Tickedon

18 hours ago, GSLV6 said:

After a little research today, I tend to agree with you.  Volvo now owned by the Chinese, numerous reliability issues, poor dealer after care and expensive service costs.  The car I've been after it appears is sat on my driveway.  Nothing made today really betters it.  It still looks and drives like new and there was a moment of blindness to change it for no better reason than to benefit from another 10 year's warranty.  

There is a paid-for extended warranty available up to 15 years /150k miles. Not as comprehensive as Relax and for approx £5-600 per year. Not all dealers are aware of it, some reports in here Jemca dealers are aware and will sell it. 

Could give you peace of mind and fixed bill motoring for a few more years? 

4 hours ago, GSLV6 said:

It seems that almost unbelievably, we find ourselves in 2024 with little or no real choices to Lexus but also if we stay, we have to count the cost of ownership of say a 3yr old vehicle as not just £3 to 5K annual depreciation, but that or more in insurance costs.  Add in petrol and you can see that buying say a 2 or 3 year old RX4 will in real terms cost around £7.5K annually, bare minimum, excluding servicing costs.  That's pretty ludicrous.  It's not worth the extra money to stay with Lexus imho.  The extra cost invested in a less reliable make goes a long way to keeping it serviceable.

While there is an issue for vulnerable Lexus cars, even non-vulnerable cars like mine have high insurance but also it’s no real difference to the equivalent Audi either. Car insurance has gone up for everyone, and Lexus at least has the benefit of the Relax warranty - whereas for other makes that would be extra. 

Running a car these days is unfortunately rather expensive.

4 hours ago, Sara.E said:

I'm going for a takumi trim not sure on engine yet I'll have try them out to decide which is for me as I test drove a 350 which was good enough for me. 

I was originally going for the NX 350h, but got a too-good-to-pass-up deal on a plug-in hybrid (the 450h). 

I now really enjoy doing all my local trips and shopping etc. purely on electricity, with the security of a large petrol tank to travel the longer distances when needed. The increased bhp and reduced 0-60 time is also very nice.

There are incentives for manufacturers to sell more hybrid plugins (due to lower co2 ratings)… and so my understanding is the RX 350h has a £1000 deposit contribution and 5.9% PCP finance vs £4000 deposit contribution and 1.9% PCP finance on the 450h+ plugin. Should mean the bigger engine and plug-in works out cheaper for most…

7 hours ago, Lisamart said:

Hey, had my LBX for 2 weeks. Jumped from Audi Q2.  Love it so far but…

how do i save my preference from visual warning only for speed limit signs and to always have no audio on sat nav? Its vexing me that I have to make these adjustments every time I switch the engine on.

anyone got any ideas?

The satnav audio preference should hopefully be stored in your Lexus profile - have you set one up and logged in?

sadly the speed limit bong is an EU rule, and manufacturers are required to have it turn back on each time you start the car… every new car launched from now will include this lovely safety feature, and so we’ll all need to get used to either living with it, or, an extended period of time tapping away at a screen to turn off all these annoying “features”.

19 minutes ago, fezman said:

The canbus issue won't affect new car sales. I think i read all new models have an encrypted canbus. Ironically, that may help them as RX4 and other affected owners upgrade because of it. However, dealers must have lost a ton of money on resale values, annoyed customers etc. plus RX4's sat on forecourts for longer than usual. 

We don’t even know if the new UX 300h is vulnerable. Both the 250h and 300e were - so it’s plausible it’s still vulnerable. The same for the ES - unclear if there have been any changes. 

The original article provided dates, now it just lists lots of models and only says the new NX and RX, plus LBX, have the new platform with security changes… 

Lexus sales so far this year (2024)...

Jan: 676
Feb: 429
Mar: 2758 (hello new 24 registration and lots of new LBX models!)
Apr: 1318
A sale is a new car registration (i.e. cars ordered will count as a sale weeks/months later when registered)

Watchdog ran their story in mid-March. Given cars are often on a lead time, we probably won't see any impact for a while. But given the new LBX, even if other existing customers choose to go elsewhere for their next new car, the new buyers brought in by the LBX will likely compensate...

A long way of saying Lexus UK probably don't have too many incentives to do anything that quickly - sadly!

7 hours ago, GSLV6 said:

Clearly, they are bargaining on a new breed of buyer and have already written off existing 4th generation car owners.  Their whole advertising campaign is more aimed at the young and affluent.   I wish them good luck....they're going to need it.

I'm now off to study the latest guides on reliable, secure cars which offer at least something of the RX experience.  It hasn't taken more than a few minutes to discover the the XC40 and 60 are in the mix and other opportunities, perhaps for something completely different will shake me out of my RX complacency.  My eyes have been opened.

One “young and affluent” here, new to the Lexus brand, guilty as charged…

Lexus had their highest ever sales in the UK in 2023 (the same year they had the highest thefts, as a percentage of cars in the road!). Their first quarter sales in 2024 so far are very similar - so I’m afraid there hasn’t been a crisis-creating drop in demand. Even a 20% drop would just put them back at what they were around pre-pandemic. 

Before my Lexus I had an Audi, and before that a Volvo - I put 70k miles on a S60 over 4.5 years. I would never go back. Servicing is extortionate and I had enough problems that I had to find a friendly independent to keep the costs reasonable.

I’m not saying Lexus are doing a good job on this issue (far from it) nor that they should get a free pass - but the grass isn’t always greener.

Don’t want to burst your happy car moment… but as you live in the SE, you need to be aware Lexus was the most stolen car brand in 2023 (2% of all Lexus cars on the road were stolen last year!). 

Thieves mainly target the larger RX (1 in 46 of those stolen last year….) but sadly plenty examples on this forum of ES and NX models being targeted and stolen too. Thieves break part of the front bumper off, plug a device into the car’s wiring (“canbus”), and can unlock your car and drive off in about 60 seconds…

https://mag.lexus.co.uk/lexus-uk-statement-on-vehicle-theft/?fbclid=IwAR2u1DC_0mAo4_kSpK_1FLViLNyHJq0nAKctwfXCMxQi1CwuNiGBA10yY0w_aem_ATXzc0mSafM1xX72JZyfSo-7KpoTKXtkPQjmf6ToRhjQ_4GsDaGMH6Nf5ACoFWEW2pE

Lexus finally said something about the issue after watchdog ran a segment on it. Originally they’d promised a “solution” by the end of April - now that timeframe has been deleted from their statement, with no timeframe now given. 

Ahead of whatever solution Lexus are working on, you may want to consider an Autowatch Ghost or similar. 

1 hour ago, Spock66 said:

Personally I think the Mazda CX-60 looks like a good alternative to Lexus, but no personal experience.

quite a few of my relatives have them… Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda CX5. Never heard them complain of any issues (unlike the VWs and Fords before!).

6 hours ago, Pinkfish said:

Hi all,

I have been trying to get insurance for RX450h. Most refuse to even offer a quote - those that do quote astronomical numbers.  Even a tracker does very little to help.

 

Has anyone else experienced the same ??

Yes. Read this and other threads. RX was the UK’s most stolen car last year (as a percentage of cars on the road) - one in every 46 RXs were stolen in 2023.

it even eventually hit watchdog… resulting in this statement: 

https://mag.lexus.co.uk/lexus-uk-statement-on-vehicle-theft/?fbclid=IwAR2u1DC_0mAo4_kSpK_1FLViLNyHJq0nAKctwfXCMxQi1CwuNiGBA10yY0w_aem_ATXzc0mSafM1xX72JZyfSo-7KpoTKXtkPQjmf6ToRhjQ_4GsDaGMH6Nf5ACoFWEW2pE

Have you tried a slower type 2 (7kwh) ? Or if you’ve only been trying those, try a CCS fast charger? 

otherwise I’m afraid back to your dealer - ideally before your Battery runs out…

31 minutes ago, GSLV6 said:

I think it had the updates you describe but the cost of a new model is more than I can justify, another reason for looking at an RX4, pre touch screen model....or was until I read about security vulnerabilities...

There are nearly new examples of the RZ on Autotrader from just under £43k - including from Lexus dealers. The depreciation on them is ridiculous, at these (nearly new, very discounted) prices they are much more reasonable! 

8 minutes ago, DavidCM said:

I've only ever seen one Genesis in the flesh....on the back of a breakdown truck.I believe they are a gussied up Hyundai...In the same way Lexus and Toyota operate.

Spot on, they are indeed a posh Hyundai. 

15 hours ago, RXtoNX said:

Unless things have changed in the past month map updates currently can only be done by the dealer. 
They are FOC but it means that the dealer will need your car for 2 hours. Had ours done 2 months ago & dealer provided us with a courtesy car for the day.

There are instructions on the Lexus website detailing how to do it yourself… but I couldn’t get it to work either (you need a license code for the new update, and the part code showing was invalid according to the Lexus system!). 

On 4/30/2024 at 6:29 PM, stepheneric said:

Are not Lexus also owned by Toyota??

Yes, Lexus is Toyota’s premium brand.

The point I was making is that the Jemca dealerships are ultimately owned by Toyota. Most dealership groups are normally entirely independent and not owned by the car manufacturer (e.g. Steven Eagell also mentioned are entirely independent).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_dealership

4 hours ago, wharfhouse said:

That's disappointing to hear. I've arranged my previous Extended Warranties and the the 10 Year Plus Extended Warranties through Lexus Reading (Jemca - they have a number of dealerships in the south-east) and they have alway been on the ball - even contacting me the last time to see if I wanted to renew. Maybe worth a call to them (assuming you haven't already)? Maybe others who have this will chime in if they have arranged it through dealers closer to you. 

Jemca are owned by Toyota themselves - so not surprised they are clued up! 

9 hours ago, Sundance said:

Ahem ...

(click to enlarge - ooops!)

 

 

Insurers are getting around this by making minor changes to policies - thus arguing the cover isn’t equivalent and so the pricing doesn’t need to be the same. 

6 hours ago, Brian R said:

Just thought I would ask whether anyone has had any related contact with/from their dealer? I, too, was supposed to hear from mine around now, and perhaps during the course of next week I may well give mine a prod unless others might be aware of any change to the Lexus scheduling.

Lexus changed their public update from “April” to “coming weeks” - suggesting a delay… 

6 hours ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Okay Bill.. Lexus cars Have a higher Risk of being Stolen But ALL cars Are at Risk But does that Give them Licence to Hugely Increase Everybody who Owns a Lexus .Its just another Excusal SCAM To Rip people off And its down to one thing ONLY Pure Unadulterated GREED..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lexus were the most stolen car brand in UK 2023. More than 2% of all Lexus cars on the road were stolen.

It’s entirely understandable that insurers will therefore decline to cover them, reducing competition, and both the higher risk and less competition inevitably feeds through to higher prices for consumers.

It’s not a scam - it’s the market working exactly as you’d expect. Overall, insurers were predicted to lose money in 2022 and 2023, and plenty lost rather a lot. https://www.ft.com/content/5dca87fb-1e03-4309-8a4a-01dee4fe4748

2 hours ago, Mincey said:

A scruffy lot. I really abhor this American trend of not wearing ties. I used to work for a large US multi-national Engineering firm and was always appalled when the awful CEO would do a broadcast sans tie.

No-one wears a tie anymore. Except perhaps lawyers in court!

The RX500h should support Android Auto - however, at this time, it’s not wireless and you need to connect via a usb cable. Note that only one of your usb sockets in the car connects data to your screen (the rest are for charging only), so you also need to ensure the right cable is connected to the right usb port.

3 minutes ago, Xez said:

You are correct that purchase incentives have been removed from BEV/PHEV vehicles. Dealers are still able to offer discount and pass on their manufacturer rebates to offer improved prices when it suits them as they approach their sales targets. Lexus still operates a dealer rather than agency structure, thus dealers can, and do, compete for business.

With regard to your point about the opaqueness of lease/PCP deals I would expect that the deposit and underlying interest rate charged within the calculation must be shown before committing to the deal. However as you say on a simple headline table as you provided it is quite possible that there are differences hidden beneath the surface.

The other factor now is the ZEV mandate. Manufacturers, and thus dealers, need to ensure 22% of their vehicles sold in the UK this year have an EV certificate credit. They can get a certificate by selling an EV, borrowing against a future year, buying certificates from other manufacturers (e.g. Tesla)… or earn partial credits by reducing their fleet emissions (as it’s the government, there’s of course a complex formula to work that out). This latter point helps PHEVs as their emissions are a quarter or less of a typical car now - so more incentives to sell PHEVs can be expected, just as manufacturers (including Lexus) are now offering ridiculous discounts on new EVs.

Every certificate (car) short of the 22% will cost the manufacturer £15k per vehicle - so there’s big money on the line. Much better to e.g. give a £8k PCP deposit contribution (as Honda have for their EV) or other discounts on PHEVs, than pay a £15k penalty later!

1 hour ago, CT200NI said:

 

More power to the people driving around in the fruits of their labour. And anyway, it's a small group of 'those 1% people' who pay for I think the bottom 20% of income earners NHS and other things, doesn't 40p of every £1 they earn get taken, just like that?! Personally, I think there's a case that that's unfair..   

 

We passed a tipping point a few years ago - the majority of the UK population now get more from the government in public expenditure and tax credits / benefits than they put in. A smaller and smaller top slice of the population are paying for nearly everything. The top 10% of earners pay more than 50% of all income tax. The top 1% pay 28%.

And 40p? Top rate of tax is 45p plus 2p national insurance - meaning 47% of every £1 earned disappears. And if you’re lucky / unlucky enough to earn between £100k and £125k, your marginal tax rate is *60%*. 

It’s a small miracle anyone still works hard and pays taxes. 

I am however very grateful for anyone who buys a new car - as without those purchases, there’d never be any used cars for everyone else to benefit from…

2 hours ago, IGR said:

 

Comparing FWD vs AWD models on the Lexus website shows that FWD is cheaper to buy, has better MPG, lower emissions therefore lower VED and less weight whereas AWD has better acceleration.

 

Thanks

Just note that only the first year (at time of registration) VED is cheaper - since April 2017 VED rates aren’t based on co2. It’s a fixed annual fee, and in the NXs case, as models are above £40k you’ll be paying the luxury rate - approx £600 per year. 

personally the savings with FWD are minuscule in the overall picture of purchase and running costs. 

4 hours ago, John Adams said:

Bob, how did you book this. I was thinking of doing it for a longish trip in September but my dealer hasn't a clue. Did you just email Lexus Reserve?

It’s detailed in the T&Cs:

https://www.lexus.co.uk/content/dam/lexus/nmsc/united-kingdom/cross-model/Lexus-Reserve-TandCs-2.pdf

3.1 You must book your Reserve Days by emailing lexusreserve@lexus.co.uk.