First_Lexus

^^ Government policy around car parking on new developments (business and residential) in the Blair years, with John ‘two Jags’ Prescott presiding, was bonkers. Their theory was that restricting the number of spaces available would encourage (i.e. force) people to find alternatives to using their cars. Instead, all that happened around business parks was that already crowded residential streets became unofficial car parks! So they brought in ‘permit parking’ schemes for residents - usually at a cost - and the problem simply moved a few streets further away and so on. What they never did was provide proper alternatives, especially for those developments on the edge of towns and cities. It was a recipe for chaos and resentment and lots of people are still living with the consequences. I looked at a house built in the early 2000s a few years ago when I last moved. On paper it looked ideal. Nice small development, good size houses, large gardens, good area. In addition the price seemed very ‘competitive’ so I knew there had to be a catch… …when I viewed it, there were actually two catches only one of which is related to this thread (the unrelated was that there were huge trees all over the development, including in gardens, which pre-dated the houses which had been built around them. They were all under strict preservation, which was understandable, but the owners of the properties were fully liable for their upkeep which was potentially expensive and problematic with planning consent being required even to have them pruned when necessary). Anyway, the related issue was that the access road was narrow, and each 4 or 5 bedroom house only had one driveway space and a single garage which hardly anybody used. Almost every house had at least two cars (some more) and so the road and front gardens were just a nightmare of badly parked cars. I could tell it caused neighbourly tension. Like everybody else I looked elsewhere! In comparison, where I eventually bought is a small new build (2020) development of 20 houses. There is lots of space. My house, like the others, has a driveway for 4 cars, a large garage (the 5 bedroom houses have double garages as well) and there are bays around the road for visitors (not that they’re ever needed). Something has clearly changed in planning terms, and for the better imho. Every house has an EV charging point too, and there is also one public one for visitors to use. Very good.

For an overnight in an NCP in Central London recently (Knightsbridge area) we paid £38 (thereabouts anyway, I haven’t got the receipt any more). That was pretty good value, given we were parked for about sixteen hours so less than £2.50 per hour. That particular (underground) car park had especially wide and long spaces, which was a good job considering the number of very large SUVs in it! I have a ‘blue badge’ so don’t usually find parking the RX a problem as the disabled spaces are usually nice and wide. I’m not sure I’d like to park it in a ‘normal’ car park space based on the size most of those are!

^^ Odd though it is, I don’t think there is a way to do it with the standard Lexus navigation. My previous NX couldn’t do it either, but previous - and much older - Hondas did it as standard. However, as you state @Las Palmasit’s a moot point - with the various options available these days I can’t see why anybody would choose the Lexus system over Google or Waze or any number of better options. It can’t be a coincidence that lots of manufacturers aren’t even installing navigation any more, instead just offering Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

For the love of God, nobody mention conspiracy theories! 😆😇

Interesting. Can’t say I’ve experienced issues with cruise control - can’t remember any other posts either but may be wrong. Using Apple CarPlay the navigation (Waze) does drop the sound when instructions are given. I haven’t ever used the Lexus navigation system tbh.

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/suvs/uk-car-parks-are-apparently-danger-collapsing-because-new-cars-are-so-heavy According to the Top Gear angle, the (possible) issue is that all new cars are a lot heavier than when some of the original multi-storey car parks were constructed…so petrol, diesel, electric, hydrogen (probably!)

I haven’t posted on here much recently. It isn’t that I don’t read the forums, it’s just that I don’t have much to contribute. I’m not mechanically (or practically) minded at all, and my RX continues to be a) faultless and b) faultless 😁 Anyway, after eighteen months, what do I think of my choice? Are there any downsides to RX ownership? If there are, then I’m yet to find them. This is far and away the best car I’ve ever owned. Quiet, effortless performance and superb quality. Yes, it’s on the large side but apart from that I simply have nothing negative to say. I should downsize at some stage in the next 2-3 years. I SHOULD…but I’m not sure I could leave this experience behind. No wonder RX owners are such a happy bunch. What a car. I feel privileged to be able to own it.

I’d like to be the first to say a hearty welcome and hail to our new alien overlords! Oh no, I’ve said too much…please, no! AAAARRRRGH! Message ends.

I can only echo the comments of others. The number of messages left here show how much John was valued and appreciated on the forum, both for his wisdom and for his knowledge of Lexus. He was so often the voice of reason in a debate. This is such sad news. I’m sending my thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences to everybody who loved you. R.I.P. John.

I’d love to understand (but never really will)…let’s take our opinions of London Underground. We’ve both clearly got significant experience of the network and yet our opinions are so different. It’s like we are speaking about entirely different things! How can two people see the same thing so differently? I do find such things fascinating. I consider it to be efficient and speedy. You find it smelly and horrid. Isn’t the human species and its capacity for seeing and feeling the same thing differently, simply brilliant? Somewhere along the line it must be about personal experience and values. I’d love to understand what and why…but as it is all opinion I don’t think I ever will.

Completely agree. It’s the differences of opinion and the debate that are interesting here. Fascinating actually. ^^ Totally disagree. I think it’s actually (generally speaking) a great experience. Modern trains (mostly) few delays, far better capacity than there used to be (at least in the South-East). The difference between now and when I started using it in the 1980s is vast. My opinion remains that Public Transport in London is very good - as a very frequent user of it for many (many) years. The Underground especially is brilliant - efficient but not sterile, and full of history. It’s a very British system, a bit unconventional and quirky, and all the better for it! Possible but risky. Even the proposed tunnels for the HS2 terminal are causing lots of anxiety. But yes, possible if not hugely practical. I am disabled and don’t really know where to start with that statement. I guess if you are lucky enough to be fully fit then you won’t understand. I won’t be able to walk at all over the next decade or so and there are many worse off than me. Even the best public solutions can’t cater for those who are in that situation. It can work for some, but there needs to be an option. If public transport ran 24/7 then key workers wouldn’t need to be exempt that’s partly true, but if you need a Doctor fast then he or she will need a car in some situations. There are always exceptions to every rule. To one of your other points - yes, it’s values and beliefs (and priorities) that drive (no pun intended!) such divergent views. That’s what makes life interesting as if we all thought the same that would be deathly dull. You just better hope I never get into power…😆

You’ve either had some very bad personal experiences with public transport, or fear the unknown and have built up this terrible picture in your mind based on who knows what! Introvert vs extrovert could well be an explanation. Having commuted in and out of London for many years into three of the major railway terminals, used the Underground extensively and also having driven in and out, I could count my number of bad public transport experiences in single figures. Getting stuck in traffic on the other hand happened all the time. I simply prefer the convenience and speed of public transport, but fully understand others have a different perspective based on their own experiences and values. I know I’m going to sound like an ageing hippy, but as I’ve grown older my values have evolved. I like to see my self as part of a community, and travelling with others makes me feel part of something. Different languages, dress, opinions - I find it enriches my life experience. That’s a personal thing. I do know people who hate meeting new people. I love it. By coincidence I was travelling with a colleague yesterday and today into and back out of central London. She also hates public transport, and so we drove. It took us two hours to travel thirteen miles in London. I say again - there are simply too many cars. Making the city more ‘car friendly’ is the wrong answer as far as I’m concerned, and I think public opinions - especially among people who actually live in cities - are shifting in that direction too. Road infrastructure in London couldn’t really be expanded without widespread cultural vandalism and Paris, Rome etc. are in the same position. I consider people who drive a personal car into a big city where decent public transport exists - and it certainly does in London - adding to dirty, smelly pollution and congestion are selfish (and I know I’ve just done exactly that but lost the argument! Leaving the car with only one occupant would have been worse…). Not a popular opinion on a motoring forum I guess, but I’d ban all cars (exemptions for the disabled and key workers) from city centres. In my opinion that would make the quality of life far better. Buses would move more quickly for one thing! EVs wouldn’t solve anything. It’s the sheer number of vehicles that I consider to be the problem and I’m afraid I’m unconvinced by your contrary opinion. It is though just my opinion based on my values and beliefs. None of that changes the fact that cars are absolutely needed in more rural settings, but in a big city? I see little justification to be honest regardless of how passionately it’s argued.

Having read this thread with interest, it’s become obvious to me that the ‘problem’ with electric cars is that range available with the current technology means they don’t work for everybody with the current charging network, especially at higher speeds and in Winter with colder temperatures. They are also expensive, and risk disenfranchising those who can’t afford them in future assuming the price doesn’t fall dramatically (which it well might). I can’t comment on the environmental positives or negatives as I’m no expert. I’ve read pros and cons argued with passion on both sides in terms of ‘whole life’ impact vs air quality and carbon emissions. Personally I’m a big fan of public transport. The problem is - perhaps - not with electric vehicles as such, but that there are simply too many cars of all types. As I wrote before, the explosion in affordable personal transport is a recent phenomenon over the last 100 years or so. In human history that’s barely a footnote! I do think cities without traffic and better public transport are nicer, and I do think that’s the future. However, Governments of all parties and in all countries need to make sure they legislate fairly and pragmatically. What works in London or Bristol or Manchester won’t work in rural Cornwall, Wales or the Highlands of Scotland as things stand. If they don’t bring the people with them with them, they’ll have bigger problems further down the line. Likely not in my lifetime, but still vital that they develop genuine and sustainable long term plans.

Actually the later RX, like mine registered in late 2021, still has the trackpad but adds touchscreen functionality as well as Apple CarPlay. I hardly ever use the touchscreen! Trackpad works fine for me.

Totally off topic, but makes me smile that my late Mother used to make a list of groceries and give it to the local grocer who would then deliver it to the house at a convenient time for her…who said the convenience of home delivery was a recent thing?! Move onto the 1970s and my late Father would go grocery shopping on a Saturday morning, including the (tiny by current standards) supermarket. That was a Waitrose, and it didn’t sell frozen food (that was further down the high street at Bejam) and also had a very limited selection of fresh meat and fresh vegetables. Those were purchased separately at one of three butchers and one of two greengrocers. They’d have been astonished by the variety on sale at supermarkets these days, let alone the fact that they had diversified into banking, tyres etc. Life was simpler back then, and the pace seemed much slower. Proper high street stores, where people serving actually knew their regular customers. Different times…

Try ASDA Tyres too, they were the cheapest when my sister bought a set last year.

Officer Crabtree would likely say the ‘click is tocking.’

Pretty sure he articulates a lot of what has been discussed on this thread already. It does feel as though there is something of a backlash underway…

It might just be my age but, having bought a new RX in 2021, I struggle to believe that a new one, however good, could really enhance my life. I’m definitely not going for a test drive any time soon…😇 Great reviews @Fattsand @Spottedlaurel - many thanks!

Agree on the Avon tyres. I had them fitted on my last NX and they were excellent. Other family members had them fitted on a couple of other SUVs too and were similarly impressed. My last set (2019/20) were stamped as manufactured in Serbia, but still with the Union Flag prominent on the sidewall! Their justification is that the research and development is still done at Melksham in Wiltshire, and I believe they still manufacture motorcycle tyres in the UK. I’d certainly buy the brand again regardless, albeit UK manufacture was something of a bonus.

From an insurance perspective I believe alarm systems have to be NACOSS approved (and there’s another accreditation option I think). Personally I’d find a good local alarm company and go down that route. Anything ‘DIY’ may do the job but - with my insurance as an example - likely won’t lead to any premium reduction. I’d rather have a professional advise and install as they tend to know the pitfalls. I had ADT a few years ago and it was hopeless. ‘Monitored’ - what a joke!

Possibly a stupid question, but how long have you owned the car? I’m just wondering whether a previous owner has either changed bulbs to an incorrect type or if the car has had a front end shunt that may have caused a problem. That said, you’d think the Lexus dealer who did the MOT would have checked, but “…worked perfectly…” and “…were sufficient to pass an MOT…” are two quite different things… If they’re offering a “comprehensive check” free of charge then I’d take them up on it. If you purchased the car from them as ‘approved used’ I’d also ask to try another similar car out to compare.