Gareth Rose

Mine had done just under 60k when I bought it and its on 130k now. I'm sure it would probably do another 70k with no major issues. I still smile when I walk out to it in the morning. But all good thiings have to come to an end.

Well after 7 1/2 years its time to say goodbye to my IS200 Sport. Its been a good time, but shes getting old now, and 50 mile per day commute is getting a bit pricey. So I've jumped the petrol ship and gone diesel. We changed my wifes Fiesta diesel to an MX5 last year, so we've been struggling a bit with practicalities, so I decided on an estate, and I've just bought a Honda Accord Tourer Type S in white. The Lexus has been brilliant tho, and I was struggling to find something that could replace it, and I did look at the IS220ds but after driving a couple as loan cars when mine was in for servicing, I just never fell for them. And I definately didn't want to go the generic germans and wanted to stay Jap. My IS has got the TTE kit and Aero wheels so wanted something that looked sharp so that left me looking at Accord with the GT bodykit, but then came across the Type S with the 180bhp diesel, and although faster than my Lex on paper, its not going to sound the same as that straight 6 on full song. The dealer gave me rubbish money for part ex, and I couldn't stand it just going off to auction so trying to sell it privately and hopefully sell it to someone who will love it as much as I have. So thats it, I'm off, and I never did get to bolt a supercharger to it. Gareth

My car has just got to 130k with the belt last changed at 65k so it's due it now. Looking on ebay, it s £105 for genuine with a tensioner, or £120 for blueprint with tensioner and idler. Do people usually need to change the idler? Also don't know what to do about the water pump. It got changed last time, but I'm going to be selling the car (after nearly 8 years, fancy a change and looking at diesel estates :( ) so don't want to spend money Willy nilly. I'll probably be changing it myself and it'll mean staying and refilling the coolant on to of the ~£100 for the pump.

Hi guys, Long tine no see. Cars have we've a bit on the back burner lately since I've been doing my house up, but now the weather's beading a bit I need to get some bits and bobs sorted on the car. A couple of months ago a got in the car on a cold morning and thought the power steering felt a bit strange as I pulled away, but I put it down to the cold and it was fine when the car warmed up, next day was worse. Turned out my cooler has rusted through, and most of my fluid Had been liberated. I named to move a few pipes around top bypass the cooler and it's been fine, but don't know what it'll be like when the weather (hopefully) warns up. Been checking eBay but havn't seen anything. Don't suppose anyone's got one lying round that they would exchange for beer tokens? Annoyingly a month after mine, my dad's. IS did the same thing so I need 2, although my dad's is200 led urgent as he doesn't really go far in it. I'm also looking for a sunroof glass panel because mine has rusted under the rubber. I ignored it for a while, but I was driving with it open the other day and a few bits have started to flake off. So if anyone has one there's more beer tokens on offer. Thanks In advance Gareth

Thanks for the replies. Have the car a quick wash and between the fresh paint and the quick buff the body shop game the rest of the car it's looking like a new one. I don't suppose anyone knows The different part numbers for the different colors? Gareth

Hi guys, A couple of weeks ago a van caught the back corner of my car scratching the bumper and cracking the passenger side light while parked outside my parents house. Luckily the guy in the van is a friend of my fathers and came in and told us so that side of things is all sorted. The car went in to have the bumper sprayed this week and while it was there it had the front bumper and bonnet resprayed so its all looking lovely. Now I just need a replacement light. I know they did a few different colours on the later cars with different body colours having different lights. My car is a '03 Platinum Ice so I think its just got the standard chrome ones, but don't want to get one off ebay then it turns out its one of the darker ones cos in some of the pictures its hard to tell. With that in mind if a fellow LOCer has got one gathering dust i'd rather it went to them than a random scrappy. Any help would be great. Gareth

Hi guys, Been a while siince I've been on here, cars have been taking a bit of a back seat since I started my house refurb. Lately Ive noticed my radio reception hasn't been brilliant, but as I'ts got a bit colder I've started to have to use the heated rear screen alot. If I've got the radio tuned into a weakish station, as soon as i turn on the rear screen I get lots of inteference. Is there an amplifier somewhere that shares a feed to an earth with the rear screen? Any help would be gladly received. Garetg

Hi guys, Just got back from Goodwood Festival of Speed using the tickets I won last week. Just want to say a massive thank you to Steve and anyone else involved running the club. My lexi in the biggest car park I've ever been in It was a bit warm down there tho Took loads of photos, a few to many to post here, but i will post these two Missed it going up the hill, but did see it coming back down slowly. Had a brilliant day so thanks again Gareth

Hi Steve. Thanks for the reply. Good to know isn't a scam. I never won anything so when I have an email out off the blue saying I have I get suspicious.even better surprise is the 14th is my birthday so it'll be a good day out.I'll drop you an email in a bit with my address. Thanks again Gareth

Hi guys Just had an email off Steve saying I'd won the Goodwood competition but I didn't enter it and the competition page says it does close until next week. The email said to send my details so they could send out the tickets, but because I hadn't entered I was a bit suspicious. Could it be a data scam of some type? As much as it would be a nice surprise to have won it I thought I'd check here first. Regards Gareth

I've been driving extra careful for the last month, mainly due to writing of my fiances fiesta and hadn't really had the erge to rag it up and down the motorway. On the way home tonight it ticked over to 460 miles without the light on, that's 2 weeks of 23 miles each way commuting. Works out at 35.1 mpg, pretty chuffed with that.

Yeah I've got the plastic cover, but the boot floor is different to yours. The saloon just has a carpeted panel, but yours looks like a proper hatch.

I wouldn't have thought it would go down well with the (future) Mrs. 5th May its our wedding day. Lol. The lex it's having a run to Blackpool in April tho, so at least she stretch her legs a bit. She only does about 8 miles a day at the moment, cos I work in Swansea. I've been using the Mrs diesel fiesta, and she drives the lex.

Im guessing your Bridgend area then. I'm over in Aberkenfig. I don't think I've ever seen a sportcross in this area either. Seen a few on motorways, but never on local roads. They definitely are a rare old beast.

Stuart, yours is the same as my 03 saloon. It must be a year thing, cos my dad's '00 has got the foam one. Im missing a few bits as well. Never had the chick, but im pretty sure the spammers and screwdriver is in my garage, should get round to looking for them really.