The IS-F has voice control, But I don’t speak its language

It was the phone that did it in the end. I ranted and raved at it, prodded and jabbed, twisted and pulled, but it was no good. I had to pull over and stop. Yep, the fact you can operate so few of the Lexus’s functions on the move has finally got to me. Want to make a phone call? Then you have to stop. Want to put in a sat-nav destination? You have to stop. Want to check traffic reports? You get the idea. The last is a particular bugbear.

I know the IS-F has voice control, but I don’t speak whatever language it is that the IS-F understands. Despite extended periods sitting in the car outside the office, head buried in the owner’s manual, I just can’t get my head around the way the Japanese system functions.

So I’ve taken to nabbing the office TomTom 930T and, just to rub salt into the Lexus’s wounds, sticking it not to the windscreen, but the control screen itself. It’s a damn sight more intuitive to use.

That moan aside, the IS-F continues to impress. Art director Paul Lang refers to it as the ‘Widow Maker’, prompted by a) the state of the rear tyres and b) the recent snowy weather. Given that I haven’t been that impressed thus far with the wet-weather grip of the Bridgestones, I would be inclined to agree with him, but in actual fact at low temperatures I’ve been amazed at the purchase they do find. Amazed too at the difference Snow mode makes, finding traction without compromising throttle response or activating the stability system.

I’m also amazed at the 25mpg it’s recorded this month. That, I’m convinced, has something to do with the fact the lion’s share of the miles have been covered by Chris ‘Lightfoot’ Rutter. I expect normal 22mpg service will be resumed next month. One last thing – I’ve finally managed to shift the unsightly gaffer-tape marks left from the Scottish SLR shoot. Came off a treat with a dash of petrol and an old rag.