Leaderboard

Silver Arrow - I haven't seen the show yet but can't disagree with any of your points. I'm just about to take delivery of my third Lexus and neither of the other two (both IS 250's) ever let me down in over 150,000 miles and I averaged 31mpg over an 8-year period. I consider this to be excellent and I have to admit I often feel uncomfortably smug when I hear people telling me about how their very expensive alternative make of car is "more trouble than it's worth". I've always considered reliability to be the single most important reason for buying a car. Having the most beautiful, or fastest motor in the world means nothing if it won't start or breaks down! :) I have looked at the German alternatives, plus Jaguar, but when you compare the models on a like for like basis, the cost of all the extras which are standard fit in Lexus have always pushed the other makes above the cost of the Lexus. I was really excited when the IS300h was launched last summer as the improved fuel economy was the only thing I felt could have improved my IS 250. The test drive convinced me then it just came to the price - ouch! I was very surprised and disappointed to be told that sat nav was a £2,000 extra on all but the Premier model. I couldn't justify this so waited and low and behold Lexus, (whom I suspect got a lot of stick from customers about this), then offered it as a free upgrade for a limited period on the SE and Luxury models. The deal ends on the 31st of March so be quick if you want to grab one. This convinced me and I placed my order. Robert

Yeah that's what I've been reading .... Poop

I contacted Lexus Europe 2 weeks ago through their website and the following day got a call from a nice lady at Toyota UK who seemed to show true concern for the problem. However, when she heard I was not in the UK she told me she couldn't help me but would refer it back to Lexus Europe. To date no reply. In the meantime the problem seems to be getting worse and I'm really fed up. I've sent them another mail and would like to encourage everyone with the same problem to do likewise on www.lexus.eu at 'Contact us'. Here's what I wrote until I hit the word limit: Transmission defect on IS300h model. Dear Sir or Madam, Two weeks ago I wrote to you about the transmission defect of my Lexus IS300h. I have not received a reply (my request was handed over to Toyota UK who told me that they could not help because I am not in the UK). I also informed you (Lexus) that I was not the only customer suffering from this defect, and that there are several more customers worldwide with the problem. My dealer had escalated the problem but to date has not received a reply (to my knowledge). The problem (resonance at 1300rpm) appears between 80 - 100km/h, is highly irritating and could be damaging in the long run - I notice the problem getting worse. I now have a luxury car which I paid more than 50,000 Euro for, and which I cannot drive at normal speed without an irritating vibration. I await your prompt reply and with a concrete proposal as to how Lexus will solve this issue for me any all other drivers experiencing the same problem. John Pollard

Have a look here, you can get from Japan or UAE, part number 47781-48030, 47782-48030, about £22.00 each plus delivery. Delivery takes about 10 days they reckon http://www.amayama.com/search/?q=47781-48030-&cur=GBP

I would like to hear about the Phaeton. Mike

It's a big job, do some googling and youtubing and you will see, and searches on here Lots of discussion on when to change, my waterpump had 200k on it and was only making an occasional noise, the cambelt looked like new after 100k miles. One of the idlers was noisy, probably original, so 200k. every 100k or 10 years would be my personal "feel good" figures. Definately replace the tensioner and idler pulleys and waterpump whilst in there Cost is usually between 600 and over 1000

Should be a Straight forward swap Guise.

Should be easy mate

Are you sure that the brakes aren't binding slightly. My own RX400h had a similar problem and it was diagnosed as sticking sliding pins on the rear brake caliper----This would also explain why the hub was warm