romaro

I'm sure there are better diesels out there, but I'm certainly very impressed. I was a passenger in an Audi A6 with a 2.5 V6 TDI a week before I got my IS220D, and hearing that grumble, groan and strain away - with little change in speed - was really putting me off the idea of having plumped for the diesel. However, I find the refinement of the 220D to be fantastic. Yes, the soundtrack is never going to compare to a petrol but most of the time I find it to be silent, or near enough. I only have 400 miles on the clock, but can already fairly comfortably use 6th gear at 70 mph (and certainly at 75-80 it's very happy...surely I'm not the only one who is happy travelling a fraction over the speed limit on the motorway?? And as Jamboo's post on the speedo accuracy shows, an indicated 75 is more than likely perfectly legal!). Anyway, I digress - as for fuel economy I'm averaging high 40s, generally exceeding the offical economy figures and managed 60.5 mpg on a short run out along 40mph hilly country roads the other day. The engine in the 220D also exceeds not only the Euro IV but the proposed Euro V standards on Nox and particulate emissions - by a long way for the particulate. I don't know what other diesels can manage, but that sounds pretty advanced to me. And one final point: 295 lb/ft of torque mmmmmmmm

Sorry for not replying sooner - it's been a hectic week. But yes, I decided last weekend...and took delivery this morning of a brand new IS220D (standard car) in Brechin slate with cream interior (currently spotless...let's see how long that lasts!) and MM!! I've already done about 80 miles just cruising around today. Economy has been up and down (seems to be a strange correlation between foot going down and economy going down...). Best run was a 15 mile stretch of mainly uphill motorway, followed by about 10 miles of urban driving at around 30mph - 51.1 MPG - so very, very happy with that.

Just out of interest Jamboo, how bad is "not good" around town? It's not too shocking is it?

Well there's been a topic or two about urban economy for the diesel - but does anyone have any figures for the petrol IS250? I'm currently torn between the petrol and the diesel! Ta very much!

Well my plan of ordering a new IS in a few months/weeks time is rapidly changing to a few days/hours time! Think I might pay another visit to the dealer tomorrow, but does anyone happen to know roughly how long it would take from ordering to delivery? The spec I'm thinking of is the 220D with MM (although there is a chance I could be persuaded to a 250 auto). Not sure on colour yet (any advice greatly received!).

Does she wear leather shoes? Nope, she doesn't! Unfortunately, there's no loophole to getting round the no leather seats rule! So, I'm back to deciding whether the cloth seats will be good enough, or if I should go for the Cellensia. I don't suppose anyone has any pictures of the cloth seats do they?? I couldn't see anything in the gallery section.

I'd order the SE and tell the other half they are imitation leather ;) You know the thought had crossed my mind once or twice!

Interesting points, thanks Jamboo! Do you know if the cloth seats are the same size and shape, apart from the lumbar adjustment? The dilemma I'm having is that the other half is somewhat anti-leather (being as she is a militant vegetarian!), I either go with the base model (and perhaps treat myself to the MM pack) or go all the way to a Sport with the Cellensia seating (which I thought didn't appear very hard-wearing, and certainly prone to marks in the grubby showroom car I sat in!).

Hello there, I think I'm a couple of months (or possibly weeks, if I can't resist the temptation!) from ordering an IS. Does anyone know if the cloth seats in the standard model are any different to the other models (bar the actual material and the electrics)? I saw a comment somewhere that the leather seats had more bolstering. Many thanks!