matt-c

I thought that at first, but then thinking about it again, it's a nice little tie in with the chrome speaker grilles and surrounds, the chrome gear knob and gaiter surround, and the little chrome touches on the air vents. Plus I just don't really like the "cog" shape of the standard ones

Not standard anywhere, as said. They were a custom, aftermarket, item, and also as said were a group buy on this forum. All IS models only had the regular "cog" dials like these;

Spotted these earlier while bored on ebay; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-IS200-3-Chrome-Stainless-Steel-Heater-Rings-Dials-/251182675616?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a7ba776a0

Worth every penny. If just for the savings in tyre wear alone

Sounds like a trip to Chesham is in order for you then - http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/blackboots-location.php

Yeah that works now. Strange the sync goes nuts when locking/unlocking though...

I was gonna say it's very likely it's air pockets / locks that need to work themselves out, since it's been very low at one point. Give it a month or two to sort itself out before going too indepth with investigations

First video is private and can't be watched. Second one, it looks like the front and side repeaters aren't in sync at all, and the flash is too fast/quick on the front?

If not, the other thing you can do is get a motorcycle plate, cut it down to fit behind a regular plate, and glue the two plates together - so the smaller plate fits in the recess with the larger plate sitting on top of it

Can't remember the year, but up to a certain year, Japanese cars are allowed motorcycle plates and still be legal. Failing that, I think the number plate holder on the standard IS bumper is designed to fit into the smaller recess and allow figment of a larger plate. Kinda like a conversion adapter. I think, could be wrong - maybe it just sits over it

Certainly different! Be interested to see it on the car! Fog light holes look perfect for a nice large set of projectors ;)

Just a thought, have you looked at the Jag XF? Lot of car for the money...

Used Elite many times, they are fairly local to me. Never mail ordered from them, but service in person is very good

They're £99 on BC, and £75 on Elite Direct

My IS came with four almost brand new (sub 1000 miles) Hankook Ventus V12 Evo (K110) tyres on them, and I honestly cannot fault them. They aren't particularly noisy (although at the same time not the quietest tyres either), comfortable (they have a slightly forgiving sidewall), but more importantly, they just don't unstick. Even in the wet they aren't what you'd call easy to break traction on. The sidewalls are forgiving enough to take the bumps and rumbles out of driving, but strong enough that when pushing it through long sweeping bends (the M25/M11 junctions are good for this) that they just grip and grip and grip. Sure, a lot of it is gonna be down to the car, and especially since it got set up at WIM, but I've been through the same bends, and almost the same speeds, with other tyres and not had the same grip level as these. And they aren't particularly expensive either (under £75 a corner supplied - in 17")

You'd be better off just buying another headunit from the likes of ebay to be honest. The cost to have it fixed with a main dealer would be horrendous, if even possible

^ Sorry about that! :D

I've never thought of mine as loud - it's quieter than any other car I've ever had. But I have often thought, because you can hear the engine as you push through the revs, that it makes more noise than it does go - in as far as it doesn't actually go as fast, or accelerate as quickly, as the sound it's making makes out! :D

Nor is it not recommending them. Also, please can you tell me how you know where I live? Hang on, you say winter tyres aren't any good, and don't improve anything - how can the car be improved and have much better, and shorter, braking distances with these placebo tyres? You mean, like your modified car? What don't you get? That no one cares for your flippant, self obsessed attitude, and isn't interested in hearing your "expert opinion", even though you've never actually used winter tyres before, and therefore couldn't possibly have an expert opinion? What don't you understand about that? See above as to why Really? There's several on this thread alone. Try reading something other than bumph, that you were so quick to dismiss and ridicule others for buying into earlier on in this thread. Face it fil, you clearly have no clue what you are talking about, and as such has been proven many times in this thread. You've tripped over yourself to contradict yourself and make yourself look like a fool, and it's painfully clear you are just trying to get a reaction, regardless of making yourself look foolish. Good luck to you, lets hope there isn't too much snow where you live, eh? ;)

If you're gonna drift it, might aswel put a 2JZ-GTE lump in it. But then again, for the money spent, might aswel just buy a Supra

Of course he's only going to offer you £1k for your IS - he's going to want to sell it for around £2500 (which is high money for ~10 year old IS200), so it's not worth him paying you £2200 to only make £300 profit on it (when you factor in all the other costs, such as valeting, an inspection, plus anything that needs to be changed, as main dealers will invariably put them through a mini-service, so as to meet the "used approved" criteria). Much more realistic to think of spending £1k on the car, plus the on top costs, then sell on for a "bargain" price of £2000-£2200, and make much more substantial profit percentage. You'd be lucky to get an independent or used car dealer to give you £2200. As for worrying about the drop in price when a new model is launched - if you're set to go for the 2nd gen IS-F, why not wait till the new one is launched, then pay less for the IS-F, which will have dropped in price? if you're worried that the launch of a new IS will substantially drop the value of your 1st gen IS, I wouldn't be. When they get to the age our cars are at, which model is current and how many back ours are isn't the defining point to their value. Age is. Personally, I'd go for the beemer, but that's just me.

What I actually said was (and please, feel free to check my post) As a professional driver, I get to see all weathers on a constant basis, and working for the largest motoring organisation in Europe, I come across all types No where at all does it say in there "I'm telling you I work for the AA to prove my knowledge on tyres". Nor does it say "my opinion on winter tyres is backed up by the AA, because I work for the AA" I really didn't think you were that daft you actually can't read what I wrote? Why are you quite clearly fabricating what I've said? What is it you think I should admit defeat on? That I think winter tyres are a good idea, with the heavier and colder winters we are getting year on year? Why should I "admit defeat" on that? It's my opinion. How can someone even admit "defeat" on an opinion?!?! As I've already said in this thread, everyone is entitled to an opinion and, be definition, an opinion cannot be wrong - so how could I possibly admit defeat on my own opinion? And where am I arguing with any big motoring organisations? Please quote me where I've said that any of them are wrong. At no point have I said everyone else is wrong, and only I am right. But what I have said is I have spoken to a lot of people regarding snow, tyres, types of cars (ie, RWD, FWD, 4WD), etc etc, and the vast majority I've spoken to recommend going for a winter tyre on a vehicle like ours, when it snows and is icy. And these are people that drive cars like ours, and have actually used both summer and winter tyres, in winter. So I'm basing my opinion on that. If you want to base yours on reading bumph, that's your call (and you can only be basing your opinions on reading bumph, because you've already stated you have never used winter tyres, so you have no first hand experience of them at all, and thus you cannot make a personally educated and informed opinion on them). So who are you to tell me I'm wrong? Why are you so concerned with the cost? I mean, it's my money, what interest do you have in what I spend my money on or how much of it I spend? And sorry, no. I don't think ROSPA, the AA and the insurance companies "share your views". You may agree with theirs, but I highly doubt - in fact I'd go so far to say it's 100% untrue - that they have looked for someone to share a view with, and chosen you. Sorry, who are you again? What's sad? It's sad you're again making your assumptions and opinions on more press bumph, rather than actually forming an educated and informed opinion through trying them yourself? Oh no, of course - you don't do that. (ps, as an MoT tester, you should be fully aware that VOSA are the organisation, brought in by the merger of previous departments, that oversee the policies and proceedures for vehicle safety and roadworthiness, including MoT guidelines and protocols. They don't make recommendations as to what types of tyres the motorist should or shouldn't use; other than what types of tyres are legal to use on the road, and how much tread they should have on those tyres to remain legal. You must be confusing them with Which magazine. But if you know differently, I'd love to see the press release where VOSA suggest against using winter tyres)

LOL, regardless of what your ex coworker was sacked for, it can't be written up for a future employer. Part of the rules and regs for references. It's even hard to get in if it was dismissal for something criminal. And no, I didn't say that my opinion on winter tyres is backed up by the AA at all. And a VERY big lol that you think the AA agrees with YOU! Haha, priceless! Oh and ROSPA too! My my, they do think a lot of you don't they! I thank you for giving me permission to spend my money on them, but I'd have done it anyway, without your blessing.

The IS300 had the power the 200 should have had from day one (and the 300 should have had a little more), and it would have been nice to have the same 6sp manual box from the 200 in the 300 - but everyone I've spoken to about the 300 says how good the auto box in it is. What makes you say it lets it down, Panya?

The only thing the stock one lacks is height adjustment. I could do with it being about a centimetre higher. The Golf armrests have a multi position "click" setting, and it could do with that. I've learned to live with it at it's standard height, but at first I really wanted it just that little bit higher. I did think about putting some spacers on the bottom bolts to raise it, but then the cubby hole would sit proud so decided against it. Get past that though, it's perfect