Killysprint

Think I bought the wheels off @effordoff last year and use them for my winter wheels. i used 255 / 35 / 19 bridgestone blizzaks all round , can't check as I'm on my hols!( but the same as the std rear) probably a size too small for the 19x10 but had not rubbing issues at all. Didn't have to roll the arches. look great on the car

Ok here's my go at this and you'll see a similar theme.... when I bought my porsche 993 c2 in 98 there was at the garage a 993 RS for 3.5k more and 964 RS for 10k less. They only had 2 seats and "we" needed space for the baby seat. The c2 it was. Both rs cars big money now £200k+ for the 993, £150k+ for the 964 move onto 2004, my brother bought a 924 carrera gt (to use as his daily, still has it now and being restored at porsche leeds) and the same garage had a 924 carrera gts. One of 59. Same guy had owned both, at the time the garage auto classica in knaresborough, were struggling to get shot of it and offered it to me for just over 20k. "We" were looking to extend our house, so the extension took priority. An extremely low mileage example from japan sold late last year for just under $500k....... Onto late 2008, the economic downturn, car prices took a hammering, started looking for another 911, but because of the market conditions my budget could stretch to a gt3/gt3 rs or a turbo / turbo s. Saw a lovely gt3 rs with blue wheels and decals, for the same money as the turbo s "we" bought - as "we" needed 4 seats for the kids. Think they were used twice in the 4 years I had the car. gt3 rs - now £170k+ Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

+1 for eurocarparts have replaced front and rears recently with brembo discs and pads. Dead easy to do even a cack handed oaf like me can manage the change. Check out the guides on youtube if you're unsure. cost was pretty good too, had to have the fronts ordered in - beat the 30% off discount code price........

chevette HSR - if I remember correctly Vauxhall only did 7 road going cars..... with the 2.6 motor must have been unique!!

CLS 55 - 5.4 L V8 supercharged 500hp+

Love the chevette, and the cavalier sri130. My dad had a black one as a company car in the mid eighties. at the time we thought is was like Concorde!!

Ok here's my two pence worth Mini 1275 GT 74 Mini 1275 GT 80 Triumph Dolomite Sprint 80 Mini 1000 82 Triumph Dolomite Sprint 77 Rover 216 GTi 92 Citroen ZX Volcane 94 Citroen Zantia TD 95 Golf GTI 16v mk3 96 MGF 96 MGF VVC 96 another xantia Porsche 968 Sport 94 Porsche 993 C2 95 Porsche 993 C4S 97 Renault Laguna estate "the skip" 99 Morris Mini Cooper s 67 built the day before I was born Nissan Primera GT 00 Range rover vogue 3.9 manual Saab 9-3 turbo SE Porsche 996 C2 Cab 01 Peugeot 306 Gti6 01 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 RSII 02 Seat Alhambra 02 Golf R32 5dr mk 4 04 Volvo xc90 d5 03 - complete with telly's and play station for the kids Ford Focus mk1 1.6 04 Saab 9-3 cab auto 07 - possibly the worst car I've ever had Ford Galaxy zetec 07 Mondeo titanium x 07 Triumph Dolomite Sprint 76 - still have this 180hp flies! Peugeot 205 Gti 2.0 16v 87 Porsche 996 Turbo S 05 Porsche 968 Clubsport 93 Mazda mx5 1.8iS 04 Mercedes e350 estate 11 Volvo v60 d4 11 Nissan Leaf 14 BMW M5 e61 Touring 07 Honda S2000 09 - about to be supercharged Mercedes c350e estate hybrid 17 Lexus ISF 11

I would wait a couple of weeks yet..... According to the Met Office - we have more chance of snow at easter than we do at Christmas. In the past couple of years I generally take the winters off during the first or second week of March. You can generally see the weather trend for a fortnight ahead - so at that time you can see through to the end of the month. Temperatures then generally will be high enough, and any cold spells wont last.....

I changed front discs and pads last week, and noticed that there was quite a bit of fading / lacquer peel on the Calipers. Anybody had the same problem? Did you have the Calipers painted or powder coated? If they were painted were they on the car or off? Any advice on which is best and why? And finally any ideas where to get them done? I need to get them sorted as they're making my teeth itch!!!! cheers

Dec/abs unit and abs sensors (unique to the touring) - £3500 front springs - £700 throttle actuators on both banks and coil packs - £2750 wirng on the tailgate (and disgnosis) and new battery - £1000 car was an 07 - bought in March 2014

I ran an e61 m5 as a daily before my isf. Epic epic car. What you have to remember is that when new they were £65k+ and like any other 500hp performance car in that price bracket - bills are substantial. i bought mine with just under 35k on the clock and did 20k in 2 years. servicing costs were the same as the isf, a major around the £900 mark, brakes £750 an axle, fuel consumption 11-13 in town, no better than 24 on a run. its the extras as big rat says that could be a potential nightmare. Mine had £8500 of warranty claims in time I had it. The warranty was around £130 pcm, and allowed me to sleep at night! would I have another - yes, in a heartbeat, if I could find the right car, and the only with the full warranty. Don't get me wrong, my isf has been a revelation, and to some its appeal is not immediately apparent, but it is a great car, and hasn't spent a second longer than necessary off the road than recommended by Lexus, which is a big plus over the m5. However, there could be a replacement on the horizon, drove the new Alfa guila quatrofaglio today - wow. It's on another level. Even the OH was impressed. Performance wise I was very surprised - it was extremely quick, the OH thought is was on par if not quicker than my old 996 turbo s. havent decided 100% if I'll change but if I do - the Alfa will be the car pics below of the m5

MY11

1. And in this order.... Reliability, Rarity, Size 2. Sharp VCR clock, more grunt, more noise (switchable exhaust would be nice) 3. Alfa Guila cloverleaf (test driving one tomorrow......), GSF, M3

It's mine! Bought it earlier this year and gets driven like it was designed too as much as possible. If it did have a tough early life - it doesn't show, cosmetically or mechanically!! It's Only done 30k miles, and has a impeccable FLSH. I'm very pleased so far with the isf - it is certainly a grower, bags and bags of character.

As said in the other replies I'd try another dealer. I bought my car from an independent dealer earlier this year, contacted Lexus warranty to see if there was an used car warranty still active - there wasn't. So I went to the local dealer, Lexus Newcastle, with all the service history (it has a full lexus sh) etc - bought the warranty there and then no problem, couldn't have been more helpful to be honest. From what I've read though - I'm not expecting to use it, I only bought it for peace of mind, unlike the one on my previous M5........and much cheaper too!!

Rubs a little - only on full lock and on the side where the rear of the wheel is nearest the inside of the wheel arch and is under load. Not enough to be a concern. Bought the wheels 2nd hand, the guy who had them before me ran 265 width tyres on his isf without rolling arches etc.

Had mine fitted today - quite like them!! 19"x10J Linea corse 818, with 255/35 19 Bridgestone blizzaks on all wheels drives really well.

I've ran winter tyres for about the last 10 winters or so - all on rear drive cars, the last one being an m5. When the temp drops, and if the white stuff doesn't arrive they still make a big difference. Grip, ride and braking feel is greatly improved over summer performance tyres. my last 2 cars, the m5 and an e350 merc ran michelin super sports and conti sport contacts respectively - great tyres for spirited driving in the spring and summer, but in the very limited experience I had in both in the snow were pathetic. Looking at the tread pattern the grooves in the tyre primarily run radially, great for shifting water, but offer no purchase in snow or slush. the winters on both were conti winter contacts - lots of tread blocks, radial and lateral tread, and little chines on each tread block that are supposed to grip the snow. Whatever they transformed each car - the merc I ran through the winter of 2011-12 travelling daily into the middle of Northumberland for work, and it never once felt as if the car was out of control. I used the tyres on the car for 3 winters, and they still have enough tread (5mm+)to be used again - probably did 18-20k miles on them changing back to summers in late march. So for me they are a absolute no brainer - I've already got my wheels 10 x19 linea corse lc818 rims and 265/30 Bridgestone blizzaks all round to go on. Should not only be able to handle anything the winter throws our way, but should look good too.

Hi ive been lurking for quite a while, having looked at changing to an isf early last year, and thought I'd say hello, as I've bought bought an ISF. Finally took the plunge and picked up my car on Saturday. I had a decent drive from Chichester home to Newcastle to get myself used to the car, and first impressions, have been very very good. Great noise from the engine, smooth gearbox, fantastic cruiser, comfortable seats and a Decent turn of speed. the car is 2011 car with dab and LSD, velvet black with white leather, and only 29000 miles. It replaces a much loved BMW e61 M5 Touring, which was an epic car, but quite fragile. Even though it never let me down, in the last 6 weeks of ownership, the warranty company coughed up the thick end of £4k in repairs, and I thought my luck was running out, so off it went. after 2 years and 24500 miles , depreciation was £0, so I can't complain. So the ISF has an hard act to follow, both cars are extremely rare, only about 200 examples of each were originally imported. I can remember seeing an isf 3 or 4 years ago, and that's it, so the rarity factor, along with the q car, quite understated looks is the main appeal of the car, as well as the reputation for utter reliability. So 2 days into ownership I'm happy with my choice, and I'm looking forward to a enjoyable and un eventful couple of years with the car. ill post some pics once I've cleaned it up after the drive home.

Hello all Been lurking for a while. Similar to the OP I'm looking to change to an ISF, moving from a v10 m5 touring. Have been away on business and spied a Mesa red car 12 plate at an independent dealer in Sheffield whilst I was away, and was going to contact them this week on my return, it now seems they could sell it and it's now with lexus in Sheffield advertised for £2k more. I understand that they will stick an official warranty on it, but a lift of £2k on the previous price - is this not a bit rich? Is the car known to the forum? What should I be careful with when I'm looking ? Thanks in advance Tim