Scarlet Pimpernell

By your right knee is the "dimmer" for the dash. If it is on "full" and past the click, it will by pass the day/night settings...and your screen will remain "in yer face" even after bed time... Turn it to the left (anticlock) if I recall... Go enjoy.... The ratchet noise a small "borrower" who switches the steering lock on ;-) or is it when the dials do their dance?

I've always bought the car... You have to do the calculations and see if it fits and take things like servicing costs into account too. I found that the PCP was actually costing a fortune over 3 years (both BMW and Lexus), enough to almost buy the car outright - so I just went for HP. You can normally "haggle" the HP % rate, but it's much harder with PCP, where it's normally a higher %age. It's a calculator jobby. The other thing to remember is that with HP you can keep the car as long as you want... With both though, you end up paying the interest no matter what - even with PCP - the interest is charged on the full amount at the start. So if they say there is a "balloon" at the end that you don't have to pay, you do have to pay the interest on it...it's just a way of keeping the payments down.

At least none of you got hurt/mugged in person... Just one other factor - do you not have to legally tell your car insurance company of what has happened, regardless of whether you claim or not?

have a look at drive the deal,you could for 22k have the 220d se with mm which will give you full leather seats with electic adjustment and lumber support above the sr spec. Thanks for the advice guys, think I'll leave the diesel alone. I had a brief drive in the 250auto, which I think was gutless(seems peaky), may be I'm not used to the power delivery, I think I'll brag a 48hr test drive, before I buy one.Regarding drivethedeal, they don't seem to offer PX(Toyota Prius), and they can't beat the dealer's price of £22k. I'd never buy through "drivethedeal" - just use their quoted prices to haggle with as a starting point - guaranteed to work every time. As far as the 250A is concerned - well it ain't no performance saloon - in the same way a 325i has no kit/charisma...but it is very refined and drives how a Lexus is expected to...it has a "waftability" factor that none of the competition or the 220d have... The Lexus pampers, wheras BMW (and New Merc C) just drive better - that's where their development costs have gone... You've got to decide whether you want performance and efficiency over subjective/objective luxury and build quality...there's a balance in there somewhere, and from my experience it's actually called Audi :winky: Joking aside, there are the reported foibles with the 220d - gearing, so so economy (even those people getting 40-45 in a 220d will get better than that in a petrol 320i), all those components that have been replaced and replaced again...it just wouldn't fill me with any confidence if the car had fewer months warranty than I was gonna keep it for, if you know what I mean! If you really really want the Lexus, the 250Auto has got to be the way to go...it just doesn't pretend to be something it's not...

I've always been a "Panafan", and most of the stuff in my house is Panasonic (and old Technics - my 20 year old Hifi is still going strong....) but the current C/corders don't seem to get the best reviews. I will take a look though...

Some of the old threads talk about counting a slow 30 seconds (how can there be a slow 30seconds one might ask... ) and not 15, unless you count a really slow 15s I did it and it worked according to the ODO message, but the "bing" was still there. It's a waste of time...

This is why I hate dealers with a passion (you're all bored of that statement from me no doubt)!! They treat you like a t :tsktsk: t each time you walk in. The car "sales industry" is totally run by dealerships who put their profits before any common sense...and even a Lexus dealrship hich pides itself on Customer Satisfaction drops to the loest common denominator at times like these - GREED!! How can an older RX, with less spec and more miles command £6k premium over the GS, which in the current climate is likely to shift off the pitch a lot quicker than the RX?? I know they are there to make money, but something like £2-1500 plus the GS might have been a better plac to start... And then they have the cheek to call you "Valued" and invite you to a "VIP" event. They really do take the p1ss sometimes...

Does your wife do the miles to justify the extra expense of a diesel? Not all motoring needs are suited to a diesel car - particularly one with particulate filters such as those fitted on the Lexus and newer Audis. If you don't do the longer journeys regularly the filters get clogged and the soot never gets burnt off by the 5th injector and you can get numerous problems. Also diesel is 10% more at the pump. I'd get her an IS250 auto - still cheap to tax and she'll love you for the ease of driving the thing. Since the introduction of diesel particulate filters on Audis in early 2006 they have had so many complaints of poor mpg, cars going into "limp" mode, poor performance they now do a pre-qualification questionaire for all potential diesel buyers to see whether the car would be suitable for their needs. My wife is currently negotiating the buy back of 2 diesel Audi A4s by Audi Germany and putting the owners into petrol models because they should never have been sold a diesel in the first place - they were doing local trips and low annual mileages and getting crap economy and clogged filters. Newer Skodas are suffering too. OMG! dare I say it, for the sake of a few extra tankfulls of fuel (which will also make up for extra road tax) the IS250Auto is a no brainer...

Absolutely. Threads like this stir emotions... but not mine any more...look at the recent "nidgemo" threads, them posts are the best summary overall...and make sure she drives it aound town in the rush hour...if she is happy after that then it's right!! Go for a 56 plater with the illuminated boot/fuel release switches by the right knee (and the switches are side by side), or better still one after 57 plate with the slim seat back rests... As long it has service history and some manufacturers warranty, you don't need to get it from a main dealer - Cargiant at White City in London seem to do them very very cheap, and any gremlins like recalls or coroding alloys will be covered by your local dealer...!! PS - MM is really good. it's not just a satnav system - the bluetooth, soundsystem and rear camera make it worthwhile on a 2nd hander...

i was looking to buy this one....but it cost's a little to much... the down side to it is the format it recordes in. it meant to be a pig to edit...the format that is.... but i still might get it Sony HDR-TG1 There doesn't appear to be a proper agreed standard. Canon uses AVCHD which is not easy though Roxio 2009 does edit this - £49.99 (ROXIO is very good, i have had 4, 6, 8 and now have 10). I'm not sure what format Sony uses. Sony does look good though...

All BMW's show £21 or so on there (and have done so for a while), so may be BMW are not allowing the dealers to join... Having said that, most BMW dealers will be considering at least 6-8% normally - so right now, I reckon you should be looking at least that or more on car's in stock... www.broadspeed.co.uk (or com) was another site, which no longer gives on-line prices. Your best bet is to call different BMW dealers and push with one that a lexus dealership within group. Times aren't good, and November is a notoriously difficult month to sell new cars in...start now with a view to doing a deal 2nd half of November...should work out well when they see they'll miss their targets by the width of a small barge!!

With a budget of approx £5-600...??? Am looking at the Canon HF100, which seems to get good reviews...but there are shed load of others. Requirements are: Must be HD, ideally 24ps option Must be able to record video on SDHC Not bothered about viewfinders Might consider HD miniDV, but ideally would like to avoid.. Ideally have a separate MIC input So anyone with any suggestions on models, how good they are, best places to buy etc???

yeap it is on the plastic headlight cover and its like a patch of haziness where the bulb projector reflects on. I tried to polish that so many times but the haziness where the bulb reflects is always there. On top of that one of my headlight unit is brand new only about a month old The only other thing it could be is "fogging" inside - not damp, but a film of dust etc during manufacture??? I've seen a few BMW's 5er's with Xenon's having a similar trait... Don't know hat else to suggest...

ihpj - actually I heard somewhere that BMW are also planning Hybrid Diesels starting with the X6. From what I have seen (and driven), BMW ED works a bit like hybrids in that the engine stops etc, and the car "starts" it again when you dip the clutch using a giant alternator which turns the engine etc...as opposed to the electric motor starting the engine in a Toyota hybrid. Energy regeneration when braking or coasting etc is again similar to Toyota hybrids..It's all actually very similar under the skin, but with BMW there is no electric motor to run the car on at slow speeds or help the engine when driving... I reckon the newer BMW fly by wire auto's are all aligned to make stop start technology available on Auto's soon too... Pug too are making diesel electric hybrids, so it's not just Lexus. Lexus on the other hand are all about smoothness and refinement - so they won't be making diesel hybrids... Ultimately, totally electric, vege oil or Hydrogen fuel cells must be the future.... Back on topic- I've just sen how much A5's are going for now, slightly used ones for £25k!!

Is it on the plastic headlight cover? If so, it's normal in damp, cold weather. many cars do this...

I think if you want an Audi, go to a dealership that has Lexus within group - such as Sytner (unless you already did). It is worth an xtra £1500 at least from my recent experience. You have to remember that when they take a PEX, esp. now, they either have to sell it on through a trader or direct to a franchise garage (and always try and make a profit), else it may hang around on their forecourt for potentially many months, and will shed another 10-15% of the price just sitting there... I managed to get £15750 for my 220d SE/MM in July...that was after quite a battle with the BMW and Lexus dealer both "guzumping" each other for the business...against a £29k slightly used BMW or a brand new IS250 SE Auto with MM. Lexus were giving me £3500 off list price too...I was getting phone calls from my Lexus dealership whilst I was supping coffee at the BMW dealership - offering to beat any BMW PEX by £250... Now just take a look at 2nd hand 7 series prices...you can get a 730dSE or Sport <8000 miles, 2007/8 (that means 57 or 08 plater) for much less than £30k - 'cos the new model is around the corner and the credit munch. That is a positive bargain, when you consider it's a £50+k car....I actually wish I'd waited, and even if they gave me £10k for my old Lexus, I'd have taken a virtually new 7er for £28k anyday!!! Some are going for less than £25k http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details...AHM22050DN39428 http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details...AHM22090DN39657 http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details...AHM22030DN39914 Having said that, as NBLG said Audi are not doing too badly, so will pick and choose what PEX's they take...but at the same time they should be offering you at least 6-8% off the price of a new Audi. If it's the A6, even more. Use www.drivethedeal.co.uk to get a dicounted price and start there...you'll be surprised what you can get at the end of it....it has worked every single time I have bought new cars in the last few years...because they are the dealers that are affiliated with the internet broker (most dealership right now are) and you have to be abrasive enough to tell them that.... PS - Paradroid - you are 100% spot on IMO. Lexus have spent a lot of dosh developing Hybrid technology, and have forgotten what is needed right now in the UK and europe...the hybrids are good (450h and 400h less than 200grams per Km of Co2), but thy are "performance" and american markt orientated rather than economy (I suppose you tak a Prius in that case)...if you look at the sheer "derv variations" you can build into a BMW, Audi etc - all with Auto 4 and 6 cylinders and 50mpg etc.... For me though, the biggest "shocker" is the new Audi S4...3.0TFSI and 333BHP - good for 0-60 in 5.1s and Co2 of 219g/km....that's what I call performance and reasonable economy of 29mpg...all for £36k! Either way - in times like these, Lexus will get hit quite hard I fear... PPS - my old IS was for sale for £17,850 and sold within a couple of weeks...but it was immaculate

Likewise

They can work, but you can blow fuses etc with these too. They cause a power spike... I'd avoid it - or use it on very basic old cars A good quality charge station is best....

Couldn't agree more - it was one of the main reasons I didn't bother with an Audi again...total attitude problem behind the counter, other than Nottingham Audi - who seemed absolutely fantastic. Even have a concierge!!!!!

best thing is to do both - first a sealant glaze (2-3 coats is best) like dgman says, and then top it off with as many coats again of non-abrasive carnauba wax (such R222 or P21S). Then one coat every 3 washes of the carnauba... The car will look so glossy and wet. My Lex looked awesome after the treatment. Positively mirror like...water just bounced off - even when washing, the soap suds were "beading"...everyone who saw the car commented on how much shine there - and even after 2 years it still looked better than new... It's well worth doing...

When you sell a car, they normally only ask if it's ever been w/o. Normally a disclaimer you sign when you hand it over... NBLG - as yours wasn't a w/o I don't think it would be "noted" as there is no record

There isn't any theoretical problem, provided it has been repaired properlyand you can get an independant inspection completed to satisfy yourself. As harv says, there are probably shed load of cars which have been damaged and repaired which you and I have bought over the years without knowing anything just because it wasn't on a register. The key things are these: 1) Would you buy a car if you knew it had been pranged badly - recorded or not? 2) Stolen recovered cars can be Categorised - some with minor damage to door skins/locks (including steering locks etc), where I think they have been recovered AFTER the insurance company has paid out 3) Flood damage 4) The "black" mark will remain like a "mole" on the face of the car and any further HPI checks for ever - meaning it will not be worth anything at all at PEX time, and I believe you have to legally tell the new purchaser/garage at PEX. You'd have to prepared to NOT get a PEX price even offered and rejection it in the future...No garage at all will care about how well it was repaired or where i they are taking on this liability - the fact that it is recorded is bad news, end of...they'll struggle to sell it... 5) As a result of 4) above, it really is only worth a fraction of the guide price...unless you can get it cheap and keep it for 10 years... Personally, I would walk! Once it's recorded you are taking on the liability of a tainted car...

NBLG - some of these cars will never stop rattling...hopefully the Facelift will put this to bed for once and for all...

It looks like something landed on it, rather than gone into it... Just watch out for low flying aircraft!

They sell you the car with the original plates to save time, then deliver it like that, and you go back when you get the registration certs to swop the plates over. It's purely to save time and so they can claim any credit for selling a car in the month...