Glover

Hi all I'd definitely recommend following the Lexus handbook/information plate re tyre pressures. After all Lexus designed the car and computer modelled it, built prototypes and tested them, built pre-production vehicles and tested them in extremes of temperature, in snow, ice, and rain on different surfaces cobbles, gravel, smooth tarmac and that ultimate test for any vehicle British roads. They've tested them at high speed, harsh acceleration and braking, twisting mountain roads, fully loaded and driver only etc.. They've liaised with tyre manufacturers and designed suitable wheels. After all that they will know the optimum tyre pressures and will have allowed for the fact that tyre pressure increases as the tyre heats up. I really like Honest John but in this particular case I'd trust Lexus 100%. And the icing on the cake. Would Lexus put lives and their reputation and profits on the line by giving inaccurate information. Buy the best tyres you can afford, inflate them to the correct pressure, test the pressures regularly and with luck (because Sod's law works on all machinery!) you'll be fine.

I felt nauseous the first time I took my RX on a cross country route and thought oh no what have I done, am I going to have to take advantage of the 30 day exchange. I am the world's worst traveller, the only time I don't feel ill is driving (except for a really long overnight journey to and back from Scotland in my Golf) so feeling ill driving would be a real issue. But that was the only time and I've done the same and similar journeys since and felt great; in fact I really look forward to short or long trips in it. So it may be one of the things that other forums and people here have mentioned but hopefully like me it will be a short term problem and you'll start to get the full Lexus experience.

Quick update. Found this indie in Lincoln on a Google search http://www.toyotek.co.uk/ . Has anyone used them?

Wold be great if we had this. I've posted a question about servicing in the East Mids so far no replies re indies so I assume we haven't got any round here.

Just below the top is normal for me too. I thought something was wrong at first but reassured by the forum. I've had it totally full once a couple of weeks ago, which really surprised me! Don't know why it happened it was on a journey across rolling countryside that I've done quite a few times and never got to full before on it.

Thanks Steve. Looks like thin on the ground means two! I wonder where the people who buy from the East Mids dealers live? Or maybe they don't join the forum, which is a shame as I'm sure there's lots of useful info about Lexus support in the East Mids out there

Hi Steve Thanks. Who do you use for servicing? I've also used Lexus Birmingham for parts; excellent service and price. I'm assuming as I've only had one reply that there aren't many Lexus owners in the East Mids on the forum. Am I right with that assumption?

That's brilliant Rado; ask them if they'd like to open a franchise in the UK. I'd have eaten the cake too not all that bothered about wine but cake or chocolates will always be very welcome:-) In the early 2000s I bought a used Audi and my wife was given a large bouquet. Spent more than twice as much at Lexus and got absolutely nothing free; not even a few litres of petrol (it was almost empty). So don't hold your breath Paul! And congratulations on finding the Mk3. I also think they look better and are more practical than the Mk4; my ideal would be some of the mechanical tweaks on the Mk4 in a Mk3 shell with a centre dash with a little less style and a bit more function

Sorry to bring a negative comment to this thread but I get really concerned about people putting budget tyres on cars. If you're going to spend money on anything spend it on tyres and brakes they are the only things that will save your life. Have a look at the Which reviews and compare stopping distances between a budget and a premium. I appreciate that many of us have tight budgets but given the cost of a Lexus, insurance, road tax, fuel etc. an extra £40 or £50 every 20,000 or so miles for a premium tyre appears to be money well spent. Having said that there are some manufacturers e.g. Continental who have their own budget brands so with a bit of research you might find a gem but performance rather than price should be the main factor. Here ends my sermon; sorry in advance:-) If it's any help I found this list on PistonHeads Michelin: BF Goodrich / Kleber Bridgestone: Firestone / Dayton Continental: Uniroyal / General Tire / Semperit / Barum / Viking / Gislaved Goodyear: Fulda / Kelly / Sava / Debica / (Dunlop -in some markets) Sumitomo: Falken / (Dunlop -in some markets) Cooper: Avon

The windows open and close with remote is a customisable function so Lexus haven't cost cut; they just ship with it disabled and your dealer can enable it. With the RX450 there's a list of customisable features starting at page 619 of the Owners Manual. Some you can do yourself; others your dealer can set. My dealer reconfigured it free in a couple of minutes. A lot of manufacturers do this; Audi used to have the auto door lock function as a dealer enabled option but windows open and close on remote as a default setting; Lexus are the opposite. When I got the car I thought it strange that the function wasn't available; asked the salesman who said no it doesn't have that! Went back home spent some time looking through the manual and found it and included it in my training session for him. That's not a joke; when I was asking him about using the various controls etc. he said we can learn together. The worrying thing was that after a couple of days I knew more than him and he sold the cars!

Hi East Mids members (and South Yorks and West Mids members). Happy New Year I haven't had my RX serviced yet but just wondered who people use. I'm based in Nottingham but happy to travel a bit further afield for either Lexus dealer or independent. If anybody has any experience (good or bad) I'd love to hear. Plus if you've managed to get discounts on service or extended warranty packages I'd be very interested. I've had and read a couple of good comments re Lexus Lincoln and Birmingham and a not very good about Lexus Stoke but nothing about any of the other dealerships (Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Sheffield, Coventry)

Hi Paul. Thanks for the tips. Although I'm well trained (son of a mechanic and grandson of a ship's engineer) my days of touching the oily bits are few and far between now (generally in an emergency!) but I'll ask my independent to do that. I'll probably get the standard service done by Lexus at the moment but might revert to hybrid check and the rest by my independent after the first service. Good luck with your RX450 quest, hopefully you'll find one soon.

Thanks I'll try that; although with some of our taxi drivers an emergency stop once a week is often required!

Hi Rayaans. Adjusted the heating controls as you suggested and much better! Also looked in the manual, which I suppose I should have done in the first place! Really like the auto recirculation function; brilliant idea and great when in traffic, underground car parks etc. Still amazed at how much customisation is possible. Also switched off eco mode. I thought it was quick in eco but it's even more responsive without it and 20 miles in the city seems to have no negative impact on mpg. The experience just gets better and better so thanks for that tip too. Whilst I'm on can I pick your brains again. I've always been very light on the brakes so my car will possibly be more prone to sticking rear callipers. Is it worth putting Copper Ease on the moving parts or is it just a question of a bit of sharper braking every couple of weeks/200 miles etc.

Thanks Rayaans. I've changed the settings so will see how if warms up any quicker next time. I agree re fan settings. Even before auto air con I always left it off or at the lowest setting until there's some warmth in the system. Otherwise you just get an icy blast to go with the one outside! But with auto it looks like I don't even have to do the thinking. Brilliant!

Thanks for the additional info about Lincoln Phil. I'm only 35 mins away so it's a possibility. And I used to work in Sheffield so happy to use an independent there as it's a fairly easy journey to the South and East of the city. Pity there's nothing in Nottingham (or if there is people are keeping quiet about it:-)). Still haven't heard from anyone in the East Mids re Derby, Leicester or Nottingham so presumably nobody on the forum has used them. I think the idea of a database of indies is brilliant. I wonder if it could also include parts, tyres, valeting etc. so we have everything we need in one easily accessible location. I haven't used any independents for servicing although for my Toyota I use Wrights Garage in Kettering; they've serviced my Yaris since 2004. They were a Toyota franchise from the early years but when Toyota became mainstream their site was too small so Toyota dumped them. Great service, keen prices and very knowledgeable. Website is http://www.wrightsgaragekettering.co.uk/ If you're after tyres then Extra Grip http://extragriptyres.co.uk/ are superb. I've been using them and their predecessor company since the mid 80s. They will get any tyre you want and service, prices and advice are excellent.

I've had a pre face-lift 2012 RX450h Advance since May. This is my first Lexus and it's absolutely brilliant. I too wanted a sunroof and light interior; mine is mercury grey with ivory interior bought from Lexus Nottingham with just under 25k on the clock. I run in eco mode all the time and it goes like a train, haven't had any problems with throttle response but I suppose some of our impressions regarding acceleration, handling, ride etc. depends on what we've driven in the past. With regards to pulling away at roundabouts; I've found initial acceleration is instantaneous as the electric motor or sometimes motors kick in; definitely have no worries about it not responding. Must try sport (normal!) mode though given the comments about even better response and no impact on economy:-) In the summer I was getting 36-38mpg round town and 38-40 on a run. This has dropped to 32-33 and 36-37 since mid November (heater and seats on full blast. Incidentally is there a trick to getting a quick warm up with the heating? I've had a lot of diesels and they take ages but I thought petrol warmed up quicker and with Lexus being tested in Canada I'd have expected a very efficient heater. I don't really understand the function of the two auto buttons (one next to the recirculation button) in the heating controls.

Thanks Phil. How were both dealerships for servicing?

Thanks IS Jason. That's reassuring to know. I spoke to the parts people at Lexus Birmingham a few times and they were excellent. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the only person on the forum from the Nottingham area or the East Mids or indeed Sheffield as there never seems to be any recommendations regarding the dealerships or independents in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Sheffield or even a little bit further afield Stoke On the plus side I've heard nothing but good news about Lexus Birmingham which is only 40 miles away. If there is anyone who can help re the local area I'd love to see comments on this thread.

Speed of the hand deceives the eye! Meant to say closest non Inchcape!

Mixed in respect of Lexus Nottingham. Buying experience totally underwhelming they were only focused on selling expensive add-ons (tyre and wheel cover, accidental damage GAP etc. (which I could get for a third of the price on the internet). I asked them to include rubber mats and boot liner they said no, so I said what about at cost price. They could do that and gave me the price but when I said I didn't want the add-ons they said they couldn't do the mats at cost. So I didn't have them and looked on the internet. Got them and bumper protector from Lexus Birmingham delivered for less than their 'cost' price for rubber mats and liner! I was rushed into a handover late one evening; very rudimentary. I think they wanted to meet a end of month sales target. Went back later with a few queries and ended up training the salesman, who's since left. An example: how do you use the headlight washers? He said I don't think it's got them (RX450h). I said I think it has so he went round the front and said it's just got blanking plates! Like they'd fit blanking plates on a car costing almost £50,000 new. I explained to him that they pop up on stalks. They didn't get back to me about any queries although they said they would but when I expressed an interest in a test drive advertised on the forum they phoned me first thing next morning. It's not all bad; Zelda the original sales person I dealt with when I first started looking knows the cars inside out and is very approachable but she wasn't in when I bought it otherwise the experience might have been far better, and the reception staff are great. I've had a couple of little things needed doing e.g. setting up the windows to open and close remotely on the key. Done in a few minutes free of charge. so that's a positive experience and the car was well prepared again very positive. I think the problem is it's an Inchcape dealership. If I'd known that at the time I wouldn't have bought from them. Had another money grabbing experience with them many years ago when buying a Toyota and vowed never to use them again. As a result my Toyota has never been serviced by them (I go to an ex Toyota franchise in Kettering who are absolutely brilliant) and the only parts I've ever bought from them are a rear screen wiper blade every 2 or 3 years. Their loss; they are too focused on making as much money as possible out of the sale and don't look at the whole customer relationship. They probably make far more out of servicing than they make out of a single sale. Don't know what I'll do about servicing; I want to have it main dealer serviced but I have an aversion to Inchcape due to the buying experience. If anyone has any good experience of the Nottingham branch I might be swayed. Otherwise might try Birmingham as it's the closest non Lexus dealership to Nottingham that I'm aware of. But the car is brilliant!

And a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year from me too. And I'll also echo PCM's comments about how helpful, informed and just really nice people you are. It's a brilliant forum because of you. Geoff

Thanks Carl. Gives me a bit more confidence:-) I'll buy the hard wire kit then have a go; if I get stuck I'll speak to my friendly auto electrician! If you're a member at Costco they quite often have the Nextbase at a good price.

Thanks for the advice on the wallets.. Could have put that on my Christmas present list but might be a bit late now so it will be a present to myself! Really getting into the Christmas references now!

Brilliant Christmas present! Maybe it will take the place of Rudolph when it's delivered? If Santa switches to EV mode you'll never hear him parking it up. Sorry about the early Christmas cheer; somebody had to do it!