Silver Arrow

What I will never understand is how making any new car can be green....it's impossible. The grams of CO2 pumped out once made is nothing compared to the tonnes and tonnes in manufacture of the car, its every part, shipping etc etc. So apparently Government policy implies that it's greener to get a newer less "emitting" car. I don't think so....the greenest way to motor ihas to be by getting an old 2nd hand car! It's already done the damage! It's all a government game....to ultimately tax you even more. These little (getting smaller and smaller) engines are becoming more complex, more to go wrong. Thats why I chose a Lexus V6, no fandangled turbos, DPF's etc. Should last me into retirement!

It defo won't turn off unless you turn it off. There was a post on the IS forum a few years back of someone travelling 35 miles, switching the car off but unable to lock the doors, to find that he had left his key in a jacket pocket - a jacket that he went back inside the house to leave at home before setting off....

Utter bargain mate. They are incredible to drive. In this country the german marques rule the roost, but if you look in most markets where the new GS is available, it is often classified as the best mid range executive car. No wonder! It's all down to emissions and a love for all things diesel (low Co2) EDIT - Fuel consumption is poor....I regularly get 17-20 around town. But on a run 37mpg is possible without any issues at all, even at legal speed limits. It has a seemingly complete lack of torque (typical non-turbo VVTi where all the power and thrust comes too high up) so it just holds onto gears too long, and will not change up when you want it to. Any slight incline and it just drops a cog! It is the only frustrating thing about this car! A CVT box would have been much better, or more gears and start stop. 7 or 8 speeds with start stop should have seen at least a 10-20% improvement in consumption and emissions. I think it will probably get dropped when the 4 cylinder Hybrid is launched in 2013. For purists this might be the last of the un-fettled/non-hybrid GS v6's and I will probably get it LPG'd in 4-5 years time.

Very true. I thought they were going to drop the 2.5V6 when the 2.5 in line 4 AR hybrid came out, or so my garage told me a few weeks ago. We'll just have to see. it does look amazing inside though - especially the dash - very LFA. Can't wait to see one in the flesh. Just hope they have sorted all the small foibles that blighted the 2nd Gen IS when it came out (creaking seats, rattly dash's, centre speaker, "crack" noise, B post buzzing, Boot lid hitting the rear bumper when closing etc). The GS is brilliantly made, and I haven't found a single basic quality/design flaw yet, other than missing auto door locks (which is an omission rather than a flaw)!

The SE-L and Luxury are different....the specs have probably changed.

I let my IS220d go after only 26 months from new - it was one of the early ones. Blighted with rattles, poor economy from new (i.e. even when everything on it was brand new), suffered the recalls for 5th injectors, creaking seats, all manner of rattles everywhere. The flat spot was hard to live with - a very narrow power delivery from 2200-3400rpm or so - so you could make it go quickly, but boy you had to work the gears. 6th was useless, the rear view mirror vibrated, the list was endless. Oh, and the gear change from 1st to 2nd wash't particularly good. I had several loaners from Lexus over that period, including a string of IS250;s, Auto's and manual whilst my IS220d was in for the works. I knew then I had made a horrible error. The 250 Auto was the car I should have got. So I gave up the ghost - it cost me £000's in depreciation and I vowed never to buy a Lexus again....I went over to the german brigade as the IS250 was cramped/small in the back.......until I test drove the GS250 totally by accident whilst I was looking at Audi A7's! My final comment would be this: If you do a lot of miles on a motorway, and need economy, buy with your head, and your eyes wide open!! And that doesn't mean buy a Lexus....buy whats right and avoid the brand stereotypes. You have to live with it, not in spite of it!!

I think Carl911 has nailed it on the head - if you buy a Lexus, you buy a smooth petrol auto....thats what they do best

Everything Normski and Bluenose says...I only managed mid 30-low 40's on a run in my 220d. my GS250 is almost the same!

You'll probably find that most hybrids are either in the "love them or hate them" category... The issue here is that whilst the CT is nice to look at, it isn't great to drive for some people. Whilst others love it. The Prius probably makes the best case - at least it is roomy enough, a better ride and quiet enough. Hence my comment - each to their own. This is one of those that could run for many pages....lol...

Well considering that the new GS is almost as new, Lexus didn't do anything much to the 2.5v6, leaving it thirsty and not competitive enough with anything else in the price/class (in terms of co2 etc). If lexus had aspirations of selling loads of GS's then it was a huge error. For me it's great. Rarity value! Rumour has it that he ES300h drivetrain is destined for the GS soon, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the new IS has that 2.5 litre 4 cylinder engine in it and hybrid only. It would make sense- else they won't sell many in the UK at least! I doubt that there will be a non-hybrid v6 for the new IS. It just will not be competitive enough. I believe it will be dropped for the GS when the hybrid is launched, but I might be wrong.

I've heard you don't have to go private in the UK any more. Just contact your local pct who will put you in touch with a local NHS dentist who will take you. Then you never have to pay more than £17, £49, or £250 or so depending on what you need

Wow, thanks mate. So it seems (and I'm hopeful) that the new GS can also take alloys with an offset of anything between 38 and 45. That really opens up the options. I have just got my winter tyres but haven't fitted them yet - it seems to be warming up and I have decided to fit them only if I think it'll get cold again (saves £40x2 per year if going on existing alloys). That saving can go towards some decent rims if I don't use them this year......,

STILL THERE http://www.ebay.co.u...=item53f15bcb26 and http://www.ebay.co.u...=item53f15bbea1

Defo there this morning, now gone!! I reckon since I posted here!

That is a great video. I still keep looking for alloys but there are very few original lexus ones on eBay. There are 2 GS450h ones on there for £69 each which I think is a bargain for anyone with a previous gen 450h wanting a spare wheel, or to replace a scraped one. Back to my original questions, what are the usual offsets, or do I need to take a wheele off and kcheck the back?

lol each to their own

Nice review, same view here- the lack of auto locking is clearly a mistake by Lexus, and the soft paint is needless and annoying. Fuel economy isn't brilliant, but then it is a 2.5v6. But these are minor issues! I'm really happy with this car!!

Drove one, and have to admit I was utterly disappointed. We have a Golf mark 6 which we bought instead, which was cheaper (only £18k new), seems so much more "complete", refined, classy, very well made with a decent sized boot, etc etc.

Thinking about a cheap set for winters.... Am I right in stating that all Lexus wheels are 114.3x5? What about offsets? For 8x18, does anyone know if its standard et45 offset across the range? On eBay there are loads of rims to choose from, even more if you search under Honda Prelude which has a similar size!! I really want to avoid old rusty rims, so may go for a new set of sub £400 - any views??

Thinking about a cheap set for winters.... Am i right in stating that all Lexus wheels are 114x5 studs? What about offsets? For 8x18, is it s standard et45 across the range, especially GS's?

The IS250 is only a few mpg down on the 220d. Unless you do a lot of miles, stick with the 250 auto, it's what Lexus do best

Hi mate!! It's definitely conventional. As usual the motoring press haven't a clue. It's the GS450 that has a CVT.

That link look spam.... The tyres are Yokohama, 235/45/18 V rated - thats what Lexus recommend, but at £207 each that is steep. You can get the same from a tyre indy for £175 fitted. The Lexus price does include 6 months storage though....

I think as mentioned it's likely to be the drivetrain from the ESh. 2.5l 4 pot. Lexus don't like doing too many engine variants- in fact none of them do now!!

The base model will be like the GS no doubt - that means no Sat nav....and SE spec