bernieeccles

Well, the whole point of having a 24hr test drive was to enable me to see if I can adapt to the E CVT gearbox and Hybrid drivetrain. I suspect I will like it but a quick spin around the block as was originally offered is just no use to me at all. I'll give it another week and see what happens. I'm in no rush, it is a buyers market !

Well, as per my other thread, despite filling out the Lexus GB 24 hour test drive request to 2 different dealers and having had initial contact via email and telephone, the result so far has been zero. Do Lexus salesmen ever read replies to their emails ? it would appear not. Amazing Lexus ?? Not on this occasion.

Has anybody successfully managed to have one of these ? I ask because despite initial contact at two of the dealers nearest me, I have yet to have anything offered. Spoke to one on the phone and the other one, I replied to their email sent to me by their sales guy. Since then nothing. I expected better from "Amazing" Lexus.

I was never asked who was driving.

If your talking about protected NCB, then you are wasting your money. If you have a claim, then OK your NCB might stay intact BUT, the scummy insurance company will just put up your base premium instead, at your next renewal. Many years ago, my Toyota HiAce van was insured comprehensively for just under £200 per annum with full protected NCB. My wife, one day, drove off the end of our drive and did a sharp left turn on to the road. Just to the left of our drive entrance is a BT telephone pole, wood and creosote. She came back home and parked up, then next day I noticed that the side sliding door was stoved in. I could not understand how it happened, because I knew I hadn't done it. Witness marks on the door and a smudge of creosote and I put two and two together. She had turned a bit sharpish and not being used to driving a van had bashed the door on the post. Claimed on the insurance for a new door, which cost about £780 from memory. Next renewal came and the quote was now just over £1000. Asking the insurance company why the increase was so much, I was told it was because I had made a claim. It wasn't just a case of charging me a bit more but in effect charging me for the cost of my new door. So basically, the protected NCB was worthless. Of course I told them to stuff it and looked elsewhere and being honest, of course told them about my previous claim. The cheapest I could now get TPFT was about £600. That then took a few years to drop back down to a reasonable amount for an old van. I now never take the option of protecting my NCB, because what am I going to save ? In fact I have come to the conclusion, that the only time to claim on my insurance for any vehicle is if it was written off. If I had a bit of a bump and no one else was involved, I would certainly not claim and as for then telling my insurance company, well have a guess ! In addition, I am sure that everybody has heard of some one making a legitimate claim for a written off vehicle, or motorcycle, only to be offered a derisory amount, forgetting that the whole reason of insurance is to put the insured back into the position he was, before the clai., The insurance scumbags also do everything they can to either not pay at all or pay less that they should.

I suspect that people are wary of telling their insurance company about an accident that was not their fault and did not involve a claim on their own insurance because they know that the scumbag insurance companies will use that as an excuse to increase premiums come renewal time. The old " statistics prove " phrase will be trotted out. I take it that you do or did have connections with insurance companies ?

If that were true, then a Ferrari would cost the same, insurance wise, as a Fiat 500, wouldn't it ?

Well, I have just spoken to Lexus Bradford and they explained that this is a Lexus GB thing, so filled in my details via the link and lo and behold, up comes my nearest dealer which is Bradford ! Hopefully then, a 24 hr test of the IS300h may be offered through Lexus GB.

Contained near top of the list of threads is this message. Exclusive To Club Members! Test Drive Any Lexus for 24Hrs - Book Your Spot! Is this a current thing or something that was ? Maybe I should fill it in and they can contact Bradford Lexus again !

I suppose that we should just accept that "it works" but I've always been the type of person that loves to pull things apart to see how they work. I always have in mind, that if something (like the clutches in DSG type boxes) can wear out they will and will have the associated cost of replacement. Of course for lots of people who move their cars on every few years, that won't matter, but for those who tend to keep cars for longer, it is always something to consider. So, just to recap on the IS300h, no friction clutch to wear out, aside from the damper which does look like a clutch plate. All in all, very clever stuff !

How does it do that ?

I think I've got it, so I assume when the car comes to a stop on a hill, the electric motor must have to spin to hold the weight of the car from rolling backwards, a bit like holding a manual transmission car on the clutch. Or in that situation, does the IC engine always fire up ?

Thanks for those replies and the videos, they explain it quite well, but I have a question. If the Hybrid battery was not functioning, say the isolating plug was out, could the IC engine actually drive the car from a standing start with a smooth pull away or is that the function of the motor/generator so having no power, the car would not move ?

Right, I know that the E CVT is a planetary gear system as opposed to the belt and cone type but one thing I cannot find the answer to is this. How does the engine take up the drive from a standstill ? A manual transmission has a clutch which will slip to provide a smooth take up of engine power. A conventional auto has a fluid coupling i.e. a torque converter. What does the Lexus E CVT have ?

The trouble is and it's probably my fault for being "picky", they don't have the model spec I want. But I suppose that is a secondary issue. I just cannot see the point in a half hour run and start talking figures based on that. A complete waste of time IMO. There are enough opinions both positive and negative, some based on short and some long periods of time, for me to assume that the Hybrid may or maynot be for me., so what is the point of going through the charade of discussing figures beforehand. To my way of thinking, I take a car for 24 hrs, pay the insurance if necessary. Me and the wife go for a good drive up to the Dales, head West and stopover somewhere, say Lancaster, then come back on the motorway and other roads.That way I know for sure what, for example, the consumption is like, I get to know the various features the car has to offer (Premier spec). We get to know how the car handles and rides, how quiet it is etc etc. This car would be a private purchase and I tend to keep my cars for many years. The car I have now was one year old when I bought it and is now 13 years old and still on very good and reliable condition. No way, am I going to waste my time and the sales guys time if I don't like the way the car drives. I guess at some point Lexus GB may again offer 24hr test drives whereas now teat drives are up to the dealer. This is the sort of spec I would like, including a sunroof, but this car is in Poole so a bit far away. http://www.westovergroup.co.uk/lexus/used-cars/7588641-lexus-is-2.5-premier/

How do I prove that I am a serious buyer ? Do they want to see a statement of my bank balance and investments and the value of my (paid for ) house ? I filled in my details on the Lexus GB website and they presumably sent them to Lexus Bradford, who then got in contact with me by phone.

Strange then that Lexus Bradford are part of the same group I believe, RRG group. 2 branches of the same group and different attitudes to test drives.

This was Lexus at Bradford.

I am interested in buying a used approved IS300H. Now, having read lots on here and elsewhere, I want to experience for myself everything the 300H has to offer and see if the Hybrid and E-CVT suits me. I believed that Lexus would offer a 24 hour test drive but no, my local dealer wants me to have an accompanied drive which no doubt is at most a half hour run around the block. Then, back to the showroom to discuss if I like the car and how would I finance it etc etc. I explained to the sales guy that this was no good to me as a quick run round tells me nothing at all. How can you commit to spending a sizeable amount of money on a car you intend to keep for many years based on that. After a word with his sales manager, apparently a long test drive is not possible even though I offered to pay the insurance. I thought Lexus as they put it "Try Harder " Not in this case.

It always amazed me that, despite the car insurance companies bleating on, year after year, that they are making losses, they continue to spend millions on TV adverts and in the past and now, adverts in Yellow Pages. I remember in Yellow Pages' heyday, counting the number of pages that contained adverts for car insurance. There were literally about 60 in my local edition, all competing for your/my business. Now with the advent of the comparison websites, we see it as well. Why ? If they are making losses year after year, you would think they would through in the towel and give up. Of course a bit of crafty accounting can show whatever you want in the big corporate world. Just look up the nett worth of that Woods guy, the one who started the online insurance game. Last time I looked, which was many years ago, he was worth half a billion pounds. Losses ? don't make me laugh ! Have a look here. http://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/breaking-news/20-insurance-bigwigs-on-2017-uk-rich-list-66956.aspx

I have read in the past of people who have had their parked empty car damaged by another motorist. Said motorist being the honest sort, admits to the damage and his insurance foots the bill. The driver of the parked car, also being the law abiding type, informs his insurance company of the facts but emphasises that he is not making a claim. When he gets his renewal, the premium has gone up more than usual as his insurance company tells him because he has been involved in an accident, he is statistically more likely to have another accident. How does that work !

2009 or later SE L. Pearlescent white, sunroof and adaptive cruise like yours, less than 40000 miles, full Lexus service history, no damage to bodywork or wheels, one owner from new and all this for about £7000. Of course it would have to have the ML sound system and sat nav screen for the reverse camera etc. Interior could be black or grey with black carpet but definitely not the yellowy beige. Re the CVT, I was under the impression that it was the old belt and pulley system. Of course it's like anything, some people say it's great, others that it,s rubbish. I must try one. Another question. Why are there two BHP figures quoted for the 300H ? some are advertised as 190 something and others 200 and odd . Where is the difference ?

As per title. I really like the look of the Mk 3 Lexus IS but all 3 seem to be compromised in some way. 250 is deemed to be slow and thirsty. The hybrid has a CVT transmission and the 200T has only got 4 cylinders. Or should I just keep looking for the perfect Mk2 SEL ?

Update. After sending a query to Lexus UK, this is the first reply I got. Thank you for your email. The Lexus IS250 exhaust system was made from Steel, not stainless steel. So that I can look into this further, please can you reply to this email with a link or a print screen showing where you saw this information. I apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused. Kind regards Olivia Olivia Lewis Lexus Customer Services ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After my reply and direction to where the quote could be found, I received a second reply. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for your enquiry regarding the specification of the exhaust on IS 250 2008-2011. I've checked the information in the brochures pertaining to the exhaust and also clarified the original respones you were provided. The brochures are correct in that all Lexus exhausts are made of a steel grade which meets the criteria to be called stainless steel. There is a spectrum of steel ranging from mild steel to high grade stainless steel and our exhausts fall within the upper quartile. There is sometimes a perception that for an exhaust to be called stainless steel it has to have a chrome like finish, this is incorrect. It is also worth checking if you buy a used vehicle that the exhaust has not at any time been replaced with an inferior product. I trust this clarifies the matter for you. Kind regards Jenny Shipley Customer Relations Case Manager Toyota (GB) PLC - Lexus Division Distributor of vehicles, parts and accessories for the UK So, should a steel that is classified as being stainless (ambiguously in my opinion) rust ?

That sounds good. Did you have to replace and fabricate the pipe that splits into two at the rear to feed the two back boxes ?