javeeds@hotmail.com

Scarlet - after reading your post, I had a look at my wheels this morning and guess what? Yes, they have started bubbling and am getting them replaced under warranty!! only the front ones; no damage to the rear ones yet! My warranty runs out in March 2009. I got a call this morning to say that Lexus will replace all the four wheels, although there is no damage on the rear ones! All booked for the end of the month....

Scarlet - after reading your post, I had a look at my wheels this morning and guess what? Yes, they have started bubbling and am getting them replaced under warranty!! only the front ones; no damage to the rear ones yet!

Hello All I need to replace my two front tyres 225 40R18. I recently replaced my rear ones with Dunlop Sport Maxx, I was wondering if I can replace the front ones with Goodyear or Toyo? or do I need to replace with Dunlops only? The front ones currently run on dunlop Many thanks in advance

Yes Jamboo - you are right. I got it free, wouldnt have spent £300 for it. That said if you get it done from the dealer, you can go back to them anytime if it gets dirty!

Hi I have the Beige Interior/Mesa Red on Sports - I should say it looks v good. I have had the car for approx 10 months and havent had any problem yet. I had the Supaguard done, so I am not sure whether its Supaguard doing the trick. That said, I have had to take it to Lexus TW couple of times with minor marks, they were more than happy to sort it out free of cost. I think you should also be thinking about floor mats..thats more likley to get dirty than the seats. I agree with Wicky - it brightens up the cabin. I had the SEL (Black Leather) for 6 months, didnt have any problem since it was Black! I think its personal choice - If I had a family, then a big "NO" to beige. Javeed

Hi - Just heard that the new Lexus RX range will be out late this year/early next year.Maybe worth waiting then? I dont have further details, the dealer mentioned in passing.

Same here, the system doesnt seem to automatically connect - any solution? Javeed

I am not sure if its covered Jamboo - the other day I realised if you search for any cinemas, restaurants, hotels etc it not only gives you the direction but also the telephone number! You dont have to ring 118118 anymore!

Hi Just to add mine - IS 250 Sport - 27, 5yrs NCB, not garaged - £300 with Privilege Insurance (£100 excess)(underwritten by Direct Line). They do my Home Insurance and I have found them very good and hassle free. Javeed

I think someone wants to borrow his car, he cant say no to him/her - but would like to give the keys and then pretend that it was not his fault! Otherwise why would someone want to do it?????????? Javeed

One thing that comes standard on all the new IS models whether its petrol/diesel/sport/se/sel - u guessed it..Rattles! You cant take that away, its company inbuilt. I clocked 10000 miles on my SEL and it had rattles from day one. I eventually traded in and got the Sport version (Apr 06). Its lot better though, but still rattles every morning - reminding me of Gill, Steve, Andy, Mike and the list goes on.... I do not think that Lexus has solved this problem, they promise every new customer that its rattle free. That said, I am happy with the car and have learnt to live with it.....Lesson 1 - Never buy a car (new model), even if its a Lexus! For the records/survey - yes, my SEL had severe rattles. The Sport is much better with minor rattles. Javeed

That’s exactly what I do with the wing mirror Arkanoid. I did receive touch up paint with my IS 250. I think they should have: a) Auto locking on drive off B) Sunglass holder c) Automatic boot d) Puncture/Tyre pressure warning system e) And sunroof should have come standard! I guess I am asking too much.....Maybe, they could have done without the nanny features and got the above as standard! On an other note, I had a weird sound from the wing mirror yesterday and guess what – Lexus have agreed to replace the wing mirror! I am so pleased-no more hassles. Javeed

Lexus Insurance quoted me 550 - Privilege Insurance is pretty good for Lexus, 26yrs, No points, Full Driving License, East Sussex, IS 250 Sport for £369.00. slightly off topic - Jon, I realise you have the IS 250 Sport - may I ask whats the average fuel economy? I average 27mpg as compared to the SEL which averaged 32 mpg. Thanks Javeed

I am not sure about whether they have any suitable products in the market - when I was in a similar situation, Lexus quoted me £70.00 for refurbishment. If there was something they could have done without that charge, I am sure they would have suggested that. But I may be wrong - someone here would have done something differently. Javeed

Mark I had Black 250 SEL for 7-8 months, didnt have any problem with stone chips, but did pick up some scratches on the door handles.( I have got these on the red one as well - Jamboo, any suggestions) Apart from that, the car looked stunning when washed and kept clean. I did use the automatic car washes (the good ones, obviously) and it didnt create any problems. That said, if I noticed any scratches I took it to the dealer(Lexus Tunbridge Wells) the very next day. They always sorted it out straight away without any charge (may be because I caused them lot of grief when I had the rattles), jokes apart, they do look after their customers well. Black is classic, but you need to spend lot of time looking after it. My brother has a black IS 220D and he has got stone chips(lot of motorway driving) and scratches. He is finding it difficult to maintain it. I like the black color when it is washed and kept clean but it picks up all the dirt very quickly. I now have the red and whoever says Black is the best color ,I disagree - Red is the best - what say Jamboo? Javeed

Hi Ivan This seems to be a common problem with the new IS. Lexus do know this, they should be able to sort it out for you quickly. I had mine couple of months back, it was repaired in a day's time. Javeed

Yes, the SEL is quiet and Sport is firmer. Dont they have a Sport and SEL for you to test drive? Javeed Javeed, Have you driven both back to back for an extended period of time? I own a sport and have had an SE for over a week and done hundreds of miles in it, and there is very little in the ride and nothing in the noise. I have had the SEL until last week. I have driven the Sport for almost a week now and can feel everything on the road. It may be the roads in Tunbridge Wells! Having said that, its not noisier, I love it, especially the color - Mesa Red.

Yes, the SEL is quiet and Sport is firmer. Dont they have a Sport and SEL for you to test drive? Javeed

Hi Katrina There is no much difference between the sport and the SEL. I had the SEL and now have sport..obviously the drive is firmer, but you get the 18 inch alloys. It depends what you want. The other difference is in the features:- SEL has leather seats, wood trim, illuminated scuff plates,ventilated seats and sun shade(which the sport doesnt have). Whereas, the Sports come with 18inch alloys and sports suspension and sports pedals. All other features are the same. The sport is also cheaper by £1500-2000. Having owned both the SEL and Sport version, I now think I should have bought the sport version at the first instance and saved myself some money. Javeed

Or to double lock it (I assume they mean dead lock) press the black door button twice within 2.5 seconds or press the lock button twice within 5 seconds on the remote. I have also found that if you hold the button for 3 seconds on the remote the car beeps , (also closes the windows if open) I assume that also dead locks it but cannot find anything about it in the handbook. I have also found that if you hold the button for 3 seconds, it not only close the windows, but also opens the windows! Javeed

Tom Sorry, but I dont think Lexus is listening to its customers. Classic example - I was one off the first customer to report the rattles on my IS 250 SEL(Nov 55). Almost every day it had rattles from diffferent corner/part of the car. Lexus TW became my second home and I eventually traded in my SEL for personal reasons and now got a 250 Sport(Apr 06), guess what - rattles again! Do you think Lexus was listening? From Nov 55 - April 06, several customers had this problem - the new Sport should have been tested for all this..I know they care for the customers, but not quite sure what they are doing...Isnt 6 months a long time for Lexus to address this problem? I am sure this is not what you want to hear, but maybe the new batch comes rattle free - fingers crossed. That said apart from rattles, this is a lovely car....

Kate Lexus IS 250 is still a better car. My SEL had rattles from day one. It took months for them to sort that out. It still had rattles when I sold it. The other demos I drove had rattles when the car was cold or in some cases, during the first drive itself. There are some members who have rattle free IS 250's. I dont think LexusGB have done anything to address this problem, then tend to ignore and pretend as if they havent heard or been informed of this. The positive side of this is that the some dealers are very good, I mean Customer Service, I would be really surprised if you get this kind of service from BMW or Mercedes. You wouldnt be disappointed with IS 250, a much better car than BMW. Be different, go for the IS. Apparently there is a waiting period of 4-6months. The approved ones(06) are very good and value for money. I traded in my SEL for Sports, less problems at least till today!

Somewhere in this forum Jamboo has given a good review, I had SEL for 8 months and now have the sport. The drive is much firmer(sport), I have had the sport only for few days, so havent put it to test. The 18 inch alloys is awesome. I think the fuel economy was better in SEL. I am not sure, does anyone else think the same? I averaged 30 with SEL and now get around 26. Javeed

Kate All versions of IS 250 has rattles - Sport, SE, SEL(both Petrol and Diesel). I had IS250 SEL(55) for 7 months, rattles(severe) came free with it. I now have a Sport(06) - it has started rattling(minor). I have driven almost every version and color of IS 250 from the dealer - all of them had rattles! Dont believe if the dealer say to you that new cars are free from rattles - never, thats a freebie from Lexus....but I still love this car.....

Andy has called me this afternoon. They will pick up the car on Saturday and leave me with a loan car. He wants to inspect the car first before anything is done. Fingers crossed, however, I have lost a lot of faith. I am sure Lexus TW will sort it out - can expect a bottle of champagne from Mike and 3 yrs free service plan from Lexus GB! :winky: Javeed