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Hi Guys, I really contemplated not posting this at all as it’s hardly out of a Haynes Manual type fix! Well bit of background, my Lexus IS200 is on 172k! Runs like a dream looks fresh as any other car but it suffers from the standard annoying clutch judder which had also been present in my previous two Lexus’ only this one was far worse, only happens in first gear and reverse but was very severe and occurs in about 9 out of 10 times. The only way to avoid it was to set off like Schumacher and in stop and start traffic you just look like a tit. So I am faced with a potential massive repair bill, very least I’d need a new clutch and from research work on the flywheel. Now, it was more of a moment of anger than anything logical but from a rolling start I set the revs to about 4k going up hill and rode the clutch at biting point at about 20 mph for about 5-6 seconds accompanied by that horrible burning clutch smell.. This was a month ago and till this day I have not had one judder since then and it literally feels like a different car to drive. Now if anyone is suffering with the same symptoms I am not saying do this as if your clutch is on it’s last legs this may just put the final nail in it’s coffin, I am simply sharing my story lol so make of it what you like. The only explaination I can give it this is it's refaced the clutch? I don't actually know.

eBay compressor fitted today, £85 including postage, £160 for fitting, re-gassing, and new auxiliary belt. All working fine.

I'm also in favor of buying one with full Lexus history, I have a IS300 with full history, I know every jobs its had done since it was new. If you are undecided between a 200 or 300, go for the 300 you won't regret it :)

All this talk about Cortinas, I remember once having a brand new 2.0 GLX Mk3 hire car, all was going well until a dog ran out in the road - I was doing about 20mph. Slammed on the brakes and the metal trim under front bumper hit the road with a vengeance, thought I'd dug a trench with emergency stop, but merely removed all the paint. That was when I realised that they absorbed bumps well because they had been built on the 'Detroit Dustbin' principle of soft ride naff handling, and horrible seat covers. So went back to the good old solid Vauxhall Cavalier - those were the days, 72000 miles a year, wish Lexus had been around in early 80's

Well no I didn't have a go but I did reverse park on a steep hill last night (clutch stank afterwards!) and today the judder has gone! So to get rid if the clutch judder on a IS200 just burn the clutch for a bit! Lol...