Exiled

"Discovery of Perfection" - Not in my car it's not Jamboo. :duh: To be honest I have become resignedto the fact that as I had one of the first off the production line the robots were not as accurate as they could have been. The early compononents for the car were still being deveoped whilst their quiality was also being improved whilst they ramped up production. I think it's just unfortunate that so many things have gone wrong on one car. I have to admit that when the airbag light came on I was spitting feathers. To be fair Lex are courteous even though I must be a royal pain in the backside by keep going in with more issues. I'm sure they think "oh here he comes again, what has he broken now." D I do feel like a pest keep asking for things to be checked and changed but if it's not right, it's not right. I like the car and the brand but i don't like the issues. Perhaps I should try and request a 'special deal' with LOex to try and get into another one. The problem is that the Garage is there to make moneyand are unlikely to compensate me for the problems I have had by a loss of margin on another car. Perhpas Lex GB could add some assistance? Worth a shot I suppose. Anything is worth a shot, they know about all your problems. Don't worry about becoming a pest, it's the car that's the pest it should be right. You're certainly making me think. If you basically like the car push them to give you a good deal, they may have a customer for life alternatively you'd probably never go near the brand again. Keep on and on at them, what have you to lose! As an aside, if you left the brand the neighbour's cats wouldn't half be miffed, cold bums this winter.

Jamboo, I've only been on the forum for a month but in that time have come to realise that you tell it how it is. A lot of people have blinkers on when it comes to praising any marque other than theirs, so thanks. I called at another Merc dealership today, went up to the receptionist and asked if it was okay to look around, fine she said, if I needed to speak to a sales person to let her know, was there for 30 mins and nobody bothered me. Looked at a Sport model, ok but not my cup of tea. saw an Elegance, silver with burr walnut and black leather, looked the part. Pricewise it's not miles away from an IS250 SEL but equipmentwise it certainly is. Yes, they are a bit bland, saw an IS on the way home, the clean lines and front end styling makes the Merc look ugly, somehow too fussy, but I'm warming to them. I'll have a drive sometime. The slow process of decision making continues. One area where Lexus are miles infront of either Merc. BMW or Audi is the quality of the sales staff they employ, seen three Lexus dealers now and their patter and product knowlege has been superb.

BY THE SOUNDS OF IT I'D SAY THE LATTER!!

Last 2 cars have been manual diesels, fancy an auto this time because I'm getting lazy. What I liked about them as opposed to the petrol eqivalents was the ability to chugg along in 3rd at low speed and then put yer foot down, something you can't do with a petrol car. If the IS had come with an auto diesel it would have been my original preference but after reading everyone's comments I would have been swiftly converted to the petrol version. With an auto, fuel type doesn't matter when you're a chugger. Heard good reports on the C220 CDI Auto so spent an hour online digesting and configuring, then went along to local dealer. Looked at one in Elegance trim which comes either with Artico or as an option, leather upholstery. The salesman told me the one we were looking at was in Artico leather saying you can have proper leather or Artco leather. Asking what the difference was and getting fobbed off with "it's a different type of leather" I asked it had come off an animal or was it synthetic, he replied "it's probably synthetic leather". Didn't really get much further. I climbed all over it, sat front and back, layed in the boot, It's a nice car but nothing stirred, certainly not as attractive looking as an IS. Going to another Merc dealer tomorrow hoping I can find someone with a bit more knowledge. Wife says it must be me and perhaps I need a makeover, they see me drive onto the forecourt and think "this guy looks a right dipstick" and send out the teaboy.

Sorry again, what about putting them in the front passenger footwell then? Don't get touchy.

Sorry, maybe I've missed something here but wouldn't it just be easier to put the heavy items/shopping in the boot and what happens to the heavy items/shopping on the front seat if you have to brake suddenly.

Apologise to Mrs Leddy, I've lumped all sorts ot trailers about. The IS diesel has bags of torque 400Nm@2000-2600 rpm. and should be ideal for towing. The car will have a maximum permissable noseweight possibly 75kgs (don't know it), don't exceed it. Also, very important, van fully loaded must not weigh more than car. Ideally 85% wouldn't exceed 90%, and needs loading evenly. Modern cars with loads of power can lug anything around at speeds well over the 60mph limit, we've all seen them. Your problems start when you do this and it gets windy or you get sucked in by an artic. lorry, or you have to take some sort of avoiding action. Weightwise the car must be on top of the job. There are lots of do's and dont's. Seriously Leddy, if you haven't towed before and want to start caravanning look at the website of the caravan club or the camping and caravanning club. Finally, be wary of caravan salesmen.

I think what everyone is trying to tell you is that the systems with only two corner sensors are ment for protecting the corners of the car while parking. However if you are parking straight on to a wall etc they will also work as the wall will be within the sensing area. I wouldn't trust them to work if you were pulling up to a bollard which was nearer the middle of the bumper though as this could be missed by them. Thanks very much, that makes perfect sense. Another topic put to bed.

Sorry Leddy can't help. Can't you change her mind, from what I hear they spend most of there time in ditches. Tell her dealer says it's impossible to fit one on that model. How's about a pair of knitting needles, lot less than £600.

Thanks Neo, It's that number plate area I was wondering about, can anyone else answer question. Am really in bad books here, ran into a wall in wife's car at .0005 mph need to have smart repair, £250. It's the main topic of conversation with everyone we meet, surprised Associated Press haven't got onto it, never live it down. Been told must have parking sensors on new car or she will walk infront with a red flag.

Yes - they do tell you, and show you a picture of the how close the obstruction is too in the MPG readout window - for both SEL and Sport Yes you can - but you'll only get the bleeping variety!! No visual, unless you go for one of the snazzy aftermarket ones with a readout module you stick on the dash or rear parcel shelf!! I've see one those bleeping ones that comes as a band that they fit to the back of the bumper - so no holes. They work quite well (the earlier ones were naff). So Jamboo, even though the sensors are at each front corner they would warn you of an obstruction, for example, if you were wanting to park up close to a wall infront of the car, do they also bleep? This readout you are on about in the mpg window, is this on an SEL without MM. Thanks.

Think this has been discussed lately but can't find where. On the SE-L there are only two sensors on the front bumper, one at each corner. Do these warn you of obstructions infront of the car. If you buy a model without this facility and want them fitted you get four at the front and four at the back. Clarification please.

Sorry, you've lost me. What is the VX site and who is Imran?

For Sale, at a main dealer near you. 06 IS 250 SE with MM, 43,000 miles, £21,000 o.n.o. Slight accident damage.

Not doubting Jamboo's theory, he clearly knows more about this subject than I do, but, I would not spend that money on that car with that mileage. Jamboo reckons it stands them at 17k, now somewhere around that price, or a few bob more sounds a lot better. Do I think you are mad? no, perhaps just a little eccentric if you buy it.

Infinity, Have been on Royal and Sun Alliance website, can't find any ref. to Lexus Insurance. Have you got more details. Thanks, Exiled Forget last request, found phone number. 0800 138 3200. Me and the wife, over fifty, both whiter than white. 45 days Euro cover, garaged, plus all the benefits Infinity has listed above, £387. If you're going to spend 20-30k, think about it.

Jamboo, We've all read about your up's and down's but it's that last sentence that's important, priceless in fact.

Infinity, Have been on Royal and Sun Alliance website, can't find any ref. to Lexus Insurance. Have you got more details. Thanks, Exiled

Same thing happened to me with confused, mistake I won't make again. Your comment " you only get what you pay for" couldn't be truer.

Welcome, Hope the new car is great for you, I'm sure it will be and if you need any guidance unfortunately I won't be able to help you but there are loads of guys on this forum that will. Good luck!

They said that about Cruise controlwhen the XJ had it as standard in 1981...and then A/C, and even Satnav... It won't be long!! It'll be everywhere, then you'll be able to trust the missus with the car! 2007 minus 1981 = 26, added to my advancing years. I wonder, perhaps they will be standard spec. on mobility vehicles by then.

It's on the cards Jamboo, but not for a few months yet. got maturing funds after xmas. Initial choice was BMW 525d, but decided it was too big, as only need back seats occasional, then saw new 3 series coupe, more room in back than IS 250 though more difficult to get to it. Fancied 330d but with leather, walnut, folding mirrors, floor mats, auto box and front pdc it comes out at 36K and not much off through DTD. Don't want to spend that much anyway, not impressed with dealer, wouldn't return my calls, nothing worse in my book, that was it for me, I took my bat home. Got mini from same dealer, completely different experience, small operation, they only employ a couple of sales staff and the odd mechanic we are treated as well as we ever have been. There's a message in there somewhere. Keep your chin up.

Thanks for that stevet, boy that IPA is just amazing. I really do need that, in fact 90% of drivers on the road really do need that. Pity we won't be able to afford it.

Going back to what Curtisp said about building to a standard rather than a price, its funny but I am sure that is what the Lexus sales rep said to me about Lexus when he was selling me on them. He said that all the other manufacturers manufactured to a price while Lexus made the car and then put a price on it. Was anyone else given this spiel? Going back to the paint issue Jamboo is correct in thinking that the paint/clear topcoat is too soft as against other manufacturers. I don't know why unless it is because someones nephew works for the paint company or something because there is no reason behind it. It is quite possible to make a water based topcoat every bit as hard as a solvent based one. The only downside of WB topcoats is that in hot weather, some of them turn thermoplastic and soften slightly, however as our paint is soft all year round I don't think that is the problem. Yes you guessed it I am in the paint business and on the other thread long ago when we were discussing the paint and I asked the Lexus guy to give us his comments about the paint. I was only having a chuckle as to how big a hole he was going to dig for himself. In short, what we seem to have are Luxury cars with rattly engines (diesel) crap paint and wobbly rear view mirrors that rattle a bit inside as well. Not too bad really is it. The point you make about the paint is an interesting one. The next door neighbour has 7 cats. Now I hate cats for the sole reason on what they do to my car when they walk over it. I have about 4 deep scratches and 6 not so deep scratches over my bonnet where the cats have slid on it. You can see the white primer on the 4 deep ones. Now even though the cats walk over the Audi there are no such scratches. You can see the foot prints and even where they have slipped however it's just my Lex that get the scratches. I will need both front wings and the bonnet resprayed before long but I don't want to do it just yet because I know the cats will just do it again. Arrgghhh, I HATE CATS....... Word of advice. After the Lex is resprayed, and before you drive it home, GET A DOG!!!

What an eye opener it's been finding this forum. There are problems with lots of cars that you only find out about through ownership, after reading these postings you become aware of the cars shortcomings, how many times have we been back to a dealer highlighting some problem or other only to be faced by a look of incredulity, the aim of which is to try and convince us that our particular complaint is a world first in that cars history. I've never had a Lexus, never even ridden in one but feel I probably know as much about them than any car I've owned. I've been to a few dealerships already, haven't been to the same one twice, don't want to appear too interested, can't do with the follow up hassle, I could go along now thinking "I know a hell of a lot more about these cars than you think". and that is what I will be doing. I've not been put off, yet. Are there any other similar sites for cars that are so easy to access. Some I've noticed seem to be run by the manufacturer. Gotta say a word about Jamboo, he worries me, his next posting could be in obituaries if he doesn't lighten up.