SH20

Maybe Muneendra a call ahead of the collection day to ask if the car is in a special hand over area, thinking that if it is raining and it's outside it would make it difficult for you to have a really close look at the paintwork for any marks, blemishes etc. I hope you come back and say it was in a special viewing room fully enclosed to guarantee all was well with the car. I moaned and moaned about Lexus Cambridge and my experience when I collected my used car from them. Left out in the rain over night, boxed in by about 10 cars, discovered some minor bumper damage and the driver's seat was absolutely filthy blah blah blah. Made no difference when I wrote to Steve Eagell who just ignored my written complaint. Good Luck though, I hope it all goes well on the day.

Doesn't the F Sport ES come with Taraha Trim. My understanding is that leather is not an option on the F Sport, just the synthetic leather regardless of the colour.

Told by dealer the bootliner should arrive 14th Sept. 2 weeks turn around it would seem.

Headlining colours are limited to 3 , dark grey/black, tan or off white whether it's a Premium Edition or Premium Pack model. As LessSux says either model comes with dark grey/black if Forest Brown is chosen.

Be interested to know Whiskey33 how the hand over went and more importantly where on the premises the hand over took place. Cambridge Lexus have their Toyota dealer next door and the car park was rammed when I was there collecting a pre owned ES back in July. Other Lexus dealers I have used have a designated covered hand over area to offset any weather issues on the day so previous collections enabled me to inspect the new car in a dry dry space even if it was lashing outside. I don't recall seeing any under cover facility for a hand over at Cambridge but maybe there is and pre owned car collection get a second rate hand over like mine. Was your car in the car park when it was handed over?

This problem is a known issue for several problems such as wind noise, knocking/thumping and water leaks. It is after a seal. While it will look ok the variation of temperature from very cold to very hot over time allows the composite material to flex and contract without actually looking as if it changes from one day to the next. It is the culprit for knocking that occurs as the car bounces over bumps in the road allowing the glass panel to bounce up and down just enough to make a thump. It is also know to leak rainwater into the aperture but because the drain hole system is very good the water gets away easily so no fear of it getting into the headlining. The bellows each side of the open sunroof are easily unclipped exposing the splined bolts that hold the glass in place. These bolts allow for fine adjustment for up and down movement in each corner to ensure the glass fits flush with the roof panel, not too low or high. The seal can be removed easily with the glass panel removed and a replacement seal has a green dot in each corner to guide you where the corners of the seal must be when refitting the seal. It should not be stretched otherwise you will move the green dot out of it's correct corner position. Not a time consuming job and should come under the car's warranty if you are hearing wind noise, thumping or know water is getting past the seal but with the side bellows in place this would be hard to identify initially. However any water stains to the heading around the aperture will be an obvious indicator.

The space saver spare differs between brands but only in the height of the tyre wall. My Toyota CHR had no spare from ordering it so I bought the official Toyota 18 inch space saver which transferred to my current ES without issue. Same 5 hole spacing and the diameter of the black steel rim was identical to a previous space saver I had, on a Lexus GS450h. The difference between the tyre wall height is what you want to get right in order to get near the rolling diameter of your normal road wheels.

I was told once by a Lexus Carlisle that Lexus were obsessive about customer feedback and full a audit would be carried out if a dealer dropped below 9.5 out of 10. Pity then that they pay no attention to a long standing forum like this one which covers all their product range and when dealers are quoted by members for not giving a damn they seem to turn a blind eye. I doubt that they don't read forum members opinions. Having said that it's been a while since Lexus sent out a customer service feedback survey after any dealings with a dealer. Don't they bother anymore? Bear in mind Lexus removed their Customer Relations contact address relying on the Toyota version of Customer Relations but letting them know of my dealings with one of their Lexus Ambassadors (Cambridge) resulted in an automated e mail response and then no follow up. No doubt Covid and the war in Ukraine are to blame for Companies failing their customer base. There are dealerships that take care of their customers welfare in all areas of service for sure, I experience this at Lexus Hull whose approach is so helpful the moment you walk in the door and who always smile and within 60 seconds are offering you a coffee and biscuits while you sit in reception awaiting the person you want to discuss something with. They follow up on quotes they undertake when doing health checks, e.g. after one visit to Hull for a software recall they noticed the scuffing to the front lower lip of my front bar caused by the previous owner. They asked if I wanted a smart repair quote so out of interest I said yes. They printed it out and I took it away. I did the repair myself which I intended to do from the start but a few days later got a call asking if the quote they gave me was something I wanted to take up. Very polite and genuine enquiry on their part, no hard sell and were just fine when I said I was doing it myself. At least this dealer thought about it, I know it was an opportunity to sell a service, but they didn't forget about it.

Periodically use a clay bar to lift all fine debris off the top coat that no polish or wax will remove. Even ceramic coatings are not immune to fall out and benefit from a clay bar periodically. You can feel micro fine debris with the palm of your hand even after polish and/or wax have been used. No professional detailer polishes a car by hand or machine without first using a bar.

Can you take a photo of the display where you are stuck/greyed out, can't picture which area you are in.

Although I have hazel coloured leather against the Mesa Red exterior colour I have never understood why Lexus didn't produce a tan coloured trim that was more Tan like in colour, the way Saddle or New Market Tan is generally recognised as a pure tan colour in motoring circles. Purists might say it's Lexus's own colour but can't help thinking they wanted to create a full bodied tan finish but somehow didn't quite get it right. In the US it's called Palamino, aren't they horses?.

I owned two different steering wheel bars which relied on a key/tumbler arrangement to lock it. The steel which they were made from was extremely thick and too thick to cut through them. Both were thrown on to the back seat after both lock barrels were picked/damaged to unlock the device. It's the weakest link in all steering wheel security bars and thieves know it.

It must be new car orders where Lexus Cambridge treat you right. Not my experience when buying a pre owned Lexus from Lexus Cambridge. The worst experience ever compared to Lexus Carlisle and Leeds who do treat customers like they are worth something to their business. Mr Steven Eagell couldn't be bothered answering my written concerns about my experience on the day I collected the car and totally ignored my correspondence. I imagine his waste paper bin is full.

No loss of any settings since recall done.

My local dealer confirmed genuine Lexus ES boot liners which went obsolete for a period of time due to supplier issues are now listed again. They were removed form the accessory listings but are back on the accessory options list. The only thing that stands in the way of my dealer confirming a delivery date is down to the supplier who is now making them. I bought a cheaper, non genuine liner made of very hard plastic which was the right shape etc but everything slides around on it. My dealer has ordered the latest genuine liner which costs £77 incl vat. I'll just wait and see when it might arrive.

It's been over a week since I wrote to Mr Eagell via his PA whose e mail address was supplied to me after a friend had cause to write to Mr Eagell himself. Suffice to say not even an email to even acknowledge my complaint about their sales department at Cambridge. Same old story once they have your money you're on your own. Lexus Carlisle for me is still the benchmark for customer service and sales. Bought 2 cars there and had both serviced there even though I lived 130 miles away. It's a pity Lexus Cambridge staff can't be made to spend a week there so they see how it's done.

There have been a lot of comments about space savers or lack of them but Audi have developed a space saver for their large SUV type hybrid cars which has a conventional space saver steel wheel rim with a collapsible tyre. It inflates like a conventional tyre and expands to twice it's size so the tyre wall depth doubles in height and when you have used it you let the air out and the tyre shrinks back to the original size which then fits back under the dummy floor. A full size space saver for this Audi would not fit under the dummy floor but the shrinkable tyre makes it possible to have one. The video is on YouTube

Colour scheme Kevin?

Good advice Phil, unlikely the car will let me down but the boy racers out there driving Audi's scare the bejeezus out of me.

So today Lexus Operations (AA) sent me an email with sufficient information to suggest the problem is fixed. An AA screen shot of my correct reg number, correct chassis number, correct registration date, correct vehicle and model, correct colour and correct AA policy end date. The screen shot was accompanied by a statement saying all I have to quote is my reg number and no need to quote the chassis number. At last I thought Lexus Operations got a grip of this and although there still was no sign of the complimentary 12 months cover the dealer said would apply the screen shot I received stated very clearly the correct policy end date of 18.3.25 to tie up with the vehicle registration date of 18.3.22. Let's check I thought so rang General Enquiries and they asked for my reg number. Yes we have a ES300h in red, my name and address. Steady now I thought as I asked for the policy end date. Yes we have a policy end date of 7.1.25 !!!!!!!!! They saw what I expected them to see, the details of the car I owned between 7.122 and June 2022. Data still corrupted. I have decided to draw a line under this and just live with the fact I will receive assistance up to 7.1.25 for certain, the wrong car of course but what the hell.

Technically if I ring for Assistance and start with my reg number and they take me through security, name, address, post code etc the ES300 I took delivery of on the 7.1.22 will come up as it's identical, even the colour is the same as the car I have now. If they wanted my chassis number however, highly unlikely then it would fall down because my current car's chassis number wouldn't match the ES registered 7.1.2022. So I'm guessing I would be OK till 7.1.25 whereas my current car's original policy would have an end date 18.3.25 having been registered new 18.3.2022. I also think the person who now drives the ES I no longer own on a conventional age related number plate or his/her own private plate will have no idea his/her car's assistance policy is still tied to me. There can't be two policies for the same car as the chassis number forms part of the dealer's information they use to pass to Lexus Operations who now have responsibility to set policies up. Dealers no longer set policies up, they just pass the info to Lexus Operations (AA) so you can see why policies get so messed up, as Mincey says.

Thanks Phil, the cr@lexus.co.uk is an address I have used in the past and resulted in direct dialogue with customer services based staff, always helpful. That route no longer exists so the cr@Toyota.co.uk is the only route into the higher levels of the Toyota Group. You can still not access any details of who the CEO is of Toyota UK the parent company of Lexus UK so I can only hope someone decides to get involved with my issue. I know exactly why I am in this position. It's because initial contact with Lexus Roadside Assist starts with a Reg number. If you have had other Lexus cars over the years with the same private plate the system can and does pick up on different cars. Only this week a conversation which started with my Reg number immediately picked up my Toyota CHR owned between Aug 2022 and July 2023 and that's because the Roadside Assist looks after all Toyota Roadside Assist policyholders. This is corrupted data in my case. Another conversation 24 hours earlier immediately picked up the last ES300h I owned between Jan 2022 and June 2022 and was in my name and my address but was clearly a car I don't own any longer. I have had direct dialogue too with Lexus Operations (AA) who no longer answer me when I ask for updates. They originally said a data stream conflict was identified but a solution? No there has been no remedy to date. None of this nonsense ever occurred when hard copy documentation was issued, Covering letter, hard copy booklet, small credit card sized membership card with an account number, registration number, phone numbers and expiry date etc. The dealer the car was purchased from have washed their hands of it, they too ignore any requests for updates. So I wrote to Steven Eagell of the Steven Eagell Group via his PA who I hope will put this issue under his nose but not holding my breath. £32,000 for a car not showing on the Assistance system. Top Tip : ring up Lexus Roadside Assist General Enquiries and make sure your car matches what you know about your car including the VIN Private plate owners be wary.

I had to write to CustomerRelations@Toyota.co.uk which is the only route to get to address a complaint. Lexus closed down their CustomerRelations@Lexus.co.uk for reasons known only to them. I tried that first but the email wouldn't send. I have no option but to battle on and get this car of mine recognised on the AA's system. No amount of pleading with a call centre operator telling him/her my car is within the 3 years standard assist cover will help me. If it's not in the database you don't exist.

Moreover you have the situation whereby a vehicle goes off road, crashes, driver triggers the assist button in the headlining for those cars that are equipped and assistance is activated. Equally if the driver is incapacitated and the vehicle doesn't move or there is no request for help the assistance is auto triggered. Someone on a lonely country road at 1am in the morning who drives off the road and rings for assistance would be assisted for sure. No Recovery Company would be able to stand the backlash if it turned out assistance was refused because there was no other vehicle involved and the owner was left to make the best of it.

No, anything that renders a Lexus or Toyota from moving under it's own power can have roadside assist. I admit if the Police attend first they will often initiate a recovery truck.