Exiled

Today the temperature dropped 7-6-5-4, when it got to 3 the 3 flashed on and off for about 5 seconds then stayed on 3. Blink and you'll miss it.

The time to take on board the many comments about the 220d was before you bought it, assuming you did you came to a decision to buy one. You're a bit disappointed with the mpg but it doesn't overly bother you, the car is immaculate, runs well and you love driving it. What more do you want? 47k is not a high mileage and you are considering exchanging it for a higher mileage petrol version six years old that you know nothing about and you're going to lose money into the bargain, I'd stick with what you've got. A diesel needs a good thrashing every now and again.

Lots of problems, lots of questions, only one answer. Leave well alone! (Hope you get your £1000 back)

I chose an IS 250 Auto over a 3 series BMW. If it had been down to a direct choice between a Lexus 220d or a BMW 320d I would have definitely gone for the BMW. Too many issues with 220d, take some time and look through five years of postings on this forum. I did however prefer the basic 320D to the M Sport as I thought it rode better.

This post sums up what the vast majority of 250 owners on this forum think about there cars

Only you can decide. Many years ago I used an Audi independent mainly because they were local, when I took the car for an MOT it failed. One of the four rubber mounted bolts securing the fuel pump was missing and had been replaced by a piece of wire. The only people to touch the car in the previous year had been the independent, they did eventually admit it saying they wanted to keep me on the road and when the replacement part arrived forgot to inform me. Main dealers may be more expensive but I trust them more.

Likewise.

30,000 miles is low for a fifty six, should be very little to be concerned about as long as it's not been abused. The auto is the one to buy as many on here would confirm, the manual box only detracts, strongly suggest you drive both to confirm.

Paid for superguard once, wouldn't again, do it myself now, no time limit on me and I will use more elbow grease than the guy at the dealers. As stated get a good wax, I was advised to use Collinite 476S after posing the same question to the forum.

Mine behaves like that, the colder it is the more noticeable as it hangs on to a lower gear longer. Does it to stop the engine struggling under excess load when cold. The gear box changes automatically taking into account many factors, one being engine temperature.

I also remember being told by a police driving instructor back in the late 60's that if you are driving correctly then your brakes should, except in emergency, generally only be required to come to a final stop since anticipation and gearchanges should be sufficient for most eventualities. Like you, that's what I was told back in the 1960's. A couple of years ago though I opted to go on a Speed Awareness Course to avoid 3 points on my license, part of the course involves going out with an instructor who then comments on your driving. I was told I used the gears too much when slowing down, I explained that was the way I'd been instructed and was told that over the years opinions had changed. I still drive that way if in a manual transmission, can't change the habits of a lifetime and also it doesn't feel comfortable stopping or slowing by only using the brakes. When driving the Lexus I find it easier to flick the lever over (going from auto to gear 4) than using the brake to slow down. Going from 50mph in auto gear 6 to gear 4 increases the revs from 1400 to 2400 if it is damaging the car I'll have to change.

That is a good question as I do exactly as you do with regard to the "steep downhill" bit. I don't know the answer but I'm sure it won't be long before someone comes along who does. ( I suspect a bollocking is on it's way)

Can't work out if Simon D is just playing devil's advocate, his comments are always negative. If you take them at face value then it is unfortunate that he couldn't afford to buy the type of car he really wanted and had to settle for what in his mind is inferior, I can sympathise as many many years ago I was given a Ford Cortina as a company car, I absolutely hated the thing. I suppose I am fortunate in that when I decided to buy a new car I was not constrained by price and after months and months of comparing chose to buy a Lexus, and glad I did.

Agree with above,(auto) if you can't get one for a weekend then minimum must be not less than a full day.

For it to be called gutless surprises me but all we can do is give our own opinion, I've never heard it described thus until now. I purchased mine after numerous test drives of the Lexus and all other makes that appealed to me, in the end I was in no doubt. I have some criticism's though, the 18 inch wheels look very nice but think 17 inch would improve the ride, it would be handy if the rear seats folded and there was more depth in the boot and the opening is a bit tight also if you fill the car with your big mates it's a bit tight in the back. With regard to the cost of repairs, there is a hell of a lot of equipment on the car, electric everything and even if mine continues to be problem free when it gets to three years old I will still purchase the Lexus extended warranty and will continue to do so until I decide to change it.

You're not that impressed by the car but do really like it, does that make sense? Well......err.......no, perhaps it needs deeper contemplation.

Mine's a 250 auto "59" and so far have not had a rattle anywhere. The subject has been discussed at length many times, though more in the early years of production and I think there is information available for curing most of them. Don't know about them being fixed before leaving the factory but over the years I would think modifications to the assembly process will have been made in an attempt to eradicate the rattles reported by some owners I don't think you will have any regrets becoming an owner as the 250 auto is a superb car, the longer I have mine the more I appreciate just how good it is. Good luck.

I'ts 2 years this week since I bought my Lexus and I'm as happy with it today as I was 12 months ago. No issues at all, never misses a beat. Am glad that I took so long to make my mind up, it was worth the wait. Audi, Merc or BMW were the only cars on the radar, I drove them all but was not convinced. I'd seen a Lexus at the British Women's Open Golf some years back so had a few test drives and my mind was made up.

I may be unusual, that's for others to decide but I don't think I'm expecting too much. If I think hard I can probably remember most of the salesmen I have dealt with over the years. What they have told me on handover is to contact them should I have a problem and on the odd occasion I have. I can't remember buying a car and not being recognised by the person who sold it to me. It doesn't overly bother me and won't prejudice my choice of car, I just think it's not very professional. If that likens me to the lead female singer in an Italian opera then so be it.

Since I bought my Lexus I have twice been back to the dealership for servicing. I recognised the salesman on both occasions but he hasn't recognised me. I've been offered a coffee and been dropped off and collected from the nearby city centre where I've passed a couple of hours. No one at the dealership apart from the receptionist and service personel have spoken to me. My wife is on her second Mini and visits the dealer occasionally, ( 18,000 mile service intervals) she is instantly recognised by the sales exec who sold her both cars and her boss also comes to say hello. I have no complaints whatsoever with my Lexus it's an outstanding car and I could not be happier with it. I wouldn't say my dealership were absolute rubbish as the car runs well which suggests they are servicing it correctly. I'd say they were missing a trick as people generally like being made to feel valued. When I've been sat in reception and other customers have come in they seem to be treated no differently from me. When I was in business I worked on the principal that customer was king. If I were a dealership principle I'd have a system whereby my sales staff knew which of their customers were booked in the following day so they could speak to them. I get text messages to remind me of my service appointments, follow up letters asking if I was happy with the service, e-mails telling me what the company is doing, offers of a free car wash, details of free winter checks etc etc, but when I go there they don't seem interested in who I am. My wife thinks her Mini dealer is great and wouldn't consider going anywhere else, It's a high probability that I'll buy another Lexus but I feel no loyalty towards the dealer.

Have I been lucky or have they improved the quality of manufacture.My 250 SEL is coming up 2 years old in October and the standard fit 18" wheels are showing no signs whatsoever of any deterioration, they look just like new. I wash them with ordinary car shampoo and every few months give them a polish with Turtle Wax Nano Tech wheel wax.

Go to a Lexus Centre and test drive a 250 Auto for a day. It must be a day as the more time you spend in the car the more convinced you will become, before I bought I had a few test drives. The first time I drove one I went out with the salesman for thirty minutes and thought it was fine, he said I should have one for a day saying I needed to spend time with the car to fully appreciate it, I thought it was salesman crap but he was right. They dropped it off at my home at 8 am and collected it at 6 pm. Every time I drive mine I love it, it's like nothing I've ever owned, borrowed or test driven. Nothing has come close to matching the overall experience. It has an air of refinement other don't have. In January I have done many short journeys, five to ten miles, nothing further, the car has hardly warmed up and has averaged 26mpg brim to brim. Overall normal running it does 36ish and on a long run up to 40.

That's very helpful, I'll wait and see if anyone has a better suggestion and if not I'll give it a go. Mine's Caspian Sky so body touch up won't do, thanks.

Need some touch up paint for the alloy wheels on my 59 250 Sel. They are 18" standard fit. Can anyone help?

Fortunately no creaks or groans. Now you mention it the boot opening and closing is different to previous cars I've owned and from your description I would say mine is similar to yours, it doesn't cause me a problem though. Some owners have complained about the boot lid hitting the bumper when being closed perhaps the damping has been modified in some way, don't know. With regard to the front sensors I'm only confident using them to protect the corners, I wouldn't trust them to pick up something directly in front of the number plate, why they don't have 4 sensors on the front like the rear is a mystery to me.