Lexus IS 300h - Just bought one!
Discussion
Not quite the day I was expecting 
Had a look on the Lexus website this morning for no particular reason and saw a low miles IS 300h 2.5 Nav at the local dealership.
Went down to have a look and the vehicle is immaculate. One test drive and a no-hassles cost to change later job done just waiting to find out when I pick up.
Coming at this from a Golf TDI with DSG I'm quite excited given it's back to petrol with a 2.5 (albeit maybe not a traditional strong one) and the hybrid tech too.
Bit late now but if anyone has one I'm all ears (if you have one and you don't like it just keep quiet
)
Had a look on the Lexus website this morning for no particular reason and saw a low miles IS 300h 2.5 Nav at the local dealership.Went down to have a look and the vehicle is immaculate. One test drive and a no-hassles cost to change later job done just waiting to find out when I pick up.
Coming at this from a Golf TDI with DSG I'm quite excited given it's back to petrol with a 2.5 (albeit maybe not a traditional strong one) and the hybrid tech too.
Bit late now but if anyone has one I'm all ears (if you have one and you don't like it just keep quiet
)
Wife got one to replace her diesel Civic, had it now 10K. Went for the top spec model with adaptive cruise control/pre-crash braking etc, has almost to many toys.
What I don't like with ours:
1) Awful throttle lag, its party due to planetary gears, partly due to the nature of a hybrid engine setup for economy rather than performance. In 'Sport' mode and 'manual' gears it's not too bad, but still noticeable especially when compared to a proper all electric car the instant pedal respond. Not an issue at all for the main purpose of the car, wife/new born baby both couldn't careless about throttle lag!!
2) The TC control is impossible to turn off, making donuts pretty much impossible despite my best efforts
That's about it for the negatives, overall really enjoying ours, in day to day use it's so much more refined than the old Civic. The boot is surprisingly large will take all the luggage needed for a us+4 months old baby on holiday. Will do a true 55-60mpg at legal speeds on M-way runs and 45-50mpg in city traffic. Ours will be staying in the family for a while yet.
What I don't like with ours:
1) Awful throttle lag, its party due to planetary gears, partly due to the nature of a hybrid engine setup for economy rather than performance. In 'Sport' mode and 'manual' gears it's not too bad, but still noticeable especially when compared to a proper all electric car the instant pedal respond. Not an issue at all for the main purpose of the car, wife/new born baby both couldn't careless about throttle lag!!
2) The TC control is impossible to turn off, making donuts pretty much impossible despite my best efforts
That's about it for the negatives, overall really enjoying ours, in day to day use it's so much more refined than the old Civic. The boot is surprisingly large will take all the luggage needed for a us+4 months old baby on holiday. Will do a true 55-60mpg at legal speeds on M-way runs and 45-50mpg in city traffic. Ours will be staying in the family for a while yet.
Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 11th September 17:28
gangzoom said:
Will do a true 55-60mpg at legal speeds on M-way runs and 45-50mpg in city traffic. Ours will be staying in the family for a while yet.
Thanks, and interesting on the real world MPG. I'd assumed I'll take a bit of a dent over the 53-55mpg I get from the Golf but what you've posted has me reasonably optimistic I am struggling slightly with how something with 220hp can cost a tenner a year in VED!
I've got one, 2015 executive edition. It's a great car, I prefer it to the bmw f30 it replaced. Yes, there is a lag as mentioned, in normal driving not a problem for 99% of journeys, use sport mode if you need yo move off quick, it actually feels quick, certainly quicker than the figures suggest. Ignor the Luke warm rewiews, it really is very good. I'm looking at an NX next.
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: Thanks, and interesting on the real world MPG. I'd assumed I'll take a bit of a dent over the 53-55mpg I get from the Golf but what you've posted has me reasonably optimistic
I am struggling slightly with how something with 220hp can cost a tenner a year in VED!
I'm averaging about 47 mpg, I never use Eco mode, maybe I could get 50 mpg but really wouldn't enjoy the drive, I've tried it!I am struggling slightly with how something with 220hp can cost a tenner a year in VED!
My wife has had one since Dec 2013 and it is - alas - due to go at the end of this year. To say we are deeply sorry to see it go is an understatement. It has been an absolutely fantastic car - if it had a kraut badge on it the press would be whacking one off at it.
Not aware of any lag as such when driving it, re the CVT however - you just get used to it. At its best driven on light throttle openings when it gathers pace quickly and quietly. It is NOT a car in which to mash the accelerator into the carpet - there the CVT is left wanting as it just sounds like a slipping clutch, although you can revert over to semi-manual and its not bad. It really can be made to hustle along however you are aware of the batteries in the back but the steering is really nicely weighted. As I said before, on light to moderate throttle openings it accelerates almost as briskly, the CVT behaving a bit more like a standard auto, however I have seen it bowling along the motorway at 80mph showing just 1500rpm on the tacho! It switches between petrol and electric seamlessly. You will learn how to drive it as it does take a bit of getting used to - it's just a slightly different driving style is required but once you tune in you'll get it. These cars are not test drive specials - their qualities really do take time to grow on you. They just work. Incredibly well.
In summary - its quiet, comfortable, well equipped, well made, not a single thing has gone wrong in our tenure and the dealer has been fantastic. Do you think we like it???
Not aware of any lag as such when driving it, re the CVT however - you just get used to it. At its best driven on light throttle openings when it gathers pace quickly and quietly. It is NOT a car in which to mash the accelerator into the carpet - there the CVT is left wanting as it just sounds like a slipping clutch, although you can revert over to semi-manual and its not bad. It really can be made to hustle along however you are aware of the batteries in the back but the steering is really nicely weighted. As I said before, on light to moderate throttle openings it accelerates almost as briskly, the CVT behaving a bit more like a standard auto, however I have seen it bowling along the motorway at 80mph showing just 1500rpm on the tacho! It switches between petrol and electric seamlessly. You will learn how to drive it as it does take a bit of getting used to - it's just a slightly different driving style is required but once you tune in you'll get it. These cars are not test drive specials - their qualities really do take time to grow on you. They just work. Incredibly well.
In summary - its quiet, comfortable, well equipped, well made, not a single thing has gone wrong in our tenure and the dealer has been fantastic. Do you think we like it???
Edited by StescoG66 on Monday 12th September 19:06
Ilovejapcrap said:
Ahh not a BMW or Audi for a change nice
I specifically wanted to get away from that as there's just too many of them on the road, plus as I said I quite fancied a change to petrol and electric so why not combine the two?Test drive was strange, I've been in hybrids before but it's still a bit unnerving when you're trying to work out if you've somehow stalled an automatic when it goes (literally) silent at a junction
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Test drive was strange, I've been in hybrids before but it's still a bit unnerving when you're trying to work out if you've somehow stalled an automatic when it goes (literally) silent at a junction
It's even stranger when you pottering around town at 10-20 mph in silence. Be warned though our IS300H is what made me think about EVs seriously, and next thing I knew the 335i made way for a Nissan Leaf!!StescoG66 said:
You will learn how to drive it as it does take a bit of getting used to - it's just a slightly different driving style is required but once you tune in you'll get it. These cars are not test drive specials - their qualities really do take time to grow on you - they just work. Incredibly well.
^^^this all day long. Just moved into a Lexus CT from a 2011 Merc C class. If you trust the reviews of the CT you'd not look twice but it's not the car reviewers seem to test. It's no sports car granted, but the ride is no firmer than the big 3 Germans, interior quality is better than the C Class and it's far more refined on the move. £0 road tax, transparent servicing costs across all dealers (much cheaper than Merc), and the dealers actually appear to give a st about you and their product. Had mine since end of July - loving it so far - my thread here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Like others have said it takes time to get to know the car and learn its ways but it is a very cohesive package all told. In sport mode and on partial throttle you can steam away from lights with the batteries filling the lag between the engine revs building - it is quite addictive!
Enjoy
Like others have said it takes time to get to know the car and learn its ways but it is a very cohesive package all told. In sport mode and on partial throttle you can steam away from lights with the batteries filling the lag between the engine revs building - it is quite addictive!
Enjoy
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