fairygodmother

to turn it off simply push the cruise control lever away from you and hold it for 3 seconds. This will then engage normal cruise control.

As i work for Lexus dealer and enjoy reading all the forums i have to say there is a lot on negative comments about what some of us do.

So here is your chance to ask me any questions you have about a Lexus dealer or why we do certain things. Finally please do not ask which dealer i work for as i will not tell you.

So what is the big problem disclosing which dealership employs you and in what capacity?

I have worked for the same dealer for over 10 years and i have been a sales specialist, Finance manager, sales Manager and now i am the general manager. I did not want people to think i am doing this to promote the dealership i work for. I too am a Lexus enthusiast and very much enjoy reading the forums on here.

The reason i created this topic was to make people understand that there are a lot of good people who work in the Lexus network who go beyond what is expected of them. Yes sometimes mistakes do happen but we always try our best to resolve these. There is also a lot of people on here who think they are experts and give advise on issues that they have no idea about. I can see that these posts are genuine and all they want to do is help.

What about dealers that fail to settle outstanding finance on trade-ins? Just found out today my dealer has done (or not done!) just that. Appears to be a genuine mistake though, but still... not good enough.

It can be difficult if the settlement letter was only valid for a short period as finance companies can take ages to give a clearence. Until this is given they will keep taking payments.

If it did have a long date then it is human error i am affraid and not good enough.

As i work for Lexus dealer and enjoy reading all the forums i have to say there is a lot on negative comments about what some of us do. Yes we will not always get things right but in general most want to do a good job. Yes we are not the cheapest but the average lexus dealer costs over a million quid to build so you will be paying more than an Indie.

I thought i might share some of the dialy challenges i have with our liar's sorry i meant buyers :winky: we have to deal with. Here are some of my current favorites:

the constant so and so offered main dealer retail money for part exchange, You have a beautiful car up for £20,000 and is the cheapest in the world and some joker will be serious and offer you £15000 and say you must be desperate to sell a car, i will definatly be back in tommorrow to buy it and never hear from them again, then there is the dodgy part exchanges we get offered described as showroom condition on the phone yet on inspection have more hits on them than Cliff Richard and dashboards lit up like a christmas tree's with engine warning lights. Clocked cars are now a real issue and i have had 4 cases in the last 6 weeks and guess what none had been declared and all had been done by their existing owners. There is a DVLA website that is free to access that gives you all the MOT's a car has ever had and makes spotting these clocked cars easy.

I do appologise for this rant it is a bit of fun and i am sure all of you are very nice people to deal with. So here is your chance to ask me any questions you have about a Lexus dealer or why we do certain things. Finally please do not ask which dealer i work for as i will not tell you.

Yeah sure

I've attached the map data version as well.

On the postcode screen, you can type in the first 5 characters, and then it stops you typing.

I am however in the bit where you choose the town. I can't figure out, if such a thing exists, how to choose to be more specific (ie full post code)

You are entering it into the wrong place. To access the full post code you need to press Navi button next to the screen, touch destination, at the top of the screen select page 2, select uk post code and then it will work.

Ordered in May due date was 7th Nov, now the 2nd Dec as they had forgotten to fit my PCS and ACC and had to send it round t he factory again. Very shoddy, that means they will have bolted it on after they had fitted everything else and probably not in the right sequence. Not what i expect from a luxury car brand.

I can assure you that is not the case. The dealer have incorrectly ordered the car without the acc (easy mistake) and have had to place a new order which has caused the delay. Blaming the factory for the mistake is complete sh*t. It really does make me laugh what excuses some dealers will give i should know i have worked at one for 10 years. Always best to tell the truth as it will come out in the end.

Average 33 MPG combined......i'd be happy with that. I getting 27.3 on my 06 220D with 40k on the clock!!!!

That's insane - there's got to be something wrong with your engine.

I'm averaging 33mpg and that's with the petrol engine.

I thought the same. The car has been serviced every 10K, the last being in February. I would have thought if there was something wrong, it would have been picked up then, don't you think?

Fuelly is a really good way to keep tabs on your mpg (click my mpg fuelly avatar to go there) - or road trip lite on Iphone free app

Just spoke to my local Lexus dealership (Swindon) who said I should be getting around the mid - late 30's. Informed me to take car in and they would run a diagnostics on the car......all for £60. 60 bleedin pound to plug a cable in and run a bit of software on a laptop.........robbing bar stewards!!!

Went to the dentist yesterday was in 5 mins for a check up and got billed £40!!!. A Lexus dealer needs to sell every hour in the workshop to make money.

Hi, I should have also mentioned that the price differs from buying it direct from Lexus GB and a Lexus dealer (dealer price can be cheaper). The price can also vary from Lexus dealer to dealer, so if you have a few Lexus dealers close to you, phone round. Also if you buy more than one year at a time, the price will be cheaper, but that's a hello of a lot of money to shell out in advance.

This is incorrect information. The warranty is the same price at all dealers. I can confirm this as i work for a Lexus dealer and the dealers make nothing out of selling the warranty only the person who sells it gets a few high street vouchers.

Does anyone know what the paint code is on metallic silver IS200?

Pictures of the car here: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=67202&st=0&p=721653entry721653

Thanks

Hi, have you checked under the bonnet or the inside of the drivers side door,there should be a sticker with tyre pressure,size and colour code along with some other info.

it is 1CO Platinum Ice metallic.

So from the details I have given, as long as I deal with a bank transfer or cash directly to the bank there shouldn't be anything to worry about? Isn't it a little dodgy giving bank details to perform a bank transfer? I've never done one of these before and have always been wary about passing any bank details out. I shouldn't be concerned but this is how society is these days (not long since had my fingers burnt with an IS220d with a knackered engine so don't trust anyone). Cheers again, the advice is greatly appreciated.

Yes if you take cash or bank transfer you will have nothing to worry about. I work for a Lexus dealer and these are the only two payment methods that we will accept as payment. With regards to giving out your bank account number i personly would not have a problem with this. I think to steal from your account they would have to get the bank to action any transfer and that would require sercurity and password checks.

I understand that you have had problems before and there are some dodgy people about but you have to give people a chance if you want to sell the car.

We regulary sell cars to people who export them to Malta, Cyprus, Ireland and India. Used car prices are much higher in other countries and with the weak pound it becoming more common place.

Hi everyone,

After advertising the RX300 on the autotrader I had a call from a guy wanting to look at it. The same day I had another 2 calls from different numbers asking to view the car (all 3 with african accents) - which was suspicious. The car had been on the autotrader for about 1 week with no calls until this guys phoned. Anyway, he has just been to look at the car, took it for a test drive, and left a deposit to buy it. He mentioned that he was buying the car for his sister and shipping it to Africa for her. Anyway, I'm very cautious about how to proceed with this and very wary in case there could be a scam involved (for no other reason other than the other phone calls).

Anyway, any advice on what to be careful of next would be appreciated, or at least what form I should take the balance in (cash, bankers draft, etc).

I'll be sorry to see the car go but the juice is costing us a fortune with the miles being travelled.

Thanks in advance folks.

I work in the trade and deal with all sorts of people from different back grounds. The only advise you need is to make sure you only accept a bank transfer as payment when it is confirmed in your bank. Do not accept bank drafts as they are easily forged and banks will no longer verify them if you call and personal cheques for any amount. If you take cash go with the buyer and pay it in the bank before you hand over the keys. If you do this you will have no problems.

I think the main issue is that the dealer isn't even prepared to buy the car back from me and I think this is down to the missing service stamps. This is despite a verbal reassurance that this would be no problem. Plus the fact that i've never suffered from this level of depreciation. It's kind of ironic that the very same salesperson who sold me the car in the first place, after telling me that the car had done most if its depreciation already, now tells me that the larger Lexus models suffer from very heavy depreciation, just 7 weeks later. I feel i've been misled somewhat.

As i have worked in a lexus dealer for 9 years and i really feel for you. Buying from a Lexus dealer will give you the best prepared cars with Lexus warranty but it does come at a cost. Let me explain a dealer margin when buying a car Example:

Sale price £17000

Bought price £13000 (Remember the previous owner would want a good price)

margin £4000

deduct VAT £3404

Approved pre owned warranty cost from manufacturer £910

Workshop and bodywork preparation average £1000 (we all know they cost a fortune)

Pay salesman £150

Valet car £35

Total net margin £1309

If the car is bought back the process starts again.

Hence when buying an approved Lexus why the price drops so much if you try and selling it if you have not kept it very long.

Try speaking to the centre manager and explain what has happened. Such a shame that we have some real idiots working in the trade who will say anything to sell a car.

Of driving the unreleased is200d that's coming out in 2011

The car is availible to buy today and the dealer i work has a demonstrator. The car is classed as an MY11 but everybody can try one today.

My opinion is the car is not quite as quick but more refined and better fuel consumption.

No, it's FWD and not sporty.

Lexus marketeers don't know what they want. A little bit of BMW, some Mercedes and now some Audi.

If this thing would have been some Subaru Impreza STI 4x4 or BMW 130i RWD with a hybrid system, I would have been interested.

My IS 200 s/c doesn't have a worthy successor (IS-F being out of league). If I had to replace it, Lexus doesn't stand a chance. A pity.

Next please.

Today's car market is shifting away from performance cars and what the masses now want is low emissions and good fuel economy. Lexus have brought out the CT200 to compete in the C premium sector of the market. The C premium sector is the fastest growing market and the D premium (IS market) is declining at a fast rate.

I can not stress how important this car is to Lexus GB and the dealer network. If this car does not perform then you will see a huge reduction in the amount of dealers in the UK as on the current levels of new car registrations the dealers can not survive unless subsidised by the manufacturer and this can not go on forever

I have just driven the car and its competition for the last couple of days and I can report is looks nice, its very quiet, efficient, enough power, handles well, excellent build quality and is good value for money.

However I would not buy one as I am a petrol head and enjoy driving as I assume most people on the web site. This car will be bought by people who want to get from A to B in a comfortable car with good tax benefits. For me it is under powered and boring to drive Lexus did say that there is a good chance it will be available with a 2.0 Turbo after launch now this is more me. Interestingly Lexus are thinking that this car will appeal to female buyers in particular.

6000 of these will come to the Uk next year and all will be sold just think about how many Prius and other manufacturers eco models you see on the road...... quite a lot I imagine.

The death of the V10's V8's V6's normally aspirated engines is slowly happening due to ever increasing demand from the EU on emissions control and the number of new car buyers are dwindling so lets all celebrate and enjoy them now as in 10 years they will not exist any more

Hmmm, well I recently bought a 2008 400h SE and got £3,000 off the forecourt price at a main dealer by holding out for the end of the month.

That sounds good however was the car priced competatively on the internet?

I think Lexus need to be careful thy do not dilute their 'F' brand by making lower performance and handling clones. Yes the revision looks more aggressive/sportier - but I think they are sailing close to the wind with making each revision of the F-Sport closer to the IS-F.

I suppose a 320d M sport looks nothing like an M3 or a C250 sport looks nothing like a C63 :winky:

If you read the small print it says you need to be an existing Lexus owner and you have to part exchange your existing car with them otherwise it is £750 more and you only get £1750 if you take out a finance agreement with them and who knows what the interest rate is.

I can only imagine the deletion of adaptive lights is a cost thing and not directly related to the LED DRLs? We have them on our Merc and I quite like them, it's rare that they are required around London, but when occasionally on unlit roads they do make a difference.

I'm intrigued by the centralised rev counter though, is this changing across the whole range or just the IS-F?

Attached is how the new dials will look, notice the sport button on the steering wheel :) .

The new design is for F models only and follows on from the LFA dials.

The deletion of AFS lights is only because with the DRL there is simply not enough room in the light unit to fit both in.

Most of the points raised will be rectified by Lexus on the MY11 ISF that you can now order.

The new model will also benefit from the hard drive navigation system, usb and you can order white leather. Here is some info from Lexus about the new model year.

Summary

From launch, the IS F was widely acclaimed as a very capable sports saloon capable of holding its own with the long established competitors. The only points for improvements were to introduce a mechanical Limited Slip Differential and to further enhance ride comfort. MY10 introduced the LSD to enhance the already impressive dynamic ability of the IS F. Amongst other changes, from August 2010 production MY11 introduces suspension enhancements to improve ride comfort.

Changes include:

•

Drivetrain

o

Compliance with Euro 5 regulations

•

The suspension has been modified to enhance dampening control, cornering stability and improve steering response

o

Revised front and rear suspension coils and absorbers that better absorb road imperfections and enhance ride comfort.

o

Revised rear suspension geometry to enhance rear stability under increased G-force whilst accelerating, braking and cornering.

•

Revised specification

o

New instrumentation places the tachometer in the centre of the instrument binnacle

o

New darker carbon fibre-like inserts

o

Adoption of LED DRL, deletion of Adaptive Front Lighting system

Fairly stupid people then - because you can select it not to be adaptive from the steering wheel.

Thought there had to be an option to switch it off (like with rain sensors and auto headlights) but wasn't sure as I don't own one.

You can choose not to use it, but I don't believe you can switch the radar function off and still leave it on 'standard' cruise control. I did use it on the M4 on Tuesday in fairly heavy fog and found it very useful on the longest distance setting to detect the vehicles in front before I could actually see them, so safety wise it was a definite benefit.

To turn the radar off make sure the cruise light is on then push and hold the cruise control stalk away from you for a couple of seconds. It will then say in the display norm. When you set a speed it will display how fast you are going.

Here is an example of how all cars are currently depreciating

08 08 IS250SE AUTO trade price £14500 New list price £27272

08 08 BMW 325ISE AUTO trade price £16350 New list price £29770

08 08 Merc C280 Auto Avantgarde SE trade price £12075 New list £28807

08 08 Audi 2.0T SLine trade price £17675 new list £27475

All these numbers are taken from August 2010 Glass's guide. Don't forget that the IS would have come with more standard specification so the list price of the other cars would have been higher.

The Lexus is good value for money and is by no means the worst when it comes to residual value.

The market has completely changed in the last 3 months and used car values are sliding. Cars are becoming hard to sell and as a result prices have to come down. Contrast this to a year ago when demand for cars outstripped supply so prices incresed each month.

I don't believe, that lexus will update the IS with less power engine...even if it makes sense, as the 150bhp engine is overall better.

If they do it, they will be the target for jokes from everyone. They will be the only one in the world, who updates with less power, they will be the slowest on the premium market with no option for quicker diesel engine - do not forget that with the large IS weight it will make 60mph in more than 10 seconds.

Also I do not believe that the DNPR will be exchanged with DPF, as DNPR is one of the best diesel cleaning systems on the market, which DPF is certainly not.

I think that whole article about IS200d is bull****.

I am sorry Matus but i am the general manager of a Lexus dealer in the south of england and i am not talking bull****. What i posted has come straight from the MY11 IS change report Lexus sent us on Friday. PM me your emal address and i will send it if you want proof.

Lets face it the 220 has never been as good as it should have and if a less powerful engine drives better and the economy is better then i will be happy.

Remember in the UK the biggest selling diesel engines are 150 bhp and talking to customers we have lost many sales over the years because we did not offer a less powerful alternative.

This will be the last ever diesel Lexus and the next gen 3 IS will be hybrid only. So really the fact they only offer one diesel engine does not matter to them.

Just heard the 220d has from August production being replaced by 200d. Still a 2.2 but with less power 150bhp but better emissions and fuel consumption.

Here is what Lexus say:

A number of technical changes have been incorporated into the new engine that improve fuel efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, ensure Euro 5 compliance and enhance drivability:

o

Reshaped combustion chamber

o

Next generation piezo injectors allowing improved atomisation of fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby leading to a more efficient, cleaner and complete burn of diesel.

o

Common rail pressure increased 11% from 180 MPa to 200 Mpa

o

Switch from DPNR to Diesel Particulate Filter

o

More responsive, higher flow Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve, contributing to lower emissions.

o

New oil cooled, variable nozzle turbocharger contributing to enhanced low speed toque and noise reduction.

•

Extensive test driving of the IS 200d has shown it to be more responsive, more refined, have a smoother gearshift and be more usable than the current IS 220d under normal UK driving conditions.

•

Indicative comparison v IS 220d (final performance data to be confirmed mid August).

I am the general manager of a lexus dealer in the south and i can confirm that the engine does not need to be stripped and it is not an invasive repair. The GS models can be modified without removing the engine so repair time given to the technician is 7 hours. On the LS models the engine needs to be removed from the car to get to the valve springs so the repair time is 22 hours. Everybody will be given a lexus loan car (RX450h) and a gift on completion of the recall.

This is not an easy repair for a Lexus technician and only fully qualified LLT technicians will be given these jobs. Repairs will start in August and should finish in October.

Hope this helps.

Am the general Manager of a Lexus dealer in the south.