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I guess I am not the only one in it - any others - I got home and it was on 99999 so had to go around the block to get to this else I would not sleep !!! Second one taken past 100k, no issues with the first and only issue with this one being the exhaust ... good going !

Mine started back in 2002 with the IS200 sport, about a week after purchasing I saw an IS300, two years later had an IS300 aero, my mum bought an IS250 SE-L as I'd never purchased the same Marc twice, she passed away after 5 yrs of ownership, the car came to me and I enjoyed it for 5yrs too though driving with gritted teeth that someone would hit me, after consulting my sister n wife I opted for the F......I love the car BUT with kids, dog, caravan (V70 for towing) a bike, mk1 mr2 and the wife's car my road fund costs (although my F is only £235) and insurance premiums are getting beyond a joke, it may have to go along with the V70 to make May for an all rounder to try and reduce my driving costs, still trying to justify keeping the car but loath to use daily for work, but hay ho time will tell......think it's something I'd massively regret if I went that way though 😳

After many ever-faster Subarus, I wanted smooth power with the same reliability. I live in Cheshire so Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes are just too common. When I bought the ISF, Jaguar had not released the XE, and I'm still waiting for an XER as a realistic alternative. A new ISF would be top of my list, if they made one

I have these two PDFs. The 2009 one seems to have some accessories towards the back. GS-Series-2008.pdf GS-Series-2009.pdf

Provided that we are speaking about a hybrid, when I plan to listen ML audio for long time, I prefer to leave my GS 300h on in P , so to use electric power from HV battery without risk to discharge 12 V battery (the engine is usually off till it needs to recharge HV ). N has to be avoided, as in this position batteries can't be recharged, I use N only when car needs to be moved , like in washing tunnels.

A quick list of what to look out for .... don't let this put you off ... all the faults I can remember are listed below (some are common sense), maybe there are a few more that owners can add Seized rear calipers - cost around £300 each - Easiest way to check is to take the car on a test run and then when parked back up again feel the heat on each alloy - should be warm and not excessively hot. No squealing. Also, if discs are still rusted looking after driving then there's a problem. Obviously pulling to the side is noticeable Brake pad shims - some members reported missing brake shims from the rear calliper - probably from when pads were replaced and the garage or dealer forgot to put them back on. Its not something you can easily check on a test drive but if missing they are very hard to source except from a scrap dealer if they will sell them at all separate. Seized front calipers - as with the rears, around £300 each. Both front and backs can be freed if not too far gone, re-greased and put back together again but once seized they may need looking after more than ones not having been seized in the past as pitting and ill fitting rubber seals may be an issue. Why does this happen ... last owner not looking after the car or using the wrong type of grease in that it attacks the rubber boots letting dirt and water into the caliper moving parts. If it was looked after by the dealer then new calipers would have been fitted if seized. Greasing is not a part of the service schedule from Lexus so be aware. You may not experience any warnings that they are seized. Its the most common fault on these cars so get an assurance from the seller to replace if found to be seized or have him check them first. To be honest If it was me i would also check them myself when I got home with a new car just to be sure. Easy DIY job to both replace and maintain (grease) I do mine every 6 months but a lot of owners do it every year. Black oil - A sign the cars not been looked after - the oil should not be black. It will go dark in colour but not black. Again, an easy DIY job - I use Magnatec and an oil change, including the filter will cost you around £60. Takes a bit over 6 litres. Oil filter cap seized - If you can, ask the dealer or garage to ensure the cap housing thr filter will move. A lot of garages, including dealers put these on far too tight and some owners have experienced cracked housings while trying to remove the caps to change the filter. An easy DIY job White crust around front water pump area - an indication the water pump is on its way out - costs around £200 for a new one (inclusive of fitting) Exhaust shot - Black soot around the welded joints - check the centre section around the middle resonator as this is a problem area. Get this checked out at an exhaust centre. Pay for the inspection as you wont get a lot of change back from 3k for the replacement parts (back box and centre) if it has gone or is on its last legs - the pattern parts have not been released to 3rd party manufacturers so the replacement parts are only available from Lexus unless you are going bespoke and going for a stainless one - a Cat back system will cost around £500 - if you have the time and want to get your hands dirty then you can put together a bespoke exhaust yourself for around £100. Tyres rotated wrong way - Ask why have they done this? un-even tyre wear so look around the shocks / springs to see if theres any issues - maybe nothing Tyre choice - A good choice of branded rear tyres will serve well. Remember its a rear wheel drive car - Do not go for cheap brands as while they may last/wear well, the performance in the wet will be hazardous. Read through the forums for owner experiences on brands. Leaking shocks - Expensive replacements but not a real issue - some owners have reported replacing them and hard to find Wheel locking nuts seized - Put on with a tyre dealer air hammer. Will come off with specialised tools and a lot of patience - I think this is common cause on all cars - happened on 3 in our household over the years. Check this out before buying if possible. Wheel security locking nut missing - check this is available when buying the car. Without it you wont be able to take the tyres off easily or replace if you get a puncture Alloy wheel corrosion - this is apparent across the Lexus range - corrosion on the alloy happens and noticeable by bubbles under the alloy coating - will eventually lead to pressure loss if not tended to as it will break the seal between the tyre and the wheel itself Tow hook missing - only handy when you need it so check its there - located in the boot of the car Spare tyre - it houses a space saver wheel - make sure its inflated. If it looks like its been used then take out and inspect to make sure its inflated. DVD sat nav extraction tool missing - only handy when you come to update the sat nav DVD - the tools for this should be in the black tool kit in the boot of the car CD/DVD head unit fully working - take an original CD / a DVD and an MP3 disc with you and test each one out - they should all work without messing with the settings. (you will need to select each disc to play and it should) Noise from front speaker cover - a cracking noise from the speaker cover on the front centre dash board - not experienced this myself but its apparently quite noisy. Also a rattle has been reported, again not widespread. Noise from driver door area - don't know If this is a common area. I originally thought it was the door seal but narrowed it down to the handle above the door rattling slightly - I oiled the hinge and the noise disappeared Coolant level low - check the heating is hot when on. Check for a "gurgling" noise which will indicate the cooling is low - if its low then there could be an issue with a leak or possible indication the pump is on its way out Front headlights - will become "cloudy" over time - no more than any other car and can easily be restored with a bit of elbow grease Corroded wheels - a common issue with the Toyota wheels - bad ones will eventually lose air and deflate due to the corrosion not creating a good seal. Uneven wear on tyres - indication there's something a miss with the alignment / shocks - to be honest this is not reported as a problem on the cars. Maybe more so from owners using non OEM wheels Cams are chain driven - no worries there but they can stretch (very extreme though) Rear blind working - read a few posts on here that its stopped working or stuck in the up position - check its operation Front discs - They are heavy on discs and front pads. Check the wear on the discs on the front - not expensive to replace and an easy DIY job Lights not bright and flickering - an indication that the bulbs are on their way out - check both are the same colour. If not, one has been replaced and other will need to be done at some point. Check all front lights as they are quite fiddly in replacing the bulbs Aircon works - should be cold - if not then check coolant level, if ok the system either has a leak or may need re-gassing Squeeky steering adjustment - has been reported by a few members. Mine squeeks in hot weather when automatically adjusting. Not all the time and has not caused any issues. Mirrors dip when in reverse - the mirrors should dip towards the road when in reverse, a feature on the cars to ensure easy viewing of where you are going. If they don't then its most likely they will just need to be cleaned internally. Again an easy DIY job. Parking sensors - with the engine running have someone walk within a foot of the sensors at the front and the rear of the car - it should start beeping when the person walks past them. Not seen any issues with this reported by the owners. O2 sensors - PreCat (within engine bay) will go around 70 to 80k easy DIY job - cost around £180 for OEM Denso ones - don't use 3rd party ones as they will not last Rear brake shoes - Cant easily be checked on a test drive - changed mine at around 90k last year and they still had a bit of meat on them, probably on the car from new so more than likely will need changing or inspection at least. Easy DIY job Main engine plastic cover - centre engine cover can become loose from removing and re-applying it. there is a push button tab that breaks off and it can in some instances be heard rattling over lumpy roads. Mine has broke - not a real issue as the radio at low volume masks any rattle. I expect some strong glue would fix this. Engine idle - make sure its constant at tick over when cold (quite high) and when hot (around 700revs) - if erratic it could indicate a carbon build up - not an issue with an application with cleaning liquids Valve Rattle - VVTI may rattle from time to time - the oil will drain in some cases from the resoviour for the valves after standing for a bit and as a consequence there is a rattle noise (similar to a dull machine gun noise) but will disappear in a second or so. Happenned on mine a few times when I first had it. but not come back for a couple of years now. Regular oil changes and I do an engine flush each oil change and in my opinion it has helped a lot. Exhaust smoke - no smoke from these - only condensate when in cold weather which is normal for most cars Cabin carpets - check the drivers side has clips anchoring the carpet down (if it has one) if it doesn't then the carpet can creep under the pedals Boot - Its a fair size boot but the opening does not give good access to large items - ideally it could have done with split seats but its not that kind of car I guess. Audio - Make sure the spec includes a Mark Levinson branded head unit which is the better of the head unit specs on these models.(indicated on the front of the stereo on the bottom right of the unit) Rear seat room - its a bit cramped in the back with passengers on the seats - leg room is dismal, maybe that's why I have never sat in the back when its been driven. Wife wont drive it due to the size of the car which I don't mind at all. Reliability - looked after its bullet proof, best make of car I have owned. Running costs are petrol only. Put in the time to do the services (oil, filters etc) and it will serve you well. Parts availability - Had my 250 for 3 years and an IS200 for 2 prior to that - the only time I was unable to get a part was the exhaust for the 250 - I could get one from the dealer but at nearly 3k I thought no way and went down another route. Parts are available from Eurocarparts / ebay / online easily enough and are not expensive. Speed - People forget these are not sports cars - they are quick in manual mode and can keep up with the best of them but are not made for that purpose. Its nice owning one for the individuality of having something different from whats sitting on the neighbours drive or in the works car park. I only know of an IS200 Alteeza and a IS220 local to myself so its my bit of exclusivity. Don't care how old it is, its still better than a new model medium city car. Mileage - mines on 93k - no issue and having has a high miler is200 and this one then I would consider another high miler but with the knowledge of what to look for. I don't think there would be any problems if you are careful in what you are looking at - gut instinct in a lot of cases. I guess there will be very few low milers available now on these cars now but you may be lucky in finding one. Keys - Ensure it has a minimum of 2 keys and they both work - if not then its definitely a bargaining chip to use as a replacement one will cost you around £350 and a trip to Lexus. Corroding windscreen wiper arms - these seem to bubble quite a bit under the paint on the main body of the wiper arm. No issue but it will break through the paint at somepoint. Check front windshield, if non-genuine check if wipers defrosters and auto sensing wipers works OK. As well windshields mouldings sometimes gets gets loose (broken clips) - about £80 to get new mouldings. (Courtesy of Linas.P) Main ground cable - In wet climate it was reported that main ground cable sometimes gets corroded and it is very hard to troubleshoot it.(Courtesy of Linas.P) Squeaky seats reported for the manual option (Courtesy of Vintagesixtysix) DMF issues (Dual Mass Flywheel) for the manual drive option (Courtesy of Vintagesixtysix) Paint - the paint is soft on these cars so are prone to scratching easier than other makes if not careful Cat failure - there has been a couple of reports of the cats failing on these cars but only a few have been reported at relative low mileage for the car (around 80 / 90k miles) not common though. There are 2 cats on these. Service milestones - consider cars around 60k miles require a spark plug change - or so Lexus recommends although they are good for 100k. This is an expensive job at around £600. Not done mine yet, planning on doing them at 100k. I would state at 100k then you will need to get your hands dirty and give the car a good going over, fluids etc just for peace of mind. Lexus service interval report does not state any excessive requirements, mostly checks to be made. Recalls - that I am aware of: cabin carpet mat required securing / airbags / fuel sensor washer. there may be more but these are the ones I know of. Spec - I would personally recommend the top spec SE-L Auto box at 2007 / 2008 as I believe when the face lift came along then the models lost a few features that were on the older models. A sunroof would be brilliant but like gold dust at this spec. Quite a bit of points above - don't let this put you off at all - the exhaust nearly saw me pack the car in when mine went but I went down the stainless route so alls not lost. Best to go into a sale knowing all the points to look at before making your mind up. Best car I have ever owned. One last consideration - in the 7 years I have owned the Lexus brand we have by far spent more money during this time in maintaining a fairly new Vauxhall !! One last point, if you have an ODB error code reader then take along and scan the ecu for any stored fault codes unless the dealer has cleared it down

Hey guys, Hope everyone is well, sorry haven't been on in a while. Clayed my car 2 weeks ago and then decided to have some spoilers that I've had for a couple of years, sprayed and fitted. After that I spent some the weekend doing a Meguiars 3 step cleanse, polish and wax and it came out looking great. Just need the wheels refurbing now, next month maybe, anyone know a good place near Croydon? Cheers for looking, James

My next step is already booked. Going to install HID conversion kit. I also like the white looks and brightness and just cos Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

@Womble72 Might I suggest you get yourself a smaller dog 😂

@Neil E Tus an amusing pic, you touched on the subject of getting yourself into an isF, given it any more thought ? 🐀

I've got the car back, bearing replaced.......peace and quiet has returned. They showed me the old one and it was in a very bad state. I had asked them to take a VERY close look at the other bearing and all of the front suspension; they were able to reassure me that everything else is OK. They gave me an almost-new IS 300h to run around in for a couple of days - very nice car with great handling. It had 'flappy paddle' gear change; I played with it for a couple of minutes, then put the actual gear lever back where it belongs in a Lexus........Drive :) My only gripe was secondary controls! You can get in any LS (400/430/460/600) and the controls are all logical and, more or less, in the same position. In the IS, it took me ages to work out the radio and the 'Auto' selection for the wipers was a button on the end of the stalk. Maybe I'm just getting old and set in my (LS) ways..........

I've never worried about losing settings as my car is always in bits anyway so I'm happy to disconnect the battery but it might be worth trying the procedure below as it is supposed to work for the SC, perhaps it works for other models too? If you want to reset the ECU without losing your seat and stereo settings, perform the following procedure: 1. Get in your car and insert key. (It doesn't matter if you close the door or not.) 2. Turn the key to the on (not start) position. 3. Press the gas pedal to the floor. 4. Hold the pedal to the floor for five seconds, then turn the key back to the "off" position (don't remove the key), then release the gas pedal. 5. Wait 2 minutes. 6. Remove key. 7. Done

Red was and is my favourite colour in these, been looking at the RR sport TDV8. I'd be gutted to tamp silly miles up and also the chance of deteriorating the wheels etc.....think it would destroy me, parking at work isn't an issue due to having a private car park, just the every day use I'd feel it deserves a better home, I can't get the kids n dog in the back, don't particularly want the dog in it full stop. A RR would fit our requirements better BUT that's not a definite either, when it sits there it's a waste, when I use it I love it, head says one thing, heart n life is saying something else 😔

Please don't sell, you will regret it. It's red too!! What could you realistically replace it with?

@Big Rat or should I say Ernie? That could just be the fastest milk cart in the west. It's only a small diversion to Mark off the M1, I'm sure he would appreciate some moral support with warm milk and cookies.

Located on the right hand side of the engine bay, as you look at it, underneath the plastic cover. HTH!

Sounds like sound advice 😏 🐀

I probably still have the service records sent to me by the dealer at the time, not sure about those seats. Some newer ISF's in the states were released with red leather but not my cup of tea. Most upholsterers won't touch the seats for insurance reasons, something to do with Manufacturers using special/weakened stitching in areas near an airbag, to make sure they deploy correctly in an accident.

@Neil E Did I hear my name mentioned I'm sat at the M1 services as the motorway is shut because of a car fire 200 miles from home. Still not to worry as you can see I'm having a Barbecue later 😂 🐀

Really don't like that front grill. Looks like a big black moustache!

I can only comment on my experience with Avon which is to say I find them excellent. Quiet, superb grip, but too early to say how long they last. Of course they may feel different on other vehicles. Certainly at this stage I would buy them again, and I like the way they're made in the UK.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/rpp/car-throttle

I've been away, so just watched four episodes on catch up, and find it far better without the three amazon amigos, and of course shouty Evans. Personally, I think Leblanc makes it, the rest could come and go without most people caring, though I'd swap Sabine for Harris to improve things. I also agree with Phils' post above, supercars are ok, but unattainable for most, so less interesting, to me, than something I might actually buy, though I realise that many take an opposite view. I think they need to be careful about becoming too formulaic though, as that becomes tedious very quickly, as proven by previous series. For me, very watchable, but not "must see".

Listening to two guys chatting this morning whilst having new tyres fitted. One was thumbing through a car mag and asking his mate why TG can't be more like the mag, discussing and testing cars that the average driver buys instead of those that the wealthy can afford. I couldn't agree more, that's the way it used to be, and that's what I found interesting. Plus the odd act of lunacy thrown in of course!

Lexus don't usually replace the wiper blades but just the rubber refill. The rear blade won't come off, spoiler needs removing first Instead, the wiper is turned on and turned off when it's vertical in the centre of the glass. The refill is then pulled out and replaced.

Not true. All RX450Hs have hill hold. You nee to press the brake down all the way. It'll beep and then hold for 2 seconds or so.

Hi James, sorry I don't know if its my age regarding text speak or there is some problem with your keyboard but I'm at a loss on understanding your post.

Thread revival! ECP have now started doing OEM RX wipers - they're the Denso ones. I was in need of some and Lexus UK want £34 including P&P just for the refills! Regardless, I stuck the part numbers into Google and found they are Denso Hybrid blades. Ive ordered front ones - were £40 delivered. However, ECP had 30% off and I used Topcashback so cost me £28 for the pair and £1 cashback :)

And then @Mark G!!!!

Nuff said 🐀

Japanese racing jr21. They cost about a grand and seem to weigh about the same as the standard wheels.

Here are some recent photos taken of how the car is looking with the wrap. It's coming up to 2 years this Summer. Please excuse all the road-kill bugs in the following photos :)