jazz_lives

Any idea where I can get a rear wiper blade from? eBay strangely silent on the matter. If anyone is wondering, the cross section of the rubber is different to a front blade so they are not interchangable. TIA

Going back to fundamentals. Do all tyres, when new, have the same depth of tread?

Any thoughts on taking your Lexus to a Toyota dealer for servicing? Or, indeed, repairs?

Looking around other news groups it is difficult to find anyone with a good word for extended warranties. I appreciate the people who find them satisfactory are hardly likely to post a message. So has anyone here used an extended warranty company that has paid up and given satisfactory service?

Car coming up to three years old and have been offered an extended warranty by Lexus for one year for £825.00. Seems a lot for a car which is supposed to be of above average reliability. Any comments? Any suggestions to go elsewhere for similar cover at a more resonable price? TIA

Has anyone a source of wiper blades for a RX300- just the rubber bit if it is easy to change - as genuine Lexus ones are ridiculously priced? TIA

......(snipped)...... Where would you fit that engine heater? Which model did you get? Does it draw power from the 12 v battery? If so how much? Is there any danger of flattening the battery when it is running in the garage? Regards Billy A couple of points which may only have peripheral importance. Years ago there was a heater on the market that required a small section, 2 or 3 inches, to be cut out of the bottom radiator hose. The heater was fitted therein with a couple of Jubilee Clips. The power lead from this led to a three pin socket in a convenient place; somewhere that would be easily noticed as you leapt into the car in the morning whilst still in a sleepy stupour. Mains powered, obviously, but drew only about 250 watts. The heater body was available in various sizes to accomodate varying diameter hoses. Secondly, in my RX300 I've noticed that petrol consumption goes up when the climate control is in use and working hard. On a hot day it suffers by the equivalence of about three miles per gallon.

It maybe is being suggested that it is brokers and not insurance companies that are hiking premium prices in succeeding years. In my original posting - September 14 - the broker who suggested the £489 premium is the same broker I had the NIG renewal quote (£574) through. This seems to indicate to me that the broker was embarassed by the size of the renewal quote. And this does indicate to me that it is the insurance companies, or at least some of them, and not generally brokers who hike prices and hope public inertia or apathy stops clients searching.

And so we seem to go full circle. NIG is the company who wanted a massive £574.37 to renew for my RX300. See above posting - September 14th. I am drawn to the conclusion that NIG, and companies who underwrite through it, are the ones who give you a good initial quote but over the subsequent years the premium rises to overtake over insurance companies quotes and they are hoping that inertia will keep them the custom. Shop around and be prepared to do so every couple of years.

[snipped]......................... Also... how many miles doe you get out of a set of pads (typically)... I have 12k miles, might ask them to check amount left and if not a lot then see if they'll swap them in while doing the recall. Hopefully only cost me the cost of the pads then. When I had my first service done after 8,000 miles I was told that the pads were 10% worn. I'm not a hard driver so I think they should last quite a few miles yet. Also had a brake recall letter yesterday morning. Is it suggested that I go in with my tank level as low as possible?! Does it get topped up?

Current insurer wants £574.37 to renew. Broker suggests £489.26. Saga quotes £314.28. All with legal cover and max NCD. Initial quotes from insurance companies are often low to entice your business. They then creep up to overtake others. Shop around and be prepared to do so every couple of years.

David (Call me Dave) Cameron has bought a RX400 to go with his green image. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4937380.stm

RX300. Depends of course on fuel cost, but about £55.

On BBC 2 tv this coming Friday at 7.00pm is a programme called "The Gas-Guzzlers Versus The Greens". According to the tv preview in Saturday's 'The Times' supplement called 'The Eye', "The 'Money Programme', however, discovers that car-makers have a cunning plan. The new Lexus RX400h will be launched in Britain in July - the first environmentally friendly, pert-electric, part-petrol SUV". Could be a load of rubbish or could be interesting or, more probably, a mixture of both. That the date of transmision is 1st April is purely coincidental, we trust. Or should I watch Emmerdale?

I didn't get the valet. But my tank was filled up. So those who arrived with a low reading got more; must bear that in mind if there is another recall! Difficult to see how you get a full tank if there is some already in it - gallon cans on the back seat? By the way, the current Lexus ads are stating the RX purchase price includes a full tank. I didn't get this when I bought last September. Indeed, on the 48 mile drive home the amber warning light came on and I had to fill up.

Honest John, he of the Daily Telegraph motoring supplement, has two obsessions. One is engine rattles, which are nearly always caused by the timing chain, and that petrol bought from supermarkets is inferior to that of the same grade bought from petrol stations. Any substance in his second obsession? Jazz Lives (and so it does)

Series II governed to 124mph.

The Christmas issue of 'The New Yorker', the well known American magazine, has a coloured double page advertising spread of the 2005 RX with pictures taken in Italy. Incidentally, I can't see any external differences in the photographs to the 2004 model. Now I've just spent, since September, four weeks in Italy and the only Lexus I saw was a German registered saloon. Is the RX in fact sold in Italy? Another incidental, I did see a Maserati Quadroporto (sp?) - very tasty.

Tell me why should I watch Top Gear?

Just fitted mine. No problems. Good fit with no gaps. Peel off protective tape and press firmly into position having made sure the bumper is clean and dry. There's a small mark at midpoint which you line up with the boot catch to get the correct position. It might not be clear in the photographs but it is embossed with the Lexus name and looks very smart as well as being practical. Thanks to Lexus Edinburgh.

Don't get your heart set on Tungsten Mist. When I ordered mine in July I was told that not many were being made and it might be discontinued in 2005 (for the RX anyway). Two unspoken for ones were on the ship which docked in August and I had one of them. The one that was free (ie, unspoken for!) had a black interior although, of course, it has probably gone by now. T.Mist was a consession to the lady wife and I quite like it. In certain lights it has a shot silk quality; blue or green depending on the amount of yellow in the light that falls on it, I guess. I'd have probably gone for Stafford Blue. Not many RX's about but those I see are usually P.Ice or black. Might be different in other parts of the country.

Got quote down to £521 which I accepted. See post above.

Rural area, impeccable record for over 40 years except for 2003 when an unisured driver rammed me in a car park when I wasn't present. Churchill want £588, First alternative £635. What should I be looking for? Anyone recommend a good price comparison site. Anyone recommend a good insurance company (surely that's not an oxymoron!).

Are all or just some Lexus dealers in the discount scheme?

In the UK we have Travelinn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn Express and others. Are there any European equivalents? With informative websites? Thank you in anticipation.