st4

The Camry looks to be better value.Why not try that too ?

Congrats on the new car. Its interesting they've improved the electric drive element to the car - didn't know they'd changed the 300h drive train at all.

SUV's tend to be rip off. Look what a UX and NX costs. The ES is a far nicer car than either. I am going to certainly try one out.

50Litres...

That's small. Still it's a good 20mpg on my GS250 so touring range is probably 400 miles.

Sorry misunderstanding. I've had an IS before. I would on replace my GS with an LS. Small case confusion!
My current GS is a mk 4 premier which feels special inside and is a joy to drive on motorways, windy roads and in traffic. Have driven mercedes, jaguars and volvos and none compare. Don't like bmws or audis so cannot think of a suitable replacement for my gs.

It makes total sense considering 1. there is 100% tax on cars in China and 2. MOT inspection isn't really a thing.
So you could get RC-F for £120k or you could get IS200t for £60k and the engine for another £10k - leaves healthy £50 to make it fit.
I am really tempted to do it with RC300h and fit it with 2GR-FXE (the engine it deserves)... sadly for me money is the object and after all calculations it is simply cheaper to get RC-F... and MOT is a thing as well. 

Carcassonne

One from the night

_DSC8140 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

One from the day

_DSC8155 - Version 2 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

Madrid

Some re-edits from visits gone by

Royal Palace

_DSC2028 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

Temple of Debod

_DSC2010 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

Puerta de Alcala

_DSC5268 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

Three Panoramas from the Ossau Valley

_DSC3480 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

_DSC3496 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

_DSC3500 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

A nice evening in Spain

I spent a wonderful evening in the Canyon Anisclo at the end of September. Here's a few from the shoot.

I had settled on this composition to hide a rather ugly bird hide deeper to the right and to frame the view North through the Canyon

_DSC3658 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

_DSC3682 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

Out of the corner of my eye I could see the sunlight also hit the peak of Pena Montanesa (facing due east) so I set up a second tripod to frame this shot and so I could keep the tripod in the position of the former two.

_DSC3687 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

The light got better and better

_DSC3702 (1) by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

And after it faded I returned to my other tripod and grabbed this

_DSC3712 by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr

Was it glasgow you got the car. I think I recognise the dealership. You’ll love the car.


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It’s baffling that a company that was so far ahead of the curve when it came to hybrid engines, can be so far behind when it comes to infotainment. I spend at least four hours per working day in the car, it’s like a mobile office. The infotainment and creature comforts are probably the most important aspects for me when purchasing. 

Sounds like the Camry might be “the one” over the ES.


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So the IS isn’t moving to a transverse Mount platform. That’s good news. The not so good news is other than the 300h from the current one, the 5.0 v8 and the V6 turbo (bet that’s a peach) there isn’t a huge range of engines to choose from.

They could well use chocolate bmw engines




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If you want to see German car butt hurt go onto Pistonheads and see the fanbois get irate whenever the quality of a Lexus IS promoted.

To be fair all my Lexus has had from my immediate family and friends is love and admiration. They were particularly shocked to discover it was more comfortable than the previous Mercedes and admitted it was “nicer”

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They are extensively available in Middle East, particularly Qatar.....two a penny !!

The yanks have had the advantage of cheap fuel over the years as do The Gulf States, so big market for gaz guzzlers, but sadly not here. All these large engines will ultimately become a thing of the past.

The yanks get lots of engine options we don't. I really wanted a IS350 after having the 250 but they never did it in the UK. Think they've got a V6 in the new ES too.

did anybody else watch the Bolivia .............. World's Most dangerous roads ............last night on ' Dave ' at 7pm
never seen a Lexus Land Cruiser before
Malc

Agree with Saloons market shrinking... bloody SUVs like a cancer...
However, when you say "end of era", it is not like L4 are superiour to V6, or FWD to RWD... or more modern or more advanced. They are just cheaper versions of the same, being sold for more.

Not been on this forum that long but gotta love the nature of a lot of the postings here. Lots of pontificating about maximum speeds, driving styles etc. Compare this to the German car forums which are inevitably concentrating on failed sensors, oil peeing out over the drive, engines chomping up parts of the induction system, wiring looms failing, breakdowns on the motorway, lumpy idling, engine lights coming on etc etc etc. 
Guess when your car (touching wood) is very reliable you need to find things to talk about!

I have monitored this thread for a good few months and it still makes very interesting reading from all the contributors.
I do like the ES very much and it would make a decent replacement for my GS250 whenever it is time to change. What I am not happy about is the single engine choice that is available 
The forecast of selling 900 units a year is disappointing, and it may even struggle to reach that if there is one sole powerplant. I have driven it and it is not for me despite the assurances that it is much better than previous generations. However I respect those who decided to buy hybrid models. When the GS was launched there was the 2.5l V6 and the 450h available. Then after 2 years, the former was replaced by the GS300h and an £8000 price hike.
The ES350 VS Es300h debate rages on but there is also another ES -
The ES250 which is basically the same 2.5L NA engine in the the ES300h but without any of the hybrid components in it.
Four countries at least as far as I know have this choice )as well as the 300h and they are China (badged ES260 as 250 is slang for something bad apparently), Malaysia, South Africa and Singapore.
Using the latter nation as an example as they are right hand drive,  the price difference between the 2.5L and hybrid is 10000 SGD which is just under £6000,
0-60 (irrelevant) 9.1s, Power - 203bhp,
Top speed of 130 mph ( to me that isn't important),
Torque of 182 lb/ft, 8 speed automatic
Average mpg of 42.8mpg which puts it on similar road fund tariff as a hybrid - the difference is £10 a year
Read world economy differences wouldn't bother me either, Chances are the petrol one will do mid- high thirties and the hybrid -high 40s. Only 10-15mpg difference! 
Mazda 6 have a 2.5 litre NA 4 cylinder engine available in their range and even taking their diesel options off the menu, they still have 3 different petrol engines. Okay its cheeky to compate a Lexus to a Mazda. Compare it to Toyota, the engine choices are also crap sorry to say.
With my circumstances, with such differences highlighted above especially the price, I would buy this in a heartbeat.. An ES250 with premium pack and met paint for £33-34k would be superb but is this going to happen? 
Okay, the ES350 that the Russians get would be so nice but the efficiency obsessed of the UK, with downsizing, forced induction and what not, would get it blackballed almost instantly. 
I welcome your thoughts on this great forum. 
Take care.
 
 
 
 

Stupidest thing posted
there are no issues simply cruising at over 120MPH it comfort and all.
No wait it’s this
On occasions I was driving at 135MPH in IS250 and it was all normal and well,
but the winner is
The only reason I cannot see myself driving at over 140MPH is that with current ICE cars fuel efficiency drops drastically after 120-140M
really? That’s the only reason? I just hope the day your arrogance and woeful lack of judgement catch you out no one else unlucky enough to be in the vicinity is seriously injured or worse
 

Not to mention things will go wrong with it aplenty. German engines give good figures but would I rely on a BMW diesel to give me stress free motoring? No chance. 
Glad there's a sense of realism here when it comes to top speeds of motor vehicles. There is a quite obvious exception when it comes to 'Autobahn storming' (those in the know will be able to guess what car I once owned) However you are running a serious risk of getting into serious trouble if you hit 100mph or over. I don't just mean getting apprehended either. The majority of drivers think they are competent and safe. I'd beg to differ. Unless you have been trained specifically for high speed driving then running at high speeds is probably beyond most people's capability whether they realise it or not. The majority of people do not drive over 90mph anyway. That's just in my experience which probably gives an indication of having ran at that speed and rarely been overtaken. Some do go faster but not many. 
Has anyone driven at over 125mph out of interest??? Things don't half get interesting don't they as far as the road flying towards you and distant objects suddenly flashing past. Maybe its a psychological barrier being a nice round number and the top speed of conventional UK intercity trains. 

I think torque is much more important. Seems the hybrid has more torque at low revs than the 350 making it a finer drive?
bonusquestion. When was the last time you drove at max top speed?
how often do you floor the throttle and revv the car full from 0-60?