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I’m sure you’d all like to join me in wishing Paul @Big Rat a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎂

@peachy Shaun thank you for that,most kind. The best thing I ever did was join this forum. I love cars and piston engined aircraft! I realised quickly that this place is different from many others I've been on before, and quickly left, mainly because of the senseless nasty disagreements, it doesn't happen here. I will name a few people because I think it's right to do so @Flytvr and @Mark G who both introduced me and have regretted it ever since 😇, along with all the 'Kemble crowd' that meet regularly . The sheer level of product knowledge astounds me at times, so @rayaans for one in this department. If i was in the market for another non 'F' car it's him I would ask advice of. The site IMO is well run not that I have the slightest idea the amount of work that goes into doing it for all our benefits, but we all recognise a rubbish one when we see it. I'd like to mention @Steve as well who was receptive and gave us the 'F' forum not at the exclusion of anyone else who doesn't have one,it's great that all can come on it and see it's not always that serious..........🤡 I blab on too much but just to finish by saying it would be great if as many Lexus' as possible whatever model you drive could make the 'F' ten year anniversary that is being planned for the beginning of the summer in the Midlands and we can start putting some more faces to names, and Shaun thanks again. Big Rat

He's totally transformed this forum. I remember when he first joined up. Paul became an instant hit with fellow forum members due to his passion and knowledge on cars and not to mention great banter and sense of humour. Keep up the good work here Paul 👍

Few people may have followed previous threads regarding the is220d smoke problem myself included... My is220d was on76k when out of nowhere it started smoking at around50% operating temp followed by poor turbo performance bad mpg and basically being embarresing to drive. Have to say I researched said problem thro every forum/mechanics sites etc only to find its a widespread problem with every motor lexus/toyota fitted with this engine but with no conclusive results...However!!!! In a chance meeting witha friend who built his own TD rally car using a Toyota turbo he just said..Ah yeah sounds like a dodgy map sensor!! On this info I whipped the map off (2min job) sprayed some electrical contct cleaner in there and WOW!! seriously it was like a new car..performance was restored..mpg jumped from30's to 40's and no smoke at all...well until 7 days later smoke returned!! again cleaned the map and hey presto!! new map sensor orderded and I love my car again!! really hope this helps folks as I know how frustrating the smoke issue is!

@dutchie01 Don’t you just love that cool look, trouble is with a hard hat and rigger boots on site I’m gonna look kinda ridiculous..... 🐀

Mrs said her car needed cleaning first 🙄

Good point Mike, not fit for purpose comes immediately to mind,no doubt if we were in the USA there would have been a class action suit ongoing. Maybe those PPI people could be reassigned “Had you car stolen recently? Keyless Entry system? Call us now and get thousands in compensation!

@Flytvr Thankyou very much, Mrs Rat is just popping out to the shops and taking 83 rolls of wrapping paper to Lexus Cheltenham Big Birtday Rat

Well I'm sorry to say, and I am because I have loved every minute of ownership of my isF but she's gone a year or so earlier than I planned but with big 60 on Monday Mrs Rat said "Go for it treat yourself " bless her. So left early this morning with a list of 3 RcF's to view Hatfield- Swindon - and Cheltenham, leaving Cheltenham to last as it's nearer home and that's where I bought a great deal IMO and a fantastic car pictures below not good it was getting dark by then. Thanks for all the help at Lexus Cheltenham Alex Ben Karl and Tim. I want to say that the journey from Isf on this forum to the RcF isn't only about the cars for me it's about the people on here a considerable number I'm pleased to call friends and I have had some great support and advice about an assortment of matters from you I'm naming no one there are to many, I don't care if this sounds a tad odd to some who may read this but I like being on here and the banter and personalities make this place the cars are a secondary issue whatever model age colour and so on you drive cheers guys 👍 Some will be horrified I bought something that isn't SILVER 😳 Big Rat

Very nice indeed. Looking at these for my white ISF https://www.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/bola/b8r/matt-gun-metal/19-inch Now you've got me thinking...

@Flytvr I get it you just want me to slip into a plunging neckline silk satin number..... oh and hard hat tool belt and rigger boots......again 🐀

For a bloke that a lot of us have never met, you are immensely popular Paul. Happy birthday, keep posting and keep the F faith.

@FTBBCVoodoo Honestly there’s just no loyalty these days....... 😳 🐀

@NothernDan It’s a very dark Silver very dark.......almost..... black 😩 🐀

Happy birthday have a good en

Still to find out... hopefully not the sore way! Pretty sure the radar is actually located elsewhere behind the grill so de-badge shouldn't effect it...

Oof, those carbon tips look good. What happens to the radar when removing the front badge?

All the best Paul, enjoy your birthday present 😎

Don't think one can get the Clove leather in the red 'F'?

@Warrington guy Dave The Orange Carbon is still there matey waiting for your return ‘Tangerine Scream ‘ 😂 🐀

Excellent news. Thanks for the info. For reference, the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor seems to be located round the back of the EGR valve:

Happy birthday matey . Have a great day . Hope to catch up soon 🤣

@bobmc Thanx Matey, absolutely keeping isF research going and in fact I’ve been running the RCF and GSF alongside it from the beginning. I believe fully in the ‘F’ car ethos not matter the model. In fact I should have some news tomorrow about the 10 year’F’ anniversary meet in Midlands I’m involved in. So if ever I can help with info fire away 👍 🐀

@Peter P18 Pete have you any idea how many Gucci handbags this car purchase has cost me 😂 🐀

Nice wheels 😉

Yep if you have HID lights then you have a virtually flat beam projection. There is certainly no kick up aimed at the nearside pavement/kerb area. I carry a letter copy with all my other 'bits' for euro travelling. Got it here Just change the RX350 bit to your vehicle....jobs a good 'un

They could be just Dislexus.

Many happy returns Paul, have a cracking day bud and enjoy your new toy 👍

Happy Birthday Awesome birthday present as well :) Will you still be the custodian of the IS-F database and will you be starting an RC-F one as well?

"For those that don't know, there's a key fob combination detailed in the manual to disable the spare fob broadcasting it's signal. You can then save your Faraday cage bag for the key you use day to day" This is very useful bit of information, thank you Matt, I will be making use of this. I have purchased one of them there pouches and so will use that for my everyday key.

Well, the first modification coming to mind given the midnight silver color of the car is a black suit and black sunglasses?

Congrats! Let the modifications begin! Nice supercharger kit maybe? Got to do something to compensate for the extra weight! Lol. I’d consider doing something similar at some point, makes the most sense given the current offerings in F form. Enjoy mate!

Indeed, bored of all the salt, gritters and slippery surfaces! Dry weather will be very welcome!

I’d steer clear, looks like she’s mold ridden! I do like a good wrap, but cost and maintenance in this Country put me off. Do think there are some nice options to help make the car stand out though..... Think I’ll stay on the fence with this one!

@DAW Thanks David speak soon. Paul

Hi Paul, very nice & I hope kit gives you as much enjoyment as your ISF.👍🏻

Thanks for sharing. Any further details? Police found the vehicle? I'll need to put my disc lock back on then now. For those that don't know, there's a key fob combination detailed in the manual to disable the spare fob broadcasting it's signal. You can then save your Faraday cage bag for the key you use day to day. You could disable the broadcasting signal between each use of the car but that may be too inconvenient for people.

Talking of Tiguans, a friend of mine has just found out that after ordering and paying for a 2.0TDI 4-Motion a couple of years ago he has in fact got a 2.0TDI front wheel drive. Oops. Interesting chats with JCT600 Volkswagen in Sheffield are ongoing

@emjay82Ok first thing was ok darling which of these Gucci handbags would you like.........."All of them" " No problem dear" 🐀

Worst - 2009 VW Tiguan. Bought new, and what a terrible car. Loads of gremlins from new, including poor paintwork finish on a door and a malfunctioning touch-screen, but as time went on it just got worse and worse. A hole in the driver's carpet at less than 30k miles 'fair wear and tear sir' and then the seat bolster on the driver's seat wore through before 40k miles. The final straw was it destroying the (infamous) DSG gearbox on the M1, fortunately JUST a few months within warranty. After that was replaced it broke down a few times - transfer box fault, alternator, starter motor...so it went. Good riddance. Never again will I be fooled by a VAG product! Best - 1993 Daihatsu Charade 1300 CXi. I loved that car. Rare, fast, quite cool for a youngster back in the day and indestructible. Only sold because my first wife wanted something 'more practical' which turned out to be a bland Hyundai Accent. I still regret selling my Charade now...sigh. The wife went shortly afterwards, but I was left with the Hyundai.

UPDATE: Took out the back seats. The cap of the suspension strut (from which the squeak was coming from) had a dent in it. Took the cap off and wondered if the strut was traveling too high... - i.e. suspension somehow f****d. Took the cap off the other side to compare. Noticed that the plastic sensor thing at the top of the strut was the wrong way round. The problem one had been replaced by Lexus before I brought the car. So; turned around the plastic sensor, - test drive - squeak gone. The plastic sensor is higher at one high than the other. Best outcome really - very very happy.

Doesn't matter whether you have protected NCB - if you make a claim, no matter what it is, even for a windscreen sometimes they will push the premiums up If you don't have protected NCB, it just means your premium will go up more than for someone with a protected NCB The rear bumper of an IS-F won't be cheap i dont think

In terms of the saving, I used CarWow and then went from there with the dealer who offered the lowest price. Very simple, first time I'd used it and I was impressed. I used it as a starting point to negotiate with a dealer who clearly wanted the business. Best initial offer was about £7k off list. On a Honda CRV I was offered even bigger reductions, but fancied a change. What I would say is that at that time (mid-September) the arrival of the facelift NX was known and dealers were (I guess) being incentivised to shift pre-facelift cars, especially the Sport. By far the best offers were on Sport models - I wasn't offered close to the same discount on a Luxury although it was still £4-5k from memory. Worth also pointing out that the offer was dependant on me taking the Lexus PCP - the reduction included their deposit contribution - and thus they'll get a chunk of the list price reduction back in interest.

Easy. Just ask. Plenty of deals this time of year. IS300’s £6k off without even asking at the moment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wonder who's this is then as if I didn't know............. Big Rat

ET38 Std suspension, no spacers and no rubbing. Good compromise for the winter. very easy to curb though.

Look very susceptible to kerbing!

I quite like them, but one assumes they won't have the same air flow from the spokes that the oem ones have. Which really doesn't matter unless you're trying quite hard! do they weigh more? The ride is pretty harsh already (lotus owner too here, so my other car is rather special in that respect) so id be conscious of that too.

Very nice. I wouldn't mind a set of these for the wife's IS250 in 18 as the Lexus wheels have seen better days. Any idea how much a set of these would set me back in 18 inch?

Before, during and after it's first clean in about 3 weeks!