LexusLex

And people call the IS250 slow Oh well, at least they have the 200t. Does the NX have actual leather or is it nuluxe? and I dont like the fixed nav screen. Its enough to put me off the car as itll annoy me every day! Wish it would go in like Audi's. I dont like the centre stack either because there's too much space around the CD slot. thats probably the only complaints I have to be honest!

Yes it's real leather. The rest? Personal preference!

Indeed - the 9 speed box version lowers the co2... Two points on this:

The 9 speed auto turbo petrol is only available in the "Dynamic Lux" spec... Price? £46,210 - before you add anything extra. If someone wants to spend up to (and maybe over) £10k more to save one or two tax bands- fair enough.

Secondly, have you driven the 9 speed box? Terrible. It can't make it's mind up. I have no idea why a car with a 2 litre engine needs a 9 speed box.

Dealers will sometimes have cars that, for one reason or another, they have a behind-the-scenes urgency to register to qualify for better deals or other offers.

I don't see anything wrong in a sales person saying "I know you were after "A", but would you be interested in "B" if the deal was great"... Thats basic sales - and often the customer appreciates it and does indeed get a better deal.

The fact is though, if the customer says "no" and wants to pursuit the original idea - that should be respected and taken seriously. Unfortunately not everyone listens as well as they talk!

199g/km? Thats the same as the IS250, are you having a laugh? And OK, so what you are saying is, that the NX300h is slow? Correct me if I am wrong.

I'm not having a laugh, simply telling you the facts! Equivalent 2.0l Turbo engines:

Audi Q5 = 184g/km... BMW X3 = 175g/km... Range Rover Evoque = 199g/km

So its on the higher side of the equivalent cars - but it is a performance orientated version, after all.

I think the official 0-100km time for the 300h is 9.9 seconds... Ultimately figures are on paper and how the car feels is what matters to me. It didn't feel (at all) slow - the fact is it isn't slow. Any car that size under the 10 second barrier isn't slow... It also isn't fast!

For what its worth, it accelerated very easily which is probably in part to the lack of a standard gear change from the CVT. The electric part of the hybrid system also helped it feel very nippy at low speeds.

If this car doesn't sell in great volumes Lexus might as well give up - I really mean that. Against some very good competition this thing was a match for the best, and then some. The 360 camera was absolutely outstanding and has to be seen to be appreciated. The car also comes with a newer version of the radar cruise control as standard on all models (ACC/PCS) which again is a fantastic piece of kit.

PS - For the earlier questions about build quality / standard inside. Absolutely top notch - I can promise nobody will be disappointed here. The entire dash is lined in leather and the car oozes luxury.

My wife and i visited Lexus Stoke on Sunday after my wife had had to complain to the sales manager Gareth that no one had returned my calls about a test drive of an IS300h Luxury. Well we arrived on time but Gareth didn't, he came 25 mins late and never even spoke to us. We saw Jean Luc and he let us have a test drive of the IS300.

Great so far, we liked it and wanted a Mesa Red with Black interior just like we have now.

No Jen Luc had a white one and wanted to know why we didn't want to buy it. My wife said she didn't like White and we would prefer Red, quite simple we thought.

Oh no he went on and on about the White car and couldn't understand why we didn't want to buy. He asked us several times what he had to do to make us drive it away there and then. I said "paint it Red"!

He worked out the trade in on our then he took money of for things like allloy dents and paint chips, I might as well have given it away.

We had had enough and wanted to go but he insisted on taking us to see the White IS and still badgered us about buying it.

This is totally unacceptable behaviour from a Lexus employee.

PS

We went back to Lexus Wolverhampton Monday, were greeted by the sales manager and his staff and were shown 3 cars he had as part of the free Satnav deal. There was no pressure or intimidation. Sorry no Reds until September so we ordered a Sonic Titanium which is not far off the Platinum Ice we had on our first IS200. The trade-in offer was much more than that from Stoke and nothing was taken off for the condition of our vehicle.

Perhaps Jean Luc should visit Wolverhampton and see how customers should be treated.

Disappointing to read about your story, Wallace.

As it turns out - you didn't even buy the Mesa Red after all, which leaves me baffled as to why you were only offered the white. Yes - Lexus Stoke may have a white one they want to get rid of due to age or other factors, but if money can't help the colour i'm baffled as to why they didn't at least explore other options than simply white if a Mesa Red won't arrive till September. Their loss it appears!

Trade in price should never be massively different between dealers, as they all work from the same guides. However, one thing I would say is it always amazed me (back in the days when I sold cars) how people were almost insulted that a scuff, alloy curb or dent etc would affect the value of their car. For example - the Lexus Approved Used programme dictates that all cars should be prepared to a high standard. A customer simply won't accept a car with 4 curbed wheels, a dent or scuff or any other major marks beyond "fair wear & tear"... if there are marks on used cars, the dealers are the first ones to be told "I won't buy that unless its paited / repaired", so why should a dealer ignore damage to a car when valuing it?

From my point of view, it is simple logic. A curbed wheel refurbished to Lexus standards is not cheap. Neither is other bodywork generally - so if I were to visit a dealer with a car that required some work to bring it up to Dealer standards (which, lets face it, nearly all cars do), I'd find it pretty normal that they take off an amount to allow for the refurbishment.

In the end - you got a car you are happy with and service to match, which is all that matters. The IS300h is a fantastic car, i'm certain you'll enjoy it.

we will see if it is a strategy that works for them. Non hybrids have been an issue for Lexus since the RX350 and poor sales killed that off and the GS250.

With BMW they make extra margin based on somebody willing to pay extra for more performance, their base cost is essentially the same. Lexus have quite a lot of extra cost with the hybrid so they are either accepting a low margin on the NX300h or are making excessive margins on the NX200t and have room to lower the cost if things don't work out so well.

In terms of "Lexus" as in - Lexus the global company, who knows what they'll make behind the scenes. As far as the dealers are concerned - the margin structure and percentage will be exactly the same whether it be a 200t or 300h. They work off a set percentage which, despite what some may think - is lower than you'd expect! The hybrid will undoubtably be the "volume" seller, whereas the 200t will be a great option for those interested in more performance. The fact the 200t will only be offered in the F-Sport variant I think shows they don't expect to sell great volumes, but having now driven both versions of the car - I can confirm they're a fantastic option for anyone Vs the key rivals.

The 200t is ultra refined and shifts well - the 300h is what you'd expect from a hybrid and should deliver on the economy front. Emissions on the 200t should come in around 199g/km.

Hello and welcome.

I'm a bit suspicious .. ....

But I'll give if a go.

Argento

Nothing to be suspicious about! :) I won't be able to help with all questions / answers - I don't know everything! But I will certainly try to help where I can.

The LS400 is a fantastic car - built to challenge the best in the world! It still has a strong following these days and I regularly see examples going strong even now, which is a testament to the car. At the time of its release it really shook up its German counterparts. Whether its the "best" or not... all down to personal opinion

Thanks for the quick response.

My 1996 car is P35TFE and my 1997 one is R729EUF. Both cars have the same grey interior.

Cheers

Colin

Hi Colin - have been away for a few days, but here is the information you need:

P35TFE is colour code 199 exterior which is "Lucerne/Silver". Interior code is LE13 which is "Winchester (Bluish/Grey)" - thats the official wording.

R729EUF is colour code 6N9 which is "Regent Green", with interior code LE61 which is "Lincoln (Agate)".

It would appear they actually have slightly different colour interiors, at least according to the official Lexus systems!

The 200t will be available in March 2015 in ONLY the F Sport variant. Im expecting pricing to be close to £40k as its the performance model in the lineup.

As for performance figures - i reckon 7.3s for the 200t and 9.3s for the 300h.

The 200t will be £1500 more than the Hybrid version i've been told. 0-60 times I think you're pretty much on the money...

£40k it is then. £37k for the hybrid F Sport + £1500 + £1000 or £2000 for nav and £600+ for paint.

I doubt many would be sold without at least the basic nav option.

I have a feeling that some of the interior materials won't be what you would expect on a £40k car, as with the IS300h, but hopefully I'm wrong.

I'll let you know - as i'll be seeing & driving the NX this week (both the 300h and the 200t version).

Personally I think the IS is a well put together car - especially when you compare it directly to its rivals. All down to opinion, but I couldn't accuse it of feeling cheap.

I have a question for you....... Would a 2011 LS600 front grille fit onto a 2009 LS600

As far as i'm aware it wouldn't as there were a few other tweaks to the front end besides the grille - admittedly this area isn't my forte so I will have to check and come back to you.

Hi, and welcome to the Forum.

Can I ask you if the grey leather in Mk 3 LS400s is called Westminster Grey? I want to order some leather restoration dye to do the section where the seatbelt tends to wear the colour away on the driver's seat and it would be helpful to know what the official name for the colour is.

Thanks.

Colin

Hi Colin - do you have the registration number of the car? If you can provide this I will be able to let you know the official name for the interior trim.

Many thanks.

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

Could you correct some of the prices Lexus charge for parts like LS400 Upper Control Arms at £521.00 :)

I wish!! :)

The 200t will be available in March 2015 in ONLY the F Sport variant. Im expecting pricing to be close to £40k as its the performance model in the lineup.

As for performance figures - i reckon 7.3s for the 200t and 9.3s for the 300h.

The 200t will be £1500 more than the Hybrid version i've been told. 0-60 times I think you're pretty much on the money...

Hello everyone,

Thought i'd introduce myself. I work for a Lexus dealer, but won't bother going into too much detail for the sake of keeping it simple.

I'll do my best to help anyone on here with any questions or issues when possible. I hope you don't mind - but i'll also try to correct anything I see that is blatantly wrong!! In a friendly way, of course

I look forward to discussing all things Lexus with you...

All the best.

I don't see the point of these vehicles. The Beemer x3, x5 and x6, Audi Q5, Q7, and now Lexus are entering the "I don't know if I'm a 4x4 or saloon car market"

It's like car manufacturers invented a gap in the market that wasn't there.

What is the advantage of a car that rides as high as a 4x4 yet isn't a 4x4?

all it's gonna do is ensure it'll kill that kid at 30mph whereas if hit by a saloon car the kid would go up on the bonnet and fall off (this happened to me when I was 11) if one of these cross breed cars had hit me it would've just smashed my skull to pieces!

So please somebody explain to me how this car is advantageous over the new IS or GS or any other family sized saloon car.

Or if you want a 4x4 buy a landy or range rover.

Just my opinion guys :)

Intertesting comment, Chris. Lexus entering a car into a gap that doesn't exist? Funnily enough, that segment of the market is growing quicker than any other area at the moment and has seen a 1000% increase in the last 3 years alone.

Advantages over IS / GS = more space, more practical, not too big to be intimidating or hard to park, efficient engines, low running costs Vs rivals... the list goes on.

The F-Sport 200t will be roughly £37-38k in standard form. If you want it with the full nav system, metallic paint etc - you might touch £40k. 0-60 will be in the low 7's,

0-60 for the 300h will be low 9's.

Hope this helps - the car will surely be a great seller for Lexus - which will help them appeal to a band of customers they previously couldn't. Also offers Rav4 customers wanting to make the step up into the Premium segment a genuine option that keeps them with the Toyota/Lexus brand.