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Are you sure it was a factory order and not a ready to ship ES sitting in Aichi prefecture ready to be loaded on to a carrier which by luck exactly matched up the spec you were interested in ? If it is already built then you cannot change the spec but cosmetic additions can be done at the dealership. Just asking as for me a big factor into buying my ES was that it was available in a month, because it was already built and ready to be shipped where as all other manufacturers were saying three/four months. I had to wait for the rubber floor mats for about an extra month after the car was delivered ! --E

I think what Lexus are doing with the ES (as probably they may have been doing with other models around the world), get people on board and then slowly increase the price but not enough to boil the frog. Having used BMW and VAG group cars and then also Mazda and Lexus now... there is no way I am going anywhere near the German brands unless Lexus go bonkers with their pricing. And with the ES, I feel I may not even change the car for quite some time now. I guess as a repeat customer in a few years' time, the dealership may be able to offer some kind of deal which takes into account or works around the tax (whatever it will be in a few years' time, and why is 40k a limit for a car to be luxurious why not 25k or why not 60k to attract that additional random amount of extra money) One thing is for sure that anyone I know personally who had bought a Lexus product a few years ago, will not get into any other brand now. I am in the same boat. The Toyota group in general is going in a very interesting direction... introduction of Turbo V6, Turbo I4, Turbo V6 + Hybrid (iForce MAX), Full Electric !!! Not to mention bringing Mazda into the Toyota group and all the niceness that may rub into some of the Toyota products. Will be nice to see how it turns out and I hope UK gets to see some of those products as well. --E

Seems like it is a thing ! And I did not notice it yet 😕 https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-7th-gen-2019-present/951200-active-noise-control-with-subwoofer.html

Are you sure it is the door grab handle ? Just asking as it might be somewhere in the seat belt "area" and due to the nature of the beast there actually may not be a solution. Blame it to the sarcastically excellent roads we have here. I notice this in my car but I know the exact patches of road now where this occurs and it is the seat belt housing. It settles down once I get to better roads or motorway. The problem is there are too many freely moving "things" in the seat belt assembly that it cannot be controlled. I do have a roll of felt tape at hand in case I get too bothered and also able to locate the exact place which is causing the sound. HTH --E

Hi Neil, Most manufacturers have this configurator. The best configurators are BMW, Mini, Jaguar/Land Rover, Lexus. Best is subjective but I think they are the best as they are able to show you what the final product which look like in near true likeness. Most others are here and there. Cheers, --E

Hi John, This is a bit subtle but there are two separate variants. - Premium Edition - Base ES + Premium Pack (this is the one which I bought January this year and was under 40k with metallic paint hence I don't have to pay £325 surcharge on top of VED). This new Premium Pack however even with non-metallic paint is going over 40k ! HTH --E

Hi, Just noticed today that the new configurator for ES is available. The good thing is that infotainment is now based on a touchscreen ! Even the basic 8" one 🙂 However, the bad thing is that ES Base + Premium Pack now goes over 40k 😕 F-Sport + Tech Pack gets most of the goodies (no real leather, no super comfy Takumi seat for driver, no seat ventilation though) and comes in under the 40k retail price. Takumi as nice as it is, I still feel it too much money for the 218hp system output. For that much money I'd expect a bit more pokey engine. Hoping for the 250hp hybrid drivetrain from Highlander (can totally do without the AWD) Cheers, --E

Is it also Superman spec ? (Red interior ?) That colour is one of the most beautiful looking Blue ever. Congratulations 🙂 --E

Gentlemen, seems like it will be a Honda Jazz 😕 Negotiating a lease deal on one. Test drove it. There is a lot of space in it for the size. And talking about size, having done the new school run, leave alone RX even an IS will be the wrong size. Currently we have to park the ES quite a far bit away and then walk to the school gate. Every single one of those 4975mm of the ES are apparent if we ever try and take it close to the school ! Never noticed this earlier when my daughter hadn’t started Y7 as we could find ample parking maybe 20 meters from the school. Didn’t expect the Jazz would be good but have to say, it feels solid and the hybrid system is pokey as well and will be a lot easier for my wife to park at her work place and do the school run. I know there will be less sux with a Lexus but … based on current logistics, that Jazz will play ok (I hope) (Why lease ? that is an entirely different story left for another day) Cheers, —E

Having worked the configurator and speaking with the dealerships, my conclusion was that F-Sport + Tech Pack is probably the most optimal combination. It includes pretty much everything which I consider important i.e. Memory Seats, 3-Beam LED. But also includes the larger screen. But it leaves out stuff which can be done without i.e. Ventilated Seats, Real Leather + Thigh Support. And, it still comes in under 40k so saves the luxury surcharge on VED. Takumi is too much money for the drive train. For that much money I'd expect a bit more eagerness from it. However, for me personally I think I could not come to terms with the F-Sport seats hence went with Premium Pack instead. Premium Edition is the best value for money at this point in time if one doesn't share the car in the family. It is a major pain in the back to get into the car and not being able to find the ideal position and set it up all over again because the wife moved it way too close, way too high up 😕 EDIT : Just checked again. F-Sport + Tech Pack is now over 40k so will be liable for the luxury surcharge !

Well then Sir that explains why you weren't introduced to F-Sport 🙂 (Although I have a feeling I know what that F stands for in the ES300h F-Sport) If you were not told about the Premium Pack v/s Premium Edition then I would recommend you speak to the dealership about that. There are subtle differences event they sounds very similar. Most notably Premium Pack (and NOT the Premium Edition) brings... - Real leather memory seats for the driver which are Ventilated as well as Heated. You also get the extensible thigh support which is linked to seat memory. I have two settings saved one for motorway and one for local driving. The seat position memory also ties in the steering wheel position and also the wing mirrors. Also these seats and the overall climate system can be set in "full-auto" and the car will take care of turning on the ventilation or heating on the seats depending on the temperature. - 3-beam Adaptive LED headlights. Makes a lot of difference driving in the dark. It identifies road signs and projects a portion of the beam specifically on road signs. Also, has the more "courteous" high beams as it will project light in way to not bother other drivers but still keep the road illuminated as much as possible. Premium Edition gives you that lovely large screen... but I am not sure I need a bigger screen to stare at rather than the above two features mentioned. Premium Pack has other features such as a retractable blind on the rear windscreen but I am ambivalent about that. Nice to have but not a necessity especially with the privacy glass. Hope that helps. Cheers, --E

Are you leasing an in stock car from a broker and mostly speaking with them on the phone ? I think they will only tell you about what they have in stock. If it is a factory order then I am surprised you were not explained every little thing in detail. My buying experience (a factory order) has been that even individual colour options were clearly pointed out as some of them are more expensive than others. Not to mention the "take-home" test drive to be completely sure about what I was getting into in the exact spec I wanted to buy (except the colours) i.e. Standard + Premium Pack, which is different from Premium Edition (which I was offered just before confirming my order as the Premium Edition was a late update to the ES line up and the Premium Edition was coming in cheaper than Premium Pack) Lexus Dealership experience is, for the want of a better word, perfect. Far far better than the Germans. None of the three German brands were able to find a test drive car for the spec I was interested in buying and one of them only allowed 15 minutes in the car ! (And I know why as I was test driving it, the car computer had started to show interesting warnings within the first 5 minutes such as... Lane Departure Assist not available, I am sure in more than 15 minutes it would have fallen apart spontaneously) --E

Hi, I am considering a 2011 IS-250. It is in F-Sport trim. Over 100k miles. What to look out for on these ? Anything specific I should ask the seller (other than service history, ownership history etc) Cheers, --E

Two kids.., one toddler and one pre-teen.

Wow... wasn't even considering iQ so far (haven't seen automatic iQs as well). Thanks Steve.. will take a look. Will they be available at around £5k ? Also, anything to look out for on these ? Cheers, --E

Thanks Roy. I looked for Auris and in fact they are within budget in AutoTrader. Thanks.

Would love an LS however not sure if my wife (who will primarily be using it) be comfortable driving it. Actually, I am pretty sure she'll love how it drives. It is the parking and school runs which will cause her the grief. A CT or even an IS is about the right size. So far in the lockdown and all.. I have been doing the school runs in the ES but in a few months' time hopefully things will be back on the usual track (more or less) and I won't be able to do the usual runs all of the times. But, yes... LS is getting considered. Cheers, --E

Hi Steve, Yes a smaller car will also do. Just mentioned the RX and IS as they are advertised on AutoTrader within the budget. Sorry, didn’t get that part ? The ES will get used… a lot. Cheers, —E

Good morning fine folks of the Lexus club 🙂 As in the subject, we are going to need a second car. Primarily for local use as the ES will take on motorway miles duty (about 400 miles a week, then sits on the driveway on weekends) Has to be a used one and would love to get another Lexus. There are constraints however 😕 Cannot afford another new one, so looking at used ones Budget is 5k at the very max Has to be automatic transmission Still have some time to find and buy one but not sure a couple months is enough time ? Have been looking at AutoTrader and there are a bunch of RX (400h) well within price but very high miles. Also found an IS (6cyl petrol, 2005) in budget. Not sure what to look out for however other than the usual (number of keepers, history etc) Any recommendations, thoughts, opinions and ideas please. (Admins: Please move to a different sub-forum if not appropriate for this one) Cheers, —E

Silly question, but still asking 🙂 Do you by any chance the leave the car in Accessory mode ? This happens when you completely turn off the car, then push the start button once without holding the break. Maybe you are doing this to keep the radio/music on while you fill up. I think after the fuel filler cap is closed (obviously after opening it) the car needs a "reboot" i.e. completely turn off and then start again. HTH --E

Well done Peniole. The best part is that even if you have to drive it fast for prolonged periods, the economy doesn’t drop by a lot. But if you are prepared to drive gently, prepared to be surprised. I once got 100MPG !!!

Congratulations 🎉 I see that you are in Berkshire, did you buy it from Twickenham? Due to the Covid situation, I had to take the delivery outside so didn't get to see the car in diffused lights. My ES is also Graphite Black and that color changes shades depending on the ambient light. Cheers, --E

Any recommendations on where I can get PPF in Bucks/Berkshire area ? Things are pretty dire as the hand car wash I used to go to has now installed a conveyor belt type machine wash. And they don't know how to operate it correctly. The last time I went there the belt stalled (apparently one car in the front applied brakes) and I just was stood there getting soap on the car three times !!! And then the belt moved too slowly I started getting Hybrid System warning as the car has to be in Neutral while on the belt. Not going there ever again 😕 I have had one hand wash at a different place but really don't trust those guys set up shop very recently. Cheers, --E

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Brian. Just one thing though. There were reports of the front parking sensors malfunctioning if Ceramic Coating was applied. That's what is preventing me as well from going ahead with a paint protection on my Graphite Black ES. And I already have a shrub branch induced scratch on the rear driver side door (either that or my daughter managed to rub her coat zipper when closing the door) Have you noticed any issues with parking sensors after getting the ceramic coat ? Is getting a PPF a good idea ? Cheers, --E

That's an excellent deal Steve. Well done 👍 I was thinking maybe the final payment went up by some logic (of finance) and that may need careful deliberations. Cheers, --E