KnightUnit

Magnatec is just a cheap oil that is marketed so people think it's a good quality oil. Its a mineral based oil but Castrol say it has SPECIAL particles etc!! A lot of oils nowadays are labled up as Semi-synthetic or fully synthetic but the cheaper oils are what's called hydrocracked mineral oils which are manufactured to have the same properties as a non hydrocracked oil, the reason for this is that mineral oil is very cheap and much cheaper than a TRUE synthetic oil. I would spend your money on Fuchs/Silkolene or Mobil oils which are better quality. With oils it's one thing that you definately get what you pay for.

From Castrol's website:

Is Castrol Magnatec Synthetic or Semi Synthetic?

Castrol Magnatec 5W-30A1 is a fully synthetic formulation for improved performance in extreme cold temperatures.

Magnatec 10W-40 and 15W-40 are both part synthetic. All grades of Magnatec contain Intelligent Molecules for active and continuous protection.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=32348

I'm using 15W 40 Castrol Magnatec at the moment, the manual tells you different oils which depends on temperatures, either 10W40 or 15W40 should be good. Semi synthetic or fully synthetic not mineral oil.

Magnatec isn't a synthetic oil. Its mineral, despite what it says on the tin.

Guess its like anything, if the price is right it will sell. Not a good time to sell if your after top bucks though.

I know what you mean. My thinking is that there's a bigger market for a Lexus than an MG though. The thing with the MG is it's a high performance car that's cheap to run, so they've always attracted people on a budget. And people on a budget aren't going to want 400+ a year VED. With a Lexus there might be people with a slightly higher budget for running costs.

..if you really, really 'wanted' a Lexus would you be put off by an extra £200 a year.?., obviously the price will drop as a result of the tax rise but hopefully most people will counter the tax rise against what they will make from the drop in price..lets be honest the IS200 is hardly a practical motor, people buy them because they want them and if you want something bad enough 200 notes isnt going to stop you getting it is it!

But I can see the point on the MG, people buy them because they dont cost the earth to run. Guess people would be looking at other cars first in the lower tax band...

I like these. My IS wheels are knackered due to corrosion, might look out for a set. Where did you pick them up from matey?

I was thinking brakeing hard in an emergency in the wet, no grip on the front would be a nightmare.

If I was going round a fast bend and started to understeer, you would be off the road. But with oversteer at least you can steer into it.

Id rather have oversteer which for me is safe and easier to control, and have the braking power there aswell in case of an emergency.

When you have new tyres fitted, they should always be on the back of a car. Period.

You don't mention if your car is Manual or Auto, wether the Traction Control was switched on (normal) or off,

and what speed you were doing or what gear/engine revs. The Semperit Tyre (as stated above are budget a brand)

is possibly the culprit, and with 2 different Tyres on the axle in the wet. I would suggest ultimate grip from the rear

is quite greatly reduced. I would suggest as soon as you can afford to, replace the rears with Falkens or the Nexens

mentioned above.

Also you car may well need the chasis calibrating to the correct positions. It's a long story but basically the IS200

has handling issues/front tyre wear on inside edges, and needs to be set up properly by a specialist to the correct

positions. Do not under any circumstances go to a fast fit type centre and ask them to do the trackig on your car,

as this will be set only to the information supplied by Lexus. The information is wrong. The updated positions were

written by Tony Bones of Wheels-InMotion (WIM) and you car will benifit greatly from a proper set up.

He has done over 300 full geometry set ups on IS200 and does really know what he is talking about.

See here for last weeks meet and further information.

Surely as most of the brakeing is done by the front wheels, its actually safer to have the new tyres on the front where the gripped will be needed if you have to brake hard...

Yeah Im waiting another year to change my lex then get a new car :), would have had it 6 years then. Car prices will hit rock bottom, grab yourself a bargin.

VW will have the best best of both worlds in the new golf, its going to offer a hybrid diesel which will do about 100 miles for 6 litres of fuel.

Is that a pre 2001 IS? If so, that looks normal..........

I'm absolutely sure that they lowered the cars around the 2001 point, as mine is nowhere near that high at the back, but all the pre2001 cars I've seen are ridiculously high - I'll try take a pic of mine at some point to show what I'm talking about :)

Totally agree, mine is a 99 and my mates a 01, both standard and you can clearly see the difference.

I had a temp job at one point reading the films that came out the speed camera's, no sprays work at all. They have loads of different tools to adjust the photo etc to see through plus you get another ticket as its illegal.

Not worth it. The hardest thing to read is really obscure fonts, which again is a illegal and they put an ANP on the car so you will get pulled over soon as a police car clocks your vehicle.

I run 35psi all round.

Looking good mate

Im upto 140k on original clutch still, guess its how long is a piece of string till it goes.

I hear a polished baked beans can works well.

Looks good mate,

I would do the wheels first and also wash again after you clay to get any residue left over, off the car.

Collintie is very good, a couple of coats will give you a few months protection.

Nice work on the engine bay, I really need to do mine, has not been done in 140,000 miles. :)

Makes the pullaway on manuals alot smoother too, I use it when sat it traffic.

They were on about booking a test drive on the radio today for the 250SR in Plymouth and Exeter

Ah my thread got hijacked! if anyone else has one spare, please pm me! cheers

Just wondered if anyone know where I can get the hexagonal like locking wheel nut covers, have lost one.

Ta,

I think your be fine in an IS mate, I was 22 when I got mine now 26 and still wouldnt replace it. Always makes me chuckle though, whenever I see another IS200 on the road the driver is always in there twilight years .

140,000 on the clock still running sweet.

I never liked the 200 and seen it as only a re-badged toyota ( as it infact was ). Yet when i saw the 250 i loved it.

I think it is indeed each to their own, but i do think they have similarities.

This photo of my IS250 bares a striking resemblance to a 200, or is it just me?

They're definitley part of the same family..these two are anyway

Your IS200 looks mint!

Very nice, welcome back to the club!