The sheer elegance of Toyota's engineering reliability and the flawless 7 years of service I have enjoyed, make it impossible to buy a German or a JLR model.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

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

On 2nd April 2024, Bagheera 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) come 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 at least 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.

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The limited edition 'Crafted Collection 2023' is based on the ES 300h variant.

Lexus has launched a limited-edition version of the ES sedan called the ‘Crafted Collection 2023’ in India. It is based on the ES 300h variant and costs Rs 64.64 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Lexus ES Crafted Collection 2023 comes with illuminated scuff plates, a welcome logo and headrest pillows. Lexus also offers a range of leather accessories with the car, including a backpack, a tan laptop bag, a laptop sleeve, an overnight duffle bag and a multi-box watch case.

On the exterior, the limited edition ES gets a black boot lip spoiler with a dash of chrome around the rear.

The Lexus ES is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine that puts out 176 BHP paired with an 88 kW electric motor for a combined output of 214 BHP and 221 Nm. The engine is mated with an electronic continuous variable transmission (E-CVT).

The car continues to behave like a cat that purrs. Not a noise out of place.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

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

The servicing by itself was a routine affair with no major part replacement by the 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. 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, the total cost of 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 straightforward reliability. And Lexus’s A.S.S. continues to please.

Photos of my favourite model posing...

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We also had a similar issue in our Skoda Superb and Laura but surprisingly to a lesser extent.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I try to maintain Bagheera in as close to showroom condition as I can afford. It might not be incorrect to say that she looks almost as good as new. However, one fly in the ointment is the dirtying of the driver's seat.

All my half-hearted attempts to remove them have failed including making Lexus try out their solutions. Clearly, this is caused by my driver's clothes, sweat and what have you as he is the primary driver of this car. And the Volvo which I usually self-drive does not have it. He is a good man and wears a clean set of clothes so there is only so much I can say to him. In the Skoda Superb and Laura we also had a similar issue but to a lesser extent surprisingly. I wonder if this Lexus leather is too real and too soft and soaks in all the dirt and sweat.

So, in the end, I bit the bullet. No makeshift arrangements for my favourite car. I've ordered new seat covers from Lexus Japan and in about a month they shall be stitched on. The local Lexus shop has a fully trained workman to do the stitching or so I'm told. It will set me back by Rs 2.3L. I've decided to (a) not inform my wife and (b) hiss and curse to high heaven and then get on with life.

Photos below. As readers can see the dirtiness is horrid. A flaw in an otherwise perfect car.

Further, I visited the Lexus showroom at Janpath, New Delhi. A UX was parked there for tests and some press meetings. All electric. I wasn't permitted to click photos.

In about a year, it will be time to purchase a small/medium vehicle with a high-ground clearance. I've decided to stay with Lexus/Volvo. Their reliability and service standards have spoilt me. If a Lexus, it would be the NX or the UX. If a Volvo, I'd need to check out what will be on offer in mid-2024.

Representative photos of the UX below. The car at the showroom was this exact colour. Very eye-catching. The UX is the baby Lexus. Its smaller size is what attracts me. Price unknown.

Update

I forgot to mention the cost of Rs 2.3L is for two seat covers for the two front seats. Decided to change both or they will start looking of different shades.

It is an all-in cost. Still steep.

Here's what BHPian Dead_Pedal had to say about the matter:

Have you tried enquiring at any leather restoration studio? They definitely can get it done at reasonable rates unless Lexus fit and finish is what you want. There's one in Bangalore by the name refurbstudio and they work mainly on premium cars. I'm sure they'll have a solution for this. They have several before/after shots for reference on their Google page. There may be similar options in Delhi. But, sad to see that seat in such a state.

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say about the matter:

A common issue on all Toyotas (Lexus included). This happens when drivers are sitting for extended times, usually waiting. Though you could have got the leather shine corrected, there are some permanent scuffs / wear which will never go. Happens on Germans too but usually, we can clean those as leather is different (better?)

If possible, tell the driver to wait outside whenever possible or maybe put a good quality white towel on the seat.

Lexus should have passed you some goodwill discounts though.

Here's what BHPian sandeepmohan had to say about the matter:

It's too late for this comment. India is a large and top-notch leather hub. The next time you're attempting to renew leather seats on your car, try the likes of Stanley, or a boutique leather shop etc before heading to Japan. Not only will it save you money, will save time too. The sooner that seat starts to look clean, the better you feel.

On electric cars, I'd pass Lexus. They aren't there yet with electric cars. The current lineup is a half-hearted/baked attempt.

That said, the recent appointment of Koji Sato has resulted in the latest Toyota BZ3. It's probably been in the works for some time now. This is a proper, ground-up new electric vehicle platform. The surprise is that it's a joint effort with BYD, China and Toyota. Initial response to the vehicle has been good. Far better than their own Bz4x/RZ450e.

For now, a Volvo C40 Recharge, XC40 or Polestar are better bets than any Lexus EV vehicle.

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My ownership experience has been excellent so far, and the only reason I am considering changing cars is because of the NGT Ban on diesel cars aged 10 years and above in NCR.

BHPian Mak@87 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I'm fairly new to the forum and this is my first post

I am a thoroughly satisfied owner of a 2014 Audi A6 2.0 TDI, which I bought pre-owned from Audi Approved in 2015. My ownership experience has been Excellent so far, and the only reason I am considering changing cars is because of the NGT Ban on Diesel cars aged 10yrs and above in NCR.

My requirement are as follows:

• Decent ride quality [A6 had Air-Suspension, so I'm spoilt now].
• Decent Ground Clearance [A6 had ride height adjust].
• Decent Space for 4 people with luggage.
• Decent Feature List.
• Budget 30L, but stretchable to 40L. [As was pointed out by GTO in a similar thread that all one needs can be had within a budget of 30L. After that it's all desire.]

I am open to new and pre-owned cars.

Fuel Economy is not very high on my priority list as my running is limited to City and 7000 km/year.

The car is driven by me and my wife.

And, having had a good experience with my current German steed, I have no qualms in going for another.

Suggestions would be most helpful.

Thanks a lot.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The 30 - 40 lakh cars have greatly improved, but I don't think you'll be totally satisfied with them, coming from an A6. Still, if you want to check out options, do so in the following order = Tucson, Innova Hycross...

Since you have experience with pre-owned cars and live in Delhi (which is the best used car market in terms of price and selection), my recommendations to you would be:

Used current-gen 5-Series, E-Class, A6 or Lexus ES (something like this for 45 lakhs would serve you for the next 10+ years).

30 lakhs can also get you like-new Skoda Superbs & Toyota Camrys. Be open, especially to the Camry Hybrid which is a luxury car in its own right.

Since you keep your cars for long, go for petrol so you don't have to face the same situation again soon (especially as your used car will be 3 - 5 years old).

Here's what BHPian AROO7 had to say on the matter:

Nothing less than the German trio or the Lexus will be acceptable to you after coming from an A6. I completely agree with GTO’s suggestion of picking a petrol and pre-owned car this time to extract maximum value on the money spent.

Coming to car suggestions I would say start with Audi and Mercedes Benz if you are comfort oriented and if driving dynamics are a priority start with BMW 5-Series then move on to Audi and others in that order. Reading from V.Narayan Sir’s report I concur Lexus ES can also be a contender on your list.

I would avoid Toyota Camry and Skoda cars for the badge value otherwise they are very good products. Also Hyundai Tucson and Toyota Innova Hycross though good product won’t be able to match the supple ride quality of the A6’s air suspensions or its badge value.

That said, if you are ready to stretch a bit then Kia EV6 can also be considered. Top class fit and finish, exclusivity, and no NGT ban fears. Although do keep in mind its ride quality is a bit firm. For better ride quality with a similar package you can look at Hyundai Ioniq.

Here's what BHPian shiv11bhargava had to say on the matter:

I think a petrol C-Class would be a great choice for you. A pre-owned 2017-2020 C200 will be easily available within 40L. A used 530i (2017-2019) will be available between 39 to 44L in Delhi NCR. I have found two. Both are from 2017 and are at 40L and 43L respectively. Another 5 Series to your garage. Most 5's in the used car market are diesels. Everyone's well aware. I think you should very seriously pursue a 2018-2019 530i. The C200 and Superb would be just fine as well. Out of those two. The C200 has badge value but the Superb literally is a superb product. It would be amazing if you add a 530i next to your 520d in a different colour?! Cheers.

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The Mercedes E Class EWB has more legroom at the back than this car.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Bagheera the panther turns six; 62,000 km

A cleanship and photo shoot for the birthday girl.

I love this car and its sleek feline looks. And unlike the German 3, there is an exclusivity about a Lexus that I am immodest about.

Bagheera in her Sunday best

Front quarter looks, right side displaying the subtle butch lines.

Left side looks without the benefit of the sunlight

Cockpit. The woodwork is in pristine condition. Not just my love and care but really it is Lexus’s quality control

Rear seat. Decent legroom. An inch less than the Skoda Superb she replaced in 2017. Mercedes E Class EWB has more legroom than the Lexus ES300h. For me and my wife rear seat leg space and seat comfort, soft ride are paramount. I often sit at the back while she always sits at the back unless I am driving.

Side door, inside. I never use that netting shade. Wife puts it up all the time.

Front seats. The leather has worn marvellously all over except the driver's seat which looks jaded.

Basement parking slot. Note the 15 amp socket point installed for the EV to come {one day!}. I had these installed while the building was still under construction 14 years ago on the presumption that the wiring will be hard to organize later.

Waiting under the porch

Farewell readers till the 8th servicing review in a few months. Thank you for your goodwill these 72 months. The car is maintained by engineer Mr. Sanjay Baluni of Lexus Delhi whose hard work and excellent service over 6 years deserve a mention in the credits.

Photo credits to my daughter who as she is a working lady now does not need pin money for her efforts any more.

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This hidden charge was cleverly masked in the road tax component of the quotation with a few abbreviations put up next to it.

BHPian pranad recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We recently booked a Lexus ES300h in Hyderabad and after the initial exhilaration wore down and I was reviewing the quotation given by the dealer for the car I noticed a discrepancy of Rs. 50,000 in the total amount payable to Lexus.

This hidden charge was cleverly masked in the road tax component of the quotation with a few abbreviations put up next to it. The road tax at 20% in Telangana should amount to Rs. 13,16,200/- however the total as shown below in the screenshot from the quotation given to me by Lexus Hyderabad is Rs. 13,66,200/-

When questioned about this, the sales representative gave me the following break up:

There is still a further amount of Rs. 5,865/- which is unexplained in the above breakup. The PDI charges of 40,000 are wholly unjustified as per multiple consumer court orders, Supreme Court directions, a Delhi High court order and multiple circulars issued by RTO Telangana. However, dealers seem to think of themselves as above the law and charge these illegal fees without justification. When I took this issue up with the GM, Lexus Hyderabad he brazenly said this is company policy and there is nothing he can do to change it.

I then showed him the below circular issued by RTO Commissioner in 2016 explicitly forbidding such practices. The General Manager said this circular was withdrawn but could not come up with any documentary evidence to back his claims.

It seems like Lexus Hyderabad is simply out to cheat customers and make extra money through unfair trade practices and illegal charges. Please beware of this and ensure you do not pay anything over and above the statutory requirements. Dealers cannot steal our hard-earned money and expect to get away with it.

I will be sure to escalate this to Lexus and Toyota corporate teams to ensure they act in this matter failing which I will consider legal action against the dealer and Lexus/Toyota. Will keep you guys posted on my progress.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Man, dealers really take customers for a royal ride. I'd want to know just what they are doing for the PDI of a car from Lexus, a brand known for perfection in build quality. Regardless, one of the primary responsibilities of a dealer is to ensure smooth delivery, PDI included. What next, 20000 rupee parking fees for your Lexus before you take delivery?

You please write to Lexus directly about this. I am also forwarding a link of this thread to someone I know at Lexus. Lexus is known to take exceptional care of its customers & will fix this.

Here's what BHPian V.Narayan had to say about the matter:

Is there some way I can connect with you directly? I can send you the personal phone numbers of one or two senior officers in their system. The National Sales Manager I knew has changed jobs. His place seems to have been taken by the person whose LinkedIn profile is here. At least message him via LinkedIn.

If you believe, as you do, that what the dealer has charged is illegal please get assertive you have nothing to lose. Personally, I do not know what charges are legitimate or not in TS. I paid a PDI in my purchase in 2017. I checked with the New Delhi dealer just now who confirmed that they charge Rs 90,000 for PDI etc and as far as they know it is legitimate. If you are convinced you have been short-changed, suggest you lodge a complaint at contact@lexusindia.co.in

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say about the matter:

Have you checked with other dealerships about what they are charging? Here in the North, 90K is the norm with most luxury car makes. They give an invoice too.

I don’t know if RTO actually has any jurisdiction over the invoice charges, as dealers are asking you to pay for the PDI/inward freight etc., and they are paying taxes too. RTO can at most calculate road tax by including such charges if they want.

Such taxes are very common overseas, but here we take them as illegal as we have a concept of MRP, which technically should include everything. I won’t fret over this if others too are doing similar. Now two wrongs don’t make a right, but I have come at peace with such charges for my own sake. If you are investing so much, enjoy the car. Think of some additional kind of tax. Already you are paying 20% RTO on full value, whereas we pay 8% on basic value (minus the GST) here in Chandigarh.

Here's what happened to another member, you can try showing them this judgment.

Here's what BHPian 100Kmphormore had to say about the matter:

That HPA component is a handling fee probably. Stand your ground and have the unnecessary charges removed and ask for documentation in writing/print to back up his claim. I am not going for the Ola S1 booking on the app because there’s a straight handling charge of 1800 odd. Anyone here who have bought the scooter on the app and got the charges removed?

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The Lexus ES 300h Luxury costs Rs. 65.81 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Lexus has launched the updated ES 300h in India. The locally produced luxury sedan is priced from Rs. 59.71 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The 2022 Lexus ES 300h gets minor exterior updates and a few tweaks on the interior. These include a revised Lexus emblem, more storage spaces and easier accessibility around the centre console.

The ES 300h also comes with dynamic voice recognition, enhanced ease of hands-free operation of the boot and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

The ES 300h continues to be powered by a 2.5-litre engine that produces 176 BHP @ 5,700 rpm and 221 Nm @ 3,600-5,200 rpm. The electric motor has an output of 118 BHP and 202 Nm. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).

Total expense on the car's maintenance so far has been Rs 2.95 lakh or Rs 5.26 per km or Rs 4,538 per month. This is excluding PPF & ceramic coating.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

All the 3M film has been removed. Thankfully (fingers crossed, touch wood), no paint peeling took place. I've requested Lexus to search for tiny scratches and see if they can be touched up before the ceramic coating is laid over. The process of removing the 3M film took 2 working days (don't know how many man hours). Photos below of the car after the 3M film was peeled off. So far so good.

The 3M film, Lexus' high quality of the original paintwork and careful driving has helped keep the paint in almost new condition 5+ years later.

Now they will start on the pre-treatment for the ceramic.

The 3M film has been fully removed. After that, the surface needed to be treated to remove the residue of the glue. Pictures post that stage. Next, the car will undergo a wash to get it ready for the ceramic treatment.

The pre-ceramic treatment is done. Over Saturday and Sunday, they will finish the ceramic coating and deliver Bhageera on Monday. I'm relieved the original factory paint did not peel off - maybe it is a function of Lexus' original quality of factory painting and the skill of the workmen at their ASS shop. The original paintwork was examined carefully and did not need any touch-up paint either. Fingers crossed, so far so good. If this comes off well then it shall give old faithful's good looks another 3 to 4 years of life hopefully.

Time permitting I'll do a photo shoot on Monday/Tuesday to show off Bhageera the purple panther.

Bagheera’s gets its 7th servicing and a shiny new ceramic coating

Bagheera is back. The experiment with removing the 3M film and then applying ceramic coating all over has proved to be a success. Even Toyota/Lexus were not sure about the original paint peeling off when the 3M was removed. In between the two, there was a stage of cleaning and preparing the surface for the ceramic. Fortunately, the car did not need any touch-up paint. I was surprised because I expected at least some touch-up work on the corners at the extreme. Credit to my driver for the care with which he drives. Maybe some credit to me too. The entire ceramic exercise cost Rs 79,000 before tax. The Lexus ceramic job comes with a 3-year warranty. Interestingly the 3M job was around Rs 1.5 lakhs.

The car also underwent its 7th servicing as it was close to its 12-month time cycle. The main job that needed addressing was the replacement of the rear left shock absorber which had started giving a khat-khat sound. That replacement cost Rs 28,000 plus tax. This is the first major component changed in the Lexus in 65 months. We also changed the carpets which set me back by another Rs 27,000. Steep I thought but then I was reminded of today's generation's phrase YOLO.

Total expenditure on Lexus’ maintenance thus far is now Rs 295,000 or Rs 5.26 per kms or Rs 4538 per month. This includes the change of all 4 tyres on completing 3.5 years. I’m not including the original 3M film or the ceramic coating as both those are non-engineering items unrelated to reliability. Including them, the gross outflow thus far comes to ~Rs 525,000.

My thanks to brother BHPians for their advice and suggestions - @Turbanator and @ Sagarpadaki.

All told I’m as happy as a kid in a candy store.

The next two minor jobs are to get the leather on the driver's seat restored or replaced and fit a new front number plate. The current one has curved up a bit and doesn't do justice to the car.

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The whole ownership of the car has been hassle-free so far. I am hopeful Lexus' excellent after-sales service shall continue.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Bagheera turns 5 years old: 54,000 km like a fine Swiss watch!

Bagheera celebrated her 5th birthday with a photo shoot. I'll let the pictures do the talking. She has rendered 60 months of trouble-free service, no rattles, niggles or shakes and I dare say, still looks handsome, though admittedly my eyes are biased.

This photo has been taken this afternoon at exactly the same spot as the photo on page 1 of this thread.

Like a good model, Bagheera loves posing for a shoot.

The interiors have worn very well. In fact, there has been little wear and tear except for crease marks on the driver's seat. I might change the floor mats to something new at the next service. My Amaze, the family utility car, seen through the window.

Ready for the next 5 years. I am hopeful Lexus' excellent A.S.S. shall continue.

Bagheera says a big thanks to all readers of this thread for your time and attention and posts.

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