Silver Arrow

Best place to look is ebay. I believe IS200 alloys will fit, you may be able to pick up a set of those or the 16 inch IS250/220d base model alloys for about the same as a set of steel rims if you get lucky.

I would never recommend an IS220d to anyone. The IS250 Auto is almost as economical and far more reliable. The IS220d has a notchy gearbox, terrible final drive (geared at the diff way too high, unless you get the earlier Sport models), major flatspots below 1700rpm, much narrower power delivery than most pretty much any equivalent german diesel, suspect head gaskets, 5th Injectors, EGR's etc etc. There are some good ones out there, but I suspect most have underlying issues. It might drive OK on a test drive, but I found it quite tiresome to live with for 2.5 years. The comment above about it being dangerous off the mark is one that resonates with me. Especially at roundabouts where you need a quick getaway...it was a few of those that really made me want to change. If you're gonna have a Lexus, buy what they do best - petrol or petrol/hybrid Auto's. Period. If you want a diesel, go for an Audi.

There have been loads of tests on this in the past by journo's and the differences are very marginal. It's all clever marketing, a few more octanes (or cetanes) and they charge you a fortune for it. You won't notice the difference in normal driving, I'm pretty sure. It's a placebo thing. I've used Sainsbury's for years in lots of cars, never had a problem, never had gummed up injectors, never had failed an MOT for crappy emissions. Some cars have covered massive mileages, no problems related to fuels.

None - normally the replacement engine from Lexus will be very similar to the one you had before. There were some slight changes resulting in lower emissions I believe for the IS250 etc, but you will get like for like - I'm pretty sure of that

On an IS220d, there are far bigger things to worry about than the chain....like the head gasket! The chain is normally referred to as something that will "last the life of the engine" whatever that means....like pistons, crankshaft etc

Comparison to BMW is interesting. I went from the IS220d to a BMW 525d Auto (3.0l version), with 6 cyl and auto box, and it was faster, smoother, more economical, and very consistent. I could almost predict my MPG on a repeat journey. my IS220d would give 36mpg one day, and 42 the next - exactly the same journey, similar conditions etc. 44-52 mpg (I kid you not) easily attainable in the BMW, 38-46 in the IS220d in my every day commutes - some more urban, some more rural. Each similar journey would be +- %2-3% in the BMW, 10% or so in the IS220d. The other thing I noticed immediately on changing was how easily the BMW engine would rev - just a like a petrol engine, especially when sitting idling in neutral. You hit the pedal and the revs would spin easily. The Lexus engine would take an age to rev. The engine didn't seem that great at all.....it just seemed too "heavy" internally with too much friction. SO why did I change? I wanted something different. Both times I've owned a Lexus - it has been for that reason alone.

WOW - that is rare from what I can tell. IS250's have had an issue with cold engine rattles, requiring a top end strip down, but I didn't think it effected the 3.5l. You might want to ask for more goodwill, if the car has less than 100k on the clock and a FLSH. Good luck.

Oh dear. Why do they create cars with a hard ride and then an variable set up that makes it worse :eerrrmm: Are you sure it doesn't have a "comfort" type setting? I'm sure the GS does. Going back to the orginal question - IS250 or 300h, you have to do the maths. In your ownership, will it cost more to fuel, run and depreciate more with a 250???? Will you keep the car a long time??? There are compromises with a hybrid - largely the boot space - though it seems they are getting better at that.

I wouldn't get a brand new GS again, ever! They make excellent value for money when 6-12 months old with 5000 miles on the clock (and 25-30% off).... I found the A6/7 in S Line ride too firm, almost knobbly around town. An SE with the Sport suspension option was the best option as it wasn't as firm as the S Line but better controlled than an SE's standard set up. The Black with 20 inch wheels would be really too hard for me.... The one thing that Lexus historically haven't done too well on is compromise between ride control and handling. Not driven the new IS yet (just doesn't appeal to me after my disaster with the 2nd Gen), a bit of a taboo in our household....but if the CT was anything to go by, the ride might be too firm for my liking.

Cannot believe it - one year gone already.... So how has it been? The good.... The car has been superbly reliable and totally dependable. It's still superbly quiet, totally rattle free (regardless of temperatures - whether it was during the cold start to 2013, or blistering temps of late) Smooth and very very comfortable. Just had the first service - and the drivers wiper juddered a little. Mentioned it to the girl at check in - and true to Lexus promise - the whole arm was changed under warranty. A nice goody bag left in the car, with a pen, water bottle as it was so hot, screen wash, sweets and key ring. What a joyous experience! AC is amazingly efficient - probably the best I have ever had in a luxury car MLS - very good but I actually think the MLS in the 2IS was better?? The bad.... The stuff below is very minor.... The fuel consumption - town average hovers between 16 and 22 (about 19 mostly), and on a run hovers between 32-38 (about 35 average), so not too bad, and I knew this when I bought it The Road Tax is only gonna go in one direction (up), as Co2 is > 200grms p/km The gear changes - they are smooth, but some times a bit jerky (especially 1st to 2nd) when you need a quick get away. The Navigation - tiresome in TMC mode. How many times in one minute does it have to remind you of a minor delay? Once overridden - it should not repeat My biggest bug bear - no auto lock on drive away. Even the CT200h loaner had that! Car still feels BIG - especially when trying to park in a multi story Tendency to just drop a gear at the slightest push of the accelarator Oh - the soft paint - now I know people say that all cars have water based lacquer etc etc and so all are soft, but my 5 Series had water based paint and it was not as soft as this; period The ugly...... The centre console buttons, the cruise control stalk, and some switch gear is defo from Toyota.....which means it's functional, but not classy The artificial looking wood trim - not good for a luxury car. It scratches so easily....

SO I too was only really considering an Audi (A7) on the basis that my previous Audi A4 (owned 2002-2006) was amazing.... We decided to kill some time at the Lexus dealers in Derby (Across the road from Audi) and ended up booking a test drive. The Audi dealership treated us, as usual, as if they were doing us a favour! Went for the Lexus test drive having had no joy at Audi, and actually ended up buying the GS250 - when I didn't want one after my misery with the IS220d. So my point to you is this - if size isn't too much of an issue - go and test drive the GS. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how good it is and how much better value it is than the new IS. A nearly new GS250 F Sport can be had for around £30k and the 450h for a few £k's more. THAT IS A BARGAIN!

Luckily I still have all 4 - but one is cracked and I have tried to glue it, but it doesn't seem to hold well at all (I think the previous owner ran over the centre cap and squashed it)!

The gearbox issue on Audi, from my understanding, affects the multitronic (CVT) boxes (I did a lot of research on this last year when I was looking at Audi's). If you go for a quattro, you avoid the CVT and get a pukka s-tronic that I understand is bullet proof. So if you do go down the Audi route, get the quattro, but make sure you replace all four tyres at the same time, and if you buy an older one, and the tyres have been changed, just check that they are always all changed together. The Quattro has an intelligent AWD system, and if it senses tyres rotating at different speeds (which can be caused by tyres with different tread depth) then it over-works the systems. This isn't unique to Audi.... I've had several BMW auto's, some have covered high miles - the ZF's have never failed.....

It does affect all cars, not just lexus, where they don't use powder coating. The new Lexus's now all have powder coated wheels, and whilst my IS220d needed wheels replacing in 12 months, the GS's are still like new.

Looks brilliant, but the colour seems to mask the stone chips that Lexus is famous for lol

The good thing is that the difference between the 250 and 300h is only a few £g's, unlike the GS where it's several £g's!!

That video.....who would put a banana in the armrest? lol That aside, it was a good review. Like all Lexus's I've ever driven (except the ISF) she is correct when she says that you drive it gently - Lexus are about refinement and actually do it better then Mercedes now. If you want an engaging drive, you have to go for a BMW.

When you put it that way...!lol

Well I've gone from Rock Hard german seats in a 5 series M Sport to the new 4GS, and the seats in the Lexus are amazing - soft and comfortable - The IS was always supposed to be a sports saloon - to compete with the 3 series. It's never done that too well as the compromises haven't been worth it.....so the new IS will be an evolution of that theme. Lexus need sales in the UK (and europe), just look at how many Lexus's actually sell here, especially the new GS (there are very few actually on the roads). They have to make it like the 3 series or the Audi A4 to compete - it's clearly what the customers want (BMW sold more 3 series than Ford sold Mondeo's for a few years running), so that recipe works.

I reckon you'll end up with a Lexus again lol The Audi is superb, and very well made (that doesn't mean it's reliable). The IS250 and the Audi will have a similar ride (Audi firmer in S5 trim), but I think the S5 is slightly bigger inside. The 300h? Whilst toyota and Lexus do make the best hybrids, I'm not a fan of CVT's from Toyota/Lexus. They seem to squeal too much when you hit the gas - the revs soar and you get too much of sense of "noise but no momentum" which you don't with diesel CVT's from the germans....hopefully the 300h will be better.... Finally the GS450 - if it's the 4GS then I think you'll love it - especially in F Sport/Premiere trim with the variable suspension. My 250 feels quite floaty and I'm not sure how well a GS450 Luxury would drive with all that extra weight of bigger engine, motors and batteries etc. Might feel a bit bargish. Either way you have a good problem!

Very different cars, I'm in a CT200 F Sport today, and I'd rather not say what I think about the ride....but what I will say is that I can't wait for my GS250 to be ready later, though it takes more than twice the fuel around town! Horses for courses - defo!

....and they are retained with a hex bolt that goes into one of those black circles....might call them tomorrow to put this to bed!

I'm looking for one too now....for my winter wheels. Am using GS300 Sport alloys on my GS250 for winter. One centre cap is cracked. ANyone know if these are still available?

That is about as good as it will get in Auto made, to be honest. Even my BMW 525d Auto was 23-28 best, and that was the ED model Stick it into Sport mode and use manual shift - that will help. You can then labour the engine without it constantly dropping gears....

Nice, my IS220d was Mesa too