New Car - Going from Lexus IS250 to which car?

[shopper150]

I'm looking for a replacement car for my parents, current they are in a 2009 Lexus iS250 SE-L.
I was thinking about getting something a little higher, and thought the Audi Q3 was a nice size.
However, buying a used one is proving difficult as the Lexus has plenty of included extras like heated seats and electric seats etc.

Looking to spend £20k, can anyone suggest cars that they would may be suitable with all extras included and not too big?

Are Volvo XC40's any good? The Lexus UX seems a bit funky with rear seats not very roomy. The NX too big.

I'm a bit worried that they will be disappointed if the new car isn't as 'Lexusy / Luxury'.

Edited by shopper150 on Sunday 11th October 17:43

[ZX10R NIN]

Infiniti QX30 Premium Tech it pretty much ticks all the boxes & will be to a spec that your parents are used to as well as the running costs.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008222...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008283...

[Heaveho]

shopper150 said:

I'm looking for a replacement car for my parents, current they are in a 2009 Lexus iS250 SE-L.
I was thinking about getting something a little higher, and thought the Audi Q3 was a nice size.
However, buying a used one is proving difficult as the Lexus has plenty of included extras like heated seats and electric seats etc.

Looking to spend £20k, can anyone suggest cars that they would may be suitable with all extras included and not too big?

Are Volvo XC40's any good? The Lexus UX seems a bit funky with rear seats not very roomy. The NX too big.

I'm a bit worried that they will be disappointed if the new car isn't as 'Lexusy / Luxury'.

Edited by shopper150 on Sunday 11th October 17:43

If you've had one Lexus product, you'll regret not staying with them. Reliability and customer service are about as good as it gets for a relatively mainstream brand. Toyota CHR worth a look? Same general qualities as a Lexus.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't touch an Audi after a Lexus. Or before! But I'm a Lexus freak, so that's me. I think you'll find it troublesome compared to what you've been use to.

As above though, I would have a look at the Infinity.

[shopper150]

Thanks
Used car buying is a pain but I guess it’s a trade off between paying for a factory order!

[Trevor555]

I mirror exactly what Heaveho has said above.

Another IS would be my advice for 20k if the UX doesn't fit the bill.

[shopper150]

Trevor555 said:

I mirror exactly what Heaveho has said above.

Another IS would be my advice for 20k if the UX doesn't fit the bill.

I’ve always wondered why Lexus owners always stock to the brand.

The reviews for the UX don’t seem great. I also find Lexus a bit plasticky but they do have a certain drive that I guess is difficult to replicate

[Trevor555]

shopper150 said:

Trevor555 said:

I mirror exactly what Heaveho has said above.

Another IS would be my advice for 20k if the UX doesn't fit the bill.

I’ve always wondered why Lexus owners always stock to the brand.

The reviews for the UX don’t seem great. I also find Lexus a bit plasticky but they do have a certain drive that I guess is difficult to replicate

We recently went along to see the new UX and I thought the same.

Even in the top spec Takumi one the door cards were all plastic, and it's quite a small car.

The NX was nicer inside, but from memory it's the older gen3 engine in the NX, and I've since read that it's a favourite with the catalyst thieves.

Get them to look at the Toyotas.

Anyhow, onto VAG.

I've had several VAG cars now, personal ownership, apart from the Skodas they've all had issues that Audi/VW didn't want to know about.

A new Tiguan that crunched going into reverse, "normal sir"

A very laggy DSG box on an Audi sports model, I was promised a software update would improve it. A year later "that's how they are sir"

A loose exhaust valve, parts on order. Then after waiting " that's how they are sir"

A noisy 2nd gear on a VW UP.. " it's a lightweight car sir, the gearbox casing is therefore very thin to save weight, hence you can hear a whine from the gears"

Funny how it can only be heard in 2nd gear then.. As soon as the master Tech road tested it with me he said " noisy second gear"

A diesel Audi A1 advertised as capable of doing 78mpg, we never saw more than 52mpg even when trying very hard.

My point is, they've continually tried to evade warranty repairs.

I can't stress more to your parents to stick with Lexus, or consider Toyota as the next best thing.

[Heaveho]

I'm wary of German products generally ( said the Porsche owner ), but haven't had anything like the exposure to them that the previous poster has. He has the wisdom to reinforce my instinct!

I processed warranty claims for Lexus in a previous life, and currently, and for the past 10 years, have owned a 16 year old model. I can't realistically replace it for anything better, even if I was prepared to spend 10 times the value of ours.

I would be very wary of expecting to be anything like as satisfied with a different brand.

Good luck, hope you get sorted.

[kieranblenk]

How about a high spec Honda CRV?

[stressfree]

Look at Toyota CH-R in Excell trim with 2.0 hybrid engine, it will be cheaper and better equipped than Lexus UX (mostly the same car underneath). However, Lexus uses better quality internal materials and CH-R looks are not for everyone.
Current NX is still not based on TNGA platform and uses older hybrid setup, so not as good to drive or economical as RAV4 MK5 (look at Excell, it has electric leather seats with memory). From personal experience, my RAV4 MK5 gets at least 10mpg more then RAV4 MK4 (NX in disguise), both hybrids.
Also, with Toyota, you stay under 40K TAX bracket, but Lexus with options will be more than 40K.

[Trevor555]

stressfree said:

Look at Toyota CH-R in Excell trim with 2.0 hybrid engine, it will be cheaper and better equipped than Lexus UX (mostly the same car underneath). However, Lexus uses better quality internal materials and CH-R looks are not for everyone.
Current NX is still not based on TNGA platform and uses older hybrid setup, so not as good to drive or economical as RAV4 MK5 (look at Excell, it has electric leather seats with memory). From personal experience, my RAV4 MK5 gets at least 10mpg more then RAV4 MK4 (NX in disguise), both hybrids.
Also, with Toyota, you stay under 40K TAX bracket, but Lexus with options will be more than 40K.

So glad you dropped in, the new Rav is the one now on our list, 5 year warranty as well, where Lexus is only three, good to hear from a happy owner, the mpg looks impressive.

And a big plus for me is that I've been going into my local Toyota garage since the days of them servicing my AE86, and I truly have never had a negative experience with them. And now that I'm a little bit older/wiser it means not having to suffer fools/idiots standing behind a service reception counter telling me my faulty car isn't faulty. That now means a lot to me.

So please OP, don't let them stray to Audi/VW

[Baldchap]

I went from an IS250 daily (which I loved) to a Golf GTI PP to a Golf R to an RS4.

Lexus lost their way when they went four cylinder/hybrid. They did the silky smooth sixes fantastically well but the same can't be said for the fours.

Just a bit of balance. VAG isn't as terrible as PH fashion would have you believe.

[aka_kerrly]

Baldchap said:

Just a bit of balance. VAG isn't as terrible as PH fashion would have you believe.

Of course not, it's all relative, even when people start rolling out the JD power surveys where VW were ranked in the middle of the table with around 115 problems reported per 100 cars and Peugeot ranked top with 77 problems per 100.

What isn't mentioned is Peugeot managed to sell 77,000 cars in the UK during 2019 where as VW alone (NOT inc Audi/Seat/Skoda etc) sold more than 85,000 from January to July 2020 which given the COVID situation would suggest VW is well on target to more than double Peugeot sales thus it seems quite reasonable that with double the number of cars there will be more recorded instances of 'failures'

It's also worth noting that a significant number of the failures recorded on modern cars are largely BS to do with navigation/audio/communication systems and I'd bet a significant number of the failures recorded DO NOT prevent the car being driven. It isn't literally 117 VW engines WILL explode per 100 cars

OP, I have been looking at IS250s as a suitable upgrade for my Dad's IS200, would you be able to point me in the direction of it's advert when it goes on sale?

[roscopervis]

I don't know how many miles they do, or why they want to change the car, but I would think the nicest RX450h would probably be an option. It may be a bit older, but the engineering on these is superb. A 20k one bought wisely will be tip top and very nice.

[shopper150]

roscopervis said:

I don't know how many miles they do, or why they want to change the car, but I would think the nicest RX450h would probably be an option. It may be a bit older, but the engineering on these is superb. A 20k one bought wisely will be tip top and very nice.

It's a lovely car, but i think they might find it too big.

[Jimmy Recard]

aka_kerrly said:

Of course not, it's all relative, even when people start rolling out the JD power surveys where VW were ranked in the middle of the table with around 115 problems reported per 100 cars and Peugeot ranked top with 77 problems per 100.

What isn't mentioned is Peugeot managed to sell 77,000 cars in the UK during 2019 where as VW alone (NOT inc Audi/Seat/Skoda etc) sold more than 85,000 from January to July 2020 which given the COVID situation would suggest VW is well on target to more than double Peugeot sales thus it seems quite reasonable that with double the number of cars there will be more recorded instances of 'failures'

You're not a statistician, I take it?

[aka_kerrly]

Jimmy Recard said:

You're not a statistician, I take it?

Haha dam ive spotted the issue...going to blame tiredness.

[Jimmy Recard]

aka_kerrly said:

Haha dam ive spotted the issue...going to blame tiredness.

happens to the best of us