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!

Be careful if you run your coolbox in the boot - not advisable. I thought of doing it a couple of years ago but manufacturers advise against it due to possible overheating of the motor. This is because the space is confined and has no airflow whatsoever.

If you have it running on back seat, it won't be a problem to put it in boot when you are away from the car - it wont let food/drink get warm if lid is kept closed.

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.

its the aux in im struggling with as the arm rest wont close when the ipod is plugged in. does anyone know of a fix for this?

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

its the aux in im struggling with as the arm rest wont close when the ipod is plugged in. does anyone know of a fix for this?

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).

I've given up trying to drive my 220 carefully. Blatted up the MI / A1M to Newcastle the other day didn't use 6th at all (well, hardly at all) achieved 38mpg and had fun.

By the way, 38 is actually an improvement on the figures I normally get.

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...

does anyone else find the location of the AUX in inconvenient? or rather its impossible to close the armrest once a jack is put into the aux in? is there any other way of connecting the ipod, maybe another aux in at the back of the head unit?

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...

does anyone else find the location of the AUX in inconvenient? or rather its impossible to close the armrest once a jack is put into the aux in? is there any other way of connecting the ipod, maybe another aux in at the back of the head unit?

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 got my ISD 220D SE m/m last a week ago today and though I would have my tuppeneth on this forum. I don't normally contribute to these, I'm move of a voyeur than a particpiator :winky:

I've got to say that the theme on this site is generally one of negativity towards the 220D and most of that negative comment appears to be perpetuated by the same couple of people. I assume that they've had a bad Lexus experience and they're using this media to have a sideswipe...

Anyway, climbing down off my soapbox... :D

I know nothing of note about cars, other than how to drive one and how to top up the oil etc, so my views are the opinion of an ordinary bloke, one with no particular axe to grind like so many others on here (you know who you are!) and one who has had owned other cars in the same class(!?) as the 220D.

So...

The Good

Sexy. IMHO far sexier than the A4 and the 3 series. (Unless you are buying top end of course)

Gadgetry to die for. Okay the m/m as an extra is costly, but the same from Audi or BMW would cost the same as a three bed semi in a northern mill town! That Mark Levinson sound system - WOW! Heated seats, retractable mirrors, MP3 player integration.

Seats. Never sat in anything that comfortable before.

Price. A similar spec'd BM or Audi would have set me back 7 or 8 grand more.

Refinement. Everything (well, almost everything) about the inside is first class, the dash (feel & looks), display lights, positioning of everything.

The Bad

Economy - I just did 140 motorway miles - crusing at 80 ish - 35.2 mpg. That aint good is it? Though I'm told by others that say they know more than me that this will improve with time.

Clock display. Shocking. Absolutely shocking in fact. Was it pinched from a 1981 Corolla?

The Indifferent

Boot space. My golfing partners won't be happy at my not taking turns to drive - there's no way I'm getting more than two sets of clubs in there.

Rear space. Again, unhappy golfing partners me thinks. Still, okay for my two small kids!

So all in all, I've got to say I'm pleased, it's very early days I know - but so far so good. Here's to hoping it remains that way!

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...

So following on from a previous post about whether to go for an IS250 SE or SE-L... I also need to think about what colour leather. How practical is the Oakham leather - looks fantastic in a dark car but just not sure whether it's practical for every day. With my practicality hat on I, I think black but it's soooo dull :D

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...

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!

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.

My IS220d SE arrived on Tuesday - sorry, predictably Argento Ice with Sussex Grey Leather but I like it!

Still getting to grips with the keyless start - it seems there's a very specific sequence to starting (put in neutral, engage clutch) before green light appears, and it seems that my plunging my foot on the clutch as soon as I embark the vehicle (force of habit cos I always leave it in gear) is upsetting the start sequence, and then I can't start the car...!

Also, I want to put my iPod in to the armrest compartment (which is where I had it on my Saab 9-3) however, I can't connect it to the 12v supply AND close the lid again as there's only a small amount of height available to the charger.

Does anyone know of a small charger that will fit?

Other than that the car is supreme! Lovely and smooth. Much quieter than my Saab (engine is silent by comparison, and no interior creaks or rattles). Great stereo (even without the ML option). :D

Regards, Neil.

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!

Thanks guys.

Oh, and I've sorted my issues with starting the car...have found that the clutch pedal needs to be depressed to the floor...nothing less...not even 1/2 inch off, and now it works every time :D

My IS220d SE arrived on Tuesday - sorry, predictably Argento Ice with Sussex Grey Leather but I like it!

Still getting to grips with the keyless start - it seems there's a very specific sequence to starting (put in neutral, engage clutch) before green light appears, and it seems that my plunging my foot on the clutch as soon as I embark the vehicle (force of habit cos I always leave it in gear) is upsetting the start sequence, and then I can't start the car...!

Also, I want to put my iPod in to the armrest compartment (which is where I had it on my Saab 9-3) however, I can't connect it to the 12v supply AND close the lid again as there's only a small amount of height available to the charger.

Does anyone know of a small charger that will fit?

Other than that the car is supreme! Lovely and smooth. Much quieter than my Saab (engine is silent by comparison, and no interior creaks or rattles). Great stereo (even without the ML option). :D

Regards, Neil.

I am considering placing an order for an IS220d (SE) in either Arctic Pearl or Caspian Sky.

My test drive vehicle from Lexus was Caspian Sky with the beige interior and I thought it a great combination, but I'm intrigued by the Arctic Pearl, especially now that white is back in vogue.

It'll be a company car so I don't have to worry about any impact on the residual value....

If anyone does have one in Arctic Pearl, I'd like to know what colour interior you think best suits it, and if you have any photos that would be great!

TIA.

Having had an IS220d on demo, I noticed that the Sat Nav and phone have limited functionality while on the move.

While I understand this is for safety reasons, if I had a passenger with me (as I did for most of the test drive period, as it ran over the bank holiday weekend) they could amend the destination / select a number from the phonebook for me, in complete safety.

Does anyone know whether it's possible to have the dealer reconfigure the system to allow the full functionality of all devices while driving?

TIA.