Northern Boys Luv Gravy

Ghm

IS220D - yes, it is lowest emission level

Lowest in terms of CO2 output only...lets not get into all the nasty carcinogins in diesel fumes that are released - EuroV or no EuroV.

hmm....they complain about the IS's ride and then give the BMW 3 series 5 stars for its outstanding ride and handling? Have they been in a 3 series with runflats??

The rear in the IS is cramped and I always wondered how they managed that given that the IS is based on the larger GS platform. Then if you look at the car you can see they have moved the engine well back to give better weight distribution and this has eaten into rear legroom - that and the bloody big electric seats.

don't forget for high emission evel for IS250 :( (red zone)

next year it can be a problem (euro-V, increased (to 25 pounds) Congestion Charge, etc...)

Not the Auto version - we're still clean green machines! :)

The Richbrook ones are brilliant.

Until you get idiots like me who lose the key, can't check his tyre pressures and then have to have them all taken off with piers at Kwik Fit when new tyres are needed. Paid the extra £4 at Kik Fit for their very nice chrome ones to replace the now knackered Richbrook ones. They looked lovely for 48 hrs until the kids knicked them again. Back to black plastic now.

A couple of people I know have said they'd be interested in a "baby lexus" like the A3 but I can't see how that photoshopped idea would help. If it had the same engines, same interior and 80% same panels, how would it be cheaper for Lexus to build to sell it at a lower price point? All that would do would be to drag down the perceived value of the IS. If they put a cheaper interior and 4 cylinder engines in it then it just becomes a Toyota - a brand they are trying to push up market anyway. It would do nothing but blur the lines between Toyota and Lexus.

The other interesting point which I've not often seen mentioned is that it's a CVT automatic,

It's not mentioned because it isn't. :)

I'd agree - get the Auto - I did and have never regretted it. Plus you save on fuel and VED. The manual is classed as a "gas guzzler" in Band G - £300 a year rising to £400 a year.

I thought it was part of the deal that you would always get a Lexus as a courtesy car, but not sure if there is a written rule as such.

I've always received Lexus as courtesy cars..........

I've always been given either a 220d or 250 auto.

I've had a number of diesel cars and on none of them did the turbo kick in below 1800-2000 rpms, giving a narrow power band of between 2000 and 4000 rpms. I've only driven the 220d as a courtesy car but it appeared no different to any other marque I've had. The fuel economy seemed a bit worse than our Audi 2.0TDI (but I would expect that as it has 30 or so more bhp and an extra level of emissions kit) and it was a bit smoother - but then again they are both diesels and sound tractor-like at idle.

The windows down bit is a puzzler - we had a similar thing happen at a place I worked once - the windows of our VWs and Audis in the carpark kept winding down by themselves. We never did get to the bottom of it.

Just look at the size of the Merc badge on the grill!!!!! OMG! that's awful! I'm sure it'll be the most popular motor among the Porto Banus set :P

They're doing two different front ends - the sport models have the big Benz badge on the grill whereas the ordinary ones have the standard emblem on the bonnet.

[i've put the fob inside a lether pouch...no problems yet!!

Not one of those "posing" ones I hope. :)

After I got my wheels replaced under warranty I bought some Comma Nano-technology surface protector and applied it to clean wheels. The dust now just rinses off and it makes cleaning them much easier.

I think it's unspoken because everyone I have spoken to finds the seats extremely comfortable. Mine are superb and I find I can drive for hours and get out of the car refreshed.

French cars generally have very soft seat and are often not very supportive. It may be that you have become used to these seats and your back will need to be gently re-educated.

Either that or you have a strange shaped arse! :)

I agree with Jamboo - the paint finish on my IS is the finest I've seen on ANY car. There isn't a flaw in it anywhere. Mine's now 16 month old, 30k miles and when washed shines like new. No orange peel, no runs and panel fit is excellent.

The other thing is that every car we've had, MINI, Audi, Volvo, BMW etc, when you go to their forums there are owners complaining about stone chips and dodgy paint. I just think that when you're hammering down the motorway at 80mph+ and a stone flies towards your paintwork from the car in front you are talking closing speeds of in excess of 120mph. I'm not sure any paintwork can withstand that. We do some work for Nissan in Sunderland and they have a machine that fires diamonds at paint samples to test their resistance to chipping but I'm not sure Nissans are now reknowned for being chip free. When it comes to thickness, if Barry is getting between 120 - 135 microns that would seem to be pretty good - I think the best paint jobs are only about 150 microns max.

Lord

yeah, i know, but my car has "b pillar wind nose" problem, and i think that is due to air goes through this trim, cause water goes through air goes through easily inside the car and mekes the annoying noise when you drive at 120 km/h or up.

It was only a proof for b pillar wind noise problem.

Yes, but to apply your logic, if you had a problem with stone chips would you point your pressure washer at the paintwork, blast off a foot square section of paint and say "There, I told you so."?

I have a problem, and i don't know if someone has this problem too and if it is solved.

When i wash my car, i use a "karcher" (pressurized water). If i put the tip of my hose near the corner of the door i would get water through the weathre strip inside my car.

My dealer has changed the 4 wheather strip of the windows at door, but i have the same problem. In the rear doors the problem is worse, the rear seat get a lot of water drops (i don't have photo of this).

Does someone how can i solve it?

I think that this problem causes the B pillar wind noise, becuase if the presurized water goes through the weather strip, the air could goes through more easy when i drive at 120km/h or more. What do you think?

put the tip of the hose on the glass not in the paint. Water goes in through the glass and the trim where the glass goes up and down, not in the weather strip of door. Exactly, water goes in through the upper corner of window and the upper edge too.

I don't put presurized water directly on the paint

So let me get this straight, you're firing high pressure water at 120+ bar at the seals of your Lexus and you're surprised some goes through?

You'll be surprised the water's wet next.

P.S If you look at the instructions of your Karcher it suggests you avoid using it on vehicles from close range.

fact is we are becoming redundant as "wimmin" will soon be able to produce sperm... girl babies of course as there missing the male chromosome

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/scienc...icle2444462.ece

Well that's it then, once they figure out how to operate petrol lawnmowers we're doomed...

That engine choice is superb. My IS250 SE Auto is due for change in December and I'm already leaning towards Cadaxton Slate with silver leather interior. The missus keeps muttering about the new Audi A5 (she works for Audi and gets discount) but even she appreciates the relaxing drive, the looks and the interior.

Lexus was/is the American Super Luxury Division of Toyota which was formed in the late 80's to take on the mighty German Execs in the most important Market in the World given heritage was a huge hurdle to overcome.

To-day,however,Lexus outsell Bm/Mercedes/Audi combined in the US Exec Market & continue along with Toyota to be a huge success which has now turned to Asia.

The products sell on VFM,innovation & reliability with Style now gaining more significance.

The IS 220d was really produced for the UK Corporate Market where Autos are not popular with Fleet Managers whilst Europe has been targeted for continual growth.Toyota/Lexus Customer Service leads the Automotive World & is the envy of all its Competitors based on the core pursuit of Family Values which generate huge Customer Satisfaction & Sales!

The equivalent Bm to my Auto SEL costsc.7k. more,is less reliable , depreciates faster & is more expensive to operate but I do except,ride apart,the German car will corner better.

The above is key to my decision making but to others it does not count a jot for a multitude of reasons that continuously challenge the Marketing Gurus.

Wouldn't do for us all to be the same!

Tel

Are you cutting and pasting this? lol

Couple of points; Lexus is not "Super Luxury". that would be Rolls Royce, Maybach, Aston etc. It's a luxury division of Toyota and none the worse for that.

The American market was an easier nut to crack than the European one as it is more open to new entrants whereas the Euro market is very fixed on the heritage of the German marques, something that Lexus really struggles against outside the UK. You could also argue that the American market was easier for Lexus to conquer than their own home market of Japan - witness how they have struggled there since launching.

Value for money wise Lexus are good value to purchase, although that is a double edged sword in that the public doesn't then see them as an equivalent to BMW, Audi & Mercedes. There is a school of thought that says Lexus will never be considered alongside those three until it charges comparible prices.

I can't agree that Lexus offer a value for money proposition to run - mine is coming up for it's 30k service which will cost £250, meaning that since new I have spent £750 on servicing costs compared to £250 for my Audi. The new IS was trumpeted for it's low running costs - I can't see it. My local dealer charges £90 an hour! When I queried this they justified it by saying it was the same as Porsche charged - hardly the same.

One area where Lexus excelled at was Customer Satisfaction, however the rest have caught up now and just having nice premises and free coffee is no longer enough. Infiniti are launching in the UK and are promising levels of customer care unheard of by any marque in the UK. It will be interesting to see what they are like.

Clearly not Latin scholars then?

Lexii is used by CAR Magazine as well as other Publications but,in any event,I was posting a method of approach that ensures success to help fellow members of the Club:the spin on Lexus is irrelavant.

Tel

Actually I am a Latin scholar :). My favourite subject at school.

IF Lexus was a Latin word and you wanted to make it plural it would be Lexi. It would be a pointless task though because Lexus was made up by Toyota and if you ask them they will tell you the plural is the same as the singular. As to why CAR magazine journos use it - that's why they write for CAR and not decent publications. Either that or they are all closet Alan Partridges.

Getting back to the pursuit of perfection - all I can say is that at the moment perfection is getting away and they need to step up the pace. The IS is a great car but it could have been so much better if they had put in that last 5% of effort to get it right first time.

Hi.

I am about to purchase a 2005 (55) IS250 AUTO with high mileage (20K+) under the approved pre-owned scheme.

Is there anything I should be wary of (tyres, brakes) and how much would you expect the higher mileage to affect the car depreciation? Also, is the high mileage likely to indicate something other than just lots of motorway driving?

This is my first car purchase for many years and my first nearly-new purchase, so I feel I am learning all the time.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

20K+ is not high mileage. My 55 plate IS250 Auto has done 30K miles and feels like new. Apart from regular servicing all I've had is 4 new tyres and set of front pads at 20K.

Lexii &/or Lexi is the plural of Lexus.

For some reason a lot of people believe communication by Letter really does work BUT the best way always is to meet them Face to Face & talk through the Issue followed by a Road Test if appropriate.

You need to establish a good relationship with your Technician so he knows your standards / expectations & your car.

I have enjoyed/enjoy an excellent relationship with my Technicians who know I will return immediately If the Issue has not been fully resolved.

Letters & E-mails lie in the in-tray,one to one communication always works even if that means you go elsewhere!

Tel

Lexi or Lexii is NOT the plural of Lexus. The plural of Lexus is Lexus. You don't get Mercedi or Mercediis. The only person that uses Lexii is Alan Partridge.

What are Lexi and Lexii? There's no such thing. :duh:

Newcastle is my local dealership (it's only 3/4 mile away) and they are pretty good, if a touch expensive. They sorted out centre dash grill rattle no problem and since then all has been well.

It's not a conventional auto - it's a CVT, which by design uses less fuel due to the way it changes gears (it's like a big elastic band between 2 large cotton reel holders - that's how I understand it). I seem to recall Audi Multitronic is the same too and slightly more efficient than a manual.

I suppose it's better than the BMW - which has 2 large rats - one in the gearbox and one in the engine

The IS Auto is a conventional auto gearbox, not a CVT. The GS450h has the CVT gearbox, characterised by the engine's ability to rev to a fixed rpm and them just keep getting faster and faster with no cog changing as the CVT alters its drive ratios seamlessly.