your best bet will be to come back with specific queries (and pics!) once you have the car. If you are new to CVT hybrid, the main thing probably is the premium on smooth getaways and decelerating, and note the car only applies the actual brakes in the last 5mph (so initially it can seem like it comes to a shuddering halt, but you soon adapt so this does not happen).

Those all strike me as good points. I really like Lexus in most regards obviously, but there are a few fairly basic things (like wipe on reverse) it misses for some reason.

Yes I was, but I'm damned if I can remember how! Basically the key was to have personal hotspot turned on on my phone. That's Apple for you. Apparently this doesn't matter if you connect by Bluetooth (but I couldn't do that) so I connect by WiFi. Only issue now is I'm not getting text message read-out, but that's no biggie.

My wife's CT (2017MY) has developed a sort of airy, windy noise coming from the back right on some occasions. Is this a normal aspect of the hybrid system (it seems to come through the vents), or does it seem odd?!

Currently my dealer is reckoning on having one in the showroom just about by end year, with deliveries from start 2019.

The LS isn't really about profit per se, but indeed about being the flagship. It exists so that, from CT to RX, we can all say we drive the same brand as Harvey in Suits gets driven about in... :)

You suspect correctly!

Yes, it can be deactivated. I can't remember where in settings, but it's quite obvious (unusually so for Lexus!)