It was last June when I posted a question about buying an NX, for which I received some useful advice from both respondents and the forum in general. Some time has passed since then, thanks to some family issues that came up and one or two other things. I had also thought about the Corolla Cross Hybrid that was announced last year but my local Toyota dealer seems genuinely clueless as to when one might be available and whilst I am a dedicated Lexota buyer, time to move on from my previous Toyota and not delay further. To cut the story short I now have a 17 reg NX sitting outside, with which I am very pleased. I did think about the 2018+ model upgrade but my criteria were for a full Lexus history and sufficient miles relative to age to cover me for the remaining Relax warranty period. 18+ models tended to be rather miley relative to my budget and I was bearing in mind the advice that the upgrade was relatively minor so went for condition rather than age as a priority.
I have a 17 reg plate Luxury with a fully stamped and documented service book and 27k miles on the clock. Plenty of headroom for the next five and half years of the warranty. I did look in the showroom of the local dealer on several occasions, but the last time I visited the salesman suggested I look at a particular car that he thought fitted my wants, and I was shocked to see it had a small dent and scratch in the roof just behind the windscreen. I was profusely assured that this would be resolved as I am sure it would be, but I am amazed that it made it into the showroom without being attended to first. Consequently my search widened and I found a good quality dealer trading in high end cars who had the vehicle I wanted.
A few minor issues of course. The 90 mile ride home was bone jarring, but then with the tyres pressures at around 40psi I guess it would be! Now set at 32 it is much more magic carpet and corners well with very little roll. The front tyres are Yokohama, and I think that accounts for the tyre roar I can hear on poorer surfaces. The back tyres are that well known brand of Chinese ditch finders, Farroad. They are new, and this particular version has reasonable reviews, not that I would ever have chosen them. Now at the correct pressure they seem much quieter but my experience with cheaper tyres is that as they wear then noise increases disproportionately. I plan to have them swapped to the front at the next service and when the Yokos have had it replace all four with Michelin cross climates, as recommended by several others. The boot is on the compact side but I can cope with that. What I am having great difficulty coping with is the remote controller knob device. I feel I should wear my flowery shirt and flares when using it so that we are all back in the 1980s complete with gauche graphics. If kit like this cant be used intuitively without needing a thick manual then it is not good enough. I had a 65 reg Toyota before and that was much easier to use than this. At one point I wish I had gone for the refreshed model if only to get Apple CarPlay. Since then I have sat in the car and played with it and am beginning to make some sense of it and to find my way around. However it bluetooths my music, the phone works and I have a Garmin satnav if all else fails. I am just fitting my Dashcam and then look forward to plain sailing.
Overall, I am very pleased with the car. I have yet to experience the scream of the engine when accelerating, obviously not trying hard enough, but it has simply not been necessary to floor the pedal and the acceleration and cruise seems absolutely fine for everyday use. The sound system is better than I thought, and I have now learnt to cope with the disconnect between the screen and the dash info panel. In fact it makes it easier to use the radio etc on the move using the steering wheel controls. The seats are very comfortable and management in the passenger seat is very happy, its like driving an armchair with the benefit of no neck strain and much easier entry/exit compared to previous experience. I did try one with the pano rood but found that stole a little headroom in the back seat and as a family of beanpoles that would not have been helpful. All in all very happy with my choice and looking forward to many miles of trouble free motoring. A long trip away next week, and motoring holidays in June and then in France in August to get more in depth experience.
Tally ho!