Barry14UK

The RZ was late to the party and not as good in several respects as some already there.  When  models come forth with new Battery technology giving much better range and faster charging, it is likely to cause a great drop in the value of the current crop of EVs so not a good time to buy new now I think.  I see an extended life for hybrids, whatever governments may say at present and note that Toyota are currently developing a new hybrid engine/drivetrain and the Chinese have already done this.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/byd-new-hybrid-cars-ultra-long-2-000-km-range-for-under-14-000/vi-BB1nfKhT?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=57b2f5c915504f74ac30acf24dff6cab&ei=15

If this account is accurate it will transform hybrid technology and although models are not planned to come to the UK (yet?), you can bet your bottom dollar that the Japanese, American and Japanese will want to take models apart to see how it's done. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/the-cure-for-range-anxiety-byd-says-its-new-hybrid-cars-can-go-for-1-200-miles-without-needing-gas-or-recharging/ar-BB1nlW4d?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=9825cc68d67c48f7a4e2ee8bc6f3310a&ei=11

That looks like the Battery Varta suggest for the model although it is not an AGM one but is a type a number of people have fitted apparently without problem. One advantage of an AGM type is that the acid is contained in the glass mat and not loose, so in the event of a crash there is less risk of occupants being affected by the acid.  However, this risk is very small and indeed Lexus have not fitted this to some other models.  There has been some debate on how much better the system works with AGM  type where originally fitted but owners have not reported any significant difference when replaced with a free flow type..

Designed without maintenance in mind or to be a nce earner for Dealer - take you pick? 

If you carefully check whether the item you are looking to import from the USA is the same as you want for your Japanese build model for the UK, your experience as well as that of some others shows that sometimes items can be imported at much cheaper costs.

I did try this for my RX but without first carefully checking for differences.  Superficially.  I got very good front and rear Akosombo original quality brake pads at a bargain price for my RX450h.  The only problem is these are a very different shape for the US and UK and not compatible.  So they remain boxed in my garage as nobody wanted them and the cost of returning them would not have adequately covered the charged amount as reimbursement. (So this would mean that brake callipers, disks, and some other associated brake components would also differ).  Hence why I mentioned checking, 

A potential alternative to Lexus when it becomes available.  https://www.google.com/search?q=mazda+cx+80+review&sca_esv=3fb7e59b00a0c080&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIJZNkYQqN9MQgtbMVr6nj0Q4acHrQ%3A1715390466179&source=hp&ei=Asg-Zq7XCKvlxc8P4MqsiAs&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZj7WElzJpSOOXBGPAmeQN95YYLq_zPxU&oq=mazdz+CX80&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:888da8fb,vid:6iaRjqfEK0o,st:0.  

I suppose if your car was away while you were on a long winter holiday and safely locked away, you could leave alarm off or disconnect Battery accepting what that would entail or best of all leave on trickle charge if facility exists.  The only other way I can think of would be to couple up to another Battery temporarily.  I am not sure it would need to be same type and could be smaller to boost capacity for an extended period.  In summer you can fit a solar panel but probably not sufficient for winter.

It may be that you could get a friend to charge the car from the hybrid Battery using the prescribed Lexus procedure.

Many years ago there were a couple of devices that are no longer fitted.  I refer to a gear lever lock and a fuel cut off. Appreciate this would not stop crims breaking into cars but would make it more difficult for them to drive away so more likely to give up.

5 hours ago, Caspa said:

I'd give NFU Mutual a try also. Have to go direct but was easily the best when I renewed recently...

NFU seem to have come top of the Insurers.in terms of satisfaction for several years.  The only thing is they have an age ceiling which I am above unfortunately.  I thing I tried all the comparison sites on the same, as quotes can vary from one day to another.

I found Ageas either the cheapest or next so in almost all cases.  I have used them in the past without problem and they are well know. For some reason that I am unaware of, quotes for using them varied considerably between the comparison sites.

One can only speculate as we don't know whether the culprit(s) was/were suspicious that there was a tracker and wanted to disable this before leading to where it was intended to break the car for parts or whatever.  Maybe he/she/they was/were interrupted or decided they it was taking too long.  Access was obtained to the car and it was driven to where found so I don't think it was an amateur job.  Taking het Dash came was logical because of what it might have shown but I think it unlikely to have been an opportunist as other items of value were not taken.  It's academic really because it doesn't change the situation.

If this model is potentially affected using the Can bus attac, it would seem worthwhile   getting Lexus to fit the protective plate.

Would be interesting to learn the cost of repair if OP prepared to say.

Maybe the US being a much larger market with vehicles covering greater mileages, there is a bigger turn over of spares8.  Regardless, whether it's cars, car parts or electronic items of various sorts, invariably item for item it's more expensive in the UK than for the same item in the US.

I have read this from several sources and I have just linked to one.  It concerns an aspect that many would not think about, but perhaps they should.

I think a lot comes down to individual opinion of Technician.  My car has always [assed MOT's without advisories.  However, on the penultimate service at Lexus main Dealer,  they said the rear disks and pads needed replacing and they offered a price for doing it. I actually bought replacements intending to put them on (as I did the fronts a year previously). but due to my wife needing much more help these were not fitted.  I was therefore expecting this to be mentioned when they serviced my car last year but it wasn't, just that the trailing arm bushes needed replacing with an offer to do that @ circa £1500.  I will take a look myself when it stops raining and becomes a little warmer.  If they still seem reasonable and get through MOT, I will leave for another year.  Be interesting to learn what Lexus say at next service!  

Told at Lexus dealer service last year my bushes were going to need replacing and was given a price circa £1500 so will be looking for less expensive alternative.  Have to establish whether my car having air suspension has same trailing arms as coil sprung models.

haven't tried Halfords for pens but ton the two occasions I tried their shake cans for two other makes they were well out and I returned them.  I went to the official dealers and the match was much better and I got the appropriate lacquer with it.  So I would pay a little more and possibly get a better match or get somebody like chips away to do the job if you don't want to pay for a good body shop to do it.

Spare parts for Lexus I have found to be expensive and provide a good return for Lexus.  I think as long as there is sufficient demand these will remain available, at least for regularly replaced parts.  Certainly there are much earlier RX cars still in use and with a need for parts and some suitable components can be brought in from other markets.  I remember a long time ago now getting what I was told was the last available sump for my 2.5 v6 Camry.  This was shipped in from abroad but in need I could have got one from a breakers.  Other parts for that car were still available.

We all know or should do, that best the time to get a competitive quote is around 3 weeks before renewal is due. So this is what I did using a number of comparison sites among others on the same day.  Most showed Ageas as lowest price or almost lowest for their Essential and then their Standard policy for me.  However, what I find surprising is the disparity between the prices quoted for this insurer by different comparison sites, some of them quite far apart.  Do the comparison sites apply a different mark up or do the insurers give them differential rates according to how much business thay attract for the Insurer or is there some other reason I wonder? 

You could fit a separate unit as here https://www.roadangelgroup.com/collections/road-angel-devices. Depends on how much info you want, if  a lot, some people go for subscription package but basic may suffice.  Because I find Sat Nav so poor on my third gen RX, I fitted a 6" TomTom that gives side by side road limit and Sat speed you are doing with free maps updates and free camera alerts.  They also do a 5" that has the same features.

My experience with Stainless steel exhaust components is that these are longer lasting but more noisy than mild steel originals.  Having said that though some stainless steel replacements are made from thinner gauge or lower quality than others, so a good recommendation worth getting.  

It should be a requirement for long lasting material to be used in brake lines.

Flexible hoses have a particularly hard life and apart from noting obvious external cracking and stiffness can suffer internally.  Had this happen on a car where the rubber had swollen so much that it had completely stopped the passage of brake fluid to calliper.  Found this as I cut the  pipe apart.

Don't know if all tyres are the same size/directional but if same size you could try transposing front and rears to see if that makes a difference. Assume wheels are being gradually tightened in prescribed pattern.

Exterior colour and internal trim colour is less of a consideration to some if other aspects tick the box.  I missed out on a 3rd Gen Premier that had the silver exterior I wanted with beige interior, heated part wood steering wheel and more advanced cruise control and waited several months to find another the same.  In the end I found a very nice example without the aforementioned extras but with interior lifted somewhat by light grey seats, side  arm rests and top of central arm rest.  It's a long way from being the most attractive SUV but I have come to like it and find it neater than the larger footprint of the 4th Gen RX models.  More importantly, It will serve me until an all electric model is a better proposition with as good comfort and I don't see this happening for some time.

I did do a small adjustment to enable a slightly larger AGM Battery to be fitted,  (Take care not to let yours go near flat as this shortens the life/kills it).  Additionally, I installed a detachable six inch TomTom on a secure platform I made.  This provides free map and camera updates and i have found it to be more reliable than the Lexus sat nav.  I did detail these on the forum quite a while ago now.

I see you don't have the roof rails which some like.  They are difficult to find used and available from Lexus Dealers but very expensive to buy.

Enjoy your very nice motor car!

Well I started with the quote as previously mentioned for £2130 this morning and ended up with £1261.67 (including £44 for break down service), by late afternoon.  So a saving made more than I ever earned in a day!  This lowest quote was for Ageas via Compare the Market, with Ageas who I have used previously.  It was interesting that comparison sites showed considerable differences for the same insurers

Last year I paid circa £600. This was from AXA through Sterling Services.  They have now quoted £2130 for renewal in mid May.  I live in Devon and have not cost my insurers anything for years.  I was rear ended in 2020 and T boned by a driver coming out of a side road into a main road in 2022, so neither accident my fault and other drivers insurers paid full cost.  Best deal I have obtained so far is £1474-48 from RAC, also with lowest total excess. Saga weighed in with an eye watering £3759-56.  So still looking  and answering questions.

It's time consuming going through various comparison sites etc answering mostly similar questions.  How much easier it would be and time saving if there was a standard industry form listing all the questions insurers ask with ones that individual companies don't need answered blacked out so you only had to do this once for the majority of quotes from different companies.

The special plugs fitted will comfortably do in excess of 80k miles, some people have gone 100K but in your shoes I would go with 80k.  It is easy to remove and check a plug from the front bank. It's accessing the rear bank that calls for removing a lot of components and refitting afterwards.  Unfortunately, my Lexus Dealer wouldn't to the service  without plugs because although it had done only circa 40 K at the time, they were going by years.