Chiba

That's nice! I've not seen a black one before - very classy.

Hey Chiba, I ordered my English handbook from this site. ← Cheers, I'll give them a try. :)

The Mitz Evo isnt a very pretty car by all means, but that estate version is just ridiculous. Cant see that ever making it into production. And even if it does, cant see it being as fast as the audi equivelent. ← It will be a production car: http://www.evoclub.net/evowagon/index.html There's even a Ralliart prepared version:

The tag (translating from Japanese) is a "key number plate", and is a small rectangle with a hole in the end that comes with your keys. Basically there are no numbers on the keys for obvious reasons, so they give you this plate. Take it to a Toyota dealer and they can make you a key. Without the tag they need to read the number off the door lock. Also, there are (according to handbook for my car), four kinds of key: Master key with wireless door lock transmitter. Master key. Sub key (with immobiliser chip). Sub key (without immobiliser chip). You can start the car with any of the first three, if I'm reading this right. Got to get myself an English manual!

This is my personal favourite whacky Japanese car. They're not that uncommon anymore, but I still get the chuckles. Space cadet stuff, and it's a Toyota! They've not built the car with the wagging tail from the last motorshow, so this'll have to do for now. B)

Craziest upcoming car IMO is the Mitsubishi Evo... Wagon. World's fastest estate car? :o

Exactly the same story here. I only got one key (the blipper one) and wanted a couple of spares. Only Toyota can make them. Fortunately I'd bought the car from a Toyota dealer anyway, so they just sorted out the keys for me free of charge (and unasked for - they turned up in the post while I was still pondering what to do!), but if you need to buy them they're pricey. The problem you may have is that Toyota need the key number, which means disassembling the door and reading it off the lock, unless you're lucky enough to have it already. With a new car it comes stamped into on a metal tag.

It's not just good, it's brilliant. Be warned though, you will become obsessed...

Guess that might be regarded as a bad sign for Lexus Japan. Who's going to drop 26K on a IS350, when they can get a fully loaded 3 litre Marx X and buy beloved a middle of the range Vitz (Yaris?) for the same money? Silly.

Can't argue with you there, Brettster. :winky:. By the way, the Mark X is a nice enough car, but it's kind of what your Dad would drive, if you get my drift. Or rather, lack of drift. Then again, the top of the range 3 litre V6 with all the trimmings is a whopping 7 grand cheaper than an IS350...

Aido - you'll probably get a kick out of this then. :D

The 250G isn't the IS250, it's a Toyota Mark X. The new IS range doesn't launch here until 28th September. The showrooms open at the end of this month, 30th August. Full details on the Lexus Japan website.

Japan prices. Divide by 200 for rough comparison. IS350 Version L 2WD 5,250,000円 IS350 Version S 2WD 4,950,000円 IS350 Basic 2WD 4,800,000円 IS250 Version L 2WD 4,350,000円 IS250 Version L AWD 4,700,000円 IS250 Version S 2WD 4,050,000円 IS250 Basic 2WD 3,900,000円 IS350 Basic AWD 4,250,000円

You guys are undoubtedly already aware of this, but the Lexus brand will finally roll out in Japan at the end of this month. I really don't know if they can succeed with this, although I'm sure they must have spent a packet on market research. They're basically pitching Lexus ownership as a complete experience, they call it "total care"; kind of like an exclusive club rather than simply buying a car. The biggest concern is price - they've moved into BMW/Benz territory, which are serious status symbols in Japan. Can it work? Check out the new website. Most of it's in Japanese, but there's enough English there to navigate. I've already tracked down my nearest showroom and will be down there for a look around as soon as they open. If they let me take photos, I'll post them. I will also, of course, be asking for a test drive.

I got an AS300! The hint's in my avatar, and the details are in this thread. Thanks for your help.