swager

Me too, the performance of mine seems worse now - fuel won't go above 37mpg even on huge motorway runs and first gear is just scary so pulling out quickly on roundabouts means superhero levels of braveness or massive clutch slip! I've spoken to our fleet manager and am swapping mine for a 320d Msport estate which is due back into our 'pool' in Jan/Feb, it's 9 months old but I'm looking forward to getting it I have to say! you will not be dissapointed in the 320d m sport, it has a peach of an engine and although mine is an auto with only 3k on the clock it can return 45 mpg on mixed driving and 50+ ish on motorway runs and I do not have to adopt any style of driving to get to these figures .My IS250 sel auto mm will also give good mpg on motorway driving and was pleased I did not go down the 220d route when purchasing my second car.I somewhat feel sorry for the Lexus sales guys ,they must dread any regular customers who start looking at their oil burner as I felt I was steered away from the 220d and was offered a super deal on another 250. After 3 months of ownership with the 320d m sport I am very pleased but looking at the two cars sise by side I think the lexus IS wins hands down but once again if only they could have got it right first time as a manufacture with their 220d - better mpg - engine - auto -etc etc. hmmm back to the drawing board cheers swager

Hi all, just as a matter of interest how much oil do you burn in your IS 250 auto's between services as I have had to top mine up twice between 10k to 20k service .Should have taken it to Lexus by now but have been very busy and its the wifes car and as the level drops I get the dreaded 2 second rattle on start up - is there a low level oil warning light ???? if there is it must be faulty. cheers swager

spot on dazed- started to leave the IS 250 auto mm in the garage over the weekends as the 320D M sport auto coupe is drivind like a dream - average 45-48 mpg with only 3k on the clock - not a rattle in ear shot - auto box smooth -handles well with no under steer ??? great engine with Max torque (Nm/rpm) 350/1750 it pulls like a train .Still say Lexus got it wrong as a manufacture and miss a big market share not having a auto oil burner . still love the IS 250 sel auto mm and will still go for another lexus in the new year - maybe the GS 450H . swager

if the unit used in the 220d is the same as the avensis then why so many problems with the 5 th injector that I have read so much about when the avensis is a proven product - and also comments from lexus service that the engine has more added to run various that rav4 corolla etc dont .

go for the Auto, not owned the diesel but have test driven the oil burner a dew times and my thoughts have not changed - had the same problem two months ago only the other way round- what company car do I want to drive for the next 3 years as my IS250 auto sel mm sets a high standard sall round - although my IS auto in my view sets good m.p.g it was not good from a B.I.K. So went for the BMW 220 d sport auto coupe .The oil burner could have improved since the last time I drove one but the engine is a upgrade of the Avenis with lots of bits added and m.p.g of the Avensis is not that great. Bristol to London and back (Hyde Park) IS 250 auto = 37 mpg Bristol to London and back (Hyde Park) BMW auto = 49 mpg as or running costs -insurance and road tax are more exspensive but possibily service and the cost of diesel could tip it the other way cheers swager

Hi , yes agree with you on the oil burner - as for mpg on my 2005 IS se-l 250 auto MM - the other half drives it in the week - mostly around town average mpg showing 28 somtimes 29 - but on the motorway zero the mpg count and I usualy see 37 -39 at 70 ish - very good autobox and lots of fun with the paddle change -had the same problem when looking at a company car - wanted to go for the Lexus oil burner ,then thought about a second IS250 but mpg on the new BMW320 d auto won it . cheers swager

have the pleasure in owning both the IS250 -sel auto and a new BMW 320 d coupe sport auto. Not alot in it -both very good cars in every way - agree with you on the Lexus oil burner and manual gearbox (not the best on the block)- think the lexus has the edge on the beama auto box and leather seats - BMW pro sat nav is very good - you can use all the toys on the move or use the voice activation - as for looks the Lexus wins hands down - if only Lexus had a good auto oil burner with good mpg -anyway would have to toss a coin if I had to make the choice - both well engineerered and styled cars - go for a good used IS auto if you can ????? and are not to worried about mpg cheers Swager

Interesting forum - thought it would rattle a few cages - anyway have done in reverse -had the IS250 se-l auto mm for the 12 months and now also run a BMW 320d sport coupe auto .The beama is new and the handover at the garage very good - on a par with Lexus - good points on the beama are 1 great engine and auto box 2 low co's with impressive m.p.g (42 -45 mpg with only 600 miles on the clock to date ) 3 very good sat nav 4 very goog blue tooth phone system 5 no rattles 6 high build standard 7 quiet ride 8 can use all extras on the move 9 voice activation good 10 paint work although I still love to drive the Lexus ,out of the two I would grab the beama keys although I know they both have totally different engins (perhaps because it new and different ) but I still wounder if lexus have lost the plot with their customer care . cheers swager

I never get more than 32 mpg - it must be my driving!!! Off to Bournemouth with work tomorrow and will get 5k on the clock - what about you? Nearly 14K, but I purchased it December 2005 so it's still low mileage...if I knew then I was going to spend most of 2006/7 in the U.S. I wouldn't have bought it. Hi tango, yep - have done many motorway miles with cruise set at 70 and got about the same m.p.g of somtimes above - also the tank average looks great - but come back into the urban jungle of town and city driving then its back to normal 27-30ish m.p.g.purchased ours about the same time as yours and have 16.5 k on the clock . cheers swager

No more desperate then most manufactures /dealers- its my company car and on contract hire so Drive the Deal is not in question- asked lexus for a quote 3 weeks later - asked BMW for quote 2 days later with follow up call .IS 250 sel auto £560 per month - BMW 320 d sport auto - so if we are talking about service and customer care at this moment in time BMW are in front - agree that Merc are the pits ,you can walk into a showroom and you could be the man in the moon as far as their sales guys go - now porsche are in a diffrent league cheers swager

its company policy at Lexus Bristol - and they know me very well - must be down to individual dealerships - maybe they have lost a few - will try my charm this weekend and if they have female sales it should be no problem then !!!!!! cheers swager

Well, you didn't like it, but I do like it this way... buying a car is not daily procedure, so I always try to get informations before I enter the shop and do the test drive. On the internet you get nowadays so many informations, that - sorry salespeople - usually I know about the car more than the sales person. And I really don't need to be persuaded by someone in the showroom, I have my own criteria. Matus - you're spot on. Lexus are better, much better at this. However, across the whole industry product knowledge within the sales staff is the biggest problem and I don't think I've yet bought a car where the salesmen actually knew something worth knowing... Sorry sales people....the minute they pick up a brochure and read something out to you, I feel like leaving!! Normally sales people will not take one look at you unless you and the wife/partner go in together 'cos you're more likely to be able to do a deal if the combined "home minister and treasurer" is with you...they don't want to spend what little knowledge they have on you if they don't think you'll buy. Remember, it's the commission/target that motivates them...so unless that individual is well short of targets/commission, you'll fight to get anything serious out of them...that's my experience. Try it - go in on your own...see how you're treated. They'll be quick to offer you a brochure...Take the wifey in and they'll be quick to offer you a test drive... Hi Jambo, interesting thoughts on dealerships - must have a odd ball in Bath (BMW) went intothe showroom in workshop gear - had a chat with sales guy - talked through what I might want and spec - gave me a price and delivery - chucked me a set of keys and signed for a 320 D M sport and asked did i want it for a hour - all day or more .told me to make a journey that i do on a regular basis (unaccompanied test drive )and see how it feels !!! wow even lexus do not allow this unless you blag a test drive when your Lexus is in for service /repair .The compertition is catching Lexus up in the sales department - cant comment on after sales - will know next week when I get the beama . cheers swager

Have you had the car from new? If not how many miles have you put on it since purchasing? Hi Tango purchased from Lexus Bristol after a bad time with a used RX (thats a long story) and giving the Lexus brand a second chance after being out of pocket by sum 8.5 k over 9 months . The IS was 6 months old and had one owner with 6k on the clock - so I have put some 10 k to date and up to this problem has been good except for the odd rattle and wiper blade problem - I will be getting my BMW 320 D sport coupe auto with pro sat nav and bluetooth next week so it will be a good comparision between the two as I will drive the beama in the week and the IS over the weekends and wait for this intermittent engine rattle to get worse . cheers swager

have a quick look at the website below , it makes interesting reading http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ cheers swager

Hi All, cool responce from Bristol service - as its intermittent i need to give lots of feed back ie milage - temp - driving conditions - outside temp blah blah .As for oil consumption its normal some do some dont burn that amount of oil so from 9600k servive to 16300k it has burnt enough oil to make me top up - in my book its crap - service will look at it on next service 20k or December .mentioned lexus web site in the US and it is a issue with serveral owners and there is a fix for it- it will have to get worse to get better I think .So I will keep my ear to the engine and say a prayer .( asc I said it looks like another fight with service and knowing myself the IS will go !!!!!!) cheers swager

Hi All , for those with petrol 250 's - 16500k on the clock - serviced at 10k - 16500 oil level below mid way on stick - top up with pack supplied with service - noticed engine rattle on start up a few months ago - after 30-50 mile trips and car left for a few hours and then used - this is when I get the rattle ( not all the time)- to all you mechs and machiniacl engineers I think you will know my worst fears . reved the engine up to 4-5 k not a good sound - should sound sweet as a nut- big V6 - will talk to lexus Bristol tomorrow - I just know its going to be a fight - have not seen any topics on this subject so It looks like it could be a first -(new engine - or main bearings - crank) will let you know how I get on - Swager

Hi All thanks - had a quick look -maybe i will get to 20k service - so no warning on dash to let you know pads are low- hmmm all that high tech on board and not a warning to let you know your pads are near the mark . thanks for info cheers swager

Hi All, all you auto runners what milage did you get out of your front pads before replacing - I know this will depend on driving style and what type of roads used - also is there a low pad warning -(still cant find that manual ) thanks swager

Hi all, just a quicky- is ther a low level oil warning light on the IS - cant find owners hand book to check as I started the limo up yesterday and got a surprise when I noticed what sounded like a machanical rattel from what I thought was the engine.I know previous post have mentioned rattling dials on start up - 16k on the clock and oil level checked a few weeks ago - about half way up dip stick - will recheck this morning.Started her up a few times all normal , when it did happen i had been on a 55 mile run and had left the car for a few hours . cheers swager

toyota / lexus ins £420 fully comp bonus protection 5 years no claims european cover inc myself and the other half also business use , and yes over 50 ish and the other half 40 ish cheers swager

Hi Jambo , its taken lexus 3 weeks plus to quote me a price for a is 250 auto se-l auto on contract hire , I have stayed loyal to the lexus brand after having a nightmare with my first Lexus - RX 300 se-l and loosing my shirt on it .Very disapointed in the responce combined with all the small niggles with my IS I am going to make the jump and buy my company car from the dark side .I have found a rare BMW dealer who makes you feel like a customer and has a product to match what I want - 320d m auto coupe - great drive -great engine - good gearbox- good mpg - good emissions for tax reasons- (sat nav interesting)- unless lexus can respond with a craking deal who knows in a years time when its time to change my IS 250 auto mm it could follow down the same route. cheers swager

chinese whispers are that Lexus UK are offreing 2k discount on petrol models ,not sure which ones but could be se-l auto . So could be some deals to be had with Lexus - I am in same position - just about to go down the contract hire route for my company car ,do I go the internet route or use a main dealer manufacture - they all say they will get very close to any internet deal but you have the advantage they say of buying from dealer -with service loan car (free) with the chance to try different models - blah,blah blah. cheers swager

Hi steve , No its not a PCP deal - just stright contract hire 3 payments up front non maintance hand it back after 3 years cheers swager

Hi all , any of you guys got your IS 250 sel auto 's on contract hire ,just had a price back from lexus £560 per month over 3 years 15k miles per year. do you know of any better deals about cheers swager

As I feared- looks like it could be a long hard slog to get the the father-in -law on line ,unless we pay the cancelation charge of some 70 quid - should be getting a call back from level 2 tech today - will give you all a laugh and let you know what they say thanks for all he replys cheers swager