giorgoXXI

The only problem with this iPod connection is that you can't charge your iPod while listening to it. If you do, you will get some horrible static noise in the background. This is really annoying!

I think it would be good to find out if the new DVD updates the firmware as we think, and if we can then put back our old sat nav DVD and continue to be able to enter destinations while in motion. This would mean that for all of us that don't care about the new maps, we could just borrow the DVD and update the system (which as mentioned above SHOULD be free of charge!)

Unfortunately my delear does the same. Changes something, tells me it is fixed, and 5 min down the road the rattles are still there if not worse. Rattles are one of the worse problems dealers have since it is very difficult to find the root of the problem. As an example, I told them my air vent was rattling, so they wedged a piece of very thin plastic in the gap between the air vent and the dashboard to make sure it doesn't move. This is not a fix, it is just a cheap hack demonstrating that they have no clue what could be wrong. Needless to say the rattle wasn't fixed, but I honestly can't be bothered going back and forth anymore. Yep that is the best solution I've found too...

And there were some on this forum saying Lexus would never update their diesel engine... As for the new engine, the figures are impressive, 148 in Co2 and 50.4 mpg in the combined cycle, added to the already lower OTR price of Lexus compared to the competition, makes the 220d a strong option as a company car.

That just looks wrong for a Lexus. It is really ugly and I hope they don't bring it to the UK! PS: WHATS with Lexus and the 70's style digital clock on every car's dashboard they make! GET RID OF IT!

The ones that are widely available are pirate copies aren't they? The price works out similar to what TomTom and co charge for map updates - the company making the mapping data has to have a revenue stream coming from somewhere otherwise they wouldn't be here to make new maps for you! Most people will get the map update just to unlock the usage while in motion. That to me is a firmware update on the Sat Nav, and firmware updates are almost always free on any device. I really don't care about a few new roads made during last year... What annoys me is that I just payed 28K for a car a few months ago and now I have to fork out another £120 just because Lexus didn't get it right in the first place. How about releasing a free cd to update the firmware? Obviously there is no interest in doing this since they need their "revenue stream".

These DVD updates are a rip-off! They should be free in my opinion, or at least cost between £10-£30 which is reasonable... the updates for N. America for Toyota and Lexus are normally widely available on the internet to burn and use, it's a pity the European one is not available.

Mine blew as well... replaced under warranty. Seems like the subwoofer is quite delicate.

I am quite happy with the 220d. My version is the Sport, which they don't do anymore, and has better gearing ratios (usable 6th gear) and slightly better drive, but consumes a bit more than the 220d (and higher CO2). The only disadvantages of the car I feel are rattles (which exist both on the 220 and 250) and in the 220d the 1st and 2nd gear are not the smoothest. Other than that, it looks great, interior is very good, loads of gadgets, superb sound system etc... Just take it for a test drive and see what you think. If you buy new, you should not suffer 5th injector problems and all the other recalls. 6th gear on the standard model is only usable above 75 mph (so it is usable if you like to drive slightly above the legal limit). The 250 is also a very good car, it is more refined and smoother than the diesel, but consumption is not that good and it lacks the low end torque the diesel has which makes it feel a bit sluggish in normal day to day driving.

As for audio, does it let you browse mp3 folders/cd track list while on the move?

You mean the jack underneath the armrest? To use your ipod with it, just get a 3.5 mm audio cable (male both sides) and connect it to your IPod. Press DISC/AUX and that's it. Thanks, I knew it would be easy! I take it though that I can't control the iPod via the Media pack, if I want to skip tracks I guess I would need to do it via the iPod itself, yeah? Yes, you can't control the IPOD. If you want that functionality, dealer can install an IPOD adapter for around £200 that fully integrates the IPOD with the music system.

You mean the jack underneath the armrest? To use your ipod with it, just get a 3.5 mm audio cable (male both sides) and connect it to your IPod. Press DISC/AUX and that's it.

Cheers! I know they're not great for economy (though I notice you're getting 42mpg from a 220D! - did you get anything done to get that much?) but in the last few days of town driving (and I'm trying to keep in low revs and go very light with the right foot) it is now down to 22mpg! Can't be right, can it? Low 30's is not uncommon if you purely do town driving. 22mpg is exaggerated... my advise would be first to calculate fuel consumption yourself (i.e. make a note next time you fill up), because maybe the computer is wrong. If your calculations still come out with those values, then take it to the delear.

Not sure if I quite understand your question, but with the IS 220D there are two types of gearbox, one with longer gear ratios and one with shorter ratios. The longer ratios are fitted to all models (including your SE-L) except the SPORT model which is fitted with the shorter ratios. The bit I don't understand is that you state that you drove another 220D that had even longer ratios than your SE-L (judging from your figures), which doesn't seem right...

On earlier models you can only access the speed dial numbers while on the move, the rest of thee phone features including keypad are disabled. When you say your MM is fully voice-activated do you mean you have all phone features enabled while on the move or are you referring to the voice commands? The very latest cars (or older cars with the latest nav DVD) have the motion lock removed, I'm not sure if Tel's has this but if you upgrade your DVD to the latest one then you can use the MM on the move as well. That's great. I just read in http://www.lexus-mapupdates.eu/ that the navigation is unlocked, and according to the info here the phone is also unlocked. But is the MP3 folder browsing unlocked as well? I would only buy it if this was the case, because I don't use the sat nav that much anyways.

On earlier models you can only access the speed dial numbers while on the move, the rest of thee phone features including keypad are disabled. When you say your MM is fully voice-activated do you mean you have all phone features enabled while on the move or are you referring to the voice commands?

I think the engine power is the same, it always had 177 bhp. The gearbox ratios are also the same so Im assuming 6th gear is still unusable. They've removed the Sport version (shorter ratios) so now there isn't even an option to correct this. Interior revisions are very minor, check the link at the top of this page ("NEW 2009 LEXUS IS RANGE") for details. I think for the other questions is a bit too soon to say, I believe no one in this forum has bought a FL 220D model yet.

Don't forget the rest of the range that Clarkson slagged off too, like driving in warm wallpaper paste!!! I think it was somehow meant as a compliment though, he said it again later and said something about reading a novel, so I think he means they're calming and relaxing to drive Not because I have an ISF but I think top gear has gone off slightly, there isnt much detail given about each car any car come to that, and all that cameras do is go in flashes,if you watch next week everything is in 3 second flashes and not on one shot seeing the cars go round the track, maybe Iam getting old and this is the new way of filming, oh by the way I love mine, 14,000 to date. Do you agree with his negative comments about the car ? (i.e. the ride is way too hard, constantly changing gears...)

Congratulations on your new car. I am interested to know what exactly can you do now on the MM while driving? Enter destinations? Full telephone dial? Browse MP3 folders?

Yes, the car has the full multimedia package with the following main features: - Sat Nav - DVD player - Mark Levinson 14 speaker sound system - Rear camera and parking sensors (all SE-L have parking sensors as standard, so you get visual and sound alerts) - Bluetooth - Other minor features (AC controlled through the screen, Calendar, Maintenance etc.) Just as a note, the SE-L and the SPORT versions drive different. The Sport version drives better with lower gear ratios (but higher CO2 emissions). Have you taken an SE-L for a drive?

It might not be a Lexus problem... Some areas (especially very populated areas e.g. the Trafford Centre) have devices to purposely jam certain radio frequencies so they can't be used for let's say, bomb detonators. Not saying this is the case, but I know these areas exist in Europe...

I've always asked myself, does the DVD player has any use at all? I only use it to listen to DVD audios (which is very good), but for movies it is a total waste in my opinion, especially since it can't be viewed while the car is in motion...

Regarding the parking sensors, you can have the multimedia pack without the parking sensors. In this case you get the visual image (camera and graphic), but no beeping. Parking sensors are standard on the SE-L and Sport models. I think parking sensors can be added as an accessory by your dealer for less than £500 so don't let that influence too much your decision. I got both the sensors and the camera in mine, and without them it would be really hard to park the car (you should have one or the other), because of the tiny rear windscreen. As for the warranty, the only problem you might face with the 250 is the rattling noises in the cabin which is not uncommon across the IS range. Other than that it should be very reliable.

I haven't driven the manual 250, but with the auto 250 you will definitely get bored very soon. The engine is very refined and quiet, but the performance is quite poor. Add to that an auto box and the driving experience becomes very very dull. You have the manual paddle shift to add a bit of excitement, but it's more gimmicky than useful in day to day driving.

I am not 100% sure, but I think the manual states that for the first 1,500 miles don't rev the engine too high. Check the manual again, it is mentioned somewhere.