Scarlet Pimpernell

Guys, been reading through the Supaguard stuff, and appreciate that it's not to everyones liking so I am avoiding it... However, I believe that "Klasse" make good polishes, and on ebay one seller has annotated this as a "Supaguard"? OR is this person making monkeys out of would be numb-nuts like me through mis-representation?: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CarLack-68-Acrylic-C...1QQcmdZViewItem Has anyone used this CarLack68/Klasse stuff, and is it any good? I've seen all the stuff on this forum regarding abrasives etc, but all I want to do is invest time and money in a non-abrasive sealant which I can then apply lots of Carnuba or other good wax and layer it on a new car for a long lasting protective shine. Any suggestions?

One of the guys from downunder posted some pics of his Gold one - it looked gorgeous! Seriously, but I think us brits have fallen out of love of gold cars, and fallen in love with Black, Blue and Silver! DARE I SAY THIS - Even the St Lucia Pearl (which is white...albeit metallic/pearlescent) looks good...in fact all of the lighter shades look great! It's actually a tough choice....

It would be interesting to know how dealer commission works... I know for a fact that November/Dec and May/Jun are like graveyards...the dealers do not hit targets then. If they get commission/hit target etc when the car leaves the showroom, then if they're having a good high season, I could see why it's in their interest to push sales back from mere mortals like me and you into low season.... I like conspiracy theories... In the meantime keep your chin up...

Isn't it pathetic...I do feel it for you mate! I dread to say this, but Sytner BMW have an elctronic system that actually works out of hours...(i.e. 24/7) which allows them to see your car and at what status... So Toyota, largest car company, get a grip! You should seriously tell them to (!) off, get your deposit back and seek another dealer. Remember most will deliver anywhere in the UK, unles you have a PEX and all of that... Far from satisfactory, and I am still waiting to hear mine is delayed (would they dare, especially when I handed my PEX in early...). PS - my salesmen told me that there was a serious problem getting cars with MM. Without is no problem - it looks as though a higher percentage than anticipated want the MM/MLS! Hence the issues... PPS - they still haven't paid me for my PEX..my next DD is due on Friday...and I haven't got the car or the money! SH!!T!

Doesn't it just...feels and sounds sportier, is more engaging...but there's no Auto I really really wish I could have an auto....in the diesel...it would have been my first too... The Cadoxton is very deep, and looks fantastic...but I dread how it'll wear the muck from the roads. Good luck!

Salt

No picture obviously (Sorry ) but the best description is metallic graphite/dark grey (lots of cleaning, so OK if you're one for constant fettling :winky: . My dealer had some oval metal dinner plates (!) which were painted in the actual colours... I'm not sre how it would look in a photo (light quality, flash, camera all will play a part). Makes you say "Wooow" when you see ity in the showroom (Leicester had one a fortnight ago, looked immaculate). What did you think of the 220d and the diesel engine?

I have bad feelings about auto washes and even fly by street hand car washes. :duh: Auto washes generally speaking have frayed nylon bristle brushes which hit the paint work quite hard. What's worse however is that the bristles and frays have still got lots of c**p from the previous cars washed, and all of that silt etc is being "sandpapered" or "shot blasted" onto the car. You only have to look closely at the bristles and note how much darker they look when compared to the parts of the brushes that don't touch the bodywork too often...all that dirt... The hand car wash places are trying to get through as many punters as possible, the hand washer is normally paid peanuts and can give you a monkey style wash... :shutit: The guy with the power washes destroys the side walls of the tyres and the dude with the chamois takes all of the silt still on the sills or places not washed out properly and rubs it all over your shiny new car!! The bloke with the Giza sprays probably the most abrasive susbstance known to man onto your alloys... Of course, then you pay them for the previlege!! So all in all, at average to worst case, it's doom and gloom...that's my humble opinion and experience... I reckon you spend a fortune on the car, so get your self a good wash mit, decent shampoo's and polishes etc and go for it yourself...in the long run the effort will be worth it, unless it's a company car... :D Oh yes - my Lex dealer (and I believe Scott's in Poole) offer free washes...dunno how good they are, or whether others do this, but that might be the best option if you don't have the time or the inclination to want to diy...!? ;)

Guys - mentioned on another thread, but if anyone wants the Lexus PDF file listing what is compatible and what is not (Bluetooth) please PM with your email address and I will send it to you...

Apparently Sony Ericson's work the best...my dealer has offered to help me feed the directory in one go (Sony's allow all to be transferred in one hit). I managed to get a PDF file from my dealer showing the compatibility charts for most phones across the Lexus brand. PM me if anyone wants (with your email address).

I'm curious if there are any 220ds with the rattle(s). Mine's completely rattle free and if anything you'd expect the diesel to really exagerate any rattles as I suspect there is more vibration than the 250 as you reach the top revs through the gears. Anyone got a rattling IS220d ? who really knows, it might be the problem that was already solved in the factory when your car was built. USA members dont complain about rattles, so it might be something UK car specific that happened on 1st month build... True - that's what Leic Lexus believe...so even though some of the cars were delivered in Dec/Jan with rattles they could have manufactured earlier...lets face it they haven't exactly been selling like hot cakes on a cold wintry day...

You must be 'aving so much fun (and I'm jealous), you've even signed yourself as "bigplant"...missed the "e" - bet you can't wait to get back to "her" It can't be bad! Have fun!

I'm pretty sure this is in the manual somewhere near the front. I think you can have it so only the driver's door unlocks rather than all the doors when you press the key fob. Try this thread - the topic I asked this question on - there's loads the dealers in USA can do...still not spoken to the dealer about mine... http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...topic=29224&hl=

Best thing - I've bought one Worst thing - it ain't arrived yet

Good point - I suppose it's the dealers that have to justify the claim...so if they're happy who's to complain? I'd still double check...'cos the guy at parts won't really care...and neither will the fitter! I just ike to keep things simple to save heartache...once bitten, forever.....shy!

I'd be tempted to check with a dealer...if it "enhances" BHP etc and your engine blows they won't cover you...

Sad but true fact - things go round in circles... Mercedes had a great rep for Build quality, engineering and all of that. Then they rested on their laurels...and whilst they are amongst the worst performing cars in satisfaction surveys overall, some people still by them...Take the C Class petrol - no one realises that they only make one 1.8 litre engine and call it a 180, 200, 230 etc by just effectively modding it and charging the earth for each step up...and similar for the 4 pot diesels... I hope the same won't happen to Lexus. I doubt very much it will, as there appears to be a different ethos around customer satisfaction and more importantly customer expectation...but time will tell whether this is a wake up call... Let's hope hey!

Bottom line is they need to scrap the "can't undertake" rule and leave it as a free for all...then the civvies doing the 70MPH thing can act as mobile chicanes and make it more fun for the rest of us...

Just having read this entire thread (over a cup of cocoa last night and tea this morning) I have to ask a question that was asked earlier: Are you guys with just the Valet key only sure that you have a car that has not been stolen/recovered? I can't believe that anyone who had a car from new would sell the car on without all or most of the keys...unless he (or she B) )really did lose them ALL and could not stomach £1500 for a full set of anchors!! My one and only BMW came with the valet/wallet key (it was a cheap car), same situation, before immobs so it was easy...but it was also in the days before HPI checks, and 2 months down the road a policeman knocked on the door and told me my car was stolen and used in a robbery...before I had it obviously...

...or finding a small private garage with one for sale and hiring it off them? If you explain exactly whats gonna happen then I'm sure for a small fee they might help?

I thought there was no ventilation feature in the Escaine seats (i.e. not real leather either but some prefer it), and you get 18" wheels and sports suspension, no wood but you do get the shiny plastic around the console. No power sunshade... and that's your lot... If you get the diesel, you do get a different Diff...which ought to make it faster, but less economical and a spin proof tractioning system...VDIM>

Navigator is the Sat Nav system, flip up screen, DVD from 2003 (CD Rom before) I think. Though the early ones had a Remote control that fitted neatly into the console...I think I'm right? It's well worth it, best of its kind. I gave the CD rom system a test a couple of years when I nearly bought a Lex. Much better than Tomtom Go's or Ipaq's, has a gyro sensor (electronic compass) and speed sensor connected to speedo signal, so even when you lose the signal, the system knows where you are (e.g. in the Tunnels in Birmingham...)...and you only pay a small premium for the system on a 2nd hand car...helps maintain value in future too...may also have traffic jam info (via TMC)... I'm not sure you can watch DVD's though...not without additional kit? Other's may know more...

Other than buying my first car from Leic, I have no history with them, so I am in their hands so to speak. I thought the Dash rattle effected both MM and non MM...? Javeed? http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...showtopic=28773 Even the most desirable cars have call backs, Merc E class (they are stopping the Brake by wire SBC), the A class used to "fall over in bends" quite famously, etc etc, so this is just a rattle...I was quite rattled myself, but I feel a little better knowing that I won't be the only one PS and Leicester had not had a single one back for rattles until mid Jan...

You're right, cheapest approved is about £12.5k, but difference between IS200 and 300 is quite narrow now. I have had to go back to the dealers several times recently... At Christmas time the showroom was packed and the 2nd hand IS's were gathering dust... Now it looks as though there flying out...there's always a different Old IS on test...you see is standing there with Trades' on just outside the showroom...so I reckon they're selling again in numbers... Does that means prices won't drop like they were...? Anyway, one with Bodykit, smoked glass in Plat Ice or Black with 17" wheels and you're in Business...200 or pref 300...

$31k - that's like....£18k pounds english money... :shutit: :o :( :( It's just "Rip off Britain" as we call it...everything is twice the ticket here!! You pay through dollars, we pay through the nose! Things might change...George Dubya did say yesterday... PS 18" wheels alone would be closer to $2000 USD! So we must be subsidising your car... On a serious note, you've got great wheels, well done mate!