Northern Boys Luv Gravy

I pretty much agree with everything Jamboo says with perhaps the exception being the ride. Jumping from one to the other regularly I find the Lexus smooths out road imperfections better than the Audi and seems smoother on A roads and motorways. Both cars suffer to some degree from road noise although when traveling with colleagues only the road noise in the Audis has been commented on. The Lexus has virtually no wind noise whereas the Audi suffers from an excess of this around the front screen and wipers.

We're actually lucky enough to have both those cars on the drive. Mine is the Lexus 250 SE Auto and the wife's is a brand new A4 TDi. Both are nice cars but when you get in the Audi after driving the Lexus it feels and sounds like a tractor! Subjectively, the Lexus is faster, smoother and rides better. The Audi has slightly better interior plastics and quality while the Lexus just shades it on paint finish and exterior styling. The Lexus averages 30mpg, the Audi 38mpg. Mechanically, Lexus' are more reliable and hold their value better than A4s, of which there are a glut of secondhand ones on the market. Also, the new A4 comes out Sept 2007 so that will have an effect on used values as well. This is our 8th Audi A4 in row (wife gets a new one every 3 months) and I used to love them. I still rate them but every time I go out the door I reach for the Lexus keys now.

the mazda was much wider and imo heavier than the IS..and being underpowered as well a petrol engine would be heavier on the juice True partially. I believe the Mazda is actually much lighter...it's just the 1.8 engine ran out of puff easily. The 2 litre flew like a bat out of hell!! Mazda 6 1.8 Gross Weight (loaded) = 1825kg, Kerb weight = 1305 empty New IS 220d Gross Weight = 2075kg, Kerb Weight not quoted on website, but will be approx 450-500KG's less, so lets say 1575ishKG BMW 320d gross Weight = 1880 KG, Kerb Weight = 1435KG - so again much lighter than the Lex...at least 1.5 people or so! So Lex is actually 250odd KG heavier (3 adult males or 2 wrestlers !!) than a Mazda 6. This will always adversely affect the fuel consumption, especially in town or under revs as there is much more dead weight to push around. Just checking I found the Lexus kerb weight coming in at 1570kg (good guess Jamboo) and the 3 series coming in at 1505kg, so the difference is is about the same as a good middleweight boxer.

I too read that Lexus uses mineral oil in the new IS to reduce whole life maintenance costs. There was something here: http://www.carpages.co.uk/lexus/lexus-is-250-15-11-05.asp and from the Lexus website relating to the GS: http://www.lexus.co.uk/about_lexus/news_an...ents/gs450h.asp

According to the data sheets, Magnatec is a highly refined mineral oil and is offered as an alternative to Castrol Edge, which is fully synthetic. I suppose from that you can suppose that Magnatec is not quite as good as Edge and this is reflected in the price. However, Edge is specifically designed for extended oil change intervals so if you are just changing your oil every 10k miles I wouldn't have thought it would make much difference.

I think oil change intervals must be the one subject that sparks the most debate on these type of forums. I've learnt from experience that those who propose 5k oil change intervals will never be convinced otherwise and those sticking to the manufacturers' 10k, likewise. Tests on oil at 5k and 10k have proved that the oil has not significantly degraded in that distance and the oil filters are just as effective, so on that evidence the 5k changes are not strictly necessary, but won't do any harm and some people consider it cheap insurance. Audi have the Longlife Service Plan with up to 20k oil change intervals but this was a marketing led initiative that then put the onus on the oil and filter companies to produce products that could meet this extended length of service interval. The jury is still out whether or not they have achieved it and the system is a nightmare to control so there is a move back to annual/10k changes there. The Americans have a mentality driven by quick lube chains and the oil companies that 5 or 3k changes are essential - ignoring 30 years of technological advances in oil and filter technology, or environmental concerns.

That sounds like a top tip. Aircon is one of those things that really should be used regularly, if not all the time. Not using aircon for long periods can affect the seals and lead to a build up of bacteria leading to smells. Some people don't use the aircon during the winter months and then get a musty smell when they first switch it on in the Spring.

You're having a go at Lexus but I can't see why? You need to deal with your insurance company - they will recommend a repairer and arrange a hire car. They will then pursue the car that ran into you for damages. You have the right to demand the car be taken into a Lexus bodyshop but then, depending on your policy, your insurer has the right to withdraw the offer of a courtesy car.

Lexus Customer Relations usually get back to you within 3 working days.

I've been invited to the one at Slaley Hall on the 4th July - I think I'll go now.

It's all in the letter you write...

My 250SE Auto averages 29mpg all day long with a mix of city commuting and motorway. And I do like to boot it along.

On Monday of this week I had my car serviced at Lexus Newcastle and was extremely dechuffed that it hadn't been washed an valeted. Anyway, I dropped an email to the Dealer Principal yesterday and today received a very apologetic letter from him in the post offering to pick the car up and wash/valet it plus put £10 of fuel in. Not only that he offered £100 off my next service. Well done Lexus you have restored my faith in the brand.

Did it come Recorded Delivery because a card has been left for me stating that as I wasn't able to sign for a letter I have to go and pick it up from the sorting office? Just wondering if I should toddle down there and pick whatever it is up.

I didn't say I was not claiming on the insurance. My biggest concern is how good the job will turn out. I am not that interested in spending a lot of money - no matter whose - on something that I may be dissatisfied with. As regards cost, I think this should be reasonable no matter who pays. Besides, claiming on insurance is just a way of paying by instalments! Someone has to pay at the end of the day. It sounds a very simple repair. The body shop will remove the paint and underseal around the damaged area and weld repair it. Once it is painted and undersealed it will be virtually invisible and as strong as new.

I hope I get asked because I'm not that impressed. I was attracted to Lexus because I'd heard about the fantastic service you get from Lexus dealers and to be honest it's no better than I got when I had my old Ford Orion years ago. I've just paid £230 at Lexus Newcastle for a 10k service on a is250 and to be honest you wouldn't know it. 1. They've charged me £10 for loan car - first time that's ever happened to me. 2. The oil has cost 3.74 per unit for 13 units - I have no idea what units we are talking about - can't be litres. £48 for cheap Shell Helix seems excessive. 3. Charged for screenwash and I'd filled the reservoir right up the night before. But the main thing that ****** me right off was the fact they haven't even washed it. I've had Audis and when you get back in after a service it's been washed and hoovered and they put an air freshener in. It's a small point but at least it makes you feel like you've had some value for your money. I'm probably being a right moaner but I was given the impression that Lexus Customer Service was a step up from Audi, not two steps back.

Just borrowed a 220d SE-L with the MM for the day as mine is in for a 10k service - you're right about the 6th gear - useless below 80mph. The clutch pedal is faily hefty with a long travel too, but maybe that's because I've got used to the auto. The Mark Levinson system is great though, really powerful. I'm not that impressed with the Sat Nav - I could hardly hear it even at moderate radio volumes and I think the instructions I get from my £140 Garmin are clearer and less intrusive. In terms of mapping quality there's nothing in it.

If they are offering you the opportunity to plead guilty by letter without a court appearance I would take it. Normally with 100mph it's a mandatory court appearance and a ban - they may just let you off with a hefty fine and points if they don't insist you attend. It's worth taking legal advice though.

You work for Lexus don't you :D That's a bit below the belt - I don't even have a shiny suit.

I know what you mean but I investigated this and found there was no deteriation in performance dependant on duration of use. It seems to me when you sit down and switch the seats on you feel the cool air because there is a greater difference between your skin temperature and the air temperature so you feel it more obviously. As the seats do their job and your skin temp falls there is less of a difference between that and the temp of the air blowing through the seats so you feel it less.* *Disclaimer: NBG is not a scientist or an expert in air conditioning for motor vehicles and has no scientific facts to back up his opinion. He might well be talking bo!!ocks.

There's a bit of quiet dual carriageway with a roundabout on a new industrial estate near me. In the evenings there is no traffic and a couple of times I've deliberately put the power on early coming off the roundabout causing the back end to break out. In those situations the yellow traction control light flashes and there is a loud beeping. The touble is you instinctively flick the steering into the skid to catch the back end so you're never sure if its you that has brought the car back under control or the VSC. Second time I did it I was with my missus and got a handbag round my head for the trouble, which actually is a far more effective form of vehicle control system.

I think if the yellow VSC light flashes that means the traction control is operating and some power is being cut to one of the driven wheels - like when you pull out of a junction quickly. If the VSC light flashes and beeps then the whole VSC system has been actuated. That seems to be my experience anyway.

LOL what do you mean "found"? That's your stuff salvaged from your wrecked car! :D

no no no - I'm sensible with Courtesy cars... The auto is supposed to be more economical than the manual, so your figures sound about right... I And not that I'm one for gloating, but I appear to have accidentally pasted this image again: (well there has to be some compensation for that rattly old diesel lump up front :P ) That's nothing the AVG indicator was reading 65.3 mpg on my petrol the other day - have you got a faulty one??! (I was on the motorway and I had just reset the trip.....)

Haf - more or less what I'm getting. One things for sure though, the town economy is getting much better. Gone are the low 20's. For the last 3 weeks the car has only been driven in town. Shortish trips, no more than 7 miles each time. Been using hire cars for work and now they keep giving me Vauxhalls.... I'm seeing 28mpg ave most of the time in my 220d in town (and I reset the Trip 2 weeks ago). It's not brilliant, but the first journey (approx 1-2 miles of 20-40mph and one or 2 stops only) was nudging close to 35mph mark...so I believe you have to be lucky to hit the 36mpg quoted officially, but it is achievable. But again, I can live with that. It's better than the Petrol "manual" courtesy car from my experience by between 7-12 mpg which is all you can expect in town anyway. In town and driven gently in similar conditions the manual V6 250 was achieving 21.5-23mpg only (and at the start on a straight piece of road read 27mpg)...and I was sticking it into 5th from 30mph and dawdling just to prove that I had not made a huge mistake... Any V6 250 owners honestly getting better than that in pure town driving? The auto might be better? I'd question the 7-12mpg in town for the petrol - unless you were drag racing between lights! :D I have the 250 Auto and get 28-29 mpg consitently. The driving is back and from work which consists of half an hour nose to tail through twon and then a blast down the A19 to Hartlepool and back again at night. If I go on long runs on the motorway I get 34-36mpg and if I just drive in and out of town I get 24mpg. Baiscally I like to put my foot down and still get 28mpg so I'm not complaining much.It usually works out at 350 miles or so between fill ups.