MadJam250

Unlike previous manufacturers' warranties, it seems, having just enquired, the new Lexus 'Relax' warranty offers no normal 1 month or 1000 mile leeway when it comes to the warranty ending/being valid. So basically, you must get a service done on/before time (12 months max) and within 10k miles (max) or run the risk of not being covered in the interim if you exceed those parameters. 

I still feel it's a shame Lexus isn't offering servicing without an obligatory, attached 'free' (not) warranty and did away with the Essential Care package that offered such good value for older Lexi (is that the plural?). 

Anyway, just putting this out there as a warning folks. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58399026

Oh dear. 😊

Not seeing many references to more cat thefts in the last week or two. Wonder if this is down to smart water applications deterring the thieves (cynically I don't feel this will deter anyone really) or just not being mentioned on here. 

Another cat nicked as referenced on the CT200h forum. 

Whilst away for a few days last week in Merseyside a suspicious lad seen hanging around my car, taking photos of it and making a call straight after. My guess he was a scout passing on details, but I moved mine, yet this level of anxiety is unfortunately preventing enjoyment of ownership now. Unless Smart Water application works (methinks not) it's only a question of time really (unless I move to the countryside and never drive the thing or leave it unattended). 

3 weeks on, Lexus UK ignoring my query about Relax warranty and how it is not as good and comprehensive as the extended or original warranties despite marketed thus. 

Sorry to hear about this. It's sickening and Lexus UK don't care 

I agree and disagree. Cat theft is about risk and currently many Toyota/Lexus hybrids are at far greater risk of being done than many other makes. I don't sit around worrying, but I just wondered if others had considered reducing the risk considerably by changing to a brand where such risk is as good as eliminated. You, Herbie, clearly worry about your trip to Asda so I guess we all have our worries, trivial/subjective or otherwise, to some extent. 

Reading the Lexus blog/mag online shows a fair few who have commented who have been on the receiving end of cat theft, and in some cases, more than once. 

A friend of mine who was blasé recently said to stop worrying and then got his nicked a few weeks later. I guess it's never a concern until it happens to you (bit like how some feel about Covid).

I love my Lexus, and this concern is currently their achilles heel I'd say. I'll see what my up and coming insurance renewal is like first I think. Be interesting to see if the forensic markings affect the stats too. 

Thank you. 

I admire all of your positivity and optimism. Statistically, though, as Lexus are relatively rare then if a criminal scout sees one, in a high risk region, say, in my eyes you're at a significant risk? If I drive a Ford, say, I'd not be worrying about such a scenario/crime. I just feel like I'm driving around and visiting places advertising this risk. I may feel inclined to limit travel etc that then affects my freedom etc. 

Do you think such security water marking will deter a thief? 

As we are all no doubt aware, catalytic converter theft for many hybrid vehicles is rife (especially for Toyota/Lexus models), insurance premiums are rising and if you're like me, I get anxious every time Ieave my Lexus in a public space now. 

I'm considering selling on to cut out (excuse the pun) this stress or am I perhaps worrying unnecessarily now that my car has been in for the Smart Water deterrent application (and associated windows stickers to that effect). I personally can't believe this will have any significant effect on deterring the theft, or can anyone convince me to the contrary? 

Has anyone on here actually moved their Lexus hybrid on re such paranoia? 

Thanks. 

8 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Tis not Rocket Science old pal, but it does require something which on occasions is much more exacting, namely  the application of common sense.

Some have it and some don`t, some will and some won`t. Some just join a website and expect it to provide all of the answers 80% of which are contained within the Owners Hxxxbxxk!

Salespeople, Receptionists, Mechanics, nor Technicians do not speak for Lexus.

Neither does L.O.C. as you rightly pointed out. Colin Barber, Steve 2006, et al, do their very best in offering advice and guidance which on occasions is perceived as being from within the Lexus Domain, but it aint.

Lexus U.K. speaks for Lexus and it has an official Website. Tis wise to read it and if in doubt refer to Lexus U.K. Head Office.

Lexus U.K. could have done much more to educate and train key people at each Lexus Franchise, this at least might have ensured a consistency in the delivery of a standard and scripted message. 

It is Lexus UK and my local dealership whom I have requested information about Relax being clearly less comprehensive than they are promoting. My advice is that other members do the same to help highlight the fact that the level of cover for Relax is clearly less compared to the previous warranty, despite the official marketing (and dealerships) indicating to the contrary, that they are equal and offer the same level of cover (not true). 'Relax' is a term that is ironically oxymoronic right now. 

I messaged Lexus UK and local dealership for an explanation about Relax not covering the multi media system yet still proclaiming to be a like for like cover compared to the previous warranty: still no response. 

I've messaged my local dealer and Lexus HQ for their take on things. 

If we're being told to 'relax' and then end up getting a huge bill for a multi media fault it kind of goes against the name of the warranty. Losing breakdown cover and having to buy new cover is also not that relaxing either. 

Plus, under the Essentials Servicing scheme my servicing costs have almost doubled now, so having the warranty as 'free' is also not true, especially if I didn't want the warranty cover anyway. As others have said, Relax will work for them but excluding multi media cover is going to end up being a very frustrating and costly matter for a few when they realise Relax won't cover that, at least. 

Lock it, lose it or choose an alternative brand. I love my Lexus and all those before, but if little is being done to prevent this then I/others will be tempted to shop elsewhere. Personally I think all owners should have their cars recalled to fit a Catloc but as far as I see it, recalls only apply to safety matters of concern, so that is unlikely to happen. 

10 minutes ago, bigglesfllesundone said:

The Lexus UK magazine issue of June 1 introduces Lexus Relax;

https://mag.lexus.co.uk/lexus-warranty-how-lexus-relax-cover-works/comment-page-1/#comments
 

In the feature it states-

“This new Lexus warranty covers the same parts and labour as the three-year manufacturer’s warranty provided on new Lexus vehicles and the one-year manufacturer warranty that’s standard with approved used vehicles. 

It does not include wear and tear items, bodywork, paint, interior trims and maintenance parts.”

there is a link to the T&C.

 

Here's your answer Roy.

So that is misleading then as the previous warranty covered, for example, the multi media system which Relax does not. 

23 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

Thanks Martin.

I knew that that the garage serviced a range of cars and hoped it might be of benefit to you.

I take it you mean that an employee of Lexus told you.......in which case that was not only misleading it was an untrue statement.

If you mean however that Lexus has made a public statement that the Relax Warranty is as good.......then please refer me to that statement if you can as it can have serious consequences.

Many thanks for for responding Martin. 

It says it on the website that Relax is as good as the previous warranty, but it clearly isn't if it doesn't provide the same level of cover, as detailed above. 

The sevice dept informed me it offered the same cover as have others on this forum being told. 

It is also saying that Relax is free yet the servicing costs have now risen, which therefore doesn't make the obligatory warranty free per se. The previous warranty included breakdown cover, so owners now have yo take out a separate policy for that too if they do indeed want similar cover, so yes, to say Relax offers the same level of cover is not true and misleading, as others have pointed out on here and elsewhere. 

More here:

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/159610/is-the-cover-of-the-toyota-lexus-relax-warranty-better-or-worse-than-an-extended-warranty-

8 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Martin, 1. Did you check out the link I gave you ?

             2.Where did Lexus mislead anyone ?

1. The link related to someone who serviced any car

2. Lexus have said that 'Relax' is a warranty as good as the previous one, but it doesn't cover multi media failure or provide breakdown cover, so it's not a true statement which, in turn, as others have also said, is misleading, is it not? 

Just had my service and new 'free' Relax warranty applied. They say to relax but under the old warranty you had the multi media system covered and breakdown cover included. With Relax the former is not covered and the latter is an additional cost. Bit misleading, eh Lexus? 

Just had my cat watermarked at Lexus and a security window sticker applied to that effect. Is that really going to act as a deterrent and/or reduce insurance premiums? 

Can anyone give any positives about this compared to the Essentials Cares costs? I know it gives a warranty but if I don't want that then the servicing cost now is far higher than the Essentials. I think Lexus has priced out the owners of older models who aren't going to benefit as much,especually when the car approaches 10 years old. 

Congratulations indeed. Love the colour. 

So, now that 10 year old Lexi, or those with a mileage exceeding 100k, are unwarrantable are owners going to pay the new Relax prices or shop around elsewhere? If everyone else with a new Lexus benefits from having the added warranty then surely those with older/higher mileage cars deserve a servicing price reduction to factor this in? If not I'd guess many will be ditching their Lexi for alternative brands if they can't afford an upgrade to newer models with less mileage to carry on with the servicing deal under Relax?

10 hours ago, LenT said:

Is that because you’re relating the cost of servicing as a proportion of the diminishing value of the car?

Doesn’t the cost in terms of parts and labour remain much the same if the basic mechanical components remain much the same?  In fact I can envisage situations in which the older car requires additional time - and even parts - to complete a comparable service.

In my experience I expect to spend more maintaining an older vehicle than a newer one over the same period of time.

Or am I missing something obvious?

It's simply pricing many customers out of the market. The Essentials Care system worked so well. At the end of the day, the CT is a Prius. Why does Toyota charge at least £100 less to service a Prius against a CT? Crazy 🙄

Seems wrong that cars of that age have to pay the same price for servicing as new ones. Scrapping the Essential Care service is going to lose alot of custom. 

Really disappointed in this new Relax scheme. Have been a Lexus owner for years and always utilised the main dealer for servicing and with my car being 7 years old, using the Essential Care reduced price option. That's now gone so Lexus is now purely aiming this at newer car owners only and, for me anyway, have priced me out of the market with increased servicing costs as well as a hike in insurance. Such a shame and bad marketing decision, in my opinion. 

This is all very underhanded in my opinion. I've been bombarded with calls from a call centre to book my service yet they won't budge on price. It's a significant increase in cost and I don't want to pay for the 'free' warranty. Lexus thrive on customer satisfaction yet they are refusing to offer a loyalty discount too. 

Ultimately this, for me, could be an ownership game changer. Insurance premiums have risen due to the cat-theft situation/risk and now servicing costs (especially considering when a Prius in the same workshop is serviced for far less).