[V.Narayan]

Bhageera has gone for its 8th service and change of the front seat leather. She'll back roaring on Monday. Will show off shamelessly with photos and a short update. 65,000 kms down and counting. She got driven about 10,000 kms in 11 months this time; back to a normal usage after the covid19 years. Because Lexus have taken me to the cleaners on the new seat leather they will do a top up on the ceramic coating for free. Bhageera is now six and a half years old.

PS: an older file photo from earlier this year.

[V.Narayan]

Bagheera completes her 8th servicing. 65,000 kms clocked.

The servicing by itself was a routine affair with no major part replacement by passage of time. The cost of the servicing all told came to Rs 50,000 and change. A ceramic top up coat was done for free. The car has thus far cost a total of Rs 345,000 odd on maintenance which comes to Rs 5.30 per kms driven or ~4540/- per month. This includes the 4 new tyres at the 3.5 year mark.

Last service in August 22, i.e. 10,000 kms earlier I had the PPF removed and replaced by ceramic. That was the long term investment in keeping her ship shape. This time I went for new leather upholstery for the two front seats which I have been grumbling and hissing about for a while {see latest post # 353 above}. The leather came from Lexus Japan and the stitching was done at Lexus Delhi. It set me back by a whopping, embarrassing Rs 505,000. If my wife knew I’d be history. As I intend to keep the car for 15 years at least {9 more to go} and more if possible, maybe I’ll digest this expense by then.

Including the leather seat covers above the total cost on the car including cosmetics like seats and ceramic coatings has been Rs 10,30,000 thus far.

Like she has thus far the car continues to behave like a cat that purrs. Not a noise out of place. And straight forward reliability. And Lexus’s A.S.S. continues to please.

Photos of my favourite model posing....

[psispace]

Congrats on the milestone !

Bhageera's looking pretty with all the makeup. She is one really pampered cat !

[Dr ST]

Dear Narayan Sir,

That's a good makeover. Did you lose the driver seat under-thigh support?

Regards

[outdoorlover]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bagheera completes her 8th servicing. 65,000 kms clocked.

The servicing by itself was a routine affair with no major part replacement by passage of time. The cost of the servicing all told came to Rs 50,000 and change. A ceramic top up coat was done for free. The car has thus far cost a total of Rs 345,000 odd on maintenance which comes to Rs 5.30 per kms driven or ~4540/- per month. This includes the 4 new tyres at the 3.5 year mark.

Photos of my favourite model posing....

Wow, the mirror finish looks amazing Coming to the maintenance costs, Lexus is supposed to be extremely frugal on maintenance with parts being over-designed to last easily for 2x compared to its Toyota sibling models, which says a lot about its reliability. I have seen pre-owned Lexus being driven around for sometimes 20 years+ in the middle-east with very little care, and still purring like new mechanicals. Wondering if routine services is so expensive in India for Lexus?

[Dr ST]

Dear All,

Got this beauty last week.

Regards

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Dr ST

Dear All,

Got this beauty last week.

Regards

Hearty congratulations on your new set of wheels. In terms of the interiors this current crop of ES300h's are far ahead of good old Bagheera. Wish you many happy miles.

Bagheera is due for her 9th servicing having completed 75,000+ kms. More on that soon with pictures.

[Dr ST]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Hearty congratulations on your new set of wheels. In terms of the interiors this current crop of ES300h's are far ahead of good old Bagheera. Wish you many happy miles.

Bagheera is due for her 9th servicing having completed 75,000+ kms. More on that soon with pictures.

Dear all,
After owning Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Superb I realised that neither I am a fast driver nor the roads and traffic here will permit that. I thought let the EV space mature. I wanted to stay away from big screens. ES provided a hybrid with buttons and ventilated seats. Lexus comes with reliability and great after-sales experience. It would be a lie if I said that dear Narayanan sir and Bagheera did not influence my decision.

Regards

[V.Narayan]

Bhageera turns 7 tomorrow and is going for its next service at ~76,000 kms. More on that with photos later this week to celebrate the old panther's birthday.

[V.Narayan]

Bagheera, my panther - 7th birthday, 9th service, 76,000 kms under the belt

On 2nd April 2024 Bagheera the panther turned 7 years old, clocked 76,000 kms and was sent for the 9th service.

It is a testimony to Toyota's quality standards that the car still looks and performs as almost as good as new.

The 9th service was a routine one. cost Rs 57,000 and change. Total expenditure thus far on servicing, routine spare part changes and new tyres (3.5 years ago) comes to Rs 402,000. This translates to Rs 5.29 per kms or ~Rs 57,400/- per annum. For an entry level luxury car I am comfortable with this kind of budget for maintenance.

The front fender panel on the left side got dislodged a bit thanks to some erratic riders in Delhi NCR. That was fixed with needing a fresh panel or paint. The service included a ceramic coating top up. The tyres are good to go for about another 10,000 kms.

Bagheera runs like a panther, purrs like a kitten and has no squeaks or rattles or niggles. The after sales service remains top class with no effort to sell spares or extras. I must mention Sanjay Baluni the engineer who has maintained the Lexus ES300h all these 7 years. Other than being a competent engineer he is also a very pleasant person to work with.



Serviced, washed and posing in the sun


Rear profile showing raised dickey to compensate for the rear mounted batteries



The cockpit. I like its retro look. Or am I making a virtue out of necessity!! The Lexus's woodwork quality is to die for especially the matt finish and within that the bamboo version. In my erstwhile career we operated, maintained so many executive jets right up to the Gulfstream VI and believe me none of them have the sheer woodwork quality of a Lexus especially in matt finish.


Where I spend atleast half my time in this car. The leather of the rear seats is the one it came with. The front seat leather covers I changed in July'23. i wish Lexus had fancier looking carpets. They are hard wearing but...I think I'll consult my wife, she has an eye for taste.


Another example of the woodwork. I love it. The Japanese call this craft Takunami.


Showing off my left profile. The sheer elegance of Toyota's engineering reliability and the flawless 7 years of service I have enjoyed makes it impossible to buy a German or a JLR model. The reliability spoils you.


The best angle to photograph this car from. I have some deeply cherished memories associated with Bagheera and intend to keep her till the law permits me - 15 years as of now I guess.


Sayonara, till we meet again on my 10th service. Thank you for reading.

[FORTified]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bagheera, my panther - 7th birthday, 9th service, 76,000 kms under the belt

Thanks for the frequent updates sir.

I am in the market for an upgrade from my C250D and your writings made the decision easy! Its going to be ES300H. Most probably this month.

[veedub89]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bagheera, my panther - 7th birthday, 9th service, 76,000 kms under the belt

Attachment 2591325
Showing off my left profile. The sheer elegance of Toyota's engineering reliability and the flawless 7 years of service I have enjoyed makes it impossible to buy a German or a JLR model. The reliability spoils you.

Not just the service but the value proposition too!

At about 65 odd lakhs that you must have paid for your car 7 years ago, you will only get a C-class/3er today. So in order to go a segment up from your current ride, you will probably have to budget nearly a crore!

[autohead]

How did you find the Ground clearance in these 7 years and 70k + km of ownership. Did it scrape the bottom or front bumper many times especially since the overhang is more.

[Beemer1077]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bagheera, my panther - 7th birthday, 9th service, 76,000 kms under the belt

The Lexus ES is built for long lasting use. One of the best cars ever. My brother drives a 2024 ES 350.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by autohead

How did you find the Ground clearance in these 7 years and 70k + km of ownership. Did it scrape the bottom or front bumper many times especially since the overhang is more.

I have scrapped the long front end over hang twice. the ground clearance of 150mm is just about adequate for most purposes with two pax. With 4 pax it is sure to scrap on Delhi's over sized speed breakers and that requires deft handling by going at an angle. A 160mm or 165mm GC would have been much better.