IS300H

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STS121

Original Poster:

12 posts

79 months

Sunday 3rd September 2017
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Hi guys
Have used the search function but couldn't find any info relating to my question

A few weeks ago I put a post in the buying section over advice on whether to go for an A6 or a 5 series m sport. I was pretty much set on an A6. That is until I walked past a Lexus in Tescos car park yesterday.....

Now I realise the Lexus isn't aimed at the A6, more the A4 and to be honest I aren't interested in hybrids as a way of saving the planet or
Anything. What caught my eye was a similar mpg figures to the A6 but without the tractor engine under the bonnet. Plus I love the look of the Lexus and quite like how the interior cocoons the driver.

Now I do around 8k a year which isn't much but would still like low fuel costs. I have around 17k to spend and he hybrid falls into this bracket quite nicely. So here goes....

1. How does the hybrid work for my kind of journeys, will the battery charge enough to give me decent mpg in line with a tractor engine doing the same thing? My work is 8 miles away so I do this twice a day, takes half an hour each way and a fair bit of time is spent I traffic. Will the Lexus be using just the engine for this time and return crap mpg? Weekends are a little different but lots of time there isn't much motorway stuff going on. Will the battery ever charge?

2. Is buying a second hand hybrid a good idea. In terms of battery life etc etc. Looking at around 2013/4 models and keeping it upto 4/5 years. Will it be any good when I sell it and will I get anything for it?

3. Does it have to be serviced by Lexus (who I hear are very good ). Or would an independent be ok to get their hands on it?

I have done the YouTube videos and reviews so I understand it's not mega sporty with handling etc. But to be fair I'm
More concerned with it looking sporty than ragging it up and down country lanes.

Obviously if i bought something German it would be diesel and with my journey times etc I realise the dpf could be an issue so was wary on that score

My current car is a Mondeo petrol ecoboost with the power shift box which is very good but returns at best 23mph round town. Needs to be a decent improvement on that to be fair

Thanks in advance!!





Edited by STS121 on Sunday 3rd September 10:07

LasseV

1,754 posts

132 months

Sunday 3rd September 2017
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I always laugh when people say sporty and small premium saloon with diesel engine in the same sentence biggrin All of these cars are good to drive tho, but not sporty. I own high mileage 11 years old Prius and it's powertrain (battery+both engines) has been a problem free. My next dd car will be a hybrid too, probably lexus one. Top notch quality, civilised powertrains and they have a good performance/mpg... Anyway, hybrids are easy and cheap to service and Toyota dealers can do it too. No worries there.

Lexus Is300h looks so good... smile

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Monday 4th September 2017
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Not driven an IS300H but I had a CT200H as a courtesy car and that seemed to fully discharge and recharge the battery happily enough in normal urban driving.

The battery size is pretty small compared to a 'proper' plugin hybrid and you can't really do much driving (versus coasting) on the battery alone.

The CT200H was much more refined than a diesel hatchback so I imagine the IS hybrid would be another step up in refinement.

I'd say it was the perfect vehicle for an 8 mile commute if it is across town rather than on open roads.

colin79666

1,808 posts

112 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
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Yes a hybrid is perfect for 8k miles a year, especially if a good chunk is spent in traffic. Hybrids are not so good at long motorway runs - get a diesel for this. I've got a CT200h but the IS300H is significantly more powerful and another step up in quality by all accounts (never driven one but did have a NX300h as a courtesy car). You won't get amazing MPG - probably around 45 which is similar to a diesel in town/stop start driving.

Servicing does not have to be done at Lexus but it is better for it, at least to get the battery health check done which extends the warranty on the hybrid components. Servicing at Lexus is not cheap and is every year or 10k miles so keep that in mind if you might change job and start doing a longer commute for instance. They do hold their value quite well, especially after the first 2 year depreciation is over with. Very reliable by the result of various surveys.

Probably worth having a read of the topics over at the Lexus Owner Club.

Edited by colin79666 on Wednesday 6th September 21:02

STS121

Original Poster:

12 posts

79 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
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Thanks guys, pretty much what i hoped to hear. Answers my questions regarding the hybrid side at least.

Just need to get it out of my head i should be buying a big german taxi.....

Casa1862

1,062 posts

164 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
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It's a great car, I've got one. you'll hear lots about the rubbish gearbox (mainly from people who have never driven one) but it's fine. In fact, better than fine it's quite good once you get over it being different. It has a small lag in standard mode but nothing you'll notice in normal driving, put it in sport mode and it goes very well without and lag. The upside to the eCVT is it's very very smooth and reliable from all accounts.

I've had most of the premium German cars and I'd say the Lexus is a step up in terms of fit and finish and is certainly more reliable, I can't understand why they don't sell more.

I got mine on a cheap lease and decided to keep it, it's all the car I'll need - Correction, wife has it permanently now, only car she doesn't get back ache in.

sparkyhx

4,143 posts

203 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
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been driving mine now for 5 months and been consistently in the high 50s early 60's (acording to computer) on motorway driving for a 450+ mile weekly round trip from Halifax to Swindon on the M62, M56,M6, M5 and A419.

Very quiet, very smooth. I agree with people about the gearbox, read unflattering reviews etc, but tbh, it really isnt an issue. noticably quite spritely when in sport mode, which I only really tend to use at the traffic light/roundabout grand prix. I think the handling (also criticised in reviews) is very secure and i feel confident at all times. On the twisties it can flow quite well.

As people have said hybrids are significantly better in stop start, but as you can see, even on the motorway cruising they can still return decent figures.

Boot isnt huge, but its more than usable.

The infotainment system is fecking terrible. Its usability is atrocious, and i'm not the first owner to say that. I dont know if its got any better with software upgrades in the 3 years since mine was made. the temperature 'dial' on the dual climate is a bit of an unnecessary gimmick

The spec list is quite wide so be careful the one you choose has the bits you want and there are quite a few 2nd hand with extra options above the spec sheet

ph-sum

20 posts

76 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
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Hi STS121,

Which one do you go for? I am exactly in the same situation.

Currently, I drive Audi A3 1.9tdie, fantastic car, getting 70 odd miles per gallon on the motorway but day to day commute to work (20 to 25 minutes drive in traffic) is around 40mpg. Yes, I am getting DPF error few times in a year but not a massive problem as we do more miles on the weekends. Now looking for a new used car (15 plate) but keeping Audi A3 as a second car.

Jumping from one to another, looked all the luxury brands (XF, Merc C, Audi A6, Lexus IS300H) in last few months but not bought one yet, very confused which one to go. Budget is around 17k to 18k and we will be keeping it for at least 5 years.

Exactly the same questions you have asked in your post. Did you stick to German taxi or Japanese?








STS121

Original Poster:

12 posts

79 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
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Sorry mate but am afraid I will be of little help! I’ve delayed buying until after Christmas but should be changing in January at the latest now

As for deciding, well the more I look the more confused I become.

As it stands today this is what I would buy or at least in this order....
1. Audi A6
2. 5 Series M sport
3. IS300H

I can’t really put any logic to the above, yes I know a diesel with my mileage won’t be great. Yes there’s the dpf but hopefully with weekend driving I’m hoping it will be ok

The 5 series is a nicer car to drive. But I prefer the A6 interior. The rwd BMW could cause me issues in snow as work is in an awkward place and I’m self employed. So that’s the basis I’m talking myself out of this one. Plus there’s an independent audi place round corner from work which might be good for service and mot time.

Right the Lexus, makes total sense for my kind of driving and is a great looking car especially in sport trim but here’s a few things putting me off...
1. Is it too small? Seems more A4/3 series size to me.
2. Boot is defiantly small but that’s a trade off for batteries etc
3. I can’t really work out the mpg. I’m assuming it depends on where your driving. So for me it’s hard to work out. Will I get 30mpg? Will I get 50? Will it be lower on a longer run than a diesel? I feel i will only know once I buy one which may be too late.
4. Lastly, I know diesels will be banned by 2040 or perhaps even sooner, my current car is petrol so I realise I’m going backwards in wanting a diesel and things like the Lexus with it being a hybrid is the future, but I can’t help thinking it isn’t for me just yet. Maybe in another 4 years time when I change next time but I think my brain cannot deal with owning a part electric car yet

Don’t get me wrong I’m not slating the Lexus at all. Still probably need to test drive one as well but like I said perhaps not for me at this moment

I did look at other stuff, XF is gorgeous from the front but I hate the back and the inside. Seems a little bit like a ford to me and I have a Ford now so want something different

Also looked into Merc cls 4 door coupe. But felt it was a little bit over the top for me

So hope that helps but doubt it does

ph-sum

20 posts

76 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Dear STS121,

Happy New Year!!

Did you buy anything? I am also in the same situation jumping from one vehicle to another. Struggling to make my mind. Have had a Lexus Is300h test drive, not fully satisfied. Small things like digital speedometer missing, etc. I know it is not deal breaking factor but still, if I am keeping a car for 4 to 5 years I have to make sure it got all the gadgets with which I am comfortable driving.

As it stands today I like Audi A6 Audi A4 (new model) or Mercedes 220d but bit scared about the news regarding banning the diesel cars? No idea whether it is good idea to send 17k to 18k on diesel car in 2018?

What are your views now?