Scarlet Pimpernell

You're probably correct - Lexus's are fantastic value for money. Ultimately though no one would ever spec up a new car to the extent the IS or any Lexus is spec'd. You'd be mad for that very reason as you'd never see a penny back - so it clouds the calculation as it isn't realistic. Also, the servicing costs of a Lexus over 3 years are much higher - so you have to take that into consideration, and then finally the PEX price you could get... Couple this with Co2 missions which are high compared with the competition. Other than a couple of the Hybrids which make some sense any potential buyer will face those VED bills too... and it makes a car less saleable - So it ain't that simple anymore for Lexus... The point is made above though - unless you do a lot of miles, or you can get 20% better economy over a petrol equiv., most diesels are not worth the bother

They will drop - no question. No one wants cars like this now - except the very rich... Apparently super mini sales are booming in the UK...which is no surprise. A friend of mine has just bought my dream car - an Audi Rs4 from Auction for only £23450 (Finance Repo). OK - it's done 40,000 miles, but it's still under manufacturers warranty (12 months I think) and is fully loaded. Lucky :tsktsk: !!! I ain't jealous at all!!!!!! He'll be coming over this weekend... I ain't jealous at all I ain't jealous at all I ain't jealous at all I ain't jealous at all OOOooom....!

A really good choice mate. Go enjoy!!

Remember guys - it's a base rate cut - NOT a motgage cut at this stage... Normally the Mortgage lenders follow the Base rate (and stay + 1.5%ish) - will they this time? All are suffering with profits warnings and new new business now so we'll have to wait and see!!!!! It's an opportunity for them to see more immediate cashflow, so no doubt they'll act like a CARTEL and lean one way or another together!!!

R U in a union? most unions have a free legal helpline, as do some Gold Credit card, bank accounts etc

I think it's a wonderful idea...

That is true, but with banks falling left, right and centre that would be quite a risky gamble.............. I would say "spread betting" a total of £500 or a £1000 on LloydsTSB, Barclays, HBOS and RBS might b a gamble worth taking...if you can afford it that is... Hot off the press - the Banks have just dropped Interest rates by 0.5%

Just spoke to my Financial Advisor - FSA rules are clear...as far as offset is concerned, it is effectively treated as one account, therefore you only get "stung" for any net debit... I remember where I heard about it orginally - Mark Preston on Radio 5 Live...where he stated that if the debit and credit (i.e. offset balances and mortgage) are in the SAME institution then your credit's pay any debits and you face just the bill or the balance... Here is a link where this specific question is answered: http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/...and-109902.aspx EDIT - just noticed the shares are down yet again...almost -200 after the Chancellors rescue package, which just doesn't go far enough. The government will profit out of this in the long term, and if anyone has spare cash now might be a good time to buy some shares in banks for the long haul IMHO... And anyone who still has an old endowment which will mature within 5 years ought to think again NOW - most are linked to UK managed funds and stocks and will be hit even harder. So that £10k deficit may become £12k!

I did read something about it being an "individual" thing as opposed to account thing...so someone with £60k in the bank risk losing £10k, but a couple with £100k in a joint account will not lose a penny... I wouldn't worry too much...it's just a market "correction" as they were all loaning out money no one acftually had...just move to a one acount type of mortgage - that's the best thing to do...keep a debit and credit, then it becomes knock for knock should the worst happen... Having said that - Mike B says, it will take one big casualty and then everyone will panic... It's getting bad in the IT industry. I'm an IT consultant currently working for an education authority and am OK - some of my mates are having cardiacs about their contracts...especially those in Shipping and textiles - it's becoming harder and harder as each day goes by...one mate works for a clothing retailer and is getting very worried too...

Pretty much the same economy as my new car, though on a run high 40's is consistently a doddle...and manual steptronic mode does imrove town mpg to over 30mpg without too much sweat... if you drive "spritidly" then low 40's on a run and mid 20's around town... In the 5er, you only get a small number of very weedy and embarassing sounding speakers...though my ears have somehow accustomed to it now...I do miss the rear camera...it's pretty much the only thing I miss now...amazing how quickly you can get used to not having toys...

Why don't we just let people who are about to spend £000's take a LONG test drive and see if they're happy with the MPG, gearing, Space, ride etc, then they can make up their own minds :)

Just for the record it's not just my car that gives/gave poor economy several do

Thanks Janey - us boys do get carried away...

My IS was totally stable in left hand lanes grooves, but like all IS's, the steering at the dead straight position needs a slight constant correction to keep the car straight. I reckon that if the toe settings are slightly out you might get this, though I'm no expert? My mate has a carerra 4, which also sufferes from this, but the rears stick out so much more than the fronts that the car is never completely in any groove.... I'd say take it to WIM - they is the expoits!!

...in your line of business and industry? The car industry has seen a huge fall in new registrations: SEE HERE But how bad is it in your line of business??

My dealer supplied me with a PDF file 2.5 years ago, yours may do the same. It was 100% up to date at the time...and did show full, partial, or no compatibility for phones with all Lexus cars...

Doog - sensible choice - the 250 Auto!! Most of the comments have been made above, but in this current climate, I would be bargaining for a free 3 year service deal...the car is not cheap to service (Diesel or Auto), especially if you do high miles - but the dealers are being credit munched at the moment and will do deals!! As far as the colours are concerned, as mentioned above - the darkest colour you should go for is Mesa Red IF you are bovvered about swirls, chips etc. Anything darker will show up like the Mole on Cindy Crawfords lip... Other than that if you want rarity then Caspian Sky is a dream boat - it looks fantastic...but you do have to keep it clean. Either Silver or Brechin slate are cool too. My advice would be to wait for the Facelifted version. They will be discounted relatively heavily when launched as they will be out just when everyone is even more skint than they are now...may be the deals now will be better, but there is nothing like getting a car with the midlife facelift. All gremlins should have been ironed out and I would say that it will be worth the extra few £00...!! PS - servicing packs - these are not cheap from memory on a Lexus - something like £1200 for 3 years all in....but that will include tyres etc too. So unless you do high miles, I wouldn't bother. My 220d cost £155 incl for the 10k, and then £290 for the £20k. That might help to work it out. Good luck!! The Cellensia is very good (cloth), leather is good too - but I'd personally go for the Sport Auto - you get HID's, 18" wheels/sports sspension and most of the stuff the SEL has. The only thing you will lose is seats with vents, the latter TBH you don't need anyway!! They are heated on the Sport, just not ventilated IIRC.

Edited

All I would say is what I have always said - take it for an extended test, and yes it is still overall a fantastic value for money car - but do also read the Autocar and other tests of the IS compared to other cars and make your own mind up. The journalists are not as biased as some would have you believe! A Lexus owners club (like any owner/fanatical club) isn't always the best place for unbiased answers! You really have to do your own thing... One final point is that people buy a diesel mainly for economy and economy alone - and the IS does not deliver when compared to other makes. Not just at the pumps, but also in servicing costs, VED etc. IMHO, the IS 250 Auto is much more convincing as a Lexus - the ISD is a car created to be seen as going with the competition, and Toyota have done the minimum (i.e. no bespoke diesel engine ranges, Auto diesel etc.) and to me seems like a bit of a half hearted approach.

Simple: Sorry - there is no credible option. EDIT: And why should I not be able to be able to take my £30k car to any dealership and not get the same famous #1 Lex Customer Service?

The saloon looks impeccable, poised, sporty etc from a 45+ degree front shot...the CC looks all wrong at the back. Plus mirrors on the doors is a bit of a no-no - should look like they're off the A post on anything trying to be sporty... It looks like the deck is sculpted somehow - like a mid engined racer - need to see it in the flesh! The 2nd picture of the rear is much more interesting. So's the car. So it's a bit of a thumbs down then with hood up, but thumbs up with hood down...made for California then....?

It looks good from some angles, and very wierd from others. The problem here could be that it looks like the saloon was modified to make it into the CC. Both Volvo and BMW were designed as CC's from ground up as far as I know - i.e. completyely new cars from scratch (no shared panels at all). Don't know if the IS was...and that could be the reason.

NBLG - The latest Merc are much better than those from 4-6 years ago - they were aweful. The Petrol engines too are not that good - not terribly efficient, but they have invested heavily into "Blue" type diesel technology - so watch this space...the newer MB Diesels which are around teh corner are supposed to be amazing...and I heard from a friend in Germany that they will be making them so that they can run on Biodiesel too... There is no denying that overall, Toyota and Lexus engines are made extremely well... they seem to be buletproof - no matter what miles etc, but they always seem to fall over when it comes to efficiency. The others are all trying really hard to push design rules to the maximum, and invent new rules, which is sometimes the thing that bites them afterwords...especilly when things have been over designed, and overcomplicated, and then fall into the engine (swirl flaps on diesel BMW's!)!!

Well it's the same rubbish dealers who run the Lexus AND BMW franchises where I am. As long as my Beemer spends less time at the shop than the Lexus, I'll be a happy bunny. So far in 8 weeks, it's hasn't missed a beat, where as the Lexus had had to have New Vents, New Satnav, speaker rattles sorted out, gove box taken out, foamed at the back, and replaced, creaking seats fixed...do I need to go on...and that was within 3 weeks! It went to shop 7 times and still was pants...Then you read the Lexus Mag which goes on about how meticulously the cars are made at the factory. Who are they kidding!? And as for the BMW engine problems - they seem to have affected the 2000-2004 models and diesels only - so lets not generalise! The Petrol ones from what I can tell are superb and from a performance, efficiency and sheer driveability are miles ahead of any Lexus engine I've encountered.... Oh - did I mention the fact that new IS came 20th in a Reliability survey conducted by FleetNews 50? It was beaten by all the BMW's you mention above. Lets curb it here - all cars have problems. True the BMW ones ON THE DIESELS BEFORE 2004 have been bad, but no one here can argue that they are just much better to drive...even then some of the diesel failures were at well over 150k, so lets put it into perspective...and it's an easy DIY job to clean the Inlet manfold out every 30k to stop the swirl flaps from gunging up - so the facts are important! And how many times have Lexus won Satisfaction surveys? Loads of imes - so when someone buys a Lexus, it's 'cos they want quality reliability. Un fortunately, not all of us have had that (or are getting it, especially when you have to travel miles to get good Lexus service)..so there is a serious inconsistency issue looming. I just fear that sooner or later, Lexus will become the next Mercedes Benz...unless someone at Lexus takes heed of what has happened to several Lexus customers of late...and how dynamically inferior the ISD is compared to the 320d...albeit Marginally, but in key areas despite being a newer model overall - I'm talking handling, efficiency smoothness, quiteness etc...the Toyota cast off engine needs to be gone as it does have weakness's in the key areas...and they need to decide whether it's diesel or Hybrid as a future and not this "appeasement" for europe - and then do a proper job as currently there is no Lexus with less than 164 g/km. That's a big problem now there isa credit crunch and with the tax man doing what he is doing...that's why there are 20 BMW's sold to every Lexus...and it won't get better... Even the IS250 Auto - it is the best IS, but as posted above, it isn't quick,and certainly not as entertaining to drive as a C200K or 325i (which just blows it away). The new A4 is a closer match to the Lexus from a drivig perspective... May be some of us who defected might just come back, but Lexus do need to make some impovements quickly...any car on the road with >200g/km will be seen as being politically incorrect within 2-4 years...so an IS HYbrid with 125odd g/km is the absolute minimum they need to make it survive beyond 2010... These are my personal views - I say it like I see it...

You might think this funny, but just like with my old Audi, I don't have an issue any more hitting stated figures... Mine is ED (not fully - it doen't have Stop/Start or the auto grill vents). It does beat the stated figures on the combined run - I can consistently get 45-50 mpg on a run. Just yesterday I did 248 miles, average speed of 42.2 mph (from the midlands, to centra London!!!!! and back, crawling in London and 70-73mph when I could on the M1), and got 45.9mpg overall at the pumps (trip said 46.3), against the government figures of 43.5. So now you know of one. It's a different story around town - I'm normally between 1-4 mpg below the government stated 33.2mpg...try as I might...sometimes I have to use the Steptronics to make it change a little earlier over 30mpg... I don't think that BMW have won heaps of awards internationally by sitting still or having something gimmicky...they've taken the jump on Hybrid technology with a halfway house...I can verify it! the Petrol ED cars are slightly inferior. in a 530i (270odd bhp), I could only manage 34 mpg over 1.5 hours over A road and Motorway driving, which is a couple lower than the 37odd statd.