Ian J. Parsley

I remember reading an interview with the man who was head of Marketing for Lexus UK in 1990. He said "The type of person who was buying a Lexus then was the type of person who is buying a Tesla today..." There you go! I have sat in a Tesla and, I daresay, I am that "type of person". But I have too many Lexus models to get through first...! :)

As you'll see from a thread elsewhere, I've gone with DanD - F-Sport with premium nav. I gather you *can* order a Luxury with premium nav but in the end I wanted the auto-tailgate among other things and agreed on the looks!

I have put down an order to replace my obsidian black IS Lux at the end of its lease with an azure blue NX F-Sport (plus Premium Nav). It's something of a risk - I can't even find an image of an azure blue NX, and clearly the SUV is a somewhat bigger car. But I wanted a change while staying with the brand, so we will see! Any advance thoughts on what to expect, particularly moving from IS to NX, more than welcome!

Did you get this sorted? You can always simply set up a new account, in worst case scenario?

I am glad you like the car. I have currently agreed terms on an NX F-Sport (but am having to wait to cover some aspects financially). I have a little more sympathy for your conundrum than one or two others. Firstly, I don't like the basic nav (in my wife's CT for example), although I do not quite find it the disaster you do; secondly, the sales staff do try to push the Sport model (you'd have to ask someone in the trade why). That said, even the most basic research would have sorted this. Actually, I went at it the other way around, and said there was a particular colour combination I wanted with the premium sat-nav. Whether or not that is theoretically available on the online configurator became their problem, not mine! As has been noted above, you can improve the experience. Change the settings and, in particular, opt for "Quick". Also, you may not have found the "Option" button at the top which gives you the last five towns - you may find that useful. Enjoy!

I wouldn't worry about space. You can also sneak things in via the back door if it comes to it! I'd say it'd suit your needs ok.

I think the general tyre warning is useful. I had it come on once, consistently over a day, and couldn't see any problem with any tyre - but when I took it to a dealer, they found a nail in one! So I wouldn't knock it too quickly!

Not an NX owner, but full marks for chiding the "reviewers" who can't operate a basic control system! Enjoyed that bit in particular!

In your shoes, I would make an offer to buy the car on condition that sensors are added for no extra charge. It shouldn't be a problem.

It looks good to me and the battery/wear isn't something I would particularly worry about. One thing is, if I were buying with such high miles, I would want a much better spec (because you don't really pay any extra for the spec).

I'm in Northern Ireland and yes, that dealer service does seem poorer. Certainly always a car clean for me, even if just getting a software update or a puncture repair (both of which are free, btw). I love the car but the dealer service is a big thing for me. If it were much inferior, I'd certainly think about drifting.

My father-in-law has a Jaguar XF Sportbrake (I don't know the precise trim). I like the styling and it has some nice touches, but I'm unconvinced, frankly! I do wonder if the IS is the right comparator, however. Is a GS300h an option?

Back on topic... I hope that is brushed metal around the centre. My only complaint with the current interior is not enough attention was paid to that section, which looks like it is taken straight from an '80s casio stereo. I still think there are too many buttons, although I think I spy a clear "FRONT" on the demister button, which seems very minor but for me is quite significant - I often hit the wrong one (whereas I don't in the CT, which has them clearly marked). So, a useful step forward, seemingly.

Sorry for drifting off topic - re colour/trim combinations. Common colours/trims will usually already be available on the ship or even in Portsmouth (where they enter the UK). Less common ones are built to order and take months. My wife recently ordered a CT at the end of January and was told it would be May. When she switched to silver, however, they said one was already in Portsmouth and she had it ten days later. Just to demonstrate that one!

My guess - and it's only that - is that purely financially the Mercedes will work out better. But it'll also be noisier and less comfortable. So, in your shoes, I'd go with the Lexus.

Early 3rd generation IS only had white in F-sport trim (in other words the combination of white with Lux trim was impossible). So, this is a scam.

To play devil's advocate, I'm not sure the future is plug-in. I think the future is energy storage, and thus vastly improved batteries in what are, effectively, hybrid cars. The result will be in due course that "petrol stations" are not replaced by "electric stations", but rather by nothing at all. Just a thought...

I have both a 2013 IS300h Lux and a 2016 CT200h Adv in the household. As I've written elsewhere, I like them both. It's not unknown for me to choose to take the CT on a short journey over the IS, although frankly that's partly because it's often parked nearer the door! In the CT, I prefer parts of the central interior layout; and there are some subtleties I prefer such as the location of the cup holders (and I like some really nerdy things like the fact you can press the mirror fold button after you park the car and they reopen automatically when you restart it - doesn't happen on my 2013 IS). In the IS, I prefer parts of the layout, the drive, the comfort levels marginally, and the reverse camera which comes with the Lux trim. There are other subtleties I like such as the analogue clock (and I prefer a button for the auto wipers). They're both good, but I doubt you'd regret the change.

I can get split screen on the 2016 CT Basic Nav. What you can't do is have the screen half Nav, half something else.

My wife's, delivery 11/2/16, is running at 46.2mpg. She does mainly short journeys but there is a some motorway in there, notably at weekends. My own recommendation is to stick with NORMAL, except when specifically stop-starting in traffic (only use ECO then). My sense is that the strain of acceleration in regular driving in ECO actually costs you mpg. I find the same, out of interest, with my IS300h. By the way, your mpg will pick up in the summer. My IS typically averages 45mpg in winter but hits 50mpg in summer. You'll also find it slightly increases with time - I'm actually sitting at an unusually high 54mpg this month, so Spring is serving me well!

Very boring, I'm afraid... 1977 Ford Escort 1.2 [my grandfather's!] 1994 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 LS 1998 Volvo S40 2.0 CD 2001 Volvo S60 2.4T SE 2004 Volvo S60 D5 SE 2008 Volvo S80 2.4D Sport 2013 Lexus IS300h Lux

Just since it was touched on again there - I'm lucky enough to have both a 2016 CT200h and a 2013 IS300h in the household. I genuinely like them both. I would not assume one is "better" than the other - it depends what you are looking for. The one thing I would say is that, of course, the IS is by far the superior driver's car, as it is RWD.

Good to hear! I'm not familiar with the new specifications but I'm sure you'll not regret that choice.

I now have both a 2013 IS300h Lux with Premium Nav and a 2016 CT200h Adv with Regular Nav in the household. Obviously I'm now getting familiar with the CT having long had an IS rather than the other way around, and the Premium versus Regular Nav is a significant difference, but anyway... It's all a matter of opinion, but a few things I prefer about the CT: - the interior buttons (greater differentiation between rear demister and AC button, for example); - the cup holders (further forward, so better at least for driver/front passenger); - side mirrors (you can flick them to come back out when you turn the car on - you can't on the IS); and - basic Nav (I marginally prefer the look). I have to say I find the ride excellent - I suspect it has been greatly improved at time of facelift. A few things I prefer about the IS: - the drive (rear wheel of course); - the interior styling (no plastics here thanks, and the analogue clock is classy); - back storage (this is very limited for rear passengers in the CT); - boot (not just bigger, but you don't hear the contents while in the front!); - Premium features of the Nav (I do use the Connected Services and am not afraid to admit I miss the reverse camera innthenCT too); - exterior styling (CT looks like pretty much any other hatchback; the IS is outstanding - for me, anyway). They are different cars but I have to say they both do everything well that Lexus does well. I very much like them both.

It'll be in Setup somewhere - I'd guess Setup > Car > Door Lock. But actually, as mentioned above, simply pressing <P> to put the car in "park" opens the doors anyway.