A chauffeur’s critique – behind the wheel of the LS 600h

Green Light for Lexus Edgware Road from Land Securities

When chauffeur Jill Handford was given the task of finding a new car for her boss Land Securities managing director Mike Hussey she hit one frustration after another until she discovered Lexus Edgware Road and the LS 600h.

Armed with a hit list which featured, alongside the Lexus LS 600h, all the long wheelbase options you would expect – Mercedes-Benz S-Class; BMW 7 Series; Jaguar XJ; and Audi A8 – one of the biggest problems Jill faced was a distinct lack of customer service from many dealerships.

“I was absolutely staggered,” explains Jill who has been driving Mike for the past two years. “My biggest hurdle was trying to find a company who would take me seriously.”

As a contract driver, Jill needed to find a retailer who was willing to take responsibility for the vehicle’s insurance whilst she and Mike used the car for test drive purposes over a few days.

“We were obviously not going to make a commitment to a vehicle without driving the car for a few days,” explains Jill. “I literally spend my working life in the vehicle and Mike requires a car which is smooth, stylish, comfortable and provides an environment where he can work easily.”

However, as the pair wanted ‘a change’ from the Audi A8, trying to find a business from another brand which was willing to help proved impossible until she rang Lexus Edgware Road.

She adds: “I was really annoyed until I spoke to Eric Fearon on reception at Lexus Edgware Road. But he handled everything so professionally and then I spoke to Dan Brown [corporate sales manager] he not only took me seriously but came up with a solution which suited us both.

“I don’t know if I kept hitting a brick wall because I’m a female chauffeur or because it is quite unusual for a chauffeur to be sourcing a new car for the MD; but I try and take some of the pressure off my clients and I had the time and I know my cars so it made sense for me to undertake this task.

“The service I received from Lexus Edgware Road was excellent. Dan took an hour talking me through everything when I collected the car for the test drive. I was totally sold on the service and when both Mike and I experience the LS 600h there were no other contenders. Then when we took delivery of the car in May, Dan spent a further two hours talking me through everything else.

“Mike is a young director and he wanted something cutting-edge, a little different from the crowd, sophisticated and stylish. The LS 600h is a young, vibrant, good-looking car and is very much removed from the traditional stuff image of a chauffeur-driven vehicle. In addition, Land Securities takes its environmental responsibility extremely seriously so the fact that it is a hybrid which delivers lower emissions and better fuel economy compared to other vehicles in the same class, was an important factor in our choice.

“Mike was keen for a vehicle with amazing driving dynamics and which is quiet so he can work while we are travelling and again, the LS 600h delivers.”

Adds Jill: “The drive of the LS 600h does not compare to our previous car. It is simply a joy to be either behind the wheel or the rear seat passenger.

“My only criticism is that Lexus has catered magnificently for the passenger but has forgotten a bit about us poor chauffeurs. I spend so much time in the car and I’m out about three evenings a week driving Mike to functions and a lot of a chauffeur’s time is about hanging around and waiting for our passenger. There is no TV or DAB radio in the front of the LS 600h – all the gadgets are in the back and it’s not very appropriate for me to be scrambling out of the back seat when Mike appears at the end of an evening looking for his ride home. There are only so many books I can read and I do miss the TV – perhaps this is something Lexus can take on board when it comes to enhancing what would otherwise be the perfect chauffeur vehicle.”

The LS 600h LWB

The LS 600h is a new flagship for the Lexus brand, delivering a unique driving experience with the highest standards of quality, refinement, luxury, safety and performance. The Lexus Hybrid Drive system gives performance that can be compared to that of a conventional petrol V12 engine, while returning fuel consumption and exhaust emission figures that rival those of more modestly performing diesels.

  • Maximum torque of 520Nm at 4,000rpm
  • Maximum 389bhp (394 DIN hp) at 6,400rpm
  • Nought to 62mph in 6.3 seconds
  • Electronically limited top speed of 155mph
  • CO2 emissions – 219g/km
    • Fuel consumption (combined) - 30.4 mpg (9.3 l/100km)

Rear Seat Relaxation Pack highlights:-

  • Left hand rear seat (on right-hand drive models) with an electric recline function
  • Electrically adjustable ottoman foot
  • Thigh rest and an adjustable massage function that can replicate techniques from Shiatsu to acupressure
  • The seat is fitted with seat cushion airbag
  • To give a clear view, the front passenger headrest can be electrically folded down
  • Independent rear DVD player
  • Sophisticated climate control system that monitors the passengers’ body temperature for more effective control of the cabin environment
  • Fixed centre console is provided with a built-in cool box, DVD and CD store and a retracting and adjustable wood inlaid tray

Land Securities is the UK’s leading Real Estate Investment Trust with a national portfolio of commercial property worth more than over £14 billion which includes around 60 retail parks and shopping centres such as Birmingham’s Bullring centre and Exeter’s award-winning Princesshay site. However, half its portfolio is in London, where it owns many landmark buildings such as the Piccadilly Lights and Westminster City Hall, and are developing some of the capital’s most innovative mixed-use schemes through large scale regeneration projects in Victoria, Southbank, Mid-town and the City.

Dan Brown can be contacted at Lexus Edgware Road, The Hyde, Edgware Road, London NW9 6NW. Tel: 0793 2827 196.