Any Lexus IS 300h owners?

Author
Discussion

Martyn76

Original Poster:

616 posts

116 months

Friday 7th September 2018
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Just looking for real life feed back re these cars, everyone seems to be going BMW 330\530e or Merc equivalent when it comes to sporty'ish saloons but not seen these mentioned on here, seen a few around on the road and wondering how they are going, Pros & Cons, MPG, etc.

Looking to change in the next 12 months, currently have a 2006 E91 330d and want to move away from the black stuff and hybrid looks like a good compromise between performance and decent MPG?

Most of my weekly driving is around town (40mph limits), weekends maybe the odd M'way journey (150 mile round trip once or twice a month), more of cruiser then a boy race but do like a good turn of speed.

gangzoom

6,251 posts

214 months

Friday 7th September 2018
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Our IS300H is now 3.5 years old, we bought it new when my wife was considering a Jag XF but got put off by the diesel engine and the V6 petrol was too thirsty.

Get a F sport or Luxury spec version and its a very very nice small saloon. Its a much nicer place to sit than my old E90 335i, but the infotainment system isnt great.

Handling is actually very good, the suspension is really well damped and much better than the way BMW M-Sport cars are set up.

Real life mpg is 45-55 all year round, I've seen 65mpg on M way runs, and never seen below 40mpg even in worst traffic.

HOWEVER the powerdelivery is lets say 'challenging'. Its not a slow car, sub 8 seconds to 60 and picks up speed well. But the way the hybridsetup mimics a CVT system isnt great. There is lots of throttle lag as the system takes time to respond to your right foot, and when the power does come its totally nonlinear/unpredictable. Which essenitally means thrashing one down a B road is like navigating a canal in a oil tanker. Really really frustrating car, because the chassis has so much potential, which is runied by the powertrain.

My wife loves it though and if your never going to push the car more than 7/10 of its potential on the road its fab, really really good. But if you enjoy giving the car a odd bit of thrashing than look else where. The more I drive our IS300H, the more frustrated I am about the unresponsiveness of the drivetrain, but luckily its my wifes car, and I only have to drive it once a month to fill up.

Put it this way untill last year our cars were a Nissan Leaf and the IS300H, the Leaf was the car I took out for a Sunday drive!!!!

Edited by gangzoom on Friday 7th September 16:14

Martyn76

Original Poster:

616 posts

116 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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Thanks for the reply.

Shame the drive train lets the car down, I had a BMW 330e for an afternoon and found it very smooth and not wanting for get up and go, might look to test drive one when I decide to change, must fight the urge for a F31 330D....

Jag_NE

2,949 posts

99 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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I had a 2016 model as a stop gap car for a few months. At first I didn’t enjoy the cvt at all but by the time the car went back I’d really warmed to the car and would have another Lexus in the future.

I get paid for fuel so caned the thing, high 30’s mpg average. If you were sensible it would be quite a bit higher.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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The comments on the drivetrain is interesting, as these are on my list for my next car, albeit in a year or two.

I had a Toyota hybrid before, and in sport/power mode it was pretty responsive, so I’m surprised the Lexus is not.
The engine noise on a fast back road takes some getting used to, although it’s an acquired taste I found, best thing is just to have the radio on.

Guess I will have to drive one sooner or later. Currently have an E class, and while I love it, the ongoing costs are eye watering. It actually cost more in maintenance, rfl and insurance over the last 18000 miles than it did in fuel, and it only gets 36 mpg!

gangzoom

6,251 posts

214 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
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Super Slo Mo said:
I had a Toyota hybrid before, and in sport/power mode it was pretty responsive, so I’m surprised the Lexus is not.
I suppose it depends on what your comparing it too. Our other car is an EV with virtually instant torque at any speed witb 0 lag, but compared to say a diesel Volvo the Lexus is better.

But its not just throttle lag, its also the inconsistent power delivery. Trying to adjust the line mid corner with your right foot it almost impossible, as Tom Hanks says 'you never know what your going to get net'. Some times its the full whack of the motor+battery, sometimes half that, occasionally its just more lag.

For me a good fun car needs to give you confidence about how far you can push it, make you feel at one with the machine, the suspension setup of the IS does it beautifully, but the drivetrain really lets it down.


Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
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Interesting. I mentioned the Toyota as it’s broadly the same drive train albeit with less power and in a front wheel drive setup.
I could balance that car on a knife edge in the corners, there were no issues with power delivery.
Steering was utterly lifeless though, I had to recalibrate my senses in that respect.