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First_Lexus

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First_Lexus last won the day on October 1 2023

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  • First Name
    Ed
  • Gender
    Male
  • Lexus Model
    RX Premium with Tech & Safety
  • Year of Lexus
    2021
  • UK/Ireland Location
    Berkshire
  • Interests
    General Automotive

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  1. ^^ I didn’t realise they’d already done that. In which case, based on the ‘mood music’ coming from both main parties on how to fund future ‘carbon neutral’ policies, the electricity surcharge will be on top of EV VED! I mean, why would we be surprised…after all, Labour have said they’re stepping back from their £28BN ‘green’ investment plan based on the current financial situation, but that they’re not abandoning the idea. Clearly they won’t admit to doing it through taxation, but I do think an additional surcharge will be the way they go (and Conservatives too TBF).
  2. Looks like the legislation is England only. Believe it actually came into effect in 2022, but in reality most builders have been adding EV chargers for longer than that in order to meet sustainability targets. My current new build has one (2020) and my previous one did as well (2014). When I was looking at houses in 2020/21 all the new builds had them fitted.
  3. ^^ I think it’s likely that EVs will remain ‘zero cost’ in terms of VED, but that home electricity will incur (a further) surcharge for those properties with a home charger installed. With all new build properties required to have a charged installed from new for the last 4-5 years (and some prior to that) if you’re paying the surcharge then you may as well get an EV…but who really knows at this point?! Other than that I fully agree with your post and am in a similar situation. The initial cost, added to range anxiety and fears over depreciation mean I’m happy to wait for now.
  4. It’s fair to say that the value of my RX has collapsed in the last year based on offers I’m getting, with one dealer (not Lexus) refusing to even provide a trade-in figure for it “…as they can’t underwrite the car…” in terms of selling it on i.e. nobody wants to buy it. Hardly surprising I guess… Suggestion is to bin it to WBAC or similar, but I’ll see what the other dealers offer. The only consolation is that this isn’t something that could have been predicted two and a half years ago when I bought the RX - life happens!
  5. ^^ Don’t worry, the contenders are (almost) all Japanese. Suzuki Vitara the value option, Mazda CX-30 the mid-ranking, and the new MINI Countryman the ‘premium’ choice. The MINI looks especially good, and fully loaded comes in c£5k less than the LBX. However, my preference is nearly new i.e. up to three years old, so likely it’ll be the Suzuki or Mazda tbh unless the MINI deal is exceptional. I had considered the new CH-R and the Yaris Cross, but again they’re quite new and overpriced against the competition I’m looking at in my opinion. I’ve even looked at the Ssangyong Korando which is astonishing value and feels quite ok really, but depreciation/resale would be a concern. We will see what will do the job I need for the best price. Driving fewer than 5k miles a year now pretty much anything with a higher seating position / entry point is probably fine tbh!
  6. I’ve got a series of test drives booked for later in March, and I’ve decided to bail out while my RX still has some value. I want to downsize anyway, but this issue has brought my decision forward. My RX is my third Lexus, and I’ve loved the cars and the dealers. However, none of the cars I’m testing is a Lexus - I cancelled the test drive in the LBX because I feel it’s just too expensive compared to the alternatives and, to be totally honest, all of this malarkey has made me think twice. I fully accept that other manufacturers have, have had, and will have similar issues. I also accept that Lexus may come up with a software solution for the Mk4 RX which helps or solves the problem. That said, I’m of the opinion that a smaller and less desirable car, and one without this specific CANBUS vulnerability is the right thing to do in the circumstances before my insurance renewal in May. Personally I think the damage to the Lexus brand among previously loyal owners is, and will continue to be, significant. Shame.
  7. Not specific to Lexus, but I heard on the radio a couple of weeks ago that for some ‘desirable’ cars they believe thieves are placing magnetic ‘tracking tags’ on the backs of wheels etc. so they could pick their spot to steal the vehicle.
  8. I’ve had a private number plate for 25+ years and have never heard anything like this from any dealer! Usually they simply have the whole thing sorted by the time I collect any new vehicle seemingly without any involvement from me!
  9. TBH I need to downsize now. My mileage has plummeted working at home, whenever I visit the office I use the train (paid for on expenses but fuel isn’t, go figure!) and with no pets or children an RX is very hard to justify now. When I was up and down on the motorway it was brilliant, but now my use is only around town and I actually struggle to drive longer distances. It has been a privilege to own it though, and if the LBX was £10k cheaper…well, it isn’t so that’s academic!
  10. I have a test drive in one of those at the end of March. Takumi grade nearly new £15k less than a new LBX!
  11. Indeed we do…well, I have in the past…but with retirement fast approaching, my mobility not what it was, and the desire to buy a property abroad for Winter warmth at some stage in the next few years I’ve realised that the car on my driveway is not actually so important! I’m very lucky to have owned the RX (and the NX before it) but that time in my life has passed. Time to move on, downsize, and spend money on things that are more important…for my situation and aspirations, anyway.
  12. Yes, I’ve seen the reviews. I’ve no doubt it’s a very good car, but it’s overpriced for what I now need and want to spend. Put it this way. I can buy a pre-registered top of the range 4WD Vitara for £20k. The LBX - and not even the AWD - is almost £40k. For fewer than 5,000 miles a year I’m more prepared to pay that difference, regardless of how ‘good’ or not the car is.
  13. Back to the original subject, I cancelled my LBX test drive that was due for today. I’m afraid I consider it far too expensive for what it is and, given my mileage is now less than 5,000 miles annually, I’ve decided to either; - go for the new MINI Countryman as a ‘premium’ option as it’s very impressive and usefully cheaper than the LBX; - look at a ‘value’ option such as the Yaris Cross or Suzuki Vitara (which is very good value, especially pre-registered), or; - buy a 2-3 year old car for cash, something like a Honda Jazz. Afraid I won’t be sticking with Lexus, despite having loved my two NX and now my RX. As I approach retirement I’ve decided there are better things on which to spend my money than a fancy car that hardly ever gets used!
  14. I agree. I see Rachel Reeves accepted a £10k payment from a climate change denying organisation just a few days prior to Labour ditching their £28bn ‘Green New Deal.’ The various statements called the timing ‘unfortunate’ but didn’t really apologise… Whether you agreed with their politics or not, politicians used to have values they believed in. They didn’t seem to just go into Parliament to get rich. It did, imho, change with Blair. Whitelaw, Howe, Healey from the 70s and 80s, and plenty before that going right back to Lloyd George (a rascal but not corrupt) and Halifax, Churchill, Eden, MacMillan et al. They believed in their ideals and believed in service. I can’t think of one current politician on any side about whom I can say the same. Shame.
  15. Quite right! The money ‘invested’ in HS2 for very little tangible benefit would have been far better spent elsewhere. Personally I’d spend it on improving the wider railway network, but your point stands. We seem to be paying an ever increasing amount of tax for an ever decreasing level of public services. Meanwhile, I see the erstwhile Mayor of London is spending £6m on a ‘branding’ exercise for some of the London overground lines. It’s a great example of something absolutely not needed and not voted for. Just vanity. That money could and should be better used. TBF he isn’t alone. Politicians of every party now seem to be obsessed with getting rich and/or leaving a ‘legacy.’ Whatever happened to genuine public service?
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