Getting near the end of my demo vehicles now and have to admit that wasn't particuarly looking forward to this. Family saloon cars just aren't my style but try them I must (it's a hard life!)

Thoroughly enjoyed driving this car. I don't know how but it made me drive more sedate. It has the power there but you just don't want to use it. Can't explain why but the car is so comfortable that you almost want the journey to last slightly longer.

Visibility is fantastic. The pillars are narrow and the wing mirrors huge although my partner didn't like the angle of the windscreen for some reason. It has the reversing camera, which I don't like but other drivers loved and said it made it so much easier to reverse, especially as it gives you colour coded guidelines on the screen so you know if you are going off course. Good for getting into a tight space but just remember to watch the front end as well!!

Cockpit is laid out well and all the dials were easy to use. Didn't like the lock-in facility mainly because as a passenger you had to press a button before you could release the handle. I'm sure there is a way of disabling this but couldn't be arsed to find it. The only comment I would have about the display is that everything is hi-tech except for the digital clock which looks like it's out of the 70's.

Handling was really firm and much better than I would have expected from a car like this plus there was hardly any road noise. Cornering was a dream and didn't feel like you were barging all over the road, such as we felt in the Insigna.

Gearbox was great although it had a very bad habit of springing too far over to the right which meant changing down it wanted to go into 4th instead of 2nd and you had to be aware of it. The gear box made a strange noise in 1st gear when you were slowing down using your gears - might be a Lexus noise but it was a bit strange and something I'll be pointing out when they collect it later.

Engine was very quiet for a diesel, so much so that you weren't sure sometimes if you had actually switched it on.

All in all, it was a nice surprise and I've already got people wanting to order one as it makes a change from BMW / Audi.

Getting the Lexus Hybrid later today, which actually, for a Hybrid, looks nice!

 

As in the Kylie Compact? Be interesting to hear what you think of it ...

 

I take it the ride's good too - the car is hugely heavy.

Good visibility is a (pleasant) surprise too.

 

As in the Kylie car. Unfortunately because the press are demo driving them at the moment I've only got one overnight however Lexus will organise one for a week late May.

The ride in the Lexus is excellent. When it arrived I just thought it looked like a huge barge like every other car we have on the list but it feels completely different to a BMW 320D, Insigna or Audi A4. It really was so nice to drive and so responsive. No lag when you put your foot down that you sometimes forgot you were in a diesel and not a petrol. Mr CJ was taken with it but then TBH he's taken with every car I bring home!

 

Didn't Roadkill have one of these last car but three? Or it's predecessor.
Back when he thought he was going to be a sensible family man

 

He did because he warned me about servicing costs!

Just taken delivery of the Hybrid and taken it for a spin round the twisties and I'm smittened!

It's fantastic!!!! Write up to follow tomorrow

 

nice write up. any idea on list price? I was looking at new cars and anything i considered half decent with a spec you could live with was the wrong side of 20k for an A3 / 1 series or 25+ for a 3 series / A4 (most nearer 30k!!) I paid less for my S new.

We took a £13k Civic type S in the end as for cheap motoring it was a very attractive deal!

So how much for a mile munching junior exec from Lexus???

 

OTR price for IS200d SE is £24865.

The CT200h SE-I is £23485.

 

Is it just me, or is the economic crisis leading to people giving up the overpriced Emperor's New Clothes brands for the Uriah Heep ones?

 

I'd be interested in that as well.
Huuuuuuuuuuuuugee benefits to businesses & employees putting ecomentalist cars on the fleet.