NT_Lexus

Yeah, loud cracking in the centre panel of the dash - I get exactly that too! It's worringly loud, but it keeps happening and nothing's stopped worrking...yet. Also, 41mpg...I can only dream of this! Even with my wife's delicate right foot doing a motorway orientated 60 miles a day we still only get 34.x mpg!!! As for pulling out of junctions in a hurry...bit of a worry that one!

Thanks Dave, and point taken, however, over the past 3 years I have used a coolbox in the rear of my Saab 9-3 w/o any issues. I can imagine that protracted use or extensive use of the coolbox in a confined area such as the boot will in time reduce the life of the motor but I only tend to run it for 1-2 hrs at a time (I don't really like leaving anything on the back seat of the car when the vehicle is unattended). Anyhow, it would appear, judging by the lack of response, that no-one else uses a coolbox, and if they do, they don't run it from the boot via a constant live...

I like to use an electric cool box in the warmer months...obvious activities such as keeping the shopping cool, or going out for the day and having a picnic. I really need a constantly live 12v supply for this and therefore want to install one in the boot of the car. Has anyone any suggestions as to the best place (most appropriate junction point) to connect this in? Thanks.

You need an angled jack plug... http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?C=SO&a...5mm+Stereo+Plug Or some form of short adaptor lead (3.5mm stereo socket to 3.5mm stereo angled plug) If you buy the plug from Maplins you'd simply need to cut off your current straight one, and solder the angled one on. If you're not feeling too confident with a soldering iron, and if you can't find the lead ready made, any local (independent) electrical shop should be able to make one up for you. Or, take the complete lead in to them and ask them to pop on an angled plug (preferred option IMHO). Or take a look here... http://www.felmicamps.co.uk/products/felleadsandadapt.html

You need an angled jack plug... http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?C=SO&a...5mm+Stereo+Plug Or some form of short adaptor lead (3.5mm stereo socket to 3.5mm stereo angled plug) If you buy the plug from Maplins you'd simply need to cut off your current straight one, and solder the angled one on. If you're not feeling too confident with a soldering iron, and if you can't find the lead ready made, any local (independent) electrical shop should be able to make one up for you. Or, take the complete lead in to them and ask them to pop on an angled plug (preferred option IMHO).

Have just been speaking to my local Service Manager and his (initial) advice is to forget 6th (unless you're doing high 90's / a ton +), oh, and not to use supermarket petrol but to buy the quality stuff. So, I'm gonna try not using 6th for a couple of weeks and see if it works for me...

And also the Cigarette lighter next to the AUX in seems totally impractical. Using a cigarette lighter charger for my ipod, I find I have to use the lighter in the ashtray.... Get yourself down to Halfrauds...they have a range of 12v adaptors with really short plugs. I got myself a triple, which fits in to the armrest rather nicely. If you need me to I can send you a pic. The item cost about £8/9. Ah, have just noticed you're in South Africa, in which case, you probably won't have a Halfords... :duh: However, there must be someone selling them on the internet...

And also the Cigarette lighter next to the AUX in seems totally impractical. Using a cigarette lighter charger for my ipod, I find I have to use the lighter in the ashtray.... Get yourself down to Halfrauds...they have a range of 12v adaptors with really short plugs. I got myself a triple, which fits in to the armrest rather nicely. If you need me to I can send you a pic. The item cost about £8/9.

I've now had my 220dSE with LPA400 (no MM - couldn't justify the cost for what I considered inflexible Sat Nav and Bluetooth systems) for just over a month and have covered 3.4k. The Good: Fabulously comfy seats with soft leather... Smooth ride Standard stereo and speakers are remarkably good (well, I did come across from a Saab 9-3) MP3 compatible CD changer BIG mirrors (I've had envious looks from lorry drivers!) Fit and finish of the car, the quality of the materials and the attention to detail Great brakes Handsome looking car Lexus cache... The Bad: (Sussex grey) Leather gets dirty quickly BIG mirrors get dirty very quickly CD changer is not MP4 compatible 12V power supplies (in arm rest and next to ashtray) require very stubby plugs otherwise can't close arm rest / obstructs lower part of centre console Rear seats don't fold The dull looking perspex that appears to cover the cheap clock in the centre console...yak! What is the point of the ash tray...I don't smoke (not that smokers appear to use ashtrays these days, why bother, when they can use the whole world as one big ashtray!) and if I put money in to it, it's so deep I can't get it out again using just my fingers. The Damn Right Ugly: attrocious MPG....33.5MPG over 3,400 miles (90% being m-way) So far the only experience of my local dealer was their weekly free car wash (inc free coffee and danish, but I must have arrived too late for the danish), but decided not to bother again as I had to wait for over an hour, the car wasn't dried off (so eventually the car was left covered in water marks) and the driver's seat acquired dirty marks from the guy who drove it in to and out of the car washing area!

Rang my supplying dealer last week (Lexus Bolton) to make them aware of the atrociously low mpg, to see if they could tender some advise... "Ah yes, we're getting reports that they perform much better, in to the 40's, at and after approx 10k miles..." Ok, so I'm supposed to subsidise the fuel consumption until then...I don't recall reading that anywhere in the sales brochure, that the 220d returns (or stands a chance of getting anywhere near returning) the manufacturer's claimed mpg after a running in period of ten thousand miles...! 10k for many (particularly) private motorists can be 12 months ownership. I'm gonna call Lexus GB on Tuesday...

Reply edited cos I obviously didn't know what colour "Oakham" was.... :duh: Thought it was the grey (which I have) but that's "Sussex", so of course the "Oakham" is the cream/tan...all so obvious really. I'll fetch my coat...

NT - Keeping the rpm below 2000 will make it labour. I'm running in 5th at 80, about 2500rpm and always change up at that speed too. But then again I'm only getting 35-36mpg anyway! Agree with the fuel watching - much more fun watching the temp gauge! 2,500RPM in 5th = approx 74/75MPH (I know the speedo says 80, but it's actually more like 74/75, according to my RoadAngel, and my TT720). I don't think I wanna spend my entire life in the inside lane! 2,000RPM in 6th = approx 85MPH (speedo shows around 90)...a bit more like it, but it's still not the 85-90 that I used to be able to do in my 9-3, and return high 40's!

Had mine approx 2 weeks, and have covered 1800 miles in that time, 85% being mway... Computer is telling me that my MPG since new is now 33.5, with my best tank full to date being 36.9! Am getting around 440/450 miles per tank. I am finding that I have to keep the car at 80-85 and try not to exceed 2,000RPM. I'm not really having much fun in the car cos of this. My previous car was a Saab 9-3 1.9TDI and I could nail it everywhere and still get 45MPG. If I had covered the same miles as above in the 9-3, and driven in the same careful manner I know I'd be at around 48/49MPG! The Lexus is fantastic, but this fuel-watching lark is a real bore!

I'm about to install my Snooper detector system. I need to locate a switched 12v supply, preferably under the dash (cigarette light supply seems favourite), and, I need to run a cable to my RLD (remote laser detector) which I'm looking to mount above my rear view mirror. The kit looks like this: http://shop.instant-shop.com/Snooperdirect...;table=pictures Tips on locating a suitable power feed and how to remove the A pillar trim would be much appreciated, as would any tips or suggestions about alternative locations, etc., from anyone who's already fitted a Snooper, or similar. Thanks.

Halfords do a 90 degree elbow which has 2 outputs it fits perfectly and you can plug in the obligatory phone charger also without cable clutter on the centre console. Sounds even better!