Gunther

As I see it now, 10 say no and 3 say yes on poll just now, so 75% from a small sample may not be representative but is quite telling. Remember everyone tested the ISD before buying and thought it was wonderful, then many moved away realising it has compromises. You really need to ignore the toys and concentrate on driving. Also, Poll doesn't ask for reasons why people wouldn't buy again. People may have different reasons. That is where even a BMW318d is better (really!!), but it has no toys and is boring, unless you find a good demo with BIG discounts they are giving away! Ultimatly not as fast, but much better gearing means it's nearly as fast and smoother, quieter inside. There is also new 320 ED version, 2.0litre Derv, manual, 163 BHP, and 109g/km Co2 and combined average is 68mpg! 0-60 is just over 8 seconds. Not launched yet, but it has taller gearing and I wonder how that would compare to an ISD. If you want a diesel, there are much better elsewhere. Lexus make excellent and (in my view) the best "Auto Petrol" cars - that is why I would buy in a Lexus in future. The fuel economy thing is interesting. In my BMW, my 3litres Auto D will give me 45-48 consistently driven just like Lexus, Lexus gave me 42-48. But, in Lexus if I really squeezed economy, I could get 51-52 best actual. The BMW gives me 59 indicated, and 56 actual!! Remember, it is 197BHP 6 Cylinder and conventional auto. All modern diesels are complex animals, and prone to problems as a result. Lexus isn't unique. Personally I would still question whether a modern Petrol makes more sense and is better, I think it could be????? The IS is an excellent car. In many ways better than a 3er, just the diesel part is not as good. Quality otherwise is on par and the luxury feel of Lexus is actually better. If you must have a Lexus Diesel, buy the newest possible and maintain the manufacturers warranty for piece of mind. Even after 3 years just pay and renew. It's a complex car and some bits will inevitably break!! That is my recommndation to anyone buying any make modern diesel.

I think that the first sentence"....I've decided I want a IS220d...." says it all really. Then add the budget and the price, plus the tax issue - if you want a Lexus IS then the 220d is a perfect choice in Ireland. The mind was already made up, and the only thing that would have stopped Cathal buying it would have been if something was fundmanetally wrong with that car - then I think Cathal would still have kept on looking at 220d's until the right one appeared. There are some people who are Lexus Loyal first, then they decide whether they want petrol or diesel. There are others like myself who don't care too much about the badge, but just want something different every now and again. That is why I chose the IS220d, and it wasn't a "great" car, just a "good" one largely because of rarity, nice interior and lots of toys. I love the toys. When I had the 220d, I was quite happy, then time to change and I had a look at BMW. The choice was awesome, and finally after driving I realised why there are more 3er's than there are Rats in the UK!! On reflection now the 220d had one or two too foibles too many - gearing and road noise being too serious an issue on a long drive over different types of roads. Mine also went in for new EGR and 5th Injectors, which I thought wasn't to be expected from a bulletproof brand like Lexus. The BMW is better overall, and I know people on here don't like them, but from a driving perspective they are as close to "great" as is possible in a small exec car. It doesn't have the toys, but I think anyone who buys a brand new car is mad any way, unless there is one with lots of toys and heavily discounted like my 325d was. It was a launch showroom car, so it had the new Satnav with HDD, bluetooth, leather, and auto box, plus Xenon's better wheels and dark glass+++++so much I can't even remember now! I managed to get £4500 off the list price but the car had £7300 worth of extra's, and for me that was within budget and a positive bargain. I did drive an IS250 Auto and thought it was "great". If I was to buy a petrol car, the choice between IS250 Auto or BMW325i Auto would be a close one, but the Lexus might just clinch it. That's the difference. The diesel is actually an acquired taste, more acquired by the Lexus loyal than others who see a better drive elsewhere on the whole. I don't wish to generalise, but that is how some people might see it and how it appears on the forum sometimes. Like I say from my experience the IS220d is a good car, and on the 2nd hand market one selling for less than £9k with SE spec is a very good buy. Good luck.

Think it's over to you, all I would say is test drive an IS auto too. if you like the diesel, go for it. Ignore the toys - you get those in petrol or diesel - concentrate on the drive, gearing etc.

If you're doing so few miles, why bother with a noisy thirsty rattly diesel? Try both before you commit. Lots of happy owners with IS220d, but lots who regreted buying one too and got out as quick as possible!! remember Lexus make the best auto petrol cars around

I also agree with SimonK. Even though my car was more acceptable, if you want a Lexus, buy a proper one. Lexus is renowned for smooth petrol automatics, and the IS250 will be perfect if you want an IS. I was getting at best mid 40's MPG driving carefully on a motorway run, but in my 3.0l diesel Auto Beemer I can smash that driving very hard. If it has to be a diesel, there are many others you should go for. Example - You can pick up C Class C220CDi's, 06's, with a lot less miles for the same money if you look around, or a very good Audi diesel. The Lexus diesel is best avoided - with all that mileage and some doubts about how reliable the emissions system is, I would avoid.

LX470=Landcruiser LX470 even. Thanks

I suppose you call an Audi a cheap or more practical Lamborghini too! That is the difference between VAg and Toyota/Lexus, and also that the IS200 was actually an Alteza, and one of those RX' in the states is actually a Landcruiser!! In fct I'd b flattered as Toyota's are actually better then most makes!

It's no secret - Lexus have always said that by 2012 thy will have a range with every model being available as a Hybrid. Dates line up with arrival of G3 IS. This was always a stop gap filler, using Toyota D4D modified. Anyway, some owners do genuinely believe the IS220d is better overall, so they buy and sing it's praise. Maybe it is in some ways. But not technically from my experience. It is good overall, but there are better diesel drive trains. It's the difference between what is good and what is great..........

If it drives well and is clean etc, then remember. It has been doing 30k per year over 5 years. How? By sitting with a warm engine on Motorway all day every day. In a straight line, in one gear. perfect used car I would say. Give it a good looking over, check condition of oil and make sure no leaks. Does all electric things work. If it has full Lexus history, buy it! Even £6k is a bargain for what you get.

I think speedo's are sealed units, counter computer is inside the seal, and they shouldn't be broken (legally) else there could be allegations of mileage tampering

Has the BMW had a lot of problems then or just that you know the Lexus would be more reliable and the dealers are better? No real problems with BMW so far other than one minor car park crash, very minor, minor bodywork to bumper. Other than that it has been perfect. In over 3 months it has not had any issues at all, 4500 miles and drives better every day. One small creaking/rattle from sliding armrest and will leave until 1st service and that is it. When reading BMW forums there are some common diesel issues, MAF sensors, swirl flaps, gumming injectors and Turbos, but they seem to affect mainly cars over 5 years old and latest E90 seems to be fairly solid. A lot of BMW owners routinely remap their engines and I wonder if that does something. BMW have heavily modified so many bits in the last 5 years (as their experience has grown) but the dealers don't care much about customers. This is down to fact most customers drive company BMW's, or lease, and so don't care about the dealer also. But. private owners like me might then suffer so much if there is an issue. I think the latest BMW's engines (diesels and petrol) are incredible. the smoothness, power etc. Best the company have ever made. They have won almost every "engine" award in the world, 2008 voted best engine builder in over 30 countries. Just try a 330i and 335i - they are awesome. Audi are a close 2nd with the new S4. Haven't driven but on paper the Audi 3.0TFSi Q looks really good. Hopefully they will be reliable, but. I would say that with any Luxury car over 3 years old a warranty is a must. Difference is that with Lexus Petrols you have so much "good" history that you can "wing it". They go on for ever, like LS's, GS's etc. My brother has a GS Sport since 1998 and it is on mainly original bits: Engine never opened, same gear box, Exhaust even, and is very cheap to run now as it doesn't really cost anything so he has kept it and will scrap it eventually. Over 180,000 miles and going strong. Lexus Diesel (or really any modern DPF diesel)? I wouldn't have one out of warranty! Too much water under a bridge with 5th Injectors etc. too complex and I'm not sure I would personally trust it. IS Petrol? recently have been reading about engine rattle and VVTI needs replacing? So may be with 2nd hand IS250 I would take a warranty. For the poster of this thread, I would say buy with your head and not heart!! The IS250SEL Auto with MM is a cracking car, but then so is a 325SE but differently. One drives incredibly well (and you don't have to thrash it's bearings off to notice it), one makes you feel like a millionaire. Both are well made and you have a nice dilemma. If you don't want a BMW, then there are 2 sensible choices - Lexus IS250 SEL or A4 2.0TFSi Multitronic S Line. New Audi's are solid too, and I just love what they have done with trends with those LED Day running lights. If you feel rebellious, the Passatt CC and Alfa 159 is great too. Good luck.

Tinka, that is exactly why I bought the IS and moved to a BMW. I wanted the IS as it had everything, and had a fairly happy 20 months. Then time to move on, and I wanted something different. Never had a BMW before and wanted to know what the fuss was all about and every 10 car parking spaces has 3 BMW at the service station on the Motorways. One thing is for sure. I would be happier running a Lexus out of Manufacturer warranty than any German car. SO for anyone reading, if you are going to kep out of Warranty then any Lexus petrol makes so much sense.

I have temporarily some tyre weld but am looking for a cheap kit. There is a sparewheel well it can sit in.

Hang on guys. I've done this similarly. Gone from IS220d to BMW325d (facelifted), not because Lexus was a bad car, but because I fancied a change. I also drove a 325iSE Auto and it was very impressive and recently a 318d (face lifted) which was truly incredible for the price. You are comparing apples and pears though. Many people on here say that BMW concentrates on the driver experience, and Lexus on Luxury, and it is very true. I have to say that differences below are very small overall, and the Lexus petrol Auto is an incredibly good car. If you want a diesel, you have question if you decide to buy a IS220d. The 250 Auto on the other hand is awesome package. All I can say is that the BMW is slightly more consistent at more things - I know I have 6cyl diesel, but the engine when warmed up actually sounds like a grunty petrol. So smooth you won't believe and the performance and smoothness now is awesome as running in well under way. So much so that I started driving again after my operation before doctor said so!! Handling - Where the Lexus would have stepped out at wet mini roundabouts (even with traction on the back stepped out 2-3 times), the Beemer just sticks and sticks, and the DSC comes in at just the right time to keep you pointing forwards. The AC in the BMW is actually better - more "all round cooling" and more efficient. Faster to cool the interior down and the sun protection glass helps BMW Sound system is Rubbish. I have the HiFi sound speakers and they are not as good as the MLS, but americans forums say the L7 is incredible, and the Individual Audio is a seriously good system. Quietness - the Lexus suffers badly from being loud on coarse surface but very quiet on smooth new tarmac. The BMW is a happy medium all of time and makes it more bearable. I think newer vrsion of IS is better and hopefully Lexus have sorted it out. Ride - BMW was awful in town. I gave up with RFT's and installed conventional Dunlops which are quieter. I can't tell you how much better BMW is now. It is almost perfect and difference is day and night. Jitteriness gone, smooth, almost "floating on water" on the motorway and the grip in the wet is unbelievable. Lexus was sometime hard and bouncy like wheel base is too short, the BMW is hard and poised and feels like bigger cars suspension. Steering - BMW is very comminicating, but. actually once you get used to it you know exactly what the car is doing. Lexus too is very good. Interior? Well let me tell you that BMW looks a little cheapy, but actually the materials fit and finish is impeccable. Every switch, knob and handle works perfectly and it feels solid. The boot is bigger and slightly lower wasteline makes rear passenger compartment feel more airy. Only one very small rattle when it's cold, and it comes from sliding armrest. Fuel consumption is now steady at 29mpg town only and between 45-58 on a run depending the journey, speeds etc. That is actual brim calc. where Lexus was 26-30 in town and 42-48 on a run. BMW BAD POINTS Dealers - strange conveyor belt type feeling. You roll in and roll out feeling like you have been fleeced. Charging £35 + Vat for a standard safety check! Too many on the road. getting too many one finger salutes. Auto box. Lexus do make the best auto shifters I think. The BMW one can be caught out and feels lethargic almost at some time and not brilliant. Lexus has many good points. Toys Toys Toys. What do I miss? Cooled seats Rear camera Sound system Looks Individuality Dealers And that's it. The Smart Access is good too, but I am use to not having it now already. Quality to be honest is on a par overall. BMW is well made, so is Lexus. Nothing stands out except how things look. Lexus inside looks very good. BMW looks very cheaper. Also I too think it would be fairer to compare IS250 with BMW325SE, but the BMW would probably win for me overall. Forget the extras. No one would ver pay for cooled seats in UK - we get rarely warm weather like it is now. You wouldn't shell out £hundreds for 3 weeks every year, and I don't miss them. But I really miss the rear camera. It is a must have. Do I regret moving to BMW? Answer is not really, but I keep coming back to this forum - so may be a little bit. May be a GS next time as I think the IS is a little too cramped for a family. GS450h next year I think. Might wait until next generation GS is launched.

I think so too. the new IS250c is a good looking car, but I suspect only true jap fans will buy. like you have said, any 6 cylinder 3er Coupe will be hard to ignore.

I don't think the 5th Injector will help you. It is more likely that you are doing more than 60% town driving? That is where the sluggishness and turbo flat spot make you subconsciously press the accelerator too much, then too much turbo and economy goes down the (exhaust) tube! Fuel economy is not an IS220d (pre-2009) strong point. Mine was always 29-32 in town and after reset trip about 41-48 on a run. Not bad, but. some cars will not better 35-39 no matter how carefully you drive. It might be an idea to get dealer to loan you another similar car for one. To answer what you should do to improve the economy? Well. I don't know. Is there another dealer nearby?

For those old enough, we can remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news of Elvis dying. Just like New York's towers. This I think might be the same for many many people, but may be not everyone. Sure he had troubled years. But you have to give him credit. Those 65million Albums of "Thriller" that were sold are a testament to his musical genius. I bought the 25th Anniversary version on CD from ASDA, only £5 last year. RIP - I will always be a fan as I went through teens and twenty's listening to his music and no matter what, you have to give him credit for the music. It defined the whole of the eighties and a whole generation of fantastic Disco scene.

Very interesting article. Well done to Lexus and well deserved overall. What is even more interesting is that the top 5 cars are within 2.5% or so of each other, so there are very few differences actually. Having allowed my knee to recover, I drove my Beemer for the first time in 6 weeks around the block. My girl friend has had it all to herself for all of those times. It still brings a big smile to my face, but the dealers are so so so bad! That is here I miss the Lexus the most and I think why it always scores so highly in Customer Satisfaction. Example: My IS220d - one or 2 recalls - everytime washed, filled with fuel, wine etc and returned looking like new. Servicing - always the same care and attention to details. Dealrs always have time for me. BMW - been back once for accident repair and my beemer garage has a body shop. Car came back dirty except repaired bit, they wanted to charge me for a proper hand wash (mechanical wash was free) and I complained. They looked at me as if I owed them something and I should be grateful. Overall would I buy a Lexus again? YES But not the IS220d. It is not a proper Lexus. A Lexus has to be a smooth petrol Auto. That what I think. And that is where Lexus and Mercedes make the best cars. May be I'm getting old. In the Beemer everyone wants to cut me up. Not so in Lexus.

Completely agree. What are they thinking? What cars does this compete with? Boxsters! Somehow. I'd rather have a Porsche than a Lexus. Really it should be priced to A5 Conv and 3er conv and CLK level, all of which can be so much cheaper, have a huge variety of engine and box's. I know people keep saying "how much would it cost to make a german car have same spec blah blah", but. No one in their right mind would spec up a car so much and technically it will have to be amazing to make me even test drive one. I know the Lexus fans will buy one, but it's not a car you would buy with your head at that price, even if it does have every extra. I am surprised.

So. My CRT packs up. What next? £1300-£1500 budget, and I am so undecided between Sony Z Series, Samsung LED 7020 and Panasonic Viera 600hz Plasma. What should I do? I want 40 inch (said actress to bishop). I still think for the money CRT has best picture for anything that is 50hz, but the new 100+hz TV's are so good now. Any recommendations?

Remember Jeremy Clarkson when he drove the A8 from North London to Edinburgh and back. He was on "0 left" for ages before he got the cough from the engine, only 100 yards from the North London pumps. So I think it is normal, all cars have a 2 gallon or so reserve.

I think it's this. Salt and grit on roads in winter, which corrodes aluminium over time. Which is why you are recommended by makers of dishwashers not to put aluminium pans in a dishwasher. Is that logical? So if you wax the wheels properly they will be fine. Also, noted, the corrosion seems to start from behind the spokes where there is less "finishing" and much less cleaning.

This is discussed lots here and other forums. The points to note are: 1) If you have the manual, then it will cost same as a couple of extra tankfulls of petrol worth per year 2) If you have the Auto then great. If you don't have the auto, buy one hehehe This will only get worse. As time goes on, next few years, what levels of VED we see at 225g/c02 will come down to 150g/c02. Everyone will be hit hard unless they buy Toyota IQ's! My next car will be a hybrid.

If you let it go that low there is small chances you will get air locks in the tank and not get enough in. But my IS220d ran once at "0" miles left for 15 miles before I got to a station in Scotland hills, and it took 60 litres dead.

Demand for diesel has gone up globally due to shipping apparently. Sea Tankers now use Diesel instead of less refined but more polluting heavier oil based fuel. A friend in the shipping business mentioned this to me 2 days ago. So diesel is now more expensive than it used to be almost everywhere. Simple demand and supply.