Raytheham

I got rid of the runflats on my new Ux250 due to appalling ride and noise. I have fitted Michelin cross climate which have transformed the ride. If you get a puncture in the runflats you have to scrap the tyre..beware ! Ray

Oxfordshire county council are the pits when it comes to road maintenance. This is not the first issue I've had with them. My previous car was a SAAB 9-5 3litre turbo. Two of the alloys on one side were damaged in a particularly bad stretch of road. I took photos of the potholes with rulers etc showing the depth, complained and tried to get recompense direct. Nothing, I then tried using the RAC legal department. The specious arguments that cam back from Oxon had to be seen to be believed, accusing me of driving too fast for the "road" conditions to previous damage.. all sorts. Eventually the RAC suggested taking them to the small claims court, which I did. I won but by the time I paid the court fees traveling expenses etc I received exactly £55.00, not even the cost of a quarter of one alloy. my insurance company were also less than helpful, subsequently changed. Be warned, Oxfordshire roads are the pits...literally, Ray

Thanks for all the information guys. I took it to the garage and had the alignment etc checked. The rear was ok but the front was a little out. The problem was that both the front tyres had 50 pence sized pieces of tyre worn out/missing in several places. The explanation given was sharp edges of potholes causing this. Given the shocking state of the roads here in Oxfordshire I am happy to believe it. Two new Michelin SP4 s later the noise has gone. Regards Ray

Thanks Guys

Hi all. Just up to 50k in my is300h. Been doing a lot of commuting up to yorkshire lately. On some really smooth roads I noticed a sort of rumbling noise from the front of the car which varies with speed. On my old Morris 8 (showing my age-bought, it when I was 17!) this was exactly the same noise when the front wheel bearings were about to break up. Has anyone else noticed this? With an aged parent up north from Oxford I am starting to have to do 440 mile round trip every weekend or other week and I am a little concerned, it might let me down. Any ideas? Regards Ray

Due to aged parent in Yorkshire, I am commuting up and down M1 every week or so from Oxford Having been nearly wiped out by idiots a couple of times I wish to fit a dash cam. Can anyone tell me how to hardwire it to the rain sensor wiring so I don't have wires around the trim. On the subject of agism. I am a 73 year old ex military test pilot, I still fly and have a medical every 6 months. The MO (medical Officer) does a reaction test every time due to "perceived" age related reaction time slow down. He has yet to see any in my case. The current reaction times are still simlar to when I was full time test flying so lets drop this agism. People are living longer and healthier lives with very little signs of slowing down until in their 80's. SO lets keep agism off this forum.

I've had my Is300h for several months now and my only criticism is the suspension. I find it much harder than my old IS250 and given my back problems(ex military, sky diving and motorcycle accident) I am finding it more and more uncomfortable. I don't want to go back to an IS250 so can anyone suggest a way of improving the ride? I have got rid of those dreadful portenza tyres and now on michelins. They are a little better but the car still thumps and bangs on our crappy roads in Oxfordshire. The car has only done 20,000 miles. Thanks for looking Ray

Yes I did both those, usual don't assume check! Surprise, surprise, the damn satnav worked tonight with full post code, dont think it was digital cockup on Saturday but we'll see, don't normally need to use it. . Bratman 91..... RAF Halton 93rd entry here! If thats a hit? Will check the tyre pressures and make tomorrow and suss the options, many thanks Ray

Hello all, I bought a 2013 IS300h ex demonstrator, from a dealer, a few months ago and so far had been very pleased but now a couple of niggles have arisen. Firstly, why won't the satnav accept full 6 digit post codes only the first 4. The auto dim interior mirror only goes a very pale shade of green, not very effective even when cars up close behind, sensor is unobstructed as rear headrests fully down. Finally, very firm ride, not as good as my IS250 petrol,on the motorways is fine but on a run down to Somerset yesterday you could feel every single stone on the roads. The car has done 14000 miles so I would have thought it would have been sorted. Any help greatly appreciated. Ray

Hi Alan, from another radio ham. On glass antennas work but.......the heating element is the antenna for the broadcast radio. You will fry the rf amplifier and the input stages of the radio, on both 2metres and 70 cm. Trust me! I know from bitter experiance. As regards Rf getting into the systems can bus you will need to filter both positive and negative leads and mount the base unit as close to the battery as possible, very tricky. Antenna wise I use a setup with the antenna mount that clips over the offside rear passenger window. I also now use a handheld dual band, isolated from the car systems. I might go back to a mobile rig once the warranty runs out but meantime the handheld orks fine with bluetooth headset and Vox. There's only one reapeater local so its not a problem sticking to a single channel. 73's Ray G3VHE