Bratman91

As you probably know, pressing and holding the "unlock" button on the key fob will lower all the windows, although not open the boot. Is it possible that both an "unlock" and "open boot" button were pressed, perhaps while the fob was in your pocket or by an inquisitive infant? If you can discount this possibility, the coincidence of you finding the window down and boot open, AND with a faulty battery strongly indicates a connection. Has this happened after changing the battery? Coincidences can be just that, but .......

When I returned to the UK after a number of years overseas, I considered a variety of cars, including the IS250, Honda Accord, BMW and Audi. I found that, in terms of equipment and features, the IS250 was the best value for money. Although the base prices of comparable BMW and Audi models were less, by the time you added on all the things that were standard in the IS250, the costs were actually more. I am sure that the comments above on, for example, the Clarkson effect, the penchant for diesels and the company car influence are all true but another factor may well be the correlation between favourable reviews in motoring magazines and the advertisements they carry. In short, we (motoring magazine) keep on writing rave reviews about your cars, you (BMW, Audi, you name it) keep paying us to run your adverts.

I agree with Jami that you should get a warning that the fob battery is low. Wroughtironron, your post is the first time I have ever seen any mention of there being a risk of the fob needing reprogramming after a battery change and the users manual gives comprehensive directions on how to change the battery (C2032) so I think that the risk of causing problems is very low. Maybe Timpsons had had a bad one-off experience. If you have a users manual, take a look at the section dealing with battery saving features of the fob as it could be that you are circumventing these inadvertently. The manual says that the fob needs to be within a few feet of the car to operate (and not un-set the battery saving options) but my experience is that the range is much greater. If you keep your keys within this range of the car then this could cause problems trying to unlock electronically. The fob battery should last a matter of years rather than months, although I guess that this could be much sooner if the battery saving feature is circumvented. Also, you should be getting a warning before the battery has completely expired as you still need it to start the car after using the mechanical key to get in. The mechanical key would set the alarm off but locking the car using this does not set the alarm so subsequent unlocks should be OK.

For psmallri, page 13 of my user manual shows the position of the reversing light (called a backup light in the manual) for LHD and RHD cars respectively.

It's very easy to renew the fob batteries yourself. Do you not have the mechanical keys inserted into your fobs?

Like you, psmallri, I upgraded to the new Lexus IS250 in September of 2013 and agree with some of your comments. My comments apply to the new IS250 Premier auto compared with a 2009 SEL auto. The auto gearbox isn't quite as smooth changing gear, but its still very good. To me, the car actually feels firmer on the road and rather more confidence inspiring but I suspect that this is pretty subjective. The seat cushions are either thinner or firmer, which might add to the feel of a harder ride. The audio system now takes only one CD compared with 6 on the previous model. Perhaps this means that Lexus, along with Apple (who have discontinued providing DVD/CD drives on their computers), feel that DVD/CD's will soon be as ancient as 7-track cassettes or floppy discs. On the other hand, I can now play my iPhone music via bluetooth, although it does not seem to connect up all that reliably and I need to resort to reading the manual to see if I am doing anything wrong. There are no lights along the strip underneath the bottom of the front doors. These were actually very useful. The memory for the seat positions on the passenger side has been removed. There's now no cigarette lighter but a socket underneath the arm rest. For me, the original lighter/socket position at the base of the main instrument panel was convenient for plugging in a phone charger. The new position is not as convenient or as easily get-attable, particularly on the move if a passenger wants to use it. I think that you will find that there is only one reversing light - somewhere in the manual it states this and mentions that it is on one side for RHD cars and the other for LHD cars. The driver's seat automatically moving to the rear to allow easier entry/exit is a nice feature.... But you must remember if you have placed anything on the floor behind the seat or it could get crushed (dog owners beware!) Perhaps the beat thing is that the rear seats can now be folded forward to increase the boot size and allow the carriage of lengthy loads. Rear passenger foot space has also been increased. I personally do not like the new styling and find it a bit garish, particularly in the front. The front seems to project a bit further forward than the previous model and makes it difficult to judge where exactly the front edge of the "bumper" is. On the other hand, I am the world's worst parker and typically need a 100 yard straight run-in, a parking bay as wide as it is long, and at least two assistants to see me in.

You are very welcome although I only wish that I could have helped more - what I offered wasn't much.

I am now on my third IS250 and none of them have made any knocking noise (silent prayer that I am not tempting fate!). I've also driven various IS250's as loaners when my car has been in for servicing and, again, never experienced any knocking. This suggests that the problem associated with shock absorbers is not very common. I am therefore surprised that the RX400 owner still had the problem after the shock absorbers were changed. On the other hand, maybe RX400 shock absorbers are more prone to the problem than those used in other models, or that the problem becomes more pronounced with mileage (everything I have driven has been very low mileage).

John_B_89, I would caution against placing too much reliance on the posts I have quoted as your problem might not be the same one. I would suggest that you send a personal message to the poster of the IS200 message and perhaps discuss your fault with him. It might be worth asking him for a contact at Lexus Cardiff so that you can discuss it with an expert. If your problem turns out to be the same, then you can breath a sigh of relief and maybe make it loud enough to drown out the knocking noise!

Here's another, perhaps slightly more reassuring post - this time about an IS200: "Hi all, Further to my earlier post about a strange knocking noise coming from my front wheels, I have been to my Lexus dealer for help. The noise comes from a valve in the shock absorber opening & closing, nothing to worry about. It's not a great design but I understand it affects the is200 and has been a widespread problem. If you have had this noise, I hope reading this will help, it is not a big fault. Thanks to those who suggested possible problems with brake pins / calipers & ball joints but these were not at fault. Thanks also to Lexus Cardiff for their attention on this matter, I had great service from them. Cheers. "

On both the UK and US Lexus Owner Club sites, there is a number of threads dealing with shock absorbers and knocking sounds from the front. Here's a typical post; it refers to an Rx400 but the symptoms literally sound like the issue you have reported. "Last July [2007] I bought a Lexus RX 400h in trying to experience “the pursuit of perfection”. I noticed immediately that the suspension of my car was making an unusual sound (knocking noise), when the car was driven over small humps or small potholes at low speed. The dealer for nearly three months was trying to discover what the cause of such a noise is. They changed many parts including shock absorbers, top mounts and bushes. They tried hard to find the problem and had to call a mechanic from Lexus Europe who came to inspect the car. After thorough testing they came into the conclusion that the noise is coming from the inner valve of the shock absorbers and they said it is not dangerous. They gave this in writing. They also tested many new cars and some were making this noise while others were not. Is your car making such a noise when driven at low speed (>25 mph) over small humps? I would greatly appreciate your answers. Thank you. "

I doubt that anyone, based on what you have posted, can diagnose reliably whether or not your shock absorbers are to blame but, according to your profile, your car is a 2006 model, and if it is still on the orginal shock absorbers there is a good chance that they are well past their best. Depressing the rods may not provide enough of a load to show up a fault. Are the shock absorbers identical so that they can fit on either side and are they reasonably easy to remove/refit? If so, and you want to make sure that one is at fault before a substantial cash outlay on new ones, you could try swapping them round. If the noise changes to the left side, then it would be clear that the shock absorbers were at fault. There's nothing worse than buying very expensive parts to cure a problem only to find that it wasn't the cure you hoped for.

[quote You can own a sporty car and still enjoy it within legal limits. Of course, but if the legal limits are those set out in the Highway Code, then spirited driving so as to raise the pulse is inconsistent with them.

Anyone asking for advice as to what car is best suited for a manner of driving that is inappropriate for modern UK road conditions must expect other road users to express disapproval.

It is difficult to conceive of "thrills", "spirited driving" and "pulse raises" on public roads without there being risk to the driver or other road users or both. Driving in this manner is, at best, irresponsible and immature. There are plenty of ways in which thrills can be obtained and personal limits tested in an environment which does not compromise the interests of others. Before you buy a BMW and indulge in spirited driving, Hondaman, why not ask your wife if being a widow or long-term carer appeals to her? And ask yourself if being a paraplegic or serving a prison sentence for the consequences of spirited driving appeals to you.

Go for an auto - as Creo says, they are a thing of joy and certainly the very best out of the very many I have driven. Contrary to perceived wisdom, the auto is actually more economical than the manual and my experience of mpg is pretty consistent with Creo. I had a 2009 SEL and I am pretty sure that it was top of the range (I can't imagine that my wife would have settled for anything less). It had the MM system with Mark Levison sound, and it was very good. The satnav got me to Venice and back a couple of years ago and was flawless in its instructions. The limitation is that it will not accept a full UK post code but, otherwise it was excellent. Bear in mind that it was only relatively recently that Lexus sold their IS series cars with an up-to-date satnav database so, unless the car you buy has had its satnav updated, the database may be a good few years old. However, that kind of criticism can probably be levelled equally well at any used car or older TomTom, Garvin etc. 50k miles should be well within the capability of a 2.5 litre V-6, particularly as automatics are rather more resistant to abuse or ineptitude than manuals (hands up all those who have never graunched gears or let the clutch in a bit too fast!). I doubt that Lexus IS250's appeal very much to boy racers and they probably are not popular as rep-mobiles so 50k is no problem in my view.

I'll drink to that! I've just checked with my 2013 IS250 and the procedure hasn't changed although it is a bit fiddly to get the metal key into the glove box lock. It also took me some time to find out how to remove the metal key from the electronic fob as the design has changed somewhat.

I no longer have an '06 IS250 but, if my memory after a goodly number of Boxing Day libations is still intact, isn't the procedure to flip the little switch in the glove box and then lock the glove box using the metal key that you remove from the electronic key fob? Then you keep this key and give the valet the electronic key fob - he/she has all the access to the car they need except cannot get into the glove box (or boot) as the metal key is required for this. If my memory is at fault, blame it on a lack of resistance to seasonal temptation!

Yes, Toyota has a fair bit of experience with diesels but, in 2005, Lexus had an organisational separation from its parent company with dedicated design, engineering and manufacturing centres working exclusively for Lexus. Whether or not the Toyota experience carried over into Lexus might be debatable but, whatever the case, the 220D has not been an outstanding success.

I can't understand why headlight dip switches on cars disappeared from underneath the left foot position on the floor, to be replaced by something on the indicator stalk. On the floor, they were easily operated and allowed hands to remain on the steering wheel, where they often needed to be in, for example, bad weather or when negotiating narrow bends. I suppose that, in the olden days (as my grandchildren call them), car floors were often damp and dirty, and car electrics not so well-protected, so that problems would occur, although I never experienced them. I often wish that my auto IS250 had a foot-operated dip switch but perhaps this is just nostalgia!

Just a thought, j8pfc, but could you not offer to sell your disc to dellbrowne for, say, £25? That would be of benefit to both of you. In saying this, I am assuming that the disc can be used for more than one vehicle - if it can be used only once, then forget what I have said.

Deisel engines are inherrently noisier, have more vibration and have less smooth torque characteristics than an equivalent petrol engine. Add to this that the 220D engine is a 4-cylinder design compared with the 6 cylinders of the 250, that the 250 auto box is one of the best around and makes for very easy driving, and that Lexus do not have much experience with deisel engines. I found the 250 to be smoother, quieter and more refined than the 220D. Granted, on the open road, the difference is less noticeable but you did say that most of your motoring consisted of short journeys and I assume that they are unlike;y to include towing a caravan, where a deisel might be best because of its torque characteristics. There are quite a few threads in this forum with posts that tend to confirm my experience but why not ask your local dealer to test drive both versions and see for yourself?

I have had auto IS 250's since early 2006 and, when I have put my car in for servicing, I usually get given a 220D as a loaner. In my view, the 220D is greatly inferior to the 250 except for mpg and road tax. If your mileage is low, go for a 250 and you will not be disappointed. Opt for a 220D and you might not be disappointed......... until you drive a 250.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about your father-in-law's Prefect, Frankie, is that it has had only 2 owners since new. My recollection of car ownership in the late 50's and early 60's is that cars changed hands very frequently - not because they were so desirable, but because they so quickly developed faults that people wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible. Ah! The eggs in leaking radiators, sawdust in the oil to dampen out big end clatter and many other tricks to disguise a Friday afternoon car. Those were the days! The Citroen Avant Traction, as shown in your avatar, was a car that I really lusted after but I settled for something with very similar, but better, looks and even more desirable features. This was a Riley 1 1/2 litre RME. Truly a gentleman's sporting carriage. I loved that car but was in the Forces and had to sell it when I was posted to the Far East for 3 years. I reckon that 15 grand might buy me a well-restored example but I will have to wait for a lottery win for that.

Hang on, why isn't normski2 the winner - wasn't his the first post that mentioned a Prefect? We can't have competitions in a Lexus forum looking like an election in Zimbabwe!!! On the other hand, the prize is only a goldfish and not a villa, luxury car, servants and a mega-million Swiss bank account, so let bluesman keep the prize.