Scarlet Pimpernell

I thought it was only me that was seeing so many IS's...

Go by the owners handbook - it clearly states that using 6th below 75 is not recommended. So for the UK RTR it really is a 5 speed car. Down hill you can use it at 58mph on mine....but the rev's are like idle speed (1000ish). So there is no turbo boost at all, and if you hit a gradient (even a flat road) it must feel like the engine is pulling a 38 tonner... Even at 70mph, there is little useable felxibility in 6th. A point made already is very true - the car feels as if it needs a another cog at 5th @ 70, but 6th is just a bridge too far... For those of you who drive at 60mph or below, 5th is fine and you will get 50+mpg (any diesel in this category should smash 50mpg, the Lexus will just do it...). I tried it - 25 miles of the M11 at 59mph behind an Artic in 5th, cruise where practicable, AC off - the car managed 53.3mpg (edit accoding to the TC). This was when it had 10k on the clock and the 5th Inj had just been replaced. That realistically is as economical as my car would ever get, and the best realistic MPG readout I ever had... Driven now at 70 in 5th, with all the latest mods I get at best high 30's, once last week I got 42.2 according to the TC (Hoorah) - I was elated! PS just approaching 20,000 miles... PPS - if you seriously are considering one of these - don't be put off. The car otherwise if excellent VFM. Just buy with your own head screwed on, test drive it well, more than one hour - and buy with you eyes wide open. I would say that about any "large" purchase...I've driven loads of cars, and I have still stuck it out...so there must be something good here too...

Personally, I would do one of 2 things: 1) Go for SE Auto with MM - the rear camera is fantastic, and the sound system etc is very good, the Bluetooth keeps you fully legal. Even if you don't think much of the Satnav, which you won't use that often...the rest of the MLS package is very very good...and the bits are more useable than the SEL toys... 2) Reading here though that your budget allows for SE - so MM may be out of the question...in which case....You can get sensors fitted to your SE, but you won't get the display unless you go for one which has a separate module. All that wiring etc in these cars could lead to rattly ineriors...so AVOID the display types - keep it simple and go for the bleeping types...and it will be much cheaper to go to a specialist (not a Lexus dealer) The SEL is has everything to die for but other than the sensors and HID's it's all decorative stuff...that's what I think. Welcome back...why did you go and why did you come back?

On a Lexus forum you will see praise for the Lexus only...The 320d is the arch enemy!!! I'm never loyal to a brand of car so I try and tell it like it is (doesn't make me many friends on here at times!!!) I have driven several E90's. There is no doubt that you will be "wowed" by the Lexus. It is fantastic value for money. However, this all becomes a tad relative the longer you live with it... The boot in the Lexus is actually smaller - 375 odd litres if I recall compared to the Beemers 460odd. It also has a narrower opening and wheel arches that do interfere a little more with the shape. It does have a "shelf" which is nice, but the BMW's spare wheel well will hold more (if you have no spare and have runflats). Whilst the rear space appears to be similar, the access into the Beemer is better a little. The slightly lower window line won't make kids feel travel sick. The Lexus seems to... 6th is useable at 70, but you hear a thrum, the mirror may vibrate to a level where you can't tell what car's behind you, and your economy will not be helped in many circumstances. The car is not designed to be driven at 70 in 6th, so people do it, but that's up to them. There is little overtaking response and as harrydavy says, you do find yourself changing gears at motorway speeds...this can become tiring so I no longer use 6th at all... Road noise in the Lexus is higher (unless it has the Toyo tyres apparently - I haven't tested those), in the Beemer it is less unless you opt for 18" M Sports. The Lexus is quieter on billiard table smooth new black tarmac, but only marginally. The Beemer is more consistent and quiet enough. The Beemer has a slightly more jittery slow speed ride and driving around town can be achy, the Lexus smoother when it's slower, but bouncy at times at speed. The steering in the Lex does not provide you with the "fly by the seat of your pants" experience - whereas the Beemer positively does...an handles bttr through corners (marginally). The Lexus is faster once moving compared to a 163bhp 320d, but the newer 177bhp 320d is as quick - less torque than the lex, but much better gearing...there is so little in it that it matters not...The lex engine can feel strained and wheezy at times whn you push it - the BMW tends not to... The final point is the economy - BMW 90% of time will win that battle. The new BMW 177bhp engine with ED is exceptional as a package...the gearing is smarter, you can have an Auto. The Lex on the other hand has every extra imagineable (especially with MM) and feels epensive. There is only one person who will have to live with the decision and that is you - so I would vry strongly recommend (as ever) that you drive the 220d for at least one day if not longer before parting with your cash. Ignore the gadgets - concentrate on the drive 'cos the steering, pedals and gears are what you will use all of the time....th gadgts are nice to hav dcorations (albeit expensive on the Beemer).

The IS will always win on VFM and looks. It only fails on interior space and economy/emissions - so a Hybrid would be great if they can shoehorn the components into the small frame. The 2.0TDi Toyota engine (new one) might be a goer?? Lets wait... They did always say a convertible and the ISF would come...one here, one to go...

The problem will only hit you when it's time to sell...it'll be the one area where dealers will try and shave off some dosh. If you have it in writing that it was done to manufacturers spec then you are legally covered, and when asked you can confidentally state that it has a full service history...just make sure you get the garages stamp in there too...

Jamboo, I remember there was talk about this B pillar rattle, but was there conclusive evidence on what exactly is causing it? Because I've had it for a while now on the co-pilot side and recently have been hearing it from the driver side, as well. Thought it could be the seat belt system, but not sure. I guess I should consider myself lucky, since these are the only constant rattles I have. Had the dashboard cracks in winter time, but now it's been silent for a couple of months. And it's just a once-a-day kind of annoyance, anyway. Finlex - I seem to recall 2 causes: "Packing" needed behind panel Seatbelt tensioning mechanism/spool There should be some TSB's (Bulletins) - Tango might have a link???

The TMC, as DJWozza has intimated could be flawed anyway. It doesn't (as far as I can tell) work out if the re-routed suggestion will actually take longer than if you were to perservere and slow down for 5 minutes (if you know what I mean) - which is why I use Vodaphone 2222 to back it up. That's the biggest problem...I think I read somewhere that the latest Garmin units do this...

Right that's it, I've moved on from voice command guides, I'm going to invent a rattleometer ! Can I be first to test it???? Make sure you give it a decent threshold, else my car will max it out :tsktsk: :shutit:

Well - sounds like a new one or is it in the B Post pillar (i.e. between the two doors)? That is well document as an issue on earlier cars... PS - I mentioned a while back that the dash appeared to have dropped by a couple of MM...well the gap has grown to 3-4MM on closer inspection...the car rattled this morning far more than ever before. I'm going to book it in again...

It is a good result on face value, but I have always been slightly sceptical (could I be anything else??? ), even when we had our Honda Jazz which was perfectly reliable etc and was an overall winner one year. No one mentioned how appallingly hard the ride was, or how flimsy the interior was (lots of hard plaggy absolutely everywhere), rattles galore, EPS power steering that didn't actually offer any assistance when stationary and huge amounts of road noise...to the extent where it was tiring over any distance... These surveys are completed by owners, and it says more about them and the dealer experience than the cars - else Skoda wouldn't do so well when compared to a VW or Seat... That's my generalised humble view.... BTW - it is a compact exec in my view, not a family car. Unless the family is very young...my 13 year old is already finding the rear cramped...

It's fairly mixed in my experience. A few times I have ignored it and ther have been no holdups at all...I always back it up dialling AA roadwatch... I think it all uses Traffic Master anyway, so it's only as good as. Sometimes it has asked me to leave a motorway, I gt to a roundabout, and then it re-calc's and asks me to get back on the same carriageway! And yes it does have a separate unit for TMC from hat I read. It's good overall... BTW - it's been replaced already once (like many bits in my car).

As long as they have used genuine parts you are covered. They will have the servic book which details what needs to be done, so just get a lettr from them to verify both facts and stick it in the service book.

That's cheap from a dealer...I've seen £449 quoted here before. And no, they aren't free....the Satnav unit is hideously expensive and whilst very Chav a decent Garmin unit is much better VFM! In a Lexus the £2700 included Bluetooth, rear camera etc, so overall it works out chaper than the competition when you add it all up...but thre is little point in updating the disc unless 1 in 10 routes you use has changed...

40 - BTW - the fact that your Boss drivs a Vectra and hasn't mentioned it once says quite alot about the kind of bloke he is...his IQ will be smaller than his :tsktsk:

Thanks...

:winky: Tadaaa!!! Mine still has several, inconsistent and annoying. Not all cars suffer them, but out of 7 cars I have driven 3 had them (a mixture of MM and non MM, Auto, Manual, Petrol and diesel). The 4 that didn't were the 3 original test drives, and one courtesy car (250SEAuto with MM) which was an 07 and had only the seat creak (lugs). It does detract and is noticeable - I've had comments and gasps from people who own BMW's - and I have to concede I haven't sat in one of those for 2 years that has a noticeable rattle... Some are simple fix's (3rd drivers vent is OK), the centre "in dash" rattle has come back, the satnav surround creaks when you drive, the centre vents creak badly when it's warm, and not only when it goes over a pot hole but on cornerning. I've also lately noticed a tapping sound from the rear parcel shelf...Some of these I will live with until it goes as it's had the dash out and I don't want more going wrong... All in all I think I got the friday afternoon car...it's had almost every ailment! I just turn up the MLS and smile...

did you have the air filter replaced at your request, as this is not a service item until 40k. No - I thought it was included...better check it!! How do you get those darn butterfly clips of the engine covers??? I turned them and they looses, but other yanking off I can't how they come off...

Austin Maxi Allegro Austin Princess - the ugliest princess ever - any king would shoot his daughter if she looked like that (big Arze, nose and saggy eyes and wobbled about everywhere) Trebant (or was it trevant) Mini Clubman - never see a real man of the club driving one of them...

better airbags on a Chevy Caprice

I suppose that's the bike equivalent of a 4x4, you ecomaniac. Don't forget th ultimate mod - smarties tops between the spokes

I was referring to the 1970/80' version, though the name is still a bit weak...luxury cars are normally known with numbers rather then names... http://www.trans.rtaf.mi.th/Picture/Toyota...rown%201972.jpg And this one was called the Toyota Crown Royal http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DN

Skoda Superb - it's so good that they called it that... Ford Anglia (why not Midlands?) Datsun Sunny Bond Bug Super Snipe Fiat Doblo DAF33 (Sounds like "Daft 33") And all the Toyota's that started with a C had daft names (Corona, Corolla, Carina, Cressida and even the Camry) but they were all good cars PS - Toyota Crown - no guesses there then - it was the flagship model (it had a nice Pimp velour interior...).

March - 20k service

Looks very nice indeed - the lowering plus the extra metal in the Hoshis fills the arches really well...