Trading In My Golf Gti For An Is 250 Se!

[TimS320]

Great forum and lots of advice for potential IS 250 owners like me. I've had a read through and hope you can help with a couple of questions.

Just selling my Golf GTi for something a bit more refined and grown-up, especially for my 12 mile commute.

Looking at 06-08 IS250's like other posters on here. I'm pretty set on petrol and manual as it won't do huge mileage and I've just test-driven a nice one locally that had 60K, full Lexus history and was on a 56 plate. Silver with black heated leather, just what I'm after.

I know there are a lot of spec differences. This one had the standard stereo, no satnav. How do I tell if it has Bluetooth? Is it possible to retrofit if not or is it a Parrot kit?

Did the basic SE come with a 13 speaker system as standard and was there a USB port hidden anywhere? I've found the Aux-In - does anyone know how much control it gives you?

Also going from Golf to this - the brake pedal travel felt longer and more progressive than the "instant stop" of the Golf. Is this about right? Also the clutch change, after being used to German cars for 15 years, was a little different and the gear change needed a good shove. Again, typical?

[normski2]

Bluetooth won't be there I'm afraid (stupid oversight by Lexus). You'll need to add a device. I had a Nokia Bluetooth one on my old (07) 220d and it was fine. You can get some quite sophisticated devices now that will allow iphone/ipod etc integration and some even display on the fitted stereo i'm told.

There is no USB on that year....did not appear until facelift model late 2009.

The phone jack is just that...an aux input to the stereo.

From memory the basic (pioneer) stereo has 8 speakers and very good it was too.

Sounds to me like the brakes need a check over. Mine need only a slight touch to stop very quickly.

On an aside you do know the manual is £480pa road tax don't you? Yes the gear box can be a little clunky ....much as the is200 could be.

Don't ignore the auto version. Road tax is £280pa and the auto box is sublime...and you have sport mode for a manual feel if you desire. Having said that I realise the manuals can be price advantage lower at purchase. Test drive an auto if you can...you may be very pleasantly surprised.

Good luck with your viewing.

[normski2]

Take a look here for a Bluetooth device installation on an 06 car.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/66438-iphone-nav-mod-inc-pics-and-videos/

[TimS320]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going looking at another car tomorrow and will see if if I can find an auto nearby to try. I know the road tax isn't great but hadn't realised the auto made it cheaper. Do they tend to be a lot dearer?

Otherwise looks like a great car, well screwed together. Anything else to think about?

[Gramera flash]

Tim,, I've just come from a Civic Type R so quite similar really, I must admit I am more than pleased with my Lexus (2008 250 auto)

I would definitely advise the auto gearbox, smooth as the proverbial silk and by no means a slouch to drive.

Good luck

[TimS320]

Thanks. The ride in the Golf is just too much, especially early in the morning! The 250 I took out today was very smooth. I'm determined to stick to the 17" wheels too. No more 18s for me. Now off to look at a couple in the Stockport area tomorrow, one manual and one auto.

Is it generally worth paying the extra for a car with satnav/bluetooth installed or Lexus like VW in that their in house satnav is generally rubbish and overpriced for updates? I'd like Bluetooth rather than stick another Parrot kit on the fascia, but don't want to pay lots more for the car.

[normski2]

You should not pay too much more....especially if you haggle. Good old traders eh!......give a flat rate base price for all cars and then mark them up for all the extras on board!

Sat nav is quite nice to have...be aware with the year you are looking at there is no full postcode entry. Upgrade discs are quite pricey....but there is always eBay. A Tom Tom or Garmin would probably do the job better....for less money.

[ColinBarber]

Sat Nav, whilst not a bad system in 2006 isn't really state of the art now and updates are too expensive. Better to get a Brodit phone holder which will install on the heater vent and use TomTom or CoPilot on your smartphone. Possibly worth getting one with Sat Nav for the reversing camera though.

[ColinBarber]

Did the basic SE come with a 13 speaker system as standard and was there a USB port hidden anywhere? I've found the Aux-In - does anyone know how much control it gives you?

Yes, even the IS250 base has the 13 speaker system with CD auto changer. The aux in is just that an audio input, it doesn't provide any control.

[ColinBarber]

Official press release attached.

introducing-the-new-lexus-is.pdf

[TimS320]

Great, thanks for the press release too. Does anyone have a link to the brochure or what the original colour combinations were? I've just looked at a silver with black leather nd may go and see a silver with cream/grey leather?

[toffee_pie]

to chip in

I got a 08 manual is250 se-l, its really refined, i mean compared to most cars on the road its like a limo! The sat nav is good, what is this no full post code stuff, i find it fine? you can enter a post code and then hit 'list' and you can enter the street and stuff, no problems.

that or i am missing something.

the manual box is a bit chunky but you get used to it, i have. :)

i would get a se-l spec myself. The Bluetooth hooks up to your phone as long as its paired and the phone has B/T turned on. Then you can do all the contacts and dialling from the sat nav screen.

sticking a tom tom or whatever onto the dash is a joke, moreso on a lexus

[normski2]

This is the IS250 brochure from 2008.

http://www.lexus.co.uk/img/IS-Series-(26Nov08)_tcm880-1186984.pdf

[TimS320]

Thanks, got some reading now. I'll report on the test drives tomorrow.

[TimS320]

Quick question, do any owners know how to turn the ignition/radio etc on without starting the engine? I'm talking about what would be the accessory position to power up the dash and check the lights.

[normski2]

Press the start button but don't put your foot on the brake pedal. 1st press accessories, 2nd press full ignition and dash lit up.

[TimS320]

Test drove an SE L auto today. Very smooth indeed and much preferred over the manual I think. Not bothered too much about the extras over the standard SE, this didn't have satnav or multimedia, just the standard radio which still seems very good. Ride was really good even over potholes.

Only extra I could see on this was a spoiler and the rear blind. Brakes were a lot better than the other car I drove too which makes me think it had a problem with them

[toffee_pie]

rear blind is standard on SE-L, as is the memory seats/mirrors and the illuminated door sill.

[TimS320]

Yes, they were nice touches, especially the wheel that came in and out with the ignition! I thought the SEL had multimedia as standard but I guess at this age it was an option, as the car had a parrot kit fitted.

[toffee_pie]

would not buy a car without nav myself.

[TimS320]

Well, sold my Golf this morning to the first viewer! Now I can start looking for the best IS I can afford.

One that tne with the models with satnav/multimedia, do they have a USB or flash card slot for music or is it still the standard 6 disc auto changer?

[toffee_pie]

only 2009 or so models got USB, what budget?

[TimS320]

Up to about 8k depending. Trying to keep it between 6-8 really.

[toffee_pie]

no usb so unless you get lucky